An unexpected evil enveloped Kim Cheon-soo, Lime, and Sosik.
Actually, it might be slightly ambiguous to call it “evil.” The force that covered them was nature itself. If we had to put a label on it, it could be called the wrath of nature.
It still appeared to be that way, for now.
The sight of waves towering high enough to cover the sky turned Kim Cheon-soo’s face as pale as seawater. Come to think of it, his face might have been bluer than the ocean given the reason seawater appears blue.
The bluish hue of his face indicated that he genuinely felt the threat of death. His body remained buried in the sand, and he couldn’t move at all. He was worried whether they would even find his body if swept away by such a massive wave.
No, not really! He had heard that such waves could come, but why does it really have to be now?! Was I not sent here to rest…!?
Kim Cheon-soo was deeply troubled. He had heard that this place was closer to an island nation across the sea, and thus he never thought he would come here.
Those fanatics who acquire, isolate, and manage Singularities—of course, they would think it only natural to claim a place they prevent from collapsing. So, it was supposed to be a business trip with a smooth explanation. That’s undoubtedly what it was supposed to be!
Why does this have to happen—?
“Huuuuh!?”
Just as the wave was about to engulf him.
Lime, who believed that Kim Cheon-soo would definitely die if the wave hit him, pushed him inside himself just as he had absorbed Hwang Bo-yul. Shocked by what felt like the wave hitting him, Cheon-soo trembled as he felt the cold sensation all over his body.
Recalling how Hwang Bo-yul had mentioned surviving this way, Cheon-soo realized Lime was trying to protect him and was somewhat touched by this action, even in the midst of this dire situation. It seemed like Lime cared for him despite everything.
But, could it be…
‘…Could it be that this guy can’t eat pudding without me?’
Nah, surely not, no matter how you look at it.
With that fleeting doubt, Kim Cheon-soo and Lime were splashed… no, engulfed by the sea, with a loud “PLOOP!”
Kim Cheon-soo’s tribulations had only just begun. As the wave carried him, his vision spun uncontrollably. Even with his eyes closed, he could feel his body rotating and moving, making him feel seasick from the overwhelming pressure—way worse than any roller coaster.
Just imagining what would’ve happened if Lime hadn’t swallowed him made him shiver. He didn’t know exactly what would’ve happened, but he was sure he wouldn’t have retained human form—likely torn into pieces. With his eyes still closed, Cheon-soo silently thanked Lime internally but couldn’t help letting out a bit of seasickness byproduct.
Sensing the tightening grip of Jelly all around probably meant Lime could feel it too.
…Sorry, I know it’s not ideal, but I couldn’t help it—it’s a physiological reaction.
Initially, being buried in sand wasn’t pleasant, but especially as the sand kept piling on top of him, it was worse.
After all the pudding I’ve fed you, can’t you endure this just a little? Ugh…
Cheon-soo had no idea how long he bounced around inside Lime like a ball in a shaker before realizing that his body had stopped moving.
Slowly opening his tightly squeezed eyes, he realized he wasn’t surrounded by his mess anymore, thankfully. Knowing that Lime had either spat it out or consumed it—he chose not to think about it. That wasn’t something he thought either of them needed to dwell on—it wasn’t a pleasant thing by any means.
Breathing a sigh of relief inside his mind, Kim Cheon-soo pushed aside his strange thoughts and focused on understanding his current situation instead.
The first thing he noticed was a pale bluish hue around him.
Everything appeared blue, as if his eyes were covered by a cellophane sheet. He blinked several times, but the view didn’t change.
Though he had seen it earlier, now that he noticed, it felt bizarre indeed.
What was stranger was the surrounding scenery. The bluish sight was one thing, but something definitely felt off about the place.
‘…What the…?’
His exhaled breath bubbling in Lime’s body was followed by foam, which, when it settled, exposed a mountain of junk in the distance.
What is this place? Where am I? Could I have been carried by the wave to some city?
That seemed horrifyingly absurd, so Kim Cheon-soo swallowed nervously. Still, it was hard to explain what he was seeing otherwise. He steadied his frantic breathing, looking around again, trying to confirm the situation he was in.
At least… he was still inside Lime for sure.
Some mysterious harmony had made this small entity completely envelop him.
Despite Hwang Bo-yul’s stories, the sight was still unimaginable enough to leave Kim Cheon-soo with an odd feeling.
Anyway,
The blue vision seemed a result of being inside Lime. That Jelly wasn’t hurting his eyes or nose, and he could breathe normally, which made him softly marvel.
Booble, booble.
As Lime’s body bubbled again, some discomfort made Lime slightly twist his body, causing Kim Cheon-soo to twist awkwardly like a puppet.
“Booblebooblebooble!”
Kim Cheon-soo’s request to stop went unheard; it seemed like even though he could breathe, talking wasn’t possible.
…This must be uncomfortable for him, too.
Kim Cheon-soo gained a bit of empathy for Lime, even though it wasn’t planned.
It was certain though that he’d survived the giant wave by entering Lime.
However, this landscape was extremely unfamiliar.
This definitely wasn’t the beach he had been at earlier, nor the city he passed through on the way to the beach. A wave, no matter how large, wouldn’t have carried him this far from the shore—it made no sense.
Then, where the heck am I?
Baffled, Kim Cheon-soo tried to raise his head for a better look but found it wouldn’t budge. His neck was stiff, like having a cast.
Why is this happening? Could it be that I lost sensation below the neck… No, I feel everything just fine?
Perplexed, Kim Cheon-soo realized that it was because Lime spun around 360 degrees while carrying him. Being inside made it impossible to move freely.
At that moment.
Plip, plip.
As Kim Cheon-soo’s mouth bubbled, his head tilted upward. He wasn’t broken-necked but rather Lime, sensing his desire to look up, had raised his head for him.
With a sore neck, Kim Cheon-soo murmured internally.
‘Thanks… Really, thought you broke my neck.’
Anyway.
After raising his head, beyond Lime’s body, he could see the blue… Sea. A faintly dot-like light, presumably the sun, shimmered high above.
…?
What is this?
Am I really underwater? Why is it so bright underwater? Is it right that the sun is that small? Shouldn’t the surroundings be darker?
Kim Cheon-soo was completely confused.
His body frozen in confusion was moved by Lime.
Booble, booble.
Kim Cheon-soo let out a breath through his windpipe from the sudden movement, realizing if it wasn’t for Lime, he might have sunk to the bottom by now, having lost all air.
While Kim Cheon-soo’s mind was still in chaos, Lime started cautiously moving, as if anxiously looking for something.
Eventually, Kim Cheon-soo understood why Lime was moving so hastily when Sosik came into view, lying on the blue-colored sand.
His body leaned forward, as Lime, letting out what seemed like a sigh of relief, bent forward as well, pulling Cheon-soo along.
‘Yyyugh’
Unaware that his body groaned in protest,
Lime, delighted at finding Sosik, lifted him up with a thud, and Kim Cheon-soo’s arms involuntarily shot upward with the movement.
‘T, That’s enough!’
Booblebooblebooble.
Kim Cheon-soo’s ordeal wasn’t over yet.
Some time later,
As his body gradually softened like pork flattened by a frying hammer, Lime noticed Kim Cheon-soo’s discomfort and scratched its head sheepishly.
‘…I feel better.’
Booblebooble.
Since Lime was more mindful of Kim Cheon-soo’s presence, the movement felt a little gentler. Or, perhaps, his body had already gone through such a tenderizing process that it became soft.
After sharing the joy of reuniting, Kim Cheon-soo, Lime, and Sosik stared blankly at their surroundings.
The closer they got to the junk-filled pile while searching for Sosik, the more it became evident that it wasn’t just random stuff but rather something else entirely.
If we had to compare it to anything, it felt similar to the old Kuryong Castle that no longer exists.
Rather, it may have been larger—or filthier. It emanated an ominous aura just by looking at it.
Prepare yourself if you’re about to enter here.
…Well, it’s not like I plan to.
Kim Cheon-soo grew anxious.
He worried whether Lime was planning to go inside with him. Of course, his conscience poked him for letting the small Lime go alone, but unlike Lime who swallowed him and moved around unharmed, Kim Cheon-soo was fragile and could easily perish in this place.
Their approaches couldn’t be the same. At least, if he had the proper equipment suited for this place, things might differ.
Did Lime sense his thoughts?
Lime started walking in a direction that seemed to lead back to land, still holding Sosik.
‘…Thank you, Lime.’
Kim Cheon-soo tearfully expressed his gratitude internally, resolving to make plenty of pudding for Lime if they returned safely.
If they could return safely, that is.
Booblebooble.
Kim Cheon-soo bubbled anxiously.
