Is this enough?
“It’s sufficient.”
I slightly extended Ki Hyang’s head outside the tank while holding it with my hand. To the outside observer, it might have appeared as though someone had poked their head out, but a closer look… well, it seemed like a sight that could induce a scream.
Once outside, not just her neck, but her face extended, Ki Hyang quietly replied and then closed her eyes. Since she had mentioned contacting the lab, she was likely sending some sort of transmission.
I wondered if it absolutely had to be done this way, but if she said so, I had no real objection. I didn’t fully understand the principle, anyway.
How many regular people truly understand how computers or smartphones operate? How many understand the workings of the internet?
Well, Ki Hyang isn’t exactly like a computer or smartphone, but regardless, that’s beside the point.
Ahem.
At any rate, seeing that the anthill hadn’t re-formed, our plan appeared to have been successful. With bated breath, I observed the collapsed anthill for a long time, but there was no indication that it would reappear.
Relieved, I carefully placed Ki Hyang back on the tank floor after finishing my communication, then happily retrieved the miniature tanks I had stored within me.
Since the anthill problem was resolved, this meant we could now take them to the lab, or rather, home. It was impossible not to feel content.
This wasn’t just about toys—no, these were new members of the family. Again, not toys, but new family members.
However, given that releasing these guys who were still recklessly firing shells might lead to their mutual destruction, I generously sprayed them with jelly.
Rendering them immobile and unable to fire properly.
Their treads were buried in the sticky jelly, leaving them motionless, and the barrels brimming with jelly made no sound.
I arranged them on the floor, facing each other.
If we let them stare at each other for a while longer, perhaps one day they won’t fight anymore.
Let’s observe for a week first.
If they don’t reconcile, I might have to keep them full of jelly. That should prevent any unruliness, right? But that wouldn’t be a pleasant experience. It would probably feel like something has invaded their bodies and is wreaking havoc without their consent.
…Though I’ve never personally experienced it, it likely would be unpleasant.
So, they’d better recognize that too, lest they endure an unpleasant experience.
…But do they even think? Honestly, even though I’ve become what’s called a Singularity, I don’t know much about Singularities myself. It’s not something to be ashamed of. Not knowing about Singularities isn’t limited to me.
Classified as a Singularity, but it’s just humans’ blanket term for ‘things they don’t understand.’
So the question arises: what exactly are Singularities?
Why do such beings exist in this world? Why do new Singularities keep emerging?
Hmm.
In fact, I once asked Ki Hyang out of curiosity, but she seemed to have lost her memory, recognizing me only as some kind of super-being, so I stopped pursuing the matter.
I was too occupied with taking care of myself anyway.
However, hasn’t the situation changed a bit? If we knew the reason, couldn’t we prevent more Singularities from appearing?
…Of course, if that somehow meant the eradication of all Singularities from this world… well, I’m not sure what I should do. I was originally human, but now… I’m a Singularity.
It’s not just me; Ki Hyang, the jelly, even this tank… they’re all Singularities. But, people dying because of these Singularities is… a fact.
Could I avoid that by trying harder?
Ugh, thinking about it gives me a jelly-headache.
Come on, there’s no need to get depressed with no solution in sight. There are plenty of people smarter than me. If there were a way, wouldn’t they have found it by now? The fact that these brilliant minds haven’t found it means it doesn’t exist.
There’s no way I’d suddenly figure it out.
I’m not smart enough, or even singular enough, to discover gravity by watching a falling apple.
Right now, I just like this relatively peaceful life. That’s all I wish for. I don’t ask for more.
“Sounds are approaching.”
Huh? Already?
In the middle of pondering, I heard Ki Hyang’s voice. Concentrating my hearing after her prompt, I could discern a familiar noise.
It’s the sound of the vehicle we took here. It’s not that my jelly is golden and discerning; I’ve just heard it often since I always use a vehicle when moving.
However, they’re here rather quickly.
Were they waiting nearby?
Ahem, honestly, considering how much commotion we caused, it would be more natural to think something happened. If there were no Singularities or me here, it might as well resemble… a war breaking out.
Should I have discussed and decided with Han Seori?
Sigh, too late to regret now. Regretting what can’t be changed is foolish. It only causes stress. Jelly can’t cause baldness, at least.
I placed Ki Hyang’s neck on my palm and waited for whoever would take us.
Was her earlier message prepared, or was this the only place to hide? The tank’s hatch squeaked open.
“What the… Wow!?”
The newcomer, Kim Cheon-soo, screamed as he opened the hatch, spotting… well, exactly Ki Hyang. While shouting, he quickly looked up and bumped his head on the hatch.
Oh, right, his body is missing, just the neck.
…Did I forget to mention that? That must be why he’s so shocked.
Ahh, that must hurt.
“A, you, Jin… Ugh… What’s going on…?”
I shouldn’t laugh.
I’m trying to suppress my grin, but Ki Hyang murmured softly.
“I anticipated this.”
No, hey, that makes it seem like I deliberately told you not to say anything, but I didn’t say a word?
“What… ugh…?”
While silently squabbling with Ki Hyang (only me), Kim Cheon-soo, scratching the back of his head, descended into the tank. Uneasily scanning the insides, Kim Cheon-soo looked at the jelly-covered miniatures with a pained expression, then turned back to Ki Hyang and muttered.
“Perhaps the discomfort comes from the size…?”
“Just a ‘small’ accident.”
“…I see.”
That’s what you call a small accident… being reduced to a stick of corn by a cannonball.
“It was a small accident.”
“Pardon?”
“…”
Alright, let’s leave it at that.
Since you say it, pfft, okay.
Kim Cheon-soo, perplexed by Ki Hyang’s words, sighed and then pointed at the jelly-covered tank and asked.
“Lime, is this the… ringleader of the situation?”
Nodding silently, Kim Cheon-soo’s expression soured. He seemed skeptical that something so small could cause such a commotion.
Haha… if he had ventured into the anthill, he wouldn’t have thought that way. But what can you do? If I had brought Kim Cheon-soo there, it wouldn’t have been a broken stick but something far worse.
Thinking about it, I’m quite lucky.
“…Let’s just go back first. Lime, was it resolved?”
At another nod, Kim Cheon-soo received Ki Hyang’s neck and paused with a peculiar expression before addressing me.
“…Should I light myself, just in case? Those small things…”
I swiftly placed the miniatures back inside me and clung to Kim Cheon-soo’s body.
“This feels rather… ugh, let’s just go back.”
Kim Cheon-soo slipped Ki Hyang’s head into his clothes and began to exit the tank.
Curious about what expression Ki Hyang was wearing, I glanced but quickly averted my eyes. Even if Ki Hyang were a close friend, it wouldn’t be wise to bother her right now.
…Is it really that uncomfortable? Phew, scary.
At any rate, we followed roughly the same procedure we did when we arrived to go back.
The only difference was the miniatures inside me and the fact that the soldiers we passed on the way back looked distinctly pale.
…Seeing that, I regretted not being more cautious.
Gulp, I hope no one’s vacation was canceled because of me.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t do anything to help. I could only hope no harm came to anyone.
Thus, having resolved another issue like I always do, I returned. I ate some pudding while pondering how to educate these troublemaking mini-tanks and spent day by day.
And I realized I wasn’t in any position to worry about someone else’s vacation… not long after that.
