A Midnight Temptation

Late at night. Ju Joyeon's room.

"Ugh..."

Ju Joyeon jolted awake from his dream and immediately rolled his eyes around, checking his own condition. Thanks to being crushed under the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Modern God's overwhelming presence, he was drenched in cold sweat, his clothes completely soaked, and goosebumps covered his entire body.

"...I really shouldn't mess around anymore."

Having finally realized just how different the existence of a god was from himself, Ju Joyeon felt grateful that he had made it back alive and sat up.

"...But I still can't let that insult to my parents slide. Honestly, I didn't do anything wrong. That woman is way too hypocritical, isn't she? She herself is... ah."

Ju Joyeon suddenly recalled what the Modern God and the Magic God had said—that Arty had entered his room. He quickly looked around, but there was no sign of her.

Where is she? I heard she couldn't leave, but... where exactly?

Squish~ Thud! Crash!!

"Guh...!"

It happened in an instant. While turning to check his surroundings, Ju Joyeon reached for the bed and accidentally grabbed something impossibly soft. Before he could even process what it was, he recoiled as if burned and tumbled straight off the bed onto the floor.

"Ughhh—! Ow, damn it...! That just now...!"

Unable to execute a proper breakfall, Ju Joyeon groaned in pain yet forced his eyes open to see what was on the bed. Naturally, it was Arty, fast asleep in dreamland.

Dragging his aching body upright, Ju Joyeon directed his frustration at her.

Didn't Mom say she forced her in here? Why is she in my bed again? Does this girl have no sense of modesty whatsoever? Or does she actually like me?... No, that can't be it. What would she see in someone like me? She's probably just messing with me because she's sure I won't lay a hand on her.

Standing before the blanket-covered Arty, Ju Joyeon resolved that he wouldn't let her push him around this time.

According to the Martial God, the title should prevent me from being driven by lust and attacking her anyway. I'll just shake her awake until she comes to her senses!

Ju Joyeon yanked the blanket away with all his strength and shouted.

"Get up— Aaaagh!"

He threw the blanket back over her several times faster than he had removed it.

Eh?! Naked? What the— How? Why?!

Arty, who had been clinging to him under the blanket, had her already sheer underwear rendered nearly invisible by both his sweat and her own. To make matters worse—

What the hell! I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thought I was immune! Why does this keep happening every time I see her?! Is she actually a succubus?!

Ju Joyeon screamed internally while desperately suppressing the burning heat spreading through his chest. The reason he kept falling under these status effects was because Arty possessed the title Peerless Beauty and he had seen her in such an exposed state multiple times—something no ordinary person would ever witness. But unaware of this, he trembled under the charm effect and approached the blanket-covered Arty as if being pulled in.

Fortunately, just before he could pull the blanket off again, the title given by the Martial God activated properly. Ju Joyeon barely managed to stop his wayward legs and let out a sigh of relief.

Phew~ If I ever actually meet that guy again, I'm giving him a piece of my mind... without committing blasphemy. But seriously, "Beloved Doll"? What kind of title name is that?

With a bit of composure restored, Ju Joyeon checked the newly acquired title's effects.

"Charm resistance... halved when facing the Peerless Beauty..."

"...Shit."

The heat he thought had subsided began rising again. His previously halted arms and legs started moving once more. While the title had halved all effects, the sheer number of debuffs was overwhelming.

Stop, you perverted bastard...! What the hell are you trying to do...! Do you have no sense of decency left?!

Ju Joyeon's body, whose morals had long since flown out the window, mercilessly flung away the blanket covering Arty.

"Mmm~ Cold~"

Startled by the sudden temperature change, Arty woke up.

****

A cozy space. Warm, yet slightly hot. And somehow sticky. Yet strangely, there was no discomfort—only a sense of comfort filled the space. Arty was spending a happy time in such a place. However, the space she wished would remain unchanged forever suddenly transformed.

Whoosh! A sudden gust of wind. Followed by a rapid temperature drop. It was as shocking to Arty as stepping out of a warm hot spring into the bitter cold of winter. Naturally, she opened her eyes.

"Mmm~ Cold~"

Following the chill brushing against her skin, Arty hugged her shoulders and slowly opened her eyes. Filling her vision was one thing.

...It's Ju Joyeon~

Ju Joyeon was resisting his instincts with the last thread of reason and a shred of morality. But even that had reached its limit.

...He looks like he's struggling... Why...? Is it because of me?

Recalling her state before falling asleep, Arty rolled her eyes to check her own condition. She was lying on the bed in nothing but soaked underwear. It was even more provocative than being completely naked.

Ahh. So he's holding himself back.

Arty smiled at the trembling Ju Joyeon and took his hand, which was reaching for her chest.

"It's okay~ You don't have to hold back. I'm fine with it."

It was genuine, without any ulterior motive. Though spoken in a drowsy state, it was all the more sincere because of it.

Because... Ju Joyeon is kind.

Crack.

The final thread of reason in Ju Joyeon's mind snapped. His body overlapped with Arty's.

****

...That was way too close...

Ju Joyeon was tightly embracing Arty on the bed. Just embracing her. He checked the notification window floating at the edge of his vision.

This title had been born because Arty, who had never allowed any man close to her—including before coming to this world—now genuinely trusted him. Thanks to it, Ju Joyeon's body and mind, which had been consumed by filthy lust and on the verge of taking her by force, were ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cleansed. Of course, that didn't mean he felt nothing when looking at Arty. The intimacy and affection he held for her remained, now honestly revealed without falsehood.

"Haa, you'll catch a cold sleeping in such thin clothes."

"Huh~? That's it?"

Arty, who had been prepared to accept everything, tilted her head in confusion at the sudden disappearance of the bloodshot, heated gaze and burning breath that had been right in front of her, replaced by Ju Joyeon's usual demeanor.

"Then what else would there be? Stop sleeping and come to your senses."

Ju Joyeon got off the bed, went to the bathroom, grabbed a fluffy towel hanging on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the wall, and began carefully wiping Arty's sweat-drenched body while sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Ah, t-tickles..."

"Bear with it. You'll really catch a cold like this... Tsk, the underwear's soaked too. This won't work with just a towel. Cover yourself with the blanket. I'll go get you some clothes."

Deciding a single towel wouldn't suffice, Ju Joyeon stood up and headed for the door to leave the room. Meanwhile, Arty, who had been awake for a while and watched him move away, felt the attachment effect fade along with her drowsiness. Her mind cleared, and her face began turning bright red.

Ju Joyeon tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge because Lara Tiasia was guarding it under Sosia's orders.

"...? What the— Why won't it open?"

"Ah, Master? Have you woken up?"

"Lara? You're blocking it? Open the door."

At Ju Joyeon's command, Lara Tiasia immediately opened the door. Upon seeing Arty, face flushed crimson while pulling the blanket up to her chest, and Ju Joyeon looking unusually composed despite being soaked in sweat, she realized something.

"...!! C-Congratulations, Master!"

"Idiot. It's not what you think. Go get Arty some underwear and clothes."

"Pardon? Ah, I already have them prepared."

Lara Tiasia had already prepared Arty's clothes and spare underwear. Confirming this, Ju Joyeon told her to help Arty change and pushed her into the room before closing the door.

Unable to contain her curiosity about the exact situation, Lara Tiasia handed over the clothes and asked Arty directly.

"Did you do it?"

"Ah, we didn't!"

"What? You didn't in that situation?!... Did Arty refuse?"

"N-No, that's not it, ah, it wasn't like that!"

"...Then don't tell me Master is actually ga—"

"Lara. I can hear you."

"I-I'm sorry!"

Ju Joyeon, who had been waiting right outside the door, urged Lara Tiasia to stop chatting and hurry up with the clothes. She truly couldn't understand what was going on.

****

Wearing her off-shoulder mini dress, Arty sat primly on a chair in the corner of the room, a stark contrast to her usual bold demeanor. Ju Joyeon, who had entered the room, asked Lara Tiasia what exactly had happened while he was asleep, and she honestly recounted the conversation between Sosia and Arty.

"Mom really is something else. How does she even come up with ideas like that?"

Clicking his tongue at Sosia's unconventional approach, Ju Joyeon thanked Lara Tiasia for her hard work and approached Arty.

"You've come to your senses now, right?"

Nod nod.

"Do you know exactly what you did?"

...... Nod.

"What did you do, then?"

".... S-Seduction?"

"It wasn't just seduction. You crawled into my blanket in your underwear and even held my hand saying it was okay even when I was about to pounce on you. How could anyone hold back unless they were impotent or a saint? Ah, of course I'm neither."

"D-Don't say it like that..."

Arty's face grew redder at Ju Joyeon's detailed explanation.

"Even knowing you're speaking without much thought because you're half-asleep, there's no way I could hold back if you act like that. It's completely beyond my control."

"......"

It wasn't really without much thought though...

"I'm asking you to take care of yourself. It worries me."

"Okay."

"I'll be sure to remember everything that happened today deep in my heart."

"Y-You mean you're not going to forget?"

"That's impossible. How could I forget what I saw today? Even if you tell me to forget, I never will."

Ju Joyeon spoke honestly with a joking tone and chuckled, then gently stroked Arty's light pink hair. Surprised by the unexpected gesture, Arty looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Well, it's fine if you're defenseless around me."

"...? W-What do you mean by that?"

"Exactly what I said. Whether you barge into my room at night, crawl into my blanket, or try to seduce me—I'm all for it."

Arty could only feel her confusion deepen at his relaxed words and the gaze she was experiencing for the first time.