Suddenly, I Became a Slime

“Wow! I can't believe a place like this exists!”

“…Um, your voice is echoing. Could you keep it down a little?”

“Ah, yes!”

Kim Cheonsu sighed inwardly as he covered Yang Hana's mouth.

‘Isn’t she anxious at all?’

He didn’t like how Yang Hana followed him so willingly. Even though he had saved her in a crisis, shouldn’t she show at least some signs of caution when being led to such a secluded place?

But she didn’t.

Even as Kim Cheonsu guided her to a dark area, she looked around and exclaimed in admiration rather than showing unease. He couldn’t help but wonder if her mind was simply too preoccupied with flowers to consider the situation.

‘What if I had bad intentions and harmed her? Why is she following me?’

‘Is she really okay?’

Kim Cheonsu began to entertain another possibility. What if her collapse in the snowfield had been a mere act and she had another hidden agenda? Perhaps she was deceiving them

That carefree attitude, which seemed like sheer complacency, might stem from knowing everything already.

As Kim Cheonsu brooded with a serious expression, Yang Hana tripped and fell to the ground. Seeing this, Kim Cheonsu rubbed his forehead and approached her.

“Ahaha… Sorry about that. I’m not used to places like this.”

“grab my hand.”

He helped her up, but as she stood, her bright smile threw him into conflict. Was she acting? Was this the right thing to do? Should he return her to the middle of the snowy plains instead?

Kim Cheonsu shook his head at the sight of her innocent smile as she brushed off her clothes.

‘Right. I’m not doing this on a whim. Dr. Han instructed me to. The doctor will handle it somehow.’

Even so, his unease lingered. Han Seori had tasked Kim Cheonsu with helping a poor job-seeker find one after wandering here.

And what was this supposed job?

Naturally, it was the same organization that Kim Cheonsu and Han Seori belonged to. Sending her back wasn’t an option, especially since she seemed connected to 7496 - KR. Besides, with a shortage of “samples,” she was a valuable asset.

But this meant living and working together as colleagues, and Kim Cheonsu had a bad feeling it wouldn’t be smooth sailing. Her positive energy might help them endure difficult times, but beyond that, she seemed ill-suited for the job.

‘If any problems arise, the burden will fall entirely on me …She seems normal enough, but is she really fine?’

As he mulled over his doubts, the entrance to the lab came into view.

“Wow… What on earth is that?”

Listening to her mix of curiosity and astonishment, Kim Cheonsu smirked to himself.

‘She’s unfazed when a man leads her to a creepy, dark place but gets surprised by this? What a strange person.’

Shaking his head, Kim Cheonsu muttered, “Let’s go inside and talk.”

“Oh, um… okay?”

Her dubious expression made his frustration simmer, but he suppressed it with a deep breath. Together, they entered the research lab.

“I’ll do it!”

“Hmm… You can take more time to think about it.”

“No, it’s fine! My philosophy is to seize opportunities when they come. I have to do this!”

“Is that so?”

Han Seori smiled enigmatically as Yang Hana responded energetically. Kim Cheonsu, watching from the side, felt a sudden chill.

“Take your time”—what a thing to say after making her an offer she couldn’t refuse. Of course, Yang Hana, with her naïve optimism, wouldn’t hesitate to take the bait.

Unless… coming here was her goal all along.

As he watched the two women converse cheerfully, Kim Cheonsu’s thoughts grew more tangled. Still, if Yang Hana truly was a struggling job-seeker, her enthusiasm made sense. For someone desperate for work, this place could seem like a dream job.

Good salary. Decent benefits. Even retirement pay—assuming one made it out safely.

Yet, something about Yang Hana seemed off—like a screw was loose. How could she not even ask the company’s name? Shouldn’t she feel suspicious, even anxious, by now?

Kim Cheonsu gave up trying to understand her and simply watched her silently. Noticing his gaze, Yang Hana, who had been chatting animatedly with Han Seori, turned to him with a look of deep gratitude. Her sparkling eyes made her look like she was staring at a life-saving benefactor.

Feeling burdened by her gaze, Kim Cheonsu averted his eyes, prompting Han Seori to chuckle softly. Unlike the concerned Kim Cheonsu, Han Seori seemed thoroughly amused by the situation.

Han Seori’s joy was understandable, given her circumstances. Though she was busy when she first settled here, things had calmed down. Now, with little to occupy her time, she found herself entertained by Yang Hana’s arrival. Observing 7496 - KR and its derivatives, as well as monitoring the sphere, were her main diversions.

Now, with such an interesting “sample” walking in, she couldn’t resist.

‘The days ahead won’t be boring.’

Though, perhaps boredom would have been safer. Connecting even a basic communication network here was the limit of what they could do. Han Seori sighed softly and pulled a device from her pocket. It resembled the collar sometimes placed on the neck of 7496 - KR, the jelly girl.

Handing it to Yang Hana, she said, “This is something you’ll need while moving around here. During the probation period, you’ll have to wear it at all times. Don’t worry, it’s waterproof and won’t break.”

“Oh….”

Click!

Watching Yang Hana strap the device onto her wrist without hesitation, Han Seori felt a mix of emotions. How desperate must she be to accept a job without even asking what kind of place this was?

She seemed too sloppy to be a spy, yet too peculiar to be an ordinary person. However, now that she wore the device, any suspicious actions would be immediately detected. Smiling kindly, Han Seori clapped her hands.

“Let’s continue the discussion tomorrow. You must be tired from wandering around. Feel free to rest, or ask Cheonsu to show you around.”

“Oh!”

Yang Hana’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Kim Cheonsu. Blinking in confusion, he muttered, “Me?”

“Is there anyone else here besides you, Cheonsu? As her senior, you should take good care of your junior.”

Han Seori’s playful tone made Yang Hana spring to her feet and bow deeply, like a folding phone.

“Senior! Please take care of me!!!”

“Ugh… Fine, let’s go.”

Sighing, Kim Cheonsu nodded as he looked at her bright smile. She beamed, overjoyed, as she raised her head.

“Decide on your plans together, and we’ll meet tomorrow morning to discuss the details.”

“Understood….”

“Yes!”

Following Kim Cheonsu, Yang Hana suddenly turned back to Han Seori with an “I just realized something” expression.

“Huh? Do you need something?”

“Um, well…”

Her embarrassed demeanor made Han Seori tilt her head curiously. Yang Hana, blushing slightly, murmured in a small voice.

“I think I should let my family know. I’ll be staying here for a while, and they might worry…”

‘She thinks of that now?’

Han Seori’s lips twitched as if holding back laughter. Clearing her throat, she replied, “As you know, there’s poor signal here. Write a message or record a video, and give Cheonsu your parents’ contact information. He’ll send it out for you.”

“Got it!”

Nodding brightly, Yang Hana bowed and turned back to Kim Cheonsu, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the management room. As they disappeared, Kim Cheonsu kept glancing back at Han Seori who, lost in thought, didn’t meet his gaze.

Silence fell in the now-empty management room.

Then…

“You can come out now.”

At Han Seori’s words, a small blue figure cautiously emerged from beneath the desk. It was 7496 - KR.

“It seems she’s not detecting your presence.”

Patting 7496 - KR on the head, Han Seori added, “Good job,” but the jelly girl only wobbled shyly, appearing unusually subdued.

‘Maybe she’s feeling awkward around the newcomer?’

Han Seori hugged 7496 - KR reassuringly, but the jelly girl remained bashful, bubbling softly. While she seemed embarrassed, Han Seori didn’t seem to notice.

Please support the series on NovelUpdates