“Hey, could you help me move this too? Just place it where we discussed earlier.”
Among the changed routines, the most significant change I’ve noticed is…
Han Seori has started assigning me tasks.
If you ask whether she hasn’t been delegating tasks before, the current tasks she’s giving are somewhat different in nature.
Until now, the “requests” Han Seori made of me were things that even I found interesting, things that stimulated my sense of adventure.
While I disliked work, these felt like hobbies or something in the vicinity of a pastime. However, the work Han Seori is making me do now…
Reminds me of the jobs I used to do when I was human.
Unpleasant but necessary tasks.
Far removed from adventure… mere errands.
Has she suddenly adopted a philosophy that those who don’t work shouldn’t eat?
After registering me as an exception, she’s now started assigning me really ordinary jobs.
Like moving the pile of luggage that’s stacked by the entrance indoors.
Transporting the dismantled fan was somewhat nerve-wracking, but soon the things that began to pile up were far less interesting.
While moving things with the other Jellies, I felt discouraged and regretful about reviving this facility.
Still, it’s not all bad.
Though registered as an exception alongside the Jellies, Han Seori has started treating me differently while assigning these tasks.
Her eyes are still full of curiosity and interest—giving me that inexplicable sensation of chill—but…
I feel like she’s treating me less as a “Singularity” and more as some kind of human-like entity.
Still, it doesn’t feel like I’m being treated completely human, but this attitude differs from her merely seeing me as an object of curiosity or as something cute.
This evidence might be tied to the change in my room.
Though I won’t go into detail about the rooms I stayed in before coming here, I had an inkling they were intended for confinement.
But… this room Han Seori gave me is different.
Though devoid of furniture, it feels like an ordinary room meant for an average “person.”
Unlike the compulsively spotless white walls of the past, the current wall colors give off a cozy feel.
…Though, that paint… hmm. Let me handle that later.
In any case,
She’s assigned me work and allocated a plain but special room.
And instead of being in an always-passive position, waiting for her or Kim Cheon-soo to come visit…
Now I have some room to maneuver.
This was, after all, the most significant change, though I have no idea how it happened.
Not only while moving luggage, but whenever I want, I can freely enter and exit my room.
If I want to see Han Seori, I just need to open my door and knock on hers next door.
Though I haven’t actually done that yet.
Of course, this is an imperfect freedom—I still cannot leave the facility—but any freedom is still freedom.
…Honestly, even if I was determined to leave, I don’t feel the necessity to do so.
Even if I were to step outside, all I’d see is snow blanketing the place; there’s no real reason to go out.
But then…
Is there really a neighborhood in our country where snow piles up year-round?
I rummaged through my memories but nothing substantial came to mind.
After some deliberation, I shrugged off the thought.
Hmm…
There may be some place somewhere, right?
Though it’s just a little patch of land, it sees wild temperature changes, so it’s possible there are locations unfamiliar to me.
If not, then…
Maybe this place has changed due to the Singularity?
I don’t know.
In any case, if winter arrived without me noticing, I definitely have no intention of going outside anytime soon.
…And if it turns out this weather is forever…
My motivation to go out would drop significantly.
Not that I had such thoughts anyway.
I’m not a kid who’ll play in the snow or build snowmen.
Amidst these thoughts, it dawned on me that I was hungry.
After finishing the task Han Seori gave me, I was lying in my room loafing around when I got up.
Glancing around, the other Jellies also seemed lethargic, perhaps due to hunger.
In the past, I would’ve waited for Han Seori or Kim Cheon-soo to bring food, but…
Things are different now.
I got up and left my room, heading toward what I remembered as the kitchen.
Though it wasn’t originally a kitchen, Kim Cheon-soo and Han Seori remodeled it into one.
Meaning…
I don’t need to wait for food now; I can take care of myself when I’m hungry.
I don’t have to wait helplessly for someone to feed me.
Though secretly, I preferred the days when they just took care of me, this arrangement isn’t bad either.
Besides…
Both of them look incredibly busy, which makes pestering them for food feel… inappropriate.
Seeing their tired faces as they move about, I wondered if they were even sleeping properly. Maybe they’re assigning tasks because they’re so swamped they’d even ask a cat for help.
Though in this case, a Jelly.
Anyway, that’s how it is.
Having entered, I made my way to where the food was stored.
There was no raw meat, but a decent selection of canned goods and instant foods.
I noticed there were no more of the Soylent Purple Co. retort pouches I used to enjoy, which gave me a strange feeling.
It’s not that I particularly missed them.
Thinking that my actions may influence the world…
This brings an unexpectedly thrilling sensation.
Unwelcome ordinary life.
Becoming this Jelly has its merits.
Though not entirely,
It made me feel grateful in some small way.
While contemplating this, I used my Jelly grip to pick up a packet of noodles.
Out of habit from my human days, I picked up just one pack, but I paused to count.
Daesik, Jungsik, Sosik…
And me.
…Clearly, one wouldn’t be enough.
The Jelly I am now decided helplessly to fetch four more noodle packets, along with a large pot nearby.
Why five packs?
Frankly, given their appetites, even ten might not be enough…
But what can I do if there’s no more noodles?
I stood on the step stool someone had placed, filled the pot with water, and turned on the stove.
Back when I lived alone and had to hide in my apartment, I would eat raw noodles just in case I was discovered… but looking back, things have improved quite a bit.
And I tore open all the noodles, dumping the flakes into the pot.
I realized one thing.
Dumping everything in like this creates more of a mess outside the pot than I expected. That is, until I noticed the flakes sticking to my Jelly body, which dissolved with a “boil-boil” sound.
While tasting the dissolving noodles and waiting for the water to boil…
There it is.
Without hesitation, I poured in the soup mix.
I could soon enjoy the noodle broth.
Perhaps dumping it all in at once was the problem, but the broth surged like waves, splashing on me.
But it’s fine.
In the past, I would’ve cursed and yelled, “Hot dammit!”, but now…
Being transformed into Jelly feels like testing the seasoning.
Tasting the broth felt appropriate, so I adjusted the water accordingly.
I then placed the noodles into the pot, now boiling.
This task was easy.
With this body, I don’t have to worry about the scalding steam.
Hm…
Maybe this form has culinary talent.
With this ability, maybe I could handle oil splashes without flinching.
Just as I immersed myself in these newfound talents…
I sensed someone approaching.
Since I can see all without turning my head, I just stayed put.
Han Seori appeared, walking with a tired face, sniffing the air.
“Huh? What’s that smell… Oh?”
She ambled closer with a delighted smile and looked at me with surprise.
Ah…
Han Seori seems genuinely impressed by my culinary skills.
My mouth, which was bubbling like a pot, felt like it was about to boil over when…
Her stomach growled.
“Aah…”
She looked at me with an embarrassed expression.
Perhaps she’s shy.
I noticed a slight blush on her cheeks.
I turned down the heat silently and stepped down from the stool.
“Hm?”
Ignoring her curious tone, I went to the storage and fetched a small pot, a ladle, and tongs.
Returning to the stool, I used the tongs to scoop the noodles and ladled the broth into the smaller pot.
Han Seori watched me with an expression somewhere between bewilderment and surprise.
She finally spoke, barely containing her awe.
“Are you offering it to me?”
…Now that I think about it, it does sound kind of awkward.
Anyway, I’d boiled a packet of noodles per Jelly, so giving her one portion wouldn’t be a big problem.
If there’s any complaint, she can boil her own.
In any case,
After handing Han Seori the small pot, I descended from the stool, carrying the large, hot pot back to the room.
Behind me, I heard Han Seori’s voice.
“…Who taught you how to cook noodles? Was it Cheon-soo?”
For some strange reason, cold Jelly ran down my back.
…I don’t know, but since that guy once called me a genius, this must be acceptable, right?
I quickly hurried back to the room, splashing through the corridor.
By the time I realized I hadn’t brought separate bowls to divide the noodles…
I simply ate them randomly.
With this Jelly body, that’s entirely doable, so it’s very convenient.
Han Seori seemed momentarily flustered by this.
In any case,
The newly relocated facility is somewhat satisfying.
It’s peaceful.
…Though saying this feels like an invitation for trouble.
Screw it.
Despite a slight sense of unease…
The noodles were delicious.
