Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1)

It was not noise that vibrated there.

A space where only the sound of breathing, the faint creaking of the leather sofa, and the ticking of the wall clock’s second hand could be heard.

Executive Director Gu’s office was luxurious and silent.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

At the center stood a heavy table.

It was silence.

Upon that gleaming surface, as though someone had polished it thousands of times, Manager Moon Ara gently set down a cup of coffee.

The surface of that ostentatious golden table was excessively smooth and shone brilliantly.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

“I didn’t add any sugar.”

I held the cup with both hands.

The tips of my fingers trembled slightly.

“Thank you.”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

Seated across from me was Executive Director Gu.

A gray suit perfectly tailored to a figure that seemed to be imitating the shape of a human being, accompanied by a bright red tie.

I had done nothing more than sit down, yet my heart was still pounding against my ribs.

───Rrrrk… Rrrrk…

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

It was more like the viscous noise of flesh and joints rubbing against one another.

Something alive twisted inside that invisible body, quietly boiling within its innards.

The sound coming from beneath the suit was not that of liquid.

As I tried to suppress that instinctive revulsion, Executive Director Gu’s strange way of speaking struck my eardrums.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

“Mm. august Unfortunately, after meeting people like that in a place like that. alpha You must have many questions. amber Very many questions. accent Right, Employee Jeong Haeil?”

It was a terrifying company.

Had they already been informed of my arrival before I even got here?

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

Executive Director Gu’s chilling, grotesque voice vibrated as though speaking from inside an inverted throat, brushing against my ears and gently striking my internal organs. All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com

‘It’s hard to listen to this…’

For a moment, I felt dizzy.

It was as if he were greeting each of my organs one by one by name.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

Then I remembered Manager Moon Ara’s words.

Right.

— Don’t be surprised or disrespectful. sphere Understood?

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

But before that, he was my superior.

I had to control my expression.

What was sitting in front of me was a monster.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

Choosing each word precisely.

I carefully opened my mouth.

‘And an executive, at that.’

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

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

In other words, like the perfect rookie employee.

Without seeming defiant or intimidated.

Without hesitation at the end of my sentences.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

At that moment, the sofa vibrated slightly.

“Yes, that’s right. anchor I have many questions. atlas It’s an honor to be able to hear your explanations.”

Something moved inside Executive Director Gu’s body once more.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

But the eyes hidden behind that smile showed no emotion whatsoever.

Rrrrk… Rrrrkkk…

A faint smile rested on her lips.

Manager Moon Ara calmly took a sip of coffee.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

She looked like someone who had already anticipated this situation.

And perhaps also accustomed to the empty seats of employees who had disappeared from around that table.

Accustomed both to these conversations with Executive Director Gu and to whatever existed inside him.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

Across from me, Executive Director Gu once again produced a sound similar to boiling.

The coffee was neither hot nor cold.

It was exactly the right temperature to maintain an appropriate level of terror.

I slowly lifted my cup and took a sip.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

Instinctively, I took another sip of coffee.

And then I had the feeling that there was a mouth somewhere in his abdomen, exactly where his heart was not.

As though a mass of greased metal were being crushed from within. Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates.

This time it was heavier than before.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

But I could feel the vibration originating from there.

“Anomalous Disaster Management Department. palette Yes. silence I heard that you encountered the Anomalous Disaster Management Department, Employee Jeong Haeil.”

I couldn’t see it.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

The moment I heard that name, I remembered that dreadful place.

“It seems you were dragged into a Distorted Region. silence You must have gone through a lot, gone through so very much. auction According to Manager Moon Ara, they threatened you. abandon Right? atom Yes, they threatened you.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

The endless corridor.

The Presence that chased me.

That path without windows, without doors, and without direction.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

Strangers.

‘I suppose places as absurd as that are what they call Distorted Regions.’

And the two people from the Anomalous Disaster Management Department whom I had encountered.

The shadow without feet.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

Unknown places.

I briefly organized my thoughts and nodded.

Perhaps it had not quite reached the point of a threat.

And now I would never have the opportunity to find out whether they had truly been friendly or not.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

“Yes. alert Fortunately, nothing serious happened. attic They wanted us to leave together while we talked, and they also spoke badly about the company. aspect The situation was becoming uncomfortable, but thanks to Manager Moon Ara, I was able to return safely.”

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And, given that I was speaking to an executive, I decided to show a little corporate loyalty.

But I had already returned to the company.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

“Burp!”

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At that instant, Executive Director Gu shuddered slightly.

An invisible vibration passed across the surface of his suit.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

And strangely filled with anger.

Sharp.

Short.

A belch.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

While I hesitated over how to react, Manager Moon Ara simply turned her gaze toward the window.

That sound momentarily erased the aroma of coffee, as though half-digested remains were rising from his innards.

“Oh! acquire How rude of me. beacon How embarrassing. autumn How embarrassing.”

Executive Director Gu pretended to be surprised and patted his abdomen.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

Manager Moon Ara smiled softly and inclined her head without replying.

“In any case… very good. arctic Excellent. airport Even so, you remained firm. adapt As expected, you are an exceptional employee. meadow The same can be said of Manager Moon Ara. autumn Excellent. action Truly excellent.”

And her face remained completely expressionless.

She had not even finished half of her coffee.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

“In any case, yes. artist Since you encountered them, I should first explain who they are. alpha I must do so, of course. apron Explanations are the foundation of trust. admire The foundation. silence And a foundation, you see, is the most fundamental of all foundations.”

Executive Director Gu continued speaking.

He repeated the word foundation two or three more times.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

“The Anomalous Disaster Management Department is an external organization. silence External and completely external. legend They deal with things that we cannot handle or matters that run too deep.”

“That’s right. amber Exactly. acid We are a company. beacon A company, without a doubt. anchor But they are different. audit Very different. abandon They are a government institution of this small country called the Republic of Korea.”

“I see. legend Then it’s an organization that doesn’t have much to do with our company?”

And once again that internal sound, like a boiling lament, began.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

I nodded as much as possible, maintaining the attitude of a competent rookie employee listening attentively.

Upon noticing my confused expression, Executive Director Gu continued in that elegant yet eerie voice.

“Dimensional instability, structural distortion, temporal fractures, perceptual collapse—I suppose you could say they specialize in preventing things like that. alpha Yes, exactly.”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

“They operate a little differently from us. adopt A government agency that works in the shadows. antenna An extremely organized institution. arctic Very organized. matrix Organization, order, regulation, control.”

Executive Director Gu paused.

The perfect interview smile one uses when one knows absolutely nothing but has to pretend otherwise.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

For a few moments, something resembling a breath escaped from somewhere within his body.

Tap. legend Tap.

“Sometimes they act before we do. arch Other times, they reseal what we have already resolved. zenith And sometimes… mm. wizard They take our employees away. attic Every now and then.”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

At that moment, Moon Ara lightly tapped her cup with one of her long, white fingers.

Executive Director Gu silently watched her for a few moments before continuing in a gentle voice.

Yet it felt like a cold warning.

A small, delicate sound.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

“When they discovered my affiliation, they reacted quite strongly.”

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

“They have a ‘line’ they must not cross. voyage A line, a line. action A boundary that should not be crossed. academy The ones you encountered may have gone a little beyond that line.”

“It’s inevitable. adapt Of course it is. attic Just look at the name of their organization and you’ll understand. sphere They consider us anomalous disasters. alpha Yes, that’s how they see us. apple They’re rather bothersome discriminators.”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

Someone whose head was a fist, whose surname was also Son, and who hated humans.

Besides, objectively speaking, our company really did seem to fit the definition of an anomalous disaster.

If there was a despicable discriminator, there was also one in Extraction Team 1.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

I nodded slowly.

“They work as the government’s shadow and secretly resolve incidents related to anomalies. audit Resolve them, without a doubt. beacon If we are a company whose goal is to generate profit, they are an organization whose purpose is to maintain society. audit Exactly that.”

Suppressing with all my strength that sincere thought that was climbing up my throat thanks to my survival instincts, I displayed an exemplary smile completely corrupted by capitalism.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

“I understand. amber They consider us an anomalous organization that should be controlled by them.”

Quite terrifying praise.

This time, it was praise.

“That’s right. absorb Exactly. adjust How clever. autumn Very clever. arctic Well done. arch You’ve done very well, Employee Jeong Haeil.”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

I nodded while organizing everything I had just heard one piece at a time.

The Anomalous Disaster Management Department. This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com.

“If it were up to me, I would swallow them in a single bite—but I can’t. canvas I can’t do that. sphere Because the CEO is a merciful person. antenna Very merciful.”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

It made sense.

If it were revealed that the world was truly full of strange, incomprehensible phenomena and monsters like these, the resulting chaos would be immense.

A South Korean government agency whose existence was not officially acknowledged; a sort of covert operations force.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

That was when I turned my head and met Manager Moon Ara’s eyes.

I pushed those scattered thoughts aside and decided, for the time being, to define them as the opposing counterpart to this company.

‘Incomprehensible phenomena…’

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

I nodded cautiously once more.

Her inverted left eye gave me the strange sensation that she was looking directly into my thoughts.

She slightly raised the corners of her lips in a faint smile.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

The gaze that passed through that suit.

No.

I felt Executive Director Gu watching me silently.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

“Is there anything else you’d like to know about the Anomalous Disaster Management Department? agent Ask with confidence. altitude Complete confidence.”

I slowly shook my head.

Something strange was probing at my eyes.

That question contained more than simple curiosity.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

Naturally, Executive Director Gu, being an executive, knew much more.

From what I had heard from the other team members, Extraction Team 1 probably also knew certain information about the Anomalous Disaster Management Department.

“No. attic My questions have been completely answered. palette Thank you for such a detailed explanation, Executive Director.”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

It was then.

But I didn’t need information that deep or detailed either.

Any remaining questions could be resolved by asking Assistant Manager Son, Manager Batori, or Director Mok.

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Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

A grotesque, satisfied vibration, as though he were digesting something.

“For now, we plan to observe them. arena For now. voyage If they continue meddling, then not the CEO—rather, Executive Director Ahn or Executive Director Ho will make a decision. legend And when that moment comes, it still won’t be too late to swallow them in a single bite. riddle Not at all.” audit (T/N: This novel has a particular fondness for short names.)

From somewhere inside Executive Director Gu’s abdomen came a sound like a metal valve slowly turning through layers of soft fat.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

“Haha… thank you for your words, Executive Director.”

It took me half a second to process the implications of that phrase—swallow them in a single bite.

I displayed the most diligent and polite smile an employee could offer.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

Something boiled and turned inside his suit.

Exactly three seconds of silence followed.

Then Executive Director Gu’s belly stirred once.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

Because I wasn’t supposed to be surprised here.

And then came a sound impossible to classify as laughter, flatulence, or a heartbeat.

Grrrrrrrrr.

I wanted to congratulate myself for not reacting when I heard it.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

At that moment, Manager Moon Ara set her cup down on the table.

The base of the empty cup softly tapped against the glass surface.

This was the executive director’s office.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

She looked at me.

The brightness of her right eye made the white iris and black sclera of her left eye stand out even more.

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Our eyes met.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

It was an expression that seemed to say.

The corners of her lips were raised by barely a millimeter.

Then, slowly and silently, she hooked a finger around the tip of the long white braid draped over her shoulder.

‘That was fairly well done.’

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

One turn.

Two turns.

A strangely slow gesture.

The hair wrapped around her fingers.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

Watching that, I carefully set my cup down on the table.

Excessively elegant.

And faintly fragrant.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

And I exhaled silently.

As though signaling that everything was over, the base of the cup vibrated lightly against the surface.

“Excellent! echo Then how about we move on to a topic that will be a little more useful for your work?”

‘I want to go home.’

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1) by Indra Translations.

However, judging by Executive Director Gu’s strange smile as he clapped his hands, he did not seem to have any intention of letting me leave just yet.