"We won! The swamp is gone!"
It would have been great if it ended there, but unfortunately, the situation didn’t seem that easy. First, Kim Cheonsu and Hwangbo Yul appeared startled by the sudden increase in ‘family mbers’(?).
It seed like it would take so ti for the two of them to pull themselves together. Given that what appeared to be weapons were in Kim Cheonsu and Hwangbo Yul’s hands, and that Kim Cheonsu held what looked like a bomb, it made one wonder—were they planning to self-destruct?
Thankfully, I rushed in just in case. If I had been even a little late, I’m not sure what would have happened, but it felt like sothing would have definitely gone wrong.
Anyways.
While the two took a mont to compose themselves, I carefully placed the identification tags I had stored in my body on the ground. Though they weren’t particularly heavy, I felt my body growing lighter as I removed them one by one. Why did it feel this way? Was it the weight of my heart or conscience?
I hadn’t even seen their faces properly, yet this lancholic feeling seed to stem from that. It was bittersweet but not entirely unpleasant. It likely ant that despite what I’d beco, I still retained a human heart.
… Reflecting on it, that was indeed the case.
As I laid down the identification tags brought by the unexpected newcors, I noticed Hwangbo Yul approaching, her steps careful. Lowering herself, she focused her gaze on each tag as though she wanted to engrave every detail into her mory. Her previously blunt, cold, and arrogant deanor was nowhere to be found.
Her eyes didn’t squint or tear up as they scanned the tags, but sorrow emanated from her nonetheless. If not for the jelly-like state I was in now, I wouldn’t have noticed. But in this form, I could see it clearly.
Seeing that, I realized that her initial hard and frosty impression might not be entirely accurate. She was beautiful, so perhaps her heart was kind as well. Ah, this must be what happens when soone faces sothing they can’t handle. I shuddered to think what it would be like to visit the places I’ve been to as a human rather than a jelly. It’d be horrifying even to imagine.
… Of course, there are exceptions like Han Seori, but most would feel the sa.
As I watched her, feeling a twinge of empathy, she finally turned to after observing all the tags. She crouched down again, this ti directly in front of . Her posture was sowhat awkward, but she t my eyes and bowed her head slightly.
“… Thank you. Thanks to you, the matter has been resolved, and those who sacrificed themselves have sothing to leave behind.”
Her voice, slightly suppressed, carried sincerity. Then, after a mont of hesitation, as if contemplating sothing deeply, she gently patted my head.
Did soone tell her I like that? Well… I don’t dislike it, especially if it’s a beautiful hand. Besides, I’ve already received the compensation I requested, so this small bonus is welco, isn’t it?
If it were Kim Cheonsu, he’d probably have brushed it off.
Anyway, feeling a bit better, I decided to give Hwangbo Yul a gift that would make her even happier. I thought of ‘it’ and called for it in my mind. The jelly-like creatures, idly lingering, began bringing relatively intact corpses nearby.
Thud, thud!
The sound of bodies piling up unceremoniously.
Oh, no, guys… Can’t you handle them more gently? I went to the trouble of collecting them… Carefully, gently, okay?
Perhaps because they weren’t human, they moved the corpses without hesitation. Even Hwangbo Yul seed slightly disturbed, her expression faltering. The hand stroking stopped abruptly.
As she alternated her gaze between and the corpses, her face grew more complex. I couldn’t discern her thoughts, but her expression didn’t seem particularly positive.
… The gesture I made to earn so points had apparently… backfired slightly.
It couldn’t be helped.
The new ‘family mbers’ weren’t yet accustod to humans.
But really… How should I bring them along?
My concerns were valid, it seed. Though I thought we could return imdiately, Kim Cheonsu and I had to stay here for so ti. Sothing else seed to be troubling Hwangbo Yul; her expression remained grim.
Separately, the people she called over ca and collected the identification tags and corpses. So expressed interest in , but under Hwangbo Yul’s watchful gaze, they couldn’t approach and had to leave.
The only ones who could approach were Hwangbo Yul and Kim Cheonsu. But since Hwangbo Yul was busy handling the aftermath, the only one to keep company was Kim Cheonsu.
As for the jelly-like creatures swarming nearby… I’m not sure what to do with them. Though they saved my life, dealing with them is… complicated.
Anyways.
I tapped Kim Cheonsu, who was idly sitting nearby.
“What’s up?”
He was looking at his smartphone, which I found incredibly tempting. After being forced into digital detox, electronic devices seed irresistible to .
But whenever I gestured toward it, Kim Cheonsu would shake his head vigorously, so I had to bide my ti for an opportunity.
Co on, it’s just a phone. What could go wrong?
In any case, since I knew he’d resist, I asked him for sothing else instead.
“… You’re hungry? Is it that ti already?”
You’re addicted to that smartphone, you know?
Watching Kim Cheonsu prepare food for , I was reminded of the jelly-like creatures surrounding us.
… They probably eat sothing too. Could I afford their food expenses?
Well. That’s not my concern.
I just hoped they’d be fed before they got angry.
Ah, and one more thing has changed.
The ones who showed goodwill toward now withdrew rather easily. It felt odd but not unpleasant.
“Why are you staring at like that? Hmm… Well, I am good-looking—mff!? Ow! Hey, what are you doing?!”
I couldn’t easily ask Kim Cheonsu for small favors anymore. Instead, it seed the jelly-like creatures around were now the ones responding to my thoughts. That’s probably why I could command them naturally.
I wasn’t entirely sure, but I still noticed so who liked . Occasionally, my ‘click’ requests to Kim Cheonsu seed to work too.
It was good that my stray thoughts weren’t contagious, though I wished they worked consistently with Kim Cheonsu. Thinking about it made feel increasingly removed from normalcy.
… Though, it’s a bit late for that, considering I’m jelly now.
As I contemplated this, Kim Cheonsu, covered in jelly, wiped his face and placed food in front of . He muttered complaints, but all I could see was the food.
“Do you think I’m ugly?”
Ti to return to being Chef Kim Cheonsu instead of Regular Kim Cheonsu. The food today was delicious, despite the clingy jelly around.
7496 - KR resolving the issue was an encouraging outco. Considering the sacrifices made earlier, it was regretful that they hadn’t been called sooner.
However, Hwangbo Yul couldn’t feel entirely happy about the return of 7496 - KR. It wasn’t just because of the identification tags and corpses they brought. It was the existence of 7496 - KR itself that complicated her thoughts.
The report had ntioned that their abilities had been enhanced after resolving the anomaly. While it had noted an increase in entities, it hadn’t anticipated this many…
This ability must have newly erged. Judging by what had been visible on the screen, that seed plausible.
And considering 7496 - KR’s combat abilities observed on the screen… it had beco an issue too significant to ignore.
Previously, they had survived and succeeded due to their unique traits beyond human limitations. Now, with so many entities under their control, they could accomplish even more.
But is this really okay?
No matter how cooperative they seem, they’re still an anomaly.
Feeling a throbbing in her temple, Hwangbo Yul pulled out her encrypted smartphone when it began to ring. Answering the call, she heard greetings and expressions of gratitude, followed by a direct question.
[What do you think of 7496 - KR?]
Hwangbo Yul reflected on 7496 - KR’s actions. Initially, they hadn’t seed reliable or threatening.
But watching them resolve this incident made it clear—that wasn’t the case. 7496 - KR had proven to be sowhat trustworthy and significantly more threatening now.
However… aside from that.
The way they had collected the identification tags.
How they had transported the corpses despite their changes.
How they had smiled warmly when she patted them.
These thoughts lingered in Hwangbo Yul’s mind, leaving her unable to make a swift judgnt. The person on the other end of the call patiently waited for her response. After careful thought, she replied in a low voice.
“We’ll need to observe further, but I believe they could beco a valuable collaborator.”
[That’s surprising. I expected you to say it should be eliminated imdiately.]
“…”
[Well, if that’s your judgnt, so be it. Understood.]
“… Yes.”
Ending the call, Hwangbo Yul sighed. Though her answer had been based on what she’d seen and felt, she couldn’t shake her unease.
After all.
7496 - KR was.
An anomaly.
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