There Are No Humans in the Monster Company — Chapter 31: Executive Director Gu, Head of the Product Production Division

Chapter 31: Executive Director Gu, Head of the Product Production Division

Before the dust pouring⁠ from the collapsed‌ wall could settle,‌‍ a chill had‌ already spread through‍ the air.

Moon‍ Ara.

She‌⁠ said my name.

And⁠⁠ smiled at me.

It‌‍ was a genuine‍⁠‌ smile.

A strangely peaceful smile,‍ free of threat‌ or caution.

‘Did⁠⁠ she say she came to rescue‌ me?’

My‌‌ mind was a mess.

Did‌‌ Limited Company Where‍‍⁠ the Dead End‌‍‍ Up with Ghosts⁠ know that I had been dragged⁠ here?

How?⁠⁠‍

It‌‍ wasn’t even working⁠‌‌ hours.

My‌‌‌ body reacted on‌‌ its own.

My⁠⁠ heart was pounding‌ wildly somewhere inside‍ my chest.

Relief‌‍ and fear intertwined into an emotion‌‍ I couldn’t understand.⁠⁠

For‌‍ now, I took‍⁠‍ a step forward.‌

Toward‍ Moon Ara.

“Mr.⁠‍ Jeong Haeil.”

Click.‌‍

That‍⁠ familiar sensation of‍ weight returned to my head once‍ again.

The⁠⁠‌ cold touch of‌‌ metal pressed against‌‍ my left temple.‍

It‌ was Seo Ryu.‍

Without‌‍ the slightest hesitation,‍‍⁠ she had drawn‌ her weapon and‍ aimed it at‍‍ my head again.‌

“Do‌‍⁠ not move.”

It‍ was not a warning.

Nor⁠ a request.

The barrel remained motionless.‌⁠

It‍ seemed as though she wouldn’t even‍ allow me to take a deep‌ breath.

Instinctively,⁠ I froze.

My⁠ heart sank.

“……”‌

Moon⁠⁠‍ Ara tilted her head slightly.

Her‍‌‌ white braid slid‍ gently over her‍ shoulder.

“He‌‍ is one of⁠ our employees. Don’t you think you’re treating him a little too rudely?”‍

Her⁠⁠ tone was playful‍‌⁠ and calm.

And⁠ yet, it sent‍‌ a chill through‌ me.

The⁠ corners of her‌ lips were raised.⁠‌⁠

But⁠‍ her white eyes,‌ which were not⁠‍ smiling at all,‍‌ swept across everyone⁠ present as though⁠‌ scanning them.

Seo‍ Ryu’s gun remained‌ exactly where it‌ was.

Without⁠ trembling in the slightest.

Still‌‍‌ aimed directly at my temple.

“Team⁠ Leader, what do⁠‌ we do?”

she‌‍ asked in a low, rigid voice.‌⁠

Moon⁠ Ara slowly erased‌ her smile.

The‍ corners of her⁠‌ lips lowered.

Her⁠ gaze turned cold.

Yeom‌ Hwi let out⁠ a calm sigh.⁠‍⁠

Taking⁠‍‍ a small step⁠ forward, he kept his pistol aimed‍⁠ at Moon Ara‍‍ while speaking.

“Right‍‌ now, she’s the‌‌‌ priority.”

A firm voice.

But‌ beneath it, there⁠‍ was something restrained.

Moon Ara raised a hand and brushed‌ her hair back.‍⁠‍

Her⁠‌‍ coat made of‍⁠ human skin produced a soft rustling‌ sound.

One‍ of the faces‍‍ embedded in it‌‍⁠ curled its lips into a faint⁠⁠ smile.

As‍ if mocking the‍ entire farce.

Alarms‍ rang in my‌‌ head.

The weapons.

The⁠ Presence.

Their⁠ expressions.

Everything‌‌ was directed at‍ one another.

As‌ always, I was⁠‌ the only one‍‌ awkwardly trapped in the middle.

‘…And‍⁠ my opinion doesn’t⁠⁠ matter?’

It‌‌⁠ was my life‍ on the line.⁠‍⁠

And‍ yet, I had absolutely no authority‍⁠⁠ over the decision.⁠

A tragedy that felt⁠ far too familiar.⁠⁠⁠

What‌ was the most⁠⁠ rational choice here?‍‍

Stay‍‍‌ still and get‍ shot?

Move, be misunderstood, and⁠‌ get shot?

Or…?⁠

‘Disarm‌‌⁠ Seo Ryu right⁠ now?’

I carefully raised my‍ hand.

Very⁠ slowly.

Making‍ sure not to‌ touch the barrel‌ pressing against my‌⁠ temple.

Trying‍‌ to delay her‍‍‍ reaction as much‌ as possible.

‘If‍ not now, then‌‌ never.’

At that moment, Manager⁠ Moon Ara spoke.

“We’ll‍ be taking our⁠⁠‍ employee. You…”

She‍ gently raised the‍ corners of her lips and tilted‌‌ her head slightly.‌

Before⁠‍‌ she could even‍ finish her sentence,‌ the air in‍ the room began‍‌‍ compressing unnaturally.

She‌ slowly raised both hands.

Delicate‍ wrists emerged from‌ beneath her white‍‌‌ sleeves.

A faint floral fragrance‌‍ spread throughout the⁠ room.

With‍‍ that gentle scent⁠ drifting through the‍⁠ air, she extended⁠‌⁠ her left hand‌‍⁠ toward the floor.‍

With⁠ her right, she⁠ raised only her‍‌ index and middle‍‌ fingers as though they were a blade.

She‍‍‌ drew a downward slash through the‌‍ air.

Then‌⁠ twisted her fingers‍ at a grotesque‌‍‍ angle, as though‌ tying something invisible.

‘Something…’‌‍

was wrong.

My⁠ instincts were screaming⁠‍ at me to‍‍ run.

But⁠‍ something far more‌ terrifying than Seo‌ Ryu’s gun held‌‍ my ankles in⁠‍⁠ place.

“Play‌‍ with this.”

BOOM!‌

The‍ wall through which‍⁠‍ she had entered.‌⁠

The⁠‌ darkness beyond it‍‌ rippled.

KUUUUUAAAAAA—‍

A grotesque pulse.

Twisted.⁠

Sounding‌‍‌ like a scream.⁠‌‌

Sobbing⁠⁠ Flesh.

A red, black, and⁠‌ pale wave made⁠ of tangled soft⁠ skin surged toward‌ us.

‘What the hell is⁠ that?’

Something⁠‌⁠ Moon Ara had‍ brought with her.

A wave of pure‍⁠ existence, devoid of‌‌ emotions or intent.‌⁠

Bang!‍‍ Bang! Bang! Bang!‌⁠

Yeom‍⁠ Hwi and Seo‍‍ Ryu simultaneously raised⁠‍ their weapons and⁠‍ began firing at⁠⁠ the torrent of⁠⁠ flesh rushing toward‍ them.

There‌‌ was not the⁠‌‌ slightest hesitation in‍‌ their shots.

Bullets‍⁠ tore through the⁠ air.

Chunks‍ of flesh exploded‌ and were ripped‌ away.

But‍‌⁠ they regenerated.

They‌ swelled.

They‌‍ covered themselves over.⁠

They‌‍ grew larger.

The‌ more the gunfire‌‌ pierced the air,⁠‌ the more gigantic‍ the darkness became.‌

Moon⁠⁠‌ Ara slowly walked‍⁠ toward me.

Not‌ even the gunfire⁠⁠ could stop her⁠ steps.

I swallowed hard as⁠‌ I looked into‍ her eyes.

White⁠ irises.

Black‌‍ sclerae.

Smiling⁠‍ lips.

And‍‌ the hand she⁠ extended toward me.‍‌

A hand that was⁠⁠⁠ excessively white, clean, and soft.

“Shall we go, Employee‍⁠‍ Jeong Haeil?”

Unable‍ to believe what‍ I was seeing,⁠ I stared fixedly⁠ at that hand.⁠‍‍

Was‌ it really a saving hand?

But I had no⁠ time to look‌⁠ back.

The‌⁠ moment my hand‍⁠‌ took hers—

Flap!‌‌

Moon‌‍ Ara’s coat.

That‍ thing covered in‌⁠ human skin.

Suddenly⁠ twisted as though‌ it were alive.‌‌

RIIIP.‌

And‌ swallowed me whole.‍‌

Something‌‌⁠ hot and damp⁠ enveloped me.

And‌ for that briefest‌ of instants, my‌ body fell into⁠ darkness.

***‌

Blegh!‌

Something with a metallic‍‌⁠ smell filled my⁠ mouth.

It‌‌ was the slimy‍ sound of the⁠ thing that had⁠⁠ swallowed me spitting⁠ me back out.⁠

Bang!⁠

First‌⁠ my back.

Then my hip.

Then⁠⁠⁠ my knees.

And⁠⁠ finally my head.‍

Slamming‍ into the ground⁠ over and over,‌‍‍ I ended up crashing onto the‌ floor.

“Ugh…”

I didn’t know what‌ was in my‌⁠ mouth, but I spat it out‍⁠‍ anyway.

I coughed repeatedly for‍‌‌ quite a while.‍‌

Supporting⁠⁠ myself with one‍ hand, I stood‍⁠ up and looked‌ around.

The⁠‌ scene before my⁠‍ eyes felt familiar.⁠‌⁠

“The company…?”

A landscape that was‌ far too familiar.⁠

A desk filled with flowerpots.

A desk covered in‌‌⁠ blood.

An elegant Gothic-style desk.‌‌⁠

A chaotically cluttered desk.⁠‌⁠

And‌ finally, a perfectly⁠ organized desk.

It‌‌‍ was the office of Extraction Team⁠ 1.

There⁠ was no way‌⁠ to mistake it.‍

It‍⁠‌ was obvious.

This was exactly the‍ same place I came to work‌ every day.

“Oh.‍‍ As expected, it’s‌⁠ our Haeil.”

A familiar voice.

A low, indifferent voice.⁠‍

Strangely‍ tired, yet unexpectedly‍ warm.

“Assistant‍ Manager Son?”

When⁠ I turned my head, I saw‍ Assistant Manager Son‌ applauding with both‍⁠ hands while manipulating‌ his enormous fist-shaped‍ head.

As‌⁠ always, he wore⁠‌ a gray suit‌ with a red tie.

“You⁠‌ came back alive. Not bad.”

And behind him—

“Fufu,⁠⁠‍ you returned safe and sound. We’ve been waiting for⁠‍‌ you.”

Manager Batori smiled elegantly as she brushed⁠‌ back her long silver hair.

“You’ve‌ been through a lot. You’re not⁠‍⁠ hurt anywhere, are⁠ you?”

A voice carrying relief‌‌‌ despite the smell‌ of blood emanating‌‌ from her body.‌‌

“Grrrrr…⁠ Krrr… Grrrk.”

Supervisor‍ Shik let out‍ a strange breath‌ as he gently placed a fur-covered‌ foreleg on my⁠⁠‍ shoulder.

“You⁠‌⁠ have worked hard,‍⁠‍ Employee Jeong Haeil.”‍

Director‌‌‍ Mok’s calm voice⁠‍ echoed as countless⁠ green eyes clustered‍⁠ like frog spawn‌⁠‍ within wooden knots‌‍‍ blinked at the‍ same time.

“That‌ is enough.”

And before all the⁠‌ words had even finished.

Heavy‍⁠‌ footsteps approached.

I pushed myself up⁠⁠‍ on one knee‌⁠ and saw him⁠‍ standing before me.⁠‌

Manager Myeon.

The‍ same faces as⁠ always.

The⁠‌ same manner of⁠ speaking.

Yet‍⁠‌ Manager Myeon’s mere‌ presence made the‌ entire space feel‌‌‍ heavier.

The‌‍‍ seven faces silently‌⁠ looked at Moon‌‌ Ara.

“Thank‌ you, Manager Moon‌⁠ Ara. This time,‍‍‍ we are the⁠ ones in your‌‍ debt. It was‌ a particularly unfortunate case.”

At‍‌‌ those words, Moon‌‌ Ara smiled sweetly and waved her⁠ hand.

In‍ contrast to the⁠ unsettling nature of her inverted eyes,‌⁠ her voice was‍ excessively gentle and‍‍ modest.

“It was nothing. It⁠‌ merely coincided with‍⁠‌ an operation by⁠ the Security Team.”‍‍

“Thanks‌⁠ to you, we‌⁠⁠ have not lost‍‍ a valuable member⁠ of Extraction Team 1. We will⁠ repay this favor appropriately at a later date.”

Moon‌ Ara smiled as‍⁠ though she was⁠⁠ accustomed to such‌ things and gently⁠‍‌ patted my shoulder.‌

“Well,‌ you’re back now,‍ Employee Jeong Haeil.”‌‌‍

“……”‌

I couldn’t say anything.

I was unable to‌ comprehend or accept‌ the reality before‌ me.

But‍ there was one‍ thing that was‍ certain.

Right now, I had⁠ returned to the company.

“Are‍‌ you really alright?”‌

Manager Batori approached and‌⁠ carefully took my‍⁠‍ arm.

A faint scent of‌‌ iron lingered on‌ her fingertips.

Perhaps⁠‌ she had been‍ handling blood until⁠ recently.

And⁠ yet, her touch‍‍ felt warm.

“If‌‍ you feel like‍⁠ you’re about to‍‌ collapse, lie down‍‍‍ right now. I can put a blanket over you‍⁠ on the sofa.”⁠‍

“…No,⁠ I’m really fine.”‌

I forced the calmest‌⁠ smile I could‍ manage.

I didn’t know if‌⁠ it actually looked‌ like a smile.‍

But‌ Manager Batori nodded‍‌ with those red‌‍‍ eyes glowing faintly.‌

“Being‌ summoned to a Distorted Region truly‌ was a misfortune.”‍

Director Mok patted my‍‍ back with a hand made of⁠‍ roots and vines.‍⁠

Although‍ it hurt like⁠ hell, it strangely‍ gave me strength.‌

“Grrrrrr.”⁠⁠

Supervisor‌⁠⁠ Shik stepped closer‌‍ as well.

Tap,‌‌ tap.

He⁠‌ patted me as⁠‌‌ though stroking the‍ head of a dazed puppy.

“Grooo…⁠ Krrrk.”

“……”‍

Assistant‌ Manager Son said‌ nothing.

He⁠ simply tapped my shoulder lightly with⁠ the back of⁠ his hand.

The⁠⁠ emotion contained in⁠ that brief gesture‍⁠ was a silent‍‍⁠ welcome.

Everyone‍ was sincerely welcoming‍‌ me back.

It⁠‍ wasn’t normal at⁠ all.

And‌‍ yet, these people—‌

No.⁠

These‌ entities were clearly welcoming me.

“Employee‍ Jeong Haeil.”

A voice came from‍⁠‌ behind me.

Moon‌ Ara’s voice was⁠ slightly lower than⁠ before.

Gentle,‌ yet clearly drawing‍‍ a line.

“I‍‌ apologize for interrupting⁠ this emotional reunion,‌⁠ but there is⁠ something more important. When something strange‍‍ happens within the⁠ company, it must⁠ first be reported‍‍ to someone of⁠⁠ high rank.”

I turned my head‍ to look at‍‍ her.

The‍‍‌ white jacket.

The⁠ black shirt.

The⁠ long white braid.‌

The‌‌ unreal white irises‌‍ and black sclerae.‌

“…Yes.”‍‌

I asked nothing further.⁠

I felt there was‍‍ no time for‌ it.

Moon⁠⁠⁠ Ara adjusted her‍‌‌ human-skin coat and nodded.

“Follow‌ me.”

We‌ left the office⁠⁠ and walked down‍ the hallway.

A path I would‌‌‍ normally have walked‍ alone.

But‍⁠ this time, I was walking with⁠ someone else.

A silent corridor.

Beneath⁠ the dry fluorescent‍ lights, Moon Ara’s‍ shoes echoed with⁠ a steady rhythm.‌

After⁠‍‌ walking for quite some time, she‍ stopped.

‘Office‍ of the Executive‍ Director of the‍‍ Product Production Division?’⁠

Flowerpots⁠ were lined up‍‍ in front of⁠‌ the door like‌ decorations.

And‍⁠⁠ the door itself‌ was decorated like‌‍ the suite of‌ a luxury hotel.⁠‌

Golden⁠ frames.

Mother-of-pearl‍ designs.

A gleaming doorknob.

Too⁠ luxurious.

Far‍ too luxurious for this company.

Moon‌‍ Ara stopped before‍⁠‌ the door.

She⁠ lightly rubbed her‌‌ wrist, as though⁠ she were somewhat tense, and the‌ fragrance spread once⁠‌ again.

“Alright.‍‌ Let’s go in.”

Then‌ she added in‍‌ a very low voice.

“Oh,‍‍⁠ but.”

I looked at her⁠ profile.

A beautiful white face.‍‌

Yet⁠ I still couldn’t‌ get used to‌ the black sclera‍⁠‌ and white iris⁠ of her left‍⁠‍ eye.

“Don’t‌⁠ be surprised or‌⁠‍ disrespectful. Understood?”

“……”⁠

I nodded.

Without⁠⁠⁠ fail.

“Good.”⁠‌

The moment Moon Ara⁠‍ gently tapped the‌⁠ door with a finger—

“Ah,⁠⁠‌ come in. Come‍‌ in, please—”

A voice impossible to‍ describe echoed out.‍

Strangely⁠⁠⁠ high-pitched.

Excessively‍‍ cheerful.

Carrying⁠‍ a strange vibration,⁠⁠ as though it⁠‍ were chewing something.⁠‍

A tone so cheerful‌‌‍ it was chilling.‍

And‍ because of that,‌⁠ even more unpleasant.⁠

Moon‍‍‍ Ara opened the‌‌ door.

“Come‌ in.”

I took a deep‌⁠ breath.

Maintaining‍‌ an expression as‌‌‍ calm as possible,‍ calmer than during‍‍ any interview I had ever attended.‍‌‍

And‌ the moment I crossed the threshold.⁠⁠⁠

My feet stopped.

“……”⁠‍‍

What appeared before my‍ eyes was—

How‌‍ should I put‌ it?

Like⁠‍⁠ an absurdly expensive‌⁠ nightmare.

The‌‍‍ ceiling was covered‍ in chandeliers.

The‍ carpet was made‍‍ of high-quality crimson-red⁠ velvet.

Every⁠ piece of furniture⁠ was crafted from⁠ mahogany.

And the walls were⁠⁠ decorated with medieval-style⁠ portraits and documents⁠ written on parchment.‌‌

There‌ were also prayers⁠ written in an⁠‍ unknown language carefully‍‌‌ hung throughout the⁠⁠ room.

And‍ at the center of it all⁠‌ stood a desk.‌⁠

A single nameplate.

[Executive‍ Director of the‍⁠⁠ Product Production Division⁠ / Executive Director‌‍ Gu]

The‌ golden letters shone‌⁠ brightly.

And⁠⁠‌ behind that nameplate‍‌‌ was—

Flesh.‌⁠⁠

A gigantic mass.

So‍‌ obese it looked⁠‌ as though it‌ might burst.

It‌ wore a suit.‌‌‌

That‌ mass was wearing⁠‍ a suit.

Its⁠⁠ body clearly had⁠ a human shape.‍‍

Jacket.‌‍‌

Tie.‌‍

Shirt.‍⁠⁠

Enormous,‌‌⁠ obese arms and‍ legs.

But⁠⁠ there was something‌⁠ different.

‘It⁠ doesn’t have a head.’

There‍‍ was nothing above⁠‍ the neck.

More‌ precisely, there wasn’t‌ even any trace‍ that it had⁠‍ ever been cut‌‌ off.

The⁠‌ surface where the‌⁠ head should have‌‍ been was smooth,‍‍ as though it‌ had healed without⁠⁠ ever feeling pain.⁠‌

A mass of flesh⁠ crisscrossed by veins.⁠‌‌

No‌ surgical scars.

Simply⁠‌ nonexistent.

Naturally‍ nonexistent.

“Ah,⁠⁠ delighted, delighted. Delighted‍ to meet you,‍ Employee Jeong Haeil.”‌

A chilling voice.

Strangely clear and resonant.‍

“I’ve heard so much,⁠‍ so much about⁠⁠ you. I’m happy,‌ very happy. This is excellent, excellent.”⁠

The⁠ voice came from‌ the abdomen of‌ that obese monster.‍

Between‌ the buttons of⁠‌‌ his shirt, his enormous swollen belly⁠⁠ subtly stirred.

It⁠ was definitely his‌ stomach that was⁠ speaking, not his‍⁠ body.

“Please‍ sit, please sit.‌‌‍ Make yourself comfortable.⁠⁠ It’s not such‍⁠ a rigid atmosphere.‌ Don’t be nervous,‍‍ don’t be nervous.”⁠⁠

The⁠ voice came from‌ the center of⁠ his abdomen.

From⁠‌‍ somewhere between dark,‌ deformed folds.

The buttons of his⁠ shirt, stretched to‍ their limit, rattled‍‌ softly.

I was unable to‌‌ move.

It‌ felt as though⁠ my heart, suspended⁠ in a void,‌ was sliding down⁠ my back together‍‌ with the cold‌ sweat.

Moon⁠‌ Ara calmly took‌ a seat in‌ the chair opposite‍ him.

Behind⁠‌⁠ her, the leather‌ faces on her‌⁠ coat rippled slightly,‍‌‍ as though they‌ were mocking me.⁠‍

“Ah,‍ yes.”

Forcing‌⁠ my trembling legs⁠ to move, I sat down on the sofa across from him.

Then‍‌ the monster shook his abdomen again as he spoke.‍

“Employee‌ Jeong Haeil! Employee‌⁠ Jeong Haeil! I’ve⁠ heard so much‌‌‍ about you. So⁠‍ very much. Excellent,⁠⁠ excellent. It seems‍‍ both Manager Myeon⁠ and Manager Batori‌ are very fond‌⁠‍ of you.”

His belly smiled.

Yes.‍⁠

Smiled.‍

That‌‍‍ mass of flesh⁠⁠ twisted, and a grotesque laugh seeped‍‍‌ from between its‌ folds.

“Khuhuhuhu—‌‍ Puhaha! Ah, excuse⁠ me, excuse me. My stomach has‍ been a little‍ sensitive lately.”

“……”‌

A mass of flesh⁠ dressed in a suit.

A stomach that talked.⁠

The⁠⁠⁠ light from the⁠ ceiling falling upon⁠ the place where‍‌‍ his head should⁠‍⁠ have been.

Of‌ all the monsters‍‌‌ I had seen⁠ so far, I had just met‍‌ the existence that resembled a true⁠‍ corporate executive the most.