The Jelly Alien Will Save You! Chapter 72

“…My hand… slipped for a second.”

 

Having said that, Haeeon clamped his mouth shut with a somewhat sullen look on his face, then spoke.

 

“Well, why don’t you refrain from getting too close to the alien? You might get contaminated again.”

 

At that moment, Jaehee’s eyebrows twitched briefly, as if he had sensed something.

 

At the same time, Jaehee made eye contact with the flapjack octopus. 

 

The two seemed to share some mutual understanding, then pulled Dam closer to their side.

 

“Aah, so you’re going to let your hand slip twice if I get too close?” 

 

When Jaehee spoke with a teasing smirk, the flapjack octopus slammed the dining table bang-bang twice. 

 

It felt as though the two of them were teaming up to corner Haeeon, leaving Dam bewildered.

 

Haeeon narrowed his brows, as if he had sensed it too.

 

Even though one had an expressionless face and the other was a flapjack octopus, it felt as if the two were conspiring, pointing fingers at Haeeon, and giggling. 

 

‘What is this?’ 

 

It was right then. 

 

“Do you not know anything more about the yellow hazmat suit? Like where they roamed around…” 

 

When Gong Juwon asked, Jaehee spoke as if recalling something.

 

“I’m not entirely sure of the details, but there seemed to be a routine. They always came from the west. Perhaps they are managing other variants over there.” 

 

“The west….”

 

The group fell into deep thought.

 

Dam, who had been lost in thought, stepped forward and raised her hand.

 

“I’ll look for it on the map. In the direction west of the school.” 

 

“I’ll also try to recall if there’s any relevant data regarding the school’s vicinity.”

 

Just as the discussion was coming to an end.

 

Jaehee picked up the flapjack octopus and stood up. 

 

“Well, since I’ve told you everything I know, I’m going to talk with Kyeol privately for a bit.”

 

At those words, everyone widened their eyes in surprise.

 

“Did I hear wrong?” 

 

“Um, Jaehee Oppa. The Guild Master is a flapjack octopus.” 

 

Yet Jaehee casually cradled Kyeol in his arms and said:

 

“I know. Until yesterday, my head was that of a mountain goat.”

 

What does that have to do with anything……?

 

What does that have to do with talking to a flapjack octopus in the first place? 

 

Even while everyone was in wonder, Jaehee fluttered away taking Kyeol with him. 

 

* * *

 

Jaehee Oppa took Kyeol Oppa away and didn’t return for quite some time.

 

At that, Cha Haeeon gave instructions for everyone to do their own tasks. 

 

As everyone scattered to do their work, I grabbed Captain Gong Juwon.

 

“What is the matter?” 

 

“Let’s try purifying your arm.”

 

Captain Gong Juwon’s eyes widened.

 

“I think it’ll work today.”

 

Today, of all days, I had the confidence to purify Captain Gong Juwon.

 

Because after resting for a night, my strength had returned to a certain degree.

 

When I grabbed Captain Gong Juwon’s left arm, a space spirit that looked like a potato peeked its face out.

 

I stroked the cosmic spirit’s head and said:

 

“You can come out of the arm now. Thank you for your hard work.”

 

The cosmic spirit popped right out from the arm. 

 

Captain Gong Juwon looked at his contaminated left arm. His face was filled with anxiety.

 

I channeled my purification power gently, enveloping Captain Gong Juwon’s arm.

 

As I did, I recalled the sensation from when I purified Jaehee Oppa.

 

Before long, the arm that had been like metal began to tremble faintly, and the muscles made of electrical wires started returning to their original form, one by one.

 

Beads of cold sweat formed on my forehead.

 

Captain Gong Juwon stared down at his arm with a face of pure disbelief.

 

Before long, the muscles were fully restored, and sun-tanned, copper-toned flesh surfaced over them.

 

I watched until the arm was completely restored, then withdrew my power.

 

“Phew…” 

 

Captain Gong Juwon carefully bent his fingers and straightened them out. 

 

We looked into each other’s eyes.

 

“It worked…!”

 

“It worked…. It’s really purified….”

 

Then, making a huge fuss, we clasped each other’s hands.

 

“Kyaaaa!”

 

I spread both arms and cheered, and Captain Gong Juwon lifted me high into the air.

 

It was right when Captain Gong Juwon was bouncing me up and down like that. 

 

“Why are you two so excited? Is there something to celebrate?”

 

“What is it?”

 

Bora Unnie and Cha Haeeon approached after hearing the commotion.

 

“Everyone, look here! Ta-da—!”

 

When I pointed to Captain Gong Juwon’s left arm as if presenting a magic show, Captain Gong Juwon raised his left arm solemnly.

 

“You did it!”

 

“She did it!”

 

Now the number of people making a fuss had grown to three.

 

Just as Bora Unnie and Captain Gong Juwon embraced me and resumed dandling me, Cha Haeeon spoke.

 

“Then does Captain Gong return to his unit now?”

 

We paused and blinked our eyes.

 

“Captain Gong, are you leaving?”

 

“Captain Gong Juwon, are you returning to your unit?”

 

When Bora Unnie and I asked, Captain Gong Juwon nodded cautiously.

 

“W-well… it seems I will have to. My younger sibling must be waiting for me.”

 

He spoke with an apologetic tone. It seemed to weigh on his mind that he was the only one who could return.

 

Perched on Captain Gong Juwon’s shoulder, I hugged his head tightly.

 

“It’s okay, Captain Gong. You have to take good care of yourself after you go back.”

 

“Jelly-nim…. The fact that I can return alive and well is entirely thanks to you, Jelly-nim.”

 

With moist eyes, Captain Gong Juwon stroked me gently.

 

“Let’s hold a farewell party for Captain Gong today!”

 

“You really don’t have to go that far…….”

 

It was right as we were sharing the sorrow of parting.

 

Jaehee Oppa returned with the flapjack octopus tucked under his arm. 

 

“Did something happen?”

 

I briefly relayed Captain Gong Juwon’s story.

 

“I see. You’ve worked hard all this time.”

 

When Jaehee Oppa offered his regards, Captain Gong Juwon repeatedly waved his hands in denial.

 

Then, with a somewhat hesitant expression, he asked:

 

“By any chance… if anyone wishes to leave together, would you like to come with me?”

 

In an instant, our eyes turned toward Cha Haeeon and Jaehee Oppa.

 

As if there was no need to even answer, Cha Haeeon shook his head and retreated into his room.

 

Then everyone’s gaze naturally shifted to Jaehee Oppa.

 

Because Jaehee Oppa was the only normal person here.

 

However, Jaehee Oppa said calmly:

 

“No. We will all return together.”

 

* * *

 

When evening came, we cracked open the instant rice and canned food we had been saving.

 

Captain Gong Juwon chose his words several times before bowing his head deeply.

 

“Truly… thank you so much.”

 

He looked at each person, one by one, and bade them farewell.

 

“When we meet again… I will definitely greet you.” 

 

“Mhm, let’s meet again.” 

 

“Please make sure we meet again.” 

 

At our words, Captain Gong Juwon smiled softly.

 

The next morning, Captain Gong Juwon slung on his military rucksack and set off on his way.

 

His back as he walked silently looked solid and resolute.

 

“…Goodbye, Captain Gong.”

 

When I waved my hand, Captain Gong Juwon turned back to look at us and offered a brief farewell.

 

Before long, as Captain Gong Juwon dwindled into a small dot in the distance, I grew a little melancholic.

 

We’ll be able to leave like that someday too, right?

 

‘If only I grow well….’

 

Feeling needlessly anxious, I brought the tips of my feet together and wiggled them. Ppyo-ppyo-ppyok. For some reason, not having toes felt even more sorrowful today.

 

Just then, someone plucked me up like a radish from the ground.

 

Dangling from two hands, I looked up.

 

“Our youngest, are you feeling down?”

 

It was Jaehee Oppa.

 

I clamped my mouth shut, wrinkling my chin like a walnut, and shook my head.

 

“Nope, not depressed at all.”

 

“You’re definitely down. Shall we do some fishing today?”

 

“Fishing?”

 

My face cleared in an instant, and my eyes sparkled.

 

“You’re collecting Cosmic Coins, right?”

 

“Yeah, yeah!”

 

Oppa carried me inside the front gate and set me down in the yard.

 

Ppyok.

 

Then he crouched down in front of me.

 

“Which authorities can you use right now? Does the Cosmic Market open too?”

 

“Right now I can open ‘Purification’, ‘Decorating’, and ‘Vending Machine’, and the ‘Cosmic Market’ opens too.”

 

“Then we need to earn money. You have to buy skins, after all.”

 

“Th-that’s right!”

 

I ended up answering out loud without realizing it.

 

It was because I was so thrilled to have someone who pinpointed and understood my heart so precisely.

 

As expected of a Planetmon player…!

 

“I really love you, Jaehee Oppa! I missed you—!”

 

It was right as I was about to throw my arms around Oppa in a tight hug.

 

Cha Haeeon glided over and stomped his foot down with a thud, thrusting his leg between us to block the way.