“It’s hard to trust this no matter how you look at it.”
In the realm of 7496 – KR, the woman Hwang Bo-yul, gripping the feelers of the Jelly Girl, looked at her with an expression of disapproval.
At least the tactile sensation coming from her hands wasn’t bad. It was soft and squishy, the kind of texture that made you wonder how such a thing could exist in this world.
However, aside from that, there didn’t seem to be anything outstanding about her.
An adorable and pretty face would have no use in dealing with a singularity.
The small and squishy body seemed fit more for making observers feel a comforting warmth and perhaps offering some mental healing, rather than engaging in combat.
Sure, it seemed like cuddling with her might feel nice… but that’s not why 7496 – KR had been summoned here.
Hwang Bo-yul scratched her head, then set Jelly Girl down and looked toward Kim Cheon-soo, who had collapsed pathetically on the ground like a pitiable protagonist. Seeing his perpetually vacant expression, Hwang Bo-yul clicked her tongue and spoke.
“Hey.”
“A-Yes!”
Only now did Kim Cheon-soo start moving, like a computer finally booting up.
Regaining his composure, he awkwardly smiled at the standing Jelly Girl with a reluctant expression, then grabbed her hand and looked at Hwang Bo-yul.
Observing this exchange, it appeared to Hwang Bo-yul that the sight was less than ideal.
…It’s like watching someone who’s come out to play with their child.
Is it really okay to deploy them as they are?
Was it due to Kim Cheon-soo’s pitiful appearance? Or because of Jelly Girl’s adorable demeanor?
Hwang Bo-yul, who had only reviewed summaries of 7496 – KR’s exploits before requesting assistance, now began to feel both doubt and a strange sense of guilt.
Could the reports I’ve been reading be fabricated?
Perhaps the upper echelons have already been severely affected by some form of mental pollution.
Filling her gaze with doubt, she shook her head inwardly after a moment.
‘If they’ve come here to help, it’s only polite not to keep questioning them.’
We’ll see if they really have the ability to resolve the matter after deployment.
…If they don’t, then…
Recalling the bizarre scene she’d witnessed earlier—agents charging forward as if greeting an idol, their eyes gleaming with an almost manic energy—Hwang Bo-yul considered the situation. Though not outright insane, it was certainly abnormal.
Some form of mental contamination, or an ability that mimics such effects.
The only fortunate thing was that production of whatever was exacerbating this contamination—”Retort,” if her suspicions were correct—had ceased.
Thinking of this, Hwang Bo-yul found herself believing that, perhaps, whether 7496 – KR resolved the issue or disappeared in the attempt, neither option would be unfavorable.
Perhaps that’s what the higher-ups truly wanted.
As long as they’re cooperative and usable temporarily, and if they somehow manage to neutralize the threat themselves, it would be ideal.
‘…Tch.’
She felt a heaviness in her mood at this thought.
This is why singularities that take human form are bothersome.
With a heavy sigh, Hwang Bo-yul led Kim Cheon-soo and Jelly Girl toward their destination, keeping in mind that her immediate task was to guide Jelly Girl to ‘that place.’
*
The woman who introduced herself as Hwang Bo-yul began leading Kim Cheon-soo and me somewhere.
As we walked, I glanced around and immediately noticed an uncanny atmosphere.
The thought that crossed my mind was, “Does a place like this really exist in Korea?”
Looking behind us, you could see scattered villages far in the distance. In contrast, the direction we were heading revealed a landscape that brought to mind the ‘swamp.’
Green plants floating in water, damp, soggy trees, and a sticky smell that grew stronger with each step.
The closer we got, the stranger it all felt.
While observing this, I glanced at Jelly.
Suddenly, Hwang Bo-yul stopped ahead, and Kim Cheon-soo and I halted our steps as well.
In front of her stood a boundary that seemed to say, “beyond this point lies another world.”
Across this line was the swamp.
This side was just dirt.
The sharp distinction, akin to something out of a video game, made it glaringly clear that this was not a normal place.
…Of course, if such a place existed, I would have known about it, right?
“World… what is all this?”
Kim Cheon-soo had articulated what I wanted to ask. Nodding at Jelly, I turned to Hwang Bo-yul, who began explaining.
“If you’ve reviewed the available data, you’d know this area suddenly transformed into a swamp-like realm recently. Thankfully, it’s in an area with few civilians, so it wasn’t difficult to keep it hidden.”
Hwang Bo-yul pointed to a sign not far off and added quietly.
“Unfortunately, this swamp is continuing to expand. The pace might not be fast, but if left unchecked, irreversible consequences might occur.”
So… if I don’t resolve this, the Korean Peninsula—or maybe even the entire Earth—will eventually become a swamp?
…What exactly is this? Trying to understand singularities always feels absurd, but this is just too bizarre, isn’t it?
“Agents deployed to address the problem have all failed, and some never returned.”
Hwang Bo-yul glanced at me as I stared blankly at the swamp and asked emotionlessly:
“Can you solve this?”
Well… I… I don’t know.
It’s kind of strange, isn’t it, to say “Yes” so confidently when I just met this place today.
Fact is, the reason I chose to come here wasn’t based on anything special.
I didn’t have an instant solution, or any sort of premonition.
Rather, something about the photo felt familiar to me.
…I was also curious about whether a place like this really existed in Korea.
Since I couldn’t speak anyway, I remained silent with a nervous look, noticing Hwang Bo-yul’s expression harden.
Seeing this, Kim Cheon-soo swung his arm and nervously laughed, “Well, let’s just see what happens after you put her in, right?”
“…Yes.”
As Hwang Bo-yul muttered this, her slightly wistful expression made me realize that, although our first impression wasn’t great, perhaps she isn’t entirely bad.
Regardless of that,
I could feel my “knowledge pouch” twitching slightly, and a confidence emerged that maybe I could indeed solve this…
…But making promises I can’t keep might be embarrassing, so I let Kim Cheon-soo handle the situation while I focused on the direction the pouch was pointing to.
Twitch. Twitch.
While the pouch seemed to detect something, all I could see was an endless swamp.
The lush forest, the muddy streams winding through it, and the green plants floating on the water.
It made me think about how beautiful this planet is. As Hwang Bo-yul tapped the pouch and asked,
“Is this the thing mentioned in the report?”
“Haha… I didn’t write it, so I can’t say for sure.”
“…Tch.”
Kim Cheon-soo seemed oddly pitiable right now. But…
Upon closer inspection, Hwang Bo-yul’s appearance was quite attractive. If Han Seori was icy yet warm, Hwang Bo-yul was truly a “frosty” beauty.
Doesn’t she suit mockery and tongue clicks perfectly?
Perhaps this is Kim Cheon-soo’s reward?
Laughing quietly inside at such thoughts, I heard Hwang Bo-yul murmur while touching my pouch.
“…Perhaps she really can solve it.”
“Excuse me, what did you say?”
“Did I ask if you’re going in too?”
“H-Huh? Me?”
“…Probably not.”
After mumbling this, Hwang Bo-yul placed something similar to what Han Seori used to always put around my neck… now around mine.
Click. The familiar sensation came back.
“We don’t know how long it’ll last, but I’ll secure this for now.”
As she adjusted the device on my neck, she stood up and continued.
“I’ll be waiting nearby, so come back here after you succeed—or fail… Incidentally, does it really understand commands?”
“…Yes. Probably.”
With Kim Cheon-soo’s weak response, Hwang Bo-yul glanced at him sharply then looked at me and said:
“Turn back immediately if it seems impossible…”
Hmph.
This must be what they call a “tsundere.”
Instead of being irritating like it would have been from my old boss, a balding uncle, it was oddly pleasant coming from this pretty sister—no, this older sister.
I waved my hand as if to say “don’t worry,” and stepped toward the swamp.
Then I heard Kim Cheon-soo muttering behind me.
“…Somehow only these women seem to get all the attention.”
What do you know about it? Why are you even saying such things?
Ignoring him, I sloshed forward following what my pouch pointed to.
It made me feel faintly nostalgic.
The sewer where I first awakened as this body came to mind.
Damp.
Full of water.
…Not exactly a hometown, but it felt like returning home?
Though not exactly a place I’d ever want to visit willingly—like being dragged home during a holiday.
Still, without other options, I made my way toward where my pouch indicated.
How long had I been walking into the dense forest when…
I came to understand deeply—though perhaps “deeply” isn’t the right word since I lack bones—why some people never returned from here.
