Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1)

I think I’m screwed.

A dark, damp, endless corridor.

I came to that conclusion after hearing that Clank sound, deciding there was a problem, and spending who knows how long running and walking through the corridor until my legs were burning.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

I ran.

‘It never ends.’

At the very least for dozens of minutes. meadow Perhaps for hours.

I walked.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

And yet, the corridor never showed an end.

Moisture-soaked cables.

Gray concrete.

Walls with peeling paint.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

Torn warning signs.

There were no doors or windows.

Only a faint light flickered every few meters as if it were malfunctioning.

Not even a single room.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

‘This is dangerous.’

An infinite corridor.

Only a corridor.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

It was the only way to know where I had already been within that unknown space.

The cold brushing against my ankles and the icy sensation crawling across my skin were far too real.

Whenever I found a fork in the path, I scratched the walls and floor to mark the direction.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

But even so, I couldn’t find an exit.

‘It doesn’t seem to be a repeating structure.’

At first, it reassured me to think that I could at least retrace my steps.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

I felt rust and mold sticking to my pants.

I sat down on the damp floor, trying to suppress my anxiety.

I reached a point where the only possible conclusion was, “This is dangerous.”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

The wall against my back absorbed that unpleasant dampness.

I took a deep breath.

The smell of rusted iron.

My lungs seemed to burn.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

‘There’s something here.’

And traces of rotting flesh.

The smell of metal.

The smell of blood.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

It wasn’t just that there was no exit.

Clank.

For quite some time, I had been feeling a strange yet unmistakable sense of déjà vu.

And far away, barely audible, a regular scraping sound.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

I heard it again.

They weren’t footsteps.

That unsettling noise that had been scraping at my nerves for so long was still echoing behind me even after I had walked until my feet swelled.

It was a heavy, unpleasant sound, as if an enormous mass of metal were being dragged across the floor.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

Everything pointed to a single conclusion. All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com

At the very least, it knows I’m here.

‘It’s following me.’

‘At this rate, I would’ve been better off staying at the company working overtime.’

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

The feeling of not being able to believe what was in front of you.

I had experienced a similar feeling before.

At least there, I had strange but reliable superiors.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

Of being unable to say anything.

Find a way to survive.

Of being unable to escape.

And I always made the same decision.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

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

And I survived.

Don’t talk.

This time was no different.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

Thinking too much only feeds anxiety.

I stood up again.

The best thing right now is to find a way to stay alive.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

‘For now, keep walking.’

I felt the Relics of the Smiling Martyr grow slightly warmer.

Even if you can’t see the end.

Walk.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

Don’t interpret anything.

Walk.

Don’t ask questions.

Even if there is no exit.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

Haven’t you always lived like this?

Don’t try to guess.

In the military.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

***

A door.

And at the company.

Just as a sigh was about to escape my lips, something appeared that I had not seen before.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

It gave off a strange feeling.

Heavy.

A rusted iron door embedded in the middle of a wall of decaying concrete. Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

The doorknob was covered in dozens of marks that looked like scratches from fingernails.

Faced with that ominous sight, I immediately stopped.

As though it could not be opened in any direction.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

Until that moment, that building had never allowed the existence of any room.

The doubt was natural.

‘Do I really have to go inside?’

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

A door that looked as sinister as this one.

And not just any door.

There had only been endless corridors and unsettling noises.

And now a door had appeared.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

And returning to the last intersection would take just as long.

“……”

I had already walked for hours.

After a few seconds of consideration, I took a deep breath and grabbed the doorknob.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

That sound.

If I went back, there was a high probability I would encounter the source of that noise.

Clank.

And above all.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

Creeeeak.

In truth, I had no other choice.

I took a deep breath.

And slowly opened the door.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

The smell arrived first.

The screech of rusted iron echoed without a single drop of lubricant.

Mold.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

Petroleum.

Rust.

Oil.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

And blood.

Old wood.

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

Leather.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

It was a room.

The air was even heavier than the corridor’s.

‘Unfortunately, this doesn’t look like an exit.’

Holding my breath, I stepped inside.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

The drawers had been ripped out.

The desk was overturned.

All the furniture was destroyed.

Or, more accurately, something that had once been a room.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

Cobwebs clustered like oil stains hanging from the ceiling.

A complete mess.

Inside an empty bookshelf, there was only a sheet of paper, a bottle of water, and a package of jerky.

Torn wallpaper.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

It was a place where even ticks would have trouble surviving.

Everything around it was rotting.

A strangely clean A4 sheet.

“Hmm?”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

There was also a sealed bottle of water and packaged jerky.

Without hesitation, I picked up the items and began reading what was written on the paper.

And yet, that sheet was spotless.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

==========

If you are reading this document, you are currently considered to be inside the ______.

[Control Zone Manual]

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

There is a high probability that you are a randomly entered individual.

When making normal transitions inside habitable spaces, such as opening a door and entering another room or walking through a corridor within a common structure, there exists an extremely small probability of deviating from the physical coordinates of reality and becoming connected to this ______.

The cause of your entry into this zone is considered to be a phase deviation phenomenon that occurs with extremely low probability during movement within indoor spaces.

This zone has been designated and managed as a Level 3 Control Zone in accordance with the guidelines of the Anomalous Disaster Management Department.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

If you are a voluntary transition subject, destroy this document immediately.

If you are an involuntary transition subject who unexpectedly crossed the boundary while moving through an indoor space, we recommend that you carefully read this document.

This zone cannot be reached through conventional physical means, and its exact coordinates have not been identified.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

Therefore, our organization uses special methods to periodically enter this space, rescue survivors, and distribute instruction manuals along with emergency supplies.

1. athlete Existence and Characteristics of the Exit

This manual has been prepared to help you escape from the ______ based on research records from the Anomalous Disaster Management Department and testimonies from survivors.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

The position of the exit is not limited to a specific corridor or room, and its appearance is not fixed.

However, there is only one within this zone, and its location is random. Read original high-quality translation at indratranslations.com.

The exit exists.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

2. wizard Precautions When Using Stairs

If you encounter a door that is not the exit within a corridor, there is a very high probability that it leads to a staircase connected to another level.

Ascending Stairs

Please be aware that it may manifest in various forms, such as a normal iron door, a ventilation duct, an emergency exit, or an elevator.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

To date, no cases of survival have been recorded after using an ascending staircase.

Their use is strictly prohibited.

Their use is permitted.

Descending Stairs

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

It is estimated that the farther you descend, the better the environmental and lighting conditions become, as well as an increase in the number of possible exits.

From the moment you descend, what is known as a “Presence” will appear.

It may manifest in various forms, such as human-like footsteps, breathing sounds, or vibrations within silence, and it will constantly pursue you.

Presence

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

3. meadow Precautions During Rest

Currently, there are no recorded cases of survival following direct contact with such a Presence.

In extremely rare cases, the Presence may manifest even without the use of a staircase.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

However, if the Presence has already manifested, minimize the amount of time you spend indoors.

4. This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com. abstract General Rules of Conduct

Facilities located within the “rooms” of this zone provide a safer and more comfortable environment than the corridors.

Because periodic spatial distortion phenomena have been observed in the corridors, our organization usually places manuals and conducts rescue operations primarily within rooms.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

According to the results of our investigations, survivors share the following behavioral patterns.

Complying with these rules dramatically increases the chances of survival.

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 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

— Keep your eyes facing forward.

— Maintain a constant walking speed.

— Proceed in a single direction.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

— Measure your route objectively using body dimensions or similar methods.

Although it is impossible to physically measure the extent of this space, it is estimated that the surface area of a single level exceeds, at minimum, the entire administrative area of Seoul.

Begin moving.

5. armor Recommendations

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

Control your breathing, but avoid hyperventilating.

Our organization will not abandon your rescue.

Maintain your sanity and respond rationally in all situations.

After surviving and returning, report immediately using the emergency contact listed on the back of this manual.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

Do not lose hope.

You can return alive.

— Anomalous Disaster Management Department

If necessary, consume the attached emergency provisions (drinking water and jerky).

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

I read it.

Line by line.

==========

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

I hadn’t opened any door.

Suppressing my emotions as much as possible and focusing only on the information.

‘How strange.’

First, the reason someone ends up in this anomalous space appears to be an extremely rare transition phenomenon that occurs during movement indoors.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

The question was unsettling, but for now, I had no way of finding an answer.

Nor had I been walking through a corridor.

Why did I end up in this place when I didn’t even fully meet the conditions for entry?

I had simply fallen asleep in bed and woken up here.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

‘What’s important right now is the information related to survival.’

There is no time limit.

I opened the package of jerky and began chewing it.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

However, there is only one exit.

Ascending stairs are prohibited. aluminum There are no survivors.

It is located randomly.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

And there is an extremely low probability that the Presence may appear even without descending.

But then the Presence appears.

Descending stairs may be used.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

An empty laugh escaped me.

“…Ha.”

My breath stirred the air mixed with the smell of mold and rusted water.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

But its structure was unreal.

It felt like a nightmare, yet water droplets were genuinely falling onto my skin, and the dampness truly filled my lungs.

The sensations of this place were completely real.

I had already realized it.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

The Presence follows you.

‘This document is like the distorted rules of this place—something similar to the manual of a dimensional entity.’

It was very similar to standing before a dangerous dimensional entity inside a containment chamber.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

Silently.

“…Damn it.”

Don’t stop.

Walk as fast as you can.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

The moment I arrived, I had gotten the rare possibility of the Presence appearing immediately.

According to the document, I had won an extremely unlikely lottery.

It was a situation worthy of being cursed.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

— Extraction Team 2 is working on a project right now. august The same goes for Team 3, so if an external mission comes up, we might have to replace them.

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

I already had a rough understanding of how all this worked.

It was quite similar to something I had discussed with Assistant Manager Son while drinking coffee during lunch.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

— You didn’t know, Mr. harbor Haeil? attic The job of Extraction Team 3 is to travel to distorted zones and extract energy. autumn Sometimes, when they’re short-staffed, we participate too.

— External mission?

I pressed my tongue against the roof of my mouth and tried to calm my racing heart and the slight trembling in my fingers.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

‘Though it seems the people who wrote this manual call them Control Zones.’

No one had ever explained exactly what they were, but they probably referred to unreal places like this.

Distorted zones.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

‘Anomalous Disaster Management Department.’

The moment I quietly spoke that name, my body shuddered slightly.

My lips moved before I could stop them.

My gaze returned to the last line of the document.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

I had heard it before at the company. Indra Translations protects the hard work of translators and authors.

Assistant Manager Son had mentioned it when he first explained the job to me.

And I had also heard it during a conversation between Manager Myeon and Manager Batori.

— We do external missions too, but we’re taking a bit of a break right now. audit The Anomalous Disaster Management Department has been interfering too much lately.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

‘From the context, it didn’t sound like they got along very well with our company.’

— You mean the new one with heterochromatic eyes? acoustic He seemed to possess excellent blood.

Could it be an organization made up of monsters too, just like Limited Company Where the Dead End Up with Ghosts?

— Surveillance over the Control Zones by the Anomalous Disaster Management Department has been reinforced. august We won’t be able to go on missions for a while.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

But could I really trust them?

The name and the format of the document gave that impression.

At first glance, it seemed like a government agency.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

It was the only information I had.

“Fuuu…”

I carefully folded the sheet in half and tucked it into the bottom of my right pants pocket.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

Cold sweat.

Grease.

I rubbed my face.

I let out a long sigh and brought my hands to my face.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

Everything mixed together beneath my fingers.

I pressed my eyelids once and my temples twice.

Heat.

Dust.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

If you doubt.

If you hesitate.

My mind cleared a little.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

You die.

If you let fear consume you…

The cold, damp air clung to my hands.

I slid my fingers from my forehead to my chin.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

No matter what it takes.

“I’m going to make it back alive.”

I completely discarded the possibility that the manual was a trap.

I’ll return alive.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

After regaining some strength from the water and jerky that had come with the document, I returned to the corridor.

Dampness seeping into my bones.

In the distance, those Clank sounds could still occasionally be heard, but having recovered some energy and quenched my thirst was already a blessing.

Deep darkness.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 26: You Can Survive and Return Alive (1) by Indra Translations.

I had endured the company by gritting my teeth.

I muttered that nonsense simply to keep my mind occupied as I continued walking.

“It’s been a while since I did a march.”

I couldn’t afford to die in a ridiculous place like this.

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