There Are No Humans in the Monster Company — Chapter 30: The Control Team of the Department of Anomalous Disaster Management (2)

Chapter 30: The Control Team of the Department of Anomalous Disaster Management (2)

Chsss.⁠‌

I turned my head‌⁠‍ at the sound‌ of a brief⁠⁠ spray.

Seo⁠‍ Ryu lightly shook⁠ a black bottle⁠ she had pulled‍⁠⁠ from her clothing⁠ toward the wall⁠‌ beside the door.‍

With‍‍ a soft splash,⁠‌ a transparent liquid‍⁠ shot out and⁠ soaked the surface.‍‌‌

And⁠ it was at‍‌ that exact moment.⁠

The‍ door disappeared.

Without‍ a sound.

Without‌‍ smoke.

The⁠ heavy iron door‌ I had passed through myself only‌ moments earlier became⁠ a smooth wall,⁠ as if it‍ had never existed.‍‍

“…What⁠‌ the hell is⁠ this?”

The⁠⁠‌ words slipped from‌ my lips before‍ I realized it.‌

The‌ creaking hinges, the‍⁠ rusty sensation beneath⁠⁠ my hands, even‍‌ the smell of‍⁠⁠ mold that had⁠⁠ brushed against my⁠⁠ nose were still‌⁠ as vivid as‌‍ before.

And yet, all that‍‌‍ remained before me was a solid‌‍⁠ concrete wall.

“Why‌⁠ are you so⁠⁠ surprised?”

Sitting‌ on the bed,‌ Yeom Hwi let‍ out a dry⁠‌ laugh.

As he watched me⁠‍ with one corner‍ of his mouth raised, a strange‌‌‌ calmness was reflected‍ in his eyes.

It⁠ wasn’t exactly mockery.⁠‍

It felt more like⁠‌ the everyday boredom‌‌‍ of someone who⁠‌‌ had grown accustomed‍‌ to everything.

“In your company, this‍‌ must be a pretty common occurrence.”⁠‍⁠

At Yeom Hwi’s joke, Seo Ryu slowly‌‍ turned her body.‍

She⁠‍‌ still said nothing,‍ but the sharp‌‌ intensity in her‌ eyes conveyed a perfectly clear message.‍‍

‘The⁠ craziest monsters are you people.’

I stared fixedly at⁠‌ the entrance, now⁠ transformed into a wall.

The⁠‍ escape route had‌ vanished.

This‌‌‍ place had become⁠ completely isolated from‌ the outside world.‌‍

Rather‌ than fear from‍⁠ having no exit,‌⁠ I felt a strange sense of⁠‌ relief at that⁠ unreal isolation.

At‌ least I could‍ no longer hear the constant “clank”⁠‍ coming from the⁠⁠‍ other side.

A heavy silence settled⁠ over the room⁠‌⁠ once more.

I felt like I could breathe more‍‍ easily, but the⁠‍ unease weighing on‌⁠ my back was⁠‌ still there.

I slowly turned my‍ head and looked‍‌‍ around the room.⁠⁠⁠

A dilapidated bed.

A dresser with worn‌ corners.

A cracked leather sofa.⁠

A dust-covered mirror.

The‍ appearance of an‍⁠ old and completely‍ ordinary motel room.‌

And⁠‍‍ yet, the presence‍‌ of those two‌⁠‌ people in the center of the‌‍ room transformed the place into a massive interrogation chamber.‍⁠⁠

Seo‌‍⁠ Ryu remained against⁠ the wall with‌ her arms crossed.‍‌

Yeom‌⁠ Hwi swung one⁠ leg while staring‌‍ directly at me.⁠

I wanted to say‌⁠ something.

Anything.‍

But⁠‍‌ my tongue seemed‌‍⁠ stuck to the‌⁠‍ roof of my‌ mouth.

It‍⁠‍ was Yeom Hwi‌‍ who broke the‍‌⁠ silence first.

“Extraction‌ Team 1.”

Those⁠⁠ words hung in‍‍⁠ the air and⁠ grew cold.

“…That’s‍ what you said?”

I narrowed my eyes.

After‌ several seconds of‌⁠ hesitation, I nodded‍ cautiously.

Seo‍‍⁠ Ryu took a short breath and‌ frowned.

A deep crease formed‍ between her brows.‍

Her‍ gaze became even‌‍ sharper.

‘Here⁠‌⁠ we go again.’⁠⁠

Then‌ Yeom Hwi turned‍ his head toward⁠⁠⁠ her.

He‍‌⁠ said nothing.

But there was a warning in his⁠‌ eyes.

A silent order.

Be‌ quiet and wait.⁠

Seo⁠⁠ Ryu responded with‌‍ a brief click⁠⁠ of her tongue⁠⁠‌ before looking away.‌

“You’re‌⁠ not from the‌‍ Emotional Department?”

The⁠‍‍ moment I heard‌ those words, it⁠ felt as though something struck me‌ in the head.‌

The⁠⁠ memories came rushing back.

The⁠‌‌ siren that had⁠‌ pierced my eardrums‌ in the Extraction‌⁠ Room echoed once more.

Crash—Bang!‌

Chaos.

Debris.‍

Released dimensional entities.

Blood.

Screams.‍

And‍⁠ then.

Boom!‍‌⁠

It‌ exploded.

I remembered it perfectly.‍⁠

Assistant‌ Manager Son.

Without‌ saying a single‌‍ word.

Without⁠‍ hesitation.

Crushing an employee’s head⁠ until it exploded.‌

Even⁠⁠ though the room’s‌‍⁠ temperature had not‍‍ dropped, I felt⁠ cold sweat run‍ down my back.⁠⁠‍

At that moment, Yeom Hwi’s voice pulled⁠ me out of⁠ my thoughts.

“Hey,‍‍ come back to‍ your senses, Jeong⁠ Haeil.”

His‌ tone sounded tired.‍⁠⁠

But‍ also calm.

And firm.

There⁠‍ was a weight‌⁠ to his words‍‌‌ that made them difficult to ignore.‍

“Don’t‍ get complacent just‍⁠‌ because you’re in‍‌ the Extraction Team.⁠‍ Do you really‍ think those monsters‌ consider you a real employee?”

I raised my head‌‍ and our gazes‌ met.

Heterochromatic⁠‌‍ eyes.

Gray⁠ and brown.

There⁠‌ was no doubt⁠ in them.

Only‌ conviction.

“This⁠‍‌ is an opportunity‍⁠ you won’t get‍ many times. Make‍⁠‍ good use of‌‍ it. Depending on‍ how you answer,‌⁠ you might leave‌⁠ here with us.‍ When you fell‌ into this place,‍ who did you‍ find? Not those monsters. Us.”

I swallowed silently.

My⁠⁠ throat felt like‌ it was burning.‌‌

My‌ mouth was completely‍⁠‌ dry.

“Speak slowly. What do‌‌‍ you do there?”‌

He⁠⁠‍ wasn’t leaning against⁠ anything.

He‍⁠‌ hadn’t drawn a weapon.

And yet, it was⁠⁠⁠ an interrogation.

A question impossible to‌‍ refuse.

An atmosphere that demanded⁠ answers.

“…You said you’ve been‍ with the company‍‍‌ for about a month?”

I nodded slowly.

I hesitated.

But‍⁠ I hid nothing.

“How‌ big is the‍‍ company?”

“…I⁠ don’t know.”

“And‌‍ the building?”

“I⁠ can’t tell.”

“Where is the headquarters?”‍

“……”‌

How‌ did he manage‌ to ask only⁠⁠ things I didn’t‌ know?

Yeom⁠ Hwi looked at‍‌ me with obvious⁠ displeasure.

Seo⁠‍ Ryu was looking‌‍ at me as‍ if she were ready to pull‌‍ the trigger at‍ any moment.

But‍⁠⁠ what could I do?

I truly didn’t know.‌⁠

Their⁠‍⁠ eyes examined every‍ word and every‌ breath I took, searching for any⁠ trace of a lie.

‘I’m sleepy.’

I took a deep‌ breath and leaned⁠‌ against a corner‍ of the bed.‌

The‍ wall behind me⁠‍ was cold.

Without‌‌ realizing it, my⁠⁠ gaze drifted toward Seo Ryu.

She‌ was still watching⁠‌ me.

That‌ look.

It‌‌‍ was impossible to‍ describe with words.‍⁠‌

It wasn’t caution.

It‍ wasn’t suspicion.

It was obvious hostility.‌‍‍

I looked back at‌ Yeom Hwi.

He⁠ remained silent, mentally⁠ organizing everything I had told him.‌‌

Confusion.‌‍⁠

Distrust.‍

Analysis.‌‌

And⁠ at the center of it all⁠ was me.

‘I⁠ thought it would‍‍ be better than‍ being alone.’

But‌⁠ that didn’t mean‍‌ I was safe.⁠⁠

In‌ fact, a hostility⁠ deeper and older‍‌ than any gun⁠‍ barrel or lurking‌⁠ presence floated in‍‌‌ the air.

My‌ thoughts slowly mixed‌⁠⁠ together like sand‍ inside my head before settling at the bottom.

Yeom⁠ Hwi’s question continued to echo.

‘…Do‍ those monsters really‍⁠‌ consider me a real employee?’

‘Of‌‌ course not.’

The‍ words of a stranger pierced me⁠⁠ in a strange‍‌ way.

Slowly,⁠‍ several faces began⁠ appearing in my⁠ mind.

Supervisor⁠ Shik.

A rough and intimidating‌‌‍ monster, but a beast who, in‍ his own way, always looked after⁠‌ me.

Assistant‍‌ Manager Son.

A monster who played‌ around with that‍ fist-shaped head, but‌ who had at least always been⁠ kind to me.‍‍

Manager‍‌ Batori.

Tentacles‍ sometimes emerged from‌‌⁠ her, but behind⁠‌ the smell of blood there was‌ always a kind‍ of gentleness.

Director‍‍ Mok.

A superior who, with⁠ his countless roots,⁠‌ branches, and leaves,‌ was the one‍ who worked hardest to take care⁠‌ of a human‍‍⁠ like me.

And‍ Manager Myeon.

I still didn’t understand⁠ that monster.

But‌‌‍ I could feel‍ that monster was trying to understand‌ me.

‘…Ha.’‍

It⁠‌⁠ was absurd.

No matter how much⁠ I thought about it.

That company was.

A hell.

An‍ asylum.

A gathering of monsters.‍‌

A deserted island of deadly survival where‍ it seemed they handed out licenses⁠ to kill.

‘…I’ve⁠⁠ been completely brainwashed.’⁠

I couldn’t even laugh.‌‍

To⁠ begin with, I didn’t have the‌⁠ strength to do‌ so.

But‍‌ at least those‍ monsters had never tried to kill‌‍‌ me.

Never.‌‍‍

Sure,‌‌ they could have.⁠‍‌

They‌⁠⁠ undoubtedly had the‌‍ ability.

But‌ these people.

These‍‍ humans.

The‌ first thing they did when they‍‍‌ saw me was‌ draw their weapons.⁠

No‍ explanations.

No⁠⁠‌ reasons.

I slowly raised my‌ head.

Yeom‌ Hwi was sitting‌ on the bed.

Seo‌⁠ Ryu remained leaning against the wall‍ where the door‍⁠ had been.

And⁠‍⁠ between us stretched⁠⁠‌ an uncomfortable silence.⁠

“What‌‍ about you?”

My voice echoed softly‍ through the room.‌

Yeom⁠ Hwi turned his gaze toward me.⁠

Seo⁠ Ryu didn’t even⁠⁠ turn her head;⁠ she merely twisted⁠ her lips slightly.

“What?”

“What‍ kind of people‌⁠ are you?”

There‌ was a brief‌ silence.

Neither‌‍ of them changed⁠ their expression.

But‍ a slight tension⁠‍ passed through the⁠ air.

And⁠ that alone was enough to prove‌‍ that my question⁠ was not irrelevant.

“I‍‌‌ already told you.‌ We’re from the⁠⁠ Department of Anomalous⁠‍ Disaster Management.”

“Yes.‌⁠ You’re the Team‌ Leader of the‍ Control Team. She’s the Sub-Team Leader.”‍‌

I nodded slightly.

I took a deep‍ breath.

And⁠ before exhaling it,‌ I spoke.

“But‍‌⁠ what exactly does‌‌‍ that mean?”

“……”⁠⁠⁠

“You‌‍ know this place in detail. You wrote the guides.⁠ And from the‌⁠‍ way you speak, it seems you⁠ completely understand this‌⁠ space.”

“And?”‌‍

“What‍‌⁠ I mean is…”⁠‍

Slowly,‍ I shifted my‍‌ gaze from Yeom Hwi to Seo‌‌‌ Ryu.

She⁠ was still staring‌⁠‌ at me without‍ looking away.

Expressionless.‍‌‌

But‌⁠ her gaze said‌ far more than‌⁠ any expression could.⁠‌

Distrust.‌

Fear.‍‍

And‌ unmistakable hatred.

I looked back at‌‍ Yeom Hwi.

“The‌⁠ people who pointed‌⁠ guns at my head twice turn‌ out to be‌ my only way‍ out of here.”⁠‌‌

“……”‌‍‍

“Then‌⁠ I need to‌ be able to‍ trust you, don’t⁠‍ I?”

Yeom⁠‌ Hwi let out‍ a short laugh.‌

It⁠ wasn’t mockery.

Nor‍‌ was it kindness.‍‍‍

It‌‍ was the expression⁠ of an exhausted⁠‍ person.

He‍ lightly tapped his‍‌⁠ knee with his⁠ fingers as he⁠‌‍ replied.

“Even if you don’t⁠‍‍ trust us, you’ll⁠ still have to‍ follow us.”

“……”

“You‌ don’t know whether‌‌ you can trust‍ us? There’s no⁠‍ one here you‌⁠ can trust.”

He⁠⁠ hit the mark⁠ exactly.

I was left speechless‍‌⁠ and lowered my⁠‌ gaze for a moment.

Then‌‌ he added,

“I‌‍⁠ understand, though. From‌‌ your position, this⁠⁠‌ must be something‌⁠ very important.”

“It‌‌ is.”

“Good.‍‍ But I have⁠ a condition.”

He‍ rested his chin‌‌ on one hand.‍‍

Both‌⁠ of his eyes⁠ pierced through me.⁠⁠

It⁠ was a familiar sensation.

The same look as‍ before.

“Tell⁠ us about that‌ company. Limited Company⁠ Where the Dead End Up with‌⁠ Ghosts. Tell us‍ everything you know.⁠⁠ From what I can see, there⁠⁠‍ are a lot‍‌ of things you don’t know, so only talk about⁠ what you actually‌ do know. If you give us‍ information, we’ll give⁠‌ you information too.”‍

Seo‌‌‌ Ryu frowned slightly.⁠

But‌ she remained silent.‌‍⁠

She‌‍ seemed willing to⁠ listen to whatever⁠ I had to⁠⁠ say.

I slowly closed my‌‍‍ eyes and opened‍⁠ them again.

My⁠‍ breathing steadied.

My‍⁠ heart returned to⁠‍‍ a normal rhythm.⁠

I thought.

For⁠ only a few‍‌ moments.

But‍ they contained countless‌ thoughts.

And‍ just as I was about to‍ answer.

RUMBLEEEEE!

The‌⁠ entire room shook.⁠‍

“…!”⁠‍

A vibration so powerful‍⁠ it stole my‌ breath.

The‍ floor warped as⁠‌‌ though it were⁠‌ made of rubber.‍

The⁠ old furniture creaked‌‌ and jumped.

Dust‌ rose into the‌⁠‌ air.

The⁠ ceiling tilted.

“What‌‌ the hell is‌ this…?!”

I involuntarily turned my‌ head.

Seo‌⁠ Ryu had already‍ pushed herself away⁠‍‌ from the wall and was standing.‌

Yeom⁠ Hwi had also‌ raised his gaze,‌⁠‌ his expression unreadable.‍⁠‌

BOOM!⁠⁠

One‍ of the walls⁠ literally exploded.

A cloud of dust⁠ and cement erupted‌⁠ as the wall‌ collapsed with a deafening crash.

Instinctively,‌ I curled my‍‍ body inward.

“…!”‍‌

Fragments‍‌ of furniture flew⁠⁠ through the air.‍‌

The⁠ smell of cement‌ flooded my nose.

By‌‍‌ the time I regained my bearings,‌⁠ half of the‌⁠‌ room was gone.‍‍⁠

And‌⁠ then.

From‍ the other side.‍‌‌

Something‍⁠ approached.

Step.‌‍

The‍‌‍ sound of footsteps filled with intent.⁠‍

A silhouette slowly emerging‍ from the darkness.‌‌⁠

CRACK!⁠

Fragments‍ of the shattered⁠ mirror crunched beneath⁠ her feet.

“Oh.”‍

It was a woman’s⁠⁠⁠ voice.

Soft.‌⁠‌

Calm.‍

Strangely‍‍‍ ordinary for a place like this.

“Is‌‍ this a recruitment‍ attempt?”

Tearing‍ through the darkness,‍ she appeared.

She⁠⁠ was wearing exactly the same clothes‌ as Go Gyeol,‌‌ whom I had‍ seen in the‍⁠‌ Order Control Room.⁠‍

An‍‌⁠ immaculate black shirt.‍⁠

A white suit.

The⁠ difference was the‍ pale leather coat‌ she wore over⁠ it, meticulously crafted⁠‍ by stitching together‌ fragments of human‍ skin.

Eyelashes.‌

Lips.⁠‌

Embedded‍‍‌ across the surface‍ of the coat.⁠

They‌ writhed faintly as‍⁠ though breathing.

Completely‌ white hair.

A long, thin braid‍ draped over her‍⁠‌ shoulder.

And‌ the moment our⁠‍‌ eyes met.

“…!”⁠

My‌ heart shuddered.

Her‍‍ left eye.

The‍‍ sclera was completely⁠⁠⁠ black.

A white iris embedded within a dark‍‍ abyss.

The‌ strangest eyes I had ever seen.‌

Stranger‍ even than those of any dimensional‌ entity.

“I‌⁠ came to rescue‍‍ you, Employee Jeong‍⁠ Haeil.”

She‍‌‍ spoke in a soft and composed⁠⁠ voice.

Craaack.

The‌‍ stitched face on‌ the left side‌‍ of her coat opened its mouth.‍⁠

‘What‌⁠ the hell is‌ that…?’

What⁠‍ emerged from that‌ skin-mouth was not⁠ words.

It‍ was a business‍ card.

As‍ if it were⁠‍ spitting it out.‌⁠

The‍⁠⁠ face vomited up⁠⁠⁠ a black card.⁠‌

She⁠ caught it between‍‍ her fingers.

Then‍⁠‌ she elegantly flicked‌‍ her wrist and tossed it in‍‍⁠ front of my⁠ feet.

The‌ card landed precisely⁠ before me.

Manager⁠ Moon Ara

Limited‌ Company Where the⁠ Dead End Up⁠⁠ with Ghosts | Moon Ara Head‍ of the Security⁠‌ Team of the‌‍ Order Control Room‍‌⁠

‘The‍ Order Control Room.’⁠‌

The‍‍ people who had⁠‍ contained the disaster when the dimensional⁠ entities escaped from the Extraction Room.⁠

The⁠⁠‌ same white uniform‍ worn by Go‍‌‍ Gyeol, whom I met in the‌ Prototype Storage Room.‌

“It’s⁠ been a while.”⁠‍‍

An⁠‌ anger sharper than⁠ a gunshot.

Yeom‍‍ Hwi sprang to‌‍ his feet.

He‍ pulled aside his‍ suit jacket.

Drew‍ a pistol without⁠⁠ hesitation.

And⁠⁠ aimed it directly‌‍ between Moon Ara’s⁠ eyebrows.

“Oh,⁠⁠‍ it’s been a long time, Team‍‌ Leader Yeom.”

At that relaxed response, the corner of‍‍‍ Yeom Hwi’s mouth⁠‍⁠ twitched slightly.

A hatred that seemed‍ carved into his⁠‌‌ very bones could‍ be felt.

“Yes.⁠‌ Have you been well?”

His‌ voice was cold⁠ as ice.

“You‌ damn bitch.”

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Chapter 30: The Control Team of the Department of Anomalous Disaster Management (2)

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