The First Day of the 7-Day Temptation Trial Begins
Checking the memo stuck to the wall before even washing my face in the morning—that was the first thing I did. [7-Day Limit Plan]
1. Reduce lucid dream searches during the day
2. Cut down on checking my hand’s back of hand—ideally to zero
3. Right before bed, no “this is a dream” reminder
4. In dreams, only reactions, no directing
5. No imagining Subin’s face as someone else (this one is real no-go)
The line I’d scribbled yesterday right next to it caught my eye. I didn’t want to change it anyway. “……I’m wasted, for real.” Last night’s me had been pretty drunk. Drunk on the succubus, on emotions, on the board. Yet the memo was shockingly clear-headed. Every single item was needed right now. I read it one more time, then deliberately turned my hand’s back away. For the whole day I’d decided—no experiments, no lucid dream practice. “Day one. Let’s stick to the plan.” Saying it out loud made it feel a little more real.
While eating breakfast I still kept my phone pushed far away. My hand could have opened the portal and typed “lucid dream” in two letters, but today I’d chosen not to. Mom asked, “Why so quiet today? You’ve been eating without looking at your phone for a while.” “Today’s digital detox day.” “Detox? What weird challenge is this now?” “A challenge with the succubus company.” Mom hadn’t caught the words and didn’t need to. She just shook her head and ladled another spoonful of soup. The TV was running another job ad. Some big corporation was cutting entry-level hires, restructuring, the usual. “Reality companies are impossible to get into and once you’re in they cut you, but the succubus company locks you in the second you sign.” I muttered it under my breath. Mom glanced at me. “Cut the monologues and say more actual words.” “I am saying words. I’m just saying succubus words too.” That one she definitely didn’t get.
In the afternoon I forced myself to fill the house with chores. Cleaning the room, throwing out trash, organizing the closet, doing things I never did. Normally this would be called “a healthy day of focusing on reality,” but honestly the only goal was one thing. —Tire myself out as much as possible during the day. —Make sure I can actually fall asleep at night. —Cut down on pointless lying around daydreaming. Even so, every so often Subin’s face would slip in. Every time I opened a door, every time I caught my reflection in the mirror, every time I turned on the shower. The sensations from last night’s dream had risen straight onto the surface of reality, calm as anything. The water sliding down my shoulders, her hand faintly overlapping it. Eyes closed and it got better. Pink hair, black horns, the tiny shift in her expression between business mode and… not. “Hey, no.” I shut off the water and stared hard at the ceiling. “At least during the day, try to cut that thought.” It was a self-directed scolding, but it didn’t stick. Of course I knew I’d see her again at night; I couldn’t help thinking about her. And of course I couldn’t fake lucid dreaming right now. All I could do was “be a little less focused during the day so I don’t screw up at night.” That was the best I could manage.
By mid-afternoon boredom crept in. I’d finished every household chore. My resume was going nowhere today anyway. I considered turning on the game, then just picked up my phone. Scrolling the SNS feed, I spotted a familiar ad. [Sleep Management App: Log today’s dreams! Includes lucid dream practice features] “……The whole world really has no idea.” I chuckled at the ad. The words “lucid dream practice features” felt like it was filing a direct report on my exact situation. What would actually happen if I tapped it? “Imagine the background you want in today’s dream.” “Repeat ‘this is a dream’ three times before bed.” “Remembering familiar places makes it easier to stay awake in dreams.” Those sentences were too vivid. “I’ve already done all that and I’ve already been roasted for it.” I pressed the ad closed and tossed the phone aside. Through the window I stole a glance. The sun was slowly tilting toward the horizon. How long had it been since dusk felt this real?
Before the sun fully set I checked the memo again. [7-Day Limit Plan] The fourth item jumped out. 4. In dreams, only reactions, no directing. “Day one.” I tapped the line with my finger, turned off the light, and lay down. I didn’t even say “this is a dream.” I didn’t look at my hand. I just closed my eyes quietly. All the preparation I could do from the real side had been done. The rest was up to the succubus company, to Subin, and to my own unconscious. My awareness slowly sank. The last thing I saw was Subin in her black suit standing under the conference-room fluorescent lights.
My breathing changed. The air thickened. Lifting my eyelids, I knew immediately it was “the other side” today too. This time it wasn’t the bed. Soft fabric, a couch. A huge screen straight ahead, bookshelves lining both sides. “……Where is this?” I sat up and looked around. I had a vague sense of recognition. The living room. But not our apartment. Soft lighting, clean rug on the floor, neatly arranged glasses on the table. “What kind of concept is this? Newlywed house?” “It’s a house I live in alone.” A familiar voice came from behind. I turned. Subin stood there. Today she wasn’t in the conference-room suit. A loose button-up shirt hung open. A few buttons undone let the collar and cleavage show naturally; below were short shorts. “……Homewear that’s actually comfortable?” “Yeah. Humans’ imagined ‘perfect night home’ setting.” Subin spun once in a slow circle. “Today’s theme: after work, coming home to… I don’t know, a person I live with?” “We never actually decided we’d live together.” “Dream logic, so I put in an advance.” She sat down on the opposite side of the couch. “First, let’s start with what I have to report.” “Report?” “Yeah. Surveillance passed it on.” Subin snapped her fingers. A small window opened in mid-air. [Yesterday lucid dream intervention index: below baseline] [Risk group rating: maintained] [Separation protocol: on hold] “Yesterday you at least didn’t get disqualified.” “O…” I felt weirdly satisfied. “I didn’t get kicked out on day one.” “Don’t get too cocky.” Subin slid the window aside. [Monitoring difficulty: increasing] [Additional observation items: customer-initiated fantasy responses] “What is this?” “You were too obedient yesterday.” Subin explained. “So they wrote ‘check if this human secretly intervened during the day’ and added it.” “Wow… suspicion is default there.” “It’s a demon company.” The words were light, but the meaning wasn’t. “Bottom line.” Subin opened another window with a finger. [Today’s goal: 1. Zero customer-initiated intervention 2. Measure customer impulse level 3. Check for risky words and risky fantasy responses] “What are risky words?” “‘Let’s change it,’ ‘I’ll try,’ ‘this would be better if…’ stuff like that.” “Whoa, that’s exactly what I said yesterday.” “That’s why it got added to the observation list.” She exhaled deeply. “Anyway, today we follow the same rules as yesterday. You react only. I direct.” “Got it.” I nodded. The words came out easy, but the weight sat heavy in my chest. “Today too, never flip the board.” Even in a dream doing nothing felt more frustrating than failing in reality.
Sitting on the couch really did feel like coming home after work. The TV was playing some movie. I couldn’t see the plot clearly. Just silhouettes of a man and a woman walking through a dark night. Subin slid closer. Her scent came through stronger today. After a shower I smelled soap; in the dream they still added every tiny detail. The succubus company’s tech was seriously impressive. “Jitae.” “Yeah.” “Today we can push a little harder than yesterday.” “Pushing harder means the company approved it?” “As long as you don’t intervene, the intensity is fine.” Subin looked at me. “But the important part is whether you’re paying attention.” “Oh, today’s temptation difficulty is up.” “Yeah. The trial is harder. Still, since you made it yesterday, I’m going to trust you today too.” She leaned naturally against my shoulder. The skin contact felt far clearer than yesterday. “……Hey, this is cheating.” “I haven’t done anything yet?” “I’ve done a lot already?” I turned my head. The skin visible between her shirt, the slightly messy hair, the eyes. Way more “at-home” vibe than yesterday. “You asked what the concept was.” Subin pushed deeper into the couch. “Coming home after work and just collapsing on the sofa together.” “But why does that night look so dangerous?” “You have the imagination to roll toward danger even sitting normally.” “I’ll admit it.” It was banter, but it was true. Right now the thoughts flashing in my head were already almost directing. The angle where I could naturally curl against her if I just shifted. The hand that could slip inside her shirt. The flow that would continue the moment I lay down. I deliberately pictured all those thoughts then cut them off. “……Hah.” A small breath escaped before I could stop it. Subin noticed and looked at my face. “Hard?” “Obviously.” “Holding back?” “Yeah.” I said it honestly. “In a dream, knowing it’s a dream, it should be easy not to hold back, right?” “But right now?” “Right now… I’m holding back because I don’t want you to get cut.” The moment the words left my mouth, Subin’s eyes flickered. “……That’s a pretty dangerous thing to say.” “Why?” “It’ll flag as ‘increased emotional dependence on the succubus’ from above.” “My graph’s already there though.” “True.” Subin smiled. “But from my side it’s kind of nice.” She leaned even closer. “Anyway, while you’re holding back I have to work hard, so today leave it to me.” “I already left it to you.” “Yesterday only half. Today it’s one hundred percent.” She wrapped her arm around my waist. “You just breathe, react, and endure.” My breathing quickened naturally. I repeated in my head—change background, don’t touch lighting, don’t let Subin’s face shake me. Every fantasy was forbidden. The only allowed thing was react to whatever the succubus right in front of me did. That was everything I could do today.
Subin shifted. The shirt sleeve loosened. Skin brushed underneath but was quickly covered again. “Done.” She muttered. “Setting complete.” “Setting?” “Yeah. The intensity and patterns we’re allowed within surveillance limits.” “You planned all of that ahead?” “Of course. I have to set the board first so you can’t just make it up.” Subin smiled and placed her hand on my knee. “Today: house, just the two of us, quiet living room, sofa.” “Bed?” “No.” Firm. “The moment I imagine moving to the bed, your imagination level will spike. That’s not approved yet.” “Even on the sofa there’s no guarantee it won’t spike?” “That’s why I’m watching your face right now.” Subin studied my expression carefully for a long time. “Jitae.” “Yeah.” “Did you imagine me pulling you to the bed just now?” “……A little.” “A little how much?” “Getting up from the sofa, grabbing your waist, lifting you—” “Stop there.” Subin covered my mouth with her hand. “The second you think that, they’re already writing it in the notes.” “What exactly?” “‘Bed movement scenario imagination: once.’” “Whoa… even when I sigh it gets recorded there.” “Yeah. The intervals between your sighs get recorded too.” The program was cold. The system was watching everything. Just remembering that made somewhere on my body tense. “So from now on—” Subin moved her hand to rest on the back of my hand. “We’re really practicing doing nothing.” “But you?” “I’m going to do a lot.” She narrowed her eyes and smiled. “That’s my job.”
At some point the movie sound on screen faded. All I heard now was the breathing right beside me and the faint friction. Subin didn’t push me away or pull me closer. She simply found the exact point where my reaction exploded and touched it. My hand stayed locked on the sofa armrest. One single movement from me and the graph would spike. “Jitae.” Subin whispered. “What are you thinking right now?” “……Counting down.” “To what?” “How many seconds until I screw up.” She let out a tiny laugh. “Want me to help?” “With what?” “Not messing up.” Subin leaned in, lips brushing my neck. It wasn’t deep, but it definitely distracted. My mind went white. The temptation to change the background, to make the lighting darker, to roll straight to the bed from this position—all at once. I slammed the brakes hard. ‘No.’ ‘This isn’t me. I’m the audience right now.’ My breathing grew ragged. Subin’s eyes widened for half a second, then she smoothed her expression. “……Good.” She whispered. “You’re doing great right now.” “Doing great means doing nothing.” “In this world, doing nothing is the hardest thing of all.” The words somehow sounded like they came from above.
Gradually the air lightened. Lighting dimmed, couch texture faded, Subin’s fingertips lost strength. “……Is it over?” I asked with a short laugh. “Yeah. Today’s quota done.” “They use the word ‘quota’ even here.” “We’re in the content industry.” Subin said it like a joke. She leaned back against the sofa and caught her breath. “So, result?” “Wait.” She snapped her fingers again. Another window opened. [Daily lucid dream intervention index: near or above baseline] [Risky words used: 0] [Forced directing attempts: 0] [Spontaneous fantasy level: high] “High what?” “Means your mind was chaotic.” Subin glanced at the window. “Still, no violations. You made it through today, customer.” “……Hah.” I slumped back on the couch and let out a long breath. “Wow, this really is hard.” “It is hard.” Subin lay down beside me and turned her head. “Even in a dream doing nothing is a bigger cage than reality.” “You’re struggling too?” “Obviously.” She laughed. “Normally we push and pull each other until we break. Now it’s just me getting winded.” She was laughing, but the words were strangely serious. “Still…” Subin reached out and lightly tapped the back of my hand. “You held up well today.” “Two days of praise in a row.” “If I get more tomorrow, that’ll be three days straight.” “What do you do with that record?” “My personal performance review?” She winked playfully. “Anyway, up until today the odds you get cut because of me have gone up a little.” “Hearing that makes me want to do even better.” “Then do well tomorrow too.” Subin closed her eyes, then opened them slightly. “Tomorrow we’ll go a little riskier than today.” At the same moment the living room blurred. The TV faded, the sofa disappeared, the lighting dimmed—until only Subin’s eyes remained clear.
I woke up. This time breathing wasn’t so ragged. My heart was still racing, but strangely the weight felt lighter than yesterday. I lay there staring at the ceiling for a moment, then sat up. I checked the memo on the wall. [7-Day Limit Plan] Below it I’d drawn one extra line with a pen. [Day 1 – Passed] [Day 2 – Difficulty up, but still passed] It was kind of funny. If someone saw it they’d think I’d cleared a game. “……Still.” I muttered, finger touching the paper. “At least in here I feel like I’m doing something.” In reality the rejection emails kept piling up, but for these seven days I was still holding on to stop succubus disqualification. The reason I was tilting toward Subin was probably an unavoidable side effect. I wrote one tiny line underneath. [Bonus: Subin must not get cut] Then I covered that part with my hand. “……This is just for me.” After that silly little monologue, a strange mix of fear and anticipation rose for tonight. Only two days in. Five more days of temptation getting stronger, trials getting harsher, my head getting more chaotic. But—for now, on this board, one thing was clear. “Succubus disqualification won’t come first because of my mistake.” I made that vow and stepped back into reality.