Dormitory.
The sound of dolls scratching at the door came from outside.
“As expected, they’re back…”
Lin Ran looked at the familiar scene, feeling a surge of joy inside.
At the very least, the idea of restarting if you can’t clear the level was correct.
But the fact that the dolls would soon begin to evolve was a clear difficulty right before his eyes.
So this time, the first thing he did wasn’t to wake Lim, but to open the door——
When facing dolls at their weakest, you have to hit them with all you’ve got!
The exquisite dolls didn’t react at first when they saw Lin Ran open the door.
Their button-sized eyes stared at Lin Ran, not knowing what the human in front of them intended.
This scene lasted a good ten seconds before the little dolls finally realized they were supposed to attack the human!
Then——
They pounced on Lin Ran, using their tiny hands to scratch at him.
…Are you sure this isn’t just tickling?
It was impossible to connect them with the three-headed, six-armed monsters they would become later.
Shaking off the dolls, Lin Ran took his spare blanket from the bed.
Then——he wrapped the dolls together with the blanket and tied a knot.
Finally, he stuffed them into the fridge.
This time, his plan was to control the dolls as much as possible.
The logic was simple: he wanted the environment he prepared to trap them once they evolved.
Even a doll that evolved four times would get hurt if squeezed inside a fridge, right?
Moreover, he quickly thought of what happened during his first challenge.
He had just killed a doll, and then it started to evolve.
But now, the timing of the dolls’ evolution was about the same as back then.
However——
Whether it was the ones in his blanket or those outside the other students’ dorm rooms,
None of the dolls had started to evolve.
Could it be that not killing them actually slows down their evolution?
As soon as Lin Ran thought of this, he immediately took out his phone and opened the freshman group chat.
[Lin Ran]: “Everyone, listen up! Don’t attack the dolls yet! Their evolution speeds up after being killed!”
[Lin Ran]: “Also, if I’m not mistaken, this probably isn’t everyone’s first time on the doll stage either, right?”
The moment he sent the message, the group chat exploded.
[Student Council Member – Chen Jing]: “Yes, Lin Ran, your analysis is calm and accurate. Our Student Council came to the same conclusion and was about to announce it.”
Seeing Chen Jing’s message, Lin Ran’s eyes narrowed.
He hadn’t noticed before, but it seemed the Student Council had just as much information as he did.
He’d have to find a way to make contact later.
[Anime Club – Li Hao]: “Damn! No wonder it’s much slower than the first attack! The slower the evolution, the better! I really don’t want my head split open with an axe again.”
[302 – Fatty Wang]: “This is my third time! But for some reason, I don’t remember the second time. Damn it, these dolls are too strong.”
[Invincible Sports King – Zhang Ba]: “You don’t remember either? Bro, it’s my fifth time. Other than the first, I’ve got no memories at all, just a guy in a cabin telling me I’ve restarted several times!”
[Student Council Member – Chen Jing]: “Everyone, follow Lin Ran’s instructions. While they’re weak, use any means to control them! Tie them up! Lock them away! Shove them under the bed! Whatever you do, don’t let them get weapons!”
With this, everyone responded at once.
Most people shared their own methods—tying dolls up with rope, covering them with blankets, even hanging them outside the balcony like weather charms.
Of course, there were a few… special cases.
[Anime Club – Li Hao]: “This doll is actually pretty cute. I tried taking off her maid outfit…”
[Anime Club – Li Hao]: “Eh?! She stopped moving?! Guys! Stripping her works! She seems embarrassed!”
He posted a photo of the doll frozen after having her clothes removed, causing a wave of groans from the girls.
Lin Ran couldn’t help but laugh.
Bro’s got potential!
Time continued to pass, but things had quieted down.
Plan complete.
The evolution time had indeed been delayed.
Lin Ran put away his phone and focused on Lim.
She was still asleep, just like during the first attack.
So was this Lim real or fake?
She was sleeping soundly, snuggling his arm affectionately.
Unlike the first attack’s vacant-eyed Lim, this one matched his memories exactly.
In fact…she felt so real it was almost unsettling.
Whether real or fake, there was only one way to find out——
“Lim, wake up. Something’s up.”
Lin Ran said the same words as he had during the first attack.
Lim’s body trembled, then she slowly opened her eyes.
She immediately latched onto his hand, still half-asleep, yawning and rubbing her face against his arm.
“Good morning, Master.”
She rubbed for a while before sitting up, eyes half-open in satisfaction.
Then she accidentally fell onto a pile of little slimes, scaring them all out of human form.
Lim, who was simultaneously the big sister, little princess, and leader, was now being scolded by a group of half-meter-tall slime people—a bizarre scene.
So far, it was just an ordinary day.
But——
If determining whether the other party was an actor or the real thing was this simple, it would be underestimating the opponent.
“Lim, come here.”
Lin Ran sat on the bed, beckoning Lim with one hand and patting his leg with the other, inviting her to sit.
Lim, knowing she could be affectionate with Lin Ran, didn’t hesitate. Even under the scolding of her fellow slimes, she pounced on him.
First, she turned into a puddle of soft slime from the impact, then quickly returned to human form.
She wobbled on top of Lin Ran, clearly delighted.
But Lin Ran let out a sigh.
As expected.
It might sound a bit indecent.
But he couldn’t feel any…desire.
When facing the real Lim, he would blush and worry about whether sleeping together was inappropriate.
But the “Lim” before him felt more like a daughter than a romantic interest to be pursued.
It wasn’t as if he and Lim had some mystical mental connection or anything.
The reason was simple.
Because Lim ate Shali!
Shali was a succubus. After Lim ate her, she could mimic a succubus’s natural allure toward men when in human form.
“Lim” noticed Lin Ran deep in thought and started snuggling him again, her body soft and slightly cool.
“Master…hungry…”
She spoke in a gentle voice.
Lin Ran looked down at her.
This face, this gesture—both perfectly copied Lim.
If there was a Lim imitation contest, and she entered with the real Lim, the real Lim would no doubt take second place.
It was a kind of perfection crafted with utmost care.
Like an actor playing the original even better than the original.
Lin Ran thought of the dolls in the fridge.
In a performance, some dolls played villains, fighting the humans.
Naturally, there would also be dolls acting as the heroes.
All the slimes in the dorm, including Lim…
Could all be dolls in disguise.
If so, don’t blame him for being ruthless!
“Lim” continued to rub her cheek against his hand, looking up with puppy-dog eyes.
The next second.
Lin Ran acted, grabbing “Lim” by the shoulders and shoving her onto the bed!
“Pu——”
“Lim” was pushed flat on the bed, the soft mattress sinking beneath her.
Then Lin Ran leaned in, his face just inches from hers, as if he might kiss her at any moment.
“Lim, I can’t hold back anymore, I…”
But this time, before he could finish his act,
A look that didn’t belong to Lim appeared on her adorable face for the first time.
Shock.
Panic.
And…lag…?
“Embarrassed? Are you embarrassed? Hahahahaha!!”
Lin Ran laughed, the triumphant villain.
“I knew it! If you want to imitate Lim, you’d have to mimic her affection for me, too! Otherwise, how could you act this well!”
As long as her affection was close to Lim’s, he was confident he could make her blush!
Then came an even more unbelievable sight.
“Lim’s” cheeks turned red, and white steam began to puff from her head!
Steam princess?!
You’re a high-tech doll, powered by steam?!
Before Lin Ran could finish his thoughts, “Lim’s” body started trembling violently.
That blue, transparent, jelly-like skin faded away.
On the bed, no longer a slime girl, was a young woman.
A girl in a simple white dress.
Her face was expressionless, yet her white-gloved hands covered her cheeks, overwhelmed by embarrassment she couldn’t hide.
Long, waist-length silver hair, skin so fair it glowed, flawless features so beautiful they took your breath away.
If gods existed, this was the most perfect sculpture they’d ever created.
If not for the fine, nearly invisible threads connecting her joints, Lin Ran would have thought an Angel had walked out of a painting.
Indeed, a doll.
She lay there silently, crimson eyes staring at Lin Ran through her fingers, saying nothing.
But her gaze said everything.
Lin Ran’s heart skipped a beat at the sight.
Damn…!
This face was illegal!
If Shali and Lim’s allure came from their succubus blood,
Then this doll relied on pure appearance to rival both!
That’s the thing about dolls—they can be made as beautiful as you want, no worries about appearance at all!
Almost at the instant the girl revealed her true form, Lin Ran’s system finally reacted.
A stream of information flashed before his eyes.
[Ding! New capture target detected!]
[Love Detection Eye——activated!]
[Target: Self-disciplined Doll (She’s an Angel)]
[System evaluation: She is the leader of the doll race, possessing self-awareness and an angelic face, an absolute beauty, does not ship iron-blooded men (not).]
[Romance potential: 95 (A match made in heaven!)]
“…No, does your system have no standards for picking partners? If slimes can mimic, fine, but this one doesn’t even have the…function, does she…?”
…