Sosik’s malevolent intent overwhelmed me.
However, it seemed Sosik, who had extended Jelly, didn’t anticipate my sudden countermove. Rather than retracting the Jelly, it came flying towards me still attached to the Jelly.
As if reenacting a scene from a comic, Sosik landed in my arms as if it had been the intended plan all along, in an exceedingly natural manner. Of course, the shock of the impact didn’t just vanish, and I couldn’t stop Jelly from trembling.
“…Natural, huh, Sosik. So, you really intended to hug me like this, huh? Out of joy?”
I patted and embraced the creature while I swayed a little. Even though it wasn’t due to any command, I understood Sosik must have genuinely missed me; after all, it’s not like the creature covering itself in animal hides would act like this otherwise.
But something felt off.
There are two reasons I’m sensing something strange.
One is Sosik itself. Since only Sosik resembles Jelly in appearance, it’s unlikely to be anything else. Yet… something feels heavier, as if it has grown larger since we parted ways beneath the sea.
Looking at the dangling legs that brushed the ground while held by me, it seemed unmistakable that Sosik had grown.
…Why has this creature grown?
While I’m not one to mind growth negatively, seeing Sosik grow fills me with joy akin to watching a nephew grow taller or possibly feeling the growth of my own child. Honestly, I don’t have much experience with parenthood, so I can’t say for sure.
Therefore, what’s significant isn’t that Sosik has grown, but the “reason” behind its growth.
I started to wonder… why haven’t I grown taller? Even though growth in size and height might be subtly different things.
Factually, this borders on a personal bittersweet matter. But what truly strikes me as odd…
“O, O!”
“Really! It’s true!”
“How in the world? Ah, aah…!”
“I trusted you’d come!”
“My goodness, Jelly Lord, merciful heavens!”
These people seemed to be those Sosik had presumably been protecting. Though I don’t know why Sosik ended up here, it appears the creature accomplished something good, though undesired, much like myself.
So, I understand why they’re reacting positively, but… still, this feels excessive. Their gratitude crosses a line into what almost feels like worship.
If I had to find a comparison, it’s like watching a video where, at someone’s mere finger-point from a podium, onlookers sob uncontrollably. At the time, I wondered why they acted that way, but experiencing something similar directed at me is… bizarre. It feels almost addictive. The responsibility-free pleasure might be why some people love being revered.
It made me wonder if this is why people seek to stand in front of others and become leaders. Of course, that salty satisfaction plays a part too.
As I was honored alongside Sosik, I could sense a previously unknown desire to be exalted within me—growing rapidly.
…Ah, um.
Why does it feel so good?
Feeling somewhat uneasy, I began to shift my steps with Sosik in my arms. It was a subtle retreat, but perhaps they perceived it differently.
“Do… do you mean to abandon us…!?”
“Aa… aa… no, no….”
“Ohh… ohhhh…”
“Sob… sob…”
People cried and wailed. Despite trembling in fear, they didn’t block my path, but it was an awkward situation.
—No, it’s just embarrassing, it’s driving me crazy.
But considering the scenes I’d observed on the way here, their fear wasn’t entirely baseless. Judging from nearby traces, it seems the Singularity had reached this location.
Given that there were only traces but no remains—should we call them bodies?—it seemed plausible that Sosik had devoured them.
Hence, it probably grew because of that.
…And despite this, they still worship?
Fair enough, it didn’t eat humans…
Regardless.
We couldn’t leave. Though we were physically free to go, it was impossible with people praying and pleading at the sight of Sosik and me.
Fortunately, this place seemed safe—someone had informed the people, so more kept arriving here.
I didn’t intend to stay, but I set Sosik down and waved my hands around, hoping my intentions would reach them, but judging by their vague expressions, it seemed unlikely.
Body language, it seems, has its limits. While I was doing this, Sosik flopped onto the ground like it was declaring its purpose was fulfilled now that I had arrived.
What the hell, this is driving me insane!
Hey! Get up! What are you doing?
I sent telepathic urges and prodded Sosik with Jelly, but it responded by flailing Jelly around, as if signaling a definitive limit, before collapsing completely.
Now physically trapped, if I were to leave, the harmful Singularities might invade and turn these people into chunks of meat.
I settled next to Sosik and carried on the protective duty it had been handling. Though no formal exchange happened, this was unavoidable now that the creature had seemingly fallen asleep.
Since we came here to do exactly this anyway, it might not be so bad.
Surveying the area where Sosik and I were standing, a feeling of déjà vu came over me. Following the faint thread of memory, I realized why it seemed familiar.
This wasn’t the exact place, but I remembered entering a similar space in another Laboratory.
Back then, something resembling a dog attacked, and I ended up somewhere supposedly safer.
Though perhaps nostalgia, reflecting now with more clarity, that wasn’t exactly a pleasant memory.
…Is it really just a coincidence that Sosik was in such a place?
I glanced at the people who were reverently looking at us, feigning casual indifference.
Something didn’t feel right, though right now it’s hard to pinpoint exactly why.
Of course, maybe I’m just imagining things. Sosik, floating aimlessly in the sea, might have noticed the danger these people were in and rushed here to help.
I trust Sosik. The creature isn’t the type to go out of its way to help unless directly prompted, but since I didn’t tell it to, it’s more likely Sosik was here all along.
What does that imply?
The pieces of the puzzle fall into place even though I’m unclear on the bigger picture.
Memories of spending considerable time underwater looking for Sosik resurfaced.
The people’s reverent stares suddenly feel somewhat irritating.
—I don’t know.
Han Seori always handled matters like this, so I’m filled with dissatisfaction but lack an answer. Not even sure if my assumptions are correct—maybe it really was just a missed timing.
While I was searching in the sea, perhaps these people found Sosik first, and events unfolded before they could communicate.
My head’s getting jumbled.
How did I end up like this… all I wanted to do was stay in the House, eat some Pudding, and scratch Jelly.
Could this be divine retribution for grumbling about not getting a resident permit?
Nah, that’s unlikely.
At the moment of confusion.
The light bulbs illuminating this unpleasant space began flickering sporadically.
“Huh?”
“What is it?”
“Could the emergency generator be broken?”
“Everyone, don’t panic! Gather together! Gather!”
Thankfully, they gathered instinctively for protection, but I sensed something was amiss.
Flicker. Flicker.
When the light bulb ultimately failed, pitch darkness consumed the surroundings. The restlessness of the people was palpable.
Meanwhile, Sosik seemed to welcome the darkness and continued to sleep deeply.
Focusing my senses,
The sudden failure of a functioning light suggested someone—or something—had tampered with it. More likely, it was a Singularity.
No one other than a Singularity would cause such an issue.
I immediately tensed Jelly, ready to react.
The humans, buried in the darkness, were unobtrusive, barely moving except for their occasional nervous flinches.
I checked my surroundings, fearing the worst, but the silence suggested that not everyone had fallen victim instantly.
Creak.
From the direction where the light bulb once shone, an odd sound emerged.
Something was there.
It approached carefully, having incapacitated the light source to hunt the confused humans.
But its patience wore thin as it soon exposed its lean body above the crowd, only to be impaled by my Jelly that shot out like a missile, transforming it into a Jelly hedgehog, its sharp strands piercing through the creature’s form.
“Whaaaat!”
“There’s something up there!!!”
“Save us, save us!!!”
…A trace of personal emotion from before must have influenced my reaction, as the thing coming from above was gruesomely torn apart by my Jelly, its ichor splashing everywhere.
The people erupted into chaos.
They screamed and rolled on the ground, holding their heads, despite their earlier silence being almost hard to believe.
The faint amusement I feel might stem from their earlier treatment of Sosik. Even though unjustly suspecting others is a bad habit, considering circumstantial evidence, it might still be justified.
…Contrary to my tangled emotions, the attacker appeared to be the last hostile Singularity, given the Laboratory rapidly stabilized after that.
Though battered, there was stability… or at least a semblance of it, as I felt like being mounted and pounded before regaining my composure.
Soon enough, either having received a call from Han Seori, Yang Ha-na and Lee Yoo-jin arrived, breathless, wearing expressions similar to the first time I met Sosik—clear shock at seeing it here.
Clearly, they didn’t know either.
Suddenly the urge to return to the House rose in me.
I’m not fond of this.
…Han Seori will probably take care of it somehow anyway.
