Chapter 11: Social Responsibility
7vlcThe situation was resolved faster than expected.wIoZe
Mqyl5FIn addition to Director Mok, who had descended from the office by driving trees through walls and floors, rumors began circulating that several monster-level employees had also mobilized.O9p9cwp
GCJNXfI did not personally see or hear it, but I could perfectly imagine what had happened in the other extraction zones and what might happen in the future.d4sUNwx
4oUApKKIt was said that Zone B had been stabilized thanks to the fierce suppression carried out by the majority of the employees.udxVAms
BNM7The dimensional entities in Zones C and D were also subdued with ease and returned to their containment cells.TWFl
kye8As for Zone A—JOXm
dYuyNUO“You do not need to worry. The Order Control Room is handling it. Besides, Executive Director Seol is there.”8EHhD
c4f6JOI did not know exactly what that meant, but according to Director Mok, the situation was under control.E1EXdf
sweX4CThe siren that had sounded as though it would tear apart the sky finally fell silent, and the corridor’s emergency lights returned to flashing their usual red glow.aRhN
5RrzwHowever, there was a much more important problem.L4g
a7fIKlpGulp.dYxU
Z4H9vAnd it was exactly what I had in my mouth at that moment.FqHt
DjJaI00Director Mok’s right arm.FonQS
WkSMore precisely, a thick, long branch extending from his arm had stretched toward me like a snake.mxAs
anvMWAt the tip of that branch was a transparent, gleaming opening, from which a sweet and viscous liquid flowed.yTThYk
34cuAnd I was drinking it.p7iQ
bdv08x“…Wow.”qTD
9BEiaGxA sweet and refreshing sensation spread throughout my mouth.LWkXeN
nJCIt was not honey.CKmSt
9sZNUFONor was it syrup.63s
jYaxh3IIt was a strange substance somewhere between blood and tree sap.c8rz
yKqIt felt smooth on the tongue, while going down my throat it was as cold as ice.iAlpfLq
eXBMy skin rejoined itself.dPfEm4G
uTNkcEThe burn marks across my body gradually disappeared.9JA
Xv43b0The corneas that had been melting regenerated, and my vision slowly began to clear.M8qP7y
LRE‘This defies common sense on too many levels.’1pYpMwt
ZfVTI never imagined I would find comfort and healing by sucking on someone’s arm.RN4MXW
c86MEspecially not the arm of a person made of wood.nBSP6Ql
7AwsdHUAlthough, come to think of it, maybe it was still better than meeting the tentacle doctor again.aE3SD
614neXMI looked back at Director Mok.beS9B
EagGbHe was wearing his suit as always and stood with one hand over his chest, as though nothing had happened.h8rxT
aZjUZHe did not even seem to have any particular feelings about using himself as an IV bag.X0AY0XD
q87yl“There is no need for you to feel so confused.”6GYyIIt
Coq8nMHis voice remained low and damp.WyVD
zfHThA calm, moisture-laden sound, as if the grain of the wood itself were speaking.zTGEGp
sjGO“The recovery serum was provided by separating a small portion of my tissues. You will not be charged any additional cost.”xbe2q3i
GXIiI was about to protest that that was not the issue.Au4PE
YasGZBut I simply closed my mouth.zBpUnQ
pTGSSzGBecause it was too delicious.NLEMR
RO2XvVI felt like I needed to drink a little more.cag
JFjIt was like lying in a hospital bed connected to an IV drip.rmEN5
h2QOnly in this case, the IV was a tree root.WCjCoxB
OQIlD“Thank you very much, Director Mok.”0eL
CDh“It is nothing. Any member of Extraction Team 1 is someone for whom I must take responsibility.”9SCPP0u
rPF8yWithin the knots crossing his face, two or three of his many eyes blinked at the same time.fGx
Ft0u6rFor some reason, it felt like a smile.h3O
pJyWhile Director Mok had pulled me aside into a corner to feed me the serum, employees began gathering one after another in the extraction room lobby.SS6h
EnyMUcAt first, familiar faces appeared.hprQbkV
p9OBiWEManager Myeon approached while his seven faces moved frantically.ZAsefiT
29rYgvbManager Batori gracefully kept tilting her head as she observed me with her red eyes.cdyU
DJ9hAssistant Manager Son opened and closed the fist that served as his head while organizing the other employees.nnR
h5kwUAnd Supervisor Shik remained leaning against a wall, dragging his chains and blinking calmly.IwHWtw
KZ0eJust those few alone already looked like a complete gathering of monsters.3wf
nxMNQE“Ugh.”aOBBO
0X7rsikBut when I looked at the others, the nausea began rising again.lvnnwS
yPVIt was the first time I had examined employees from other departments so closely.QsY1
54vThere were skeletal beings without flesh, their bones protruding outward.z4A
ZCkOWorm-like creatures made entirely of mold.pj40R
pv8g4R2A man who had no face, but instead possessed a row of eyes lined up across his back.56xQq6
dfMU5There was even a puddle of red slime I had never seen before clinging to one of the lobby walls.MiGyi7
0auu8‘They’re basically dimensional entities…’0KwI
IrJIn that case, is there really any difference between an emergency situation and daily life?Zabl
FLDpMy head began spinning.2rcau
ao6KsUIt felt as if my eyes were rotating on their own.XzY
2QIY“Mr. Haeil.”M9Ix
EnwgMcBThen I heard a familiar voice.klk0Hp4
UYM3It blocked my view of the employees from the other teams and patted me on the shoulder.kVb6W
akNRrDS“You’re still alive. What a relief.”ymh
uknZH“Yes… it really is a relief…”w8CcW
qrXkVh9I tried to smile, but the muscles in my face tightened.hX2i
We79The corners of my lips trembled.2pRRqY
VcOfMy eyelids twitched.1tfZ4
VrGMy mind was already thinking about quitting time.Lm5jnbu
xZR3d62Then, with a crash that shook the ground, a loud Bang! echoed through the center of the extraction room.JDCWir7
IdZaehu“WHICH DAMN MANIAC WAS IT—?! WHO?! WHO THE HELL PRESSED THE RELEASE BUTTON?!”yiI
HYIHA thick, deep voice overflowing with irritation and rage.4dk
J7AjThe moment I turned my head toward the source of the sound, all traces of sleepiness vanished.Mhk
sEXQEHe stood on two legs, but his arms were so long that he almost looked as though he walked on all fours.XSB9UU
IlqV2His entire body seemed to have been forcibly held together with metal plates stitched over living flesh.lTp3b6
leYxxNSix thick cables were embedded in his back, welded directly into his spine and connected to his brain.yurY
qjZ9His head was covered by a helmet-like exoskeleton, but pieces of flesh and green eyes writhed through the gaps.0OAl0
PZU3PThe creature trembled violently and shouted again.Pcia1B
NBxEMW“WHO?! WHO WAS THE IDIOT WHO MANUALLY ACTIVATED THE RELEASE PROTOCOL?! DAMN IT! ZONE C, ZONE B, AND EVEN ZONE A WERE OPENED! WHO THE HELL DID THAT?!”ZuwuD
gzOiTAssistant Manager Son whispered beside my ear.L1MRMds
YIFk“That is Manager Geum, leader of Fusion Team 1.”ZdDG
fqjGqib“…Ah, he’s a manager?”XrdOS
nSh5F9“That’s right. He is subordinate to Manager Myeon.”sR34y6
rBRpd76“Ah, I see.”2GgHbX
E7y4qQFor some reason, I thought Manager Myeon was definitely a better boss than Manager Geum.pJn5w
9tlManager Geum continued venting his fury.RUd0N
RlZg3ZFThough honestly, the cables writhing on his back were far more terrifying than his words.kh5S
FLYtS“WHO THE HELL WAS IT?! THE RELEASE BUTTON IS THE FINAL EMERGENCY PROTOCOL!!! NOBODY IS SUPPOSED TO TOUCH IT UNLESS IT’S A GRADE ■ ENTITY!!! WHAT KIND OF DAMN IDIOT DID IT?!”Grq
ZvqQAt that moment, I turned toward Assistant Manager Son.Yl6
2cVfBoD“Was it really that dangerous?”GWAaC
Ley“Of course it was. If you press it, all dimensional entities from every containment cell are released at the same time. Seriously, who the hell pressed it?”pzoi1K
g2q0gHW“Then why does a button like that even exist?”863yg
6H6y“For final extermination before abandoning an entire zone.”OEqHqx
HBlTI decided it was better not to ask any more questions.SyMmfr
kRPaG6Assistant Manager Son tilted his fist-head slightly and smiled.8mb3Z
V9yeGW“Still, you were lucky, Haeil. Running into Director Mok in time.”tGNs3sZ
1gd57q“Yes, really. I’m also glad you got out unharmed, Assistant Manager Son.”Zc62NAI
vrFvjXUManager Geum abruptly turned his head and shouted again.3AZE
4QQ2V4H“COME OUT!!! WHOEVER’S RESPONSIBLE, STEP FORWARD!!! GET OVER HERE RIGHT NOW AND EXPLAIN YOURSELF!!!”Ksnn
3rvAnThe rusted cables of Manager Geum snapped like electrical discharges.WJ7j0p
apirUAll the lights at the end of the corridor went out simultaneously.6W42Xc
rqxAssistant Manager Son shrugged.6bU
e8t8C0s“But if you had run into another team first, Haeil, you would have been in trouble.”yu8
6Dw“Huh?”aRBn
KWcuThe momentary darkness caused the roaring to stop for an instant.2NSb
TmnpSilence fell heavily over the space.wM1kPj
ymxe2XHis spine, resembling a metallic backbone, twisted like a spring before stretching out again with the screech of metal claws scraping across the floor.knalFV
o9IXThe dangling cables on his back writhed like worms, scratching the walls and throwing sparks onto the ground.ZIJFu
FmyTsgg“Seriously… who pressed it?”NPFuQJp
Rxp“It doesn’t seem to have been anyone from our department.”YbAFAXj
MGiEPU“Did someone enter without authorization?”XaD25
N4OcNy“Could it be an industrial spy?”GVXwF9v
8Dv6lEven among the employees, a small commotion began to spread.AyCe
ngtaJ9xA creature covered in a massive stone shell.WGQZV
tSYfJA transparent being whose face was divided into two sides.RcSXkeF
cYxTEven a Möbius strip formed from red lines.8TXAgU
bXVroDozens of monstrous employees murmured throughout the lobby.7o9l
FLq0Then.gafE
JqDwbmCreeeeak.1c9Rg62
lIh6fThe door beside the corridor entrance slowly opened.AEo
ELDPAnd someone stepped out of it.Cfng
L5cYH‘…Huh?’Yo6Mxv
qjPdB3One person.iUBS0q
yqHxQTwo people.QAUoG
4LsqLWrinkled suits.WEcz
J1uFPkShirts soaked with sweat.yvjqXYW
krMo7mCompletely ordinary employees.6KShDJ
gdAayYes.XWi7hZ
8PKErM2Humans.Q0jEY8l
PcPAt that instant, the atmosphere in the lobby turned icy cold.TiZS
EKhQz0Passing through the crowd of monsters, they cautiously moved forward.fsBpc
a33uTHMore precisely, they advanced one trembling step at a time.xB77
20cNKTvThe man in front removed his glasses and lowered his head.bWHn
JzfnP2GThe woman beside him bit her lips while nervously darting her eyes around.xNTg
dcD1DThe young man following behind them looked as though he was about to collapse, not even having the strength to brush aside the sweat-soaked bangs stuck to his forehead.Ht0wj
vPAnF“W-we’re sorry… we… it’s just… we didn’t understand anything…”9vk
HNxwtKneeling on the floor, they stammered as they tried to speak.0BTIbQ
un7They wore suits.GYKG
LGTHTheir faces were flushed with exhaustion.AgXlDN
u4U0They were drenched in sweat.6o9tje
psDlOKPDisheveled hair.LNmIVOC
mB3Crooked ties.uVIb
5V9pTheir entire bodies trembled in panic.CasQh4
Bykh0My mind stopped.W8wTeHQ
QipSiIt was obvious.pjeBVS
eFkV5They were not dimensional entities.mbvS
p2vThey were not monster employees.shMu
DAtaThey were not something pretending to be human.hGGd
UpwThey were real people.pscF
y0keQv“……”L0WIVp7
HLepdKIt was the first time since Lee Jihyun had resigned.GJGnFsD
k7zsMlThe first time I had seen a human face again.2EnB
XGmnUNWhen our eyes met, a strange feeling arose inside me.f2V
zkZZI felt my stomach churn.x9Hqo0l
vCwoNS9My throat tightened.vmYHr44
4blJI reached a hand toward them.MaiuRq
ZL82WIt felt like I needed to say something.L6JeKPB
OKOVOThat there was something I needed to share with them.tcHswKC
0PWrT“…This is why I hate the bastards from the Emotional Department.”P5J
hdSNBIA low growl sounded to my right.AfgT
FKEtF98I turned my head.th2e24
ravIt was Assistant Manager Son.U5siC
OB5jfmVThe fist that formed his head slowly began to clench with a creak.rvizv6Z
aRCtDs“Assistant Manager Son?”KN7sx
xP8oLLBut he did not hear me.CCM
tMdV2OWith the sound of his shoes striking the floor, he reached them in an instant.eoZ
YWdhaThen he bent down.3Ue2w
8ClflCrunch!!5Y9nQ
8TCThe world crumpled.FGqw
2CLNo.nH8
Bl3xMYA head crumpled.hKlO
dVPwMore precisely, that human’s head.l6p
LekQgwAAssistant Manager Son grabbed it.gJn3S
STWEThat was all.Vn0
mVxBCHe grabbed it.6dF
o7cHe squeezed.hZr5w
CKoAs if he were performing a simple strength test.StGj9a
LMBH“Gghhh!”AInM
2RJO1A choked gasp escaped.Mu3Z
xGiOAnd then.N15mt
xgVXWCrack.kiFJ
i7UATfyIt was not an exaggerated sound.9VnapIC
apSeRH4It was exactly the sound of a watermelon bursting.JeC
QIbJOHBlood.0ateQo
QW46jWBrain matter.UJXDZcx
AISBRdFlesh.GYTx7N
8MvgkzFragments of skull.n3eK
b1XHEverything began sliding between Assistant Manager Son’s fingers.NaRBz0
kRfvSomething red and gray slowly dripped from his fist-head.htR
vgEb2t1It slid down his fingers.TQ5HT
NsiGgAcross his palm.aMJTNg
9c6t0And fell to the floor.7Xs
CPCDrop.Umv5
efHAfter drop.o0XI
dTAbiP“……”yK1bN
EO1My body froze.U5qfY
BH4WoMy gaze stopped.iEV6IS
F3X3iEven my breathing stopped.Z18h547
fylYhzkWhat had I just seen?zccIXX
QYnqqNo.h3W3uz
GZTnorI knew perfectly well.Lkj
NXJFUlAHe had crushed a person’s head.wpas
gkGA person.SQJhbTI
Ph6FfJA living person.Ymg5
1zVsNxgHe had blown it apart simply by grabbing it.MHDf
j2UOqI found myself staring at the scene with my lips tightly sealed.AsLv
95NEmI did not scream.JKf6eT1
WaBu64sI did not even know how.Tpc
nr3Next, Manager Geum kicked the other employee who could barely move his eyes.Zp3Piv
imOHis back exploded.NmuaiV
cI0f7hA stain appeared on the wall.iG4W9
IMRjdxHeads kept exploding.L2yB
MVvOne human life after another disappeared.9OXKo
Uq3iy7fMy legs would not move.jrBTT
WmUJwFI could not look away.OMgl
UOCVbDAs I stared at Assistant Manager Son’s blood-covered head, I once again felt a deep fear I had forgotten.wHN4l
C4XFadBlood.LfZ6
3ciFlesh.mpyKQ
kogHPtShattered heads.3GSPNC3
h9SYtAI was human.QHq
ZsxsOut of everyone here.tiUiZwG
6IrSKqI had forgotten that I was human.9Ci9
01jGZo“Again with the Emotional Department? What a nuisance.”0cQ
fi8“I told them we should’ve just stuffed them into the cafeteria freezer.”IELG
hae“It’s always the same thing.”08ViZd
9P3The employees’ comments drifted through the air like ordinary conversation.vKkG
zEzNx8A completely normal tone.mUbomSd
sGmVQAs if they were discussing trivial matters.DpdQGj
mJu2xGTAnd at the center of it all stood Assistant Manager Son.1FgqmQT
nyHcUFEven though pieces of flesh and fresh blood were still dripping from his hand, his tone remained exactly the same as always.bNCn
Kx0v“This is why I say I hate humans.”k0RFLK
PnrGAssistant Manager Son slightly tilted his head toward one of the two remaining humans.T7iFHqO
KkFThat single casual gesture was enough.6qmoz
3oIb7xThe person immediately fainted.MBMQ
uduSgkjOr perhaps pretended to in an attempt to avoid death.JdO8LB
XRFl5TlAnd it was not only Assistant Manager Son.QuHx
dyZDUhiFour of Manager Myeon’s faces remained silent.RpNd0
mW0eu8The other three nodded slightly.AeFBU
B8g5QZSManager Batori smiled as she savored a red liquid.OE2
V4EyfNsSupervisor Shik tossed his chains over his shoulder and let out a deep snort.y3QRmaE
TKTPEvery employee had the same reaction.b4k4x
I4pKgThe same instinctive reaction a human would have upon finding a cockroach or a mole cricket inside their house.9KGEe
0IbAn unconscious aversion toward an entire species.isuA3rz
CyJuXpmI remained motionless in the middle of it all.6sHoy7J
6TPCuiDMy heart pounded.L0quJaJ
rsufMy shoulders trembled.ped3vGb
oh49pBGAnd from the depths of my stomach, vomit I could no longer suppress slowly began to rise.hU5R
Ikp1G‘Why is everyone… reacting like this…?’EF2KSu
OU6JYdTThose people are human.Jqgx
DbViJI had forgotten.Npt
uBYzrBut they, not these monsters, are my own kind.hd7
bxCXTheir belongings.I6BBAY
HgcTheir backgrounds.BwCFhw
4WpcCYTheir expressions.Fw4U
WHuhtKEven the dirt beneath their fingernails.REb7k
BC6oEverything was the same as me.Sb0uVu
LEv1altAnd yet.8K3
OWvcN9Every existence within this company.ylFah
zQg9XrATreated those humans as though they were impurities.DOWe
HUTqZVAs though their very existence were disgusting.MTEQM
NZyAs though it did not matter if their heads exploded.XjrahM
9uLTrAs though disappearing was only natural.exwz
bAQ3h“……”qrdV
r1BGAI slowly lowered my head.w8yxv
LFx‘Then… what am I?’Ivo6
dpC6qFfThat question.CJ46
MMGYMrkIn a single instant.C30K
wQITgcKFell upon my mind like a bolt of lightning.Mwr2Ts
p2vYZ96‘Why am I in Extraction Team 1 and not with them?’4uY6wUh
LTdThe words tried to come out but remained trapped.XquR
ecKuAZ0Why does nobody call me human?Gliwfs
oGLWhy does nobody ask me?MDKTys4
DxcWhy don’t the monsters of Extraction Team 1 reject me?ECzJ
z1lNZI have worked alongside Assistant Manager Son.psvb5
Wmzu0mbI have walked beside Supervisor Shik.A0Gw
a6F4I have exchanged glances with Manager Batori.lzjO
k3HjpI have spoken with Manager Myeon’s seven faces.1XO
2MLmYAnd not one of them.SBPF2as
xI8XSDTNot a single time.eBvwZPG
IecTold me that I was different.yRmbxa
JOfOn the contrary.SlG0O
f9eMsPdThey praised me.FC8g0
j0jfFlw— You adapt well.kw8sX
9D3v— You’re more resilient than I expected.7E0p16
77MHoC— You fit in perfectly.UkhhrF
TgTLc— You’re ideal for this.sewxIg
Lcs1MsTAnd just a few moments ago.qIGUSxT
97XNDirector Mok had said.zbv
PFX7— I have heard your admirable determination.od13Dq5
NzBGcMlI took a deep breath as my shoulders trembled.69yO
0y6I could still smell human blood in my mouth.EOOb
LapI wiped away the cold liquid running down my chin.ZkOsvS
Lb2SWhat if, in this grotesque world, everyone simply did not know that I was human too?LGFM
RDWEYONBut even that explanation had too many inconsistencies.yNTmixI
aCOQFBecause if they know I’m human.FvMIq0T
kmAThen why?oE4J8
Cm7XOX“Let’s go back, Mr. Haeil. The Order Control Room will take care of cleaning this up.”9hkKnS9
HJtWI had no choice but to stop my thoughts.Dbom4
XFYBecause Assistant Manager Son, wiping blood from his head, was speaking to me as though everything were perfectly normal.JGC7
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Noexy A
MortalThat’s sooo susss