“As I expected.”
The self-assured voice of Ki Hyang echoed throughout Ullari’s interior. Listening to her voice and looking outside, I saw that the number of tanks had significantly decreased compared to just moments ago.
It wasn’t like we had destroyed the tanks exactly. Even if we managed to break them, they would just disappear into the ground and resurface again. Still, we weren’t entirely hands-off.
After every battle, I (technically, we) scavenged parts. Not just for Ullari’s upgrades, but I grabbed everything I could carry and attached it to Ullari.
When things were attached to Ullari, they stayed, so it was an obvious choice.
As this process continued, Ullari transformed into something that could no longer be called a tank. And slowly, the numbers of the tanks gathered at the center dwindled.
At first, they would rise from the ground missing parts, then they became smaller, and eventually their numbers decreased.
As a result, now Ullari… well, can this even still be called a tank? All the parts dangling from its body make it resemble a snake, stretching and extending with a grinding sound.
And the tanks now gathered as if they could be called toys by their size.
Even so, they kept firing their cannons incessantly, as if they couldn’t get enough of fighting.
Still, they had become small enough to hold in my hands, and a sense of possessiveness over them had grown. Despite their reduced size, everything was intact, and they functioned perfectly.
Even the cannons firing with a “Hug!” sound were merely scaled down in size, but they still worked. One of them had just shot inside me.
Hmm… tastes terrible.
While I was holding on to a small tank with both hands and walking back to Ki Hyang, she spoke in a somewhat distant voice.
“It looks like this is the last one. Hurry up… and attach it.”
Apparently, for Ki Hyang’s grand plan, all these parts had to be attached to her.
Still, it was a bit regretful. Not that I had plans to open a ramen shop or anything, but these little models were tempting.
It wasn’t that I was nostalgic for toys.
…Can’t I take them home?
I gazed at Ki Hyang, hoping for leniency, but her cold voice replied,
“What are you doing instead of attaching them?”
Tsk, so cold, like a robot. And you own drones too but why do you give me a hard time? Aren’t they also products of the Singularity…?
Though I felt a bit wronged, I wasn’t immature enough to throw a tantrum. Moving my reluctant feet, I approached Ullari with the miniatures in hand.
As if sensing their fate, the miniatures started to wildly spin their treads, but Ki Hyang’s steely resolve wouldn’t allow any deviation.
They were touching.
The miniatures made contact with Ullari.
The lively little tanks were about to become cold miniatures under Ki Hyang’s control.
Black black… farewell, little guys. We had a short but good time together.
Just as these miniatures were about to be absorbed by Ki Hyang, her voice spoke softly.
“Hmm… if that’s the case, place them inside of you for now. If any variables arise, it’s only natural that Lime-sama will suffer, so it’s fine with me.”
Yang Ha-na, all hail.
I gleefully took the tanks from each faction and stuffed them into my belly. Though they tried to move with bubbling sounds, it was like they were caught in thick mud and couldn’t budge.
After some time struggling, they gave up and started firing at each other.
…I might want them, but wow, you’re really irritating.
Can I manage these little demons? I felt worried but also excited. It felt like introducing new members to the Singularity.
Or maybe it’s like welcoming a bad-tempered puppy… actually, with the way they fight each other, it feels like adopting both a dog and a cat.
…Though, that’s assuming everything goes well, as Ki Hyang mentioned.
“Then, let’s begin.”
If I sense disappointment in Ki Hyang’s voice, is it paranoia?
I climbed aboard Ullari, hearing the bubbling noises from my stomach, which oddly felt like a rumbling belly.
Mounting Ullari with that peculiar sensation, Ki Hyang promptly began to move Ullari.
Brumkwaank! The engine noise was so large and strange, it felt like it shouldn’t exist in this world. Even the tiny tanks fighting inside me stopped to flinch in surprise.
Ullari, true to its name, started moving powerfully, like a monster awakening. I really wanted to take it with me.
But I couldn’t.
Ullari began sealing off every passage except the one we came through. There was no one who would mourn the destruction of the ant nest. The ones that seemed worthy of sorrow were busy brawling inside my stomach.
…No one seems to have special feelings for the ant nest.
Sealing all the tunnels, Ullari eventually stopped at the hollow where the battle had taken place. I stepped out from inside and placed Ullari near the exit.
“Once I give the signal, hold on to me and run immediately.”
The last step of Ki Hyang’s plan was to destroy the ant nest by making Ullari explode.
Even though I managed to secure the miniatures, should I be glad they’re safe?
…Although, if the ant nest restores itself, we might have to start all over again. However, since all the tanks have been assimilated by Ki Hyang, it should be fine. But it’s not like I can go outside together with the massive and heavy Ullari. If something like that burst out from underground, what would they think?
…A secret superweapon of the Bukanists attacking?
Oh… that’s kind of scary.
We’re at the very front line. If that happens, I can’t even imagine the suffering of the comrades whose faces I don’t know… just thinking about it is terrifying.
…And the explosion, though I’m used to it now, it still isn’t… harmless?
“5.”
Ki Hyang began the countdown.
“4.”
I confirmed where I needed to run and grabbed a hold of Ki Hyang’s head.
“3.”
Farewell, Ullari… your will will continue through the little ones inside me!
“…2.”
“Let’s go.”
As soon as her voice sounded, I pushed off like a runner receiving the baton and shot forward. Just then, an explosion sounded from the far rear of Ullari.
Bang! The continuous sounds reached my ears as I ran, and a chunk of metal flew past me.
“Oh, take care; there are some leftovers.”
You’re telling me this late.
I ran with all my jelly strength. Even if I don’t die if I get hit, it’ll likely grab my ankle.
Even so, if I get trapped underground, it will be… well, pretty hard to get out. Though, remembering how I used to move through the ocean, I might manage to get out anyway, but I’m not sure if Ki Hyang can endure it.
But the good thing is that the ant nest is collapsing smoothly.
According to Ki Hyang’s plan, the explosion destroyed the ant nest, but… wait.
Why is… that thing still moving?
“Hm, I didn’t expect that it could move.”
Don’t act so calm.
Ullari began to chase after me like an abandoned puppy, desperately running. The sight of it coming after me while explosions erupted behind it seemed like both a loyal dog trying to return to its owner and a vengeful one chasing its abandoner.
U-Ullari. I didn’t intend to abandon you. This is all Ki Hyang’s fault!
“Shouldn’t you have agreed already? What’s this talk now? Run hard. Ullari will remember this forever.”
The collapsing ant nest.
The grotesque chunk of metal robot chasing us.
It felt like a scene from a game. I had the urge to throw bombs or fire guns at the robot chasing me from behind, but it was a former ally, so I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
But it’s annoying that it persists in firing cannons even while exploding.
…Let me reclaim the name ‘Ullari’ from you for now. I will split that name into ‘Ulla’ and ‘Ri,’ and give it to the little ones in my stomach.
Even as the explosion behind kept engulfing the entity, the ant nest continued to crumble under its influence.
…I wonder if there’s any big trouble happening above, but since nobody lives there, it should be fine, right?
Anyway.
As I ran through the plains, I eventually reached an incline, meaning we were getting closer to the outside.
I only hope this expedition, which has lasted for who knows how many days, is finally coming to an end.
Using my tentacles, I quickly climbed up the incline. It was just a bright day, so I paused momentarily when I saw light streaming through a hole.
Hm… even though there’s been some chaos, is it fine to go out like this?
While hesitating for a moment, a chunk of metal hit my body with an explosion, but I stayed intact. The cannonball carried me with a ‘Swoosh!’ sound, and I headed toward the outside.
With this unexpected boost, I touched down near the entrance, reaching out with my tentacles to grab hold of it. A few metal chunks flew further into the air behind me, and the entity that had once been Ullari became one with the collapsing ant nest in a final explosion.
I clung halfway out of the entrance, twisting around, and eventually climbed into a tank that still remained outside.
There was nowhere else to hide.
Once inside the battered tank, Ki Hyang’s voice rang out.
“I’ll check our situation and contact the lab.”
Yeah.
I hope this is finally the end.
With a sigh, I rested my chin on my hand in the now familiar tank commander seat. Meanwhile, the explosions continued in my stomach.
…Can you please be a little quieter, you little guys?
