Sunlight bled through the wide window of a high-rise apartment in Seoul. Outside, the city pulsed—cars honked, and pedestrians hurried to their daily lives.
"Mmm…"
The figure sprawled on the bed scratched his stomach, rolling lazily as the bedsheet twisted around him.
After a moment, his eyes blinked open, groggy and rimmed with dark circles.
His dull, tired gaze drifted down his bare form before scanning the room until it landed on a young woman wrapped in a small towel—one around her body, another around her damp hair.
The moment she noticed his stare, she flinched, her legs tensing as if ready to bolt.
"Eugh." The woman—Kang Ha-rin—grimaced. "You look like shit."
Mi-jun gave her a flat look, bracing one hand against the bed. "Yeah, thanks for noticing, you damn succubus."
She let out a quiet chuckle, one hand resting on her hip. "You couldn't control your lust, and now you're calling me a succubus?"
Standing, Mi-jun wrapped the bedsheet around his waist. "Fair point, I guess."
Last night had been wild. Maybe it was because of the Heavenly Dragon constitution or whatever, but his dick didn't ache nearly as much as he expected.
He stretched, fingers brushing through his already messy hair. Ha-rin's gaze lingered on him, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
'Looks like I don't have to worry about him seducing women after all,' she thought.
Even for someone with a Heavenly Sword Dragon physique, he was too well-endowed beyond reason. The kind of man who could break the composure of a woman who'd been trained since childhood to control herself—someone like her.
'But there's another issue.'
Ha-rin stepped closer, the towel slipping slightly, teasing the soft curve of her chest. She reached up, smoothing his hair back with slow, deliberate fingers.
"Handsome face, good body. Your height's not the best, but it works—might even give you an edge with some women. The problem's your hair, fashion sense, and charisma."
Mi-jun arched a brow at her rambling. "And what exactly are you planning?"
Her eyes locked onto his before she released his hair, though she didn't step away. "Your job's about seducing women. You never know what kind of client you'll get, so you need to up your game."
She turned toward the mirror while Mi-jun watched her. "You mean some kind of glow-up?"
Ha-rin glanced over her shoulder. "Not exactly a glow-up—there's nothing wrong with how you look. Think of it more as an attitude check. Or maybe… letting go of your trauma."
Mi-jun's gaze darkened. "My trauma? Ha-rin, just because I let you into my house doesn't mean you get to pry into my business."
Her eyes didn't waver. After a beat, she turned back to the mirror. "You're saying that to a girl you already slept with? What an asshole." She sighed softly. "Either way, we're basically married now, so I have every right to dig into your past."
She applied a touch of lipstick, giving him time to process her words. Contrary to her expectation, he answered quickly.
"So, what do you want me to do?"
Ha-rin smiled faintly at his reflection. "Quite decisive, aren't you?"
Mi-jun rubbed the back of his neck. "Not really. But no one hates self-improvement. And like you said, I don't want my mom to come back and see me as a wreck. Or maybe that's just an excuse… because I like the job."
Ha-rin turned and pointed at him. "That right there—that's what'll help you. Women love men who are honest… and liars."
She stood abruptly, towel shifting as she did. "From now on, I'll teach you how to be a devil—a walking temptation to every woman."
"What about college? I still need my degree."
Ha-rin sighed in exasperation. "Could you not worry about that for now? You already have a client, and there's a lot to do. Just ditch the semester or whatever."
Mi-jun frowned. "Come to think of it, aren't you supposed to be a student too?"
Ha-rin shrugged. "No one's teaching exorcism in uni, and there's no way I'm sitting for CSAT. And don't tell me you were a top student."
"I was, actually," he said matter-of-factly. "But that aside, what do you mean by a client?"
Her gaze flicked toward him—an oh right expression flashing across her face—before she grabbed her phone from the bed.
The bright screen made her squint as it powered on. She adjusted the brightness and began scrolling with smooth, practiced motions.
"Come take a look."
Mi-jun stepped behind her, his chest brushing lightly against her back.
"This is your next target—or rather, your client."
On the screen was a photo of a stunning woman with short brown hair, soft eyes, and a small birthmark beneath one of them. She wore an apron and a bright smile.
"Lee Do-hee?"
Ha-rin nodded. "Her husband called. Said she's been radiating bad energy—messing up his business. And one of his friends recommended us."
"She's hot," Mi-jun remarked. "Hard to believe she's demon-possessed."
Ha-rin let out a quiet laugh, her heel grazing his foot. "There are plenty of possessed people out there. That's why you exist, remember?"
Silence hung between them for a beat.
"You want her, don't you?"
"What?"
Ha-rin turned, pressing her hand against his chest. "I asked if you want her. And no, it's not a random question, it's part of your training."
Mi-jun's throat tightened.
Was he supposed to say yes? Or no?
The woman in the photo was undeniably beautiful—but she was married.
Her husband trusted them to help her. Crossing that line would be… wrong.
Yes, it wasn't right to do something so despicable.
"I…" His voice dropped to a near whisper. Then, something inside him cracked.
The air around him suddenly thickened. His pupils dilated, swallowing the light until only darkness remained.
"I want her."
Ha-rin froze. His gaze—dark and consuming—was terrifying, yet part of her found it... breathtaking.
A slow, sly smile curved her lips. "Then I don't think Master should hold back."
He blinked once, the darkness fading back to its usual silver grey. "But isn't that wrong? As an exorcist I mean?"
Ha-rin nodded lightly. "Of course it is. But who cares? As my master, I want only the best for you."
She stepped away and, with a flick of her wrist, clothes shimmered into place over her body.
"So," she said, looking back at him, "do you want me to train you to be a scumbag?"