Boil… Boil…
There was no way to tell how much time had passed.
Still, given the boiling sounds still emanating from within my body… it seemed digestion wasn’t quite complete yet.
The indescribable, strange taste… I can barely sense it now. Perhaps it’s because Jelly is saturated with that flavor, or maybe I’ve grown dull to it, just as one grows numb to smells. There’s no telling.
In the first place, how exactly do I perceive taste?
No matter how much I contemplate it, I truly can’t seem to understand.
Well, even though I may not exactly look human… still possessing roughly human consciousness, it feels strange in its own way that I comprehend these so-called ‘Singularities.’
…Do Singularities even understand each other?
If they could, perhaps the horned wolf would’ve become my new friend.
Jangseung too, the statue too… even that monstrous bull.
But that’s absurd.
While lost in thought that seemed rather fruitless, out of nowhere…
Gurgle… Gurgle.
I could feel the pressure on Jelly gradually easing up. Perhaps because the sensory part responsible for flavor is akin to having my eyes closed, those minute changes feel remarkably distinct.
The proliferation of Chunk of Meats, which felt like blood ebbing out of my body, has gradually… gradually… slowed down.
Chunks of meats, now powerless, like minced meat breaking apart, flop… flop… falling within me.
This tiresome time seems finally coming to an end, which oddly makes me feel not so bad.
Eventually.
[So troublesome… ah, it seems the end is approaching for me too.]
A metallic creak and a genderless voice reached my ears. It’s the familiar voice I’ve heard since I first arrived here.
Surprisingly, the incomprehensible Singularity seemed aware that its death was imminent.
And as if this were its only salvation… there was even a strange sweetness to the murmuring voice.
The incomprehension stirred a chilling sensation within me.
Isn’t the survival instinct the strongest in living beings…?
…I don’t know.
Can these things called Singularities even be considered living beings?
With the complexity inside Jelly growing, I decided to just stop thinking about it. Trying to understand what can’t be understood would only cause unnecessary pain to Jelly.
In any case.
For some reason, the ‘Can’ that left a peculiar final moment went silent after that utterance.
As if something entirely indifferent to my existence…
Just quietly melted away within Jelly.
…As if ruminating on the ‘Peace’ awaiting itself.
…For some reason, there was a fleeting thought to spit it out right there and then, in case it decided to rise again and cause mischief. But considering that I am a good Jelly, I waited patiently.
…I didn’t have such thoughts.
That way, not long after,
I could feel the Can inside me had completely melted away.
There seemed to be some mumbled words at the end, but honestly, they were inaudible.
Hmm. It was probably just some excuse from the defeated one; listening wasn’t necessary.
…As a sense of moral superiority washed over me, I ignored it.
Eventually, just as a clogged nose clears, the scent of raw meat flooded around me.
Confused, I wriggled through the dark and emerged outside, only to see vivid pieces of meat that had once teemed with life now hanging limply like they belonged in a butcher’s shop.
Seeing how tightly packed with meat it was, devoid of a single ounce of fat, it didn’t seem particularly appetizing.
Well, it’d be perfect for braised dishes, though.
Anyway.
After digesting everything, I can’t seem to feel any changes.
Should I go to sleep?
While scratching my neck in puzzlement, a clicking sound reached my ears.
The necklace (?) Han Seori had put around my neck was still there. I must’ve not noticed it as it felt like an extension of my body.
So… is it watching me?
Soon, arrows should start showing up.
Right as I thought that,
A massive silhouette fell towards my head.
Startled, I darted aside. A thunderous CRUNCH echoed, and splatters of red meat flew everywhere.
Would I end up like that if I fell from such a dizzying height…?
Somehow, it didn’t feel like someone else’s story. As I focused upward,
…Chunks of meat began raining down.
If I had to liken it to something… yep.
It’s like blood-colored hail was falling from the sky.
I vaguely remember a retro game where you just avoided X. It felt like I was playing that game, dodging the falling chunks with a series of ‘plop plop’ sounds.
Then, recalling the spot I had just been cowering in moments ago, I fled there as a refuge.
Two-two-two-BOOM! The sounds of sandbags bursting violently filled the air.
Listening to the irregular beats continuing, it almost felt like ASMR.
Just as I thought I might fall asleep to it,
A serene calm enveloped the area, as if nothing had happened. Instead, the eerie silence sent chills down my spine.
Emerging outside again, I encountered the carcasses… well, literally just meat shields now.
Everywhere the ground was slick with sticky chunks of meat and what seemed to be either blood or meat juices.
Given the nauseating atmosphere,
I decided to quickly leave.
The way back was just like the way down. Though tedious, the thought that I could finally rest made it rather pleasant.
After climbing for ages, I finally reached the hole leading out, squeezing through it with familiarity and following the arrow that had appeared as if from nowhere.
An incredibly worn-out Han Seori was waiting for me.
“…Good job.”
With a mix of happiness and complexity on her face, she lifted me up, then gently placed me in a more refined glass container this time.
Uh… I kind of feel like I need warmth right now… but, whatever.
Han Seori seems ready to leave, so she heads out with me in the glass container.
The meat chunks still filled the passageway, but they weren’t expanding, so it seems like things have definitely settled down.
…Compared to when I went in, the sight of exhausted people lying about resting, made the atmosphere quite peculiar.
Given how little attention people gave her carrying me, just how exhausted must they be?
Anyway,
I was finally able to return to my room.
After lifting me from the glass container, Han Seori carefully placed me on the floor and said quietly,
“First… thank you, and uh… see you later.”
With a very tired smile, she left.
Hmm…
On second thought… thinking about it, probably more people outside than from here ate those retorts, didn’t they?
…Could she be busy dealing with that?
Still, can something like this even be handled?
Impressive. If it really can be handled.
When I returned, Daesik (IN Alice) and Sosik scurried closer.
They seemed to have missed me while I was gone, judging by how they’re rubbing against me.
…It’s a bit surprising to see Sosik do this, but it doesn’t feel bad.
Just as I was petting them,
The door opened again.
Thinking it was Han Seori coming back, I frowned when Kim Cheon-soo arrived instead.
Upon seeing my puzzled look, he cleared his throat and approached me, saying,
“Thanks. I heard that it helped bring me back to my senses.”
Hmm… has word already reached common human ears about my feat?
Or… maybe Han Seori and him are close, so she told him first.
However,
His state felt somewhat off.
A different kind of off compared to when he lunged at the retorts.
The common human looked at me, then covered his eyes with both hands, sighing.
For some reason, his cheeks seemed red beneath his hands… am I just imagining things?
Or… did he feel embarrassed about being saved by me?
Eventually, after exhaling deeply, he slapped his cheeks and suddenly began banging his head on the floor.
…Has he gone mad?
Trying to stop him from hitting his forehead, I wondered why he was acting like this, when he murmured with a serious tone,
“It’s all because of the strange dream… it can’t be…”
He muttered some incomprehensible words, then rose with his reddened forehead.
“…I’ll return the favor later. For now… I’ve got a lot to do.”
The common human started rambling about things no one asked him to explain, then made a proper exit.
Watching the common human leave, I shrugged and headed toward the bed.
Judging by everyone’s actions, it looks like the people outside will be busy for a while.
Then again, all I have to do is roll around in this bed.
With that thought in mind…
Or is it… maybe because a similar situation happened after eating the statue…
For some reason, sleepiness started to come over me.
As soon as I laid on the bed, overwhelming drowsiness washed over me.
My vision gradually dimming,
I could see Daesik lying next to me.
…And.
For some reason, Sosik was lying on my stomach.
While Sosik lacked any clear expression,
For some reason,
…It felt like he was smiling.
Unable to resist the approaching exhaustion,
I fell asleep.
Surely… it’s not possible, right?
We… were doing fine, right?
Maybe it was just my perception…
