Chapter 13: A Dream Too Sweet

Did I exhaust myself trying to understand the manual?

Or was today just too eventful, leaving my body drained?

‘I’m… suddenly so tired…’

Lying on the bed, checking the manual, my eyelids start to droop.

It’s 3:30 a.m.

About two and a half hours remain until closing.

‘Just… a short nap…’

It feels like something is pulling me into a dream.

Unable to resist the sudden wave of drowsiness, I sink into the cozy bed and fall into a sweet slumber.

Appendix.

The final page.

There, a critical piece of information the motel manager must not miss is listed.

Break Room Appendix.

This section is for managers using the staff break room. Please thoroughly review the following before using the break room.

└ The staff break room is located at the end of the first-floor lobby hallway. It is a sweet haven provided for managers who have completed ‘all duties.’

└ Warning: Never sleep in the break room. We emphasize: Under no circumstances should the manager sleep in the break room.

└ However, if unavoidable due to excessive fatigue, follow these conditions for sleeping:

1. Take the sleeping pills provided to the manager. Temporary sleep induced by the pills has been confirmed safe.

2. Sleep on the floor, not the bed. The break room’s bed is ‘her’ maw.

3. From the moment you enter the break room, question whether everything is a ‘dream’ at every moment. Doubt is the only escape from ‘that place.’

4. She will tempt your desires. Flee, do not approach.

└ If even one of these rules is not followed, there is no way to escape ‘her.’ Thank you for your hard work, manager.

A navy-blue night sky with a faintly glowing crescent moon.

Beneath it, a vast, beautiful field of blue stretches out to greet me.

With each step forward, a sweet, soft floral scent tickles my nose.

A gentle dawn breeze from afar warms my body.

‘This is so relaxing. It’s paradise…’

If this beautiful ‘reality’ were true, I’d want to stay here forever, carefree.

“You’re right. This is paradise. A beautiful paradise just for you.”

“…Who’s there…?”

“Follow my voice to the edge of the field. I’ll let you rest forever, free of worries, as you wish.”

“Should I… do that…?”

A beautiful, ethereal female voice calls from beyond the field.

Its beauty and elegance are so captivating.

Without a shred of doubt, I head toward the field’s edge.

How long did I walk, following that enchanting voice?

Crossing a field so beautiful I could gaze at it forever.

The crescent moon in the night sky feels close enough to touch as I reach the ‘edge of the field.’

In the distance, someone approaches me.

“Wow…?”

A soft, warm body barely covered by a white silk dress, shimmering like the moon.

“Come here.”

An unnamed goddess opens her slender arms wide to welcome me.

“Come into my embrace. I’ll fulfill all your desires…”

“Is that okay…?”

“Yes, just rest in my arms. If you stay with me forever in this beautiful world…”

Her expression, filled with kindness and a hint of seductive ecstasy.

Without a thought, I sink into her soft, warm embrace.

“Hehe… I’ve got you—will you stay by my side forever now? Become one with me and remain here eternally?”

“Should I… do that…?”

“Yes… in my arms—forever—♥”

Intoxicated by the sweet, seductive lavender scent emanating from her.

I begin to experience the most restful moment of my life.

An hour passes in her embrace.

The longer I stay, the more my fatigue melts away, leaving my body languid.

“Haa…♥ Why is it… your ‘thing’ is so sweet to me…♥”

“I don’t know what that means… but I’m glad you’re happy…”

She keeps muttering incomprehensible words.

Her body trembles as she holds me tightly.

I continue to bask in the cozy, sweet comfort of her embrace.

Time passes again—

It’s been two hours and twenty-six minutes since I began resting.

“I can’t… hold back anymore—♥ I’ll devour all of you…♥!!”

“Oh, it’s already time to clock out.”

“…What?”

At exactly two hours and twenty-six minutes of rest.

I pull away from the unnamed goddess and stretch.

“Phew, I’m well-rested.”

“…What are you doing?”

“Oh, it’s time to wake up and clock out.”

“What do you mean… You said you wanted to stay in this world forever…”

“If this were reality, sure—but this is a dream, isn’t it?”

Before coming to this world, I had a special ability.

I’m exceptionally good at lucid dreaming.

I don’t dream often, but when I do, it’s always a lucid dream.

Of course, I’ve never had a dream with such a beautiful goddess before.

Let alone resting in such a warm, soft embrace…

‘Now that I think about it, how did I stay so calm in that embrace? Not easy.’

…It’s a strange, seductive dream I’ve never had before.

Since arriving in this world, the reason for this dream during my first sleep.

Is probably because I’m hyper-aware of ‘dating sims’ and ‘losing my virginity,’ I cautiously guess.

‘That goddess, the more I look, the more she’s my ideal heroine… I wish she existed in reality…’

How did I know I was dreaming when I first opened my eyes in the field?

The answer is simple.

‘I realized it. That means it’s a dream.’

I recognized it was a dream the moment I opened my eyes.

That alone confirms this world isn’t real.

If it were reality, I wouldn’t be this perceptive, would I?

‘Alright, I had a satisfying lucid dream. Time to wake up.’

“You think I’ll let you leave so easily?”

As I prepare to end this sweet dream.

A chilling voice from the goddess echoes behind me.

“You think you can leave this place… without my permission…?”

Rustle…

“You’ve already rested in my arms—you promised me eternity here…”

Rustle…

“Live with me forever… Let me taste your captivating ‘thing’ forever…!!!”

With the sound of her silver silk dress shaking violently.

The unnamed goddess grabs my neck, trying to pull me back into her embrace.

But before she can, I perform my usual routine to wake from a dream.

The thing I always do before waking up.

Grip.

“Hii♥?? W-Wait, stop…?!?”

I grab at the empty air in the dream.

Rip!!!

I tear it apart with a surge of strength.

“Haa♥♥?!?”

Tearing space apart—a man’s ultimate fantasy, right?

Something ‘probably’ impossible in reality, I’ve made my routine for waking from dreams.

“I’ll be going now…?”

“Ugh…♥ My body… What are you…♥”

Before stepping through the torn space to wake up.

I turn back to say goodbye, only to see the goddess collapsed on the ground.

Her body trembles like a quaking aspen.

Her tongue hangs out.

Her face is flushed red like cherries, her expression dazed.

For some reason, this doesn’t feel like the right moment for goodbyes.

‘Cough…’

It’s my dream, but I feel embarrassed, like I saw something I shouldn’t have, and turn away.

‘It was amazing… Please come back in my next dream…!!’

Good things are good, right?

I know the chances of meeting her again are slim.

But I silently wish for her to appear in my dreams again as I throw myself into the torn space.

“Ugh…”

Opening my eyes, I see the familiar ceiling of the break room.

As I slowly sit up from the bed, my heavy, fatigued body feels light as a feather.

Was it the effect of that… intense lucid dream?

Not only is my fatigue gone, but all my stress has vanished too.

Checking the clock, it’s 5:56 a.m., with four minutes left until my first shift ends and I can clock out.

‘Alright, let’s wrap up this first shift perfectly!’

Feeling refreshed, I step out of the break room.