Seeing the surroundings darken with shadows, I decided to climb up a tree first. While the knowledge pouch would surely guide my direction, doing this wasn’t for navigation. The reason was simple.
The swamp, painted in mysterious hues at sunset, was beautiful. But as the sun vanished beyond the horizon, oppressive darkness took over. Darkness itself didn’t faze , as I was used to it. However…
When my vision adapted to the darkness, the once beautiful swamp transford into an eerie and sinister place. It was hard to believe the atmosphere could shift so drastically just because the sun set.
It felt like sothing might erge from between the exposed tree roots above the water. Well, this swamp wasn’t so reclamation project but a peculiar zone created by an anomaly.
So, it wasn’t surprising that nightfall brought completely different events compared to the day. That’s why I climbed the tree—to check for anything unusual around . It wasn’t fear but caution.
Even soone like could be caught off guard, and the consequences… could be unpredictable. Like when I fell into the water earlier.
Well… even if sothing had erged then, I’d have handled it sohow! But avoiding it altogether seed like a better option. In other words, it’s best to be prepared. No amount of readiness and vigilance is excessive.
With that thought, I pressed my body against the largest tree nearby. I felt my flexible form press and mold against the tree’s shape. The sensation of the bark imprinting on my body was peculiar, almost like getting a tattoo.
Not that I’ve ever gotten a tattoo…
Yet it felt refreshing sohow, like having my entire body scratched by a backscratcher. Perhaps because I adhered so tightly to the tree, climbing it with this jelly body was the most stable option.
With the tree firmly embraced, I climbed to the top and scanned the surroundings from the highest point.
Surprisingly, the moonlight made it easier to discern the surroundings than I expected. While the swamp below looked chilling and foreboding, the view from above was magnificent. The interplay of moonlight and the green hues of the leaves created a scene that resembled a shimring green sea.
Gazing at it, I almost forgot about the strange “trap” I encountered earlier.
But despite the beauty, I gained nothing substantial. The swamp was full of trees. From this height, it was too difficult to discern anything unusual. So, after soaking in the view, I perched on a sturdy branch.
As I sat, feeling the branch’s shape press into my form, I continued to observe. While no suspicious creatures ca into view, I noticed sothing unnatural.
A strange object caught my eye in the direction pointed out by the knowledge pouch. I decided to head there, hoping it might be a clue.
Descending from the tree and trudging through the swamp, I encountered sothing far removed from my expectations. A dark, protruding object stood out. Approaching to inspect it…
…it wasn’t a clue about the anomaly.
It was a human corpse.
The body, clad in clothes resembling those of a police special forces unit, was covered in mud, making it look like a rock or a large object at first glance. Hwangbo Yul had ntioned it—there were those who entered this place and never returned. But hearing about it and witnessing it firsthand were two entirely different experiences.
It’s like hearing about a distant war and feeling sympathetic yet detached, as though it lacks reality.
If I weren’t jelly, I might have retched on the spot.
Still, there were things that had to be done. Calming the bubbling jelly within , I moved the unnad corpse to dry ground. Well, the only dry ground available was atop tree roots, creating an unusual scene. Once exposed, the deceased’s appearance beca more evident.
The mud-covered face was so swollen that it was impossible to discern any features. The foul stench rising from it suggested considerable ti had passed since death. Perhaps because I’d encountered sothing similar in a sewer with crocodiles, it didn’t affect as much as I’d expected.
Cautiously examining the body for clues yielded no useful results. All the equipnt was broken, and not even a simple notebook was found on them. In short… they had died, leaving nothing behind.
A strange feeling welled up within . If soone from Han Seori or Kim Cheonsu’s group died this way… what would happen? It reminded of the scene I’d witnessed with the guardian totem. Back then, I hadn’t felt much, overwheld as I was with the struggle to survive and the need to save Han Seori.
Perhaps those affected by the guardian totem turned into re puddles of blood, making it less tangible. But facing such a sight in this calm state… it churned sothing inside the jelly that made up my body.
I had co here lightly, hoping to acquire a TV. For these people, it had been a life-or-death matter.
If Kim Cheon-su had fallen in that cave that day, would it have ended like this for him?
If so, would I have continued living as I always had?
I don’t know.
The idea of being attacked by a monster from sowhere was less frightening than this.
While sighing, my jelly bubbled, and I noticed sothing faintly glinting. Reaching out, I felt the cold touch of tal. Gently pulling, I retrieved it with a small click.
It was a dog tag. The kind soldiers wore around their necks. Sothing I’d once worn myself.
Unlike the tags I’d seen in the military, this one bore the na “Kim Daehyun” and other vital information like blood type. Looking at it stirred an inexplicable sense of duty within , making my jelly tremble. It wasn’t a happy tremble, but it wasn’t unpleasant either.
Would this have any aning? I wasn’t sure. Still, it seed better than leaving nothing behind.
…Although, what aning could there be for the dead?
Perhaps it was a selfish action for my own peace of mind.
The dead couldn’t speak. Honoring them was ultimately for the living. Bubbling, I absorbed the tag bearing Kim Daehyun’s na into my jelly body. Not dissolving it was an ability I could control now, so it wasn’t difficult.
It might have been re self-satisfaction. But it felt necessary.
Soon, my vision filled with other dark objects scattered before . Shapes resembling Kim Daehyun sprawled ahead. Approaching cautiously, I found that they had t the sa fate.
I had to organize their remains.
I couldn’t just leave them.
Gathering the bodies around Kim Daehyun, I used my tentacles to lift them onto nearby tree roots. It wasn’t hard, as the task required little effort with my jelly body. Arranging the corpses and absorbing their dog tags, I began to understand why Han Seori, Kim Cheon-su, and their organization had sent here.
It ant that in places I hadn’t chosen, such events were likely commonplace.
When I first arrived, I was excited at the thought of getting a TV. Now… I feel differently.
Eventually, I finished tidying up the area. My body now held more dog tags than expected, producing faint rattling sounds.
Staring blankly at the tags and the bodies draped over the roots, I clasped my small, soft hands and offered a prayer for their souls. Then…
I resud walking in the direction pointed out by the knowledge pouch.
Splash… splash.
My once-light steps felt like they carried the weight of a thousand pounds. While my footsteps were still light in reality, the added weight of the dog tags made them heavier.
Splash… splash.
I walked mindlessly. Unsure how to process these feelings.
How long had I wandered the swamp like this? Despite walking a considerable distance in the indicated direction, I found nothing special. If I had walked in a straight line, I would have encountered the boundary upon entering.
It seed I had absentmindedly passed “sothing” and ended up going in circles.
Realizing this, I slapped my face with my jelly hands. Still, wandering aimlessly had slightly improved my mood. Refocusing on the knowledge pouch, I resud walking.
Finally, I arrived at a spot where the direction changed.
The knowledge pouch now pointed… toward the murky waters. Almost as if urging to dive in.
After so hesitation, I slowly subrged myself in the muddy depths. What awaited there resembled the bizarre ground I’d first stepped on.
The kind that swallowed my ankles.
…Did I have to go inside there?
Though it annoyed , there was no option to refuse.
And so, with the weight of the dog tags, I dove into the endless mire.
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