Pudelpudel.
After sending Kim Cheon-soo outside, Han Seori continued to gaze through the glass window with a puzzled expression.
‘Why is it doing that?’
Through the glass, she could see “Damn Mucus” expelling a thick glob of mucus at Kim Cheon-soo, dressed in a hazmat suit. The blue-bodied creature was shivering as it lay curled up in the corner.
The streets outside were quiet, and the petite size of the girl-like Damn Mucus made its intentions harder to discern.
Watching this, Seori felt somewhat exasperated, knowing the person who was supposed to observe the situation was now outside and covered in mucus.
Still, why hasn’t there been any contact? It should be time for him to return by now.
‘Nothing seems particularly dangerous… but has it developed a new trait we missed?’
As worry began to grow over Kim Cheon-soo’s delay, Han Seori’s hand reached for the communicator. At that moment, the door pushed open, revealing Kim Cheon-soo shuffling in with a dazed look on his face. Upon confirming he was unharmed, Seori sighed in relief but couldn’t resist teasing him.
“Why were you so startled when you were wearing the hazmat suit?”
Unmanly for a man…
Seori chuckled to herself, remembering how, during their private meetings, he always tried to exude masculinity. But now, in the wake of her laughter, he could only hang his head, unable to reply.
This was indeed an embarrassing situation, even to himself.
The mucus spit by Damn Mucus had caused no harm to a human—unless, of course, one choked on it, similar to how dangerous jelly, yam cake, or rice cake might be.
It was hardly life-threatening.
Regaining his composure, Kim Cheon-soo reluctantly defended himself.
“It was unforeseen, so there was nothing I could do. I hadn’t seen any information indicating that it could spit such a substance.”
“Hmm… I suppose it could happen. These Singularities… they’re all over the place, after all.”
Though Seori had teased him, she understood his perspective. She was always safely monitoring from a distance, but the first-hand perspective on the front line must be different.
Therefore, she pointed to the small silhouette beyond the glass and asked,
“So, what’s your impression now that you’ve seen it up close? It’s too small to notice many details from here.”
“An impression… you say?”
“Yes. Even the minutiae would help.”
Kim Cheon-soo scratched his head awkwardly, then let out a sigh after a moment of thought.
“Uh… it’s kinda cute?”
“Huh?”
Seori stared at him in disbelief, surprised to hear such a comment from his lips despite feeling the same way herself.
“Look here, Dr. Kim, even you find it surprising, don’t you?”
“Well, that’s different. Besides, I didn’t ask you to joke around.”
“Th-them…”
As Seori began to assert her authority, Kim Cheon-soo straightened up, adopting a serious tone.
“To be honest, it’s still premature to say anything conclusively. However, the creature appeared to be frightened, but its sudden attack—it showed no signs of friendliness regardless of its potential dangers.”
“Knock, knock.”
While Kim Cheon-soo was speaking, Seori tapped gently on the window and spoke cautiously.
“Was it really an attack?”
“Hmm?”
“Feels… too minor to be called an attack.”
“…”
“Maybe a threat?”
“That does seem more fitting. After all, from its perspective, it’s been kidnapped.”
“What that implies…”
“It seems, whether it was a threat or an attack, it’s become aware of its circumstances.”
Now the critical mystery was what lay within that small jelly-like mass.
Regardless of how it manifested, it seemed best to give it some time.
The fact that it expelled mucus, in whatever context, indicated instability.
“Let’s give it a little time to calm down before conducting additional experiments.”
After deciding, Seori cast her gaze toward the wobbling jelly mass.
Even she admitted to herself that she had been somewhat hasty.
Most likely due to the pressing deadlines.
“…I still need to complete the investigation before the director notices.”
For now, perhaps offering it some food would help.
It could help calm it down, and perhaps reveal if it behaves similarly to a human.
Han Seori nodded inwardly and dispatched Kim Cheon-soo to go and get a hamburger.
After the big man was pulled out,
I found myself huddled in the corner, imagining what might happen to me next.
I had no particular reason for choosing the corner; I just felt safer there.
…Strangely, the sewers were beginning to feel nostalgic.
The worst possible outcome I could imagine in my head was being processed into some form of unknown retort food, its source unidentifiable.
Even though it was an imagined scenario,
it was terrifying.
I couldn’t bear the thought of my jelly-like body being chopped up and swallowed by others. Just imagining it made my jelly shrink back.
Unlike before, I couldn’t dismiss these wild thoughts anymore now that I suspected the worst was indeed approaching.
If only I hadn’t attacked, I might not have been so anxious.
Why did I do that?
Instead of physically attacking, shouldn’t some other form of communication—maybe sounds or signals—have been sufficient?
If I had just nodded as the big guy suggested, instead of attacking…
Miserable jelly!
My head throbbed as I pounded it against the wall, but all I felt was the jiggling of my jelly form.
The harsh reality of no longer being human stared me in the face.
As I trembled, huddled in the corner,
Clack.
The door opened with a metallic sound.
Here it comes…
But I wasn’t ready yet. After already “dying” once, must I endure it again?
I had no way of communicating my thoughts, so all I could do was tremble.
A feeling of immense powerlessness washed over me.
Even though I wasn’t actually a small girl, I felt a tingling in what would have been my nose.
Memories of my short but relatively uneventful life as a sewer dweller flashed by.
Seeing them now, even though I hadn’t felt them when my body was melting, made me realize that death might indeed be imminent.
My brief existence as a sewer-dweller…
And even shorter life as this jelly.
I…
Do not want to d—
Clatter!
Eeek!
Boilboil…
A sound came from the floor, snapping me back to reality.
Clack.
As the light came in, I noticed the door closing again.
Wait…
And then,
I saw on the floor something that was eerily familiar to me.
Why, it was… a hamburger.
I was somewhat shocked, but there it was.
In front of me sat a hamburger, sitting innocently on a tray.
I sniffed it, even though I lack a nose, and looked around cautiously.
No matter which way I looked,
There was only the hamburger.
The person who left it must have already stepped out, leaving the room empty except for me and the food.
Like a blind date.
As if fascinated, I wriggled slowly toward the hamburger.
Even ghosts who had died of hunger might find the food appealing, I thought.
I reached out and picked up the hamburger.
The burger, wrapped in paper, was still warm, likely freshly bought.
A hamburger from the well-known L Company that I used to frequent.
What did it mean?
Were they fattening me up before killing me?
Or offering forgiveness?
Or…perhaps they’re considering making jelly gum?
Whatever the case,
I should eat.
Though I lacked hunger in my stomach, I felt a deep, pressing emptiness.
It makes sense—it takes so much mental energy to think through all this.
I hesitated for a moment as my hand moved to open the wrapper.
Then, without bothering to unwrap it, I shoved the whole hamburger into my belly.
It would be less trouble if I ate everything, including the wrapper—perhaps showing them that I was useful.
They’d think it was easier to manage me if everything was clean and tidy.
Yes, it might even make them see me as convenient.
Though the taste of the melted wrapper wasn’t particularly appealing,
The hamburger inside was surprisingly delicious. People who badmouth fast food often overlook its nutritional value.
You get your carbs from the bread, protein from the patty.
Plus the appropriate amount of vegetables… even though the sauce may be excessive, isn’t salad dressing similarly enjoyed?
If separated, it’s balanced brunch.
Combine it, and it’s fast food.
Ironically amusing.
Of course, I should exclude fries and drinks.
It was, indeed, a balanced and healthy meal.
And it tasted good.
Though the wrapper wasn’t tasty.
Even so, I swallowed the remaining hamburger whole, wrapper and all.
As the hamburger melted inside me, its rich flavors became more intense.
Having eaten the hamburger, I noticed the empty tray lying there.
I stared at it, deliberating.
Should I eat it too?
Was it some kind of stringed instrument?
But to prove my worth and avoid becoming jelly gum, shouldn’t I eat it?
No, might it seem too primitive?
What should I do?
While pondering this, a sound came from the door.
Click.
Startled, I grabbed the tray and darted to the corner.
Hastily, I shoved the tray into my stomach in an effort to demonstrate my usefulness.
Ugh.
It tastes like munching on a metal bar.
Then, just as I attempted to swallow,
A gasp came from someone entering, followed by the tray slipping back out of my stomach.
Thud.
I watched, horrified, as part of my jelly got dragged out along with the tray.
It felt like a warning that I’d soon meet the same fate.
As I despondently watched the jelly being pulled away,
A new tray was pushed toward me.
On it sat a fresh hamburger, gleefully awaiting me.
Apparently, trays are off-limits.
Right, that makes sense.
With the door closing again, I reached out for the hamburger in front of me.
It’s delicious.
