Chapter 3

### Chapter 3: How to Steal the Hero's Woman (2)

[NTL Corporation]

Armonia gave me a new title to commemorate the change in the company name.

NTL Corporation COO.

Our company now has two employees.

As soon as I entered my office, I was amazed.

The office was furnished with a luxurious desk, a guest sofa, a table, and bookshelves, all gleaming brightly.

And there was even a lavish bed.

"Huh? Is this my room? Can I sleep here?"

"No, Sir. Your personal room is prepared separately. This is just for rest while working. By the way, if you open the door next to it, there's a bathroom."

"Wow... The bathroom is as big as the office..."

As I sat in the COO's chair, Armonia stood beside me and began her explanation.

Although she is the CEO, she acted like a secretary without changing her expression.

"First, I'll explain the details of the mission."

"Well, they say even iron can be pulled out if you do it with a single effort."

"First, I'll explain how we will proceed with the mission."

A large screen appeared in front of my desk, just like in Armonia's office.

"Based on the information provided by the client, we will determine the location to go to. Then, using Enel, we will create a new identity that fits the era and background, and forcibly integrate your information into it to blend in with the surroundings."

"Huh? So, it's like brainwashing?"

"Almost. However, please remember that the closer you are to the main character, the more Enel is required, exponentially."

"...Okay."

Shiburen.

Armonia continued her explanation.

"Then, you will be teleported to that location and communicate with me. Depending on the situation, you will use Enel to win the heart of the main character's woman."

"So, are we leaving right now?"

"Yes, but there is one thing you need to keep in mind."

"Sure, what is it?"

"We only have 2000 Enel. This is the advance payment we received. The first mission is expected to be tough."

Well, although Armonia shows no change in expression, she exudes a sense of apology.

"Well, I already knew it would be tough. Let's go~"

"I will prepare in the office and head to the warp room."

***

"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting."

"...Wow."

In front of me stood Armonia, now dressed in a captain's uniform.

A white base with black patterns, a captain's hat, and a captain's uniform.

She looked like a completely different person.

I decided I would definitely make her wear this.

With a new goal, I confidently entered the warp case.

Inside the cylindrical chamber bathed in blue light.

Wow, anyone would think I'm a hero setting out to save the world.

NTL-Prototype activation check complete!

I smiled at Armonia.

Thinking that I had slightly shaken the heart of the steel woman, Armonia, made me feel good.

NTL Corporation, you really did a good job naming it.

Armonia finished the briefing and began operating the machinery, which usually requires multiple people, with ease.

With hundreds of buttons, she pressed, turned off, and input everything accurately, doing things that even a ninja's clone jutsu couldn't do.

Impressive...

And the warp activated.

The jellyfish-like creatures putting on a show in front of me.

I was more excited about where I would arrive than the warp itself.

Outside the village? Or in the middle of the village? Hehe, it would be hilarious if it's a women's bath.

I don't care about real women, but I like the situations that happen in adult games.

Pop!

"Ouch!"

I covered my eyes with my arm from the sudden light.

Hot heat, shimmering mist.

Yes, this is...

The desert.

***

I was dressed in Arab attire.

But that wasn't important to me.

Because as soon as I arrived, I felt my face burning within 10 seconds.

I communicated with Armonia.

"Armonia, my face is burning."

[Sorry, there seems to be some mistake. This place should be a forest near the village...]

20 seconds, it felt like I was about to transform into Ghost Rider.

Hehe~ Huaaak~ Hikihaaak~

At this moment, I was not at all calm.

"...Shiburen, am I really going to die?"

This is not a joke, I'm really going to die.

Pop.

"Huh?"

A sudden parasol and a water bottle appeared.

Enel, I will never forget the taste of the water you gave me.

Gulp, gulp.

"Phew..."

The air is scorching, but the cold water inside made me feel like I could survive.

Shiburen, in the army, I only started thinking about water after a day or so.

If that's the case, I'm really screwed.

I cut Armonia off.

"Don't apologize."

[...What?]

"Since it's already started, it's fine as long as you don't make the same mistake next time."

[Yes, I understand. ...Thank you.]

"Yeah, that's fine."

Hehe, it will be fun to torment her with this and have sex later.

Thinking about this trashy idea, my steps became a bit lighter.

***

Two days passed.

Walking for 30 minutes was as difficult as a 40-kilometer march.

I endured it for two days.

And the forest I arrived at.

"...I'm dead."

No joke, I really felt like I was going to die, so I just lay down under some shade when I arrived.

Who cares if someone comes by.

There's nothing to steal anyway.

My vision started to blur.

And a woman appeared in front of me.

"Wh...What...?"

I couldn't hear her voice, but there was a woman who looked like my first love.

Did she come to meet me after I died?

Without thinking, I grabbed her hand.

"Philia..."

And I lost consciousness.

***

I'm so sleepy...

So sleepy...

Startled, I got up and looked around.

"What, where am I?"

[I was really worried that you wouldn't wake up.]

"Armonia? What, where am I? I remember crossing the desert and arriving at the forest."

[You fainted as soon as you entered the forest. Fortunately, a villager found and rescued you.]

"Thank goodness it wasn't a monster."

In a world with heroes and demons, there would be monsters.

For a moment, I imagined being raped by a female orc.

"...I must be losing my mind."

[What?]

"No, then, is this Krel?"

[Yes, you've arrived at Krel. However, you need to be careful.]

"Huh? Why?"

[This is the village chief's house, and the chief touched your body all over.]

"..."

Shiburen, did I get raped by the chief?

I sighed in relief.

I thought my life genre was about to include interspecies or gay content, which made my heart race.

"Armonia, give me a brief situation update."

"Yes."

After accurately explaining what I already knew, she informed me of the new situation.

I truly experienced the greatness of Enel while crossing the desert.

When needed, it provided cold water, a tent, and even food.

I used 10 Enel to cross the desert.

Without Enel, I would have been burned to a crisp and shouting praises to the sun.

She also explained why we landed in the desert.

The demon army had a map of this area only a few decades ago.

So, it's believed that the desertification occurred over a long period, and the village had moved entirely.

The demon army, already at war with the resistance, had no time to check such a remote area.

Thud, thud, thud.

Someone entered the room without knocking.

He looked like a typical village chief.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, but where is this...?"

I already knew, but I asked out of politeness and engaged in conversation.

This is Krel, we helped you, be grateful, blah, blah, blah.

And an unexpected statement.

"Alright, now that you're better, leave the village."

"Huh?"

"Do you have a hearing problem? Tsk, tsk, you can't understand what people say."

Just by questioning, he treated me like an idiot.

Anger boiled up in my chest.

'Does this old man want to die...?'

[Please calm down. Arguing with the chief won't do any good.]

'I know...'

I need to learn more about this old man.

'Armonia, tell me about this old man's personality.'

[Yes, I understand.]

Armonia, who read my mind, showed me the chief's status window.

=======

Name: Hern

Occupation: Chief of Krel Village

-Personality-

[Money Lust], [Weak Prey], [Perversion],...

=======

Seriously, the chief has [Perversion]?

But that's not the main issue right now.

'Armonia, what valuable gems are there on this continent?'

[There's a gem called Crystal Pearl. It's a rare gem found only in the sea, and it's even rarer here in the inland.]

'How much Enel does it cost to make one?'

[983 Enel.]

'Shiburen, that's really expensive...'

'What about a fake one?'

[A fake one costs 12 Enel.]

'Make one.'

Pop.

Suddenly, a fist-sized Crystal Pearl appeared in my hand, shocking the chief.

"Ah, you scared me. What is it?"

"It's a Crystal Pearl, do you know it?"

"Y-Yes, I know it."

"I'll give this to you. Please let me stay for a while. I'll give you another one when I leave."

I handed the fake pearl to the chief with a cold expression.

The way he looked at me was as if he couldn't believe his eyes.

He probably found nothing when he searched my body earlier.

"But, how did you get this now?"

"It's a storage magic or something. I can't explain it further."

"Ah, I see. You must have had a tough time crossing the desert. You can stay for a while."

"Um, excuse me."

The chief ignored me and hurriedly left the room.

"...Damn, I'm hungry. Give me some food."