How much time has passed since something pierced through me?
Honestly, I don’t know.
If I think about how many meals I’ve eaten, it feels like quite a bit of time has passed.
…To be honest, being stuck inside this building, it’s hard to really perceive the passage of time.
At least when I watch the news, I get a regular check on the time, but for some reason, after having something inside me pushed deep in, I felt awkward about changing the channels.
For a while, I let those brats do as they pleased, so I didn’t even have the chance to watch the news channel.
How dare they not even once switch it over!
I thought they might turn it on at least once in a while.
This must be why they call TV the “idiot box.”
…Now that I think about it, I remember watching some news a while back about kids growing up watching videos online.
S, should I switch the channel now?
While I was squirming under the blanket, a sudden wave of unease made me peek out from beneath it.
It felt like a chilly breeze was blowing when I stuck my head out from under the warm blanket.
Even Kim Cheon-soo couldn’t pull me out from under here when I was eating, so maybe this is somewhat expected.
It’s common sense that if you’re under the blanket, you get warm, isn’t it?
Still, why did Kim Cheon-soo let me eat in bed on the mattress? He used to not give me food if I didn’t come downstairs.
…No, that’s not important.
Stirring my jelly, I eventually looked at the ones who were watching TV.
Sure enough, they were huddled together, watching the screen. Their spellbound expressions made me feel increasingly uneasy.
However, what they were watching seemed different from usual.
They always watched children’s programs—whether it was by instinct or for entertainment, I don’t know.
…But given that the shows kids watch these days are pretty well put together, I could see how, for a newcomer… or rather, someone from the Singularity, it might actually be somewhat interesting.
It’s just that they’ve been avoiding other channels.
But what the brats were watching now wasn’t their usual thing—there wasn’t that guy who just liked to play around, nor the one with a face split like a butt.
Instead, I saw a man with a whip around his waist and a cigarette dangling from his lips, standing face to face with a muscular man wielding a terrifying sword, juggling it expertly.
Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like they were about to fight.
As the muscular man’s knife stopped moving back and forth, the tension reached its peak, and the cigarette-smoking man placed his hand on his waist, seemingly reaching for the whip.
Tang!
But instead, he fired a gun.
The muscular man, struck by the bullet, fell with an expression of utter despair, and the cigarette-smoking man turned around, walking away casually.
Ah, this is an old movie I haven’t seen in ages. They’re still airing it.
Lost in nostalgic thoughts, I suddenly noticed the dissonance—realizing that the jellies watching the TV were now looking at me.
It reminded me of the situation when something inside me had been pressed not too long ago.
Startled, I checked myself.
It seemed like I might have accidentally pressed a button without knowing.
But my jelly was fine, and everything inside me was just floating as usual.
After that realization, a wave of curiosity and puzzlement washed over me.
Why were they watching something different?
Why happen to be watching a classic movie I’d find interesting?
Why did they stop watching TV to look at me?
Hmm… Could it be…
Do they want to watch it with me?
After thinking it over, that seemed like the only reason that made sense.
It’s hard to believe they chose it themselves; their taste is too different from this.
Of course, there was the minor issue of how they even knew what I liked, but given that we understand each other without words, maybe they just picked it up through some kind of osmosis.
Actually, I don’t really like classic movies—I’m more into exploration and action… so maybe that aspect of my taste has passed on to them.
I don’t know.
Anyway, the important thing is that they want to be together with me.
Uhh, this is a little embarrassing.
After wiggling my way out of the blanket, I sat next to them and brought the screen into my view.
The ones sitting next to me turned their heads back to the TV.
Since our ways of seeing the world are similar, their attention being on me means they were definitely sending a signal.
So… This isn’t just some silly delusion on my part; it’s proof that they really want me to be with them.
Sorry, guys. I was thinking too harshly about you earlier.
Huh, what if… all my thoughts are being transmitted to them right now?
If so, could you… no, never mind, could you maybe wave your arms as a sign?
Nervously observing their state, there was no particular response.
Daesik leaned against me, but… that’s something he always does, so it’s not unusual.
…Come to think of it, maybe it’s bad that I’m taking this too lightly.
For some reason, I felt a twinge in my nose and put my hand on Daesik’s shoulder.
Startled by the unexpected contact, Daesik flinched and awkwardly fidgeted before clinging to me even more tightly.
Ah.
This is…
An indescribable wave of guilt washed over me.
I joked about it being responsibility without pleasure, but now I can clearly feel the weight of responsibility.
They may have seemed like they were just watching TV as usual even though I had come back, but actually, they wanted to come closer to me.
Right?
They must want me!
I wrapped my arm around Daesik and pulled Sosik into my other arm, then extended a tentacle to include Jung-sik.
While Jung-sik struggled and Sosik looked puzzled as to what was happening, it was clear they were just startled by the sudden physical contact but undoubtedly wanted this.
Hmm… Do our Jelly Legion friends feel the same way?
Should I call everyone here—
“…Hmm?”
Lost in my fanciful thoughts, I snapped out of it when I suddenly heard a voice.
It was Kim Cheon-soo.
He looked at me with a very complicated and flustered expression, then cautiously approached.
For some reason, his face seemed to express a feeling of lamentation, as if he was misunderstanding something.
…What?
I thought I had eaten already, so why had he come?
I felt a bit irritated that my cozy time was being interrupted.
And it seemed that my irritation showed on my face, as Kim Cheon-soo’s expression further deteriorated.
I just stared at him, silently wondering why he was behaving this way, when Kim Cheon-soo slowly approached and quietly said,
“L, Lime. Do you remember that thing we saw before? The box-shaped thing you acted cute to get?”
This guy’s digging up old embarrassing memories just when he’s interrupting a good time?
Unable to contain my frustration, I extended a tentacle and poked Kim Cheon-soo’s waist. He let out strange wheezing sounds, as if tickled, while awkwardly tapping his feet.
His appearance was both amusing and irritating, so I retracted the tentacle. Kim Cheon-soo sighed and continued.
“Can you help me test that thing?”
Cheon-soo!
If that was it, you should’ve said so earlier!
You didn’t have to make me suffer like that!
Overwhelmed with excitement, I got up and prepared to follow Kim Cheon-soo. Though, calling it preparation might be an exaggeration since I don’t wear clothes; all I had to do was move my body.
Electric Scent will probably find her way there too, wherever she’s stuck.
…Probably with Yang Ha-na, but where exactly?
Still, it felt great to know that I’d get to experience something I thought I’d never see again after hearing about all the recent developments.
Was everything that happened today a celebration for this happy event?
Good things do lead to other good things!
Smiling broadly, I left the two troublemakers watching TV alone.
I picked up Daesik, who had approached me earlier.
Isn’t Daesik more interested in staying with me than watching TV?
Judging by the way he’s kicking his legs, he’s clearly excited about what’s going to happen.
Exactly.
It’s more fun to experience something in the Singularity—or whatever—than watching TV.
Definitely.
“…Still, it looks like I’ll have to do something about it somehow.”
Kim Cheon-soo muttered something, but I couldn’t quite hear it.
Mumbling something about needing to hurry, he stepped out of the room, leading the way.
Unable to suppress my excitement, I joyfully bounced along after him.
Still…
Why did his mind change?
Previously, it felt like he’d never let me do it.
I don’t know.
That’s not something I need to think about, is it?
Won’t Han Seori or Hwang Bo-yul figure it out?
My job is just to take on the risks they might face, right?
Recalling all my past experiences, it’s sure to be something incredibly thrilling.
Though I’m still not quite sure what awaits me,
I’m just happy.
Daesik!
Are you happy too?
Yes, that’s right!
Daesik felt like he answered me exactly that way.
