As Lime looked on anxiously, Han Seori suddenly snapped back to her senses upon feeling an intense gaze from behind.
It was because Hwang Bo-yul was looking at her with a complicated gaze that bordered on disdain.
…So, it seems I’m not the only one.
“Ahem.”
Feeling awkward, Han Seori cleared her throat awkwardly and decided to store the unidentified Singularity away carefully for the moment.
According to an unclear report from Electric Scent, the box that had contained this Singularity had been kicked apart. Given the circumstances, this seemed to be the necessary choice.
While it would have been appropriate to return or dispose of the suspicious package sent by some shady individuals, the situation changed because this was a Singularity.
It was correct to store it away for the time being, given there was no clear way to return it immediately.
After all, one couldn’t simply leave a Singularity abandoned, despite the questionable origins.
…There was no way to predict what variables might arise.
Though the Singularity currently showed no signs of movement, it could start moving the moment it was out of sight.
Perhaps this is what they were waiting for.
Regardless…
Han Seori made her decision. She instructed Kim Cheon-soo to retrieve a container to securely store this unidentified Singularity.
Watching Kim Cheon-soo leave the house’s control room, Seori briefly glanced at the intense gaze fixated on her but kept her head steady.
…She already had a pretty good idea who it was.
It couldn’t be Hwang Bo-yul, so it was most likely Lime who was staring.
Anticipating the bright, earnest gaze Lime would be directing her way, Seori strengthened her resolve.
If Hwang Bo-yul hadn’t been present, she might have already opened the unknown Singularity with Lime to enjoy it together.
It’s fortunate that Bo-yul is here.
Han Seori waited for Kim Cheon-soo’s return with a strange feeling.
But the trials she faced didn’t end there.
Thud.
“Uh?”
Seori blinked at the soft, cold sensation clinging to her leg. Lowering her gaze this time revealed exactly what she had expected – Lime staring with those bright eyes.
“Ugh…”
Why was she acting this way all of a sudden?
While she felt happiness at seeing Lime’s adorable behavior, she was equally confused about the sudden change.
She knew why Lime was acting this way – sensing something from this Singularity or just out of curiosity, she probably wanted to play with it.
Though she understood Lime’s reasoning…
…she hadn’t expected Lime to act so clingy, like a child throwing a tantrum.
It was a very fitting display of petulance for someone who looked like such a small girl, but given that Lime had never shown this side despite having desires, it made Han Seori feel uneasy.
…Now that I think of it, didn’t she react similarly when I named her?
Seori recalled that day.
How did I react when Lime jumped and hugged me after being named?
Hmm…
I think I foolishly smiled then…
Maybe she learned from that how weak I am to these kinds of gestures?
Lime.
What a frightening kid…
Han Seori thought as she desperately focused her mind, fearing she might hand over the Singularity to Lime before Kim Cheon-soo returned.
…Though Hwang Bo-yul was watching from behind, making such considerations itself was dangerous, so Seori held on tenaciously.
“It’s not possible. At least not until we figure out what this is…”
She gently scolded Lime in a soft voice.
However, Lime didn’t give up.
Seeming unwilling to abandon this newly discovered toy, she clung to Seori’s waist and flailed her jelly-like body.
“A-are you sure about that?”
With her trembling voice, Seori conveyed to Lime that she was on the verge of giving in.
Lime, seeing this as an opportunity, grabbed Seori with her fingers.
Dear…
D, did that smile back then make me look foolish?
Seori felt a dizzying sensation.
Was it like this when the serpent whispered temptations to Eve?
Just as Seori was trembling her hand…
“…Surely you’re not actually thinking about handing over the Singularity?”
“Of, of course not!”
Unable to watch any longer, Hwang Bo-yul strode forward and lifted Lime by the neck.
As she ascended with Seori’s cloth, Lime noticed the exposed skin and quickly detached her jelly form.
Separated from Seori, Lime dangled pitifully in Hwang Bo-yul’s grasp.
Yang Ha-na, observing the scene and noticing the cat-like appearance of Lime, broke into giggles.
As if by perfect timing, Kim Cheon-soo returned, rendering all of Lime’s desperate efforts fruitless.
Having failed in her mission, Lime was left with only the legacy of her adorably obstinate tantrum, her jelly now blushing red.
Seeing the Singularity being placed in the case, Lime’s jelly began to bubble in apparent sadness.
Even Electric Scent maintained an eerie silence, so those watching could only feel warmth and sympathy for her adorable display.
“…Why is she like this all of a sudden?”
Kim Cheon-soo scratched his head in confusion, the only one unaware of what just transpired.
The peace was thus maintained.
…
I wanted to d*e.
There’s no doubt I went crazy earlier.
Even if I was curious about what that unknown Singularity was, resorting to… those coquettish antics was inexcusable.
Recalling how I overreacted when I was first named “Lime” was what caused the problem.
Seori must have remembered how my lips quivered then and thought it would work again.
That was the first misstep.
Seori may look somewhat loose but is extremely serious when it comes to research or anything Singularity-related.
…And occasionally shows terrifying signs of madness.
The most vivid example would be when she severed my arm.
Though I didn’t feel the pain then, looking back, it must have been a truly horrifying sight.
Even if I’m not human, losing an arm is scary.
Anyway…
Since my ultimate attack against human… no, Singularity dignity failed, I trudged back to my room, brooding over my defeat.
Should I not feel embarrassed?
After all, even if I failed, I did see some possibilities.
…Does this not fit perfectly with who I am now?
If we consider being reborn as a Singularity equivalent to being one year old, there’s nothing embarrassing about this.
Actually, I’m not even one year old yet.
Boo-hoo…
…Am I going mad out of boredom?
Just then, noticing Electric Scent following me, I saw she was walking awkwardly, unsettled over her recent scolding from Han Seori.
Speaking of which, she did act strangely earlier.
Being unable to properly respond to Seori and stumbling with her words was unlike her.
Maybe she felt shame or guilt for the first time because of these feelings?
…Not that she had any reason to cower before Seori, so it was indeed strange.
Perhaps all this is because of yang Ha-na?
Must be puppy love.
I don’t fully understand it, but thinking about it this way feels amusing, so I decided to stick with it.
It’s not my fault for being bad; it’s the humans’ fault for not providing me with interesting stimuli.
Ask the jellies, they’ll say the same thing.
Opening the door with that thought, I found the jellies happily watching TV as usual.
Approaching cautiously, it seemed they were watching the same program.
…Don’t they ever get tired of it?
Still, does their enjoyment indicate this aligns with their mental age?
I briefly thought about saving those TV-obsessed ones, but recalled Daesik shaking like a leaf while guarding the remote control, and instead flopped down on the bed.
Electric Scent followed and awkwardly wobbled in before plopping down at a corner.
…Now that I think about it, she seems quite pitiful.
Was that such a shocking moment?
Lying down on the bed with bubbling jelly, a wave of intense boredom washed over me.
Perhaps the reason I switched channels to the news last time when the jellies were watching TV wasn’t just because I was interested but also to enjoy their reaction.
Because their excited wobbling was cute and fun.
…No. I must resist.
I decided not to do that today.
Ah, I should have examined that peculiar Singularity.
Though others might not have noticed, I saw it…
It felt like a board game within my vision.
It wasn’t an illusion. It had a structure similar to the board game I played with Huang Boyu and others.
While I couldn’t confirm if it truly was a board game…
It seemed highly likely.
If true, what kind of Singularity-board game was it?
How entertaining would it be?
Or would it be one of those games where you d*e and such?
Lying down, memories of that board game kept resurfacing, so I decided to think about something else.
This time, my curiosity strangely landed on the ‘precious thing’ floating around inside me.
Perhaps… something akin to my core?
It sparked curiosity.
…Should I try touching it?
Driven mad by boredom, I stiffened my fingers and plunged them into my body.
Then I poked that small precious thing…
And immediately regretted it.
