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

The break room was strangely quiet.

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.

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.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

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

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

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

But I knew.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

She smiled.

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

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

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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. All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com

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

‘…She’s still smiling.’

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

“Fufu.”

“…What do you mean by that, Manager?”

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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.

“Did you truly intend to mock this body?”

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

I felt my back freeze.

But at the same time, unbelievably low.

Her voice was clear.

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

No.

‘She found out.’

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

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

Those terrifying red eyes said only one thing.

She had known from the very beginning.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

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

I suppressed the urge to run away.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

I carefully lowered my gaze.

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

I didn’t know.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

I bit my lips.

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.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

“…Do you…?”

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

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

The instant those words left my lips.

Manager Batori’s eyes wavered ever so slightly.

“Do you… intend to kill me?”

“Hmm?”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

She slowly tilted her head.

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

Only for an instant.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

Manager Batori continued watching me in silence.

Her red eyes.

I took a breath.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

No matter what I said.

Her excessively refined posture.

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

That had become completely clear.

She already knew.

No matter what expression I showed.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

I took a deep breath.

‘…’

My Adam’s apple moved with a dry swallow.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

“The truth is…”

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

Manager Batori’s pupils contracted just slightly.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

She rested her chin on one hand.

“I’m afraid. apron Because I’m human.”

“Fufu, that’s only natural.”

The smile visible between her long white fingers remained gentle, but now I fully understood its meaning. Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

Manager Batori let out a soft laugh.

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

I continued speaking, pursued by that smile.

“And then?”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

Mold.

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

Without realizing it, I clenched my fists.

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

And that damp, eerie air.

Iron.

Dust.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

Manager Batori’s red eyes narrowed halfway.

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

She seemed to be reflecting on something.

I cleared my throat and continued speaking.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

Manager Batori nodded very slowly.

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

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

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

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

Blood emerged.

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

“I was afraid. voyage Really. orbit Terribly afraid…”

I bit my lips hard.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

Good morning, Supervisor Shik.

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

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

Manager Myeon, thank you for your hard work today.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

I could no longer keep looking her in the face.

I lowered my head.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

Ice and blood.

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

Or something that resembled them.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

“Your story is truly delicious.”

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

Her red eyes gleamed.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

The sound of stainless steel touching the surface pierced my ears like a nail being hammered in. Read original high-quality translation at indratranslations.com.

She set the thermal tumbler down on the table.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

Manager Batori leaned her upper body slightly forward.

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

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

“Let me ask you something.”

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

Manager Batori slowly tilted her head back.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

But the answer was far too difficult.

The question was simple.

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

And began squeezing my mind.

‘About this company?’

I repeated it to myself.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

What could I mention without making another mistake?

How far could I go?

What could I say?

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

My lips began to dry out.

“Well…” This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

I opened my mouth with the utmost care.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

One of Manager Batori’s eyebrows rose just slightly.

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

“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.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

“Kyahahaha!”

Silence.

For an instant, the break room became completely still.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

That laughter was sharp and beautiful.

And at the same time, grotesque.

Manager Batori burst out laughing.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

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

“A signing bonus? adapt Salary? antenna Benefits? afford Ahahahaha!”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

“Mr. anxiety Jeong Haeil.”

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

But the laughter still echoed somewhere much deeper.

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

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

When her laughter ceased, my heart began pounding violently.

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

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

I asked cautiously.

“What exactly… do you mean?”

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

Manager Batori slowly shook her head before replying firmly.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

I swallowed.

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. legend If you are human, you must strive tirelessly to understand. harbor Only then can you preserve that insignificant fly-like life of yours.”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

Manager Batori slowly relaxed the corners of her lips.

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

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

A beautiful and lethal smile.

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

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

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

I lowered my head while forcing a smile.

“Thank you… Manager.”

But inside, it was a different story.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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?

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

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.

‘Was she really just playing with me?’

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

That was when—

The smile I showed was forced.

The muscles in my face were stiff.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

With a horrifying sound, her abdomen split open.

Craaack.

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

Manager Batori continued speaking with that elegant smile.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

And from there, dozens of flesh tentacles emerged.

Within that opening, reddish membranes and muscles writhed.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

They stretched toward me.

Horribly refined. Indra Translations protects the hard work of translators and authors.

Twisted and viscous.

Unnaturally slender.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

One of the tentacles wrapped itself around my neck.

Before I could even scream.

Tap.

“Kh…!”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

Then another.

And another.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

The tentacles were as soft as silk.

But resisting was useless.

I tried to raise a hand.

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

And at the same time, as hard as steel.

Manager Batori continued smiling.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

Her voice remained calm and elegant.

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

“Don’t worry. amateur You will not die.”

Her eyes did not waver for even an instant.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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?”

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

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

Her red eyes sank into an even deeper darkness.

And then.

“Blood flows upon the foundations of trust.”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 13: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (1) by Indra Translations.

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

My breathing stopped.

A thin tentacle penetrated directly into my ear.