Chapter 12: First Encounter

Chapter 12: First Encounter

“It’s smaller than I thought...”

‘Feels even smaller than when I first saw it.’

“...It’s not being disrespectful, right?”

‘What are you thinking right now?’

“...Is the owner not taking care of it properly?”

‘...’

“No, I’m kidding, okay? Instead of that... try to do something.”

The woman who made a bad joke casually scratched her cheek.

Without realizing it, a thought popped into my head.

Ahem. Clearing her throat, she glanced back through the glass, urging the person on the other side of the intercom.

“You aren’t offended by this, right? I’ll treat you to a meal after this.”

‘...The place we went to last time was quite nice...’

“Let’s finish the task first.”

The woman, Han Seori, refocused on the view beyond the window.

It was completely white beyond the glass.

In the room, so bright it felt oppressive, there were two beings...no, one person and one anomaly.

The anomaly, codenamed ‘Damn Snot,’ was brought in by the man, Kim Cheonsu.

Once Kim Cheonsu had placed the anomaly in the room, he returned wearing a thick protective suit.

The other one.

The newly classified ‘candidate’ anomaly, codenamed ‘Damn Snot.’ It wasn’t an official name but a nickname given by those who searched through the sewers to find this anomaly.

Although they laughed and said the name suited it as it was found in alligator nostrils, it was probably not just a coincidence that they had endured hardships in the dirty and smelly sewers for several days.

Since a name was expected to change once it was officially classified, there was no need for anyone to raise doubts.

It was true that the suppression team had a hard time because of the ‘snot’, after all.

While staring at the anomaly ‘Damn Snot’, which had caused such difficulties, Han Seori unconsciously muttered.

“...Pretty cute.”

I feel sorry for the suppression team, but that was my first impression.

Although the soft and translucent sky-blue body looked somewhat strange, its overall silhouette resembled that of a girl, which made me feel somewhat affectionate.

However, Han Seori harboured doubts in her mind.

‘I heard that it fused with a man named Han Hosu, as reported.’

...Was that person really like that?

Han Seori recalled the personnel file that she had read and discarded.

While pondering over the photo that was belatedly attached there, she compared the image in her mind with the trembling jelly inside the isolation room.

‘...They look completely different.’

Moreover, when Kim Cheonsu in the protective suit entered and saw the trembling figure...

It wasn’t easy to recognize the sturdy man in the photo.

The jelly-like figure, in the form of a girl, triggered her protective instincts.

It was enough to startle Kim Cheonsu, who was approaching to do something.

It’s almost like watching someone commit a nasty deed.

As Han Seori gazed at the figure, she took out a notebook and a pen from her pocket to jot down some notes.

It was a method she used to organize her thoughts.

[Are we sure the fusion target is Han Hosu?]

It seemed impossible to rule out the possibility that it was just a coincidence.

‘But it was caught coming from Han Hosu’s house.’

In that case...

[If the fusion has absorbed only intelligence and knowledge?]

Han Seori pondered on this while tapping the words with her pen.

Though it seemed trivial, it was a very important issue.

“Could someone please bring out Agent Kim?”

As it seemed like an attack with no lethal force, Han Seori frowned in confusion.

Why did it attack?

...Could it not be Han Hosu after all?

Han Seori felt uneasy and peered at the girl behind the glass.

<!-- slime -->

As something much larger approaches, I instinctively step back.

Meeting others in the sewer feels surreal.

There’s a much larger crocodile facing me.

But this time is different.

A person much larger than me approaches, exuding an intimidating vibe. Isn’t it odd not to be scared?

I can’t even fend him off with these soft fists!

It’s only natural for my trembling body to step back.

It’s strange to be approached by someone with a purpose and not being able to do anything...

It’s scarier and more helpless than I thought.

I feel like something is bubbling inside of me.

And then.

Someone without a visible face says.

“Are you Han Hosu, by any chance?”

Huh?

Huh???

It feels like my non-existent heart is pounding.

Do these people know that I am Han Hosu? Did they pull me out to help me?

Suddenly, even the white room that felt claustrophobic seemed to have a reason, and the imposing figure in front of me started to look friendly.

Yeah, I’m not in my human form right now, so being cautious is obvious!

I’m so happy.

I’m filled with the belief that the people who recognized me will restore me to my original self and let me return to my ordinary life.

I’m not ready to give up yet.

Dreaming of a bright future, I look at the massive figure with satisfaction.

The figure wears an opaque helmet reminiscent of a spacesuit, reflecting my image, of course.

I feel like my shrunken body is expanding again.

It’s crucial. I have to convey to them that I am Han Hosu.

Out of all things familiar to me, ‘speaking’ is naturally the most comfortable.

But there’s one thing I overlooked.

I can’t speak. More accurately, I remember how to speak but can’t produce any sound.

Yet, in that sudden situation, I forget about it.

I urgently want to ‘speak’ and let them know that I am Han Hosu, that I am human.

So, I shout that I am that person.

*Splat!*

“Whoaah!?”

Huh?

The slime that oozes from my body engulfs the figure in front of me.

The figure hit by the sticky slime falls to the ground and rolls around. The slimy substance splatters everywhere.

I stare at that sight in a daze.

Before long, the tightly closed door opens, and others resembling the figure come in, dragging the figure out.

Although there’s no blood running through my body, it feels like my blood is drying up.

Definitely.

I damn messed up.