Amidst the commotion, Han Seori couldn’t help but feel somewhat embarrassed… Yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was on vacation.
…
Whether the listener would believe it or not, it was absolutely not something Han Seori had intentionally caused.
…
She had indeed wished for it, but only as a hopeful desire, nothing more.
…
“Comfortable and yet…”
It’s inconvenient.
Having completed the supervision of the Whale’s disassembly operation (albeit for other reasons), Han Seori returned to the East Sea branch with 7496 – KR, only to collapse as soon as she arrived, just like 7496 – KR she had brought with her.
…
While she didn’t exactly have a physical problem, her collapse was closer to the result of overexerting herself despite her initial condition as a patient. However, witnessing this, Kim Cheon-soo couldn’t help but panic.
“Because you pushed yourself, we sent you as a field supervisor… the rest we’ll handle ourselves.”
“Um… Okay, fine.”
…
Through Kim Cheon-soo’s arrangement with the East Sea branch managers, Han Seori was excluded from all duties.
…
Truthfully, calling it exclusion would be inaccurate.
…
Her being assigned duties in the distant East Sea branch when she belonged to the Gyeonggi regional branch was, in itself, an odd occurrence.
…
Rather, allowing her participation in the disassembly process was closer to their consideration for her. Acknowledging this, Han Seori nodded without complaint.
…
Fundamentally, she was a patient and therefore hadn’t wanted to work in a different branch.
…
If it hadn’t been for the exception of 7496 – KR.
…
Having accomplished her goal, she felt it was enough to rest her body and wait for the sleeping 7496 – KR to awaken.
…
But 7496 – KR showed no signs of waking anytime soon.
…
With a premonition of a long wait, Han Seori tried sneaking out of her room but was caught by Kim Cheon-soo and sent back.
…
Had it been any other time, it would’ve been unimaginable, but “in her patient attire,” Han Seori’s authority had significantly diminished.
…
Of course, the fact that it wasn’t her domain in the first place played a big role in this.
…
Along with that…
“You’ve recovered the guy successfully, haven’t you? Please, please…! Before the guy wakes up, try to stay still, alright?”
“…Ah, alright.”
…
Through Kim Cheon-soo’s pleading, Han Seori decided to take an unofficial vacation quietly.
…
If there was anything weighing on her mind, it was:
“…Our Laboratory.”
…
Will it be safe…?
…
Though she had entrusted the care of the Laboratory to Yoo Gang-jik, trusting his competence, Han Seori believed he could manage it well. So, she turned her attention to the food Kim Cheon-soo had brought.
…
“Fresh squid… Abalone…”
…
Was there a seafood market nearby?
…
And then Han Seori wondered, does 7496 – KR like seafood? She couldn’t recall ever feeding it seafood before.
…
“Professor?”
“Ah, yes?”
“…Surely you weren’t thinking about him again, were you?”
“Ahaha… just a little… a little.”
“…At least you’re not lying. That’s very considerate of you.”
…
Smiling slightly, Han Seori watched as Kim Cheon-soo tore open a seasoning bottle. As she did so, she piled a generous amount of squid sashimi onto her chopsticks.
…
By her standards, it was a hearty serving.
…
The squid sashimi, drenched in a crimson dipping sauce, was offered not to her but to Kim Cheon-soo.
…
Surprisingly, Kim Cheon-soo, who had been reaching for his own chopsticks, blinked in confusion at the unexpected gesture.
…
“…This person.”
…
He can’t eat if it’s given to him.
…
Smirking, Han Seori pretended to grimace and said,
“My arm feels like it’s going to fall off.”
“Ahh, um, yes.”
…
Only then did Kim Cheon-soo hesitantly open his mouth, allowing Han Seori’s chopsticks to enter.
…
Having achieved her goal, Han Seori promptly withdrew her chopsticks and began observing Kim Cheon-soo as he quietly chewed the squid.
…
He who had been so stern when telling her to rest now seemed to brighten up significantly after being fed. She thought he looked somewhat endearing.
…
…Or maybe just a little foolish.
…
Given his stern appearance, the word “cute” didn’t seem to fit him—perhaps “foolish” would do.
…
Han Seori felt a peculiar sensation.
…
She, too, was somewhat aware of the feelings Kim Cheon-soo harbored for her.
…
Even if she weren’t interested in such matters, it was hard to miss when they were so overtly displayed.
…
And yet she still pondered:
“Why does he like me?”
…
Objectively speaking, she had decent credentials.
…
Pretty face.
…
Smart.
…
She earns a decent amount of money.
…
Still… it didn’t seem like Kim Cheon-soo was attracted to her for these reasons.
…
Han Seori scrutinized her own character as objectively as possible.
…
Cold to things she’s uninterested in.
…
Focused solely on her research and objects of study.
…
Hm…
…
“Doesn’t seem like a suitable personality for romance, does it?”
…
It was a fact that, despite her young age, she was already called “Doctor” and served as an acting director of a research facility.
…
She had no romantic experience.
…
Perhaps that was why.
…
She couldn’t comprehend Kim Cheon-soo’s affection and, consequently, couldn’t accept it.
…
Still…
…
Observing his dedication to her this time, she felt he might not be all that bad.
…
But…
…
“For the time being… it seems like it’ll be tough.”
…
The timing seemed far from optimal to her.
…
The small cracks that began appearing after 7496 – KR’s arrival.
…
Han Seori had sensed these changes.
…
She didn’t solely attribute it to 7496 – KR as the cause, but the moment the “Call of Twilight” began its blatant activities marked an ominous beginning.
…
The small anxieties that the meticulously managed current situation might collapse anytime soon.
…
And perhaps…
…
7496 – KR might be at the center of it all.
…
How could she indulge in a romantic relationship when she was responsible for managing 7496 – KR during such a critical period?
…
The unfamiliarity of accepting someone else’s feelings was also a factor, but this was her primary reason.
…
A sense of responsibility akin to proposing the effective use of 7496 – KR… something resembling that.
…
As these complicated thoughts swirled, Han Seori felt a throbbing sensation at her temples.
…
“…For now, rest would probably be good.”
…
It didn’t seem like a wrong notion.
…
Unsure how things would develop with the man seated before her, it was one thing she clearly felt she needed.
…
Thus, eating the food Kim Cheon-soo had procured, Han Seori cautiously spoke up:
“Umm, Kim Cheon-soo.”
“…Yes?!?”
…
Dazedly dipping sashimi into soy sauce, Kim Cheon-soo startled and looked at Han Seori.
…
“…Why is he so surprised?”
…
Feeling slightly irked, Han Seori continued, driven by a sudden curiosity.
“Have you stopped dreaming of that… blue gooey substance recently?”
“…Ah.”
…
Kim Cheon-soo, as if he had suddenly bitten into an excessive amount of wasabi, let out a sigh of relief as if remembering something.
“After that, well… I don’t recall any particularly vivid dreams. Aren’t dreams usually like that anyway?”
“So, it didn’t keep clinging on and won’t—”
“Hurry up and eat the rest of your food.”
…
As Kim Cheon-soo piled more slices of sashimi onto her plate while growling, Han Seori couldn’t help but burst into silent giggles.
…
Still…
…
It turned out that teasing this bear of a man wasn’t such a bad pastime.
…
As they shared a relatively warm moment, word of 7496 – KR showing movement reached them. Carrying the leftover food, Han Seori arrived at the quarantine room, where her eyes met the sight.
…
“He’s awake—”
…
Glup, Glup!
…
From the body of 7496 – KR, the jellified girl, something was slipping out.
…
The bubbly something that had been boiling poured out with a “glup-glup” sound onto the floor and began moving around, gradually taking shape.
…
Stunned by this unsettling scene, Han Seori quickly regained her composure and began taking notes.
…
“The goo spilled on the floor is boiling but has yet to take a clear form.”
…
Given how long this state might last, Han Seori cautiously approached 7496 – KR upon finishing her notes.
…
Looking closely at 7496 – KR like this, it seemed to be either due to its toils or the preceding events…
…
Its figure looked somewhat emaciated.
…
Han Seori silently handed over the food she had brought.
…
Receiving it, 7496 – KR seemed somewhat embarrassed.
…
The area around its face bubbled, giving that impression unmistakably.
…
“…Is it embarrassed?”
…
Come to think of it…
…
Didn’t they say the most vulnerable moment for animals was during childbirth?
…
Perhaps it was embarrassed because it had been caught in such a moment as a living entity.
…
Han Seori felt a sense of exhilaration upon realizing that it wasn’t showing any signs of hostility toward her.
…
It seemed like it recognized her as friendly, as an ally.
…
She observed 7496 – KR starting to consume the food before carefully glancing at the newly emerged goo.
…
Still no form was being made.
…
‘What will come out this time…?’
…
Having witnessed this, Han Seori processed new insights and began formulating plans as she mulled over what she’d learned.
…
—
…
This.
…
It’s a curse.
…
If my vision had been partial, and I had only seen Han Seori coming, it might not have mattered, but…
…
I clearly saw both Han Seori arriving and the goo falling from beneath me with an audible “glup-glup.”
…
And, being quite intelligent, I…
…
Knew exactly how it might look to Han Seori.
…
The smell, at least, was thankfully absent.
…
Still, it was necessary.
…
Otherwise, I truly felt like I would have lost my temper!
…
As Han Seori awkwardly stared at me, she approached and handed me something.
…
Unwrapping it, fresh seafood appeared.
…
What could this be?
…
After sending it out, she’s giving it back to me?
…
Carefully observing the face of the offering Han Seori, it seemed like that wasn’t the intention.
…
But still, I could feel an unfamiliar gaze—one I’d never experienced in my (short but not too brief) lifetime.
…
Though it wasn’t unpleasant, it was rather warm and strange…
…
Why does it feel awkward?
…
As I silently swallowed the seafood with my gelatinous body bubbling, I couldn’t help but think of the whale.
…
The strange feelings that arose when eating that creature returned.
…
And naturally, my gaze fell to the bubbling goo on the ground.
…
Watching it form gradually…
…
Hold on.
…
Surely it doesn’t look… like what I think it does?
…
Huh?
…
Unaware that Sosik and Daesik had approached and were eating through holes in the plastic bags,
…
I felt as if I’d lost something precious.
…
Bubbling.
…
Finally, the “something” began to form…
…
