As Lime was busy confiscating and eating the puddings of the jellies while praying for peace, the world had been spiraling into chaos much sooner than anyone had anticipated.
Of course, it was not surprising that the world felt increasingly chaotic now that entities once completely unknown were rising to the surface. While some might find this unsettling, most were accustomed to ignoring things beyond their immediate concern.
In fact, at first, there were times when people wondered if anything was changing at all.
Even when Jin Lime, a Singularity, started to appear on TV, in the news, or various articles, the general public’s reaction was one of mere curiosity and confusion: “What on earth is that thing?”
Among the more proactive reactions were those from a sizeable minority who had already been aware of the existence of entities like Lime. But for the vast majority, the reaction tended toward: “So what’s going to change?”
After all, if a new law didn’t directly impact someone’s daily life, they might not even notice it changing. So, when a creature that people usually only read about in fiction was declared to exist in reality, the response was lukewarm.
There wasn’t much cause to respond any other way—beyond the occasional thought that Lime looked cute and pettable.
For a while, distant news about serious issues in other countries seemed unrelated, so it didn’t quite resonate on a personal level.
However, before long, the ripple effects started to surface in society.
They were disruptive and dramatic, affecting day-to-day life.
Primarily, people suddenly began to notice Singularities more frequently within their own neighborhoods and everyday environments, an unexpected frequency that made one wonder how they could have been hidden for so long.
Of course, not all Singularities were immediate threats to daily life. Most of the ones people encountered initially were relatively mundane, making it easy to question whether they deserved the label of “Singularity” at all.
But still, it wasn’t impossible that, under the right conditions, one could become a brutal tank that slaughtered indiscriminately.
In any case,
It became somewhat common to see Foundation agents setting up restricted zones during commutes with signs warning of prohibited entry.
And for the more “lucky” few, there was even the honor of being the first to report an emerging Singularity.
Still, this growing phenomenon could be attributed, to some extent, to the Foundation shifting resources away from their usual containment protocols to deal with bigger, more pressing issues.
Not everyone had the same reactions, of course.
Not every Singularity was reported to either the Foundation or the government, as their presence was starting to seep into the fabric of normal life.
“Can’t this be okay?”
This was the thought of a man who had secretly taken care of a small, cute creature he had hidden in a cage in his house.
“From what I’ve seen on TV, Lime as a Singularity seems quite adorable. Is it possible all Singularities are adorable?”
“Do I really need to report it? Can’t I take care of it?”
“It’s obedient and eats well, so everything should be fine.”
“Besides, it might not even be a Singularity. It could just be a new, undiscovered species.”
Having justified the situation to himself, the man continued to quietly raise the Singularity in his home.
For a few days, he found a new kind of happiness, feeding and bonding with the mysterious creature, forming a kind of hobby that brought him joy after work.
The end came as suddenly as it did unexpectedly.
One day, upon returning home, the man noticed that the cage containing the Singularity was open. Panicking, he went outside to search for the escaped creature.
What awaited him outside was the horror of watching his neighbor being devoured by the very Singularity he had been nurturing lovingly.
When the beast turned its attention to the man who used to feed it, rubbing its head affectionately against him, the man could no longer view it as cute. The charm was broken.
The once-pettable creature now appeared as a monstrous aberration to him, shaking his very reality.
The overgrown Singularity, a direct result of his complacent thoughts, was ultimately ‘■■’d by the Foundation agents who arrived after the report was submitted.
In the wake of the event, legislative urgency for the special management of Singularities gained significant momentum.
Previously, the passing of such a bill had been sluggish for various reasons. However, due to the public’s heightened awareness of the event’s brutality, even those who had previously opposed the law found themselves compelled to reconsider their stance.
Still, despite the increased focus, it looked like the passage of the bill would take additional time, owing to influences stemming from certain groups advocating for more diversified Singularity management—a likely consequence of conversations between people who used to work with the former Laboratory Director Han Seori.
Regardless,
The spotlight inevitably turned to Lime. She had not only demonstrated her ability to manage and deal with Singularities efficiently but had also treated nearby humans kindly and consistently so.
Possibly, Lime’s human-like feminine form played a role in how people viewed her actions positively.
In the aftermath of the incident, public suspicion was quickly quelled. This resulted in a more tranquil life for Lime.
And with that,
Strange phenomena began to emerge.
Most notably, land prices near Lime’s Wooden Hotel—more specifically, around the Polar Laboratory where Han Seori operated—started skyrocketing.
It was an isolated region, close to the puppet state in the north, with heavily restricted development. However, the price increase was staggering, rivaling the rise of Bitcoin when compared earlier standards.
This once-agricultural land, now permitted for limited purposes only, became immensely valuable.
Although the cry for lifting development restrictions grew louder, it was met with concerns over national security issues.
“We want to live somewhere safe!”
“Well, then move the laboratory!”
“But that… isn’t there already a lack of schools and facilities?”
“Exactly, lift the restrictions!”
No one could predict the outcome. The bizarre twist was the sudden appearance of an entirely new village within the area.
While everyone was speculating on how things would unfold,
Individuals who violated the laws by secretly harboring Singularities continued to appear, either believing themselves above the law or thinking themselves an exception to the rule.
Ironically, this issue might have been somehow related to Lime, but that was a secret only the violators would know.
Thus, the society grappling with Singularities was evolving, slow yet fast-paced.
Of course, the majority of the population continued to live their ordinary lives unperturbed.
At least for now.
Every day, I daydreamed about money stacking up in my now non-existent bank account, when one day, Han Seori appeared in my room with a grave expression.
Incidentally, I’d been spending more time lately in the penthouse suite of the Wooden Hotel rather than the storage areas, hence Han Seori was wearing what looked like an oxygen mask.
The reason this space was technically off-limits to humans was that it wasn’t designed for comfortable human habitation.
“Do you see how small you look from up here?”
Absolutely not related to inventory clearance!
Anyway!
Han Seori embraced me tightly and murmured with relief.
“Lime, there you are… Phew, I think we can survive now.”
Was she relieved due to adaptation, or was she expressing hope for survival by holding me closely?
My curiosity was peaked, but there was no time for deeper inquiries as Electric Scent, my ever-busy assistant, wasn’t around.
However, it seemed Han Seori had come to release some stress, as she pressed me even closer. The firm embrace felt strange, almost as if there was an unexpected weight behind her affection.
Reevaluating, I realized she might be larger than I thought. Perhaps the lab coat she usually wore concealed her true size?
This prompted a thought: Had Dr. Kim Cheon-soo expressed romantic interest in her?
I couldn’t help but feel slightly concerned for our own Kim Cheon-soo. Lately, it felt like Han Seori and he were drifting apart. Thinking back, they used to make a concerted effort to stay near each other, which became obvious even to me, as a mere jelly.
It was touching but also a bit heart-wrenching.
Now, we hardly ever saw Kim Cheon-soo. The last time we saw him was probably when we last used the passage back to the House realm.
Even before talking about love, maybe we should first check if he’s still alive.
“PUDDING ALERT! YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO COLLAPSE HERE!”
Shaken out of my worries, I tried to pull my face free from Han Seori’s embrace.
It wasn’t because of sinister intentions—I simply wanted her to loosen her grip.
Regardless, Han Seori giggled at my expression, finding it endearing, making me feel like there’s no actual victim here.
Cough, cough. I AM A NON-TOUCH LAWFUL JELLY, you know?
Anyway, the most pressing matter now was understanding her sudden visit. I tilted my head slightly out from her embrace to signal my curiosity.
Given how long we’ve been together, I found that even basic non-verbal communication was effective without needing Electric Scent to interpret for me.
As though confirming my suspicion, Han Seori sighed wistfully.
“Hmm… Lime, have you grown tired of being around me?”
Excuse me, but you’ve been hugging me for thirty minutes now!
Confronted with my disbelieving gaze, she appeared sheepish, scratching her cheek before letting go and clearing her throat.
“There’s something else…”
And then she delivered the unexpected news.
“I need to make a trip to America, Lime.”
This abrupt trip to America.
While her tone suggested she respected my choice—indicating this wasn’t a mandatory order—she explained that visiting America would be necessary for gaining information about the contact with the trees I had observed.
In short, it sounded like they were trading information for my potential help or visit.
There seemed to be more to the situation, but since it wasn’t explained outright to me, it might involve diplomatic conflicts between countries.
…Though, this is purely my speculation.
Having dealt with mysteries for years, my keen imagination told me the story wasn’t so simple.
A powerful nation requesting something from a minor one—it’s a cliché, but one I hadn’t expected to witness firsthand.
Han Seori’s reluctance to discuss all the details with me could stem from two possible reasons:
First, she didn’t want to burden me with it.
Or, she believed I wouldn’t understand it anyway.
…The latter likely being more accurate.
Given my position as just a jelly, it’d be unusual for her to expect me to comprehend the political tensions between nations.
Nevertheless, the fact that she treated me as someone who had a choice felt reassuring.
Alright, I’ve made up my mind.
I looked directly at Han Seori and smiled faintly.
In return, she blinked her eyes and smiled too.
Perhaps this would work out just fine.
It’s not like the hotel can’t function without me.
Even though I don’t do much, anyway?
