I thought if I entrusted the aftermath to the two of them, I wouldn’t have to worry about it.
At least, that’s how it used to be.
Until recently, all I had to do was clear the singularity, and whatever floated within my jelly remained rather unobtrusive.
…The miniature tanks I brought in a while ago occasionally require me to visit and play with them, but that’s because those are part of the singularity as well as part of my collection… I mean, they’re new family members (?), so naturally I spend time with them.
But this time felt different.
What was floating in my jelly… was the concern whether the aftermath had been properly dealt with.
More accurately, it wasn’t worry over whether the aftermath was being handled well, but rather the fear that the giant tree, which had been part of the singularity, might be up to something.
For good reason.
That thing even showed me an edited video.
If it were human, I’d speculate it would have run a devilish editing channel, excelling at clickbait thumbnails. If I hadn’t had experience, I might’ve fallen for it without a second thought.
…It was undoubtedly someone with foul intentions.
Anyway.
Given the situation, I was concerned that it might be pretending to comply while sinisterly plotting behind the scenes.
Hmm.
Since they typically don’t call me for aftermath management… I assume they’re still investigating the tree?
Since it’s not far, should I head up there?
After a moment of thought, I sat on the bed and picked up Daesik, who had been dully staring at Alice.
Startled by the sudden action, Daesik trembled his small body, tilted his adorable head back, and looked up at me.
As I stared at him, he seemed so earnest and cute that I couldn’t help but give him a tight hug, to which Daesik turned around and clung to my neck tightly.
He looked just like a spoiled child.
Perhaps he realized how precious I am after all the hard work.
In reality, without me, Alice would’ve been even worse off. Maybe, then, he developed newfound respect for me, who had so effortlessly “cleared out” the thing that had reduced her to a state of disrepair?
Anyway, I hope he stops giving me that dissatisfied look when I occasionally take the remote. It’s fine, right?
Come to think of it, the person who should be grateful that Alice hasn’t been more severely damaged might very well be Yang Ha-na.
“Hehe, cute.”
While I embraced Daesik, Yang Ha-na, who was staying in the hangar to repair Alice, approached and smiled, “Hehe.”
She might have once seemed like a bright young man, but now her smile feels bittersweet.
As if she’d lost something.
A few days ago…
Yang Ha-na’s face after barely moving the tattered Alice into the hangar… it truly looked like the sky had fallen.
The shock of seeing Alice, whom she meticulously cared for day by day, reduced to a state akin to a worn-out rag.
The fear that she might have to repair her herself.
When it came to making the jellies’ clothes, she seemed fine with it, enjoying her hobby despite the fatigue with “it’s okay!” But this… this was more daunting.
After all, if even decorating her was tough and she simply attached a ribbon here and there, imagine the despair when Alice’s entire body was shredded into pieces.
Was it right for Yang Ha-na to take on this task? But in our “house,” there was no one else capable, so the responsibility was on her to carry it out.
Of course, luckily for Yang Ha-na, Alice’s material wasn’t ordinary.
If it were, how could they have fought such monstrous beings?
Oh… so it could be repaired then?
In reality, Yang Ha-na wasn’t currently attempting a major repair on Alice.
Partly due to her immense size, but also thanks to Han Seori’s caution about hastily repairing and causing further problems, they’ve decided to halt for now and not apply any adhesive until the proper materials are found.
Though whether adhesive would even work here remains unclear…
What if we end up never being able to use Alice’s huge form again? Daesik would be really sad.
Still, it’s a bit troubling to just leave her as she is… She’s essentially like a torn-up golem that might traumatize a young child.
In any case.
I left the hangar with Yang Ha-na quietly sobbing while alternating glances between me, Daesik, and Alice. Just as I was about to step out, I noticed Sosik crawling into the bed.
As she tried to hide when I was about to leave, I momentarily considered letting her be, but ended up catching her eye.
You.
Got you.
While still holding Daesik, I grabbed Sosik’s leg with my other hand. She went limp like a mouse caught by a cat.
Her stillness suggested she had no expectations of resistance, either way.
Her apparent resignation softened my heart slightly, but noticing her cautious glances in my direction revealed that she was likely faking it.
Hmph.
She’s such a clever jelly.
When did she become so cunning?
It’s because she hasn’t been getting enough sunlight. Even though she has some freedom around here now, being stuck in the hangar all the time has affected her…!
Thus, with one hand holding Daesik and the other Sosik, I exited the hangar.
At this point, Yang Ha-na, who had been thinking of ways to repair, naturally followed along. Her following might’ve seemed eerie, but seeing her hollow eyes made it hard to say no.
Yes, people need sunlight to stay healthy.
After enduring some twists and turns as we exited the hangar, the miniature humanoid jellies, who had turned the quarantine area into their playground, followed us like children following the piper of Hamelin, despite there being no flute music.
Thinking about it, they just probably had nothing better to do, so it made sense.
Our destination, however, was not the outside…
But the kitchen.
You can’t go on a picnic without a lunch box, right?
Even though we weren’t really going on a picnic, with everyone gathered like this, it might as well count as one.
And we weren’t heading to the kitchen to loot—no, pilfer as the earlier term—anything.
Would Jung-sik feel left out if we went out with all these jellies without taking him along?
So, as we rushed into the kitchen, there was Kim Cheon-soo sleeping in the hammock installed in the kitchen, muttering something about making pudding being boring to death.
“La, Lime! Are you here to take the pudding? Sir seems to be sleeping… Is it okay?”
Even this one didn’t say not to.
But we didn’t come to steal pudding, you know?
Shaking my jelly finger, Han Ha-na tilted her head in confusion.
It’d be quicker to just show her, so I looked around and opened the refrigerator when I sensed movement.
Click!
Inside the open fridge, Jung-sik lay sprawled on a shelf, cradling a pudding close to his body.
These days, if he’s not here, he’s probably in the fridge.
Maybe because he wants some pudding or because it’s cool inside.
Perhaps due to his marine origins, he has a preference for cooler places.
…Kim Cheon-soo probably knows but just overlooks it because Jung-sik eats moderately.
“Huh? You’re there? Oh, so you came looking for Jung-sik!”
Indeed, indeed.
Would we ever dare to come and steal the magnificent pudding crafted with the utmost care by our chef Kim Cheon-soo?
It’s a masterpiece beyond my comprehension.
But to not carry any picnic-worthy pudding after coming this far would be unforgivable.
So, it’s not theft or taking the pudding…
It’s merely a temporary transfer of ownership. It’ll end up in my jelly anyway, so this is just an early transfer.
By sparing Kim Cheon-soo the effort of following, he should actually be grateful, right?
“Uh, Lime…?”
Don’t give me that look while you’re holding one yourself, Yang Ha-na.
You’re an accomplice.
Finally, after gathering—ah, temporarily transferring—the puddings for our picnic, we proudly exited the kitchen.
The sound of snoring from behind felt like a triumphant anthem.
After calming the jellies who were eager to devour the puddings immediately, we headed back outside.
As we entered the control room to use the Steel Snake Port, we were greeted by a familiar face.
“Ah! Ki-hyang!?”
“…”
There stood Ki-hyang, satisfied with her new body.
I had postponed communications with Han Seori, but it was about time we had a proper chat.
While Han Seori greeted Ki-hyang warmly, I took the opportunity to inspect the new Ki-hyang body.
When she mentioned how her frail former body disappointed her and she wanted to make a stronger one…
I imagined she’d emerge as some bulky, muscular figure.
Maybe her face would resemble mine, which would be eerie but certainly imposing.
…And then I realized the irrelevance of strength when I saw Ki-hyang’s body looking every bit like her usual slim figure.
It made sense given the holographic enhancements she used previously, and height changes or transformations were non-existent.
It felt a little… lacking in romance.
“Anyway, what is this gathering…?”
“Uh, right. We’re heading out for a bit. A picnic, maybe?”
“…Is that so?”
“Do you want to come with?”
“Is that allowed?”
“Of course!”
…It’s not a picnic, though.
Just a mood for it.
Anyway, since it hadn’t been long since speaking with Ki-hyang last, we exchanged casual greetings before splitting our bodies into the Steel Snake Port and exiting the ground.
Once out, we found a large number of people gathered around the giant tree.
Some were familiar, others not.
What they had in common was that once we emerged en masse, all eyes immediately turned to us.
Geez, awkward.
Still, reactions were mostly positive.
Many found it healing.
“Shouldn’t you have let us know before coming out? You gave me a scare.”
“Heh, hehe… My mind went blank.”
Han Seori hugged me tightly as she said this.
Then, noticing the jellies also meeting familiar people, waving and enjoying pudding, the humans eagerly took photographs and rummaged through their pockets for snacks.
Is this the new era’s peace, perhaps?
As I slipped out of Han Seori’s embrace, I leaned against the deceased tree and ate pudding.
Basking in the warm sunlight, letting my feet stretch out…
It felt rather…
Strange.
An itchy sensation as if the jelly inside was bubbling.
…Something’s off?
