Han Seori and Kim Cheon-soo moved their bodies, frozen stiff from the sound echoing from a relatively distant place.
Neither of their faces looked particularly good, for various reasons.
The biting cold, aptly named as such, made their bodies sluggish and caused pain in their extremities, which was only natural.
And more than that…
“…Surely I didn’t expect to be helped in this way.”
Han Seori recalled a moment earlier, the sight of 7496 – KR.
In a somewhat serious pose—though still cute somehow—he entrusted them with a derivative object, then gestured for them to head to the management room.
Seeing this, Han Seori felt a complex mix of emotions.
Sure enough, as she had thought, the intelligence of 7496 – KR had even pleased her in such a situation.
However… receiving help from someone like 7496 – KR in this manner was unexpected, leaving her somewhat flustered.
Of course, if they hadn’t been ambushed this way, 7496 – KR would likely have been brought in at some point, but…
This situation and that one…
Felt very different, indeed.
Her thoughts carried a faint sense of self-reproach.
Han Seori shook her head violently.
Using 7496 – KR this way was to reduce human casualties and ensure 7496 – KR didn’t fall into dangerous hands.
Therefore, it was unavoidable.
She was certain that’s how it should have been.
Yet, despite this, as she felt the tiny movements of the doll cradled in her arms and the small Jelly Girl clinging to her back, a peculiar sensation overtook her.
That peculiar feeling connected to 7496 – KR who gestured for them to head to the management room.
“…Is it really okay like this?”
Han Seori was struck by a strange sense of guilt.
Even if it was to reduce human sacrifices, was this truly acceptable?
7496 – KR was risking his life… to protect them?
“Though I don’t fully agree with the黄昏-something’s thoughts…”
Regardless, it was foolish to suggest she agreed, since she exploited them as well.
She knew she shouldn’t be having such thoughts.
It was one of the most important rules.
The fate of those ensnared by the Singularity was never good—a clear red rule.
And as Han Seori considered this…
This rule had ultimately been decided from the human perspective.
As the obvious realization flooded her mind, she felt as if a small seed had been planted deep within her heart, unbeknownst to her.
How that seed would grow was unknowable to anyone.
Though it was most likely to rot and vanish…
Perhaps,
It could grow into something different, something unexpected.
In time, the thought faded completely.
At that moment, more pressing concerns demanded her attention.
What mattered now was making good use of the time 7496 – KR had bought them.
Moving their stiff bodies, Han Seori and Kim Cheon-soo reached the management room, opened the door, and stepped inside.
Thanks to 7496 – KR, the condition of the management room was surprisingly good.
Approaching the management panel quickly, Han Seori set to work trying to activate the facility—but…
Something too massive had moved, making immediate activation impossible.
With a sigh, she moved her delicate hands over the panel.
A puff of frozen breath escaped her lips.
“I might need to check your hands.”
“Are… there many?”
Kim Cheon-soo shivered, his tremor uncertainly caused either by the freezing cold or the urgency of the situation.
Sharing a similar feeling, Han Seori pointed a red dot on a small screen and spoke.
“No… We’ve been lucky; the damage isn’t as extensive as I thought it would be.”
“Can we really call this luck?”
“…Stop complaining and move quickly. Turn on the transmitter and communication device if you don’t want to waste the time 7496 – KR gave us.”
“Understood.”
Kim Cheon-soo took out the items he’d carefully stored, activating them one by one.
As he did so, Jung-sik, who had been hovering near his head, floated a bit higher.
Kim Cheon-soo felt a chill run down his spine and swallowed, noting that Jung-sik had been unusually warm compared to his expectations.
Though it was miraculous that Jung-sik hadn’t acted up till now, Kim Cheon-soo refrained from reaching out, not wanting to provoke a body slam.
As this was happening, Daesik (Alice), who had been in Han Seori’s arms, toddled toward Kim Cheon-soo.
Approaching his feet, Daesik tapped them.
In the middle of putting on the communication device, Kim Cheon-soo looked down to see Daesik with her arms stretched high.
“?!”
Confused, he hesitantly picked her up.
When placed on Kim Cheon-soo’s shoulder, Daesik climbed his face, eventually lying down atop his head.
Moments later, Daesik flapped her arms, encouraging them to hurry.
Seeing this, a smile broke out across Han Seori’s face, leaving Kim Cheon-soo feeling flustered as he tried to put her down.
But Han Seori stopped him.
“Maybe she can help? Isn’t she the product of fan-made designs combining Fan Number 1 and Fan Number 2?”
“Ugh… Alright.”
The heartwarming scene was fleeting, and the two quickly regained their composure.
Kim Cheon-soo soon left the management room to assist in restoring the facility, while Han Seori stayed behind to operate the panel.
In the corner of the room, Sosik quietly observed her, unnoticed by Han Seori as she continued working on the panel.
Sosik shimmered faintly under the glow of the screen and the panel.
—
Even though I had resolved to stand against it, the overwhelming sense of helplessness hadn’t changed.
Kugugugu…
I could clearly sense it approaching, but that’s about it.
And then…
The ground began to tremble and crack like a cookie crumbling apart.
With a roar, the ground split open, and sharp fragments flew in every direction.
Another massive hole appeared beneath me.
I narrowly escaped it, tasting a shard that had entered my body as I mulled over the brief glimpse I had caught.
First off, whatever emerged from the ground… it reminded me more of a vacuum cleaner than a snake.
Of course, a vacuum cleaner wouldn’t have sharp, shredding appendages.
Apart from those, its movement was quite snake-like.
Its segmented movements…
…And it was certainly made of something resembling solid steel.
The thought crossed my mind that if I hung onto one of those segments, I might be able to hitch a ride.
But…
…What would I even gain by doing that?
Honestly, if I hung on, it might just shred my body apart.
As much as my regenerating body gives me confidence, there’s no reason for me to hang on for no particular reason.
Hmm…
Perhaps hanging on might reveal a breakthrough…
…Like how I ended up inside the Whale.
If that’s the case, attaching myself might be the best way to enter it.
Of course, I could also wait near where it emerges and be swallowed inside, but considering what happened last time…
…It doesn’t seem like a good idea.
Why would I choose to jump off a cliff when there’s a safer route?
…Still, if hanging on proves fruitless, I suppose I’d have to jump.
No matter how regenerative my body might be, being torn apart isn’t exactly a pleasant experience.
Nonetheless…
As if understanding my thoughts…
Kugugugu…
I could sense the creature making its way toward me.
And come to think of it…
…Why is it targeting me?
What did I do wrong?
While whales were my speculation, there was at least some reason behind their targeting, right?
No matter the rationale…
The dead cannot answer, so this is the established truth.
Then why is this mass of scrap metal targeting me?
It’s a machine, so it likely isn’t asking to be killed…
Is it?
Am I… oh right, I’m not human anymore.
Despite this, it might be too anthropocentric to think like that.
It’s a singularity after all… far from ordinary machinery.
It’s terrifying to think that such machines were developed and no one knew about it.
So it must be a singularity.
…Then at least communicate or something.
This is frustrating.
Han Seori and Kim Cheon-soo must’ve felt this way when they tried to teach me writing desperately.
Kwaawaaa!
As I sympathized with them, the vibrations grew stronger.
On second thought, there was no need to create a new hole, so I hovered near the one it had made.
It was truly a massive hole.
If stretched out, my body could barely reach the other side.
What lies within this enormous mechanical serpent?
A fresh sense of curiosity bubbled up inside me.
This must be due to my shifted mindset.
Soon after…
From the side of the shattered ceiling, chunks of debris fell as the creature appeared.
Eagerly dodging while consuming some debris in the process, I reached out to the quivering steel and stuck firmly onto it.
The first sensation I felt, clinging to something so large and formidable, was:
…Will this facility even survive intact after all this?
An ominous thought.
