Suddenly, I Became a Slime

*Thump, thump.*

Walking along the flowing water, I take the time to check my body as I walk.

I couldn’t figure out why my appearance was the way it was, but I felt like I needed to understand this slime-like body well in order to safely navigate through here.

It didn’t seem like a wrong thought.

If I had reacted to the wild dog’s attack a little more human-like earlier, I might have ended up scattered on the ground or bubbling inside the dog’s stomach by now.

As I thoroughly examined my body…

I realized that I could choose not to digest things if I didn’t want to.

Wow, this can be really useful, right?

For example, it means I can store my friends inside me.

…Even though there’s no avoiding the digestion, it means we don’t have to part ways immediately.

Of course, it looks a bit… off.

Looking at the friends floating inside me makes me want to get rid of them quickly.

So, I got rid of them.

And… that’s about it for now.

Surprisingly, that was it.

Oh, there’s one more thing.

I could become squishy.

I can’t help it if you ask what nonsense it is. I mean, if I become squishy, I become squishy.

Becoming squishy could disrupt my form. But since that didn’t seem very pleasant, I wasn’t really up for it.

If I make my body solid to clump together, it will resemble the silhouette of the girl I saw earlier.

It’s unclear whether it’s like a transformation tree in a game that hasn’t opened yet, or if I lack nourishment, or if the form is simply fixed.

I couldn’t figure it out.

Today, I learned why protagonists in novels shout out status windows when they encounter such situations.

I didn’t want to know, but the situation was like that.

I wanted to shout, too, but all I could hear was the unpleasant sound of jelly being squished.

At this rate, will I be able to go outside and live there?

Still clueless about finding a way out of this damp place, I was indulging in vain musings.

The only hope supporting me was the thought that there might be things I could do outside.

Thinking of things I could do outside, I trudged along the damp passage.

Honestly, I wonder how many days I’ve spent here.

Even if I try to be conservative, probably the entirety of my precious weekend already passed.

…I must have received a ton of work emails.

Not all the thoughts about the outside were positive.

Realistic worries about card bills and such were naturally occupying my mind.

But even those troubles felt precious in a way.

Is it only after losing something that people realize its value?

To learn that lesson by losing my body…

Isn’t the cost too high?

As my mood dimmed, my body started to feel sticky.

I thought I could calmly handle the emotions like when the wild dog attacked, but apparently, that wasn’t the case.

As I proceeded, leaving behind a sticky trail…

A peculiar sound caught my attention.

It sounded somewhat similar to when the wild dogs were approaching, yet distinctly more organized.

Like the sound I heard during the third week of boot camp…

Feeling a strange unease, I immediately submerged myself underwater.

The rhythmic sound stimulates a vague PTSD.

I’m no expert, but it felt like a military squad was nearby.

But why am I hiding?

If I weren’t in this body, I might have anxiously awaited their arrival with tears in my eyes.

But something was making me uneasy.

Amongst the internet rumors, urban legends, and myths, there are tales of places that deal with entities like me.

Honestly, I found it intriguing to read about, but I didn’t take it too seriously.

However, now that my body has changed like this, confidently asserting that such things don’t exist felt ludicrous.

If those organizations really exist and they’ve come here…

What should I do?

Uncertain, I focused on the sound of approaching footsteps in the murky water.

I quietly held my breath as if drinking watered-down liquor, trying to be as silent as a dead mouse.

Soon, a group of people appeared faintly illuminated.

Fully geared.

Their appearance gave off that kind of vibe.

I don’t know if it’s because my vision was blurry, but I’m confused as to whether they were people or not.

Adorning what looked like a remarkably sturdy gas mask on their faces, along with heavily insulated clothing.

And.

…They all had guns.

Not small handguns, but what seemed to be proper, formidable guns.

I don’t know much about such things, but the word ‘gun’ alone felt intimidating.

Even guns that were treated as scrap seemed to be obsessively managed to the extent of being allowed only in gun ranges.

I didn’t realize how grateful I would be to not be able to breathe or speak.

I would have involuntarily made a sound if I could.

“The nature of… has completely chang… The tracki… ain’t worki…”

“Probably… alrea… dead… time limit…”

Gradually, from the approaching group, a very familiar language could be heard.

Wouldn’t the tears I shed have been mixed into the water flowing now?

Hearing a language I knew made me feel excited.

I couldn’t quite make out what they were saying, but just that was enough for now.

…I should probably think a bit more about whether it’s advantageous for me that this isn’t another world.

Anyway.

They continued to cautiously survey the surroundings, looking around as they kept moving forward.

Though at times I feared being discovered, they ultimately couldn’t find me perfectly dissolved in the water.

Encountering normal people had me a bit on edge, so I decided to follow them for now.

It was a somewhat risky choice, but since their goal wasn’t clear, it seemed best to follow along.

They might not have been here for me, and perhaps following them could lead to an exit?

I can worry about it after finding an exit.

Continuing ahead, suppressing gloomy thoughts, I begrudgingly swam to follow them.

…I felt a bit embarrassed calling it swimming.

Crawling on the muddy ground would suit the description better.

To those people…

How do I currently appear to ordinary people I encounter?

Meeting normal people dampened the excitement I had felt.

Moving forward with my sticky body, I advanced diligently to keep up with their pace, resembling the silhouette of a little girl.

“Do you think we can find it here?”

“We’ll keep searching until we find it.”

The man wearing the multipurpose gas mask heaved a cynical response.

*Swoosh.*

Although the sight of air being exhaled from the man’s gas mask portrayed a certain intimidation, it seemed there was no one around to be startled.

Since they were all wearing the same gear, it might be more amusing than surprising.

In the midst of it all, someone leading the group said softly.

“Let’s take a short break.”

“Understood.”

Seething inwardly, the man responded to the order by leaning against the wall.

The sweaty feel of the protective gear was unpleasant, but a brief respite was necessary to keep his body going.

Leaning on the wall, the man scanned his surroundings.

His eyes met a moist and sticky landscape.

In the distance, a dim corridor continued, and within the darkness, the eyes of beasts shimmered.

The man sighed as he felt as if he was being watched.

The leading man, looking at the view, said…

“Soon, that ‘thing’ should appear there.”

“…It doesn’t seem like good news.”

“Once we investigate past that point, today’s search will be over, so endure a little more.”

“Yes.”

The comforting words were sweeter than a sweet rest.

The man thought he’d quickly finish the search, return home to bathe, and perhaps enjoy a cold beer from the fridge. The thought brought a contented smile to his face.

Could it have been that someone was able to read his thoughts?

Encouraging the man, another muttered under his breath.

“I didn’t mean for you to relax just yet. This is the riskiest part of today’s search, so don’t let your guard down.”

“I understand.”

Acknowledging the potential danger himself, the man shook his head, dispelling the warmth of the scene.

Even if it was a place with a low-risk level, an anomaly was still an anomaly.

After taking sufficient rest, they continued their journey, meticulously checking for the ‘liquid monster.’

They were scanning thoroughly with the meager light of flickering light bulbs, making it no easy task.

*Thump, thump.*

As they proceeded…

The man at the forefront raised his fist.

Following him, the others all stopped in unison, aiming their barrels upward.

The man who stopped the group saw a huge space.

A space where the common murky water gathers.

A space where passages like rat holes gather.

And…

It is a sub-anomaly of the anomaly commonly called the sewer and can be said to be the master of the sewer.

Codename 0015-KR-B.

It was also a place where a huge crocodile was sleeping.

Indeed, following the man’s gaze revealed the nonsensically colossal sleeping crocodile.

It was the size of a house.

It’s a statement that truly fits its massive body.

Their heavy firearms seemed minuscule in comparison.

It was not advisable to approach, but they couldn’t resist orders to confirm this centerpiece and the end of the giant anomaly.

Just investigating to see if there’s something here.

They hadn’t planned to confront the giant crocodile either.

To eliminate it would only have it reappear somewhere else, and wrestling against it would prove disadvantageous.

Moreover…

*Plop.*

The man scrutinizing the massive crocodile suddenly turned to the unexpected sound of water.

Discovering an intruder, the giant crocodile began to move slowly.

As the leader faced the source of the unexpected sound, those looking at the man collectively lowered their heads.

Seeing the man turn around again…

A golden jewel caught his eye.

No, it wasn’t a golden jewel.

It was the eye of the large crocodile.

‘This darn it…’

Upon detecting the intruder, the huge crocodile started to nudge and fidget.

His massive body began to shift in motion.

The man signaled for everyone to slowly retreat.

If they didn’t provoke further, there might still be a chance to leave quietly.

However…

*Plop.*

Another noise cut through the air.

The crocodile’s gaze fixed towards the man’s position in the passageway.

Upon pinpointing the sound’s origin this time, the man turned towards it.

There, something bright blue was seen quickly diving.

‘…It seems inevitable.’

Taking a deep breath, the man sent a signal in response.

Avoiding a collision seemed increasingly unlikely.

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