This is what kind of news?
No, I recall seeing a similar news story not too long ago. Back then, it was more of a global topics segment on the internet—a kind of “fun fact” corner. But the news that’s airing now is no laughing matter; it’s grim and serious.
The footage that’s being broadcasted would have shocked me if I hadn’t known such things existed. There are videos of something blue and corpse-like attacking people. While it’s heavily pixelated and not entirely visible, there’s no doubting that something strange is going on.
It’s unsettling, reminiscent of that ghost movie I recently watched. But this isn’t just a movie; it’s likely a reality somewhere far away from here—an issue that’s not so trivial.
In short, stuff like this used to be internet humor that made the rounds before eventually being reported as news. Now, though, it’s not being treated as a joke—it’s serious business.
Of course, the parties involved in the red country are sticking to their usual line: “Nothing happened.” But for those who know something is amiss, it’s clear that things are not as they seem.
People say they’re naturally resistant to accepting the unfamiliar, so surely those who hear such statements feel uneasy.
Hm, after fully activating Jelly, I’ve started to feel that old headache again.
Anyway, the fact remains that something significant is happening.
Though I wondered what it had to do with me. After all, the news isn’t about where I live but another country.
…Granted, it’s not too far, but one has to cross the sea, so it’s not exactly a close neighbor.
So really, it has nothing to do with me. Besides, I have no particular feelings toward that country either.
Anyway, I’m busy these days, you know? No one can truly understand how exhausting and challenging it is to check on the Jellies every morning to ensure they’re doing their jobs properly.
Waaaah, I’m so lonely. Oh, Daesik, stop slouching; I can’t see the screen.
By the way, watching TV made me feel somewhat suffocated.
In the past, I would have encountered these things online before the news even aired. Now, I’m consuming what others would have already discussed and dissected earlier on the internet—it leaves me feeling outdated.
Well… though it’s not really a person, but still…
I contemplated this before, but this time it’s a bit different.
Since we’ve done such a great job managing the Singularity, wouldn’t it be nice if we could gain access to the internet?
Technically, I don’t know if it’s feasible, but if you’re worried about me saying strange things, can’t you just disable the input function?
Would that work…? I’m not sure.
But then again, the true appeal of the internet lies in the exchange of various opinions. If you can’t write anything at all, it might be better to not have access at all.
It’s not because I regret not being able to engage in key-bashing.
Hem…
Suddenly, my mood’s gone sour again.
I should probably go get some pudding.
—
*
While Lime was absent-mindedly attacking Kim Cheon-soo after watching TV,
The news about ‘The Incident’ in the neighboring country caused a stir, unlike how casually Lime had dismissed it.
“Is that real?”
“Can those things really exist?”
“Isn’t this some kind of movie?”
Even with the declining influence of TV news, its reach remains significant.
Initially, people were skeptical about strange creatures—something usually seen in comics, movies, or novels—being reported on TV. It was only natural for sane citizens to question its credibility.
However, the images appearing on the screen were vivid, and with unsettling reports coming even from nearby regions, people began acknowledging that something was indeed happening, even if the nature of it was still unclear.
“Why’s it so quiet in our country? There’s no way nothing is happening.”
“Media control!”
“Government! Reveal the truth!”
For a moment, the quiet seemed suspicious, and the old nationalist fervor, previously thought to have waned, began to rise.
“Ah, Grandfather Dan’gun must not have been scammed on real estate deals!”
“The Chinese envy us; the Japanese covet us—Korea! Is this for real?”
“A little disappointing… I’d like to see it for myself.”
But their complacency didn’t last. They were about to pay for ignoring something they had forgotten—an entity that had long kept them contained in the continent.
Suddenly, an odd noise emanated from the DMZ, similar to someone digging a tunnel beneath the ground.
Of course, chaos ensued—albeit in a slightly different way.
“The Blue House must have a tunnel beneath it!”
“Another search for tunnels this late in life!”
“The balloons must’ve been fairies after all!”
“What are they planning to do with this?”
If it seemed like people were overreacting, you’d be mistaken. In any case, such ‘incidents’ usually die down quickly after a brief commotion, and this time was no different—or so it seemed.
BOOM!
“What the… ?!”
“Did a mine explode?!”
Something managed to break through the remaining mines, turning what was initially a minor disturbance into a large-scale chaos. Whatever it was, it burst forth with great force from the ground—it was a tank.
“What?!”
“How did that appear there?”
“Is this a real war??”
The tank, which had detonated mines, came to a stop and no longer moved. It seemed its tracks were broken, rendering it immobile. Even as the hatch remained closed, no one emerged from it—as if there was no one inside to begin with.
The small disturbance quickly escalated into a tangible threat. With an obsolete tank appearing from underground, people were left wondering if a war was imminent.
Of course, the concept of tanks emerging from underground seemed absurd, but at that point, most people stopped questioning it. Why focus on tunnels when there was an actual tank? It must have come from somewhere else.
The government, after prolonged silence, finally spoke up.
“Upon investigation, it was confirmed that no tunnel existed and the explosion was due to the aging mines—”
In essence, their statement was: “Nothing happened.”
Even those who would usually boast about such incidents remained unusually quiet, attempting to calm the public by claiming, “Nothing happened.”
Naturally, this only fueled further unease, as their silence usually indicated something ominous.
But with the government’s reassurance, there wasn’t much the average citizen could do. Besides, the specifics were well beyond the reach of civilians.
Nevertheless, doubts had been planted.
Something strange was going on. Something similar to what had been reported in other countries. Just the fact that it involved a tank, which wasn’t too outlandish, raised eyebrows.
Having promptly forgotten the tank’s origin as ‘underground,’ most people dismissed the event as trivial and moved on. After all, if there was no immediate threat, why dwell on it? Life was already too busy.
Amidst this indifference, someone was pressing their temples.
It was Han Seori, who lately seemed to be in high spirits after recently gaining some freedom.
“Damn, I’m so stressed!”
She was happy that the difficult task she was managing had concluded smoothly. To be honest, it hadn’t been easy. Teaching the Jellies under Lime how to manage the Singularity was her and other humans’ responsibility.
Pairing up and teaching the Jellies how to manage the Singularity was more rewarding than expected. Being close to her expertise, she enjoyed the responsibility and felt a sense of nostalgia, as if she’d returned to her past self.
But all good things must come to an end.
After finishing a phone call, Han Seori exhaled deeply.
An outdated tank that had no place in active service emerging from underground was far from normal.
Since Singularities didn’t always manifest in monstrous forms, it was likely that this tank represented one. And since no human traces were found in the investigation of the tank, the likelihood increased.
Though better than monsters indiscriminately killing people…
Han Seori scratched her head, realizing she had to handle it. This time, the tank had surfaced and hit a mine, but the persistent underground noises suggested it wouldn’t be the last.
If ignored, more tanks might emerge, possibly firing randomly, or something even worse could happen.
“…Hmm.”
Just not me—please, Lime, have you rested enough?
In her mind, she pictured Lime lounging on a bed while Gi-hyang patrolled construction sites nearby.
