Jelly Alien Will Save You! - Chapter 21

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Jelly Alien Will Save You!

Episode 21

Hmm. After pondering, I cautiously approached Prey. There wasn’t a rule in the manual against hugging, so it should be okay, right?

Squish squish… Squish squish…

Following my movements, the large eyeball rolled around. My reflection was completely captured in Prey’s pupils.

‘Hiiiiiik!’

I guarantee that my body must have turned pale blue right now, as if all the blood had been drained from it.

Meanwhile, all the Workers held their breath at my sudden action.

Right, they must be curious about what this jelly is doing.

Even so, the Workers’ hands didn’t stop moving.

The defective products filtered out by them were set to travel down the Line toward the Furnace.

If this attempt goes wrong, I’ll probably be considered defective too and sent to the Furnace.

I swallowed dryly.

Clack.

Clack, clack.

Clack.

The sound of Workers filtering out defects came irregularly.

‘…Wait, the sound of filtering out defects?’

Squish.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through my head.

I immediately stopped walking.

“Hello! Prey!”

The pupils that had been watching me blinked as if greeting back.

Greeting the Chief Manager is part of the Middle Manager’s manual.

If you don’t follow the manual, you’re considered defective and disposed of.

The same goes for Workers.

And.

If Workers and Middle Managers have manuals?

‘The Chief Manager must definitely have a manual they have to follow too.’

Because there’s no one in this Factory who’s free from rules.

And if the Chief Manager breaks the rules?

‘They’d be considered defective.’

Then they might erase themselves, or at least cause an error in this system.

The problem is not knowing what manual the Chief Manager has been given.

Then I need to carefully observe what actions the Chief Manager does and doesn’t take.

I remained still and stared directly into Prey’s eyes.

Let me first test what kind of movements are allowed for me.

“Prey! Is it okay to proceed with the inspection work again?”

“…”

Is this not allowed either?

Just as I thought that, Prey obediently nodded.

This seems to be within the allowed range.

Once permission was granted, the other Animatronics began to scatter to manage the Workers.

I also stepped back while staring intently at Prey.

Same spot, same posture, same reaction.

Prey never directly intervenes in the work.

‘Is this his role?’

Not interfering. Just watching.

‘The Chief Manager doesn’t intervene.’

My head was spinning.

Even when throwing the Worker who broke the manual into the Furnace earlier, Prey had intervened indirectly using the joystick. He could have moved his hands directly.

‘Then…’

Just as I was coming up with several hypotheses.

Prey’s eyes suddenly moved upward.

‘What?’

Prey slowly lifted his bent body.

Then the Animatronics greeted Prey again.

“Goodbye, Prey!”

“It was nice meeting you!”

“See you next time!”

Huh? They’re saying farewell?

I became anxious.

“Prey, are you leaving already?!”

Prey nodded slightly.

“When will you come next time?”

He didn’t answer this question.

This is bad. If he doesn’t come for several days…

I looked at the Workers and swallowed nervously. We weren’t Animatronics but humans and aliens.

Living beings who need to eat to survive!

If we have to keep doing defect inspections like this, we might starve to death.

I have to do something!

How can I make Prey act unexpectedly?!

Then, I heard someone’s voice in my head.

– Do Dam!

As if drawn by something, I turned my head. My eyes met with Older Brother’s in the Vent.

The Black Octopus with all his yellow eyes open was spreading both arms. As if asking for a hug!

“…!”

What that meant was clear.

I took a deep breath, then ran toward Prey with both arms outstretched.

Squish! Squish! Squish! Squish!

“Prey, hug me!”

Flinch!

Prey’s arm moved very slightly.

Really just a little.

It was a tremor that could be dismissed as mechanical error.

But I definitely saw it.

I even saw Prey stop as if realizing it was a wrong action!

‘This is it!’

I was certain.

This Factory operates on rules. Just as Workers and Middle Managers have manuals, the Chief Manager definitely has lines they must not cross.

“Prey!”

I shouted once more.

“Hug me!”

“…”

This time the hesitation was longer.

Prey’s pupils shook slightly. As if something was conflicting inside that large body.

I spoke calmly again.

“I’ll hug you.”

As if telling him not to hesitate anymore.

Then Prey slowly raised both arms to embrace me.

At the same time.

[Warning!]

[Chief Manager behavior pattern deviation!]

Red text appeared above the factory.

Beep- Beep- Beep-

Warning sounds echoed as the warning lights attached to the factory walls began to flash.

The floor rumbled, and the walls vibrated.

The conveyor belts stopped all at once with metallic screeching sounds.

It’s shaking-!

I tightly gripped a nearby pillar, while the workers rolled across the floor.

The animatronics couldn’t manage those workers and were in complete chaos.

That’s when it happened.

[Unmanageable state detected.]

As the message appeared, the factory’s internal structure began to malfunction.

Production lines moved erratically, and defect notifications popped up and disappeared.

The floor cracked with a loud snap.

Black fissures spread as hot air leaked out from within.

“Older Brother!”

I turned my head looking for Older Brother amidst the chaos. Just then, Older Brother emerged from the vent and rushed toward me.

As I hugged Older Brother tightly, static-filled music began playing from the factory speakers.

Crackle-

Bzzt-

♪ Ta-da, ta-da- ♪

…It was an overly cheerful melody that would fit right in at an amusement park.

Along with it, Prey’s eyes wavered. The gaze that had been directed at me until now wandered aimlessly through the air.

[Startup log error]

[Original purpose restoration]

Broken voices overlapped from the speakers.

[Wel—come]

[Have—a—won—der—ful—time]

I swallowed hard.

It’s a theme park song.

Right. After being abandoned by humans, Prey had been building a theme park in the factory.

And originally, this was a space where they would greet each other and dance together.

Prey’s arms trembled as they stopped mid-motion while trying to embrace me.

Subtle friction sounds came from the joints where metal and rubber meshed together.

The factory was eerily quiet. As if even the workers’ breathing had stopped.

“…Hug…?”

Then, for the first time, Prey’s mouth mimicked human speech.

It wasn’t a complete sentence.

“Hug… me… will you… come back?”

“…”

Something about that clumsy question made my chest feel tight.

The terrifying monster had instantly become an abandoned child.

No longer the Chief Manager, but the original Prey who still longed for the attention and love of the humans who had abandoned them…

Who turned you into such a frightening monster?

I placed Older Brother on my head and spread both arms wide.

“Prey, it’s not about coming back. We’ll stay together forever!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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