The Hero's Streaming Life with the Saintess-Chapter 42: Ah... I Like Lyla

“I know it’s kinda dumb to ask this after already agreeing, but... what even is that artifact?”

“Hmm... we don’t really know the full details either.”

...They don’t know?

Wait. Are we getting used as a dumpster crew here?

“Do you really think our family rose to power after the upheaval just because we had a knack for worshipping gods?”

“Then what was it?”

“That artifact made everything possible. I’m sure some people might say it was just good timing and coincidence, but...”

“Cut the vague bullshit and be specific.”

“After we obtained the artifact, people started treating our family with strange levels of kindness. None of the children born into the family ever got sick—not once. And every single one of them had at least A-rank potential. Even before they turned ten.”

“But potential can be genetic...”

Reina shook her head firmly.

“No. My father has several concubines besides my mother. Some of them are just ordinary women.”

“So you’re telling me a normal person with no spiritual power or mana gave birth to a kid like that?”

“Yes. Of course, you might still think it’s all /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ just speculation on our part, but...”

“Wait a minute... that doesn’t make sense. The Gates only appeared recently—”

“Every successor in our family, including me, awakened almost immediately after the Gates opened. Not a single one was left out.”

“So you’re saying you got your hands on that artifact right when the Gates appeared?”

“It was a revelation. The god we worship gave us a divine prophecy.”

The more I thought about it, the more it felt like we were getting the short end of the stick here.

So, as much as I hated to, I tried to renegotiate.

“Hey, listen—”

“Hero!”

“...?”

“I think you should just take the offer.”

“Lyla, but this is—this is way too superstitious...”

I trailed off.

After all, I knew gods existed.

Lyla literally believed in one. She spoke to one. She was the Saintess.

...Not sure if Earth has any of those, though.

And Lyla almost never pushed this hard about anything.

Back when we used to adventure together, listening to Lyla usually ended up with free rewards falling into our laps.

“Alright, fine. We’ll leave first thing tomorrow.”

“We’ll make sure everything’s prepared without a hitch.”

Reina stood up from her seat with a respectful bow.

There was still some time left, so I figured we might as well explore the city a little—

“Uh, um...!”

“Hm?”

“You came all this way... We should at least offer you a meal.”

I glanced at Lyla.

She didn’t react much. Just gave a slight nod.

“Sure. I’m curious now.”

“I promise you’ll enjoy it.”

Reina smiled seductively and headed outside.

****

The place was so huge it could’ve been mistaken for a damn auditorium. Just Lyla and me, sitting alone.

Dinner hadn’t even been served yet.

“We’re supposed to eat here?”

“Hero, this kind of formal dinner is called kaiseki! It’s like a banquet-style meal!”

“Oh...”

— Slide...

The shoji doors slid open quietly, and soft footsteps echoed through the room.

Young women entered the room, carrying trays of alcohol.

All of them were dressed in... extremely suggestive outfits.

They were technically still kimono, but the chestlines were plunging, and their waists were half-exposed.

...?

I honestly didn’t know where to look.

What the hell is this...?

The women smiled softly as they placed their trays down and sat beside us with graceful, fluid movements.

And finally, the last person to step into the room—

Takamine Reina.

She walked over delicately and sat right next to me.

“Do you always eat like this?”

Even with my sharp tone, she just laughed it off like it was nothing.

“When a distinguished guest comes from afar, we greet them with the highest honors our family can offer.”

I instinctively set my glass down.

I couldn’t not be thrown off by this.

“These are the finest dancers we’ve selected. It wouldn’t be a true celebration without song and dance, right?”

The dancers started showing off—singing, dancing, playing instruments.

I stared blankly at them, then glanced to the side without thinking.

Lyla.

She was quietly picking up her chopsticks and eating, calm as ever.

This is... weird.

That serene look on Lyla’s face—the way not even a single eyebrow twitched—it unsettled me.

And I didn’t know why.

Then Reina refilled my cup and gently placed her hand on my shoulder.

Her hand was soft and pale. A light, floral perfume tickled my nose.

But my body instinctively leaned away.

It wasn’t rejection, per se.

But it sure as hell didn’t feel good.

A beautiful woman was sitting next to me—getting close—and yet my heart didn’t race. I didn’t feel nervous.

If anything—

It’s annoying.

And suddenly, a thought hit me like a punch.

Lyla’s done this to me before... and I never felt like this.

Back at the department store, when she linked arms with me.

When she leaned on my shoulder and fell asleep at Mount Baekdu.

My heart didn’t race, my face didn’t flush.

It just felt... familiar. Comfortable.

Is it the alcohol kicking in?

No.

I hadn’t even drunk that much.

So why the hell was I so uncomfortable right now?

My thoughts were a mess. The dancers were in full swing.

The whole room felt like a different universe compared to the chaos in my head.

“Mmm... Hunter, I turned the heating up, but it still feels oddly chilly in here...”

I looked at Lyla again.

What was she feeling right now?

Was she maybe, just a little, bothered?

Or was she really completely unfazed?

This was driving me crazy.

Her peaceful expression made me irrationally upset.

What the hell am I thinking? Am I an idiot?

One thought spiraled into another.

And at the end of it, finally—clarity.

Ah... I like Lyla.

Calmly, but unmistakably.

The moment I recognized what I was feeling, my heart started pounding like crazy, and my face burned hot.

No matter how close the women came, I couldn’t take my eyes off her anymore.

“Gonna hit the restroom real quick...”

As I stood, Reina got up too, saying she’d guide me there.

“Nah, I’m not a kid. I’ll go by myself.”

I stepped into the bathroom, locked the door, and sat quietly on the toilet lid.

Then suddenly, I remembered what Nudungji had said to me a long time ago.

— You’ll meet someone good. Sometimes, the right one’s already closer than you think.

My heart... had already been right next to me.

The one who was always by my side—this whole time.

The one I’d been too dumb to notice until now.

The one I was finally starting to truly see.

I got my head on straight and headed back to the room.

But when I came back—no one was there.

No, wait. Not no one—Lyla was there. Alone.

“Huh? Where’d everyone go?”

“I just wanted to eat quietly, so I asked them to step out for a bit.”

“Ah... yeah.”

That ever-bright smile she always wore...

For some reason, I couldn’t quite look her in the eyes.

“Hero, did you drink a lot? Your face is all red.”

“Maybe they turned the heat up too high... it’s a little warm.”

Whenever it was just the two of us, Lyla sometimes started chatting about old times, rambling on with a smile.

Even now, she was smiling to herself, talking excitedly about something like it was the funniest story ever...

...

I needed to confess to Lyla.

If it wasn’t her, I didn’t think I could be with anyone.

****

While Song Hun was in the restroom...

The air in the room shifted.

Lyla set down her glass. Her mouth, her eyes—utterly still.

“Miss Reina.”

“Yes?”

“Could you please dismiss the others?”

Lyla’s voice was calm, but firm. Reina nodded and waved the dancers away.

They quietly bowed and slipped out one by one.

“They’ve all left. Is there something you wanted to—”

“Are you trying to seduce the Hero?”

A direct strike.

Reina choked, caught off guard, her words catching in her throat.

“Well... I do know how nobles use marriage to gain power.”

Lyla’s voice stayed level.

But the weight behind her words made it crystal clear—this wasn’t small talk.

“Miss Reina. Consider this your warning.”

She looked straight at Reina again.

Her gaze was steady—clear, cold.

“The Hero belongs to me. And I hate it when someone tries to steal what I’ve claimed.”

It wasn’t a threat. It was a truth.

Like a divine law, immutable.

But Reina wasn’t the type to back down easily.

“...You’re not even lovers yet, are you?”

Her voice was soft, but her words cut deep.

Yes, she was afraid of Lyla—instinctively—but her pride wouldn’t let her show it.

“He’s not spoken for. So approaching an attractive man isn’t—”

But that’s when it happened.

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Lyla’s hand shot out like lightning.

She grabbed Reina by the collar.

“Miss Reina. I told you.”

Her voice was quiet—but sharp like a blade, piercing the air.

“This is your warning.”

Reina was too stunned to speak.

Her eyes widened, her breath caught in her throat.

“You were planning to seduce him in that lewd outfit?”

Lyla yanked Reina’s collar even closer.

“The only person allowed to show her body to the Hero...”

Her lips curled slowly upward.

She leaned in close and whispered in Reina’s ear.

“...is me. And me alone.”

In that moment, Lyla shoved Reina back with a burst of strength.

“Don’t test my patience.”

And then, as if nothing had happened, Lyla smiled.

A calm, gentle smile—almost too sweet.

“I trust that was clear enough?”

Then she added one final line, wearing the most terrifyingly serene smile of all:

“We’ll handle the meal ourselves. Please leave.”

Reina couldn’t say a single word.

Disheveled, clutching her tangled hair and twisted clothes, she scrambled out of the room.

The door closed behind her.

Silence returned.

Lyla sat back down, took a deep breath, and lifted her glass again—like none of that had ever happened.

“Hmph... I guess I can’t just sit back and wait anymore.”