The Jelly Alien Will Save You! Chapter 48

Who would have thought that you could eat ramen with eggs and even green onions in the apocalypse? 

 

“Mmh, mmh.” 

 

I nodded my head with my arms crossed. 

 

The next option that appeared was as follows.

 

[Please select the vending machine to add the function to.]

 

“Mmh.” 

 

I placed my hand on my chin while looking at the map spread out before me.

 

The locations of the vending machines were marked on the map.

 

There were only two choices.

 

1. Vending machine in front of Yongsan Station 

The mysterious group in yellow hazmat suits is attempting to manage this vending machine.

 

2. Vending machine in front of Hanseong Hospital 

Currently managed by the military. It seems the soldiers are buying up my items while working their butts off? Unsure if they are distributing them to hunters as well. 

 

Without much hesitation, I selected the vending machine in front of Hanseong Hospital.

 

If ramen starts coming out of the machine, the stationed soldiers might be a bit surprised, but it’ll be much better than grilling green onions over a bonfire.

 

‘Please buy a lot, everyone!’ 

 

The moment I confirmed my choice, a familiar notification window popped up. 

 

[The ‘Automatic Cooking’ function will be added to the ‘In front of Hanseong Hospital’ vending machine.]

 

Thump-thump.

 

‘I want to see how it changes!’

 

I rolled to the left and to the right inside the spaceship before jumping up with the energy injector in hand.

 

Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak! 

 

As I entered the warehouse, I saw the old TV.

 

I immediately shot the alien gun (energy injector) at the TV. 

 

Pew!

 

Zap!

 

The screen of the round CRT displayed the view of Base #1.

 

I crawled up onto a box and turned the channel dial.

 

Base #2. The vending machine at the dark Yongsan Station had its lights on, but no one was there.

 

Base #3. Similarly dark area near Yongsan Station.

 

Base #4. It’s Hanseong Hospital!

 

The landscape in front of the hospital was reflected on the screen.

 

Two soldiers were standing in front of the familiar vending machine as if guarding it.

 

Soon…

 

The vending machine inside the TV screen began to move.

 

“Oh.”

 

I held my breath.

 

The vending machine was melting away like a slime.

 

The soldiers guarding its side were completely flustered, shouting as they backed away.

 

<W-What is that!>

 

<What’s happening! Report this first…!>

 

It was then.

 

“Ah…”

 

I let out a gasp.

 

Because the vending machine slime had eaten the soldiers.

 

“….”

 

I brought my two legs together and knelt like a criminal.

 

Because my vending machine had eaten people!

 

The phrase ‘What do I do?’ floated through my mind like a sliding banner. Surely soldiers aren’t going to be added as a ramen topping, right?

 

Ugh! Just the imagination made me feel nauseous.

 

In the meantime, the slime vending machine began to steadily take shape.

 

As the gelatinous vending machine stretched sideways, a small discharge port with a transparent acrylic door was added.

 

And in front of the vending machine, two sets of four-person tables and chairs appeared.

 

[Vending Machine Upgrade Complete!]

 

My body felt tight with tension.

 

Is it finished? Then what happened to the soldiers? It’s not really going to be human-meat ramen, is it?

 

It was at that moment.

 

Hands suddenly poked out from beneath the tables.

 

“Aaaaargh!”

 

I screamed in surprise at the sight that looked like a horror movie.

 

<Urgh!>

 

<Aaargh!>

 

The soldiers who had been swallowed by the vending machine shouted as they scrambled out from under the tables.

 

The two who crawled out lay there for a moment with dazed faces before pushing themselves up simultaneously.

 

<…?>

 

The two stared blankly at each other before turning their gazes toward the vending machine.

 

They still had faces that showed they couldn’t grasp the situation.

 

<What is this? What was that?>

 

<I don’t know either, sir…>

 

It was just as the two of them stood up and gripped their guns, fully on edge.

 

They saw that a menu had been added to the newly transformed vending machine screen.

 

[Instant Ramen—5500cc]

 

The words for the new menu were blinking, flaunting their presence.

 

Gances were exchanged between the two, asking what on earth this situation was.

 

<….>

 

<….>

 

A brief silence.

 

Click.

 

Whirrr—

 

As one soldier pressed the button, a mechanical sound emanated from inside the vending machine.

 

<Uh? Sergeant Lee?>

 

<Ah… I did it without thinking!>

 

Ding!

 

Both the one who pressed the button and the one who just watched were startled and flustered, but then the sound of a bell rang from the vending machine.

 

At the same time, a small door opened, and cooked ramen came out along with disposable chopsticks.

 

The freshly made ramen looked appetizing, topped with even an egg and green onions.

 

Warm steam and a stimulating aroma wafted out, teasing their sense of smell.

 

<…Is this real ramen?>

 

<….>

 

<It doesn’t seem to have any issues, sir…>

 

The two soldiers stared intently at the ramen with eyes full of suspicion.

 

<Sigh…>

 

The soldier who appeared to be the senior officer let out a deep breath and stepped forward first.

 

The moment he lifted the noodles with his chopsticks, hot steam washed over his face.

 

And with an uncontrollable desire, he shoved the noodles into his mouth.

 

Slurp—

 

As soon as he took a bite, his tense expression melted away and transformed into one of peace.

 

That one bite was the signal.

 

The days of barely surviving on combat rations in a harsh environment flashed by.

 

Drip.

 

As he recalled the past days and tilted his head back with his mouth full of hot noodles, something—whether sweat or tears—flowed down his cheeks.

 

Soon, the hand holding the chopsticks quickened, incessantly shoving noodles into his mouth.

 

<Uh… Please give me just one bite too.>

 

A moment later.

 

The remaining one also couldn’t hold back in the end and purchased ramen, and the two soldiers sat side-by-side on the chairs, inhaling the ramen frantically.

 

Slurp! Slurp!

 

Gulp!

 

I watched the two of them eating the ramen deliciously, my eyes sparkling.

 

“Business is a success…!”

 

* * *

 

Shane looked askance at the ramen on the table.

 

Though it was cooked quite nicely, ramen was still an unfamiliar food to him. 

 

After lifting a few strands of noodles with his clumsy chopstick skills, he spoke while observing them intently.

 

“You’re saying the contamination stopped after eating this.” 

 

“Yes, that is correct. It is reported that the increase in contamination stopped for about two hours after ingestion, and abilities were boosted.”

 

His secretary answered bluntly while handing over a tablet.

 

On the tablet, a drone video capturing the vicinity of the vending machine in front of Hanseong Hospital was being transmitted in real time. 

 

The few available tables were already packed with customers, and the temporarily set-up tables were also crowded with people. Some were even eating while standing. 

 

Shane gazed at the soldiers and Hunters eating the ramen.

 

They were inhaling the ramen, blowing on it because of the heat.

 

Shane also put a few strands of noodles into his mouth.

 

Slurp—

 

Ha.

 

His expression brightened slightly after he caught his breath from the heat and chewed and swallowed the noodles.

 

“It’s delicious.”

 

Slurp!

 

Having devoured the noodles in an instant, he scooped up the broth with a spoon and flipped through the screen of the tablet.

 

“You’re saying that as vending machine functions are added, a larger amount of coins is coming out of the contaminated zone.”

 

“Yes, we have confirmed it is the same period.”

 

“Interesting.”

 

The report recorded that not only had the output of coins increased, but the number of Hunters voluntarily entering the contaminated zone to secure coins was also rising.

 

As a result, the purification progress speed of the contaminated zone was also accelerating. 

 

It was an overwhelming purification figure even compared to other countries.

 

Gulp, gulp, gulp!

 

Shane, who had cleanly finished even the ramen broth, set down the bowl. He looked down while wiping his mouth.

 

The idea that he would be able to see the owner of the vending machine if he kept watch around it had missed the mark completely.

 

The vending machine grew on its own.

 

The military seemed completely convinced that this vending machine was a type of anomaly.

 

However, Shane thought that was merely a declaration of surrender, an ‘abandoning of understanding.’

 

“It seems we will need another method if we want to meet the vending machine’s owner.” 

 

Shane smiled broadly.