Chapter 16: The Gourmet Who Is Not Alone
IloXThe sunlight was pleasant.b0v
LtBOMSOr rather, the LED lights in my apartment illuminated everything evenly, brightly, and almost as if they were sunlight.TKj
5YdwNI ignored the fact that beyond the window there was nothing but absolute darkness.e78dCAy
Jy4yI felt like something terrible would happen if I opened it.RI6
WhfTxeI opened my eyes.esJb7
W4a7I wiped away the sleep from my eyes, stretched my arms, and let out a long yawn.YJYi
QG8Waking up meant I was still alive.iBEYx
xwOaM9rAnd being alive meant I could begin a new day.Za6Yu6
Sf3y“What a refreshing morning.”yY6
XkFeE0It was a monologue.KZ4h5th
2cOBut it didn’t matter.qqQE
PmmL9As long as the probability wasn’t zero, an optimistic attitude could change the day.XdzzVGe
HvNB0sAs I sat up, the bedsheets rustled softly.WCAu
F0b8W3zWith movements that had already become familiar, I shook out the blanket and carefully straightened it.DB1W
cp4E5Then I put the pillow back in place.gmx
zXVPAfThe small bloodstain in one corner of the pillow was probably just a minor nosebleed.t6ZD0
E4aNPProbably.GFxfaV6
EeoI washed my face at the sink.Re8zJH2
G3dlqVfI shampooed my hair and washed it.fNj2Ux
hz7ZI showered with hot water until the bathroom mirror was completely fogged over.X6ZuGH
RTXiI stood under the water for a long time without thinking about anything.fVCoSh6
75qRfJ7Then I finished with cold water and immediately regained my clarity.FYzdNr
nnTOHRS“Good, this is how a routine should be.”ONNmB4
IJoNI dried my face with a towel and used a hair dryer to dry my hair.5s10Q0p
viEWhen I finished, I opened the wardrobe and took out a shirt.i1Ft47S
FShTkKI put on that white shirt that had already become familiar and carefully buttoned every button.uqls8
LRJB“It feels empty.”Pezp
QVmM3I opened the refrigerator.bYhV6QP
L6xiuZ1As expected, it was completely empty.WU9RF
dLecOMjThe only thing left was the empty bottle of that probiotic drink I had drunk the night before, rolling around in a corner.nfXhNO
BXFNwY“Skipping breakfast helps the mind work better.”ZqAS
OXHzccI muttered that mental victory to myself as I closed the door.qIc
b1E2My stomach growled softly.BG49
CHfXmdI pretended not to hear it.yN0TVz
HqtE3I rolled my neck, stretched my shoulders as if I were learning to walk upright again, and stopped in front of the door.KV4Lz4J
uGVIt was time to go to work.k8T0l
aDhwI“I’m heading out.”vf4rpq
YtMq0wqWith a casual greeting, I turned the doorknob.uAXW5y4
ZKHZ0Click—TZvT
eXdvtVpThe door opened.AX5o
zHKAnd standing in front of me was—srr
oPDh8“Grrrooo… Grrrrrr.”L2YNUT
OME9gJiSupervisor Shik.j9AXXi
iITfwiHe was standing there.myX4K0I
cTEfZWith thick chains hanging from his shoulders while staring directly at me.V5ncPC
O0bA deep breath rumbled from behind that mouth full of blade-sharp teeth.cfwzq
TSmxezI had returned to reality.UjiZ
tAtg1Z9“Good morning, Supervisor Shik.”aVN5
lpGcoI smiled reflexively.vvK
k5vzMy lips curled upward, but my back was drenched in cold sweat.7aT
XW8Supervisor Shik stared at me for several seconds before slowly lowering his head.dSwMm
AXeXq4ICreak.tkHI
Yft4Something cracked.h3JrS9
1miqIt probably wasn’t his vertebrae.2UP
HMU“I’ll do my best today as well.”HdJuZ
ScQvTtI greeted him again.JM8
1qgPJiOnly then did Supervisor Shik give a slight nod.9SE0SIO
kuka8WI felt every hair on my shoulders stand up at the same time.QqEMTbx
fiV4ay“Then let’s go first, all right?”9npEhf
L9LNnOCHe walked past me and slowly began moving down the hallway.07Wspw
VncThe chains dragging across the floor produced a strange scraping sound.Y6t
q9ggI silently closed the door and followed him.6kTZ9y
5l8MULOThe bright and refreshing morning was over.c3ELN4
UI4oriOnce again, my strange daily life was beginning.oqK
Yn9FF***sGR7C1
VdM9lLunchtime.lcWpI
AcMv3The cafeteria.Ixy5
43kA place whose name I had always seen but never dared to visit.5tFUoHG
RgF72sTI thought about it.6MOTFeQ
8meDm9Then thought about it again.AMg1KC
Geipt8BAnd finally made a decision.SS8BYKJ
22tio5‘Let’s go.’eKb
zMs5aToday I would go.1cna
n9CI was going to eat.RVoOWS4
hHDAcAfter all, I would be here until the day I resigned.r7OHRu
sWl9r5I wanted to try something as simple as eating with someone.WVt
qrSiaI had said this morning that fasting helped me think better.ApvV
vNLr3iBut the truth was that I was already reaching my limit.bUZ0
Jjt7z2My stomach was burning.q5lby
0Q6AMy legs were numb.1iQs
kapnAnd my stomach felt as though it had been crushed like a bent drinking straw.5D0Ddjo
9oHDBesides, a little while ago it had seemed as though Supervisor Shik had given me a look that said:JlmYPR
J6YUC0b‘Why do you never eat with us?’sac
ridQI had no idea what would be served in the cafeteria.YzSEd
doXRI9eBut Manager Batori had said it.9cHW2MT
khJWe were of the same lineage.1V41
uCDOcxSurely they would take care of me.9etIKH
00ZbJ“Uh…”tzVr
rbsaI opened my mouth to address my coworkers.R2FnL
t1ez8The lunch announcement had just sounded, and everyone was beginning to rise from their seats.g2w
dViTjB7“Could I… have lunch with you today?”BrPCpb
T1VtI hadn’t even finished the sentence when Manager Myeon nodded in front of me.p0K
XHVz“Of course.”Ddq
zOlvVz“Regular nutrient intake is important.”LIAhuvM
XW3xf“Oh. What’s this?”tNL6T
89Vk“Grrr… Graaah… Kuuuur—!”Ue2
OJb28Director Mok.fqmqyV
Hk5fVAssistant Manager Son.XXYkbQr
uDQ4ZcAnd finally Supervisor Shik.UtzdFi
FYHAll of them reacted positively.rwkw9jD
d5ai04Well, I wasn’t completely sure that Supervisor Shik’s reaction had been positive.3wDnZCA
KwAYTBut I assumed it was.8wLe1i
KmLjfiBA strange sense of relief washed over me, and I lowered my head.D7h07
jaZDWhen I looked up again, I met Manager Batori’s gaze.UI2ZGtD
Z3xShe had not risen from her seat.OgXnf5
lu43wAs always, she held her tumbler and rested one hand on the desk while silently watching me.ARNkQJM
t9RThere was a peculiar smile in her eyes.3TCv
1jDTp“And you, Manager…?”HnQYU
Wvjo“Fufu. I’ll make do with this again today.”373LxSs
tGGM1XShe slightly raised the tumbler as she smiled.5nZ
USBZInside, the blood swirled gently.J19UJ
Q9jI tilted my head slightly and followed the other four team members out of the office.HxKzb
0Bg86vyThe cafeteria was on another floor.KUD3U1L
hZmkd7At the end of the hallway stood an old elevator.i2P
n7jrMThe metal doors opened with a hum.5l1
BJpgpOne.WHMYqYy
z3g2Two.eTFXEI
DknXhThree.QMIrD8u
y1PfaOFour.2C26Bd
GoQ6B4And finally Supervisor Shik.3slG
iLYjykClank.H8Yr7uv
bgQ8yYThe moment Supervisor Shik stepped inside, the elevator walls creaked alarmingly.2ft5
MccIhJWasn’t this exceeding the structural limits of the elevator?T9UDGzp
uOszjI ended up half-crushed between his enormous body and the wall.kDxc
zjwJV“Ugh…”8ErV
jT6DctJIt felt as though the air was escaping through some crack.IeDF
FiOmManager Myeon stood with his usual elegance.l3iLw
G70jTSDirector Mok had his roots folded and neatly arranged.jNc
j0bZu4Assistant Manager Son was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.jF5Yq
tElSpAnd I was trapped between Supervisor Shik’s back and the elevator wall.iWq
MO4m‘I should have skipped lunch.’TcOH
1xHOK6I regretted it.I3uqM
l4eVEven breathing was difficult.blF5
0W2QI never imagined hope could disappear so quickly.YBq2U0E
cnoThe elevator slowly began descending with a squeal.7meg
QQAA cramped space.65pPp8
OsrgJStrange smells.qFN8b
VSEvIrregular vibrations.5IUd
hELVWXAnd thousands of thoughts.IrWME
ugMyk‘What exactly is the cafeteria like?’5OKbMB
V484Would they serve food that a human could eat?aO4
8OnfOr would it be some delicacy intended for the monsters in this place?qtbR
p6K6gQSupervisor Shik’s back pressed crushingly against me once again.5x1DVFc
IIq“Ugh.”3zI
6oVI really should have skipped lunch.FWyn5m9
tdrN7That was when Manager Myeon spoke calmly.M14kp
Ntu“So, it was the Adjustment Department that insisted all of us participate this time?”a8SqT
b3W“That is correct.”UBrP1gG
19F6tDirector Mok nodded gently.sEkGvhz
zuWnx9“From detection to capture, everything went quite well. They say they want everyone to participate for educational purposes.”5ArD
jbCAssistant Manager Son slightly raised his chin.MEXMxsp
KVyVDO“Went well? Didn’t they say the capture happened near Seoul Station?”g3G
LWcEu2w“More precisely, outside the perimeter, beyond the third filter.”UWF332
9w4Vj1Director Mok spoke while lowering his gaze with those numerous green eyes resembling frog eggs peeking out from between his knots.VCaXr
QwcTgi“They say it was located purely through perception, without any reaction from the fixed measuring devices. It seems the Adjustment Department took this very seriously. Or perhaps they received assistance from Executive Director Ahn.”XoRmIx
Tr6“Grrr… Rrrrrrr.”nPOlhH
rxiRflSupervisor Shik let out an incomprehensible growl.Gfi
2BJI turned my head reflexively.9Whykg
MfP5vI felt a strange vibration in my eardrums.24R9d5
oCKdHad he just laughed?aXs60Fn
OdINOOr was he annoyed?2NdMK
LcF“I heard they classified one Rank A entity, one Rank C entity, and one Rank D entity.”vI7bja
gp15jAssistant Manager Son continued speaking calmly.8sVl
3pa“They say the possibility of refining the new Rank A entity is uncertain. Its structure… appears to be somewhat different from the previous ones. Will it be safe to bring the rookie along as well?”loINOJ
FCAQYbs“Haha.”KWrQxs4
tYn3The rookie was participating too?m6s
HXVABlManager Myeon replied with his usual smile.seqCh
qX8ft28“The Adjustment Department has surely already taken care of all the preparations. And if not, we have other measures ready. We’ve already received notice that the transfer will be completed during the afternoon. After lunch, we’ll go directly to see it.”9R14
znjp5fThis afternoon?rjftPKi
MkiwLMaintaining an indifferent expression, I looked up at the ceiling while repeating those words in my mind.3lJ4s8
TInIw‘They’re bringing a new dimensional entity this afternoon?’0dVSH
hto2Although I didn’t fully understand the internal terminology, I grasped the general context.54oL
F8LilFSAdjustment Department.SI63NY
Ktl9vvCapture.BXeGkNB
dQSaPerimeter.94ut
XXi1W8Possibility of refinement.SqhkIP
YMEeAnd structure.GW00
obySBBI had the feeling that the meaning of those words was connected to whatever I would soon be facing.am2
DeDf“Employee Jeong.”YYh
lz5Suddenly, Manager Myeon turned his head toward me and spoke calmly.EiNuW
Bs5W“Yes.”I800
BJiI5TsI straightened my posture reflexively.gAAO
y0aZ0“There is no need to be nervous. This afternoon’s program will simply be something quite interesting.”e7gyD
0hJDmHis tone remained as kind and courteous as ever.IF10
aG7PGBut behind those words was a strange scent suggesting that something had already been prepared.hTC
x7y“Understood. I’ll leave myself in your hands.”wQ5
7WQKN0I lowered my head slightly.KCI
PwO2Y9My heart lurched heavily.UR8
CibFP6‘A new dimensional entity.’3Nj44
BAqZWhat exactly was about to arrive?CFMH3O
Dwg8kmZThe elevator continued descending through the dark shaft.Hlf5G
JGU3yhEWe were heading to the company cafeteria.CNNe
ERp6c0But it felt almost exactly like descending into a slaughterhouse.25R
DiINwxw***Ox4zyTe
AmNwLunch was, surprisingly, quite good.A0PVT
W67Of course, there were many complicated emotions hidden within that “quite good.”CB6enNb
5yaDXTo begin with, the elevator itself was strange.5vny
bQzAt first, I thought it was simply slow.f8n
v8aNThen I thought it had been descending for too long.p1tQr
6qjPAfter that, I came to believe it had broken down.55wG15S
EeAAnd finally—sV5Q0J
eILg‘It’s still going down?’1H1Mp66
TbY3ZAt some point, the floor indicators stopped looking like numbers at all.BqFW3
SrUGzrThe digits began twisting into symbols.1Vm0PB
pRz2Then those symbols mutated into incomprehensible shapes that eventually formed fixed patterns.syd1cvz
6bcxCLAnd finally, the doors opened.EZhe0HV
VkPThe entrance to the cafeteria was absurdly clean.fTG
eXVaX3Shining tiles beneath white lights.Y9Tjh89
QrktKrhA menu board that functioned properly.Rhxu5I
98De6IwStacks of trays piled high.Y4Br58c
d9bMAnd a crowd of monstrous employees.eUNLj43
n71GOThere were even wet towels on every table.LEY
dybfeJ‘Uh… this really does look like a company cafeteria.’7w8UrJ
wtOIExcept for the fact that it was full of monsters instead of humans.8hgVHet
4G3PThere were even menus suitable for people.tzd
pkK9Spicy stir-fried pork.VF0
K25QKIBulgogi over rice.Zph
bIOYPork belly.rqYcWn
6PmNWEgg soup.X2mk
BbJLOKimchi.Ux4YM
iz5WHWhite rice.NAVYRn
oZdOf course, alongside them, impossible symbols and moving figures also appeared on the illuminated menu boards, apparently representing menu items as well.j1Vjz2
C41At a table across from us, some creatures were eating masses of slime with spoons.fuoPP
hSln0Others drank mysterious liquids from their trays as though they were floating corks.VGmQd1M
einN6yAnd when the five members of Extraction Team 1 stopped in front of something that could barely be called an automated kiosk—lVnFw
ex5The atmosphere changed.8iEbZT
GdOEmployees stiffened.AjgkOjq
k4gauoSome looked away.mbTR
rTrdHtHeads filled with multiple eyes.hgwnzZ
kbaoHYHeads covered with mouths instead of eyes.h4UI
HsEnBeings composed entirely of formless masses.e2ec
6WQXgtPAll of them were watching us.5oyf
trE‘This…’Loxd
eyoVE9Hierarchy.wSyNS
pEEEven within this grotesque organization, Extraction Team 1 clearly occupied a superior position.66bOCm
coxcMIt wasn’t exactly respect.LWwL
0NwZ9The gazes were distorted by something else.t7G
RsgIt wasn’t exactly fear.3Ifmc
zL3wThey were too cautious to be mere fear.73MO4l
rjou0oIt was a kind of silent reverence reserved for something forbidden.vB4hn82
3xZAn unpleasant admiration that could not be denied.X0By
J7UkkCZSuddenly, I remembered the pride Manager Batori had shown when talking about Extraction Team 1.GNtV
xQcIHew‘We are definitely different.’fAV5b
NIO2EBAfter choosing our meals, the five of us sat at the same table.3TfZl
PuXAnd the moment the food arrived—uc7Klt
5CKUCoyHell began.569Xvps
DozRN3kFirst, Supervisor Shik.tOuqWO
zi4fHe appeared to be eating a bowl of bulgogi over rice.j5tbdO
9Jdfw3vBut the speed was absurd.EqDo
HguitcCrunch! Splurt! Chomp! Crack!bLULt
heQEqoSpoons were an unnecessary luxury.Hr7
NGsUsing those enormous fur-covered paws, he devoured the food savagely and emptied three trays in an instant.VaEzL
3lai2RFFrom the first tray, some grains of rice flew toward me.YAwGY
NAg0FeFrom the second—Yp2j
OTbxIY“Urgh.”LCwqXd
daQfA kind of black, viscous soup splashed onto my kimchi.OZyq
Whzh2I sighed silently.LrO
MCWBrr‘There’s no helping it. I give up.’ZqCg
GJccrlThen there was Assistant Manager Son.HDF
i315HuMHe stared at his tray for several seconds.7Px
q2KKAnd suddenly dumped the entire contents onto his fist-head.5HSIr
N0TquLiterally.ZjNS
S0mvMKThe entire tray.hZlhx
iEWEggs.4Dye
qRJdYSoup.4ZDha9g
d4ng0Rice.FGHxgF
9827QhOSeaweed.C3h
XUQXAnd all the other mysterious side dishes.IKm
TjWJThen he began kneading his own head with both hands.YXHB6
oVvzZdAs if he were working bread dough.ZG9
MBcPkbVAnd then—y2F
5UNNothing.oZkeCi6
1pIWhen he opened his hands, absolutely nothing remained.lmd6
CDqHe didn’t even have a mouth.8bIC
FwBu5etYet everything had vanished.zvvG
HxysAs though he had devoured it completely.dmRBg
hhfV2M‘…This makes no sense.’qRVhsOv
2hpDirector Mok, on the other hand, had brought a tray full of dirt.3Gc
Aeb7NBjNo rice.WaNuP
fXO0tBeNo side dishes.aNk
kVukNothing.zRfrCBO
HnQAdaSilently, he extended several roots from his body.2CLZ
8Wr7Q4And carefully planted them into the tray.umxj
dh4The end.NMqSxE
uVQIVHe was simply sitting there planting roots.obExWZG
CMj8Pn‘I am definitely still human.’k5EVs
76z2Y3And then there was Manager Myeon.Slv
wJMsmWHe ate in the most human manner.LsbQIIt
IIREIf you ignored the detail of his seven faces.KR3REs
qG3RYQAbove the elegant collar of his suit were seven faces.IH8X
xnwHe fed each one methodically while changing spoons.OQU7I
Bm9mr5Face 1: rice.iWFMy
0AOh3oFace 2: soup.RHjhC6k
jWvhFace 3: side dishes.WB7ad
fAwFbDFace 4: more rice.vYRdJ
pq5lhRRFace 5: more soup.E7g
c20IDisFace 6: observing the cafeteria.Ax4h
TfRZbFace 7: smiling at me.44EUfZE
ymm2“Employee Jeong, are you enjoying the meal?”QCIDs
H0KWFEZasked the seventh face gently.gT7GrA
UHBVR9I simply nodded.EuXQ6
EGQtVMy tray contained a completely normal meal.qPP7
oY1dOFried egg.M3BKt
8D1KSpicy pork.O5si
fOF6vFdKimchi.pU6r
xO8tNDSoup.BdN
8XJxVRice.rMn
85KNothing special.3hY
HiOUsAnd yet—6JT
Ptp“It’s delicious. Ah, I mean, it’s really delicious.”qM4Ww3
IWWVGmNIt truly was delicious.Qwu06Z
h8WIt was hot.7N0B5Tj
aos7nTIt wasn’t too salty.btzGgnx
87Cx7The meat was tender.lUNEdAC
HXLfpThe rice had the perfect texture.BNQwtrp
19lNSeThe soup slid smoothly down my throat.BeN91MU
FHDFmt3And something stirred inside me.BoS0RV8
0p0‘Ah… this is food.’R9dg2
fPmMy stomach, which had gone days without being properly fed, was finally receiving real nutrients.mNio
MdD3L8GIt was telling me that I was still alive.J29
vmsMtuI finished eating slowly and quietly.PqCd
KRnst2Around me, food continued flying through the air.DqP3
M1vMkTrays continued being dumped onto heads.J4MeSC
hjspjDirt continued covering tables.HPbipj
ooGui0And seven faces continued eating with the rhythm of perfect machinery.irD11
1vKBut during that meal—ixtJ1p3
EVpqqzfI was still human.ZSXUDjB
KeqpAnd that fact alone was enough to restore my desire to live.pI6
xMIWe finished lunch in silence.GFtkcRW
kNqyrLyAnd headed back to the elevator.ot5HrkO
EeXSMSupervisor Shik arrived a moment later, releasing another deep growl.NKRmTf1
3sKWzRAnd the elevator became completely packed once again.vRl
c5muJ3FHalf-crushed beneath one of his shoulders, I let out a silent sigh.lR5mH6
V2GaUJ***XQoC
MOPmNK3After returning to the office following lunch, the five of us prepared to head together to the Extraction Room.3I4NI
aztusIt was the first time.YiGp4
udgiEFQThere was always someone who stayed behind in the office.qM0LS
dRvpOr someone who left midway through.QAcqOX
ptz2iUKBut today all of us would be participating.wcK
DGGVutWIt was obvious that something important was happening.cgWVum
82qlWhen we reached the entrance to the Extraction Room, Manager Myeon stopped.pjKt77
6W09esAs always, his movements were slow and precise.Upl1
zo5AOne of his seven faces.GabILgN
6mW0kf5More specifically, the one positioned furthest to the left.6a795
CJWcTurned toward me.aPLP
QMwoRAnd a familiar, polite, and tidy voice spoke.IVq8k
ZlcOhn“Employee Jeong.”C4l1
62FBI responded almost reflexively.PI8FJ
nmU2“Yes, Manager Myeon.”iAw
DgA“Today, three new dimensional entities have arrived.”vpyu
E6gOlHe continued speaking slowly.96Yi
iOO“The Broken Violinist.”oRYO0LS
qLF8Wc“The Portrait of a Dismantled God.”uxX
aPZ5j“The White and Chubby Furball.”owRRo
POjCI heard those names and needed a moment before I could breathe again.ZRvyP
g0cBMFt‘The Broken Violinist?’3Ujp
Dp66An entity that produces distorted sounds?M0sO
PiKOr a humanoid that uses its own body as a bow?n1Jyf5
sUG9W‘The Portrait of a Dismantled God.’Wa0KA
RK6zPkA distorted sacred statue?13u
B3btA metaphysical existence?R3vvDO
U985I‘The White and Chubby Furball.’Xte8BJv
FuC6…What the hell is that?Vot
CRLWBEkSuddenly, that name seemed ridiculously insignificant compared to the others.mry
J3AMy mind worked at full speed.OMY7SE
e0RTyTFrom the names alone, it was impossible to guess their forms or natures.JTiNiu9
x55But perhaps that was precisely the point.0P9D
I341POne of Manager Myeon’s faces slowly smiled.XtT
ShQbrKThere was no pressure.OjXo7H
oFWjNo manipulation.rdL
KJHmOnly the expression of a boss asking for a choice.MAIg6C
CXa“Employee Jeong.”ni0sh
pNHXxsaid his fifth face softly.WeVp
8pQjNQ2“Which of the dimensional entities do you believe would be the most suitable?”lzimG
GMH5tyHI closed my lips and slowly repeated the three names in my mind.Jy5qphA
LBUtzIfThe Broken Violinist.uaBZ
wt8XYzThe Portrait of a Dismantled God.JYJztL
8ulOCThe White and Chubby Furball.7DG
lbXebOne of the three.pvFaG
bLtVThe monster I would face today.z4AR
QywsBetween excitement, fear, and a vague anticipation, I slowly opened my mouth.LXRSk1k
IG0“I…”kYxZAM
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