Suddenly, I Became a Slime

Since that day, Han Seori has not made me do anything strange. When she apologized, I think she truly meant it.

Even so, maybe because my overall first impression of Han Seori was a good one, her slightly... psycho? side quickly faded from my memory.

When I think about it, the feeling was similar to when she cleanly sliced my arm off. Her expression back then was one of unbearable curiosity. Though her face now is very different from that time, the impression might not have been all that different.

If there’s a priority list, it felt like "experiment" was the top one? But it didn’t always seem to be the case. Well, humans aren’t consistent, are they? It’s only natural for actions to change depending on the situation.

Anyway, I decided to bury those thoughts deep within my jelly.

Then, something happened.

The sphere, which had been suspiciously quiet lately, approached me and spoke in its usual flat tone.

[Was what that female entity desired… her own death?]

...What is it talking about now? As memories I didn’t want to recall began to resurface, I placed my hand on the sphere to convey my denial.

…This is driving me crazy. Perhaps Han Seori is the cuter one.

The sphere—still unnamed—felt uncomfortably unfiltered in its thoughts, even considering that I used to be human. Was it trying to make me think of such things to push Han Seori aside?

Could it even understand what Han Seori and Kim Cheonsu were saying? Was it pretending not to understand, or had it learned to understand in the meantime?

…Since I didn’t have the ability to dismantle and analyze it, all I could do was feel an itch in my tentacles. Maybe I should try communicating with it like I did when we first met.

They say machines often start working again if you hit them, don’t they? What if I pried it open and poked around? If it broke, it wouldn’t be my fault. After all, it was the sphere that acted suspiciously first.

I decided to leave it unnamed since I didn’t feel any particular affection for it. The sphere also didn’t insist on being called anything.

Just when I thought peaceful days might return, I was startled by a loud noise while sitting in the control room, causing my jelly to tremble. Daesik was so surprised that he fell over with a crash, and Jungsik, seemingly agitated by the noise, began spraying jelly from his back.

Amid this commotion, Sosik remained sprawled on top of the sphere, barely moving his head—truly remarkable.

“What was that noise?”

“What’s going on? Don’t tell me… something weird has appeared again….”

Han Seori and Kim Cheonsu seemed equally perplexed, their faces reflecting their shock. While Han Seori manipulated the panel, the floating sphere emitted light from its eyes, projecting a large screen into the air.

At first, I thought it was a beam projector, but seeing that it didn’t rely on walls or screens, it seemed to involve some other kind of technology.

“Huh?”

“Oh, that scared me.”

Kim Cheonsu, thinking the sphere was attacking, gripped his cooking tools tightly in both hands. Meanwhile, Han Seori looked at it with interest, making any comment feel like a waste of breath—or jelly.

As their attention focused on the sphere, it spoke.

[Detected the approach of an inferior entity.]

The image on the screen showed a figure wandering through a snowy landscape. Han Seori frowned slightly and muttered under her breath.

“Should we be glad it’s not some singularity or anomaly…?”

“Judging by their attire, they don’t seem to be from our side. Could they just be passing through?”

Pressing her temples, Han Seori shook her head.

“This isn’t a place someone can stumble into by accident….”

“…Then.”

If it wasn’t someone from their organization or a lost traveler, could it be… those individuals with the over-the-top name? As the thought naturally surfaced, my jelly bubbled with frustration.

Jungsik seemed to pick up on my emotions, puffing up slightly and spraying jelly aggressively. Seeing that, I felt strangely calm. Pulling Jungsik close with my tentacles, I patted him to soothe his agitation.

To be honest, I still don’t fully understand what that group with the flamboyant name had done. All I know is from piecing things together and assuming they’re somehow involved in what happened to me.

Judging by how tense Han Seori and Kim Cheonsu were, my guess might not be far off. Perhaps those individuals were even the reason why Han Seori and Kim Cheonsu ended up in this strange place with me.

While watching the video with tension, the figure in the snow staggered and… collapsed.

“Huh?”

“What?”

– Bubble bubble.

The control room echoed with dazed voices, accompanied by the bubbling sound of my jelly in surprise. The figure, lying face down in the snow, slowly raised their body only to collapse again, burying their face in the snow.

If they weren’t a transformed fox being hunted, it seemed like they were in serious trouble.

Exhausted as they appeared, the slight rise and fall of their body indicated they were still alive. But if left as is…

Looking at Kim Cheonsu and Han Seori for answers, I saw their faces full of worry and indecision. It was Kim Cheonsu who spoke first.

“What should we do? If we leave them like that….”

He didn’t finish his sentence, but the implication was clear. They would likely die. Han Seori, biting her thumb anxiously, remained silent. Unlike her hesitation, Kim Cheonsu seemed to have made up his mind.

Was he subconsciously influenced by my thoughts? The idea that my ability could be so dangerous crossed my mind again.

Until now, the thoughts I transmitted were trivial things like pudding or sandwiches, so I didn’t give it much weight. But the memory of the last ‘thought’ almost transmitted from me made me realize how dangerous this could be.

After a sigh, Han Seori quietly spoke.

“Cheonsu, can you go and guide them back toward a populated area?”

“What if that’s not an option?”

“Then find a cave or create a shelter… Bringing them here is…”

Han Seori glanced at the control room, the jelly creatures, and the sphere as she mumbled. Kim Cheonsu nodded slightly in agreement.

“Understood.”

“…Saving someone takes priority, so let me know if it’s impossible. I’ll prepare accordingly.”

“Will do.”

Receiving the communication device from Han Seori, Kim Cheonsu hurried out of the control room, fully equipped with warm clothing and a familiar backpack.

A peculiar atmosphere lingered in the control room. With a soft sigh, Han Seori approached me, picked me up, and murmured while patting me.

“We might have to part for a while.”

Her expression was one of sorrow, as if she genuinely regretted it. Am I that important to her? Maybe that’s why she voluntarily came to this… secluded place without any clear reason.

They say bad memories should be replaced with good ones. Seeing her like this made the image of her coldly telling me to strangle her fade into the distance.

While she cradled me, the figure on the screen flinched and began to move again.

“Are they trying to go back?”

However, Han Seori’s hope melted away like ice cream in her hand. The figure wasn’t turning back but instead heading deeper into the area.

What kind of person would come to a place like this? It didn’t seem like a sightseeing spot unless you wanted to admire endless snow. I suppose it could be a good hiding place.

While I grumbled internally, Kim Cheonsu reentered the control room, fully prepared and speaking quietly.

“I’ll head out now.”

“…It’s hard work, but there’s no one else we can ask.”

“Haha, leave it to me!”

Kim Cheonsu pounded his chest confidently. Though it was sturdy enough to convey his robust build, all I could think was, “This simpleton.” Perhaps all the nutrients for his brain had gone to his chest.

With a face full of determination, Kim Cheonsu turned to leave. Han Seori gently placed me down and whispered something to him.

Thinking it might be a wish for good luck, I was surprised to see his face fall slightly as he nodded at me. What did she tell him that they kept from me? Was it some kind of victory chant?

With those thoughts swirling in my mind, Kim Cheonsu departed the control room and the facility like a gallant general. Whether he’d return with good news… we’d have to wait and see.

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