The nickname for the place called Earth’s Greatest Baker… an indistinctly located Big City.
The first feeling that hit me there was surprisingly not the awe from the skyscrapers that seemed impossibly tall, but…
…the sense of commotion.
Well, it’s called a Big City with skyscrapers visible, so of course, it being crowded is normal. However, the commotion I felt was a bit different.
The crowd wasn’t bustling aimlessly, rather it felt like people had assembled with purpose.
“Hmm…”
From the less-than-pleasant look on Han Seori’s face, it didn’t seem like these people had gathered with good intentions.
It’s frustrating not understanding English, so I can’t figure out what these gathered people are loudly discussing.
In fact, apart from Han Seori’s expression, just observing revealed that everyone seemed extremely upset.
With slogans written on placards they were waving up and down, loudly shouting, it appeared they were protesting. It seemed like there were opposing groups confronting each other, judging by how they faced off.
What on Earth were they doing?
“Looks like it’s not the kind of place we should be wandering around in.”
Muttering this, Han Seori turned her body to leave. Those who had followed looked taken aback by the unexpected scene.
Even though I felt a bit of regret while watching this, I thought there wasn’t much we could do.
I’m confident I wouldn’t get hurt, but with this unclear situation, it would be difficult for me to protect Han Seori if I were to reveal myself.
By the way, there are indeed people following us from the airplane—they’re wearing guns on their hips… wait, they have guns!
This just made it feel even more dangerous. Now that I think of it, it is a country where it’s not unusual for people to carry guns.
…This place is intense. In fact, one of the placards I saw even had a picture of a gun on it. This might be a gun-related protest.
Anyway…
It’s raining heavily, so there’s no real need to go out right now.
With that thought, I boarded the plane again and lowered Jelly.
While waiting, wondering when we would depart again, one of the people who had accompanied us earlier approached us with their arms full of something.
When Han Seori said “thank you” or something similar, the person smiled and responded.
You disgusting fans…
Ultimately, after fumbling with the package, Han Seori took out and laid in front of me what seemed to be…some items.
“Since we’re here, we should try the local cuisine and take it back, right?”
I apologize for using the word “fans.”
It seems like we were really counting on the doctor…
As I eagerly tore open the packaging…
I couldn’t help but tilt my head in confusion. When we say local cuisine, I thought it referred to something uniquely available only in that country.
But this…
It’s a hamburger.
Not only the hamburger, but there’s also fried chicken, fries… and instead of cola, there’s milkshake. And this? Bacon chips on the milkshake? What?
Is this really “local cuisine”?
Even though the sandwiches stuffed with meat and cheese were somewhat impressive, overall, they were quite anticlimactic compared to the fantasy I’d built up.
Well, local cuisine is just what people in the area regularly eat… so it makes sense. They probably prioritized quickly available foods.
I shouldn’t be too disappointed.
Despite not meeting my expectations, the food itself was still fairly decent.
Maybe because my body can’t feel greasiness normally now, the oily foods actually felt quite good. Sensing the overwhelming calories being stacked in my body made me feel pleasantly full.
“Looks like you like it, huh? That’s good.”
…Thinking about it, it’s been quite a while since I’ve had a hamburger. The last time I remember must have been when I first met Kim Cheon-soo.
Even that might be considered… nostalgia, right?
Though it’s hard to call it a “good” memory, reminiscing now, it’s because I got captured then that I’m here today.
It feels somewhat similar to how, on reflection, memories from the army don’t seem too bad?
While munching away inside Jelly, familiar faces came into view as the plane took off again.
We continued flying toward some unknown destination until, far in the distance, I saw what appeared to be a giant figure holding a torch.
Is that the Statue of Liberty?
Though I can’t be sure because it’s too far away, it would make sense that it is.
Still, it’s not like this journey was completely in vain…
Honestly, it didn’t fill me with that much awe.
It seems that becoming Jelly was unnecessary; instead, it just struck me as… pretty unremarkable. Before seeing it, I had expected grandiose imagery and the feeling of freedom… but this is just a big statue.
Maybe it’s because I’ve seen Alice in action, the super-sized model.
It makes more sense when you compare them.
Are they both big? O.
Are they human-like? O.
Can they move? Alice: O, Statue: X.
Is there a cute Jelly inside? Alice: O, Statue: X.
Ah, no wonder I didn’t feel much.
Still, you’re just an immobile human…
Although it may not be the most important factor, that’s how I feel.
Meanwhile, the mundane human figure grew distant, and the towering skyscrapers that once seemed so lofty disappeared into the clouds. The monotony of long flights returned.
Staring out the plane window, I felt an impending sense of dread as we were still doing nothing but flying.
…Should I ask for a game to play on the way back?
I am losing my mind, really.
*
However, this particular flight was much shorter than touching down on American soil.
A groggy Han Seori spoke up saying that we were currently flying over an area often called “Area 51.”
“They say planes flying here without permission will be shot down.”
Doctor, that’s not exactly a joke-worthy topic, is it?
As I gave her an odd look, she, seemingly feeling a tad awkward, scratched her cheek.
“I’ve only heard about it too; this is my first time being here, so I’m a little excited… phew…”
Tch. When you say it like that, it makes me feel like a bad Jelly.
Still, I was excited as well.
Area 51, where countless urban legends and strange tales originate from in the U.S., right?
My heart raced thinking about all those mysterious secrets and strange tales believed to be slumbering there.
Until now, everything I’d heard had been rumors, but…
…If this place serves as a laboratory of a foundation in America, are all those legends actually real?
Just imagining they’re all true… wow, that’s insane. So if we go there, could we actually encounter such things?
Ah, unless, they’re all considered Singularities?
But the thought of that actually made me lose interest slightly. Until now, I’d heard that these “Singularities” had been hidden.
This means all the surface-level stories are likely fabrications, right?
Boring.
“Why’s your mood changing? Hey, our plane isn’t being shot down, you know?”
It’s not about that.
While feeling somewhat let down as a fan, the plane eventually landed. Once landed, the floor beneath the plane opened, and we began to descend as if entering an elevator.
Whoa, this is kind of cool.
Seeing that made my heart… which doesn’t actually exist as Jelly… start beating again.
Hmm, is this another sign that there are similar Singularities to this?
Feeling kind of high-spirited, I stuck close to Han Seori as we followed our guides down a corridor.
Walking through what seemed like an underground hangar and then passing through a rather large door…
…we entered a spotlessly white, almost obsessive space.
Seeing that made my interest… already waning… drop again.
Seriously, do all humans across the world share the same interior designing preference? Why is everything tiled with white?
Maybe “tiring” is used in situations like this.
As my body shivered in annoyance, Han Seori patted my head and spoke to someone nearby.
I couldn’t understand the exact words, but it felt somehow strange.
Considering they seemed to mention “Lime,” it was probably about me.
Once she finished speaking, the nearby foreigners stared at me with looks that seemed sympathetic.
It felt like they were looking at someone they pitied.
…What is this?
What exactly did our Doctor Han Seori say that they’re looking at me this way?
Getting confused, I glanced up at her, but with a knowing expression, she nodded and patted me.
What is it?
And thus, we continued our journey through a somewhat unsettling and strange atmosphere.
Finally, we reached…
“Well, we should get some rest first. Taking a flight isn’t easy, you know.”
There was a place where we’d be staying—a room we would be borrowing.
Having muttered this, Han Seori suddenly began stripping off her clothes, seemingly very tired. I couldn’t avoid seeing her silhouette even though I tried averting my gaze.
“I’ll be done showering soon. Lime, if you’d like a bath, come in.”
With that, Han Seori disappeared into what seemed like the bathroom.
Shortly after, the sound of water pouring began.
Perhaps she just wanted to rest herself but used my presence as an excuse.
…I don’t know. It could be.
What’s more concerning right now is…
…Should I go take a bath?
Our Doctor was subtly indicating she expected me to…
Umm…
What should I do?
