Crack… crack.
The sound of a campfire burning can be faintly heard from a short distance away.
While cramming a tasteless chunk of meat into my stomach, I focus my attention toward the source of the sound.
There, I see Kim Cheon-soo, who had started the fire.
He had been sneaking out of the cave with a sly look on his face, seemingly to light the fire.
Despite the blizzard having passed, igniting a fire like that wouldn’t have been an easy task.
How did he manage to do it?
With a slight sense of admiration for his success, I move the jelly to return to my own work.
Though I was curious about how he managed to start the fire, I felt that it was natural for him to do so.
Kim Cheon-soo, who had been wandering in the snow, was completely drenched.
Not only that, but he had also worked up a sweat in his struggle to evade monsters and followed Han Seori’s instructions, breaking another sweat.
Thus, it was only natural for him to light a fire to maintain his body temperature, knowing the risks of freezing to d*ath.
As for me, I didn’t really care either way.
Still, I was slightly impressed by his ingenuity, but it seemed like a normal response to the situation, so I returned to cramming the monstrous piece of meat into my body.
It’s really big, isn’t it?
In the context of a singularity, shouldn’t something like this shrink or disperse and vanish?
Just remaining like this feels a bit too… uncool.
Rather than feeling like some kind of extraordinary entity, the chunk of meat feels more like just another part of this blue planet’s ecosystem.
Of course, if such a creature roamed freely in the wild, it would be terrifying—so perhaps it is special after all.
Regardless, whether it’s special or not, the fact remains that it’s tasteless, and that just makes me feel sad.
Somehow, I’m reminded of an internet meme I once saw about “akgibari,” which leaves me feeling melancholic.
At least what keeps me moving forward is the thought that this will end soon and I’ll be able to return home.
Also, since this is from the singularity, there’s a chance eating it might grant me some kind of ability.
Though the idea of new jellies emerging is a bit of a headache, gaining abilities is certainly entertaining.
The problem is that I have no idea what kind of abilities I might gain.
Today, for the first time, I discovered that I could throw a cube with enough force to shatter someone’s skull—Kim Cheon-soo’s, for instance.
When did I acquire this strength?
It might simply be that I’ve placed a self-imposed limit on my powers.
After all, I remember an experience similar to this where my perception shifted.
Once, I saw the world like a human, but now my field of vision has expanded far beyond that of a typical human.
At first, it was a little disorienting, but now I feel almost constrained by it.
It feels as if I’m inadvertently holding back my power, which is both suffocating and exhilarating.
Is there some hidden ability waiting to be discovered?
It feels like finding a fifty-thousand-won bill in the pocket of a winter coat while sorting through it.
With such thoughts in mind, I try to distract myself from the taste of the meat.
Then, a fragrant aroma drifts in, tickling my jelly.
My expanded vision immediately identifies its source.
Actually, there was no need to search.
In this space, the only one capable of creating such a scent is Kim Cheon-soo.
I shift my focus toward him to see what he’s doing.
He’s drying his clothes while cooking something that emits the appetizing smell.
It seems like he’s grilling meat with some kind of seasoning.
That must be why the delicious aroma is wafting through the air.
Meanwhile, I’m eating this flavorless chunk of raw meat.
If only there was something like yookhoe seasoning, it might taste better.
It’s unlikely, though, given the sheer size of this creature.
Rather than large, it’s more like long.
Suddenly, I consider whether cooking it might make it taste better.
After melting some of the chunk inside me, I tear off a big piece and approach Kim Cheon-soo.
“Uwah!?”
He reacts with genuine surprise.
Why is he so startled after watching me tear into the meat?
If I had a nose, I might have blown it in indignation as I approached the campfire, but since I don’t, I just walk over.
I place the chunk of meat by the fire, hoping it’ll cook well.
As I squat and stare at the meat roasting, Kim Cheon-soo quietly speaks beside me.
“…It’s impossible to cook this thing properly with just this fire.”
Why are you ruining my modest dream of eating some cooked meat?
Feeling irrationally annoyed, I almost consider eating the meat he’s carefully roasting until I notice his pale cheeks. At the sight, I calm myself and only let my jelly seep out.
Even though I’ve changed into non-human form, I still have a kind heart—like a warm jelly.
However, when I turn to look at him, he suddenly seems awkward and covers himself.
Upon closer inspection, I realize he’s only wearing his underwear.
It can’t be helped—wet clothes are dangerous.
But why is he trying to hide?
Does he think I’m interested in his body?
Hmm…
He’s clearly in the wrong mindset.
Even though I’m in the body of a small girl, I’m not one.
If I truly wanted to, I would have stealthily watched without him noticing.
Ugh.
This feeling is unpleasant.
Sensing irritation, I fix my gaze on him, pretending to stare even though my wide field of vision makes it unnecessary.
It’s not like I get any pleasure from looking at his physique anyway.
I just want to irritate him.
Not really for any particular reason.
As he grows flustered from my attention, his body gets warmer—a win-win situation.
I discomfort him, and his warmth increases.
Good.
After staring at him for a while,
“[What exactly are you two doing?]”
comes Han Seori’s curious voice.
Kim Cheon-soo twists his body like someone getting electrocuted and stammers,
“Ah, it seems like the meat doesn’t taste good. I guess I’m trying to cook it…”
“[Hmm…]”
As I watch him fumble with his excuses, I feel oddly satisfied.
Having achieved my goal, I stop trying to cook the meat and cram the half-cooked piece into my stomach.
The parts that touched the fire are slightly cooked, but it doesn’t significantly improve the taste.
In fact, the undercooked parts taste even worse, leading me to conclude that eating it raw might be the best option.
Stirring my jelly, I pick up the seasoning that Kim Cheon-soo had sprinkled on his meat and trudge back toward the chunk.
Behind me, I hear him talking, but none of it leaves an impression, so I ignore it.
Standing before the meat again, I alternate my gaze between the chunk and the seasoning, when an ingenious idea occurs to me.
I could retain the seasoning inside the jelly and melt the chunk of meat while holding it, essentially tasting the seasoning on my “tongue” while chewing the meat.
This way, even with the small amount of seasoning, I can consume the entire chunk.
Hmm.
It’s truly an ingenious idea.
So I do just that.
But as the seasoning enters my system:
Cough! Cough!
What on earth did he sprinkle on that meat?
My perfect plan has been thwarted by Kim Cheon-soo’s sabotage.
That bad boy.
I will get my revenge someday.
*
“Endure the tight space.”
As I let my jelly stretch weakly, I nod my head.
If anyone asks why I feel drained after consuming the meat, I might snipe back, “Why don’t you try it?”
If it were tasty, maybe it would be different.
But with a tasteless meal, there’s bound to be a physical toll.
Who knows if it’s nutritional, but it drags the mood down immensely.
Even scarier is that, despite all this, I still have the capacity to eat more.
It’s like I can’t sense any limit.
What exactly am I made of?
Perhaps I’ve now become the more singular one since I consumed that creature.
While I’m pondering this,
Ziiik!
The sound of a zipper closing echoes.
This sound means…
…Kim Cheon-soo is zipping up his bag.
He’s right.
I’m inside Kim Cheon-soo’s bag.
Around me, the cold, frozen food presses against my body.
There’s no choice but to do this if we encounter someone.
Had I known this would happen, I would’ve carefully taken off the clothes instead of eating or tearing them, ensuring Kim Cheon-soo’s face wouldn’t be exposed.
Ah well.
As my jelly sighs softly, I sway with Kim Cheon-soo’s movements while the sound of continuous conversation from outside signals that Han Seori is still guiding us.
How incredibly unfair to stuff me in here like this.
Strangely,
I start missing the jellies.
How much time has passed?
Kim Cheon-soo and I safely returned to the facility without incident.
I wonder how our little ones are doing?
