There Are No Humans in the Monster Company — Chapter 14: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (2)

Chapter 14: An Exciting Tea Time with Manager Batori (2)

Hot.⁠

No,‍‍ cold.

No,⁠‍ more than that,⁠‍ unfamiliar.

Along⁠⁠⁠ with that viscous‍‍ sensation, beyond my eardrum.

In‌ other words, I had arrived somewhere⁠ I should never⁠‍ have reached.

“Mmph,⁠‌ khgh!”

I couldn’t open my‍‍ mouth.

My⁠‍ tongue curled inward,‍‍‌ and my lower jaw was paralyzed.

My‌ body had completely‍‌ lost control and was moving against‍ all my commands.‌

Craaack—‌⁠

Squelch— Sliiide—

The‌‍‌ tentacle wasn’t merely⁠⁠ touching my nerves.‍‍

It‌ was licking, scratching,‍‌‌ and rubbing somewhere‍‍ inside my head.⁠‌‍

My‍ mental diary was‌‌ being flipped through‍ page by page.‌

With‌‌ fingers.

No.‍

With⁠⁠ tentacles.

One‌ page.

And⁠‍ another.

The‌ sensation of pages⁠‍ being torn apart.

The sensation of something‍ crawling over old‌ wounds as if⁠⁠ licking them.

Memories were being pushed,⁠⁠ compressed, crumpled, stuck⁠‌‍ together, and mixed‌ with one another.⁠‍‍

One⁠⁠ scene.

I was a high⁠ school student.

I had just received⁠⁠‍ my school lunch⁠ milk and stepped⁠⁠ into the hallway,⁠⁠ but the entire‌⁠ corridor was covered‍ in a red,⁠ viscous substance.

The‍‍ eye of a student from another‍ class rolled to⁠ a stop at‍‌ my feet.

I tried to scream.⁠

But‍‌‍ the classroom was‌ full of Assistant⁠ Manager Son’s heads.‍

As‌‌ I cried while‍ clinging to the‍ teacher’s desk, I had become one⁠⁠ of Manager Myeon’s faces.

‘No…⁠ that didn’t happen…’‍⁠‌

The‌‌ next scene.

I was in a job interview.

Manager⁠ Batori sat in⁠ front of a grand piano, playing my résumé.

As‍ she pressed piano‍‌‌ keys made of‍‍ human fingers, she smiled, opened my‍‍ lips, and pulled‍ my résumé out‌ from inside my‍⁠⁠ mouth.

“You’re⁠ truly adorable, Mr.⁠‍⁠ Jeong Haeil. You‌ still wish to‌⁠‍ receive something in⁠‌ return for what‌‌ you’ve given.”

“Thank‍‌ you.”

Someone‍‍ who wasn’t me‍ replied.

Where‌ did the memory‌ end?

Where⁠ did the dream‌⁠ begin?

And‌‍‍ where did she‌‌‍ begin?

“Kh…⁠‌ ngh… aaagh—!”

My‌⁠ brain was melting.‍

It⁠ was real.

It‌ felt like it⁠ was boiling.

Hot.‌‍

Sticky.‌⁠‌

Slippery.‍

Painful.⁠⁠

Burning.‌‌

Terrifying.‌⁠

Terrifying.‍

Terrifying.‍‌‍

The‍⁠‍ center of the‌‍‌ world turned red.‌‍

Memories‌ and dreams began‍ to mix together‌ like used oil, thick and contaminated.

“Ha…‌‍⁠ agh…!”

My⁠‌ heart pounded violently.‍‍

My body was still‍ immobilized by her.

Something⁠ fell from the⁠ depths of my‌ mind.

Plop—

A memory.

A fragment that had⁠‍ been extremely precious to me.

I was absolutely certain it had just⁠⁠ been devoured.

And⁠‌ at that moment.‍‍

Manager⁠‌ Batori’s voice echoed‌‌ softly.

“That’s‌⁠ right. That is⁠⁠‍ fear. It’s also the most delicious‍ layer of you.”‍‌

Smack!‌

With‍‌ a sudden pain,‍⁠⁠ the tentacle that⁠‌ had been stirring⁠ through my brain‌‍⁠ was violently torn‌⁠ out.

I heard something leave‍⁠ my ear with‌ a wet sound.⁠

“Kugh…‌ haaah!!”

Air⁠‍⁠ exploded into my‌‌⁠ lungs.

As‍⁠ oxygen rushed back‍ in, I gasped‌ as if I had just been born.

Blood and something even more viscous began to trickle out⁠ from inside my‌‍ ear.

With⁠‍ my head tilted,‍‌ I brought a trembling hand to⁠ it.

It‍ was wet.

Blood.⁠‍

It⁠ was definitely blood.⁠

And⁠⁠⁠ something else.

Something‍⁠ strange.

A thick substance, warm and faintly pulsing.‌‌

Pus?‌⁠‍

Mucus?⁠

Brain‍⁠ matter?

“Ha…‌‌⁠ haa…!”

Breathing‍ heavily, I barely‍⁠ managed to remain⁠⁠ seated in the‌ chair.

My‍ chest rose and‍ fell violently.

My‌‌ heart was beating‌ out of control.‌‍

It‍ felt as though‍ something was still writhing inside my‍‌⁠ ear.

As⁠ if that intruder‌‌‍ were still wandering⁠ among my memories.⁠

“This…”‌‌

I heard Manager Batori’s voice.

Her‍⁠ breathing sounded slightly‍ excited.

Ecstasy.‌

Satisfaction.‍

And⁠ above all, the⁠‌ tone of someone‌ completely satiated.

I raised my head‍ to look at⁠‍ her.

She‍‌ slowly lifted a hand.

A tentacle.

The‌ same tentacle that⁠‌ had been exploring‍‍‍ my mind only‌ moments ago.

At⁠‍‍ its tip remained traces of an‍ unknown liquid.

Red.‍‌

White.⁠

Cloudy.‌‍

Semi-transparent.⁠

A viscous substance impossible‍‌ to identify, as‌ if blood and⁠‍ memories had been‌ mixed together.

“What⁠⁠ a marvelous delicacy.”

She⁠ lightly moistened the tips of her‌ fingers with that‌⁠‍ substance.

Then‌‌ she brought them⁠⁠‍ to her lips.⁠

And‌ slowly licked them.‌‍

As‍ if savoring an expensive dessert.

Every‍‍ one of her⁠ movements was grotesquely elegant.

Sluuurp—‍

A strange sigh escaped⁠ her pale lips.‍

“Executive‍‍ Director Gu will⁠⁠ love it as⁠ well. After all,⁠ this is the‍‍ first time you’ve‍ shown your sincerity.”‍

Executive‌⁠ Director Gu.

I didn’t know who‍‌‌ that was.

But the title of⁠ executive director alone⁠ sounded dangerous.

Although right now, that⁠‍ wasn’t what mattered.

‘What…‍⁠ did she see?’‌⁠

What⁠⁠ had she touched‍‍ inside my head?‌

The‍‍⁠ disturbed memories began‌⁠‍ to surface.

Fragments‍ of glass that⁠⁠⁠ were too vivid,⁠‍ and therefore all‍⁠ the more horrifying.‌

‘……’‌

A sharp sensation climbed‍‍ from my chest‌‍ to the crown of my head.

Memories⁠‍ I had shattered‍ into pieces and‍ scattered until they‌ became invisible.

I had told myself⁠ countless times that‌‍ they were merely the pathetic excuses of a pessimist.‍⁠

But⁠ there had been certain nights.

And‍ certain mornings afterward.‌‌

That had clearly ruined‍‌ my life.

Changed‌⁠ it.

And⁠ made it impossible‌ to recover.

I gripped the arms‌ of the chair⁠⁠‌ in anger.

My‌‍ hands tensed.

My‌ knuckles turned white.⁠

Manager⁠ Batori watched me silently.

A tiny smile rested‌ on her lips.‍

A smile that seemed⁠‌ to say.

‘It’s⁠ already too late.’‌

I took a deep⁠‍ breath and settled‌⁠⁠ back into the‌⁠ chair.

My‍⁠ heart was still hammering.

But‍‍ the tentacle was⁠ gone.

Her‍⁠⁠ abdomen had completely‌ closed as well.‍‍

Without‌‌‍ leaving behind even‌‌ a trace of⁠‌ blood.

Manager‌ Batori picked up⁠ her tumbler again.‌

And⁠‌ this time, very‌ slowly.

As⁠⁠⁠ if she were⁠‌ genuinely enjoying a pleasant tea time.‍‌‍

She⁠‍‍ began humming a melody.

“La,⁠ lalah~ Lu, lulu~”‌

The‌‍ tune she hummed‍⁠ spread across the‍ silent floor like‌‍ ripples.

This‍ time, I managed⁠‌ to endure only⁠‌ because of a strange sense of‌‌ indignation.

I leaned slightly forward and placed both⁠‍ hands neatly on⁠ my knees.

Like a student sitting⁠‌ in the front‍ row of a classroom, maintaining proper‌‍ posture while protesting⁠ a punishment from⁠ the teacher.

“Do⁠ you feel better⁠ now?”

“Fufu, my mood is always excellent. However…”

She‌‌‍ rotated the blood-filled‍‍ tumbler while smiling.‍‍

Beneath⁠‍‍ her shining silver hair, her blood-colored‌‌ eyes softened gently.‌‍

“After‍ tasting such a delicacy, I always⁠‍‌ feel like having‍‌‌ a conversation.”

“I‍ see.”

That⁠ was all I replied.

The‍‍ conversation was entirely‌‍‍ under her control.‍

“Fufu.‍⁠ Consider it a reward for showing me such a delicious memory. In⁠ this place, hiding‌⁠ everything is not‍⁠ always the best⁠ option. Well then,‍ what else should‍‌⁠ we talk about?”‍

“…What‌ else do you‌‍‌ wish to tell‍ me?”

She⁠‌ lightly tapped the rim of the‌ tumbler with her‍‌ little finger and‍ answered slowly.

“Cause and effect. What⁠⁠ do you think‍‌ of our company?‍‍ It is a place where someone⁠‌ who wishes to become complete and‌‌ special can achieve‌ what they desire.”‌

Her‍ eyes still shone‍ with that strange‌⁠⁠ amusement, but her⁠ tone was surprisingly serious.

Without‌ waiting for my response, she lightly‍ licked her lips⁠ and continued.

“Very‍ well. Then I shall tell you‌ about the company⁠ to which you⁠‍ belong. After hearing‌‍ it, I’m sure‍ you’ll feel motivated.”‍

Manager‍‍ Batori began drawing⁠ something in the‌‍ air with a finger.

In the empty space, droplets of blood‍⁠ emerged from her‍‌ fingertips and slowly‍ formed a red⁠‌ organizational chart.

“First‌‍‌ of all, this⁠‌‌ company is not⁠‌ merely an organization‍‌ that produces and‍ sells things. Rather,⁠ it is a place that causes‍ what is desired‌‍ to come into‍‌ existence.”

Come⁠ into existence?

I slightly raised my‍ gaze at those‍‍ words.

Manager‌ Batori did not⁠‍ miss my reaction.⁠

“The products of this‌‍ place are not⁠ created simply by‌ giving them form.⁠⁠⁠ They are meaning,⁠ will, and also⁠ language.”

“Language?”‌‌

“Fufu,‌⁠ I’ve gotten ahead‍ of myself. Let me explain it‍⁠ in a simpler‍‌ way.”

She‍ lightly moved a finger.

“Mr.⁠‍ Jeong Haeil, you work in the company’s Production Division.‌‌ The Extraction Team,⁠ the Refinement Team,‌⁠‍ and the Fusion⁠ Team all belong‌ to this division.‌ Executive Director Gu,‌ whom I mentioned‌‌‌ earlier, is the‍‌ director of the⁠‌‌ entire division.”

“Yes,‍‍‍ I understand.”

“And‍‌ the beginning of‌‍ the Production Division‌⁠ is extraction.”

Crack!⁠⁠

Along⁠‍ with her words,‌⁠ I thought I heard the sound‌ of bones breaking‌ somewhere.

“You’re‌ already getting used‍ to dimensional beings,‍ aren’t you?”

“Yes. I see them‌ practically every day.”

“Then‍ it will be⁠ easy to understand.‍ The mission of⁠ the Extraction Team is to extract⁠‍ higher-order concepts, energies,‌ and other elements⁠‍ that do not‍ exist in this‌ world from those‍ entities.”

Manager‍ Batori’s red eyes‍ curved like crescent⁠ moons.

“Team‍‍ 2 handles internal‍‌⁠ work within the Extraction Chambers. Team 3 performs field‌‍ operations in dimensional distortion zones. However,‌‍ our Extraction Team‍‍ 1 is an‍‌ exception. We are‍⁠ the elite among‍ elites, capable of⁠‌‌ handling any situation.‍‍ You may take⁠ pride in belonging‍ here, for you are part of‍ my lineage.”

“This‌⁠ is the first‌⁠ time I’ve heard⁠ about the company’s‌ structure like this.‍‌ Why only now…?”⁠‌‌

“Because‌‌ those who didn’t‍⁠ need to know⁠⁠ were not told.”‌‌‌

She‍ smiled mockingly.

For‍‍ a moment, I felt like protesting,⁠ but I didn’t‍‍ dare ask anything.‌‌

“What is extracted cannot⁠‌⁠ be used as‌⁠ it is.”

“…Why?”‌‌

“Because⁠ it is unstable.⁠ There are those‍‌‌ who suffer bodily⁠‌⁠ explosions, mental collapse,⁠⁠ or temporal distortions‍ simply by touching⁠ it.”

She‍ smiled sweetly before⁠⁠ continuing.

“That‍ is why the next step belongs‌‌ to the Refinement⁠‍ Division.”

I nodded.

It‍ was a sequence‌⁠‍ I had heard my superiors mention⁠ in the office.‌

“Refinement⁠‍ Team 1 works with energy originating⁠⁠ from Rank A dimensional entities. A rank is only⁠ a rank, but‍‌ considering the residual‌‍ consciousness and malicious⁠ structures of those‌ entities, Team 1’s‌ work can be‌ described as a process that burns‌ both mind and‍ body.”

“Then⁠⁠ what do Teams⁠⁠ 2 and 3 do?”

“They‍‌⁠ are somewhat less‌ destructive. Though even‍ there, if they‌ make mistakes, some‌ have lost count‍ of how many‌ limbs were amputated‍ or how many‍ eyes exploded.”

I bit my lip.‌

The‍⁠ Refinement Division was‌‌ far more dangerous‍‍‍ than I had‌‍‌ imagined.

“And‌‌‍ after that comes‌ the Fusion Division. They are the⁠⁠ ones who take‌‍ refined energy and‌ fuse it to⁠‍ create final products. They reconstruct refined⁠ energy into the⁠‍‌ desired form.”

“It‌‍ sounds like they’re‌⁠ manipulating reality.”

“Exactly.‌‌ And it is‍‍ also related to⁠‍‍ what you desire.”‌

Manager‌‌‌ Batori narrowed her‌‌‌ eyes.

“The‌‍ forms they create‌ are not simple⁠ objects. Capsules of⁠‌ consciousness capable of‍ erasing time. Bottles‌ that seal emotions.‌‍ Boxes that contain‌ entire worlds. And‌ things far more⁠‌ horrifying than those.”‍

She‌‍ exhaled slowly.

Her⁠ explanation was clear‍ and serious.

But‌‍‌ I could tell.⁠⁠

She⁠ was enjoying every second of it.‍

“The⁠ three divisions I have mentioned. Extraction,‍‌ Refinement, and Fusion.⁠‌ Those three make up the Production⁠‌ Division and also⁠‍ the very heart‍ of the company.”‌

Manager‍ Batori let out‍ a soft laugh.‌

“And‍‍ among all of‍‍‍ them, Extraction Team⁠ 1 is the‌ most exceptional. Consider⁠‍⁠ it an honor⁠‌ to be part⁠‍‍ of my lineage.”⁠

As⁠‍‌ I nodded mechanically,‌‍‌ I gathered the‍‌ courage to ask⁠ the question that had continued to linger in my‌⁠ mind.

Why⁠‍ weren’t they killing‌⁠‍ me?

What‍ made me different⁠⁠ from the people⁠‌ in the Emotions‍⁠‌ Department?

If‌‌ fulfilling desires through‌ the company’s products‍‌ was truly so‍‍ important, then this‌ was a matter‌‌‌ of survival.

“…Manager⁠⁠⁠ Batori.”

“Hmm?”‍

At‌⁠⁠ my words, she⁠ gently set her‌‍‍ tumbler down on‌ the table.

The red liquid swirled softly.

Her gaze slowly turned toward me.

The‍ sensation of the tentacle that had⁠ penetrated my ear‍ still lingered at‍‌ the back of‍ my neck.

“That⁠⁠‍ day, people in‍ suits appeared… I mean, normal people.”‍⁠

“Ah,‌‍ that incident.”

“Were‌⁠‌ they employees too?”

At‍ my question, Manager‍⁠ Batori slightly raised‌‍‌ the corners of her lips and nodded.

For⁠ a moment, something‌ flashed in her⁠ eyes.

The⁠ fangs visible beneath⁠⁠ her smile made‌‍ that glimmer even‌ more unsettling.

“That‍‍ is correct. They‌ belonged to the‌⁠ Emotions Department.”

The‍ Emotions Department.

The‍⁠⁠ only department I had known until‍‌ now solely through‌‌ records.

“Is‍ it a department⁠‍ made up of…‌‌‍ humans like me?”‌

“That’s⁠⁠‍ right. It consists exclusively of humans.”‍

“And⁠ why only humans?”⁠

“Because⁠ they are necessary.”⁠‌

Her‌⁠ answer was firm.‍⁠

Elegant,‌ yet solid as‍⁠ a steel cup.⁠‍

“None⁠⁠ of us possess‌⁠ human emotions. In‌‍⁠ fact, not possessing‍ them is more‍ efficient. However, there‍ are times when‌ emotions are necessary.‌ Certain products cannot⁠⁠ be completed without‌‍ human emotions.”

She‍‌ lightly tapped the surface of the‍ table with her‌‍ fingers.

The‌ sound reminded me‌⁠ of a pulse.⁠

So⁠‌ I remained silent.‌

“Someone’s‍ profound anger. Desperate⁠‌⁠ fear. A loss⁠⁠‌ carved into the‌‌ bones. Blind love.⁠⁠‌ Those emotions become‍‍⁠ the seals that‍ determine the final⁠ form of energy.”‍⁠⁠

“Then⁠‍‍ the human employees…”‌

“They⁠‌ are usually tools‌‍ for stamping those‌ seals.”

Seals.‌⁠‌

Tools.

That‌⁠ was how this‌‍‍ company referred to‌‍ people.

“You could consider them‍ emotional injectors. Fear,‌ hatred, compassion, despair.‌ To load those‍ emotions into a product, high-quality human‍‌ emotions are required.”

Her‍⁠ tone was so⁠⁠ calm that it became even more‍‍ chilling.

I watched her silently.

“The‌ humans in the‍ Emotions Department… die‍ doing that.”

“That‍ is correct. Afterward,⁠ they are processed.‌‍ Sometimes they become⁠‌ materials for the‌ Fusion Division. Other‌‍ times they become‌‍ part of additional⁠⁠ tasks for the⁠‍⁠ Refinement Division.”

She rested her chin‍‌ on the back‍‍ of one hand.⁠‍⁠

Through⁠ her slender fingers⁠⁠ and white nails,⁠ the faint reddish‌ pattern of her‌ veins could be⁠ seen.

“That⁠ is why the Emotions Department does⁠ not last long,‌‌ either physically or‌⁠ mentally. Usually two‍ weeks. One month‍⁠ at most.”

I was speechless.

There⁠⁠ was a high‌ probability that the‍ employee whose head‌⁠ had been crushed‌ by Assistant Manager⁠ Son had joined‌⁠ only two weeks‍ earlier.

And‌ I had joined‍‍ at practically the⁠‍ same time.

“Do⁠‍ the people in‍ the Emotions Department‍ know they’re going‌‌⁠ to die?”

“Yes.‍‌⁠ Even if they‌ are not given‌‍ a formal explanation,‍⁠ most of them‌ eventually realize it.‍ But humans are a species that‌‌ harbors hope. So‌ they foolishly believe⁠⁠ they will be the exception.”

Instinctively,‍‌ I understood those words were directed at me as‍‌ well.

“Then did those people⁠ press the release‍‌ button because they⁠ were desperate as‌ their end approached?”⁠

“Fufu,⁠⁠‌ we do not‍‌ know that. There⁠ were only reports‍⁠ indicating that the⁠⁠ humans in the‌ Emotions Department were⁠ becoming increasingly unstable.”‌

Her‍‍‌ red eyes seemed‍‍ capable of foreseeing‍‍ the future.

If‍‍ the limit for⁠‌ the Emotions Department⁠ was two weeks,⁠⁠ how long could‍⁠ I endure?

How⁠ many more weeks‌‌‍ would I live because I belonged‍ to the Extraction⁠‌ Team?

Seeing‍ the hope slowly‌ disappear from my‍ face, Manager Batori⁠ paused briefly before⁠‍ continuing.

“Of⁠ course, you are‌ special, just as‌‍ you wished to⁠ be. Furthermore, there have been exceptionally‍⁠ capable humans who survived long enough to be recognized⁠ by other departments.‍‍‍ Some even received company products or⁠ managed to resign.⁠ You should not‍⁠ lose hope so‌ quickly.”

My‌ heart stopped for⁠⁠‌ an instant.

‘What?’‍

Something‌ that had remained‍⁠ buried inside me‍ began to awaken.‍‍

Unknown images crossed my‌‌‌ mind.

Someone‍‌‌ I had never‌⁠‌ seen.

Someone‌‌ who survived this‍‍ hellish company and‍‌ all its monstrous‍ rules.

Someone⁠‌ who endured silently‍‍‍ among the gray⁠‌ hallways of the‌ Emotions Department, the‌‌‍ red-lit Extraction Chambers,⁠‍‍ and the damp‌‌ workshops of the‌ Fusion Division.

‘If‍‌ someone like that‍ really exists…’

How had they survived?⁠⁠

How⁠ had they made it through all‍ those screams and continued to exist?‌

A single sentence carried⁠‍ me much farther‌ than I expected.‍⁠⁠

An‌ idea I had‌ never considered began to grow within⁠‍⁠ me.

‘What‌ if I could⁠‌ do it too?’‍⁠⁠

The⁠‌ moment that thought‌‌‍ appeared, I realized⁠ how desperately I wanted it.

The⁠⁠‍ desire to live.‍‍‌

The‍‍ miraculous hope that⁠‌ perhaps I could‍ survive.

I slowly raised my⁠ head.

Manager⁠‌ Batori was still watching me with⁠ a smile.

The⁠⁠ gleam in her⁠⁠ eyes was still⁠ that of a predator.

But behind it, there⁠‍ seemed to be‍ a strange amusement,⁠⁠⁠ as if she⁠ were testing me.‌

“Did⁠‍ someone like that…⁠ really exist?”

My‍ voice sounded rough.‌

It trembled like old⁠‌⁠ paper crumpling.

Manager⁠ Batori tilted her‌ head slightly and⁠‌ replied with elegant,‍⁠‍ old-fashioned diction.

“If‌ there is something‌ you wish to‌‍‍ believe in, then you may do‍ so.”

She smiled calmly.

That‌‌ smile seemed as‌‌ warm as velvet⁠ stained with ancient blood, yet gave‍ the impression it⁠ would become as‍‍⁠ cold as ice⁠ the moment you⁠‍ touched it.

I did not respond.‌‌

But‌‍ hope had already‌‌ taken root within‌‍ me.