Suddenly, I Became a Slime

The jelly girl’s hesitation didn’t last long.

She imagined herself sliding down the silvery railing. Her jelly-like body slipping smoothly down the sleek surface. Would a jelly even understand the concept of friction?

Initially, the thought seemed fine. Descending the endless stairs had been tedious, after all. Sliding down like it was a slide would surely be fun.

But soon, the jelly girl’s imagination took a darker turn as she looked at her pliable body.

What if...

What if the acceleration became uncontrollable, so much so that she couldn’t jump off?

What if she ended up hurtling downward at terrifying speeds, never reaching the bottom and endlessly falling?

The jelly girl shivered, a rare sensation for a jelly.

The thought of smashing into the end of the railing and splattering was oddly less frightening. As long as her vital parts remained intact, repairing her body wouldn’t be too hard.

It might not be as painful as splattering, but being stuck on an eternal descent until the end of her days? That was a fate she desperately wanted to avoid.

Of course, nothing was certain. This was, after all, just her overactive imagination.

Still, ignoring the possibility might turn her into a cat strapped to a buttered piece of toast, endlessly spinning. A punishment of sliding at the speed of light.

If she at least powered something, there’d be meaning to it. But this? This would just be a meaningless, absurd death.

Even smashing her body seemed preferable.

Missing out on watching TV, leaving the jellies, Han Seori, Yang Hana, and Hwangbo Yul behind—it was unthinkable.

So, the jelly girl gave up on sliding down the railing.

After all, in an unpredictable situation, it was best to avoid childish stunts.

But...

The endless, smooth railing kept tempting her. The urge to slide down was growing stronger.

This must be due to a lack of dopamine.

Her boredom was making it hard to resist the sight of something so tempting.

Should I ask for video shorts when I get back? she wondered.

Perhaps her easy acceptance of their "requests" had something to do with her boredom, alongside her unease about people dying.

Regardless.

As she bounced down the stairs, the jelly girl kept staring at the railing. Making excuses, she reached out and gripped the thick railing.

Its coolness greeted her jelly body.

Placing her jelly-like bottom on the railing, she felt an odd excitement. The darkness surrounding her made it feel like she was on a theme park ride.

She bubbled with embarrassment.

How did I end up being someone who gets excited over this?

Wait, I’m not even human anymore.

Still, this environment really shapes behavior, doesn’t it? It’s like how soldiers return with strange habits after spending a year or two in service.

...I feel like someone who’s been drafted twice. Or worse, turned into a jelly.

Come to think of it, people say the military has changed. Maybe it’s less harsh now.

...This is so unfair.

The jelly girl slumped her shoulders, feeling her gloomy thoughts intensify in the darkness.

‘So. Sliding down the railing is just because I’m feeling down. I’m not being childish.’

Mental health management is so important these days. That’s why I got a TV in the first place.

‘Can jellies even get sick? Never mind. Let’s slide.’

The jelly girl released her grip on the railing. Soon, a cool breeze surrounded her jelly body as she prepared to...

...Not slide at all.

What?

Why isn’t this working?

She squinted, examining the spot where her jelly touched the railing. Her jelly bottom had molded perfectly to the shape of the railing, clinging tightly.

It seemed her body was unintentionally gripping the surface rather than sliding off.

The solution was simple.

“I’ll just make it slippery.”

Feeling determined, the jelly girl excreted a slick, slimy substance from her thighs. Nothing weird, just something sticky and slippery.

And it worked wonders. Slowly but surely, her body began to slide down the railing.

Swooosh!

Water splashed as she slid, feeling like she was on a waterslide.

‘Yes. This is what I needed!’

Swooooosh!

The jelly girl zipped down the endless railing. When she reached a landing where the stairs turned sharply, she leaned her body slightly, adjusting her direction.

Squeak!

She drifted like a pro around the 90-degree turn. Excited, she tried it again at the next curve, seamlessly entering another descent.

Splaaash!

With the sound of her jelly secretion splattering, she raced down the stairs.

The speed was exhilarating, something she’d never felt with a human body. No bumps, and even if there were, her jelly form had no significant weaknesses.

She passed by another jelly, wiggling her antennae in triumph.

The overwhelming speed was intoxicating, and she continued sliding and drifting, leaving a trail of jelly secretion on every turn.

Splaaash! Splaaash!

The jelly girl was having the time of her life until...

[@$*%!$%!]

Squeak!

A strange sound made her flinch, and her body stiffened.

Her momentum carried her off the railing, sending her tumbling onto the stairs.

Splat! Splat!

Her hardened jelly body rolled down the steps, scattering jelly fragments like pieces of broken jelly candy.

Splat!

She finally came to a stop against a glowing green exit sign.

Feeling the warmth from the sign, she thought...

...What was that?

Wasn’t that noise the reason I fell? It’s not my fault, right?

As her scattered body reassembled, she bubbled in frustration.

If someone saw that, what would they think?

Arms flying off, legs detaching—surely they’d scream.

Wait. Is the thing around my neck okay?

Hold on. Did someone just see me sliding down, having fun?

The jelly girl suddenly realized something she’d forgotten.

Oh no.

She covered her face with her newly reformed hands.

Please, no.

No, it’s fine.

From their angle, they probably couldn’t see my face. Maybe they’ll just think I was trying to descend quickly.

Honestly, it’s faster than walking down the stairs. That’s a fact, right? Yes.

The little mishap was just a minor accident.

Nothing to be embarrassed about.

By the way, what was that strange noise? ...And how many floors have I descended?

With no floor numbers in sight, the jelly girl had no idea how far she’d come.

...I admit I got carried away.

Then.

Splat!

A jelly she’d passed earlier came flying down, seemingly annoyed at being left behind.

Lacking independence, huh?

She muttered to herself, only to hear the strange noise again.

[Ki!@$@!]

The sound was accompanied by vibrations that made the jelly tremble.

...What is that?

Could it be the reason I was called here?

The jelly girl, her body tense, scanned her surroundings.

The stairs stretched downward endlessly. Nothing seemed out of place, except for the strange sound and...

The jelly on her head seemed frozen solid.

She grabbed the jelly atop her head, grumbling.

How dare you sit on the elder’s head.

As she inspected the frozen jelly, she blinked.

...What’s wrong with this one?

They say misfortune comes all at once.

This seemed to be one of those moments.