Suddenly, I Became a Slime

Chapter 11: Don’t eat me, please

The vehicle carrying the trembling jelly speeds out of the city and into the suburbs.

It reaches a road frequented by massive cargo trucks, slips into a parking lot surrounded by buildings that resemble large warehouses and factories, and comes to a halt.

Even as the vehicle ceases movement, cargo trucks continue to move tirelessly in and out of the warehouse adjacent to the factory.

Goods stream from the warehouse onto the trucks non-stop, and the trucks, laden with cargo, head directly towards either the city or the countryside, bustling with activity.

The workers loading the goods appear weary from their strenuous efforts, yet their smiling faces reveal the rewarding nature of their labor.

Above the bustling, weary workers, a peculiar sign catches the eye.

[Soylent Purple Co.]

A man shades his eyes as he disembarks from the parked vehicle. With the care of someone holding a delicate dish, he retrieves something from the back seat and moves it with cautious steps.

Whenever the object wrapped in black cloth twitches, the man halts in his tracks and stares at it intently.

He resumes his journey only after the twitching within the cloth-wrapped bundle subsides.

Navigating through the giant shadows of the warehouse, he passes by the busy area where workers swiftly move about, and enters the factory.

Upon entering, a faintly sweet scent fills the air.

As the man stealthily makes his way through the factory, where Soylent Purple Co.’s main products are being produced, countless items are being packaged and transported back to the warehouse.

From the well-maintained facilities and rigorously managed production line, products continue to emerge incessantly.

He delves deeper into the facility, passing doors marked with stickers stating ‘Authorized Personnel Only.’

The break area for the factory workers lies quite a distance from his current location.

*Clank. Clank.*

As he moves past, the closed doors exude an air of impenetrability, suggesting not even an ant could pass through.

The man’s silent trek allows him a glimpse of the cooking process for the products being manufactured in the factory.

This process begins as a ‘red blob’ appears in the dimly lit corridor.

Large ‘blobs of flesh’ descend from hooks and flow into the production facilities. These flowing blobs are cut into pieces and land in their designated spots.

The small pieces of meat, combined with various ingredients, are transformed into Soylent Purple Co.’s products.

Though most of the process is automated, human figures are occasionally visible.

They ponder the origins of red meat and the type of meat that requires such varied cooking methods.

Yet, no one truly questions it.

Since the cooking is entirely automated, there’s no room for doubt. It’s merely about ensuring the factory operates smoothly and reporting any issues.

The compensation is generous, and the benefits are substantial.

Especially since employees can purchase Soylent Purple Co.’s already affordable products at even lower prices. It’s indeed the ideal workplace.

He harbors a sense of pride about this.

Thanks to the products they produce, which are sold nationwide for their low prices and great taste, they are among the most donated items to those in need.

Of course, there are those who quickly resign due to some mysterious occurrences, the reasons for their swift exit unknown.

But is it not their fault for not adhering to the rules?

The individuals working at Soylent Purple Co. are content today.

And they are likely to remain content in the future.

Observing them, the man entering the factory contemplates.

This meat…

‘What’s that?’

Initially, the man also consumed products from Soylent Purple Co.

He believed it wasteful not to indulge in them, given their affordability and deliciousness.

However, since he started working behind the scenes of this factory, he has found it too unsettling to touch them.

Should he wish to investigate, he could, but…

The man shakes his head.

In his current position, it is often preferable to know less than he already does.

Moreover, venturing beyond the boundaries of the rules could lead to undesirable consequences. He is uncertain if a misstep might result in such an outcome.

Therefore, he opts not to indulge his curiosity about whatever lurks within that dark passage.

Then, as the man sighs, he recalls the woman who entangled him in this predicament.

Remembering her bold and sweet voice that reassured him, he shakes his head.

He feels like a fish that has swallowed bait, yet truly… there is no escape.

As the man sighed deeply, he arrived at the deepest part of the factory.

Extracting something from his pocket and pressing it against the wall, an electrical sound precedes the door opening to reveal an elevator.

‘By the way…’

It hasn’t moved for some time now.

The man in the elevator examines the large tray in his hands.

It had been creaking vigorously moments ago, but now, there is no movement at all.

Surely… it isn’t dead, right?

As the man felt uneasy.

The elevator closed.

The vehicle comes to a stop, and suddenly, I feel as if my body is floating in mid-air.

My jelly quivers uncontrollably, beyond my control.

Is this happening because I’m experiencing something that might be unfamiliar to modern people, like kidnapping?

…Though it might be common elsewhere, in South Korea, where I’ve lived until now, it’s rare.

Experiencing something firsthand that I’ve only read about in novels, seen in movies, or heard in the news feels surreal.

Well, I’m not human now… not anymore.

Oh, man.

I guess the fear of being kidnapped is the same whether you’re a slime or a human.

I suppress a sarcastic remark and feel my trembling body gradually calming down.

Yeah, they say that even if you enter the tiger’s den, you can survive as long as you keep your wits about you, right?

I tell myself to pull it together.

My jelly’s trembling stops.

Then, as if to welcome this calm, a scent drifts in.

No, now it’s an unfamiliar scent.

The strong smell of Soylent Purple Co.’s MRE fills the air.

It’s an intense smell reminiscent of a pool filled with Soylent Purple Co.’s products.

Imagining a pool filled with ready meals bubbling, I can’t help but let out a dry chuckle despite having no lungs.

So, I must have been brought to Soylent Purple Co.’s factory.

…To a food factory?

An ominous thought crosses my mind.

What if all the products made by Soylent Purple Co. are made from creatures like me?

What if someone who succeeded in capturing me is taking me to a butcher shop?

Would being caught in the sewer have made any difference?

It seems like it wouldn’t, but at least in the sewers, they wouldn’t hunt for ingredients.

I feel like I was dragged to Soylent Purple Co.’s factory in exchange for tasting beer and cup ramen and spoiled MRE, but there’s nothing I can do about it now.

No way…? I’ve been in the sewers for quite some time; the smell… the smell might still be on me… I might not be suitable for food…

*Clunk!*

*Thud….*

Trapped in darkness, all sorts of wild thoughts race through my mind. If I’m brainless, where are these thoughts coming from?

But finally, with a closing sound, the delusions begin to fade.

Suddenly, I feel as if my body is being lifted upwards.

Unless I’m experiencing skydiving while being held in place, I must be in something like an elevator.

*Clunk.*

With a noise, my body returns to its original state.

Should I be grateful for my body’s lack of response?

Or should I sarcastically thank my captor for making me go through this?

And amid all this, another tedious movement begins.

I cross my fingers, hoping it’s not a jelly processing factory, feeling anxious.

*Thud.*

Accompanied by a sound like dentures falling out, my body, which was swaying back and forth, comes to a stop.

*Flutter!*

Soon after, I hear the sound of a cloth being drawn aside.

There’s no light appearing… It remains dim and dark.

*Click.*

And all I can hear is the sound of a door being locked.

Right after that.

*Pop!*

Suddenly, a bright light flashes.

My sight is filled with a sudden brightness.

Luckily, having no sensitive eyes, my vision quickly adjusts back to normal.

It’s quite a relief.

Then, I still find myself trapped in a square box.

K-Kidnapper, sir? You’re not planning to leave me like this, are you?

My second thought, after that foolish one, is that the room is completely white.

I almost decided to quickly find any stain, no matter how small.

If my sky-blue jelly stains something, it will probably show up immediately.

I haven’t seen it myself, but if there was ever a sterile room, this would be it.

The room is obsessively white.

Ironically, it looks much nicer than the studio apartment I used to live in.

…Even though it’s empty.

Feeling a slight sense of desolation, I hear a click, and the restraints constricting my body loosen.

As the pressure around me releases, I’m able to regain my usual form.

For some reason, I feel like a flattened mushroom that’s been stepped on by an Italian plumber. Maybe it’s just my mood.

Once out of the box, I glance around.

Then, I see something resembling a large mirror.

I call it ‘something’ because it’s mounted too high to reflect what’s below.

It’s positioned as if only a giant could see their face in it.

At that moment.

*Click.*

The door opens, and someone enters.

*Tap, tap.*

I shift my gaze towards the sound.

There.

…An alien is approaching me.

It’s as white and huge as this room.

Dark and large eyes stare at me.

My jelly, which had expanded out from the box, now shrinks down.