Suddenly, I Became a Slime

“No matter how I look at it, this doesn't seem reliable.”

7496-KR, the jelly girl, had her antennae grabbed by Hwangbo Yul, who examined her with a dissatisfied expression.

The sensation in her hand wasn't bad. It was soft and squishy to the point of disbelief—a texture that seemed like it couldn't exist in this world.

However, beyond that, there was nothing particularly remarkable.

A cute and pretty face might not be of any use against anomalies. Her small, squishy body seemed more suited for evoking warmth and healing the spirit rather than engaging in combat.

She might be nice to cuddle with while sleeping, but that wasn't why 7496-KR was summoned here.

Scratching her head, Hwangbo Yul placed the jelly girl on the ground, then turned her gaze to Kim Cheonsu, who was sitting on the floor like a pitiful protagonist.

Clicking her tongue as she observed his still-vacant expression, she spoke.

“Hey.”

Kim Cheonsu finally snapped into action, as if a computer had just booted up. Awkwardly smiling, he grabbed the jelly girl's hand and looked at Hwangbo Yul. Hwangbo Yul sighed, clearly displeased by the sight.

‘It's like watching someone out on a playdate with a child. Is it really okay to deploy them like this?’

Was it Kim Cheonsu's pitiable state? Or the jelly girl's endearing appearance?

Having requested 7496-KR’s assistance after watching her accomplishments, Hwangbo Yul felt a strange guilt and doubt.

Could the materials she reviewed have been falsified?

Perhaps even the higher-ups were already severely mentally compromised.

Her gaze, filled with suspicion, lingered on them before she shook her head internally.

‘They came here to help, so it wouldn't be polite to keep doubting them. Whether or not they can actually solve this problem… we’ll find out after deploying them.’

If they couldn't handle it…

Hwangbo Yul recalled the bizarre scene she had witnessed earlier: agents rushing forward as if an idol had appeared. Their behavior wasn't outright manic, but it was certainly unusual.

Mental contamination or something akin to it… perhaps caused by the consumed MREs, which, fortunately, were no longer in production.

Reflecting on that, Hwangbo Yul concluded that whether 7496-KR solved the problem or disappeared here, either outcome would be acceptable. Perhaps this was what the higher-ups intended as well: make use of an anomaly as long as it’s useful, and if it vanished while handling another anomaly, all the better.

Clicking her tongue, she sighed deeply, feeling oddly disheartened.

“This is why I dislike anomalies in human form.”

Letting out another heavy sigh, she led Kim Cheonsu and the jelly girl to the location where her services were needed, determined to guide her there for now.

The woman, who introduced herself as Hwangbo Yul, began leading Kim Cheonsu and me somewhere.

Looking around, I couldn't help but notice an odd atmosphere. Once again, I wondered, “Does a place like this really exist in Korea?”

Far behind us, a few scattered houses were visible. But in the direction we were headed, the scenery screamed “wetlands.”

Green vegetation floating atop murky waters, damp trees, and a pungent odor rising from the area—it all created an uncanny feeling the closer we got.

While observing the sight, idly bubbling my jelly, Hwangbo Yul suddenly stopped, prompting Kim Cheonsu and me to do the same.

Ahead of her was a sharp divide in the ground, as if marking a boundary between this area and “elsewhere.”

Beyond that point lay wetlands; before it was bare soil.

The stark division, like something out of a video game, made it painfully clear this was not a normal place.

Right, if such a place existed, I would've known about it.

“My goodness… What is all this?”

Kim Cheonsu said what I was thinking, and I nodded in agreement. Hwangbo Yul began explaining in a low voice.

“As you’ve likely read in the materials, this area recently transformed into wetlands. Since there aren't many civilians nearby, covering it up wasn't too difficult…”

Pointing to a sign some distance away, she continued.

“Unfortunately, these wetlands are steadily expanding. While the rate isn’t rapid, if left unchecked, irreversible consequences will occur.”

So, if I don’t solve this, the Korean Peninsula—and eventually the entire planet—will turn into wetlands?

What on earth is this?

Understanding anomalies is a futile endeavor. I knew that much, but this seemed especially absurd.

“Every agent deployed to address the issue has failed, and some never returned.”

Hwangbo Yul looked at me as I blankly stared at the wetlands.

Her expression devoid of emotion, she asked in a low voice, “Do you think it can handle this?”

Uh… I have no idea.

I only just arrived today; confidently declaring it could handle this would be stranger, wouldn't it?

The truth was, I hadn’t chosen this assignment for any specific reason. It wasn’t because I had an epiphany or a gut feeling about it. I simply felt a sense of familiarity when I saw the photos.

Unable to speak, I stood there awkwardly, and Hwangbo Yul’s expression grew grim. Kim Cheonsu, watching, waved his arms and laughed nervously.

“Well, we’ll know once we deploy it, right?”

“…That’s true.”

Hwangbo Yul’s muttered response carried a trace of bitterness. Though her first impression hadn’t been great, her hesitance suggested she might not be a bad person.

Separately, my knowledge pouch twitched, filling me with cautious optimism that I might somehow resolve this.

But making bold claims and failing would be embarrassing, so I left the talking to Kim Cheonsu and focused on where my knowledge pouch pointed.

Twitch. Twitch.

Unlike the pouch’s apparent detection, my view was filled with endless wetlands. Dense forests, muddy waters, and floating green plants… It felt like the Earth would love this place.

As I pondered this, Hwangbo Yul tapped my pouch and asked, “Is this what was described in the report?”

“Haha… I didn’t write it, so I’m not sure.”

“Tsk.”

Poor Kim Cheonsu. But…

Taking a closer look, Hwangbo Yul’s appearance was striking. If Han Seori’s beauty was a mix of coldness and warmth, Hwangbo Yul was the embodiment of “ice.”

Her stern demeanor and tongue-clicking oddly suited her.

Kim Cheonsu might consider this a blessing in disguise.

While I chuckled inwardly, Hwangbo Yul muttered as she touched my pouch.

“…Maybe it really can solve this.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“I asked if you’re going in with it.”

“Me? Am I?”

“…Probably not.”

Murmuring that, Hwangbo Yul placed something around my neck—something akin to what Han Seori used to put on me.

Click.

The familiar sensation settled in.

“I don’t know how long it will last, but for now… let’s secure it.”

Rising to her feet, Hwangbo Yul spoke.

“We’ll wait nearby. Whether it succeeds or fails, make sure to return here. By the way… does it really understand what we’re saying?”

“Yes, probably.”

Narrowing her eyes at Kim Cheonsu’s weak response, she turned to me and spoke.

“…If it feels impossible, return immediately… please.”

Ah, this must be what they call a tsundere.

If my old balding boss had said this, I’d have been annoyed, but hearing it from a pretty unnie―no, noona―felt oddly pleasant.

Waving my hand reassuringly, I stepped toward the wetlands.

From behind, I heard Kim Cheonsu mutter.

“…It feels like that thing only cares about women.”

And just what do you know that lets you say that about me?

Feeling a bit guilty, I trudged in the direction my knowledge pouch indicated. The nostalgic sensation of a sewer where I first awoke in this body came to mind.

Damp. Full of water.

Not exactly my hometown, but it felt like coming back.

Not that I wanted to return.

It felt more like being dragged to a holiday you didn’t want to attend.

Regardless, with no other options, I moved deeper into the dense forest. Before long, Kim Cheonsu and Hwangbo Yul were out of sight.

That’s when I learned, in this place, why some never returned. The realization wasn’t bone-chilling… but jelly-shaking.

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