Wobbling along, Kim Cheon-soo headed toward his destination and let out a deep sigh as soon as he arrived.
“…I’m going to lose it.”
As he had guessed from the mention of “restoration,” the restoration point marked by Han Seori was an utter mess.
It was dark to begin with, and the exposed facilities were so damaged that it was daunting just to think about where to start fixing them.
Overwhelmed by the daunting task ahead, Kim Cheon-soo clenched his teeth and muttered.
“Can this really be restored…?”
[Isn’t it quite serious?]
“It’s too dark to see clearly… Honestly, I’m not confident.”
[Still, you have to manage it. If not, we’ll freeze to death here together.]
…Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.
No, what am I thinking?
Thinking it was likely due to the cold making him weak both physically and mentally, Kim Cheon-soo shook his head to focus.
“I’ll give it a try.”
[I appreciate it. I’ll do whatever I can from here too.]
“…Understood.”
As he responded, Kim Cheon-soo couldn’t help but smirk, finding it oddly comforting, despite the insanity of the situation.
He doubted if the cold had momentarily addled his brain, but the feeling of something tiny wriggling on his head assured him he was still fine.
Sniffing loudly, he shone a flashlight over the things that needed restoration.
“This is broken… and the place it connects to… Aaah.”
Suddenly, Kim Cheon-soo was faced with an extremely awkward problem.
The parts that should have been intact were scattered all over due to the shock.
While it was understandable and thus not surprising to him, his situation was still grim.
“Damn.”
A trail of white breath escaped his lips as it dissipated, revealing a fallen part gleaming under the flashlight’s light through a fissure.
Although the gap was relatively wide, it was far too narrow for him to fit into.
Going back to fetch the right tools would be too time-consuming, and thus he had to use something nearby.
But there was nothing appropriate in sight.
Should he stretch his arm as far as he can?
While contemplating, he felt a tap on his head, causing him to raise his hand perplexedly.
Daesik (Alice) eventually dangled precariously in his hand.
Now I remember, you’re around.
‘…Is this possible?’
While staring at the Santa-clad doll, Kim Cheon-soo found himself laughing at the absurdity of the situation but continued anyway.
“…Umm, how shall I address you? Mr., Sir… Doll Jelly? I give up. Doll Jelly it is.”
Without other options, he called out Daesik (Alice) in a somewhat affectionate tone.
‘Who would’ve thought at this age, I’d be talking to a doll?’
Though, strictly speaking, it’s not a doll… Nonetheless, Kim Cheon-soo could feel his cheeks getting warm.
For raising his body temperature, it might deserve a thank-you.
In any case.
Daesik seemed to nod and bob her golden head in response to Kim Cheon-soo’s voice.
‘…She understands me?’
The feeling was… strange.
But it wasn’t completely unexpected at this point, thus Kim Cheon-soo pointed towards the fissure with all seriousness.
“Doll Jelly, do you see that thing sparkling inside that gap? It’d be great if you could bring it to me… Can you do it?”
This isn’t a doll; it’s the Singularity. This isn’t a doll; it’s the Singularity.
I’m not crazy; I’m not talking to a doll.
Feeling somewhat awkward, Kim Cheon-soo glanced at Daesik, who was named Alice without his knowledge.
As if sensing Kim Cheon-soo’s earnestness, Daesik bobbed her face and flapped her body.
Much like the fluttering of a red moth, Kim Cheon-soo couldn’t help but smile until realizing it was a cue to let her down.
“Ji, I’ll lower you now.”
In haste, Kim Cheon-soo lowered Daesik into the gap, anxiously watching her as she confidently squirmed her way in.
‘…She does understand.’
Then… All I can do is trust her.
With Daesik dispatched, Kim Cheon-soo began repairs on areas not requiring the fallen parts.
Accidentally caused damage was much easier to restore than deliberate sabotage.
“Haaa…”
Focusing and moving his body, the cold that had seeped into his limbs was gradually warming up.
Kim Cheon-soo, now Rudolph with his sweaty forehead, felt someone tap his foot and looked down.
“Oh?”
There was Daesik, having successfully retrieved the part, nudging his ankle with the part in question.
Perhaps because she couldn’t speak.
‘…Why the ankle though?’
Reason unknown, but Kim Cheon-soo’s face lit up as he hoisted Daesik jubilantly.
“You’re truly amazing, aren’t you?”
Upon receiving his praise, Daesik wriggled her doll’s body in delight. Witnessing this, Kim Cheon-soo smiled fatherly and accepted the part.
“Alright, your help will let me finish the repairs. Umm… Can you hold this for me…?”
And what about this time?
Rudolph Kim Cheon-soo placed Santa Daesik on his shoulder, where she held the flashlight with her tiny hand and beamed it in the direction Kim Cheon-soo pointed.
“…Smarter than I thought.”
Muttering this, Kim Cheon-soo proceeded with the restoration work using the part brought by Daesik.
During this work, Han Seori’s voice came through his earpiece.
[How’s it going? Manageable?]
Kim Cheon-soo faintly smiled in response.
“Yes. That… I think bringing Jelly Doll was a good decision.”
[See? I told you I might be helpful. Though… Jelly Doll? That’s quite an adorable name. Puh… ]
Han Seori seemed to latch onto the name “Jelly Doll” and giggled softly.
Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, Kim Cheon-soo fumbled through an explanation.
“Ah, but… If I had asked you to help using ‘2nd Entity,’ it… just lacks sentiment, doesn’t it?”
[Not really sure why you’re so particular, but hurry up.]
“Understood.”
With a sigh, Kim Cheon-soo glanced at Daesik perched on his shoulder and resumed the repair work.
Once the repairs were complete, Kim Cheon-soo felt lighter and moved on to the next restoration point, though still plenty remained.
The distant sounds that reached him quickened his steps naturally.
Eventually,
“This is the last one!”
[Checked the connection. Good job, Kim Cheon-soo.]
Upon completing the final point, Kim Cheon-soo shared the joy of the finished job with Daesik perched on his shoulder.
Daesik appeared satisfied, her doll hands clapping together joyfully.
Subsequently,
Uummm!
With the sound of something being activated.
Paaat! Paaat! Paaat!
Light began to flood the dark corridor. The sight of salvation descending before him made Kim Cheon-soo stand momentarily dazed.
When a warm breeze finally drifted through, Kim Cheon-soo shrugged off the doll outfit he’d been wearing.
It was time for Rudolph Kim Cheon-soo to return to being human Kim Cheon-soo.
But with Jelly Doll still perched on his shoulder, showing mild signs of reluctance, he momentarily wondered if he should keep it on.
However…
…As the temperature began to rise, sweat soaked through his clothing, forcing Kim Cheon-soo to reluctantly take off the doll suit.
In the middle of stripping himself of the sweat-drenched outfit,
[Kim Cheon-soo! Can you bring the bomb in D -15 over to G -7? We might need to help 7496 – KR!]
“Really?”
[Quickly! There’s not much time!]
“Ah, ah… not that! I’ll go!”
Just when he thought the mountain had ended, there was another.
With a tearful heart, Kim Cheon-soo retrieved what Han Seori had called a bomb from the warehouse she specified as D -15.
‘This is… an EMP bomb?’
Why would she need this all of a sudden?
Recalling the steel mass, he scratched his head while running off together with Daesik.
Though it was easier to run without the doll suit, his questions remained.
It was hard to imagine that this tiny EMP bomb could stop something that big.
‘…Since Dr. has instructed, I trust there’s a plan.’
Knowing doubt would get them nowhere, Kim Cheon-soo quelled his curiosity.
Pushing forward, a thought crossed his mind.
For some reason, calling it 7496 – KR feels distant.
Recalling the doll dangling on his shoulder,
‘When Doctor Han mentioned we needed names, it seemed trivial at the time.’
…Names might be necessary after all.
First, let’s get this situation under control.
Just Han Seori’s tone gave Kim Cheon-soo no room for optimism as he headed towards the specified point.
The sight of things requiring repair along the corridor was overwhelming in number.
For two people and one singularity, along with three derivative entities, the facility was overwhelmingly large.
…So,
The repair workload ahead was…
Simply too much.
Even if dealing with that monstrosity, he worried if they could truly repurpose the place.
It wasn’t because he thought he would have to repair everything on his own.
Moments later.
Before Kim Cheon-soo and Daesik reached the place specified by Han Seori, a huge machine loomed in sight, halted mid-air as though wedged between the ceiling and the floor, with its attached parts dangling limply motionless.
On the outside of the machine,
A suspected 7496 – KR, with its cap somehow lost, dangled from the metal with rotating tentacles.
“…What’s it doing over there?”
As Kim Cheon-soo pondered,
[Throw it at the thing dangling there!]
“Uh… I’m not sure it’ll work…”
[Will you keep making excuses?!]
“…Alright, let’s just do it.”
With a powerful run, Kim Cheon-soo used his momentum to throw the bomb in his hand as hard as he could.
At the same time as Daesik fell from his shoulder,
The activated bomb flew in a parabolic arc out of Kim Cheon-soo’s grip as he flinched in surprise and hurriedly picked up Daesik.
In the process, he caught sight of:
7496 – KR frantically dodging.
…Should I let such a mistake slide?
More importantly,
‘Has it instinctively realized this is a dangerous object?’
Or,
…Has it seen something similar on a film channel?
No idea.
As Kim Cheon-soo dusted off Daesik,
The sharp sound of an explosion followed by a rather menacing “Keeee!” filled his ears.
This close, it would hurt, right?
Still, hopefully, they’ll be alright…
Kim Cheon-soo couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Although I didn’t want to know what being electrocuted feels like,
Should I be grateful I’m still alive?
The object Kim Cheon-soo threw doesn’t seem to be the bomb I imagined.
The fact that I’m still breathing well illustrates that.
My body tingles, but it’s tolerable.
Shivering Jelly, I peeked at Daesik and Kim Cheon-soo standing outside, then retreated back into the seam.
The voice of Han Seori, which was previously bustling with energy, has now faded out.
All the ones who were working hard on restoration lie scattered on the floor, resembling bugs hit by pest control poison.
Among them, the one that had been shooting threatening lasers got pulled into my body.
Feeling a slight metallic taste in my mouth,
I moved into the core.
Inside the steel serpent.
