Chapter 88: The Peace of Our Time |
It was an occasion to go wild with joy.
I tapped the orb a few times as if to tell the two to introduce themselves and brought it to the control room.
Though not precise, it gave off a nuance as if it immediately understood my intention. I thought we might be able to use it as a means of communication, even if I didn’t know why.
However.
My happiness circuit, which had been spinning round and round, soon blew up.
They seem to be inferior beings made of flesh and blood.
For starters, the orb didn’t seem to like humans very much.
In that sense, the current situation might be… better.
At first, I was startled when the orb said that, but Han Seori and Kim Cheonsu’s reactions were odd.
“…?”
Puzzlement spread across their faces.
I didn’t sense any unpleasantness or fear from them.
So… perhaps.
The orb was saying something that the two couldn’t understand. It wasn’t that they heard it and couldn’t process the meaning. Rather, it felt like it wasn’t even registering at all.
…Yeah, maybe it’s better not to understand.
As they say, ignorance is bliss.
Administrator. I suggest eliminating the two inferior entities in this facility.
Are you crazy?
I swung my hand at the absurd voice.
It seemed to be malfunctioning, so I felt the need to give it a good beating to fix it.
I had just fixed it that way a little while ago.
*Smack!*
The orb, having been hit by the slime, lowered the part that emitted light as if feeling wronged.
I should be thankful it’s obedient to me, at least.
…But how does this thing know what I want to say?
No, is it actually reading my mind?
As I stared at my wobbling jelly, Han Seori, who was standing a little distance away and intently watching me and the orb, spoke up.
“I’m not sure how, but… it definitely seems to be under 7496-KR’s control.”
“Is it just my imagination, or does that sound unpleasant?”
It seemed certain that the two couldn’t understand what this thing was saying.
My ambitious plan to use it as a terminal was… impossible from the start.
…Well, it’s not like I was able to do it, and now I can’t. I guess it’s better this way.
I don’t have to feel any sense of loss.
Suddenly, the saying “Trust leads to betrayal” came to mind.
…But I can’t help but trust this, can I?
It speaks to me clearly, but Han Seori and Kim Cheonsu can’t hear it as words.
So what language is this thing speaking to me in?
And how am I understanding it?
I vaguely thought there must be some special reason since I seem to get the gist of it, being an anomaly and all. But seeing that it can’t communicate with Han Seori and Kim Cheonsu, my curiosity was piqued.
I placed my hand on the orb and asked it a question.
It seemed this was how it understood me.
My question was simple.
Why couldn’t those two understand what it was saying?
Then, a voice with little intonation was heard.
It is only natural that ordinary flesh and blood entities cannot comprehend my language.
No, you brat, not that.
I removed my hand from it for a moment and stared at my jelly.
This thing was like a robot that plays the villain in creative works.
Come to think of it, it’s funny.
If it hates humans, why did it target me first?
…Well, let’s hear about that later.
First, I decided to resolve what I was most curious about.
I had to know how it understood my intentions and how I understood its words… so that I could decide how to deal with the two lost in thought.
When I put my hand on it again and asked, it launched into an incomprehensible spiel.
Something about connections, analyzing my jelly’s patterns, and whatnot…
As it went on, explaining in what I presumed to be technical jargon.
I, with my hand still on it, asked a simple question.
So, can you make it so those two can understand what you’re saying?
That is impossible. I only communicate with you, Administrator.
For something that seemed to have its tail between its legs just a moment ago, there was a sense of determination.
Yeah… I guess that’s your trait.
I felt silly for acting like a researcher when I’m not one.
All I wanted from this thing was to repair this facility.
“Hmm… Are they conversing?”
“It doesn’t seem like 7496-KR is actually speaking, though.”
But there’s one last thing I’m curious about.
…Can it understand what those two are saying?
I put my hand on it and asked, and it replied,
I see no value in interpreting such an inefficient means of communication.
Just say you don’t know.
Somehow, it feels like an exhausting thing has rolled in.
The only advantage this has over the slimes seems to be that it can understand me.
Meanwhile, Sosik, who had been clinging to Han Seori’s back, wriggled over and stretched out on top of the orb.
…Is it because we’re similar beings?
The orb didn’t say anything like “You filthy ape!” to Sosik and slowly bobbed its body so the little one could rest comfortably.
Seeing this, I thought maybe it’s not so bad after all.
Anyway.
For now, I need to show the two t why I brought this thing here.
The details can be sorted out and discussed later.
I tugged at Han Seori and Kim Cheonsu’s sleeves and gestured for them to come out of the control room.
The two looked puzzled but readily nodded.
Then I noticed Daesik sitting on Kim Cheonsu’s shoulder.
The little one seemed to like Kim Cheonsu’s shoulder and showed no intention of coming down.
Somehow, I felt a strange sensation.
What is this emotion I’m feeling right now?
…I don’t know.
I was too tired to want to know.
If it’s something I don’t have to worry about, all the better.
Suddenly, the saying “Trust only leads to betrayal” came to mind.
Han Seori and Kim Cheonsu felt a bit startled.
Because 7496-KR was tugging at their sleeves, gesturing for them to go outside the control room.
If any anomaly other than 7496-KR had made such a gesture… they wouldn’t have followed.
In the first place, they wouldn’t have even come to a research institute located in such a remote place.
But having seen 7496-KR’s behavior so far, the two followed the slime girl without a word.
They had no idea what was happening, but they felt that if they followed the slime girl, they would find out the reason.
As they followed the slime girl, the sight of the wrecked research institute came into view.
The situation had taken a good turn, but at this rate, who knew when they’d be able to leave this place.
Suppressing a sigh, what appeared before the two
he reasonwas the cause of the destruction that had actively moved about and shattered the research institute just moments ago.
A huge chunk of steel.
As the two felt puzzled, the slime girl, who had stopped walking, placed her hand on the orb with the tiny slime girl riding it.
Seeing this, Han Seori thought,
‘It feels like they’re communicating through contact?’
…If I put my hand on it too, could I talk to it?
I’ll have to try it later.
Han Seori felt her hand itch as she stared intently at what the slime girl was doing.
As if the slime girl’s body twitched,
*Screech!*
There was movement from the steel chunk.
“Huh?”
Han Seori felt a bit startled at the sight.
Why is that thing suddenly moving?
Don’t tell me it was brought here to hack into…
‘…No way.’
What am I thinking?
Am I really suspecting 7496-KR, who just faced off against that huge hunk of scrap metal for us?
Han Seori shook her head.
Even if 7496-KR was an anomaly, that was too… inhumane a thought.
And as if to prove her thought right, upon closer inspection, it wasn’t the steel chunk moving, but rather, something attached to its surface was peeling off and flying somewhere.
“Cheonsu, want to follow it? I think I should stay here.”
“Oh, um… yes.”
Kim Cheonsu, who had been feeling uneasy at her voice, followed the drone - something that looked similar to what had threatened 7496-KR moments ago - with a reluctant look on his face.
The doll hanging on his shoulder, dressed in red, was a bonus.
As she watched them go, Han Seori glanced between the slime girl and the orb.
Meanwhile, Kim Cheonsu returned with an excited look on his face, having chased after the drone.
After catching his breath, he shouted with a much brighter face.
“Those drones are repairing the facility!”
“What?”
“I’m telling you, they’re repairing the facility with that huge hunk of scrap metal!”
Han Seori’s face went blank for a moment.
Then, she also smiled brightly and looked at the slime girl.
Receiving her gaze, the slime girl crossed her arms with a look of pride.
She seemed to want to look cool, but with that cute face, it was a difficult feat.
So, Han Seori, slightly excited, approached the slime girl and lifted her up.
“I knew I could count on you!”
She hugged the slime girl, who looked a bit dazed.
As Han Seori hugged the slime girl, the doll perched on Kim Cheonsu’s shoulder tapped his cheek.
“Hmm?”
When Kim Cheonsu looked at the doll, it bounced up and down as if asking to be put down.
“You want to get down?”
Kim Cheonsu nodded and put the doll down, and it hopped about as if it, too, wanted to cling to the slime girl’s feet.
Beside them, there was the floating orb and the whale-shaped slime.
And on top of the orb, the tiny slime girl was fast asleep in a comfortable position.
Seeing this, Kim Cheonsu couldn’t help but chuckle.
…It felt like looking at a family.
He thought it strange and absurd to feel that way at the sight of anomalies and humans together.
But he… couldn’t stop the warmth spreading in his heart.
But.
If it’s a family, am I the dad?
Haha, well, now…
Kim Cheonsu scratched his head, grinning to himself.
…Whatever his role may be, peace certainly seemed to have found the chaotic research institute.
