Chapter 20: Even in Dreams, What Shouldn't Be Done, Shouldn't Be Done (1)

To briefly explain the plot of my "Possessed by an Idle Game":

"You must know about a man called Kang Si-woo who came to this world from elsewhere, Gabriel."

The protagonist of this novel, office worker Kang Si-woo, had only one joy and refuge in life: playing mobile games after work.

The game was titled "Make the Idle Holy Maiden Happy," where I set up the game's premise that players become heroes, defeat monsters, and aim to raise the Holy Maiden's affection level.

The Holy Maiden was Azazel, and before encountering the Outer God, she had the nickname "Saint of Mercy."

Like the real-world game "Al*ego," she was a character who listened to concerns using choice options that tested the player's psychology.

Kang Si-woo was the protagonist who became obsessed with this game character, decorating his entire room with her merchandise and figures.

Since there are many people seriously into subculture games in reality, I thought I could achieve commercial success with such a web novel.

"Hmm... I'm really curious about your source of information. Could you be speaking based on the future my sister saw?"

Gabriel blinked her eyes wide in surprise while listening to my story, properly arranging the hand that had been propping her chin.

In my original work, Kang Si-woo got hit by a truck, possessed the hero in the game world, and immediately upon opening his eyes, met a pink-haired woman.

'The problem was that person wasn't Azazel who had been waiting for Kang Si-woo, but her identical sister...'

I sighed deeply while looking at Azazel's face. I hadn't known that writing about my inability to escape my brother's shadow would come back like this.

"No, I came to find her a proper lover. How can someone be called a man if they can't even recognize the person they like?"

Kang Si-woo thought the woman he first met was Azazel and began traveling with Gabriel.

As they held hands, embraced, and shared deep kisses while developing their feelings.

Eventually their relationship progressed to the point of bestial physical intimacy, and Azazel falling into despair upon witnessing this scene -

That was the beginning of my "Possessed by an Idle Game."

Back then, I had wanted to try for a viral rebound by making the beginning spicy.

"My... What an unexpected story. Most men act like their brains are in their crotch."

Gabriel narrowed her eyes while shifting her gaze to my groin. I had never described such perverted gazes.

Dream Demons were a race specialized in digging into people's hearts, finding their weaknesses, and showing them desired dreams.

"Do you really intend not to lay hands on your disciples? Even when they come of age?"

Having read information from me using her distinctive demon eyes, Gabriel spoke as if mocking me.

I knew Bi Wol harbored special feelings for me. I also knew Verdandi had emotions beyond normal affection, but.

"How could someone who lays hands on a child they raised like their own be called human? Even beasts don't do such things."

I would absolutely never lay hands on my disciples.

Because I was the one who pushed them into the pit of unhappiness, and I had only saved them for my own self-satisfaction.

Such things couldn't be called love.

"I like such dog-like men though. Unlike your disciples, I'm an adult too."

"Shut up."

I grabbed Gabriel's wrist as she tried to tickle my chest with her finger, showing my displeasure.

Though she appeared angelic on the outside, she was a devilish woman who would steal even committed people's lovers for her own amusement.

"Fine then. So why did you call for me?"

"To check if there are any differences between what I know about Azazel Blackheart's actions and reality. And..."

I slowly brought up the main point to Gabriel. I thought her guidance was essential to meet Azazel now.

"...To make you guide me to Azazel."

"My, you're saying this even knowing I've become intimate with the person she likes?"

"Yes."

I nodded while listening to Gabriel's words. It was a setting that had to be revealed to Azazel by me and her.

The Holy Maiden who regretted not being able to meet Kang Si-woo, the original protagonist, in the smartphone.

Azazel spent her days gradually developing her love for him. Dreaming of a chance to meet him someday.

However,

'In the end, Azazel didn't know exactly what kind of person Kang Si-woo was. She only saw his good sides and thought he had no flaws.'

In truth, I had set up the real Kang Si-woo, not his hero character, as not such a good male protagonist.

Like common harem protagonists, he was the type who wouldn't stop women who came to him and would hold onto those trying to leave.

While my fault was great for creating a narrative thinking it would be stimulating if the heroine showed BSS (But I Liked Him First).

'Since it was planned as a harem story from the start.'

There was also a problem with how much I emphasized the Holy Maiden's one-sided love for the male protagonist in "Possessed by an Idle Game."

In the end, it became the reason for receiving tremendous abuse in early chapter comments and communities, leaving only one reader by the latter half.

"Isn't this an opportunity for you? Pretending you did it on purpose to prevent your younger sister from meeting a trash-like man."

When I said this, Gabriel's eyes immediately narrowed and her lips quivered.

No matter if they were twins, people couldn't have exactly the same atmosphere, way of speaking, behavior, and habits.

Kang Si-woo had to feel this sense of incongruity as he got to know Gabriel.

Just as she couldn't read all the information I was hiding now, Dream Demons' abilities had their limits.

"That's right. Even though he knew at some point that I wasn't his younger sister, that man turned a blind eye to that part and lusted after my body."

Gabriel acted as if emphasizing her chest by pulling it together with both hands, and when I turned my gaze away, she smirked.

Thus, Gabriel was a contradictory character like someone with both angelic and demonic sides.

At first, she had approached partly out of curiosity about how it would feel to steal her younger sister's love.

"Occasionally when he got angry, he would strangle my neck, hit me, and even order me to self-harm, saying he was curious to see my face in pain."

Later, thinking such a man should absolutely not be allowed near her younger sister, she had deliberately shown the NTR scene.

"Wasn't it painful?"

"...Well. Many men have done worse things to me, so I think that level is normal?"

Gabriel spoke while sipping tea, as if it were nothing. For her, love was like that.

A outlet for sadistic and masochistic, twisted emotions.

"That's not love. How can violence be love?"

I shook my head watching her. This was the same logic I had as a child.

After my brother died, I thought even my father's domestic violence was better than indifference.

"Is that so? Love has many forms, and I just think of it more comprehensively."

"That's sophistry. Would someone who does that steal others midway to prevent them from approaching bad men?"

"...You really are different. I'd like to spend a night together to see what you're like."

She tried to test how I would react by casting an aphrodisiac spell. I immediately drew up the cold energy within me to block any other energy from entering.

"Is Azazel really in the monastery here? Since she's a Dream Demon, the old men of the Papal Curia wouldn't recognize her as a Holy Maiden."

"Yes, but it's quite remote. As a precaution to prevent my sister from meeting a harsh man and falling in love."

I had written that love was like deadly poison to succubi.

For Dream Demons who had to enjoy new experiences by being intimate with many men,

I thought it would be interesting to have a setting where pure love focusing on one man was dangerous enough to stake one's life on.

It was a kind of trope subversion.

So I added the setting of this street where one could taste new experiences and dreams without any love, for plausibility.

"Do you know she contracted with an Outer God?"

"Yes, we succubi will do anything when we fall in love."

Gabriel's fingertips trembled slightly as she said this, and she forced herself to raise the corners of her mouth.

"Could you guide us? I'd like to meet Azazel with my disciples."

"Why should I do that?"

"I want to help her meet a proper man and learn about love. I have the same feelings as you."

"...My."

As if surprised by my words, Gabriel covered her mouth with her hand and shrugged her shoulders.

"What's your name?"

"I'm Bing Yeon. I run a small sect in the East. Simply put, it's a place where I take in children with nowhere to go and teach them martial arts."

After hearing my name, Gabriel repeated "Bing Yeon... Bing Yeon..." several times, then spoke with a satisfied expression.

"...Your disciples already seem completely smitten with you. To the point where I wonder if our Azazel would be alright growing up under your care."

"I think it's just momentary light affection. When they come of age and meet more people, their perspective will probably change."

I said this, but Gabriel shook her head and laughed softly as if in disbelief.

"Someone like you must know that the weight of love doesn't depend on age?"

"I know that much, but still, they're children I raised like daughters. If I don't harbor impure thoughts, they'll let go of their attachment too."

This was partly why I served them Dream Demon food to let them experience new love.

No matter if I saved them, why would they continue to harbor romantic feelings for an old man like me?

In normal society, a master touching his disciples wouldn't just be criticized as thievery - they'd be called trash.

"Is that really so? I'd like to watch from the side."

"I'll pass. So, will you guide us?"

"Yes! Of course..."

Just as Gabriel nodded and was about to respond, the firmly closed back door opened and several men entered.

"It's terrible! Miss Gabriel! The guests are causing chaos in their dreams!"

The owners of those voices were incubi. They had bruises on their faces as if they'd been hit.

"Uhuung... Never thought I'd get kicked in the groin in a dream..."

"I-I just recited some cheesy romantic lines, but I almost got my tongue ripped out..."

Their faces were covered in terror and cold sweat. I had an ominous feeling about where this incident originated.

"Who on earth...? No, how could anyone resist a Dream Demon's dream in the first place?!"

Yes, this couldn't happen with normal people or adventurers. They shouldn't be able to resist after eating Dream Demon food.

However,

"...It must be my disciples. I apologize, everyone."

It seemed the final bosses I had set up as the strongest and most fearsome to decorate each novel wouldn't fall for such tricks so easily.