We won! The Swamp realm has ended!
—
It would have been great if things could have ended there, but unfortunately, the situation didn’t seem to be that straightforward.
First off, Kim Cheon-soo and Hwang Bo-yul were extremely startled by the sudden influx of new “family members,” and it seemed like it would take them quite some time to calm down.
Not to mention the things that looked like weapons in their hands, and the bomb-like object in Kim Cheon-soo’s grip.
Could he have been planning to self-detonate?
Thankfully, I rushed over out of concern—I’m glad I did.
Had I been just a little slower, I wouldn’t know exactly what they intended to do, but I had a premonition that something would have gone very wrong.
Anyway.
While the two were trying to regain their composure, I carefully placed the identification tags I had collected onto the ground, one by one.
Stacking them neatly, like dominos—lined up so orderly and tidy.
They weren’t particularly heavy, but each time I pulled one out of my body, I felt as if a weight was lifted from me too.
Why did I feel that way?
Hmm… maybe it was the mental weight.
Even though I never got a proper look at their faces, I felt a certain heaviness in my heart, and I think it’s because of that.
It was bittersweet, but not entirely unpleasant. Despite my current state, it was a reminder that I still retained a human’s heart.
…That realization was somewhat surprising, but it was true.
With the identification tags from the newly emerged individuals placed on the ground, I noticed Hwang Bo-yul approaching, step by step.
She approached cautiously, lowering herself and carefully examining each tag, as if trying to absorb every one of them fully into her mind.
The once stoic, cold, and distant expression I had perceived from her was nowhere to be seen now.
Her eyes didn’t wrinkle with sorrow nor were they shedding tears, but a deep sadness emanated from them nevertheless.
Had it not been for the fact that I was now a jelly, I might not have noticed, but now I could see it clearly.
Observing this, I couldn’t help but think that her seemingly rigid and cold exterior masked a softer side.
Perhaps her beauty hides a kind soul?
It seems that doing things you’re not fully in control of—like me asking others to do things I’ve done myself as a human—leaves such impressions. If I were in her position and someone asked me to return somewhere as a human instead of jelly, I’d find it terrifying to imagine.
…There might be exceptions like Han Seori, but most people would react this way, I reckon.
Understanding her feelings, I felt a pang of empathy as I looked at her, and after she had taken in all the tags visually, she came closer to me, lowering herself slightly in a somewhat awkward posture.
She looked directly into my eyes, bowed her head slightly, and said:
“…Thank you. Thanks to you, not only was the task resolved, but the sacrifices made didn’t go completely unremembered.”
Her voice was slightly suppressed as she spoke, then paused thoughtfully before carefully stroking my head.
Had she heard that I enjoyed that?
Well, no, I don’t dislike it. Especially if it’s from a beautiful person—it’s welcomed.
Since the reward I requested will already be waiting for me when I return, I figured a small bonus like this would be okay.
Kim Cheon-soo probably would have pushed her away gently.
Anyway, feeling slightly cheered, I decided to give Hwang Bo-yul a gift to brighten her mood. I mentally thought about ‘it’ and focused on bringing it forward.
As if in response, the motionless group of jellies began to stir and brought over relatively intact corpses, placing them nearby.
With a gentle “thud, thud,” sound, the lifeless bodies piled up.
Ah, hey, guys… could you try to be a little more careful? We went through all the trouble of gathering them… Please, gently, gently.
Of course, as they’re not quite human, they didn’t seem to care and hauled the bodies without hesitation, even causing Hwang Bo-yul to look a little disapproving.
I could feel her hand, which had been stroking me, stop moving.
Hwang Bo-yul alternated her gaze between me and the bodies, her expression becoming more complex. It was hard to gauge what she was thinking.
But judging from her expression, it wasn’t particularly positive.
…It seems that what I did to try and gain favor might have backfired slightly.
Oh well.
It must just be because the new “family members” still aren’t used to interacting with humans.
Anyway.
How am I supposed to take them back?
As it turned out, my concerns weren’t unfounded. Though I had initially thought we could return right away, it seemed both Hwang Bo-yul and I would have to remain here for a while.
For some other reasons, Hwang Bo-yul’s expression continued to appear conflicted.
On the other hand, the people summoned by Hwang Bo-yul arrived to collect the identification tags and bodies. As usual, some among them seemed to show interest in me, but a single glance from her brought them to an abrupt halt and they had no choice but to leave.
Only Hwang Bo-yul and Kim Cheon-soo could approach me now.
But with Hwang Bo-yul busy with cleanup, I was left to entertain myself with Kim Cheon-soo.
…Even the jellies gathered around me, and I’m still unsure how to proceed despite their help.
Anyway.
Tapping the side of Kim Cheon-soo, who was sitting there vacantly, I got his attention.
“What’s up?”
He was holding a smartphone, which I desperately wanted. After unintentionally experiencing digital detox, I found the allure of electronic devices irresistible.
But when I pointed to it with my finger, he shook his head, so I figured I’d have to wait for an opportune moment.
What harm could come from me just wanting to use his phone for a bit?
I already know everything anyway.
Nevertheless, expecting his resistance, I decided to ask for something else.
“Are you hungry? Is it already that time of day?”
You’re kinda addicted to that smartphone, huh?
As I watched Kim Cheon-soo busily preparing food for me,
I couldn’t help but remember the jellies surrounding us.
…Do they eat something, too?
Can we afford the food expenses?
Well.
I guess that’s not my problem.
Just hoping that preparations are made before the jellies get angry.
Also, there’s one thing that has changed.
The people who used to approach me so willingly seem to be retreating silently now.
“What? Why are you staring at me like that? Hmm… well, I am good-looking but— uh!? Hey, what’s that!?”
Controlling Kim Cheon-soo via a mental remote control wasn’t working so well lately.
Instead, now the jellies surrounding me seemed to respond to my thoughts.
Perhaps it’s because I can now naturally issue orders to them.
Though I’m not entirely sure. There are still people who respond to my mental commands, and occasionally my thoughts even affect Kim Cheon-soo.
Though it’s a good thing my thoughts don’t unintentionally spread to everyone, it leaves me feeling a little lacking in some ways. Hopefully, the effect will strengthen when it’s Kim Cheon-soo-specific.
Lost in thought, I feel like I’m drifting further and further from ordinary life.
…I suppose this is only natural after becoming a jelly, though.
While I was indulging in these musings, Kim Cheon-soo, who had turned into a jelly himself, wiped his face and placed the food in front of me.
He muttered something while doing so, but all I could focus on was the food he had prepared.
“Are you implying that my face is ugly…?”
Alright, time to transition from regular Kim Cheon-soo to Chef Kim Cheon-soo.
Today’s meal was delicious as always.
Even with the occasional gooey interruptions.
*
It was encouraging to see that 7496 – KR had resolved the problem. Thinking about the sacrifices made earlier, I couldn’t help but regret not calling sooner.
However, when 7496 – KR returned after handling the issue, Hwang Bo-yul couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
It wasn’t just because of the identification tags and bodies that 7496 – KR had brought back. What truly troubled her was the very existence of 7496 – KR.
Having solved the Singularity, 7496 – KR now appeared to have undergone a significant power enhancement, as documented in the report. Though the report mentioned an increase in entities, it hadn’t anticipated such a large quantity.
This must have been a new ability triggered during this event. Considering its combat capabilities observed on screen, that seemed plausible.
Moreover…
Given that 7496 – KR’s survival and success thus far could be attributed to breaking human limitations, it was clear it could now accomplish more with the numerous entities at its disposal.
…But was this truly a positive development?
Regardless of how cooperative it appeared, it was still a Singularity.
As Hwang Bo-yul felt her temples throb, she sensed her encrypted smartphone vibrating and promptly retrieved it.
Upon answering the call, a calm voice inquired:
“Your thoughts on 7496 – KR?”
Reflecting on its actions, Hwang Bo-yul remained silent for a moment.
Initially, 7496 – KR hadn’t seemed particularly reliable or threatening.
But judging by the recent event, that had been misguided.
7496 – KR had proven itself to be trustworthy—indeed, more so after its latest transformation.
However, separate from that consideration…
Recalling how it had gathered the identification tags,
Transported the bodies with care even after its transformation,
And its joyful response to being affectionately stroked,
Hwang Bo-yul hesitated to make a judgment. The patient silence on the other end of the call allowed her to ponder further before she uttered her thoughts quietly:
“We need to observe further, but I believe it could be a valuable ally.”
“Unexpected. I thought you’d suggest it be eliminated immediately.”
“….”
“Well, if that’s your judgment, then so be it. Understood.”
“…Yes.”
As she ended the call, Hwang Bo-yul exhaled deeply.
Even though she had based her response purely on what she’d observed and felt, she still couldn’t shake the lingering discomfort.
After all.
7496 – KR was…
A Singularity.
