-[NTL (Weak)]-
I closed my eyes and looked at Min Ha-yeon, who was sleeping with her head on my thigh, her long hair scattered, and communicated.
'You have the perfect specs for our NTL Corporation. Min Ha-yeon, you're hired!'
[…I'll disqualify her.]
'What!!'
The tyranny of that CEO, blocking my joy of parachuting in a candidate…
Someday, I'll become the CEO…
I stared intently at Min Ha-yeon, who was pretending to sleep.
Min Ha-yeon, lying in a proper posture, was sleeping with her brown straight hair spread out like a fan.
Worried that her hair might get dirty on the ground, I gently lifted the strands from the floor and draped them over her shoulder.
Min Ha-yeon was….
'…She's not sleeping, is she?'
Her eyes were fluttering too obviously, and her lips were twitching.
[She doesn't seem to have a talent for pretending to sleep.]
'…Let me think about it.'
Leaving Min Ha-yeon, whose eyebrows were trembling, I looked at her traits again.
-[NTL (Weak)]-
As far as I knew, there was only one reason for such a trait.
'I think it's because of what happened in the dream.'
[I didn't expect such a trait to manifest from just one dream.]
'I just wanted to draw out some jealousy…'
Honestly, I didn't expect such a trait.
I just hoped that even if it wasn't jealousy, I would appear in her sexual dreams, and she would think about me all day.
But then, something incredible appeared.
No matter how I thought about it, the target of the trait was me.
I brushed the hair from Min Ha-yeon's forehead to the side.
Her lips twitched again…
'This is really strange… What does she see in me…'
[From what I've seen, dreams seem to have an enormous effect.]
'Is that so?'
Well, I've also played games because I suddenly wanted to see a heroine I disliked in a dream.
But I'm not sure if it's to this extent.
Thinking about it, Lena also had a huge effect…
In fact, Lena might not have become a companion if it weren't for the dream.
[It might be different for everyone, but I think pheromones played the biggest role.]
'Ah, that's convincing…'
Min Ha-yeon had built up sexual desire from masturbating in her dream, and after waking up, she kissed me for a long time.
And if the pheromones were involved at that time, then this NTL trait might have manifested not from the dream but from the influence of the pheromones.
But seeing me and Min Ha-yeon like this, the chat window was boiling with excitement.
Only one person, though.
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: Wtf… I stepped away for a moment and….
I made my voice audible only to the channel.
"What do you mean…. We're just spending some quality time together."
└Guardian of the Gay-Like Dick: Damn….
He, he…, reduced from 100,000 points to 10,000 points… look at his attitude…
I deliberately ignored the chatter and looked down at Min Ha-yeon.
If there was one thing I felt about her…
'She shouldn't act…'
[….]
Judging by her looks alone, she could have been a hit as an actress, but seeing her acting was utterly disappointing.
But I played along with her act and continued to let her use my lap as a pillow.
***
Min Ha-yeon, standing stiffly, apologized to Seong Suho while looking at the settlement window.
"Sorry… Because of me, we didn't earn much today."
"Don't worry about that. Earning points isn't the only important thing."
The number on the settlement window was 60,000.
It wasn't the distributed amount.
It was the total amount the two of them earned today.
The reason they earned so little today was because of Min Ha-yeon's nap.
She was so engrossed in Seong Suho's lap pillow that she actually fell asleep.
And when she woke up after some time, she quickly resumed hunting.
In her haste, she made mistakes during combat, and there were a few incidents.
But thanks to that, Min Ha-yeon was able to learn another one of Seong Suho's abilities.
"You were amazing earlier. Are you okay?"
"Ah, I'm fine. Don't worry."
Min Ha-yeon moved more hastily than usual, and as a result, she was surrounded by two groups of insect-type monsters.
The two groups of monsters that suddenly appeared were dangerous even to Min Ha-yeon, who had taken a potion.
But at that moment, Seong Suho covered her from behind with magic, allowing her to resolve the situation without getting seriously hurt.
"That magic was really amazing. You said you just shoot it with your fingers without any weapons, right?"
"Yeah, but it consumes a lot of mana."
Even to Min Ha-yeon, Seong Suho looked noticeably more tired than usual.
Seeing him like that, she began to blame herself internally.
'Should I let it go today? Haah… I want to drink with him…'
Min Ha-yeon wasn't particularly fond of alcohol, even if it was strong.
On the first day, she had offered it just to get closer to him.
Knowing that men liked drinking with women, Min Ha-yeon had intended to get closer to Seong Suho.
It was more of a memory ingrained in her mind out of annoyance than pride as a woman.
Because it wasn't a day or two since men had clung to her, trying to get her to drink.
But after spending two consecutive days with Seong Suho, drinking and talking with him had become one of her pleasures.
'They said the upper floors are more dangerous… If not now, we might not be able to drink comfortably later…'
In Min Ha-yeon's heart, Seong Suho had already established himself as a man she wanted to keep.
The desire to take Seong Suho, who had blossomed in her heart, grew more and more unrestrained.
Especially after seeing Seong Suho use magic earlier, her fondness for him increased even more.
Above all, there was one more reason why Min Ha-yeon decided she wanted to hold onto Seong Suho.
"Han Yeo-reum… When will you break up with him?"
After hearing Park Jin-hee's words in the morning, Min Ha-yeon was able to wash away the feelings she had been harboring for Han Yeo-reum.
According to Park Jin-hee, when Seong Suho and Min Ha-yeon left the party, Han Yeo-reum actually became happier.
With Min Ha-yeon gone, Han Yeo-reum acted unrestrainedly with women like a dog off its leash…
The absurd thing was Park Jin-hee's attitude as she explained this.
"…Are you really pairing me with Yeoreum?"
"Of course."
She even loved Han Yeo-reum's behavior.
Park Jin-hee was running on hope. The hope that if she dated him, he wouldn't look at other women…
'I was foolishly caught up in that hope…'
Min Ha-yeon let out a bitter laugh and said to Seong Suho.
"Suho, let's have dinner first."
"Yeah. Let's go."
Looking at the exhausted Seong Suho, Min Ha-yeon made up her mind.
'Not today… He's so tired, and if we drink, it might affect tomorrow's boss battle. I'll just be satisfied with having dinner together today…'
Min Ha-yeon smiled and followed him.
***
"…This isn't it."
"…."
Seong Suho was lying on the dining table, deep in sleep.
Min Ha-yeon, who had entered the restaurant as usual, planned to have a simple meal and call it a day.
But the innkeeper naturally brought out alcohol.
Min Ha-yeon had initially refused.
But Seong Suho suggested that now was the time to relax and drink, so they decided to have just one bottle…
"Damn… This isn't it…"
"Huu…"
One bottle wasn't enough, so they increased it to two, and then to three, until there were seven empty bottles on the table, shaking and dancing like awkward club-goers every time Seong Suho took a deep breath.
Seeing Min Ha-yeon drinking passively today, Seong Suho, who had been drinking actively, collapsed.
"…Let's take him to his room first."
Min Ha-yeon grunted as she grabbed Seong Suho's waist and lifted him up.
At that moment, Seong Suho's strong scent began to fill Min Ha-yeon's nose.
'…I noticed it since yesterday, but he really smells good.'
Min Ha-yeon unconsciously sniffed Seong Suho's neck.
"Such a scent…"
"Are you okay?"
"Gasp! Yes, yes! I'm fine…"
Distracted by the scent, Min Ha-yeon almost fell over when the innkeeper spoke.
She quickly straightened up and said to the innkeeper.
"Suho, it's the same room as yesterday, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
Min Ha-yeon, with Seong Suho's arm around her shoulder, headed to his room.
After struggling to bring Seong Suho in, she finally laid him down on the bed and plopped down on the bed herself.
Sitting down, Min Ha-yeon looked at Seong Suho lying there and fell into thought.
'…How does he see me?'
Min Ha-yeon, having received attention daily, could tell.
She was confident in her appearance.
Moreover, Seong Suho, having lived in the same world, recognized her immediately.
Min Ha-yeon judged that he must have some fondness for her, given his actions earlier (brushing her hair) when she had laid her head on his thigh.
'If I put myself in his shoes, I wouldn't do such a thing for someone I dislike…'
Brushing hair aside, would a man who dislikes her let her lay her head on his thigh?
Given her personality, she might have kicked him.
But Seong Suho had let her use his lap as a pillow for hours without waking her.
Such a gentle Seong Suho….
'It's okay, right? Just lying next to him?'
She wanted him.
She slowly lay down next to Seong Suho and gently stroked his cheek.
"Suho? Are you asleep?"
"…."
Seong Suho didn't respond.
Her heart shrank with guilt, but that guilt only fueled her excitement.
Min Ha-yeon hadn't lain next to a man like this since childhood.
This act of deviance, which she had never done since puberty, mixed her guilt and excitement, staining her once clear mind.
'This feeling… It's so good…'
Thanks to her title as a national representative, Min Ha-yeon rarely had days to rest.
Training until her arms couldn't move, then eating and sleeping was her routine.
Even on holidays, she couldn't rest properly.
Min Ha-yeon, who became famous through the media, found it burdensome even to go to the local supermarket because people kept talking to her.
The one thing that made her happy here was this.
Freedom.
Although she had bound herself with training and her own choices, gaining freedom felt incredibly good.
If she were to hug a man like this in South Korea?
No matter how meticulously Min Ha-yeon hid it, it would surely be exposed.
It would immediately be publicized in the media, and Min Ha-yeon's actions would undoubtedly become gossip.
'In that sense, is this place much better?'
At first, the freedom was unfamiliar, but after drinking with Seong Suho and experiencing acts of deviance, freedom began to feel familiar.
And after fully enjoying that freedom, a desire to cross ethical boundaries arose.
"Seong Suho…. You said you wanted to see that woman Luna again, right?"
Min Ha-yeon hugged Seong Suho tighter and muttered.
"I'll never let you go…. No, I won't let you go until I make you mine."
Min Ha-yeon fell asleep holding Seong Suho in her arms.
***
"…."
I heard Min Ha-yeon's eerie voice and pretended to be asleep like a dead mouse.
'…This is getting weirdly out of hand?'
[Maybe you should try a different approach with the dream next time.]
I didn't dislike Min Ha-yeon's actions.
If a woman like that wants to make me hers, there's no reason to dislike it.
But my ultimate goal is Han Yeo-reum.
If Han Yeo-reum and Min Ha-yeon have a falling out, or if Han Yeo-reum genuinely turns his attention to another woman in the next round, it could be problematic.
No, it's fine if he turns his attention to another woman, but Min Ha-yeon interfering with me would be a problem.
'I think it's important to establish dominance first.'
[It's a bit surprising that Min Ha-yeon still holds onto her chastity despite liking you so much.]
'From what she said during the drinking session, I think she's kept it because of her upbringing.'
Her parents are devoutly religious, and she said she's tried hard to follow their teachings.
She didn't say she was keeping her chastity, but from what her parents said, it seems she takes it seriously.
Breaking a belief she's held for 20 years won't be easy.
There must be some fear about her first experience too…
The problem is dominance.
To establish dominance, at least one sexual act is necessary.
And it can't be forced.
'I thought today was the opportunity, but it's a shame.'
[But you're still gaining hints about regression and your relationship with Min Ha-yeon, so you're making good progress.]
'Hehe… Thanks. Well, I can't do much now anyway. I used a lot of mana today, so I'll just sleep like this.'
[I hope you have a peaceful night.]
I received Armonia's farewell and went to bed, inhaling Min Ha-yeon's scent.
***
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