Chapter 40

<Episode 41> The clueless and frustrating protagonist is honestly annoying

“Maybe I’ve somehow become popular, huh?”

At Yu-jin’s mutter, Rime froze in place.

She stopped dead in her tracks, only turning her head.

“Yo, game protagonist over here talking about falling to corruption or something. Why you spoutin’ random nonsense all of a sudden?”

“No, listen. Lately, I’ve been getting this feeling that I’ve made a lot of friends.”

Yu-jin slowly counted the number of his friends at the Academy.

Young-hee, Soo-hyun, the Class President…

All of them were girls with striking beauty.

He was having regular, normal conversations with those girls.

To the point where they even had regularly scheduled one-on-one meetups.

“There’s no such thing as an unpopular guy dating three girls!” Yu-jin knew this fact better than anyone.

Because he used to be that unpopular guy.

But things are different now!

I mean, knowing three girls isn’t it?

Isn’t this what being popular is all about?

Yeah! It must mean I’ve finally escaped being unpopular!

At Yu-jin’s declaration, Rime just stared at him silently.

“What’re you thinking about?”

“Hmm… I’m trying to figure out how to make you feel even more hurt.”

“More hurt?!”

Rime sighed and adjusted her position.

She sat cross-legged on the bed, her thighs and panty lines exposed without any care.

Yu-jin turned red and looked away.

“Hmph! You should probably sit properly.”

“Why? This is comfortable for me.”

“That’s not the point. Your outfit’s a bit… revealing.”

After transforming into human form, Rime had been making appearances after school.

That part is fine.

Yu-jin liked conversing face-to-face with Rime too.

The problem was her overly revealing attire.

“That outfit’s way too risqué for a girl to wear.”

“Is it? Bare skin is hardly showing.”

Rime’s outfit consisted of a white shirt over what appeared to be nothing but black pantyhose.

There was also the infamous “missing pants” situation,

Though for some reason, she always wore a necktie and hat.

True, there wasn’t much bare skin visible.

However, her body lines were completely exposed in this getup.

Most provocatively, the outline of her underwear could clearly be seen through the black stockings.

‘Besides, this girl has this subtle cuteness that makes her even more appealing.’

Her flawless milk-white skin and silk-like golden hair added to the effect.

It was like she was crafted by God himself with utmost care down to every sweat gland.

This was the current Rime – a picture-perfect beauty.

Of course, the average looks in this world were already high.

But Rime stood out even among them, possessing a beauty that would shine even in manga.

Having such a beautiful girl sitting so defenselessly was almost criminal.

“It’s fine since you’re the only one around here anyway.”

Of course, Rime didn’t just randomly wear such outfits.

She never revealed herself outside in the first place.

Not at school, not even leaving her room in the mansion.

If there were other people in the room, she would always retreat into someone’s soul.

There was only one person in the whole world who could see this form:

Kim Yu-jin standing right before her.

“Well, I am happy about the trust, certainly.”

Yu-jin didn’t dislike Rime’s attitude either.

It gave him a strong sense of being trusted.

He could really feel how special he was to her.

Still… Isn’t this a separate issue from that?

“Still, you should be more careful, don’t you think?”

“Why?”

“I’m a guy after all.”

Rime blinked owlishly for a moment before –

“Huhahaha!”

She burst out laughing.

What? Is she mocking my masculinity?

“Hey man, what’s so funny about that?”

“Hmm… Laughing at the fact that you actually have those kinds of thoughts despite everything.”

“Of course! I’m a guy in my prime!”

Of course, Yu-jin was an exceptionally pure and conscientious guy in this world.

He wouldn’t do anything like forcing himself on a girl.

But having a girl who matches his tastes lounging around on the bed in a revealing outfit,

Where just glancing sideways reveals unprotected rear ends and chests.

Even a perfect gentleman would find it hard to resist such stimulation.

If I were some blonde tanned delinquent from a dating game, I would have pounced dozens of times by now.

“Hmm… I wouldn’t mind if you pounced on me.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing, nothing.”

Rime turned her head and acted as if nothing happened.

Complaining to this dense guy is just hurting myself.

“But changing clothes right away would be unreasonable.”

“Why?”

“As I said before, maintaining this form consumes a lot of magic power.”

Rime was originally a parasitic creature after all.

Her specialty was settling into another being’s soul and controlling them.

Even moving her physical body required significant magical effort.

“This form is the result of staying in your soul for a long time, influenced naturally by you. Forcing a change would consume even more power and tire me out.”

Hearing this, Yu-jin fell silent in thought.

Then shook his head in confusion.

“If that’s the case, why don’t you just go back to being a slime?”

With that, Rime kicked him in the shin and stood up.

Yu-jin teared up and glared at her.

“Why? Why?”

“You’re always so unnecessarily talkative.”

Does this idiot even realize why she’s using so much precious magic power

to maintain a form that matches “Yu-jin’s tastes”?

Well, he was always like this.

Yu-jin probably just worried about her using magic power.

Regardless of the outcome, Yu-jin’s thoughts and attitudes were always pure.

Which is why it made her even more irritated.

“Ugh, whatever. What’s the point of arguing with you.”

“I feel extremely wronged right now.”

Shaking her head, Rime opened the refrigerator.

There was a large fridge in Yu-jin’s room.

Stocked full of various fruits, drinks, and snacks at all times.

A rich young master’s privilege indeed.

Rime reached for one particular item.

A bottle of liquor that clearly had a high alcohol content.

Yu-jin quickly snatched it away.

“Hey, no way!”

“Awwww why?!?”

Yu-jin shook his head firmly.

How dare a girl try to drink such strong liquor?

He could hear his inner Confucian dragon yelling “This is unacceptable!”

“Gimme that! Give it here! You don’t even drink anyway!”

Rime jumped up and down like a rabbit trying to grab it.

But their height difference was too great.

No matter how high Rime jumped, she barely reached his chin.

“Tch! What are you gonna drink liquor with that body for?”

“I’m older than you inside!”

“Still no. Absolutely not letting you drink.”

Seeing it was futile, Rime puffed her cheeks.

For a moment, Yu-jin almost melted at her cuteness,

But he steeled his resolve.

“…If you keep this up, I might have some thoughts too…”

“Thoughts? You’re weaker than me anyway… Wait, wait! You… you pervert!”

In a flash, Rime undid the buttons of her shirt.

They popped open, revealing her ample bosom underneath.

So close to exposing the intimate pink area in between.

As Yu-jin covered his eyes in embarrassment,

Whoosh! A green tentacle shot out and snatched the liquor bottle.

Rime grinned triumphantly as she stretched her back with the prize in hand.

“Hemhem! This is the survival strategy of a monster!”

And before he could take it back, she quickly uncorked the bottle and took a swig.

“You, you! That’s super high alcohol content! You’ll hurt yourself!”

“I’m fine! I may look this way but I’m a slime! This alcohol… hiccup?!”

Rime’s shoulders began to shake.

Her face quickly turned red.

Not just her face, her entire body started heating up.

“Uhh…”

Suddenly, her body fell back onto the bed.

Startled, Yu-jin rushed over.

“Rime! Are you okay?”

Lifting her up, he realized anew how small her frame was.

Whether she was a slime or not, there’s no way this body could metabolize liquor over 70 proof.

“Are you okay? Do you feel like throwing up? Please don’t throw up.”

“Hehehe, it’s Yu-jin.”

Rime smiled happily – a pure expression she rarely showed.

Even Yu-jin, who usually wasn’t fazed by her revealing outfits, felt his heart flutter.

“Hmm! Alright then, let’s have a glass of water-”

Yu-jin’s words were cut off.

Liquid tentacles had shot out from Rime’s back and wrapped around his body.

“Wha, Rime?”

Before he could react, Rime moved first.

Wrapping her arms around his neck and legs around his waist.

Dangerous.

Yu-jin immediately felt blood rushing to his head.

“Wha… Does Yu-jin want me?”

“…There’s no way.”

Rime’s voice sounded especially sweet.

Yu-jin took a deep breath to steady himself.

“But why… Would you hug me like this?”

“…Because you’re precious to me. I wouldn’t take advantage of a drunk person like this.”

Because you’re precious to me.

I want to cherish you even more.

There’s no way I’d do something like this while you’re drunk or swept away by the mood.

That was Kim Yu-jin’s unbreakable principle as a person.

“Mmm… Fool…”

Soon, Rime’s body went limp as if she had fallen asleep.

Her eyes closed and her head tilted to the side as she softly snored.

Her breathing became regular.

She must have fallen completely asleep.

Yu-jin carefully covered her with a blanket.

“Dangeroooous!”

If she had come any closer, his instincts might have overcome his rationality.

If that happened, their relationship until now would have been ruined.

Looking at the sleeping Rime,

A wave of regret and complex emotions washed over him belatedly.

“Uaaaaah! I’m a vegetarian beast man! Almost crossed the line there! Almost turned this into an 18+ story!”

His racing heart wouldn’t calm down.

Plus, Rime was still sleeping in the bed.

There was no way he could sleep like this.

“Huff…”

Ultimately, Yu-jin started doing push-ups.

……!

……

……….

He figured working up a sweat through exercise might help.

Rime watched him quietly from half-closed eyes.

“So stupid…”

After all that effort to set it up, couldn’t even take advantage?

Well, that’s just Yu-jin’s character, so she wasn’t upset about it.

Watching him work out earnestly even made her find him kind of cute.

“Why not just pounce on him already?”

If she forced the issue,

Given Yu-jin’s innocent nature, he probably wouldn’t refuse no matter what happened.

But Rime shook her head.

“That wouldn’t help Yu-jin.”

Right now, Yu-jin’s position within Hwagcheon wasn’t stable.

If something unexpected like pregnancy happened,

He might really get expelled.

Rime didn’t want to be a hindrance to Yu-jin.

Besides, it felt irritating to make the first move herself.

This was a matter of female pride.

Somehow, she needed to make Yu-jin come to her first.

There were gains though. That pure reaction she got earlier.

Though he seems impenetrable now, eventually he’ll break through.

“Until then… Let me watch over you like this.”

Thinking that,

Rime looked at the sweating Yu-jin with affectionate eyes.

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