The Jelly Alien Will Save You! Chapter 27

The plaza was home to a single, solitary vending machine, showing absolutely no trace of the fierce battle that had just unfolded before it. 

 

Naturally, the same went for Gong Juwon’s arm.

 

“…It’s really not here. Not even bloodstains.”

 

Gong Juwon, who was looking around, said quietly.

 

“Don’t worry too much. We’re going to find it now.”

 

I said while being carried on Cha Haeeon’s shoulder.

 

My brother, who was sitting on top of my head, patted Gong Juwon’s shoulder instead.

 

Gong Juwon flinched at the touch of the black tentacle.

 

Getting startled by every little thing. What a cute guy.

 

When I giggled, my brother also waved his tentacle and smiled.

 

Cha Haeeon shook his head side to side and took the lead.

 

We had been in and out of ‘U-Park,’ which is attached right next to Yongsan Station, a few times, but this was our first time going inside Yongsan Station itself.

 

Gong Juwon, who was hunching his shoulders in tight tension, glanced toward where U-Park stood and asked tentatively. 

 

“By the way, do you know why U-Park disappeared?”

 

“Ah, that?”

 

“Did the Calamity move its location?”

 

“Yeah, it moved.”

 

It did move. To the top of my head.

 

“Do you also know where it moved? I need to report it to headquarters.” 

 

He sure has a lot to report.

 

I nodded roughly and pointed to the top of my head.

 

“It’s right here.”

 

“Yes?!”

 

When my brother waved his tentacle to say hello, Gong Juwon, thoroughly startled, trembled in fear.

 

As expected, his reaction is amusing.

 

Gong Juwon looked back and forth between me and my brother, then forced a trembling smile.

 

“Your, your joke is funny, haha.”

 

“It’s not a joke. Right?”

 

At that, my brother opened a few eyes attached to his tentacle.

 

As the black tentacle with yellow eyes swayed, Gong Juwon tried to step back a few paces but lost his balance and almost fell over.

 

He struggled to regain his balance and asked.

 

“Is it really, truly him?!” 

 

Unable to look at the bright yellow eyes any longer, Gong Juwon trembled again.

 

While my brother and I were giggling and enjoying the moment, Cha Haeeon spoke.

 

“We’re here. It’s right in front of us.” 

 

Following Cha Haeeon, we passed through a squishy, mucous-like space, just like when we entered U-Park.

 

Soon, the scenery before our eyes changed completely.

 

The long passageway was bustling with people.

 

They were all part of the faceless anomaly.

 

“Don’t be too surprised. They’re not real humans.”

 

Having experienced it a few times, I smugly informed Gong Juwon.

 

Gong Juwon rolled his eyes and answered.

 

“Yes…. I am aware. I have been to Yongsan Station before for investigation purposes.”

 

“Reaaally?”

 

When I made a slightly displeased face, Gong Juwon, sensing my mood, hurriedly added.

 

“But it was only briefly. Please guide me well, Jelly-nim.”

 

“Got it.”

 

Unlike him, for whom this was the second visit, it was my first time, but my mind and attitude were those of a veteran.

 

We passed through the long passageway and moved straight toward the platform.

 

It was to take the subway.

 

Actually, our goal wasn’t exactly to take the subway, but….

 

Passing by the shops inside the station, I turned my head.

 

[Lost and Found Center]

 

This was exactly where we needed to go.

 

According to Cha Haeeon, most of the items that disappear in Yongsan are at that Lost and Found Center. It’s bizarre, but Gong Juwon’s lost arm is probably there too.

 

But why pass by the Lost and Found Center to take the subway?

 

Because that was the ‘rule of the Lost and Found Center.’

 

The rule to use the Lost and Found Center was none other than becoming a customer of Yongsan Station.

 

Therefore, we had to use the subway to use the Lost and Found Center.

 

We stood side by side at the end of the platform.

 

On the platform, the yellow safety line and the route map remained perfectly intact.

 

However, there was just one thing: the electronic display board was pitch black.

 

Cha Haeeon looked at the display board and then turned his gaze to the subway entrance, while Gong Juwon, thoroughly tense, looked around with a face that seemed to say, ‘Is this really okay?’

 

Just then, suddenly, a sweet and soft smell drifted over.

 

I lifted my head high and sniffed.

 

“What is this smell?”

 

“It’s probably Deli Manjoo.”

 

“Deli Manjoo? This?!”

 

The legendary food that was said to drive people as crazy as a contaminated zone on the subway?! 

 

Saliva dripped from my mouth, having never ridden the subway before.

 

Sure enough, faceless people were standing in a long line in front of the Deli Manjoo stall, which emitted a heavenly scent.

 

“Do you want to eat some?”

 

“Mhm, can I buy some?”

 

“Go buy some. You’ll probably have to give up one of your ears in exchange, though.”

 

“Mhm, I won’t eat it.”

 

Slurp. Licking my lips, I obediently turned my head away. One ear is a bit too steep a price to pay just to taste outside food.

 

[The train for ■■ is now entering the station. For your safety, passengers are requested to stand behind the yellow line.] 

 

Kreeeeee—

 

Screeeech—

 

The subway was coming in.

 

“It’s coming. We can just get on now.”

 

I lifted my head with a bright face, excited to ride a subway for the first time, but then I saw Cha Haeeon knitting his brows. 

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

He let out a sigh and said.

 

“We can’t take this one.”

 

“Can’t we just take any of them?”

 

“The direction is different. We have to take one going in a different direction. If we take this one, we can’t get off.”

 

What?

 

Flustered, I rolled my eyes.

 

“Cha Haeeon….”

 

Then I called Cha Haeeon and pointed to the display board.

 

[The train for ■■ is entering.]

[The train for ■■ is entering.]

[The train for ■■ is entering.]

[The train for ■■ is entering.]

[The train for ■■ is entering.]

 

The board was filled only with scheduled trains bound for ■■. 

 

The electronic board, with its bright red letters, scrolled down rapidly as if mocking us, and then repeatedly went back to the top.

 

* * *

 

The third train passed.

 

The display board still showed trains bound for ■■ lined up.

 

Gong Juwon smiled faintly, as if to say it was okay.

 

“Let’s just head back for today….”

 

But no one could predict whether the same situation would happen tomorrow, or the day after.

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

We all knew that.

 

And that bad premonitions usually hit the mark.

 

[The train for ■■ is now entering the station. For your safety, passengers are requested to stand behind the yellow line.] 

 

Kiiieeek—.

 

Psssssh—.

 

With the sound of deflating air, the subway doors opened in front of us.

 

But we didn’t step inside; we just stood side by side.

 

“Cha Haeeon, why can’t we get off if we take this one?”

 

“To get off a train bound for ■■, you must have a reason to get off.”

 

A reason to get off, huh…. If Cha Haeeon says this, then obviously ‘because I need to get off’ wouldn’t even count as a reason.

 

Following that, Gong Juwon spoke in a somber tone.

 

“According to our investigation… those who said they had to go home, or that they had to get off because they left something behind, all became… eternal passengers.”

 

Hmm, so it seems you really can’t get off with just that much.

 

I fell into thought.

 

The inside of the train was sparsely empty, with some people standing and others sitting.

 

They all looked like ordinary passengers.

 

Except for the fact that every single one of them was staring at us…….