Hum-hum… Clang.
The sound of a machine moving could be heard, and then a massive door that had been tightly shut opened.
Beyond the door, a rather large and sturdy-looking vehicle could be seen. It seemed to be for carrying cargo, as it had a huge container attached to it.
When the door fully opened, the vehicle that came out stopped at what appeared to be a parking lot after passing through a long corridor.
As the vehicle stopped, people began to exit from the cargo area and the door of the vehicle, radiating an air of tension.
In the middle of this, someone spoke with a cheerful voice.
“Is this the last one for today? How about a drink after we’re done? They say the bar inside this branch isn’t bad.”
As the man cracked a joke, delighted laughter came from the others as if in response. However, the mood stiffened again when a gruff voice cut through them like cold water.
“We’re not done yet.”
Nevertheless, the man continued while stretching, saying,
“Oh, it’s practically over. To be honest, all that’s left inside now… isn’t it just a big piece of wood?”
“It may look like that, but it’s a Singularity. Are you ready to take responsibility if something happens because you let your guard down?”
Finally, the man muttered under his breath and shut up.
Transporting Singularities is a very stressful job, no matter how much you emphasize safety.
After all, within the blink of an eye, you could be sent off to another world; it would be stranger not to feel stressed about it.
Still, the man who had been cracking jokes thought humor was necessary in such situations.
The body gets too tense, and accidents can happen then too.
“Well, I only joke around because we’ve got a drill sergeant around here.”
The man who responded ‘Ne, ne’ to the gruff voice shrugged as he looked around, then suddenly smirked.
Yeah, this much is just right.
After that, the joker took out the radio clipped to his waist and this time spoke with a more serious tone.
“Can you hear me?”
– Reception is good.
“We’ve just arrived. Have you cleared all the Singularities nearby the entrance?”
– We’re almost done.
“Make sure it’s thorough. Unless you want to turn all of us into pancakes.”
– Understood.
…Such a boring person.
After finishing with the radio, the man followed the orders of the gruff voice and looked at the ‘Singularity’ being unloaded from the cargo area.
Something made of rough wood was being brought out.
There was no sign of it moving on its own; it seemed to have the shape of a long cylinder.
Finally, when it completely exited the cargo area, a menacing feature at its end was revealed.
A distorted human face was carved into the wooden pillar.
Out of the cargo area emerged a Singularity in the shape of a ‘Jangseung’.
For unknown reasons, this Singularity started activity when it reacted to other Singularities within a certain radius, and it belonged to the bizarre category among Singularities.
It also played a role in attacking Singularities when they became active themselves.
A plan using this entity was once put into action, but it was canceled when it was revealed that it did not distinguish between friend and foe.
The team members who participated in the testing at the time were “processed out,” so the danger of this entity was self-evident without further explanation.
Still, as long as there were no Singularities around, it was a simple and heavy ‘Jangseung’, so its danger level was not rated too high.
Its range wasn’t that wide either, so if it was isolated in a slightly remote area, it wouldn’t cause problems.
It was, however, a ticking time bomb that might go off someday.
If this Jangseung-shaped Singularity couldn’t find a use here, it was destined to be disposed of.
There was no reason to keep isolating something that provided no help.
Of course, the issue of finding a way to handle its disposal remained, but that was not the concern of those currently transporting the Singularities.
As the man looked around to check for any issues, he thought about how it wouldn’t be long until he could go home once the Singularity was placed into the transparent containment unit.
As long as that Singularity didn’t suddenly move inside the containment…
‘Ah.’
I shouldn’t think like this—bad omen, isn’t it?
And yet, the Singularity placed on the wide cart began to move.
The moment it passed through the open door together with everyone.
A radio message came from his waist.
– Please wait just ten more minutes.
What?
Stopping the line with a hardened expression and grabbing the radio, the joker asked,
“Didn’t you say you were ready and opened the door?”
– What are you talking about?
“The door is open now!”
Craaack!
A sound like something cracking came from somewhere.
“Everyone, back away from the containment units!”
Thud! Crang!
A dull sound and a loud shout came from someone.
The man holding the radio thought it was already too late and flattened himself to the ground since he knew what was coming next.
Ka-BOOM!
The containment unit shattered, scattering glass pieces everywhere. Then, the Singularity, which had previously shown no reaction, began its activation.
Without showing any interest in ordinary humans, the activated Singularity made a loud thud, thud, thud noise and disappeared beyond a fork in the passage.
A large mark remained where it had passed.
“Damn it.”
As the Singularity disappeared, leaving behind someone’s angry shout, it moved its huge body with another thud, thud noise,
and stomped on something lying on the floor.
A crushing sound was heard, and whatever it was had been completely deformed under the Jangseung’s weight.
As if the Jangseung held some grudge against it, it repeatedly smashed its heavy body down with another thud, thud.
The impact caused the hallway to shake.
At that moment,
“Huh? What is that?”
A door that had been closed earlier opened, and a person holding a box with a sealed Singularity inside appeared.
The man who had been staring blankly at the Jangseung quickly turned pale and started running away in panic.
The “eye” of the Jangseung having locked onto his silhouette, began pursuing him with loud thud, thud, thud, thud sounds.
The menacing face carved onto it cast shadows as it chased down the fleeing figure.
The sight of something that had been crushed under the Jangseung had thoroughly confused his mind. Now, the thud, thud sounds coming from behind completed his disorientation.
His breathing quickly became rapid,
and when the ground shook,
he lost his balance and fell not long into his escape.
“Aaah… Ugh… Ah…”
As he flailed, attempting to get back up, he suddenly realized the “specialness” of the Singularity chasing him and threw the Singularity he had been carrying right at the Jangseung.
Though Singularities were important, his own life mattered more.
Pooof!
The box that was thrown at the Jangseung made a dull sound and returned to land right beside the one who threw it.
Thinking the Jangseung might target him next, he kicked the box containing the Singularity far away.
Letting out a sigh of relief,
‘They did say it only goes for Singularities, right?’
Now, I’m safe.
His thoughts abruptly cut off.
And they would never continue.
Thud! Thud!
Having completed its mission, the Singularity moved on to a new target.
The door that had been closed was shattered from the repeated impacts, and someone’s consciousness sank into oblivion forever. Beside him lay something that could no longer be identified.
Thud! Thud!
Every time the Jangseung moved,
it left behind a bright red mark like a footprint.
A loud alarm blared above the Jangseung’s head.
In its moving range, which was like birds chasing moths,
appeared a young woman gripping something tightly and running,
and a blue-haired girl inside a glass tube.
The Jangseung immediately chased after the two without hesitation.
…What is that?
Han Seori placed me into the glass tube and started running frantically with an urgent look on her face.
The ominous sound of an alarm rang above our heads.
I had never seen her this desperate before, and as a result, even I, Jelly, became naturally tense.
Exactly what had happened?
That question was quickly answered
because a large Jangseung suddenly came around the corner.
“Wha-when did it get here?”
Han Seori’s urgent voice echoed. Despite running, she kept looking at me with an unusually concerned expression.
…Why?
This ominous premonition.
Is it inconvenient that no one told me how problematic this flag is?
The menacing-faced, large Jangseung was quickly approaching us.
Rather, approaching might be the wrong word.
Its footsteps resonated through the hallway as it moved as though mimicking the internet-famous Sky Kong Kong.
Although Sky Kong Kong seems to imitate this ancient-looking artifact since this one looks even older.
With an alarm going off above my head and that loud thud thud sound coming from behind, I was getting extremely agitated.
Then, amidst my growing irritation with Jelly bubbling up,
I noticed the bottom of the Jangseung was stained deep red.
Surely… that can’t be what I’m imagining?
Looking at that, I began to realize how perilous our situation truly was.
…
“Gasping… gasping…”
She’s not exactly in great physical condition for running, is she? Han Seori was breathing quite heavily.
She was so sweat-drenched that her clothes felt sticky.
Then,
her legs must have given out, and she fell down.
“Kyaa!?”
When she fell, it naturally caused the glass tube containing me to tip over, and my body was ejected from the open lid.
“Oof, ow, that hurt.”
As Han Seori twitched on the ground, the Jangseung was already approaching at a short distance with loud stomps.
Looking at the ominous marks left on the floor… it appears to be quite perilous.
“We need… we need to run…”
Han Seori’s voice gave weight to my own thoughts.
It seemed easy to escape on my own, but Han Seori looked as if she had been injured from the fall and possibly cut by the cracked glass.
Thud!
Even as I was hesitating, the Jangseung kept coming.
Thud!
I glanced at Han Seori who was struggling to catch her breath,
then ran towards the Jangseung.
“Eh?!”
Passing by the large bulk of its body,
I spat out some viscous material, just like I had done before.
Would anyone call it a reward?
Who knows.
Clearly, the attention was drawn towards me, as the creature suddenly turned its head with a roar.
I turned to Han Seori with a bewildered face, shaking the Jelly,
then continued fleeing with the Jangseung hot on my trail.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Was it mad? It was coming after me at a tremendous speed.
…I feel somewhat proud of protecting Han Seori, but,
when I quickly glanced back,
there was the giant Jangseung with a ferocious face chasing me.
Now what… should I do?
Suddenly, I regretted my decision.
