Chapter 25: External Night Shift

Cold.

Blurred vision.

Red.

Dizziness.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Early dawn.

A gray city.

Concrete ground soaked with dew.

A low ceiling, peeling paint, fluorescent lights that would not turn on.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

And then.

Blocked-off buildings.

Beyond the shattered windows, grotesquely twisted shadows crawled about.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Red traces scattered everywhere.

Blood.

“…This is.”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Their faces could not be seen.

And something coagulated bubbling up from beneath a drain.

Fresh blood covering marble walls.

Bodies lay sprawled across that filth.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Black uniforms stained with blood and dust.

Dried bloodstains clinging to the weapon’s head.

Because there was nothing left that could be called a face.

A massive black sledgehammer rolling beside them.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Blood.

“Staff Sergeant Jeong Haeil.”

Flesh.

Fragments of skull.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

A voice that sounded human.

And at the same time did not.

A strangely viscous voice.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

“Gasp…!”

Darkness.

And then.

The world was dyed black.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Sweat ran down my forehead.

“…Ha… Haa… Haa…”

I shot upright as I sucked in air.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

The feeling of the dream still clung to my entire body.

My hands trembled.

A bed.

My lips were dry.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

‘…Damn it. apron How long has it been?’

The back of my neck turned cold.

It was my room.

The familiar sight of my small apartment.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

A headache struck me.

My body was burning.

Breathing heavily, I slowly sat up.

My clothes were completely soaked with cold sweat.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

I pressed a hand against my forehead.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

My fingertips trembled slightly.

‘…I had been fine for a while.’

That vivid and familiar nightmare.

My heart pounded hard.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Or perhaps…

Had I simply relaxed because I had adapted to the company?

— Reconstruction begins by cutting away the irrational flows that generate negative emotions.

What did it mean that the nightmare that had tormented me for so long had returned?

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Then a notification sounded from the phone on the bedside table.

‘Don’t think about it. All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com ’

The cold sweat still refused to stop.

I pressed hard against the back of my neck.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

7:30 a.m.

I stared at it.

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 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Without looking back, I checked the mask I had stored in one of the lockers in the Extraction Room.

“Huff. attic Huff. matrix Huff.”

***

The company was still waiting for me today as well.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

I slightly raised the tablet in my right hand and reviewed the work details.

After confirming that Manager Myeon’s face was still there, I moved on to the next part of my routine.

I had received it, but it was so unsettling that I preferred to store it away unless it looked like I was about to face something truly dangerous.

‘Let’s see. arcade This is still here too.’

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Estimated Time: 3 minutes 30 seconds

Extraction Method: Specialized Extractor

Dimensional Entity Code: D-16

Magnetized Entrails

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Tap-tap-tap-tap!

I tapped the screen once more and slowly stepped out into the hallway.

“…It’s still writhing perfectly today as well.”

From behind came the sound of paws running at full speed.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

The White and Chubby Furball

“Huff huff huff.”

At first glance, it was far too large to be called either a dog or a cat.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Just as I was finishing an extraction and preparing to leave, it grabbed my clothes with its mouth and refused to let me go.

Round, completely red eyes the size of fists.

The reason this creature was allowed to wander outside its containment chamber dated back only a few days.

Long, white, dense, abundant fur. Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

It seemed to be crying.

I had been sitting down eating a chocolate bar while organizing observation records.

The White and Chubby Furball looked at me.

— Hey, you need to go back inside… Uh, wait.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

I asked Assistant Manager Son, who happened to be passing by, for help.

— Assistant Manager Son, this thing doesn’t want to go back in.

Or perhaps it was trying to say something.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Even if it was a dimensional entity, that seemed like far too careless a management policy.

After staring at me for a few seconds, he waved the hands protruding from his head.

But I was an ordinary human.

— Oh really? amber Then just take it with you. agent Just make sure to return it to its chamber before you leave work.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

That was how the White and Chubby Furball practically became my pet.

There was no way I could overpower a lion-sized quadruped by force.

Whenever I was extracting other dimensional entities and something felt strange, it would bark at the top of its lungs to warn me.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Sometimes it would even enter containment chambers and bite things on my behalf.

To be honest, it was quite useful.

After finishing the job, in a corner of the D-Area extraction corridor.

“All right. sphere The Magnetized Entrails were extracted without any problems.”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Its tongue hung out.

I dropped down onto the floor and caught my breath while looking at the White and Chubby Furball.

It sat heavily on its rear with a Plop.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

“Here. ability Good work today too.”

I reached into my pocket, pulled out a crumpled chocolate wrapper, and quietly opened one.

I tossed it toward its paws.

Its red eyes rolled as it watched me.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Then it spat it out.

The White and Chubby Furball immediately began shaking its head frantically as it devoured the chocolate.

For a moment, it nearly swallowed the paper wrapper too.

Crunch! apple Crunch! portal Munch! sphere Munch!

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

As I watched it, an absurd thought crossed my mind.

‘Wasn’t chocolate dangerous for dogs?’

Ptui!

At that moment, the White and Chubby Furball looked at me and stuck out its tongue.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

When I patted its round head, Director Mok walked past us.

“…Well, it’s not a dog.”

I muttered while picking up the wrapper and putting it back into my pocket.

He glanced at us from the corner of his eye.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

His gaze clearly conveyed a single message.

‘…You’ve gotten used to it.’

For some reason, he seemed satisfied.

I quietly stood up and dusted off my clothes.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

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

It wouldn’t be long before walking through the extraction corridors felt completely natural.

The White and Chubby Furball followed after me, gliding along without making a sound.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

“Let’s go.”

As though it were the most obvious thing in the world, it started following me.

I murmured to it.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Only a month had passed since I joined the company.

And I had reached the point where I had a dimensional entity as a pet.

I had already given up trying to understand it.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

The desire to quit.

***

Was still as strong as ever.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

The office of Extraction Team 1 appeared before me.

Thud.

I quietly opened the familiar office door.

Creak.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

The White and Chubby Furball rested its head on my knees.

“Huff. shadow Huff.”

I settled onto a sofa in the corner and leaned back.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

A damp breath escaped from within the fur.

Its face was so covered in fur that its red eyes and tongue were barely visible.

“Yeah. palette Good job.”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

I smiled faintly as I rubbed its round, soft head.

‘It’s as adorable as a puppy.’

Clinging to the doorframe with those short legs and desperately refusing to part from me.

Then I remembered how it used to whine in front of the containment chamber.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

There wasn’t much work left to do.

A small laugh escaped my lips.

The extraction records and workload logs were automatically uploaded to the server through some unknown method.

Those responsible only had to review them before leaving.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

I clicked it.

The document appeared on a black screen with white letters.

[A-22 The Portrait of a Dismantled God: Updated Extraction Manual]

When I turned on the desk monitor, a new notification appeared.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

And stopped.

I slowly scrolled through the text.

‘…Just as I thought.’

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

His determined steps toward The Portrait of a Dismantled God.

The incomprehensible tongues emerging simultaneously from his seven faces.

The image of Manager Myeon appeared in my mind.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Even when the god’s heartbeat made the heart itself tremble.

There had not been the slightest trace of worship or reverence in him.

The new mouths being born inside other mouths.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

After all, most employees do not have seven mouths.

It was probably something only Manager Myeon could do.

‘That was not a normal extraction method.’

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

The voice that sounded behind me made my spine tense up reflexively.

“Mr. arch Jeong.”

So they would not be able to speak as much as he could.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

I swallowed a scream.

I forced a smile so natural that my facial muscles almost hurt before turning around.

A long, pale hand rested on my shoulder.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

“If you are going to write reports, it is also good to review the extraction manuals.”

Manager Myeon maintained his smile as he patted my shoulder.

“Manager Myeon. Read original high-quality translation at indratranslations.com. alpha Did you call me?”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

“Yes. palette I thought it might help me in the long run.”

“Very good. ability That is an excellent attitude.”

“You do not need to worry. arctic Mr. arena Jeong will never have to extract an A-rank dimensional entity.”

One of his smiling faces looked at the document on the screen.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

“And before you leave, make sure to convince the White and Chubby Furball to return to its chamber.”

I swallowed and nodded.

He adjusted his suit again and slowly began walking away.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Thump!

Upon hearing that, the White and Chubby Furball, which was curled up at my feet, kicked the floor with its hind legs.

“Whine…!”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Unlike before, it now genuinely seemed unwilling to go back into the chamber.

“You should learn a little about working life too.”

I sighed and patted its back.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Strange dimensional entities.

Strange coworkers.

A strange company.

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 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

It devoured it instantly.

And a terribly strange manager.

I took out another chocolate bar and stuffed it into its mouth.

Crunch! amber Munch! atom Crunch!

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

There was no way back.

And now I knew that a kind boss could be something truly terrifying.

Normality was very far away.

“Let’s just do what we’re told. anxiety Okay?”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

***

So…

It was better to work hard.

I got off work.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

‘I didn’t know this was what he meant.’

Well, saying that I “got off work” was relative. atomic When quitting time arrived, I simply opened the office door.

I had also recently remembered that during the interview, Manager Myeon had said the company would handle transportation to and from work.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

After eating the takeout food I had brought from the company cafeteria, I collapsed onto my bed with my body exhausted.

My suit was covered in fur after I had practically forced the White and Chubby Furball back into its containment chamber.

“Ugh… I’m dying…”

Was it because that White and Chubby Furball had uselessly refused to go in and drained all my energy?

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

The sensation of falling somewhere.

As soon as I lay down, my eyelids began to close.

And the moment I shut my eyes, a deep sleep immediately dragged me under.

My consciousness sank.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

And after I fell asleep, I don’t know how much time passed.

Drip.

“I need to… change clothes… and take a shower…”

That was my last memory.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

I opened my eyes reflexively. This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com.

Something cold touched my face.

“Ugh.”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

And slightly viscous.

Wet.

Cold.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

I sat up abruptly and looked around.

What…?

“Water?”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

The bed.

The familiar fluorescent lights were gone.

“Where is this…?”

It was not my apartment.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

The refrigerator.

The drying rack.

The washing machine.

None of them were there.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

My superiors were gone.

The White and Chubby Furball was gone too.

Nor was it the office.

The desks were gone.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

A ceiling where grease and mold mixed together.

Black walls.

Rusty pipes.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

The smell of rotten dust accumulated over years.

A floor covered in layers of mud.

And the metallic stench characteristic of old rusted bloodstains mixed with grime.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

It was not a dream.

Dreams do not feel this heavy.

‘……’

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

The air tasted bitter.

Iron clung to my tongue.

My skin itched as if it were tearing apart.

My eyelids felt heavy.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

I raised my right hand and wiped the rusty water soaking my shirt.

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

My lungs contracted.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Breathe and organize your thoughts.

First, breathe deeply.

“Fuuu…”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

These sensations are real.

This is real.

I needed the habits I had acquired in the military and at the company.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Confirm the structure.

Survey the surroundings.

Smells.

Secure your field of vision.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Air currents. Indra Translations protects the hard work of translators and authors.

Sounds.

The floor had a slight incline.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

When I looked up, I saw rusted pipes hanging from the ceiling like teeth.

With all that moisture, it looked as though electricity could run through them at any moment.

On the left wall, a bundle of half-burned cables was exposed.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

There was only one certainty.

‘Looks like the rusty water fell on me from there.’

Had someone moved me while I was asleep?

This place was neither my home nor the company.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

I had never thought much about it.

‘When I left the company, I simply opened the office door and appeared at the entrance of my home.’

But why?

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

I had to stay calm.

My body was still half asleep.

‘…That doesn’t change anything for now.’

What if I wasn’t the only one capable of reaching my home?

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Damp air.

I could feel my survival instincts, honed through working day after day, sending me warnings.

My mind, on the other hand, was fully awake.

I slightly raised my heels and lowered my center of gravity.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Only a dark concrete corridor stretching out before me.

Nor was there any exit.

There was no door through which I could have entered.

Something was strange.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

But there was nothing here.

In an abandoned building, there should have been the vibrations of fans, rats scurrying around, or cockroaches moving.

‘This is strange.’

‘Too quiet.’

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

The only thing I knew for certain was that this probably was not an ordinary abandoned building.

Something completely different from anything I had seen until now.

A structure that did not exist within the company’s systems.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Thump.

And I was inside it.

The fountain pen pulsed strongly.

The Relics of the Smiling Martyr on my wrist felt warmer than usual.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Clank.

Clank.

As I regained my composure through the feedback from the company’s items…

From the deep darkness of the corridor came a sound that had not been there a moment ago.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Clank.

Rigid.

It came again.

A heavy sound.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

I held my breath reflexively and lowered my body.

Clank.

There was something there.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Looks like I’m in trouble.

‘Damn it.’

There was only one conclusion.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Clank.

Clank.

Because that strange sound was slowly getting closer and closer.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 25: External Night Shift by Indra Translations.

Clank.

Clank.

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