There Are No Humans in the Monster Company — Chapter 32: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (1)

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

Executive‌ Director Gu’s office‌‌ was luxurious and‍‌ silent.

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.

It‍‌ was not noise⁠ that vibrated there.‌‍⁠

It‌‌‌ was silence.

At‌‍ the center stood‌‍⁠ a heavy table.‌

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

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

“I‌⁠ didn’t add any⁠ sugar.”

“Thank‍‌‌ you.”

I held the cup⁠ with both hands.‌

The‌‍ tips of my‍‍ fingers trembled slightly.‌‍

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

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.⁠

───Rrrrk…‍ Rrrrk…

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

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.

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

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

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

It‌ was a terrifying⁠‍ company.

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.⁠

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

‘It’s‌ hard to listen‍‌‌ to this…’

For‍ a moment, I felt dizzy.

Then‌‍ I remembered Manager‍‍ Moon Ara’s words.‌‍

— Don’t be surprised‍‍ or disrespectful. Understood?⁠

Right.‍

I had to control my expression.

What‌⁠‍ was sitting in‍⁠‍ front of me‍ was a monster.‍‌⁠

But⁠‍ before that, he‍⁠ was my superior.‍

‘And‍‌ an executive, at‍‍‌ that.’

I carefully opened my mouth.

Choosing‌‌ each word precisely.‌

Without hesitation at the‌‌ end of my⁠ sentences.

Without‍ seeming defiant or‌ intimidated.

In‌‌ other words, like‌ the perfect rookie‍ employee.

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

At‌ that moment, the⁠ sofa vibrated slightly.‍

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

Rrrrk…‌ Rrrrkkk…

Manager Moon Ara calmly⁠‍ took a sip⁠ of coffee.

A faint smile rested⁠ on her lips.

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

She‍⁠‍ looked like someone who had already anticipated this situation.

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

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

I slowly lifted my‌⁠ cup and took‌⁠ a sip.

The‌ coffee was neither‌ hot nor cold.⁠‌‌

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

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

This‌‌ time it was‍ heavier than before.‌‍⁠

As‌‌‍ though a mass⁠ of greased metal were being crushed‍ from within.

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.

I couldn’t see it.⁠

But‍ I could feel‍ the vibration originating‍ from there.

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

“Yes,‌ that’s correct.”

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

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

The⁠ endless corridor.

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

The‍‌ Presence that chased⁠‌ me.

The⁠ shadow without feet.‌‍

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

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

Strangers.‌‌⁠

Unknown‍ places.

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

I briefly organized my‍ thoughts and nodded.

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

But‌⁠ I had already‍ returned to the‍⁠ company.

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

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

At⁠⁠ that instant, Executive‍‌ Director Gu shuddered⁠ slightly.

An⁠ invisible vibration passed⁠ across the surface‌ of his suit.‍⁠‌

And‍‍ then—

“Burp!”⁠‍

A belch.

Short.‌‍

Sharp.‌

And‍ strangely filled with⁠‌ anger.

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

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

“Oh!‍ How rude of‌ me. How embarrassing.⁠ How embarrassing.”

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

She‌ had not even‍‍ finished half of⁠ her coffee.

And her face remained‌⁠ completely expressionless.

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

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

Executive‍ Director Gu continued speaking.

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

He‌‍ repeated the word⁠ foundation two or‍ three more times.‍‍⁠

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

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

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

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

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.‌‌ Yes, exactly.”

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

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

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

Executive⁠ Director Gu paused.‌‍

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

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

Tap.⁠ Tap.

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

A small, delicate sound.‍‌

Yet‌⁠ it felt like‍‍ a cold warning.⁠‌

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

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

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

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

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

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.‍

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.‍

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

I nodded slowly.

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

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

This time, it was praise.

Quite⁠ terrifying praise.

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

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

The‌‍ Anomalous Disaster Management‍‍ Department.

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

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.

‘Incomprehensible⁠⁠ phenomena…’

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

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

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

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

I nodded cautiously once‌ more.

I felt Executive Director‍ Gu watching me‍⁠ silently.

The gaze that passed‌‍‌ through that suit.⁠‌

No.‌‌⁠

Something‌ strange was probing at my eyes.⁠⁠

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

That⁠ question contained more‍ than simple curiosity.⁠‍

I slowly shook my head.

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

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

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

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.‌

It‍ was then.

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

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

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

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.

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

Exactly‌ three seconds of‌‌‌ silence followed.

Then Executive Director Gu’s⁠ belly stirred once.‌

Something‍⁠ boiled and turned⁠ inside his suit.‍

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.

Because‍⁠ I wasn’t supposed to be surprised‍ here.

This⁠‌⁠ was the executive⁠ director’s office.

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.

Click.⁠

She‌ looked at me.⁠

Our⁠‍ eyes met.

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

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

It‌‌ was an expression‍‌ that seemed to‍‌ say.

‘That was fairly well‌‍ done.’

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

The⁠‍ hair wrapped around‍‌ her fingers.

One turn.

Two‍‍ turns.

A strangely slow gesture.⁠

Excessively‍ elegant.

And⁠ faintly fragrant.

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

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

And‍ I exhaled silently.⁠

‘I‌ want to go‌ home.’

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

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.