Copulation Dream

Without any warning, a system message popped up abruptly. Seo Joo-hwan stared at it for a moment, unable to decide right away.

The message had appeared because of the Copulation Dream item he'd acquired earlier. As the name suggested, it was clearly meant for entering someone's dream to copulate—in other words, have sex.

'With Ha-yeon in her dream... Hmm.'

Seo Joo-hwan glanced at Jeong Ha-yeon, who was slumped over her desk, fast asleep. She was still beautiful, but dark circles shadowed her eyes, and her skin looked a bit rough. Her naturally pale complexion, which had always seemed almost ghostly, now made her look faintly like a patient with the added exhaustion.

A thought struck him, and he opened his skill window.

All three skills were still at B-rank. He hadn't felt any shortage, so even after Lucy reached level 3, he hadn't upgraded them.

'I was planning to save up spare points and raise them later.'

He actually had nearly 200,000 LP saved up. But with spending becoming more frequent, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he'd aimed high.

Seo Joo-hwan spent the points without hesitation.

He opened the updated skill descriptions.

Seo Joo-hwan smiled in satisfaction at the enhanced effects. The main goal of the rank-up had been to strengthen the massage and healing in Holy Touch, but the bonus from Holy Scrotum aligned perfectly too.

He stared at the still-floating message and made his decision inwardly. His eyes closed on their own, and Lucy's voice whispered in his ear.

'...This isn't about sex. I'm just going to relieve Ha-yeon's fatigue.'

It almost felt like Lucy was smirking. Come to think of it, he wondered if skills would work in the dream too.

*Ding.

I snapped my eyes open at the voice ringing in my ears. A landscape that felt both unfamiliar and strangely familiar unfolded ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠before me.

Dozens of desks and chairs surrounded me, and a massive green chalkboard loomed at the front. Dozens of people chattered noisily around me, all dressed in somewhat uniform attire despite slight variations.

'School uniforms?'

This was a classroom. I'd realized that the moment I opened my eyes, but the classroom and uniforms felt worlds apart from the school I'd attended as a kid—utterly alien.

'Ah, right—this is inside a dream.'

My head had been foggy, thoughts sluggish, but now it clicked. This classroom must be from Jeong Ha-yeon's high school days.

Yet the uniforms looked oddly familiar. Then it hit me.

"Huh? Does that mean Ha-yeon's in her uniform too?"

It had to be. I glanced around eagerly. I'd never seen her in a high school uniform, even before regression.

But suddenly, curses flew from behind me.

"This crazy bastard ignores my question—what the hell?"

"Damn, Seo Joo-hwan's spacing out again. Can't you see what's right in front of you?"

I turned to see a much younger Jeong Ha-yeon and Lee Seok-chan. As expected, both in uniforms.

"Whoa..."

I couldn't hold back my admiration. Ha-yeon in her school uniform!

'Wait, hold on. Hitting that in this state—wouldn't that be a crime? No, no—I'm not here to fuck. I'm here for a massage. But it'd be more effective if she were naked, right?'

As idiotic thoughts swirled in my head, Jeong Ha-yeon looked at me pitifully, her face colder and more sunken than in reality.

"Did you hear me?"

Her tone was chilly, but her attitude suggested I was her friend even in the dream.

I scratched the corner of my eye and asked back.

"Uh, sorry. What'd you say?"

"Dude, seriously. I asked if you're going to college."

"College?"

I blinked, then nodded. Weird topic out of nowhere—then I spotted "3-7" at the back of the classroom. Seniors prepping for exams, got it.

"Gotta go sometime."

"R-Really? So college is a must?"

Jeong Ha-yeon visibly panicked at my answer. Meanwhile, Lee Seok-chan—who looked way more like a delinquent here—yawned hugely, mouth stretched wide. Piercings, dyed blond hair—the guy was a total punk in high school.

I turned to the still-flustered Jeong Ha-yeon. "What about you, Ha-yeon? Not going?"

"Uh... I was thinking of just getting a job right away."

Right—she'd started working late and entered college later.

Lee Seok-chan yawned again and said casually, "Yawn. Guess I won't go either then."

"What? Hey, just 'cause I'm not going doesn't mean you shouldn't!"

"Pfft, what're you on about, loser? I'm just too lazy."

"Who's the loser!"

"You, dude. You."

"This jerk!"

Jeong Ha-yeon lunged at Lee Seok-chan, who dodged familiarly and ran off. I chuckled at the familiar sight. No different from now.

"Hey! Joo-hwan, why're you laughing?"

The target switched to me. I shut my mouth under her fierce glare. High school Ha-yeon seemed meaner than her 23-year-old self.

Instead of retorting, I fired back. "Why don't you wanna go to college, Ha-yeon?"

"Me? Just... wanna be independent ASAP."

"Independent? Right at 20? Why?"

She scowled. "Told you last time. Wanna get out of the house quick."

You didn't, though. A bit miffed, but I let it slide.

"You can just dorm or live off-campus after college."

"Where's the money for that? Gotta work first to afford rent."

Classic Ha-yeon logic. Rent does drain you.

"Then pick a school with dorms."

"Tuition doesn't pay itself."

I nodded again. I'd thought tuition might be okay, but apparently not. Family must be tight on cash. Explains her grade obsession—scholarships, probably.

But crucially, she does end up going to college later.

I scratched my eye and said, "Honestly, college isn't mandatory. But you want to go, right?"

"Yeah... I do. Mom wants me to too."

"There you go."

"Go where?"

I shrugged. This was a dream anyway, and in reality we were already in college together—but I wanted to reassure high school Ha-yeon.

"Save up and go later."

"...But then I won't know anyone. Not you or Seok-chan."

Hm. Sounds like she really had no friends. Hard to believe with her looks. Why?

I reassured the downcast Jeong Ha-yeon. "It's fine. I'll enroll and take a gap year right away."

"For real? But... can I save for rent and tuition in a year?"

"Didn't say a year. After ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠military, it's three."

"Ah... military. Yeah, three years—we could go together."

Jeong Ha-yeon suddenly beamed. That happy over going to school with friends? Her innocent 19-year-old smile—so damn cute, cuter than anything I'd seen while dating. I couldn't help laughing.

"Pfft... Huh?"

Mid-laugh, I rubbed my eyes in confusion. The scenery blurred, then shifted in an instant.

Whoosh—rain poured down like the sky had ruptured. Thunder rumbled, lightning cracking across the heavens.

I stood in an unfamiliar place, umbrella in hand. My clothes weren't the uniform anymore. Something felt off—I looked at my hands. My body had shrunk smaller than at 19. Middle school? No, around 17? Hard to tell.

'Dream logic—time and space bend to whim.'

I started walking. Rain hammered so hard the umbrella barely helped; my clothes soaked through. I ducked under a nearby building's eaves.

A sharp-eyed middle-aged man stood there, face grim. He looked burdened by the world's woes, yet handsome. Why notice? He seemed familiar, despite being a stranger.

As I observed, he gave a bitter smile. "You're Seo Joo-hwan, right?"

"You know me?"

"Ha-yeon's friend. Here to see her?"

"...Yes."

I answered a beat late. This building didn't scream "Ha-yeon spot."

"Good, thanks for coming. Uncle'll show you—follow me."

"Thank you."

I replied politely, but my face stiffened. The building was a funeral home attached to a hospital.

'Not Ha-yeon.'

She couldn't be dead—she was alive right now. So, probably a close acquaintance... or family.

As we descended to the basement and reached the door, he stroked my head, pained. "Uncle can't go in. Shouldn't even be here... but stay by Ha-yeon's side."

Why not? And who was he? I felt like I knew.

'Looks like Seok-chan. But those eyes...'

I swallowed dryly and nodded. Figuring him out mattered less than going in.

Creeeak. Inside was empty. Food and drinks aplenty, but few people—eerie loneliness. A few ajummas chattering kept it from total dead air.

"How'd Ha-yeon's mom go?"

"Cancer, I heard."

"Aigoo, leaving that young kid... Why so few people? How's a child handling funeral duties? That's Jang ajumma next to her."

"Heard Ha-yeon's mom was raised alone. Orphanage grad."

"Orphanage?"

"Yeah."

"Aigoo..."

"No relatives, few friends. Just worked at the factory. No husband—raised Ha-yeon solo."

"Oh my. What about Ha-yeon now?"

"Exactly."

I glared at the gossiping ajummas. Quiet down or shut up. Silence would've been better. They met my eyes, startled—then vanished like they'd never been.

Dream weirdness—no logic. I rubbed my stinging eyes.

'Ha-yeon's mom died. Lived alone? Then that man...'

Easy to guess. Similar eyes—her father. And like Seok-chan because...

'...Not close like siblings. They are siblings.'

I stepped over the threshold, head swirling with questions. If he's her dad, why not presiding? Why come if family issues? How'd Ha-yeon and Seok-chan manage? What's their real relationship now?

But I didn't need answers. This was a dream—could differ from reality.

Still, I knew why I was here. In Ha-yeon's dream, this time, this place—she wanted me.

The dream belonged to her, not me. I walked deeper, peering into an open room. Two in black: probably Jang ajumma, and Jeong Ha-yeon, face vacant.