There Are No Humans in the Monster Company — Chapter 28: You Can Survive and Return Alive (3)

Chapter 28: You Can Survive and Return Alive (3)

Another‍‌‌ door.

An‌‍ empty room.

A room that was empty as if⁠‌ it were a lie.

Wallpaper⁠ covered in mold,‍ a broken bed,⁠ a single armchair‌‌ with its leather torn away.

That‌⁠‌ was all.

‘There⁠‌ aren’t many rooms with manuals and‌‍‌ food…’

I stood in the doorway, observing the room.

I could sit down.‍‍

I didn’t even need‍ to lie down.‌‍

Just‌‌ sit.

Even‌ if it was⁠ only for a minute, being able⁠ to close my‍‌‍ eyes would be‌ enough.

‘…Should⁠‍ I rest for⁠ a moment? I don’t think it’ll⁠ arrive at exactly⁠‍‍ that moment.’

My‌ eyelids felt heavy,‍ and my legs were trembling.

My⁠ body was already‌ screaming for me⁠ to sit down.⁠‍

Instinctively,‍ I took a step inside.

Clank.‍‍

One‌⁠ of my knees⁠ nearly gave out.‍⁠‌

Without⁠‌ any will of‍ my own, only‍‍ the weight of‍‍ my body moved⁠ forward first.

Then.‌

Clank.‌‍

The⁠‌‍ familiar sound came‌ from far away.⁠

It‍‌ wasn’t the noise⁠ of my feet‌‍ or my failing‌ legs.

It‍‌ was an unpleasant⁠ vibration.

A sound echoing somewhere beyond the door,‍ at the far⁠ end of the‌‍ corridor.

Clank.‌

My⁠‍ heart hammered against‌‌ my eardrums.

Thump.‌ Thump. Thump.

I bit my lip‌ and muttered quietly.⁠

“…Damn⁠ it, how did‌‌ it hear me‌ from there?”

I let out a sigh and withdrew‌‌ the foot that‍‍‌ had been about⁠ to step into⁠⁠ the room.

As‌ I crossed the⁠‍ threshold back into the corridor, I heard that noise‌‌ again—

Something‍ dragging across the floor, approaching with⁠ a heavy and‍‌ steady rhythm.

In⁠⁠ the face of⁠ survival instinct, exhaustion‌ didn’t matter.

Clinging to my sanity⁠ in the face‌‍ of death, I turned in the‍⁠ opposite direction.

Walk.‌⁠

To⁠ stay alive.

That⁠⁠ was all I could do.

And‌ then I stopped.‍⁠

“What‍⁠ the hell?”

In‍‌ front of me.⁠

Beyond‍ the boundary between‍‍ darkness and light‌⁠ at the far‌ end of the‍ corridor.

Another‍⁠ sound could be‍‍ heard.

Clank,⁠⁠ Click, Step.

Clank,‌‍ Click, Step.

A different interval from⁠‍⁠ the Presence approaching‌ from behind.

I turned my head.‌‌⁠

Clank.‍ Clank. Clank.

Again,⁠ 1.7 seconds.

An exact, constant, familiar⁠‌ interval.

‘The‌⁠ problem is…’

Something‌‍ was also approaching‌ from the front.‌‌

Click.‍ Step. Click. Step.

“Ha,‍‍⁠ shit…”

As⁠ I pressed my⁠ back against the‌ wall, a chill‍ ran down my‌‌‌ spine.

The‌ tips of my fingers went numb.‌‌

The willpower I was⁠‍ barely holding onto⁠‌ felt as if‍ it were about‍‍ to slip away.‍‌‍

I held my breath‌ and forced my⁠ brain to work.‍

What⁠⁠ do I do?‌

Hide?‌

No.

Not‍‍ that.

From⁠‌‌ the persistent way‌ that sound kept‍‌‌ following me, it⁠⁠ was obvious that⁠‌⁠ the Presence knew⁠ where I was.‌

If‍ I hid, I would end up‍ like the corpse‌ split in half‍‍ that I had‌‍ seen upstairs.

Then⁠ fight?

‘I’m⁠‌⁠ not Supervisor Shik.’‍‍

If⁠‌ even one of⁠‌ my superiors from‍ Extraction Team 1 were here, perhaps‌‌ I wouldn’t feel‍ even a tenth⁠⁠ of this crisis.‍‌

But‍‌ if that Presence‌‌ was something similar‍⁠ to a dimensional entity, I wouldn’t‌ even be able to escape properly.‍

‘I‌⁠⁠ need to find⁠‌ another way.’

My‌‍ brain spun at‌‌ full speed through‍ the pain.

My⁠‌⁠ body temperature rose.⁠

My‍ senses sharpened.

A state of rational‍⁠ panic.

Calculations‌ optimized solely for survival.

Clank.‌

Click.⁠‌‍

Step.⁠

They’re⁠ getting closer.

They’re‌‌ not far.

About‌ fifty meters behind‌ me.

About⁠‌ twenty in front.⁠

In⁠‌ my left ear‌ lingered the ghost⁠ of the past.

In‍⁠ my right, an unknown predator.

Then⁠⁠‌ I noticed a small but unmistakable anomaly.

Among‍ the presences ahead.‌⁠

Another⁠ sound was mixed⁠⁠⁠ in.

Click.‍

“……”

Step.‍

“……?”‍⁠

And⁠⁠‌ between them.

“…Be⁠⁠‌ careful.”

“No,‍‌ if you go‍⁠‍ that way—”

A clearly different sound.⁠⁠⁠

“……!”⁠⁠‍

Voices.

Human voices.

Clearly‍‍ audible language.

There⁠‍‌ was an obvious⁠ difference from the‌‌ Presence, which only‍ followed me with‍ those Clank sounds.‌⁠

I made a decision⁠‍ immediately.

There⁠ was only one‍‌ possibility.

The‍‌ ones ahead were‌⁠‌ living humans.

Someone⁠⁠ still breathing within⁠‍ this hellish space.‍⁠‌

Even‌‍ if they were‌ monsters pretending to‍ be human, it⁠⁠ was worth confirming.‍

“…Good.”‍

I swallowed hard and‌‍ ran with all my strength.

Through⁠ the corridor.

Past‍⁠⁠ death.

Toward‌ the direction of‌ those voices that‍ might be hope.‌⁠

Beyond‍‍ the corner of‍ the hallway.

My⁠ rapid footsteps echoed⁠‌⁠ against the walls‍ and floor.

My⁠ sweat-soaked breathing.

My⁠ damp clothes.

The‌‍ heat leaving my body.

As‍‍ if they had‍⁠‍ sensed me approaching,‌ something stopped on‌‍ the other side⁠ of the corner.‍‍

An‌ unfamiliar silence.

Not‌ a monstrous, sinister,⁠ incomprehensible presence.

The‍⁠‌ presence of people.⁠‌

And‌⁠ then, a conversation.‍

“Did‍ you hear that?”‍‍⁠

“Yes.”‍

“It’s‍ coming. Get ready.”‍

Low‌‍‍ whispers.

A man’s voice.

A woman’s response.

There‌ were definitely people⁠ on the other‍‌ side of the‍ corridor.

People‌ holding a conversation‌ with shape and‍‍ meaning.

I rounded the corner‍ without hesitation.

And‍ at that instant—‍⁠⁠

Whoosh!‌

An⁠ arm shot toward‌‍ my throat like‍⁠ lightning.

The⁠‌ moment I felt⁠ the precise hostility‍ contained within that⁠ hand, my body‍ moved before my mind understood the‌ situation.

“……!”‍‌

Training‍ drilled into me‌ thousands of times‍ exploded through my‌ spine.

Just‍ before the force‍‌‍ of his grip⁠ reached my trachea,‌‍‌ I reflexively tucked‌ my chin and⁠⁠‍ slipped inside his‌ guard.

With‍‍ my right hand‌ raised, I deflected his wrist and altered its trajectory.⁠‍⁠

Then I immediately drove⁠‍ an elbow straight⁠⁠ toward the underside⁠‍ of his jaw.

“Ah.”‌

A low grunt.

For⁠‍ an instant, it⁠ seemed as though‍‌ the other man’s⁠⁠ balance had broken,‌‍ but he shifted‍‍ his hips backward‌⁠ and evaded the⁠ strike with his‌ upper body.

In‍‌ that fraction of‍⁠ a second, the⁠ man’s silhouette was‍⁠‌ etched into my‍ retinas under the⁠‌ light.

A man wearing a suit.

Gray‍‌ hair tied back halfway.

Sharp‌ eyes like a bird of prey‌ and a long scar running across⁠‌ his right cheek.⁠

His‌‍‌ right eye, gray‍‌ and frozen like‍‌‌ ice.

His‌ left eye, brown‍ and shining with interest.

Two‍‌ eyes different in‌ both color and‍‍ focus pierced through⁠⁠ me.

Aside‌ from that peculiar⁠‌‌ appearance, he was‍‍ undeniably human.

I immediately extended my‍ hand and shouted⁠‌ in a hurry.‌⁠

“Wait!‌‌ I’m a person! We can tal—!”‍⁠

A cry filled with‍‍‌ relief and desperation at finally finding‌ another human being.‌

But instead of an answer, what came‌ back was a sharp sound cutting‌⁠ through the air.‌‌

Whoosh!‍‌

As⁠⁠ if he hadn’t‍ even heard my⁠ words, the man‍‍ formed a faint‍ smile and threw‌‍ a punch.

A barrage of blows,‍⁠ much faster and⁠ more precise than‍‌ before, rushed straight⁠ toward my face.⁠

“Hey!⁠‌ Listen to what‌‌ I’m tr—!”

I didn’t even have‌ time to finish‌‍ the sentence.

The‌ tip of his‍ foot struck my‌ shin.

Taking⁠ advantage of my⁠‍ faltering balance, an‍ elbow shot toward‌‍‌ my temple.

I hastily raised my‍‍ guard, but the‍ heavy impact twisted‌‌‍ my head aside.⁠

‘This‍‌ fucking lunatic…!’

He’s⁠ completely serious.

He⁠ didn’t stop after confirming I was‍‌ human.

On‌ the contrary, he‍ seemed even more‍‍ entertained by pressuring‍‌ me.

I didn’t understand what‌ was happening.

Nor‍⁠ why I had‍⁠ to fight a stranger in the⁠‌⁠ hallway of an‌ abandoned building the moment I saw him.

But one thing was⁠‍‍ certain.

‘He’s‍‌ not the type who listens to reason.’

In‍ a different way‌ from the monsters‌ that filled the⁠‌⁠ company, this guy⁠ was completely insane.‍

I crossed both arms⁠ to reinforce my⁠ guard, but he‌ kept advancing without pause, throwing blow after blow.

The⁠⁠‍ heavy impacts crashing⁠‍ against my defense‌‍‍ made my bones⁠ vibrate.

‘I‍ can’t beat him‍ by trading blows.’⁠‌

I have to grab⁠⁠ him and lock⁠ him down.

The‌‌‌ instant he threw‍‌ another punch, I lowered my body‌⁠ and caught his‌⁠ right arm, trying‌‍ to turn it‍ inward and restrain‍‍ him.

Then—‍

“That’s⁠ enough.”

A woman’s cold voice‍‌ froze the corridor.

A woman had stepped⁠‍ between us before‍ I even noticed.⁠‌

She sighed with an⁠ expressionless face.

Black‍ hair neatly tied‍ into a high‌‍ ponytail.

Cold,‌ sharp eyes.

Dry,‌‍ tense lips.

“…He’s‍‍ an ordinary survivor, Team Leader.”

The‍ woman positioned herself‍⁠ in front of⁠ me and summarized‌‌ the situation in⁠‌ a cold but‍‍ firm voice.

I also stopped in⁠⁠‌ a low stance,‌ breathing heavily.

Even‌‌ during that brief‌ exchange, I had‌⁠ realized something.

For⁠ someone so crazy,‌ that man fought⁠⁠ absurdly well.

“…Haa…‌ haa… I already⁠ said I was‍⁠ a person…”

Before⁠ I could feel‍‍‌ relieved, the man⁠ who had been⁠‌ attacking me lightly‍ shook out his⁠ fists and lowered‍ his guard.

Beneath⁠ his half-tied gray‌ hair, those heterochromatic⁠⁠ eyes remained fixed⁠⁠‍ on my wrist⁠ with an unpleasant‌ gleam.

“Sub-Team⁠‍ Leader, are your‌⁠ eyes just for‌‍ decoration? Can’t you see that?”

The⁠ man called Team⁠ Leader pointed at⁠⁠ my right wrist with his chin.‌

The‌ Relics of the⁠ Smiling Martyr.

What⁠ normally looked like‍‍‌ nothing more than‌⁠⁠ a red rosary⁠⁠ was pulsing strangely under the influence‍ of this place,‍‌ emitting a faint⁠ warmth.

“…!”‌

The⁠⁠ woman’s eyebrows twitched.⁠

Her⁠ gaze shifted between‍‌ my face and‌ my wrist.

Then‌ she looked at‍⁠‌ me with even‍ greater hostility than‌‍‍ before and muttered,‌⁠

“…The‌ Church of the Coming Feast?”

What the hell is that?

“Or‌⁠ the Erosion Alliance?”⁠‍

And what’s that supposed‍‌ to be?

Seeing‍‌ the woman continue⁠ to jump to⁠ the wrong conclusions,‍ the man let‌ out a dry‌ laugh and stepped closer.

His‍‍‍ footsteps were much⁠ slower than before,⁠‍⁠ but the pressure⁠⁠ he exuded remained‍ sharper than any‌‌‌ Presence that had⁠ chased me.

“Wearing‌ that stinking bracelet and pretending to‌ be an ordinary‌‍ survivor isn’t very‍⁠ convincing. Open your⁠‌⁠ eyes properly too,‌‌‌ Sub-Team Leader. He’s⁠ not one of‍ them.”

Instinctively, I tried to‍‌ hide my wrist‌‍ behind my back.‍

But‌‌‌ I stopped.

They‌ had already noticed it.

There⁠⁠ was no point⁠‌ hiding it.

“…It’s⁠‌ something I received‍ by chance.”

“By⁠⁠ chance?”

“Hah.”⁠‌

The‍ man snorted mockingly‍‌ and frowned.

“Just from the way‌‍ you’re dressed, it’s‌ obvious you’re an‌‍ office worker. You’re⁠ from Limited Company‌‌ Where the Dead‍‌ End Up with⁠ Ghosts, aren’t you?”‍

Hearing‍ the name of⁠‍ my company in such an unexpected place, I flinched and looked up‍ at him.

The‍⁠‍ man gave a cold smile, ran⁠‌ a hand through‍ his hair, and‍ sighed.

“Stop dancing around it.⁠ What exactly are‌⁠ you?”

“What⁠‍ else would I be? A person.”‌⁠

The‍‌‌ man narrowed his⁠ eyes as he looked me up⁠⁠ and down.

Then⁠ he asked in‍ a lower voice‌ than before.

“Don’t‌‌ tell me you’re one of Moon⁠⁠ Ara’s people.”

‘…Moon Ara?’

It⁠ was a strangely‌‍ familiar name.

It‌‍ didn’t take long‍⁠ for the memory‌‍ to surface.

— Moon Ara went‌‍⁠ out on external‌ security business.

The first time I met Director Go⁠ Gyeol of the⁠‍ Audit Team in‌ the prototype warehouse.⁠‍

The fact that this‍ man mentioned that‍‍ name after confirming‍⁠ my affiliation meant‍‌ one of two‍‌ things.

Either⁠ she held an‍ important position within‍ Limited Company Where‍‍ the Dead End⁠ Up with Ghosts.

Or she had a very complicated relationship‍ with him.

‘……’

As‍ my silence dragged⁠ on, the man’s heterochromatic eyes narrowed.⁠‌

Distrust.‍

Hostility.‌‌

And⁠‍ barely perceptible anxiety.‌

I swallowed hard as‌ my brain worked⁠ frantically.

Would‍ it be better‌‍ to pretend I didn’t know her?‍‌

Or‌‍ act as though‌⁠ I knew something and shift the‍ board?

“…Do‌⁠ you know Team‍ Leader Moon Ara?”‌

Assistant‍ Manager Son had‍⁠ said that the head of the‌ Security Team managed⁠‍ the prototype warehouse.

That‌ should be enough.

I answered as naturally⁠‍ as possible, acting‌ as though I knew Moon Ara.⁠‍

The man frowned.

“Do‍‍ I know her?‌ I know her‌‍ very well.”

Just‍ as he took⁠‌ a long step⁠ toward me—

Clank.‍⁠

Clank.

The⁠⁠⁠ woman’s gaze changed.⁠⁠‍

The‍ man’s expression hardened‌⁠ slightly as well.⁠

“I think we should‍ move first, Team‌‌ Leader.”

The woman’s low, rough‍ voice rang out‌ coldly.

The man called Team‍⁠ Leader frowned as‌ he sensed the‍‍ Presence approaching from‍ deep within the⁠‍ corridor.

Then⁠ he let out⁠⁠ a sigh.

Driven‌ by pointless stubbornness, I asked a question.

“Who‍⁠ are you people‌ to know the‍ name of our‌ company?”

The‍‌ black-haired woman furrowed‌ her brows while‌ looking at the‌ rosary on my‌ wrist with obvious‌ displeasure.

Then‌‌ she answered with‍‌ an expressionless face.⁠‌⁠

“We‌ are the Anomalous⁠ Disaster Management Department.”‌⁠

The‌‌ Anomalous Disaster Management‍ Department.

The⁠ organization that had‍⁠ written the manual‍ for escaping this hellish place.

— The people from‌‍ the Anomalous Disaster Management Department have⁠ been sticking their‍‍⁠ noses into things‌⁠ too much.

— The Anomalous Disaster‌ Management Department’s surveillance‍ of the Control‍⁠ Zones has become‍ much stricter. We won’t be able to go on⁠ assignments for a while.

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

It’s them.

The⁠ organization I had‌‌ heard mentioned so‌⁠ many times at‍ the company.

The‌ one that was‍ supposedly always interfering‍⁠ in our affairs.⁠

It’s⁠‌ him.

The⁠‌ mysterious man who⁠ had caught Manager Batori’s interest.

A strange emotion mixed⁠‍‌ into the air.⁠‍⁠

It‍ wasn’t joy.

Nor‌⁠ distrust.

It‌‌ was the trace of an old‍‍ and heavy enmity.‌

Clank.‌‍‍

Another metallic impact echoed‍ from quite nearby.⁠⁠

“Let’s‌ avoid that damn⁠‍ Presence first, and‌ then we’ll talk.”⁠

The‍‌‍ man let out⁠ a sigh and‌ immediately started walking.‌

The⁠ woman followed him.‍‍

I pulled myself together‍ and quickly moved⁠‍ after them.

Limited‍⁠ Company Where the‍‍ Dead End Up‍ with Ghosts.

The‌⁠ Anomalous Disaster Management‍ Department.

A company of monsters⁠ and government officials‍⁠ tasked with controlling‌‍ monsters.

And⁠⁠ an ordinary human caught between them.⁠

What a shitty combination.‍

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Chapter 28: You Can Survive and Return Alive (3)

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