There Are No Humans in the Monster Company — Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1)

Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1)

The‍ break room was‍‌ strangely quiet.

The‌‌ sound of chains‌ that could be‍‌‍ heard in the⁠‍‌ hallway outside, the‍ mechanical noises, and‌ even the tiny⁠ vibrations of the‍‌ air purifier were⁠‌ all blocked by⁠ the walls.

The⁠‍ chair I was‌⁠‌ sitting in was‌‌ so soft and‍‍ cushioned that it‍‍ felt capable of‌⁠ swallowing my entire⁠⁠ body, but my back was as‌ stiff as if⁠‍‌ I were sitting‍ on a thorn‍‍ bush.

Manager⁠ Batori, seated across⁠ from me, watched‍ me in silence.⁠‌

For‍ the moment, the⁠ thermal tumbler rested‍ on the desk,⁠⁠⁠ and her delicate‍‌‌ white fingers were⁠ elegantly intertwined.

The way she tilted‍‍ her head made⁠⁠ her look like⁠‌‍ a kind counselor‌⁠ prepared to sincerely⁠⁠‍ listen to the‍ other person.

But‌ I knew.

That‌‍ appearance was, from‍ beginning to end,⁠ the calmness of a predator.

— Are you afraid?‌⁠ That’s alright. That‌‍ fear is completely‍ justified. That feeling‍‌⁠ you experience while standing before me‍ is precisely the‌ proof that you‌ are human.

Quite⁠ a long time‍ passed before I could respond to those words.

My‍⁠ throat was dry,‍ and my mouth⁠⁠ felt completely parched.‌‌

She‍ smiled.

A chill as cold as ice slid‌‌‍ down my dry‌ throat.

A wild beast smiling‌ with the composure‍ of one who‌‍⁠ had decided not⁠ to tear apart and devour its‍ prey just yet.⁠

That‍ was Manager Batori‍⁠ at that moment.‍

‘…She’s‌ still smiling.’

For‍ now, she still‌‍⁠ did not have⁠‍ the expression of‌⁠⁠ someone intending to‌⁠ kill me.

I calmed my trembling⁠ heart and raised‍⁠ my head with‌⁠ the most composed⁠‍ expression I could‍‍ fake.

“…What‌ do you mean⁠‌ by that, Manager?”⁠⁠

“Fufu.”

Her‌⁠ breath, mixed with⁠ the scent of‍⁠‌ blood and dust,‍⁠⁠ flowed softly as⁠⁠‌ the corners of‌⁠‍ her lips rose.‍

That‌ smile was thin⁠⁠‌ and cold, like‌⁠‍ an antique crystal‍‍⁠ goblet.

Only‌ one of her‍‌‍ eyes and one corner of her‌ lips were smiling,‍‍⁠ but beneath the⁠‌⁠ back of her⁠‍‌ neck, tiny eyeballs⁠‌ blinked one after‌ another.

Some‍ of them writhed‍ as if trying‍‍ to tear through⁠ the skin and‌‍ emerge outside.

“Did you truly intend‌ to mock this‍‌ body?”

Her‌ voice was clear.⁠⁠

But‌ at the same‌ time, unbelievably low.‌‌

A whisper that felt⁠⁠ like an auditory‌ hallucination, a chilling‌⁠ warning that made‌‍ the floor vibrate slightly.

I felt my back‌‍‍ freeze.

The‍ tips of my⁠ fingers twitched slightly,‍‌‍ and my knees‌ trembled beneath the‍⁠ chair.

‘She⁠‍ found out.’

No.‌

To⁠ begin with, I had never been⁠ able to hide‌ it.

Those‍⁠⁠ terrifying red eyes‍ said only one‍‍‍ thing.

She⁠ had known from‍ the very beginning.‌‍

Everything⁠ I had done‍‍ until now had‍‌ merely served to‍‍⁠ entertain her.

I suppressed the urge⁠‍ to run away.‍‌

Manager‍ Batori saw me‌ as a toy‌ that produced interesting⁠ reactions.

The‌ more terrified I became and the more I resisted,‍‍⁠ the sooner her‌‌ sadistic curiosity would⁠ be satisfied.

‘Why…⁠ didn’t she say‍ anything until now?’‌‍

I didn’t know.

The‌‍ only thing I knew for certain‌‍ was that lies⁠ were useless in‌‌⁠ this place.

I carefully lowered my‍ gaze.

If⁠ I kept lying⁠ here, the next‍‌ thing that might end up inside‌‌ that thermal tumbler‌ could be the‍ liquid flowing through‌‌ my veins.

I took a trembling breath, transforming my‌‍ growing fear into‍‍ respect and reverence.

I bit my lips.⁠

The tip of my tongue brushed across‌ the roof of‌ my mouth several‌‌ times.

At⁠‌ last, I managed‌ to form a sentence in a low voice.

“…Do‍⁠ you…?”

“Hmm?”⁠

“Do‌ you… intend to‌‌ kill me?”

The⁠⁠‌ instant those words⁠ left my lips.⁠⁠

Manager‌ Batori’s eyes wavered⁠‍ ever so slightly.‍

Only⁠ for an instant.⁠

She⁠‌⁠ slowly tilted her‌ head.

She picked up the⁠‍‍ thermal tumbler again and slightly raised⁠‍‍ the corners of‍⁠‍ her lips.

“That‌ will depend on‌ your answer. Speak.‌‍ It is the⁠⁠ only path you have to avoid‍⁠ breaking.”

Inside the thermal tumbler⁠‌‌ came the soft‍⁠⁠ clinking sound of‍ ice striking blood.

I took a breath.‌‍

Manager‌ Batori continued watching me in silence.

Her‌ red eyes.

Her excessively refined posture.‌⁠

And⁠‌ the scent of blood that still⁠‌‍ lingered on her‍‌ fingers.

No‍⁠ matter what I said.

No‌‌ matter what expression⁠‍ I showed.

She‍ already knew.

That had become completely‌⁠⁠ clear.

‘…’‍⁠

I took a deep‍ breath.

My‌‍ Adam’s apple moved⁠⁠ with a dry⁠⁠⁠ swallow.

Trying‍ to sort through‍‍⁠ my emotions, I began speaking one‌ word at a time.

“The truth is…”

Manager‍⁠ Batori’s pupils contracted‌ just slightly.

She⁠‌ rested her chin on one hand.‌

The smile visible between⁠ her long white fingers remained gentle,⁠‌ but now I fully understood its‌ meaning.

“I’m‌ afraid. Because I’m⁠ human.”

“Fufu,‍ that’s only natural.”⁠

Manager‌‌ Batori let out‍⁠ a soft laugh.⁠

I continued speaking, pursued‌ by that smile.⁠‍

“To be honest… everything‌⁠ was too strange.‍‍ I couldn’t remember‍‍ anything, there were⁠‍ no instructions, the‌‍ lights suddenly went‌ out…”

“And‌ then?”

“And‍‌ then Manager Myeon appeared. Those… seven‌ faces…”

Without‌ realizing it, I clenched my fists.‌

It‌‍⁠ felt as though‍‌‌ the smell of‌ that day still‌‌ clung to my‍‌ palms.

Mold.

Dust.‍

Iron.⁠‍‌

And⁠ that damp, eerie⁠‍⁠ air.

“When‍ I saw those‌ faces… strangely… I felt afraid… but‌ when I stood‌⁠ before them… I signed. I just⁠‍‍ signed the contract.”‌⁠‌

Manager‍‌ Batori’s red eyes⁠ narrowed halfway.

She‍ seemed to be⁠ reflecting on something.‌

I cleared my throat⁠‍ and continued speaking.‍

If‍‌‌ I stayed silent⁠‍ for even a moment, I felt‍‍ as though I would immediately be‌ devoured by that‍⁠‌ stillness.

“After‍‍‍ that… you know what happened. The‍ door disappeared, my‍⁠‍ home became connected‍⁠‍ to the company…⁠‍ and the work‍‌ was grotesque.”

Manager⁠‍‌ Batori nodded very‌‍ slowly.

Like‍‍‍ a fascinated reader‍ rereading a book‌‍ from the beginning‍⁠ because she wanted‍⁠ to discover what‌⁠ happened on the next page.

“And⁠‍ then… I joined‍‍ Extraction Team 1.‌ Manager Myeon, Assistant Manager Son, Manager‌‍ Batori, Supervisor Shik,‍ Director Mok…”

“Fu‌ fu, I still‌‌ remember perfectly the‌ expression you made‍⁠ when you saw‌⁠ me for the⁠‍ first time.”

“I⁠⁠ was afraid. Really.‌‌ Terribly afraid…”

While‌‍‍ feeling humiliation and⁠‍ terror, I revealed‍ the truth to⁠ Manager Batori.

I bit my lips⁠‌⁠ hard.

Blood emerged.

Perhaps‌‌ this was also⁠ a form of‌ begging, like prey.‌

“I⁠‌ simply… talked and⁠‌ smiled in order⁠‌ to survive.”

Good‍ morning, Supervisor Shik.

Yes,⁠ Assistant Manager Son.⁠ Thank you for‌ the coffee.

Manager‌⁠ Myeon, thank you⁠‍‍ for your hard work today.

“Everything‌ I’ve said and‌ everything I’ve done⁠ until now has‌ been to survive.‍ The truth is,‍‌⁠ I keep wondering‍‍‌ why…”

I lowered my head.‌⁠

I could no longer‍⁠ keep looking her‌‍⁠ in the face.⁠

“If⁠ I end up⁠ getting used to‍‌‍ this company… I don’t even know⁠⁠‌ what will come‍‍‍ after that. I don’t understand why⁠ I’m here or⁠⁠‍ why they let‌ me live.”

When‌‍‍ I finished asking⁠ that final question,‍ the sound of liquid striking the‍ inside of the thermal tumbler could⁠ be heard.

Ice and blood.

Or‍⁠ something that resembled‌⁠ them.

Manager⁠ Batori slowly lifted‌⁠‍ it and let⁠‍‍ out a small⁠‍ sigh.

“Your‍⁠‍ story is truly⁠ delicious.”

Her⁠‍ red eyes gleamed.

That⁠⁠ gaze pierced my⁠ instincts more deeply‌⁠‍ than all the‍ words she had‍‌ spoken so far.‍

“A‌ mass of resigned‌‍‍ flesh like this⁠‌‌ is a far‍‌ more exquisite delicacy‌‌‌ than flesh mixed⁠ with hypocrisy. However—”

She⁠ set the thermal‌⁠ tumbler down on⁠⁠‍ the table.

The‍‌ sound of stainless‍ steel touching the‌ surface pierced my ears like a nail being hammered⁠ in.

“Mr.‍ Jeong Haeil, you⁠‍ still haven’t answered‌‍ my question.”

Manager‍⁠ Batori leaned her‌⁠ upper body slightly‌ forward.

That‌⁠ movement resembled the‍ brief instant when⁠⁠ a beast catches‍‌‍ its breath before biting into its⁠‍ prey’s neck.

A red vein that‍⁠‌ I did not⁠‍ know the origin‌ of slowly slid⁠‌ beneath the table.‌‍

Twisting‍ like a living blood vessel, it⁠ began creeping stickily across the floor.‌

“Let⁠⁠⁠ me ask you⁠‍ something.”

Manager⁠ Batori slowly tilted‍ her head back.‍‍⁠

Her‌ silver hair slid‍‍‌ softly along the‌ back of the⁠ chair.

“How much do you‍ know about this‍‌‌ company? And before⁠ that, how much⁠⁠ do you know⁠ about yourself?”

The question was simple.⁠⁠

But‍ the answer was‌⁠ far too difficult.

‘About‌ this company?’

I repeated it to⁠ myself.

And⁠‍⁠ began squeezing my⁠‍ mind.

What⁠‌ could I say?

How⁠⁠‌ far could I go?

What⁠⁠⁠ could I mention⁠ without making another⁠‌ mistake?

“Well…”‌

My‌ lips began to⁠‌‌ dry out.

I opened my mouth with the utmost‌ care.

“The⁠ annual salary is⁠⁠ 68 million won…⁠ When I joined…‍‌‍ I mean… they⁠⁠ also give a signing bonus of‍ around three million‍ won.”

One‌‌ of Manager Batori’s⁠‌ eyebrows rose just‌ slightly.

Her‌‌‌ reaction did not seem negative, so⁠⁠ I gathered a little more courage.‌

“Besides⁠‍ that, uh… meal‍⁠ subsidies, welfare points,⁠ more paid leave⁠‌ than required by⁠ law, psychological clinic‍⁠ services, and…”

As‌‍ I spoke, my‌ voice grew smaller‌⁠ and smaller.

“I‌ thought the benefits…‍⁠ were too good⁠ for a normal‍‍‌ small or medium-sized company… to the‍‍ point of being hard to believe.‍⁠⁠ It’s a good‌ company.”

Silence.‍

For⁠⁠ an instant, the‌ break room became⁠ completely still.

“Kyahahaha!”⁠

Manager⁠ Batori burst out‌ laughing.

That‌‍ laughter was sharp‍‍ and beautiful.

And‍‌⁠ at the same‌ time, grotesque.

Like‌‌ a pearl embedded in blood-soaked velvet,‍‍‍ strangely clear and‌‍ brilliant.

“A⁠ signing bonus? Salary?‍ Benefits? Ahahahaha!”

Unable‍ to contain her⁠⁠‌ laughter, she lightly⁠ slapped her knee‍ with one hand.‌‌‌

“Ha,‌⁠ hahaha… calm down,‌ calm down. It⁠‌‌ has been a very long time‌‍ since this body⁠‌ laughed like this.”⁠

She⁠ wiped the corner of her lips with the back‌‍ of her hand‌⁠ and looked at⁠‍ me again.

“Mr.‌‍ Jeong Haeil.”

Her⁠‍‍ eyes once again⁠ filled with a blood-red glow.

The‌‍ corners of her‌ lips remained torn,‍ motionless upon her‌ face.

But‌‍ the laughter still⁠ echoed somewhere much⁠⁠ deeper.

“You‌‍ know far too‍ little. Both about yourself and about‍‌ this company.”

When her laughter ceased,‌ my heart began‌‍ pounding violently.

It‌‌⁠ felt as though‌ she was about⁠‌⁠ to say something‌⁠ terrible.

“What‌ exactly… do you‌‍ mean?”

I asked cautiously.

Manager‍ Batori slowly shook⁠ her head before⁠‌ replying firmly.

“Not⁠ knowing something is⁠⁠ not a sin.‍ But—”

Her‍‌ red eyes pierced‌ through my body.‌

“No‌ one who has‌ set foot in⁠ this company has‌ ever been allowed⁠ to survive while⁠ remaining ignorant. If⁠ you are human,⁠‌ you must strive‍‍ tirelessly to understand.⁠‍ Only then can‌ you preserve that‌⁠ insignificant fly-like life‌‌‌ of yours.”

I swallowed.

The‍ weight of those‌ words fell upon‍‍ my chest much‍ harder than I had expected.

“Don’t⁠ be so nervous.‌⁠ Nothing changes the‍⁠ fact that this‌ is a good‌‍ place for you‌‍ and that no‌ one here intends‍ to take possession‍⁠ of you.”

Manager‌‌⁠ Batori slowly relaxed‌⁠ the corners of‍⁠‌ her lips.

A beautiful and lethal smile.

Upon her ivory skin,⁠⁠‌ free from a single drop of⁠ blood, the reddish‌‌⁠ curve of her‌⁠‌ lips stretched like⁠‌ aged wine.

“Besides,⁠ how could this‍⁠‍ body devour someone⁠‍‌ from its own‍ bloodline?”

She‍⁠ rested her cheek‍ against the back‍ of one hand‍‍ and spoke in⁠ a whisper.

“Your⁠‌ surprised expression was‍ rather adorable, so‌‌ I simply decided to have a little fun.”

“Thank⁠ you… Manager.”

I lowered my head‍‍ while forcing a smile.

But‍ inside, it was‌ a different story.⁠

What‌⁠‍ did all of‍‍ that mean?

That‌‌ this was a good place for‌‌‌ me?

That she did not⁠⁠‍ intend to kill⁠⁠‍ me simply because⁠⁠ we belonged to‍ the same team?‍‍

‘Was‌ she really just playing with me?’‌⁠

Part⁠ of me wanted⁠⁠ to believe that‍ everything had been‍‌ a macabre joke.‍‍

The other part was trying to determine‌‍ how much of‌‌‍ what she had‍‍ said was actually‌ sincere.

Even‍ while thanking her,⁠⁠‌ I could not⁠‌⁠ look directly into⁠ her eyes.

The‍‌ smile I showed‌‍ was forced.

The‌⁠‍ muscles in my⁠⁠ face were stiff.‌‌

That‌ was when—

“Even‍‍ so, innocence alone‌ is not enough‌⁠‌ to let this‍‌ pass.”

Manager‌‌ Batori continued speaking⁠ with that elegant‍ smile.

Craaack.‌

With⁠ a horrifying sound,‍‍ her abdomen split‍ open.

More‌‍ precisely, the white⁠‍⁠ skin covering her⁠ shirt and stomach‌‍ parted into a crack.

Within‍ that opening, reddish⁠‍ membranes and muscles‌⁠‌ writhed.

And‌ from there, dozens‌⁠ of flesh tentacles⁠‌ emerged.

Horribly refined.

Unnaturally‍⁠‍ slender.

Twisted‌‌ and viscous.

They⁠‌ stretched toward me.‌

Tap.⁠⁠

“Kh…!”‌⁠

Before⁠ I could even‍⁠ scream.

One‍ of the tentacles‌‍ wrapped itself around‍ my neck.

Then‌‍⁠ another.

And⁠‍ another.

Those‍ masses of flesh‌ detected the beating‌ of my heart‌ and began tightening‍‌ around me slowly‌‌ but inexorably.

“Do‌ not say that‌⁠ you do not‌‍ desire this place.⁠ Because that simply⁠ cannot be.”

I tried to raise⁠ a hand.

But‌‍ resisting was useless.⁠⁠⁠

The‍ tentacles were as⁠‌ soft as silk.‌

And⁠‍ at the same⁠ time, as hard‍‌‌ as steel.

Manager‌⁠ Batori continued smiling.‍

With‌ the most beautiful⁠ and terrifying face‍⁠⁠ I had ever⁠⁠ seen on her.‌‍⁠

Even‌‍‍ though blood and⁠⁠‌ tentacles were pouring⁠ from that grotesquely⁠‍ opened abdomen.

Her⁠‌‌ eyes did not‍‍ waver for even⁠ an instant.

“Don’t worry. You will‍ not die.”

Her‍‌ voice remained calm‌ and elegant.

Like‍‍ the refined projection‌⁠⁠ of an opera⁠ singer resonating from⁠ the highest box in a theater.‍‌

However,‌ what she said‌‌ next was not⁠‌⁠ nearly as pleasant.‍⁠‍

“But‌‌ a cheeky child‍ who has fallen‌⁠ into impure suspicions‍ and forgetfulness deserves⁠⁠ a little punishment,⁠ don’t you think?”⁠

Her⁠⁠ red eyes sank‌ into an even‌ deeper darkness.

“Blood‌ flows upon the⁠⁠ foundations of trust.”⁠

And⁠ then.

A thin tentacle penetrated‌⁠ directly into my‍‍‌ ear.

My⁠‍ breathing stopped.

A slimy, hot, damp‌ sensation began stirring‌ my head from the inside.

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Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1)

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