As Lime looked on with a wistful (?) gaze at Kim Cheon-soo, abandoned on the land…
Kim Cheon-soo, dumped unceremoniously on the seashore, felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness.
“Lime, what am I supposed to do now that you’ve left me like this…? Are you abandoning me? Or do you want your freedom back?”
“…That doesn’t seem right.”
While in any other Singularity this situation might be terrifying enough to make one’s spine shiver, Kim Cheon-soo knew very well that Lime wouldn’t suddenly declare, “We’re not slaves anymore!” and break free.
If Lime truly desired that, it would’ve happened long ago.
Especially now, it’s a well-known secret that this situation wouldn’t persist without Lime’s goodwill.
Or could it be because you’re craving the puddings I make?
“…Strangely, that doesn’t sound too far-fetched.”
Anyway…
Therefore, it’s likely that Lime left Kim Cheon-soo like a piece of driftwood because of concern for his health after their prolonged stay underwater.
…Probably.
And since this isn’t entirely wrong, despite feeling a pang of sadness, Kim Cheon-soo understood Lime’s actions.
Given the urgency of the situation, there wasn’t time for further explanation, so it’s possible Lime just let go like this.
“Cough…”
Still, where am I exactly?
Due to the ringing in his ears, Kim Cheon-soo couldn’t hear any surroundings and had no strength to get up. Feeling the waves hit his body, he feared he might die here. He began sweating cold sweat, realizing how comfortable Lime’s interior had been compared to the cold sea and impending hypothermia.
Suddenly…
A strange voice reached his ears.
A man’s voice, filled with urgency, shook Kim Cheon-soo’s shoulder to check his consciousness and then wrapped him in a large towel.
Relieved to still be alive, Kim Cheon-soo focused on the man and others who had gathered, speaking in a language he didn’t recognize. While the foreign tongue partially explained his confusion, the ringing in his ears didn’t help either.
When the ringing subsided, the voices became clearer. It was getting easier to understand what they were saying.
“…Ah, so.”
Japanese…?
…Could it be that I’ve crossed the sea?
He had somewhat suspected, but realizing it physically still left him dumbfounded. The distance was easily over 150 kilometers, likely more.
How do I explain this?
Technically an illegal immigrant now, Kim Cheon-soo felt a cold sweat running down his back. His poor foreign language skills weren’t enough to explain, nor could they handle complex stories. Even if he said he took a train for 150 kilometers, who would believe it? Swimming such a distance is impossible for regular people. Claiming to have drifted here from Korea would make him sound insane and potentially land him in a mental hospital.
Still, it’s fortunate to be in a neighboring country.
If it were a more distant place, returning might have been extremely difficult.
So anyway,
Kim Cheon-soo decided to pass himself off as someone caught in a disaster during a trip. His attire conveniently supported the story.
With this outfit, he looked like a tourist, which made the story more plausible.
Though Kim Cheon-soo himself wasn’t in much trouble,
The real issue was Lime.
Even if everything else went smoothly, he’d have to return and then leave again. Without help from a foreign foundation, bringing Lime back would be nearly impossible.
However, it was hard to ask for help from them—or more accurately, it was unlikely to happen.
While he would have requested help in other Singularities, Lime itself was far too rare. Despite all Singularities being rare, Lime was particularly special.
If they wanted, they could easily submerge Kim Cheon-soo and seize Lime for themselves, without even giving Han Seori a chance to intervene.
Though that scenario was highly unlikely, Kim Cheon-soo didn’t want Lime to go through such an unpleasant experience.
Nor did he want to die.
Recognizing that he was in a vulnerable position, Kim Cheon-soo decided to play the panicked traveler act as convincingly as possible.
Once satisfied with his preparation, Kim Cheon-soo cleared his throat and spoke, trying his best to sound clumsy and scared.
“Tasukete… I love ramen…”
“Eh? Nani?”
“A, Korean sarimin coming?”
“Ah, hai.”
‘I hope there’s no entertainment broadcasting here.’
…The acting was ridiculous.
Far away, Kim Cheon-soo, wrapped in a towel, was seen being carried away on a stretcher.
It seemed he was still alive, given that his face wasn’t covered.
Bye-bye! We released Kim Cheon-soo! We wish him good health wherever he is!
Though he became an illegal resident, somehow he’ll manage to figure things out. As long as he’s alive, things tend to work out.
After all, this isn’t one of those ominous red northern countries where you suddenly vanish.
Now, sending Kim Cheon-soo there was fine, but the real issue is me.
While humans could handle things this way, I can’t just go out like that.
Even if there’s a foundation here we might try to ask for help… Hmm, I’m not sure.
To be honest, I just don’t want to meet them right now.
It’s evident that the octopus sent by them wasn’t coincidental. Therefore, the Korean and Japanese foundations aren’t exactly close allies, and perhaps they’re competing with each other.
Therefore, I will put off requesting help from these people.
Of course, there are reasons, but the bigger issue is that I’ve brought the octopus back here.
Honestly, I didn’t expect things to turn out this way, but isn’t this a form of justice?
Regardless, from their perspective, my actions have caused harm here, and they would probably pretend nothing ever happened.
This isn’t due to their brazenness, but rather how the world generally operates. Both nations avoid responsibility at all costs, and that’s just how the world is.
Hmph… I’m not human, so…
Should I really be judged by human standards?
Anyway! I don’t want to cause trouble for Han Seori’s group, not because it’s about myself, but because if anything happens due to my fault, they, as my nominal protectors, would suffer.
Therefore, leaving quickly seems like the best option.
However, considering carefully, moving forward this way might not be the best decision.
Since no tracker was attached to me, it’s better to stay nearby so Kim Cheon-soo can find me easily. But then, I might encounter the local foundation if they come looking.
Crossing the sea again…
Isn’t it a bit…
Difficult?
It’s not like I can walk across the vast ocean. Walking underwater isn’t quite as simple as it sounds.
I wouldn’t really have an issue swimming or walking and catching fish for food while on the journey.
But still…
Can I truly walk in a straight line back without a compass?
What if I lose my direction and end up on an adjacent continent?
Or worse, if I drift off into the Pacific Ocean, picking coconuts or landing in a gun-toting country?
Hmm… If I weren’t claimed by anyone, I might’ve been tempted. The idea of an underwater journey sounds incredibly appealing.
But I mustn’t.
If I were to go on such a trip without a way to contact anyone, Han Seori and others would undoubtedly worry.
…It’s a bit disappointing.
Having a body perfectly suited for exploration and travel but being unable to use it freely is frustrating.
Hmm…
Don’t you think I’ve earned something like honorary citizenship at this point?
It’s beyond counting how many people I’ve saved.
Couched, I did cause some damage this time, but it wasn’t my fault, was it?
Why does the foundation hide the existence of Singularities? I initially thought it was necessary, but lately, I’ve grown skeptical—probably due to being a Singularity myself.
Sigh, I don’t know.
For now, the only action I can take is to wait and bear with things here.
“Lasting patience always wins.”
It’s just that my time for a long-term underwater stay has come.
First things first,
Getting tired of swimming, I stopped tapping my foot, and the jellyfish slowly sank into the ocean.
…I didn’t realize how deep we were underwater; it’s a bit frightening.
Even knowing I can’t die, my jellyfish body is trembling.
Thinking about it now, I wonder if Sosik made it back alright…
If you’ve returned safely, let Han Seori and the others know and give them peace of mind.
Wishing for Sosik’s well-being, I hunted for a dwelling place in the ocean, hoping to find a pineapple-shaped house, but it seems unlikely.
That makes sense, though.
He lives in a different sea.
With a sense of longing, I spotted a cave.
Great. I’ve decided to stay there today.
Happily, I swam toward the cave, heading there with joy.
