The Clueless Dense Protagonist is Honestly Infuriating: "Have I Finally Become Popular?"
Yujin muttered under his breath, and Lime froze in place. She stopped dead, turning only her head.
"The ya-game protagonist's talking about corrupting the females? What kinda random bullshit is this?"
"No, hear me out. Lately, it feels like I've got a ton more friends."
Yujin slowly counted up the friends he had at the academy. Younghee, Suhyun, and even the class president. Every single one was a stunningly beautiful girl. He was having normal conversations with them. Hell, they even had regular one-on-one hangouts.
"There's no such thing as a total loser juggling three girls at once!"
Yujin knew that better than anyone. He'd been that loser himself. But not anymore! He had three girls he actually knew now. This had to be peak insider life!
Yeah! He'd finally escaped the loser curse!
At Yujin's declaration, Lime just stared at him silently.
"Whatcha thinking?"
"Hmm, just pondering how to say it so it hurts you the most."
Not how to soften the blow? Lime sighed and shifted her position, sitting cross-legged on the bed. Her thighs and the outline of her panties were on full display.
Yujin flushed red and looked away. "Ahem! Ahem! Maybe sit a bit more properly?"
"Why? This is comfy."
"Well, your outfit's kinda..."
Ever since taking human form, Lime popped out after school every day. Yujin didn't mind that—he liked facing her properly during chats. The problem was her super revealing clothes.
"It's too slutty for a girl to wear."
"Barely any skin showing, though?"
Maybe, but Lime's getup was a bare white dress shirt over black pantyhose. Classic no-pants look, though for some reason she always rocked a necktie and hat. Sure, no actual skin was exposed. But her curves were on blatant display, nothing hidden. Especially those panty lines peeking through the black stockings—way too provocative.
And she's sneakily both cute and gorgeous, dammit.
Flawless milky skin, golden blonde hair like spun silk. A picture-perfect beauty straight out of a painting, down to the last perfect detail. That was Lime right now. Sure, this world had high average looks overall. But Lime stood out even among them—like she'd leap off a manga page.
Having a girl like that sit there so defenselessly? It bordered on criminal temptation.
"No one else sees you here anyway, so it's fine."
Of course, Lime didn't dress like this recklessly. She never showed herself outside. Not at school, not even wandering the mansion. Even in the room, if anyone else was around, she'd dive back into his soul. Only one person in the world could see this: Kim Yujin, right in front of her.
Her trust is purely flattering, though. Yujin didn't hate Lime's attitude. It made him feel trusted, special. But...
This was a separate issue.
"Still, wouldn't it be safer to cover up?"
"Why?"
"I'm a guy, y'know."
Lime blinked blankly, then—
"Pfft." She snorted in mockery.
Was this humiliation? Was she dissing him as a man right now?!
"Hey, you little shit. What's so funny?"
"Nah, just surprised you still got those kinda feelings despite everything. That's the laugh."
"Of course I do! I'm a guy in his prime!"
Sure, Yujin was the purest, most upstanding man imaginable. He wouldn't force himself on a girl. But having his type lounging half-exposed on the bed? A glance and he'd catch glimpses of her defenseless ass and chest. Even a saint would crack under that.
If he were some blonde-tanned delinquent from a ya-game, he'd have pounced a dozen times by now.
"Hng... You could pounce and I'd be fine with it."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Lime whipped her head away, playing innocent. Complaining to this oblivious idiot was pointless—it'd just backfire on her.
"But changing clothes right now? No way."
"Why?"
"Told you before—mimicking a form guzzles mana."
Lime was a parasite creature at heart. Latching onto souls and controlling hosts was her specialty. Even basic movement in her own body drained her mana hard.
"This look? It's from sticking to your soul so long, naturally shifting to your tastes. Forcing a change would burn way more energy and wear me out."
Yujin pondered that, then tilted his head like it didn't click.
"Then just go back to slime mode like old times—ow!!"
Lime shot up and kicked his shin. Yujin winced, glaring at her.
"Why'd you—"
"You always talk too damn much about nothing."
Did this thick-skulled moron seriously not get it? Why she wasted precious mana maintaining his ideal form?
Well, he's always been like this.
Yujin was just worried about her mana use. His intentions were always pure, results be damned. That's why it pissed her off even more.
"Sigh, whatever. What can I say to make you get it?"
"Feels super unfair for some reason."
Lime shook her head and opened the fridge. Yujin's room had a massive one stocked with fruits, drinks, and snacks galore. Perks of being the golden young master.
She reached for one: strong liquor that screamed high-proof.
Yujin snatched it away in panic. "Hey, no!"
"Ah, whyyy?!"
For once, Yujin shook his head firmly. A girl daring to chug that? His inner Confucian dragon roared in outrage.
"Gimme! Hand it over! You don't even drink!"
Lime hopped like a bunny to grab it back. But their height gap was brutal—she barely nicked his chin even jumping her highest.
"Jeez! What're you gonna do with booze in that tiny body?"
"I'm older than you inside!"
"Still no. You're not touching alcohol."
Lime puffed her cheeks in a pout that nearly melted him, but Yujin steeled himself.
"...Keep this up, and I've got ideas."
"Ideas? You're weaker than me, what're you gonna—hey! You perv!"
Lime swiftly undid her shirt buttons. They popped, baring her plump white breasts. One wrong move and even the pink secret in the middle would've flashed.
The second Yujin covered his eyes in blush—
Whoosh! A green tendril shot out, snatching the bottle.
Lime cackled triumphantly, striking a pose with her prize. "Ahem! Behold, the monster's survival tactic."
She popped it open and chugged before he could react.
"You—you! That's super high-proof! You'll wreck yourself!"
"I'm fiiiine! I'm a sliiiime! This stuff is... glug?!"
Lime's shoulders twitched. Her face flushed crimson. Heat spread through her whole body.
"...Hweh?"
She toppled backward onto the bed.
Yujin rushed over in alarm. "Lime! You okay?"
Cradling her, he realized anew how tiny she was. Slime or not, could this body handle 70-proof?
"You good? Not gonna puke—please don't."
"Ehehe, Yujinnie~."
Lime beamed with a pure, innocent smile she rarely showed. Even Yujin, unmoved by her sexy outfit before, felt his heart pound.
Ahem! Ahem! "If you're fine, drink some water—"
His words cut off. Liquid tendrils from her back coiled around him.
"L-Lime?"
Before he could pull away, she wrapped her arms around his neck and legs around his waist. Danger. Blood rushed to his head.
"L-Lime, let go."
"Hey... Don't you wanna see me naked, Yujin?"
"...No way."
Her voice sounded unusually sweet. Yujin took a deep breath, steadying himself.
"Then why... won't you hold me even in a spot like this?"
"...You're precious to me. I wouldn't do that to a drunk girl."
Because she was precious. He wanted to cherish her more. At least, he wouldn't give in to booze or mood—that was Kim Yujin's unbreakable rule.
"Hng... Idiot..."
Lime went limp, like she'd passed out. Eyes closed, head turned, soft snores followed. Fully asleep.
Yujin gently tucked her in. That was close! A bit closer and instinct might've won. Their relationship would've ended right there.
He gazed at sleeping Lime. Regret and mixed feelings hit late.
Uwaaaah! I'm a herbivore beast-man! Almost crossed the line! Almost jumped the shark and turned this genre 19+!
His heart wouldn't calm. And she was still on his bed. No way he could sleep like this.
"Hoo." Yujin started push-ups. Maybe sweating it out would help.
One... two...
Lime cracked her eyes, peeking. Dummy...
Even served up like that, he wouldn't eat? Well, that was Yujin. She didn't hate it—his earnest workout was kinda cute.
Should I just jump him? Force the issue, and pure Yujin wouldn't back out no matter what.
But Lime shook her head. Wouldn't help him.
Yujin's position in Heukcheon wasn't stable yet. A sudden girlfriend scandal could get him booted for real.
She didn't want to hinder him. Plus, me pouncing first? Kinda pisses me off.
Pride as a woman. Somehow, she'd make him come to her.
Plenty of progress already—that fresh reaction earlier. Ironclad for now, but he'd fall eventually.
Till then... I'll watch over him like this.
With that thought, Lime watched her sweating partner with affectionate eyes.