There Are No Humans in the Monster Company — Chapter 34: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (3)

Chapter 34: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (3)

I couldn’t answer.

More‍ precisely, I could⁠‍‌ open my mouth,⁠‌‍ but I didn’t⁠⁠ know which words‌‌ to choose.

The⁠ last question they‍‌ had thrown at‍‌ me didn’t have a predetermined correct‍ answer, and I didn’t have either‍ the confidence or‍‍ the courage to‌‍‌ give a clumsy one.

A brief silence settled‌⁠‍ over the room.‍

“My,‌⁠⁠ my. After talking‍⁠ about such gloomy⁠‍ people, the atmosphere‌‌ has become a little dark. Very‌ dark, in fact.”⁠‍

Executive‍‌⁠ Director Gu let⁠⁠‌ out a strange⁠‌ chuckle from the⁠⁠ mouth attached to‍⁠ his abdomen.

Beside‍‌ him, Manager Moon‌ Ara nodded calmly.⁠‍

I simply lowered my‍ gaze in silence.‍

What‌ I saw in‌ front of me⁠⁠ was an empty⁠‍ coffee cup.

A napkin stained with‍‌⁠ faint traces of blood.

And‌‌‍ the smooth, excessively⁠ immaculate surface of⁠‌‌ the glass table.⁠

All‌ of it felt like part of a world that‍‌ had nothing to do with me.‌

I thought about it.⁠

Manager Moon Ara’s attitude.‌

The‌ indifferent expression she had shown while‍ talking about the‌‍ Alliance of Erosion.⁠

And‌‍ those words.

— That’s simply a phenomenon. Like weather or gravity. By‌ themselves, they are neither good nor⁠‌ bad. Hating them‍ and fighting them⁠‌ only ends up‍⁠ destroying yourself.

— It is a group that devours⁠ itself.

— Some even call‌ that willpower. Sadly.

Maybe‍ she was right.

But that couldn’t be‌‍ the whole truth⁠‌⁠ either.

I didn’t know why⁠‍‍ they had made‍ those choices.

However,⁠‍ I could imagine what they had‌⁠ lost.

And‍ also what kind‍⁠‌ of emotions that loss had left‍ them with.

But⁠⁠ right now, there‌ was nothing I could do.

Because‍⁠ understanding them wouldn’t⁠‍‌ change anything.

‘I‌‌‍ just hope I don’t end up‌ getting involved with‌‍ them.’

That‌ was the only‍‍ thing I could do.

“Good,‍ good. Now let’s‍‍ return to everyday‌ life. We have‍ to work. Work‍‍ is important. Very⁠‌‍ important, in fact.”‌‌⁠

Executive⁠⁠ Director Gu made‍⁠ a couple of⁠‌ bubbling sounds before⁠ lightly adjusting his⁠⁠‍ suit and continuing.‍

“Employee‍ Jeong Haeil. Before‍⁠ you return, if‌‌ you have any‌ questions about life in the company,‍‍ ask whatever you‌ like. Anything at‌‍‌ all. Even something‌‍ trivial is fine.‍‌ No, in fact,‌ trivial things are⁠ the most important. The most important,‌ without a doubt.”⁠

I reflected on the meaning of “anything‍‍⁠ at all.”

What‍ questions would be⁠‌⁠ acceptable?

And‍‍‍ at what point‍‍ would they become‍‍ disrespectful?

Then I remembered some⁠‍ words.

— Don’t be surprised⁠ or disrespectful. Understood?⁠‍⁠

Manager‍ Moon Ara’s words.‌

She‌ was still looking⁠‍ directly at me.‌

And⁠ on that unchanging‍‌ face, I couldn’t read a single‌‌ emotion.

I had to ask‌ something that would⁠‍ spark curiosity.

But⁠ not too much.‍‌⁠

Something‍‌⁠ normal.

Something⁠⁠ that wouldn’t be‌ disrespectful.

I opened my mouth‌⁠⁠ with extreme care.‍

“Could‌ you tell me‍ how long my‌‌⁠ contract lasts?”

At⁠⁠ that moment.

Manager⁠ Moon Ara tilted⁠⁠⁠ her head slightly‌ and let out‍‍‌ a small laugh.‌‌

It was a silent laugh.

Without‌ any sound at‌ all.

But‍‍ it was clearly‌ a laugh.

And‍ right beside her.‍

I sensed an overwhelming‍ movement inside Executive⁠ Director Gu’s abdomen.⁠

As‍‌ if jaws that had been chewing⁠ something had stopped⁠ for an instant‌⁠ before slowly moving‌ again.

At‌ the same time,‍‌ I heard things‌‍ that were both comprehensible and incomprehensible.‍‍

“Keh.‌‍ Grrrrrr. Kya-ha-ha. Kya-ha-ha-keh.”‍

“Ha.⁠‍⁠ Ha. Ha. Ha.”⁠⁠

It‍‍ was laughter.

By any possible standard,⁠ it was laughter.⁠‍

But⁠⁠ it didn’t resemble⁠ any laughter I had ever heard⁠ before.

It‌‌ was a viscous⁠⁠ sound.

As‍ if it were‌⁠‍ moving through my⁠⁠ internal organs.

I looked forward and⁠‍‌ tried to maintain‌‌ the most serious⁠ expression possible.

That‍ was when Moon‌ Ara looked at‍⁠ me.

Her‍⁠‍ inverted left eye‌ glowed softly as‍ she seemed to‌⁠ examine the tense⁠ muscles around the corners of my‌ lips.

“What‌ is it? Do‌⁠ you want to⁠‌ quit?”

I didn’t answer.

Moon⁠ Ara tilted her‌⁠ head again.

And‍ added in a gentle voice.

“Don’t stiffen up. More‍ people than you⁠‌‌ imagine have quit‌ here.”

Executive‌ Director Gu once‍‍⁠ again produced something⁠⁠‍ that I couldn’t‌‌ tell was either⁠‍ laughter or a synthesized sound.

“It’s‍ true. Very true.‍‍‌ Some left once.‍ And others came⁠‌ back. They came back, yes. They⁠ returned, without a doubt.”

I slowly inhaled.

It⁠⁠ even felt as⁠ though it would‌‌ be quieter not‍ to exhale.

So‌ I held my breath for several‍‌ seconds.

Then,‍ cutting through the‌‌ silence, Executive Director⁠‍ Gu let out‍⁠‌ a deep laugh.⁠

Accompanied‍‌‍ by a boiling‌⁠ sound coming from‌ somewhere inside his‌ abdomen.

“If⁠‌‌ you’re from Extraction‍‌ Team 1, then‌ you had an interview with Director‍‌ Myeon, right? You‍‍ must have signed⁠‌ a contract as well. There’s no‍ way you didn’t⁠‌ sign it. Of‌‌ course you signed it.”

At‍‍ those words, I lowered my head‍‌‌ slightly.

And‌ spoke cautiously.

“To‌ be honest, if‍ I’m being sincere,‍ my memories of that time are⁠ somewhat blurry.”

They‌ weren’t exactly memories.‌

The‌ sensations from that⁠ period were as‍ vague as a dream.

In‌‍⁠ a state that‍ didn’t feel real.‌‍

I simply went along‍⁠ with the flow.

Like‍ an observer accepting‍‍‌ a procedure that‌ had already been‍⁠ decided beforehand.

My‍⁠‌ consciousness was clouded.‍

My⁠‌ judgment as well.‍‍

And I felt no⁠‌ desire to resist.

Those‍‍‌ strange scenes were⁠ like that.

Moon Ara raised an‍‍‍ eyebrow slightly.

But‍ she said nothing.⁠

Then.‌⁠‌

Executive‌ Director Gu suddenly‌‌‌ leaned back and‌ laughed.

“Keh-keh-keh.‌ Ha-ha. Ha. Ha…”⁠

A grotesque sound echoed⁠ from his abdomen.⁠‍

“After⁠‌ returning from a Distorted Region, it’s‌‍ normal to feel‌ confused. I understand.⁠⁠ I understand perfectly.”‍

Then‍⁠ he did.

Smack.⁠ Smack.

As‍‍ if savoring something.‌‌

But‍⁠ it didn’t sound‌⁠‍ like he was‌ chewing meat.

It‌⁠ sounded more as‍ if he were⁠ chewing memories or⁠‌ emotions.

As‌ if a tongue⁠ were carefully going‌ over my name and the details‍ of my contract.‍‍

“The⁠ hiring authority of⁠⁠ Extraction Team 1 belongs primarily to‍‍⁠ Manager Myeon. But‌⁠ something as simple‌ as the duration⁠‍ of a contract,⁠‌ I do know.‍‌ Of course I know it.”

I listened attentively.

His‍⁠ suit stirred ever‍⁠ so slightly.

And⁠ the vibration of‌‍ something moving inside‌⁠ it traveled beneath‌ the table.

“Employee‌ Jeong Haeil is‌‌‍ a permanent employee.⁠‌‍ A permanent employee named Jeong. Haha!‌‌ You don’t need‍‌ to worry. You’ll‌⁠ be able to‍‍ work here for‌‍ your entire life.‌⁠ Your entire life,⁠‍ without a doubt.”‌⁠

At‍ that statement, which‌‌ was clearly equivalent‍‍‍ to a sentence⁠ of lifelong slavery,⁠‍ I nodded my head while wearing‍‌‍ the mask of‍ the most exemplary‌‌‍ and optimistic rookie‍⁠⁠ employee possible.

“Thank‍ you, Executive Director.”⁠

And⁠⁠ then I muttered to myself.

‘Fuck…’‍⁠

The fact that the⁠ contract period was‍⁠ for life meant they intended to⁠ exploit me until‍‍ I died.

No.‍‍‍

This‌⁠‌ was a company that would exploit‍ you even after⁠⁠ you died.

Maybe‌‍ I should have‍‍ clung to the pants of that‍ human named Yeom‌ Hwi when I had the chance.‌‍

When‌⁠‍ I lifted the‍‍‍ coffee cup, the‍⁠ bitter taste of⁠ cold coffee spread through my mouth.⁠⁠

Executive‌ Director Gu writhed‍ in satisfaction and‌‌⁠ made a motion‍ as if pressing⁠ something beneath the⁠ table.

If‍ I was a permanent employee, there⁠ was one more‍ thing I needed‍‍‌ to know for⁠‍ my own stability⁠‍ and happiness.

There‌‌⁠ was a brief⁠‍ moment of hesitation⁠ before the words‍‌ left my mouth.‍

“…May‌ I ask one⁠‌‌ more question?”

“Of course, of course.⁠‌‌ Questions are always‌ welcome. Very welcome,‌ in fact.”

Carefully, I asked my‌ question.

“The‌‌‌ products fused by‍‍‍ the Fusion Team…‌‌ where are they‌ distributed, and how‍ are they used?”‌⁠

The‌‍‍ Extraction Team extracts.‌

The‍‍‍ Refinement Team refines.‌

And‍ the Fusion Team‌ fuses.

That is how products‍ like the Relics‌‌ of the Smiling‌ Martyr are created.

Then⁠ who bought those products?

And‌⁠ how were they‌ used?

The‍ moment I finished‌ speaking, Manager Moon‌ Ara set her‌ cup down on⁠ the table.

“I’ll⁠ answer this question,‍⁠ Executive Director.”

With‍‍⁠ her usual gentle‌‌ tone, she casually⁠⁠‌ turned her head.‍‌

For‍‌ an instant, my‍ eyes met her⁠ white irises exactly.‍

There‌⁠⁠ was no emotion⁠‌ in them.

And yet, I had the feeling they⁠ concealed a question⁠ loaded with meaning.‍‌

“Very‍ well, Manager Moon.‌ Go ahead. Go⁠ ahead, by all means.”

Executive⁠⁠ Director Gu let‍⁠ out a small⁠⁠ chuckle from the⁠‌ mouth attached to‍ his abdomen and‌‌ yielded the floor⁠ to her.

Moon‍‌ Ara took a sip of water⁠‌ before speaking calmly.⁠

“Most‌ fused products end⁠‍ up with the‍ Sales Team.”

She‍ set her cup⁠ down on the‍ table.

As‍‍ always, the movement⁠ possessed an almost ceremonial elegance.

And⁠‍ the explanation that‍ followed was just‌‍ as orderly and⁠‌ smooth.

“Sales‍ Team 1 distributes‌ products to dimensional⁠ entities, while Sales‌ Team 2 distributes‍‍ them to human‍ society.”

Upon⁠ hearing that, I lost my breath‌ for a moment.‌‍

Dimensional⁠⁠⁠ entities?

They⁠ extracted things from‍‌ dimensional entities only‍‍ to sell them‍‍‌ to dimensional entities?‌

And‌‍ they could also sell them to⁠ human society?

To⁠‌⁠ twenty-first-century South Korea?‍‌⁠

“Objects⁠‍ that cannot be⁠ reproduced through the‌ technology or physical‌‍‍ laws of reality.‍‌⁠ We create them.⁠⁠‌ We create them‍⁠ and sell them.”⁠‍‌

Moon⁠ Ara lowered her⁠ gaze slightly before⁠ looking back at⁠ me.

“At extremely high prices.‍‌ And we do not always accept‌ money.”

She‌‌ fell silent for a moment.

As if waiting for‍‍‍ me to understand.⁠

I imagined it.

If⁠⁠ it wasn’t money,⁠⁠ then what kind‍ of payment did‌⁠‍ they receive?

What‍ could people give?‌

No.‍⁠

What⁠‍‌ could they lose?‍

Moon⁠ Ara continued slowly.‌‌

“Time,⁠‍ language, memories, emotions. Or people.”

At‍‌‌ that instant, I felt a chill⁠⁠‌ run down the‌ back of my‍‌⁠ neck.

Those⁠ words had not‍⁠ been spoken with‌ emphasis.

And⁠‌‍ yet they sank‍ directly into my‍‍ bones.

It‍ was precisely then.⁠‍

As‍‍ I nodded along‍ with her explanation,‍ a question suddenly‌‌‌ appeared in my⁠ mind.

I had no intention⁠ of asking it.‌

But‍ the moment it‌‍‍ surfaced, my mouth‌‌ had already opened.‍

“Then‌‍ what exactly are‌ dimensional entities? The‍‍ dimensional entities in‌ the containment rooms,⁠‌‍ the buyers, and‍‌ the employees… how…?”‍

The⁠ question I had⁠ wanted to ask⁠ more than any‌ other until now.‌⁠

That‍ question fell into‌ the room.

Like⁠⁠ a stone thrown‍ at something important.‍⁠

Tap.‍

And⁠⁠ at that very‌‌ instant, I realized something.

The air had grown⁠ cold the moment⁠⁠ I started speaking.‌

Cold.‍

To‍ the point where‍‍ it became difficult⁠ to breathe.

Moon‌‍⁠ Ara’s expression stiffened⁠ ever so slightly.‍

The‍⁠ corners of her⁠⁠‍ lips dropped by‌ about 0.1 millimeters.‌⁠

And‌‍ her inverted left⁠ eye contracted almost⁠⁠ imperceptibly.

Instinctively,‌ I understood that⁠‍‍ I had touched⁠‌⁠ something I was‌⁠ not supposed to⁠ touch.

Across the table, Executive‌ Director Gu’s body trembled.

His⁠‌ suit swelled.

Something‌‌‍ enormous and fleshy‌ stirred inside it,‍ expanding as though‍ it were being⁠⁠ inflated with air.‌‍‌

“───────”⁠

The⁠ mouth attached to‍ his abdomen.

From‍⁠ it emerged the‌⁠‍ strangest, longest, and most viscous sound‌‍ I had heard‌ up to that‌ point.

It⁠ was not a voice.

It‍ was more like⁠ a combination of‌ a roar emitted‌ just before suffocation‍⁠ and the tremor of a tongue⁠‌ brushing against nerves.‌⁠

The‍ entire room vibrated.‌‍

The‌‌ table trembled slightly.⁠

And‌⁠ the last remaining⁠ ripples in my⁠‌ coffee began to‌⁠ undulate.

As‍ I pressed a hand against my chest, I thought.⁠‌‍

‘Something… went wrong.’

My‌‌ fingers tightened.

The‍⁠⁠ hairs on the⁠ back of my neck stood on‌ end.

To‌ be precise, the‌‌ question itself was⁠‌ not wrong.

What‍ was wrong was‍‍ not knowing in⁠ front of whom‌ that question should⁠ never be asked.‌

That was one of‌‍ the rules of‌ this place.

Part‍ of its system.‍

And‌‍ the only indisputable⁠ truth in that‌⁠ office was that‍ the employee named⁠ Jeong Haeil had⁠‍⁠ just crossed a forbidden line.

The‍⁠‍ room became cold‍ and heavy.

If‍⁠ air could have⁠⁠ weight, the pressure‍ inside that office‍ must have been equivalent to several⁠ tons crushing me.‌

The‍‍‍ indescribable sound emerging‌ from Executive Director⁠⁠ Gu’s abdomen moved‌‌ away and drew‌‍⁠ near again and‍‍ again.

It‌ crawled beneath the‍⁠⁠ table.

Across my feet.

Through‍ my hair.

And‍‍ just as that‌‍‍ monstrous vibration was⁠⁠ about to reach the limits of‍ my vision.

“You‍ can’t group them‌ all together like‍‌ that. Humans haven’t⁠ done that either.⁠ Just as there‍ were commoners and‍ nobles, courtesans and‍ artists.”

“It’s‌‍ fine. I’ll explain it to you later.”

Manager‍ Moon Ara spoke‍‌ in that tone.

Gently.‌‌‍

As⁠⁠ if she had‌⁠ erased the entire‌‌ room with an⁠‍ eraser.

Those‍ few words completely⁠⁠ covered the situation.

Her voice was softer‍‌⁠ than any explanation she had given‌ until now.

And⁠ precisely because of‌‍‍ that, it was‌‍‌ clearer than any‌ of them.

Executive‍‍ Director Gu’s movements⁠ stopped.

His⁠‌ abdomen, which had‌ been stirring for‍‍‌ a long time.‍‍

Gradually.

Very‍ slowly.

Returned‌ to calm.

“Later…‌‌‍ yes, later. It’s⁠ still too early‍⁠ to talk about⁠ that. Far too‌ early, without a doubt. Ha… ha,‌ ha… heh, heh.”‍‌

He‍‍ laughed.

It‌ was a different⁠‍ laugh from before.‍

It‌‍ wasn’t natural.

But⁠ it was still⁠‌ laughter.

The‌ suit settled back‍ down.

The‌‍ gigantic mass slowly‌‌ shrank.

And‍‌ the vibrations within it disappeared like‍⁠‌ a stone sinking‍⁠ into the depths of the ocean.⁠‌‌

Unconsciously,‌ I inhaled.

I turned my head‌ to look at‍ Moon Ara.

She‌⁠ still maintained the⁠ same calm expression⁠⁠ as she slowly⁠⁠ spun a glass‌⁠ of cold water with her fingertips.⁠

As⁠‍‍ if nothing had‌ happened.

But‍ I knew.

I knew she had⁠ silently extinguished the crisis I had‌‌ caused.

I was sincerely grateful.‍‍

I didn’t express it‍ out loud.

In⁠ this place, emotions⁠ could be signals⁠⁠‌ more dangerous than⁠ words.

Instead,⁠ I nodded ever‍‍ so slightly.

As⁠ a way of⁠ thanking her.

Of‍‌‍ telling her that‌⁠⁠ I was truly‍ grateful.

Moon‌ Ara looked at‍‍ me once.

A smile barely 1 millimeter wide appeared‍ on her lips.‍‌‌

I already owed her⁠ two favors.

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Chapter 34: A Thrilling Afternoon Tea in the Executive Director’s Office (3)

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