Returning to the hangar, I rummaged around to find the hat (?) Han Seori had made for me.
I even looked underneath the giant Daesik’s bottom (though, it’s still just a doll’s bottom) and lifted the bedsheet where Sosik curled up.
Even though Daesik wasn’t hiding there, he bashfully slapped my thighs, and Sosik shook his head with a “Here we go again…” expression.
But, guys, if I don’t do this, it means you don’t care about me, right!?
…It was a joke. But you guys should help me look too; this is really important.
When I conveyed this urgency in a way I usually wouldn’t, Daesik stopped tapping my thigh and Sosik, who had been lying down with a disinterested expression, slowly rose and began searching around the hangar.
I had thought I was just vaguely conveying a sense of determination to them, but it seemed my ability was actually closer to hypnosis—no, suggestion.
When I tested it on a human earlier, it seemed difficult to force someone to do something they strongly disliked, and only suggestions they didn’t feel much resistance toward would work.
The Jellies, though… Even though they’re scattered around, since they originate from me (probably), the suggestions seem more effective on them.
Frankly, it’s a bit scary to test this.
As I was searching for the hat Han Seori gave me, I remembered that I had once given Kim Cheon-soo a suggestion to bring me pudding.
Back then, I was so terrified of my ability that I trembled with fear, but thanks to Han Seori, I was able to stop it. Later, when I found out I could take it off without a problem, I erased the memory.
Who would’ve thought I’d come across it again?
Has something changed about me? Why does it suddenly work again?
Anyway, it doesn’t seem like I’m manipulating people like puppets, but just in case, it wouldn’t hurt to be careful.
As I kept this thought in mind while searching, Kim Cheon-soo walked in through the hangar door.
He entered with a bewildered look, holding a tray, and of course, on it sat the pudding, temptingly gazing up at me.
Kim Cheon-soo cautiously approached and asked hesitantly, “…Did you order pudding…?”
Eh? When did I order it?
Could it be that the suggestion I gave to the Jellies when I was craving pudding also reached Kim Cheon-soo?
Ahahaha… Sorry about that!
Even though I wanted to play dumb, his half-awake gaze made it clear that I couldn’t deny it.
Embarrassed, I fiddled with my head jelly and accepted the tray, distributing the pudding to Daesik and Sosik, and even took some myself.
Since you went through the trouble of bringing it, it would be rude not to eat it. Should I give a tip for the delivery?
While thinking about this, I gestured as if I were putting on a hat.
Kim Cheon-soo seemed to immediately understand what I was trying to say. His insight was truly world-class.
“That’s right. What happened to that weird hat? And didn’t I tell you already to not do that? Look, I’m not the pudding kind of person!”
Sorry, really.
It wasn’t intentional; it just happened, okay?
Though I felt a bit wronged, since it turned out I had unwittingly made Kim Cheon-soo deliver pudding for free, I silently listened to his scolding.
He kept grumbling a stream of complaints.
…Making pudding must’ve been really tough for him. I’m starting to worry.
I should probably make or find someone to help him with pudding-making.
Eventually, the numbers might increase, though probably not by Kim Cheon-soo becoming two people.
Anyway, as the grumbling Kim Cheon-soo suddenly slapped his palm and carefully grabbed my hand, he announced,
“I think I know where it is.”
Huh?
Since his sudden declaration startled me, I blinked the jelly out of my eyes, which he interpreted as a signal to go, so he grabbed my wrist and began dragging me along.
Though it felt like I was being kidnapped, it was so comfortable that I let Kim Cheon-soo drag me along silently.
We ended up at the kitchen.
When I arrived there, puzzled, and looked at Kim Cheon-soo, he let go of my hand, opened the kitchen cabinet, rummaged around, and pulled out a familiar piece of metal.
Looking closely…
It was the hat Han Seori made me.
Its shape, overlapping with a stainless steel bowl, was unmistakably… Ugh, man.
What is that doing here…?
With an incomprehensible expression, I looked at Kim Cheon-soo, who avoided my gaze for some reason and then gently placed the metallic object on my head.
“…I don’t know why it was here either, but the texture felt different.”
Okay… We’ve found it.
With a strange feeling, as I tried to leave the kitchen, Kim Cheon-soo suddenly shouted.
Confused, I focused my vision to see Jung-sik pop out from the open refrigerator and jump onto my hat.
Surprised by the unexpected appearance of Jung-sik, Kim Cheon-soo clutched his chest and then let out another scream upon looking inside the fridge.
Quickly understanding what had happened, I bolted out of the kitchen with Jung-sik sitting on my hat.
So, you were hiding there the whole time we thought you were missing…?
You’ve been behaving well lately, so I thought there was no trouble, but you really pulled a big one this time.
Did Jung-sik sneak into the fridge when I gave the suggestion to deliver pudding?
Even though he doesn’t have hands, he managed to get in there pretty well.
Ah, with the strength he has, if he covered himself with slime, it wouldn’t be that hard for him to open it.
Sorry, Cheon-soo.
But why would my child want pudding so badly that he’d go this far? You really should give him enough on regular days…
Still, even with that excuse, it wasn’t quite right, so I poked Jung-sik to question him.
Of course, he couldn’t speak, so there wasn’t much of a repentant response, but he seemed to know he did wrong, as the jelly-spitting kid lay limp and squirmed around.
…I’m starting to think he might be smarter than I thought.
Anyway, after letting Jung-sik loose in the hangar, I put on the hat and stood in front of the mirror.
Hm.
Huh… Hmm?
Looking at myself, I thought I looked pretty cool.
With the steel object on my suit, it resembled a military cosplay and looked pretty sharp.
While enjoying my reflection for a moment, I started to think maybe I overreacted a bit.
After all, I had merely managed to make someone kiss my forehead with a suggestion, and Kim Cheon-soo only received the call for pudding because I was aware.
It only worked when I wasn’t consciously thinking about it.
Otherwise, Kim Cheon-soo would’ve had to deliver pudding to me every day.
And it didn’t seem like the suggestion could spread widely.
If it could, everyone would’ve suddenly surged forward to kiss my forehead in a daze.
Just imagining that scenario made it seem… kind of scary. There were plenty of men around, too, and thinking about them all charging toward me with hypnotized faces… Well, it made my stomach turn.
I don’t have a fetish for that.
It’s not gender discrimination; it’s just how the world works.
Anyway.
Deciding to wear the hat securely just in case, I walked out of the hangar. Then I headed to the management room where Han Seori was.
When I arrived at the management room, Han Seori was still busy.
Gazing at Han Seori, who didn’t notice my presence, I wondered what kind of suggestion I should try.
Hugging isn’t a good idea since the person would try to hug me automatically, lacking discernment.
What suggestion could I use that Han Seori usually resists but doesn’t feel much repulsion toward?
Hmm.
Maybe just kissing, right? Since Han Seori’s hugs don’t include lip kisses, it seems like that’s the only option.
But it’s not the kiss on the lips. It’s the forehead kiss like the ones I did before.
Honestly, do you think I’m some pervert?
After deciding on the suggestion, I approached Han Seori and carefully took off my hat, sending her the suggestion the same way as before.
She turned around, interrupting a conversation she was having on the screen.
Ah.
Is Han Seori also within my influence?
Hmm, then… Soon, I’ll likely be lifted up and─
“Huh? When did you come in? Oh, that helmet… Could it be, hmm, there’s a possibility. Did you figure it out yourself? Good job. Our Lime.”
Instead of kissing me on the forehead, Han Seori praised me warmly and petted my head with her towering pocket of knowledge.
…Apparently, Han Seori was outside my influence zone.
Not like I’m particularly disappointed. It was just an experiment.
Really.
Somehow, being praised made me feel like a child and a bit awkward.
With my hat back on, I moved away from the still busy Han Seori and continued on my way.
Next, I thought about finding Hwang Bo-yul or Lee Yoo-jin, but it seemed like Lee Yoo-jin wasn’t here at the moment.
Just then, I spotted Hwang Bo-yul getting ready to exit through the port, so I hurried over.
“Um? That helmet? It looks like a bulletproof helmet…”
Carefully removing my helmet, I tried the same suggestion on her.
“…?”
Apparently, Hwang Bo-yul was also outside my influence zone.
…Hmm? Maybe this ability isn’t as great as I thought?
“Rime…?”
Feeling a bit deflated, I put my helmet back on and continued walking.
As I turned around, I noticed Hwang Bo-yul looked quite flustered.
Anyway, manipulating emotions counts as a success, right?
The next target was Yang Ha-na.
I had a premonition that she would definitely succeed.
“Eh… Lime, what is that…?”
Alright, it’s time for the hypnosis—no, the suggestion… Yang Ha-na.
I took off my helmet and sent her “the suggestion” as strongly as I had with Han Seori and Hwang Bo-yul.
After blinking her eyes, Yang Ha-na gave me a warm smile, leaned in, and pecked my forehead gently.
“Hmm, I suddenly felt like doing it.”
Good, so this is how it feels.
I waved goodbye to the confused Yang Ha-na and left her spot.
This kind of thing makes me feel like a bad man.
I’ve never acted like this before.
If I had wandered around giving people suggestions before becoming a jelly, I probably would’ve ended up eating prison food by now.
So far, the success rate is… around 50%?
Why does it work on some and not others?
Pressing my helmet firmly onto my head, I shuffled along when I suddenly heard footsteps following me.
Glancing back, I saw Kim Cheon-soo approaching with a furrowed brow.
Suddenly, I felt a chill down my spine.
No, absolutely not.
It was the scariest thing that had happened to me this year.
Sensing the impending danger, I bolted out of there.
