The Jelly Alien Will Save You! Chapter 22

Kiiiiek—.

 

Kikieekiieek—.

 

One by one, the animatronics stopped moving.

 

The warning lights died out, and the sirens cut to silence.

 

Fray remained still with both arms raised.

 

“Run!”

 

“Hurry! This way!”

 

Only then did the people start moving. Most of the workers began screaming and running out of the factory.

 

Meanwhile, Special Response Team member Gong Juwon stared at the motionless, giant Calamity, steadying his breathing.

 

His heart was beating so fast he could feel it thumping against the inside of his bulletproof vest.

 

The target wasn’t moving. There was no reaction.

 

This was his chance.

 

“Target unresponsive.”

 

Gong Juwon caught his team members’ eyes and nodded. It was the signal to attack.

 

No one said it out loud, but everyone was making the same calculation. 

 

Now was the time. If they could eliminate the Calamity right here, right now? Not to mention a special promotion, his team would become legends.

 

The sound of everyone drawing their weapons could be heard.

 

Click.

 

Click.

 

The sound of safety catches being disengaged echoed one after another.

 

But that was when it happened. The pink jelly took a step forward.

 

Squeak!

 

‘What is this? Was there still an animatronic left that could move?’

 

Gong Juwon raised his hand, signaling his team to hold their fire.

 

If an animatronic could still move, the Calamity could move again too.

 

He had to decide whether to retreat with his team or try to engage the Calamity.

 

‘But that thing looks suspicious. It’s different from the other animatronics.’

 

Even its appearance was off-spec. An outer shell made of pink jelly material.

 

He couldn’t rule out the possibility that it wasn’t a normal animatronic, but an independent entity.

 

As the team members waited with bated breath for Gong Juwon’s judgment, the pink jelly opened its mouth.

 

“I’ll give you a hug.” 

 

That was the voice flowing from the pink jelly.

 

It was a remarkably dainty voice, completely at odds with the situation, but the meaning behind those words sent a ripple through the team. 

 

‘Hug what?’

 

‘Don’t tell me, the Calamity?’

 

What was it purpose? Gong Juwon adjusted his aim minutely, remaining on high alert.

 

Should he attack first? Or keep watching?

 

However, the pink jelly seemed indifferent to the tension, or perhaps it simply didn’t care. It moved without hesitation—pyok-pyok-pyok—spread its arms, and tightly hugged Calamity’s finger.

 

“…!”

 

It hugged it?

 

At that moment, every single member, including Gong Juwon, was thinking the same thing.

 

That jelly was certainly about to be dealt with by the Calamity.

 

But their expectations were shattered into pieces.

 

The body of the Chief Manager slowly began to turn into powder and scatter.

 

The scattered dust swirled in the air, emitting colorful, rainbow-like light.

 

Then, it gathered into a single mass and was absorbed into the pink jelly’s body.

 

“….”

 

It was a scene too unbelievable even after witnessing it directly.

 

Before he knew it, Gong Juwon was lowering his gun. The strength left his hands, and the finger hooked around the trigger trembled. 

 

‘…The Calamity was devoured.’

 

This wasn’t a standard elimination. It was different from any method of removal they knew.

 

This was ‘predation.’

 

Everyone who reached the same conclusion just stared at the pink jelly’s back, colored by shock.

 

The pink jelly shivered for a moment. As if it were happy.

 

‘Is it smiling?’

 

Is it satisfied after preying on the Calamity?

 

It was the moment I felt the back of my neck stiffen from the tension.

 

The pink jelly slowly began to turn around.

 

“…!”

 

A jolt of alarm surged from his toes up his spine. Don’t make eye contact with that thing. The instinct flashed through his mind.

 

“Are you o…” 

 

It was the moment the pink jelly was about to open its mouth.

 

Gong Juwon shouted to his team members.

 

“Retreat! Retreat!”

 

“Run!”

 

It’s a Calamity!

 

It’s the appearance of a new Calamity that eats other Calamity……! 

 

As soon as that judgment was made, hot air surged from beneath the broken floor.

 

BOOOOOM!

 

As the factory floor collapsed, everyone’s bodies swayed violently.

 

* * *

 

‘Whew, thank goodness I purified it.’ 

 

My heart was still pounding.

 

What would have happened if I hadn’t purified Frey? 

 

Would I have been hit by a hail of bullets along with the people behind me?

 

Thinking about it made my body shiver involuntarily.

 

To avoid being caught in a hail of bullets, I had to look as harmless as possible. And I had to explain things, too.

 

I purified Frey, so don’t worry~! Don’t worry, and put those guns down, too.

 

Just as I was thinking that and about to kindly ask them if they were ‘okay’…

 

“Are you o…”

 

“Retreat! Retreat!”

 

“…?”

 

Before I could even finish my sentence, people turned and started running all at once.

 

“Run!”

 

Thud-thud-thud-thud!

 

Broken debris flew past the people’s feet as they fled. 

 

Someone tripped; someone else screamed. 

 

Watching everyone running away with terrified expressions, I blinked.

 

What’s going on? I completely purified Frey, and I even tamed it!

 

Is there something else I’m missing?

 

Just as I was getting scared and debating whether I should run away with them, the factory floor suddenly started cracking.

 

“…!”

 

BOOOOOM!

 

Before I could even gauge what was happening, the ground beneath my feet disappeared.

 

The floor is gone?

 

The factory was crumbling here and there, and my body swayed wildly.

 

Aaaaaah! I’m falling!

 

I squeezed my eyes shut.

 

Since I’m a jelly, won’t I survive even if I fall?

 

Just as I had that brief thought—

 

Suddenly, both my ears were pulled hard.

 

My breath caught in my throat, and my vision flipped upside down.

 

“Got you.”

 

A low, firm voice.

 

It was Cha Haeeon.

 

He was kneeling on one knee at the edge of the collapsing floor, clutching a pillar with one hand, while pulling on my ears with the other.

 

“…!”

 

My eyes widened. How did he get here?

 

Heave! Cha Haeeon pulled me up lightly.

 

My bouncy body gave a boing, and I was unceremoniously plopped onto Cha Haeeon’s shoulder.

 

I had so many questions about how he knew to come here, but—

 

More than that!

 

I clung to Cha Haeeon’s neck like a baby sloth, hanging on tight.

 

“Cha Haeeooooon…!”

 

Feeling relieved, I buried my face into his shoulder.

 

I could feel the vibration of him laughing as if I were absurd.

 

“This is why I asked why you’re going alone. Do you even know what kind of place this is?”

 

“You, you didn’t, didn’t ask me to go to-togetherrr……”

 

I sobbed and whined. As I clung to him like limp jelly, Cha Haeeon patted my back as I hiccuped.

 

“You’re usually so demanding, asking for this and that, so why are you acting all distant suddenly?”

 

Having nothing to say, I clamped my mouth shut.

 

“While you’re staying at my place, come home before dinner. That’s the rule. If that’s going to be difficult, tell me in advance. Got it?”

 

“Mm….”

 

Cha Haeeon, you’re more of a nagger than I thought.

 

Still….

 

“Cha Haeeoooon.”

 

“What.”

 

“Thanks for coming to get me.”

 

When I said it shyly, Cha Haeeon smiled slightly.

 

I caught my breath while clinging tightly like glue to his wide, solid chest and said.

 

“But, I caught a Calamity.”

 

As the tension eased, a sense of pride welled up.

 

At that, Cha Haeeon tilted his head, looking confused, a question mark hovering over his head.

 

“A Calamity?”

 

“Mhm? Didn’t you see it earlier? There was a massive teddy bear……” 

 

Just then, with the clack of interlocking metal, a tentacle emerged from near my brother’s waist and wrapped around me.

 

Startled, I turned my head to find gun muzzles aimed right at us.