It was decided that I would have to leave this place and head somewhere else, and due to some indescribable emotion, I too felt that I needed to go.
However, simply making up my mind didn’t mean I could leave right away.
The first problem wasn’t with me or anyone else present, but rather with the situation outside the facility.
When we had returned here, just as Sphere had reported, there were unknown individuals lingering suspiciously around the area. While I hadn’t thought much of it, Han Seori and the others had reacted with great seriousness, dragging me into their concern.
“… We might have to move again.”
Kim Cheon-soo sighed, rubbing his forehead, while Han Seori, fiddling with her hair, shook her head and responded.
“I’m not sure. It’s not as simple as it sounds. There’s really no other place to go besides here.”
“Well, uh… how about a big flying ship like in the movies? You know, the invisible kind—”
“…Have you been playing too many games?”
“Cough…”
I had an idea what Commoner was referring to, and it was somewhat shocking to realize it didn’t exist. After all, this is the group supposedly in charge of managing the Singularity—shouldn’t they at least have something like that?
Protecting Earth should involve something similar, right? But why do we lack such things?
It felt like there wasn’t much romance left in this world—no grand airships.
Of course, if such a fortress existed, we wouldn’t have struggled so much in the Swamp.
And if there’s no fortress, it probably means there’s no hero to ride one either.
Truly, no romance.
Still.
Romance aside, it was necessary to act discreetly.
This situation forced me to make a choice: How many Jelly creatures should I bring along?
It was obvious that I should avoid bringing them out at peak hours, but even the number brought along would require some thought. After all, after working so hard to accumulate such numbers, it would be foolish not to use them to my advantage.
If there weren’t restrictions, I could let them swarm around without a problem, but as it was, I had no choice but to select carefully.
I even considered bringing along the Jelly that originated from me—not because I felt it was unfair that I was the only one who had to suffer but because I thought they might want to experience the outside world too.
…But never mind.
Though my Jellies did obey me, they weren’t as sharp and quick as a full-fledged Jelly army, so I hesitated. They weren’t quite suitable.
Daesik functioned inside his puppet, so in confined areas—much like when we came here previously—he didn’t have much advantage. Jung-sik, on the other hand…I wasn’t sure about him. Flying around seemed useful, but he also had that vaguely pet-like quality, which made his utility questionable.
Among all of them, Sosik seemed the most helpful—but his lack of motivation was a problem. Outside of watching TV and occasionally lounging submerged in the bathtub, he didn’t move much.
The memory of Sosik’s last bath made my Jellies ripple with amusement when I recalled how his head had almost broken through the water.
Hold on.
Why was Sosik living the life I wanted? Here I was, suffering outside, while he enjoyed himself…
This time, my Jelly bubbled with a different kind of agitation, but I pushed that thought to the back of my mind. Though I considered taking him along, I worried that something might go wrong, which would make me feel awkward later.
Weirdly enough, I had developed a familial affection towards them.
After all, they looked somewhat like me.
…Though I couldn’t help but wonder: shouldn’t they be efficient and help me if they look like me? Still, I didn’t know.
In any case, my decision boiled down to how many Jellies from the Jelly army I could absorb and carry with me.
While I am extremely light, the Jellies are not. Absorbing too many would risk breaking Kim Cheon-soo’s back.
…Ah, actually, this time it’s Hwang Bo-yul taking me—not Kim Cheon-soo—so her back might suffer instead. Or, that’s weird.
Hmph.
Given Kim Cheon-soo’s skull has already taken a hit and Yang Ha-na might not be reliable for such tasks, it wasn’t strange for Hwang Bo-yul to be assigned as my escort.
Han Seori, however, had the significant task of overseeing this place, so she couldn’t come.
Thinking about this, having Hwang Bo-yul join seemed like a stroke of good fortune for Kim Cheon-soo, but… it felt somewhat awkward for me.
Sure, she’s an attractive older sister, but we’ve only known each other for a short while. Besides, the way she looks at me… it’s strange.
She doesn’t appear to feel inappropriate desires, but her gaze feels indescribably unsettling.
Seeing myself in the mirror, it’s understandable why she might feel this way. And while Kim Cheon-soo or Han Seori seem appropriate reacting this way, Yang Ha-na… well, it’s weird.
…Will it be okay?
We’ll likely spend a considerable amount of time together, considering our last venture in the Swamp.
I’m not really into this kind of scenario…
Since I can’t really pursue romantic relationships now, what’s the point of such an event?
Grumbling about this, I was contemplating the number of Jellies to take and when to leave, when a solution to one of my worries appeared before me.
[It seems you’re troubled.]
Surprisingly, Sphere was the one who approached me first. Usually quiet unless I initiated conversation, his proactive behavior felt peculiar.
His visit was usually prompted by specific updates, so the absence of any pressing matters made this even odder.
Perhaps it was Yang Ha-na’s influence. She’s been meticulously wiping down Sphere’s exterior daily—maybe her chatter has rubbed off on him?
…While I couldn’t confirm this due to him being a machine, it certainly feels like she’s left some kind of mark on him.
In any case,
[If you’re going outside, I believe I can be of assistance.]
Sphere then pulled out a concealed drone and started tinkering, assembling various scattered parts.
Under the watchful eyes of Hwang Bo-yul, who regarded the scene with suspicion, and Han Seori, whose curiosity gleamed visibly, he created something…
A mini steel snake.
[This should allow us to quietly reach the perimeter.]
…There is romance after all!
Though a stealth air fortress soaring through the skies doesn’t exist, a steel snake burrowing underground is very real.
When I think about it now, it seems strange that I didn’t ask Sphere earlier, given his original form.
His unexpected initiative feels a bit strange—but at least a solution has been found, so I’m satisfied.
Strangely, despite Sphere clearly knowing Korean, he insisted on speaking in his usual cryptic manner, seemingly influenced by Yang Ha-na nearby.
Why does she affect him this way, and why don’t I feel the need to investigate?
Perhaps it’s because Han Seori hasn’t voiced any questions about it?
Regardless, with Sphere’s contribution, the preparations for our outdoor journey were complete. Hwang Bo-yul and I boarded the steel snake after making various arrangements.
Though there were no cozy seats or windows for sightseeing, the steel snake’s ability to burrow satisfied my long-held ambition.
Of course, it seemed custom-designed for my size, making Hwang Bo-yul appear slightly uncomfortable—but there was no helping that.
Due to the snug fit, I could feel how well-built Hwang Bo-yul was more acutely than expected.
Ahem.
“Be careful.”
“Kind of sorry, man.”
“I’ll make you a pretty dress!”
That last comment wasn’t necessary.
Thus, surrounded by farewells from Han Seori, Kim Cheon-soo, Yang Ha-na, and the Jellies, Hwang Bo-yul and I boarded the steel snake and began our journey through the earth.
At first, I worried the noise might attract attention, but the smaller steel snake was quieter than the one I had originally encountered.
The sole issue was the constant tremors as we tunneled through the soil, causing my body to lurch. I felt somewhat embarrassed whenever I inadvertently pressed against Hwang Bo-yul, though she herself didn’t seem to mind.
Excluding that, traveling underground proved somewhat monotonous. There was no view outside, and there was no indication of how far we were from our destination.
It was truly…a plain carriage. Not even a control panel or monitor to fulfill more of my aspirations.
The dim light inside the steel snake was the only illumination, provided by Hwang Bo-yul.
As we traveled this way, I began wondering if maybe I should have brought along Sphere.
However, he seemed reluctant to leave the facility, and his current efforts were already more than enough, so I let it go.
Not like the other Jelly types.
After an unspecified amount of time of burrowing forward, the sensation suddenly changed.
The feeling of rising upward began to take over, much like being in a rapidly ascending elevator.
And before long, the sunlight broke through.
With no one around, I basked in the sunlight for the first time in a while.
“Let’s go.”
Once again, I found myself entering another enclosed container. Instead of the familiar-sized box from last time, this one resembled a wheeled carry-on suitcase.
…Feels like some kind of human trafficking scenario.
As I sat trapped in the darkness yet again, I thought to myself.
Will the day come where I can walk freely under the sunlight?
Personally, I hope that day arrives soon, but at the same time, I suspect the world I know will have changed drastically by then.
