There Are No Humans in the Monster Company — Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity

Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity

“Is‌ there any limit⁠ to the number‌ of uses?”

As‍ I asked that,⁠ I touched the‌ bone fragment shaped like a pen⁠⁠ that was faintly‌ pulsing inside my‍‌ pocket.

Supervisor⁠ Hong Na-gyeom, who‌‌ had been heading toward the door,‍‍‍ stopped and slightly‌ turned her head⁠‍‌ to look at‌ me.

“There‍‍‌ is no established‍‌ usage limit. As‌ long as you⁠⁠ have sufficient capital⁠‍‍ and blood, you⁠ can theoretically perform‌ an infinite number⁠⁠ of refinements. However,‍ if it determines‌⁠ that the value⁠ of the inserted‍ materials falls below‍ a certain level,⁠‌‍ it will not‍ activate. It also‌‍ does not accept‍⁠ as material products⁠‍ that it has⁠ created itself.”

As⁠‍ I listened to her words, I examined the Universal⁠ Employee Benefits Machine‍ once more.

Beneath‍ the blinking red‍ lens, I saw⁠‍ the slot through‍⁠ which it had‍‌ devoured the banknotes.⁠

But‌ upon closer inspection,‌ its shape was⁠ strange.

For⁠⁠ a simple opening meant for inserting⁠ paper currency, it‍‌ was excessively wide,⁠ and its entrance‍ opened in an‍⁠ unsettling way.

As if it could⁠ easily swallow something other than money.

‘What‍ would happen if I put in something that isn’t⁠ money?’

That‍‍ unsettling thought had just crossed my mind.

Scrraaatch!‌ Scrraaatch, scrraaatch!

From‍‍ behind the heavy‍‌ lead door of‌ the containment chamber⁠ came the sound⁠‌‌ of something sharp⁠‍ scratching against a metal plate.

“Huff…‍ huff…”

A familiar wet breathing‍⁠⁠ filtered through the‌‌⁠ crack beneath the‌‌ door.

It⁠⁠ was that White⁠ and Chubby Furball.‍

Without‍‌‌ either of us noticing, he had made his way⁠‌ there and was⁠‍ protesting to be‌‍ let inside.

“…A⁠⁠ dimensional entity?”

Hong‍‍ Na-gyeom’s eyes widened.‌‍

Without‍‌ hesitation, she pulled‌⁠ a dagger from⁠‌‍ her clothes.

The‌ black blade was⁠ coated in a viscous and unpleasant‌⁠ substance.

Anyone‌ could see that‌ it was a weapon designed to⁠ kill.

“W-Wait,‍ wait a moment!”‍‌

Just⁠ as she was⁠ about to open‍‌ the door and⁠‍ brandish the dagger,‍‌ I hurriedly stepped⁠‍‌ in front of‍ her.

The‌ tip of the‌ blade stopped less‍‍‍ than a foot from my chest.‌

“Move‌ aside! According to‍ regulations, any unauthorized⁠‌ dimensional entity that leaves its containment‌‍ chamber must be⁠‍ neutralized immediately. Otherwise…”‌‍

Her⁠‍ shoulders trembled slightly.‌⁠‌

She looked like someone⁠‌ with an almost⁠ pathological fear of‌‌⁠ breaking the rules.‍⁠⁠

“No,⁠ Supervisor Hong. It’s⁠ a D-rank dimensional⁠‌ entity that arrived‍‍ while you were⁠ away. Besides, it⁠ poses almost no‍⁠ danger. Extraction Team‌ 1 has already‍‍⁠ given him permission⁠‍⁠ to wander outside.”‍

Upon‍ hearing my explanation,⁠‌ her eyes wavered again.

She‌‍ alternated her gaze between the door‌ behind me and⁠ myself before muttering‌‍ in disbelief.

“You’re⁠‍‌ telling me that‍‍ a D-rank dimensional‌ entity left his⁠ containment chamber, made‍‌‌ it all the way to a C-rank extraction room,‍ wandered around the⁠‍ hallways, and yet‍‌ nobody did anything?‍⁠ Have you already‌ suffered mental contamination?”‌⁠

“It’s⁠⁠ not that… It’s‌‌‌ just that this⁠‍ thing is a little special.”

Hong‍ Na-gyeom’s brows twitched.‍‌

Without‍ sheathing the dagger,‌⁠ she listened carefully⁠ to the idiotic‌‍‌ breathing coming from⁠‌ the other side of the door.⁠‍

Completely⁠ ignoring the killing‍ intent directed at⁠‌ him, the furball⁠ squeezed through the‍⁠ gap and approached⁠⁠⁠ me with his‌‍‍ usual goofy expression.‍

It‌⁠ was unclear whether⁠‌⁠ he was incapable‍ of understanding the‌‍ situation or simply possessed too much‌‌ courage.

He⁠ awkwardly rose onto‌ his hind legs⁠‍ and placed a front paw on‍ my shoulder.

“Hey,‌‍ hey! Now’s not⁠ the time for this…!”

I was trying to push him away‌ when it happened.⁠

“Ptooey!”

He‍ spat something directly‍ at my face.‌

What‍‌ landed in my‍ palm along with‍ a generous amount‍⁠ of saliva was‍ a cold, heavy‌‌‍ metallic object.

“…A‌ gold coin?”

It‍ was a golden⁠ coin engraved with strange symbols.

I had no idea‌⁠ where he had⁠ gotten it.

One‌‌ side bore an‍ elaborate eye-shaped design.‍‍

And,‍‍ strangely enough, it‍⁠ was warm to‌ the touch.

The‌‍⁠ furball wagged his⁠‌ tail while grinning‌ brightly.

It‌ was obvious that‍⁠‍ he was expecting‍‌ praise.

As⁠⁠‍ if he were⁠ saying.

“Did‍ I do well?”‍‌

But⁠‌ the killing intent behind me did‍‍ not lessen.

Hong‌‍ Na-gyeom tightened her grip on the dagger while staring‍ at the creature.

“Whine…⁠ whine…”

Only⁠ then did the‍‌‍ furball seem to⁠ notice the predator‍ standing before him.‍‍

He‌ lowered his ears and hid between‍ my legs while‌‍ whining pitifully.

Hong⁠‍‍ Na-gyeom let out⁠⁠ a long sigh,‌ as if she‌‌ no longer knew what to do.‌

Finally,⁠ she sheathed the‍‌ dagger.

“…Fine.‍‌ I’ll personally escort⁠ this dimensional entity‍‌ back to the‍ D-rank containment chamber.⁠⁠ For now, I’ll‍⁠‍ postpone filing a report with the‍ Security Team.”

She‌ roughly grabbed the⁠ creature by the scruff of the⁠‍‍ neck and shot‌⁠ me a cold look.

“Do⁠‌ whatever you want‌ with that coin‍‌ of unknown origin.⁠⁠‍ It doesn’t look‌ very hygienic. Throw‌ it in the‌ trash or…”

Her⁠ gaze briefly settled‌‌ on the enormous⁠‌ opening of the‍‌ Universal Employee Benefits‌‍ Machine.

“Try putting it into⁠‍ that machine. I’m⁠‍ curious to see⁠‍‍ how far your luck goes.”

After⁠‍ throwing out another jab, she dragged⁠ White and Chubby‍⁠ Furball out of‍‍‌ the room.

As‍‍ he was hauled⁠ away, White and⁠ Chubby Furball gave⁠⁠‍ me a sad‍ look, as if‌ he wanted to say.

“See‌ you later!”

But⁠ my attention was‍‍ already completely focused⁠ on the coin in my hand.‍‌

‘She‌ said it could‌‍ swallow anything as⁠‍⁠ long as it‍⁠ had value, even‍ if it wasn’t‌ money.’

I thought about it⁠‌⁠ for a few⁠ seconds.

Would‌ this strange coin⁠ be worth more‌‍ than a fifty-thousand-won⁠ bill?

Or⁠⁠‌ was it nothing⁠‌ more than junk⁠‍ that White and‌ Chubby Furball had picked up somewhere?‌⁠

Ah,⁠ whatever.

I shoved the coin,‌ still covered in‍‍⁠ saliva, directly into‍‍‌ the grotesque open‍⁠ mouth of the‌⁠‍ Universal Employee Benefits‍⁠ Machine.

CRUNCH!⁠‍

The⁠ machine emitted a grinding noise far‍⁠ more violent than⁠ when it devoured‍‍‍ banknotes.

CRUNCH!‌ RUMBLEEE!

It‍‌ began vibrating abnormally, as though it⁠‌ were struggling to‍‍ endure the value⁠‌ contained within the‌‍ coin.

The‌⁠ sound of gears⁠ meshing together echoed like an agonized⁠‌ scream.

Black‌‍ smoke poured from⁠‌ the insertion slot,‌ accompanied by the‍ smell of burning‌‌ metal.

‘It’s⁠‍ not going to explode, is it?’‍⁠

I instinctively stepped back.⁠‍

The machine’s red lens‌⁠ began blinking frantically.

Finally,‌ with a loud—‍

Ding!⁠

The‌ output hatch burst‍‍ open as if‌‌ something had been⁠⁠ forcibly expelled from‍⁠ it.

And‌ what came rolling‌ out was a single object.

“…A‌ collar?”

I picked up the⁠ collar that had‌⁠‌ fallen to the‌‍ floor.

The‌ blackened leather strap‍‍ was strangely warm,⁠⁠⁠ and the pendant‍‌ had a grotesque‌ texture, as if‌ someone had compressed⁠ human entrails until‌ they were tiny‍ and embedded them‍ inside.

The⁠⁠‌ moment I held⁠ it in my‌ hand, I felt‌ a strangely pleasant warmth emanating from‌ the pendant.

As⁠‌ if hypnotized, I hung the collar⁠‌ around my neck.⁠⁠

“…!”‍

At‍⁠ that instant, my⁠⁠‌ vision changed.

Vivid‌ lines of color⁠‌ began to trace‌‍ themselves across the‍‌‍ black-and-white landscape of⁠‍ the containment area.‍

The‌⁠ presences of the‍ dimensional entities beyond‌‍ the glass walls⁠‍ emerged like reddish‌‌ mirages.

Even⁠ behind Hong Na-gyeom,⁠‍ who was walking‍ down the hallway in the distance,⁠ a faint yellow⁠ energy floated.

“…My‌⁠ God.”

The⁠ intense red color⁠ undulating within the⁠ containment chambers conveyed‌‌‌ an aggression capable‍⁠ of tearing my‌⁠‍ throat out with‌ a single bite⁠⁠ at any moment.‌

On⁠ the other hand,⁠ the blue color⁠ emanating from White‌ and Chubby Furball,⁠‍⁠ who was being‌ dragged along by⁠ Supervisor Hong Na-gyeom,‌ conveyed harmless vitality.

There‍⁠ was no need‌‍ for names or⁠ numbers.

Just‌‍ by seeing the‍ colors, my brain‌ issued instinctive warnings.‌

Blue‍ meant safety.

Yellow‌‌ meant caution.

And‌ red meant danger.⁠

‘Later,‍‌‌ I’ll have to⁠‌‍ bring him a ton of treats.’‍

I tucked the collar inside my shirt.‌

I felt a steady weight near my‌ collarbone, right where‍ the pendant rested.⁠⁠

At⁠⁠ the very least,‌ Hong Na-gyeom’s claim⁠‍ that the machine‌‌⁠ provided objects truly‌ necessary for the‌⁠ user did not‍ seem to be‍ a lie.

***

An‌‍ hour later.

With⁠⁠ the new collar‍⁠ carefully hidden beneath⁠⁠ my shirt, I was reporting the current state of‌ Zone D to⁠‌⁠ Hong Na-gyeom while⁠ walking half a step behind her.

The‌ area where the‍⁠ collar touched my‍‍ collarbone carried a reassuring sense of⁠‌‌ weight, and I could comfortably avoid⁠⁠ the small yellow‌‌ mirages lurking throughout‍ the hallway.

“…That’s⁠ why the replacement⁠ cycle for D-103,‍ The Record Gentleman’s‌ bronze needle is⁠⁠ currently every ten‍‍ hours instead of⁠ every twelve. The irregularity of the‍ waves had worsened,‌‌‌ so we took⁠⁠ that measure. Fortunately,⁠‍‍ energy extraction efficiency⁠ increased by approximately‌ five percent.”

As‌‌⁠ she listened to‌⁠⁠ my report, Hong‌ Na-gyeom lightly tapped⁠‌ the screen of her tablet.

Her‍⁠‍ gaze remained fixed‍ ahead, but it⁠‌ was obvious that‌‌ she was analyzing‍ every word I said as though⁠⁠ it were data.‍⁠

“Reducing the needle replacement‍ cycle, huh? Was‌ that approved by‍ Manager Myeon?”

“Yes.⁠‍ Manager Myeon said‌⁠‍ that if a song goes on‌‌ for too long,‌‌‍ it eventually becomes‌‌ boring, so he⁠ recommended cutting it‌‍ off at the appropriate moment.”

“A‌‍ very Manager Myeon-like‍‍ decision.”

Hong Na-gyeom responded in⁠ her usual mechanical‌‍ tone and gave a slight nod.⁠

The‌‌‌ yellow energy surrounding‌⁠‍ her seemed somewhat fainter than before.‌

At‌ the very least,⁠ it appeared that⁠ the way I had managed the‌‌ work during her‌ absence had received‌⁠ a satisfactory evaluation.‍

We‌‌‌ passed one containment‍⁠ chamber after another‌ while reviewing their‌‍⁠ security status.

As⁠ I explained in⁠‌‍ detail all the‍⁠ unusual events that‍‌ had occurred during‍ the month she‍ had been absent, she occasionally asked‌‍ sharp questions, though for the most‌ part she seemed‍ satisfied with my‍‍ answers.

[D-105:⁠⁠‌ White and Chubby⁠‌ Furball]

The‍⁠ moment we arrived‍ at the entrance⁠ to the containment‌‍ chamber, I heard‌ something different from the usual panting.‌‌

It‍‌‍ was a pitiful‍ whimper.

When⁠‍ I looked inside,⁠‍ my jaw dropped.‌

“…Supervisor‌ Hong?”

In⁠⁠ the center of the room, the‌ furball was rolling‌⁠ around on the⁠ floor completely wrapped⁠ in special security‍‌ restraint ropes.

He‍‌‍ was tied so‍ tightly that he⁠ looked like a giant ball of⁠ yarn.

Only‍ his eyes, nose, and mouth were‍ visible.

The‍ moment he saw⁠ me, his eyes⁠⁠ lit up as⁠⁠ though he had‍‍ found his savior.‌‌‍

However,‍ because of the⁠‍ restraints, he could⁠⁠ barely move and‌ could only writhe‍‌ desperately.

“It’s⁠‌‍ a disciplinary measure.‍‌‍ He needs to‌⁠ receive this level⁠ of stimulation in⁠ order to learn‍ that escaping does‍ not contribute to⁠ improving extraction efficiency.”

Hong‍⁠ Na-gyeom looked at‍ the furball with‌‍ a completely professional⁠⁠ expression.

The⁠‌ moment he felt‍‌ her gaze, the‌‍ creature became dejected‌‍‍ again and lowered⁠ his head.

All‌⁠ the confidence he⁠ had shown earlier‍‍ had vanished.

Now⁠‍ he was nothing⁠ more than an‌ unjustly bound cotton⁠‍ candy puff.

“…Even‍ so, I think‍ you tied him‌⁠ up too tightly.”‌

“Don’t⁠ worry. Given that⁠ dimensional entity’s elasticity,‍‌ there is no‍‍‌ risk of suffocation.‍⁠ In fact, it‌ might even help‍ strengthen his bone‌⁠‍ density.”

That‌‍ was complete nonsense.‌‌

But‍‌‍ her expression was‍ so serious that‌ all I could‍‍ do was look⁠‌ at the furball‍ with silent apology.⁠⁠

The⁠⁠ creature tried to‍⁠ roll toward my‌ shoes while pouting‌‍ resentfully.

I fiddled with the‌⁠ pen in my‌‌ pocket and thought.‌⁠

After‌‌‌ all, both humans‌ and monsters were‌‌ completely insane in‌ this company.

“That⁠⁠ will be enough‍ for today.”

Hong‍ Na-gyeom turned off‍ the tablet and‌‍ spoke with a voice that carried‌ a faint trace‍‌ of sadness.

Was she the type⁠⁠‍ of person who⁠⁠⁠ hated leaving work?‌

After‌‍‌ giving one last glance to the‌‍ furball, who was‍ still rolling around⁠‌‍ the floor tied‌ up like a package, she turned⁠⁠ toward the end‍ of the hallway.⁠

“You⁠ managed Zone D properly during my⁠‌ absence. I don’t⁠ know how long⁠‍ it will be,‌⁠‌ but I hope‌ to continue working‌‌ with you from‌‍ now on.”

She⁠ seemed to be⁠ the kind of‌‌ person who always added one extra⁠ sentence.

When‌ she finished speaking,‍ her orange eyes⁠‍‌ briefly swept across my chest, precisely⁠ where I was hiding the newly‌ acquired collar.

“Let’s‌ return to the‌‍ office. Good work‌ today.”

“I⁠‍ learned a lot⁠ thanks to you.‌ Thank you.”

She‌⁠ didn’t respond.

Only the rhythmic sound⁠ of her heels⁠⁠ echoed through the⁠ extraction corridor.

In‌ a normal office,‍‍⁠ this would probably be where a conversation like, “Would⁠ you like to‍‍ grab dinner sometime?”‍ might arise.

But‌ the atmosphere of⁠⁠⁠ this place allowed⁠ no such everyday‌ warmth.

Still,‍‌⁠ perhaps because of⁠ the strangely comforting‍‍ sensation of the‌‌⁠ collar beneath my‌‍ shirt, I ended⁠ up sticking my‌‍‍ nose where it⁠‌ didn’t belong.

“…Supervisor,‌‍ have you been working here for‍ a long time?”‍‍

At⁠‌ that instant, the‌⁠‍ regular sound of‌ her heels stopped.‍‌

Her‌‍ head slowly turned‌ toward me, as⁠⁠ if a carefully‍⁠⁠ designed circuit had‍ just activated.

Her‌⁠⁠ orange eyes fixed⁠‌ directly on me.‍⁠

There‌ was no emotion‌ or warmth in‍‍⁠ that gaze.

It⁠ was a dryness⁠ similar to looking⁠ into an empty‌ containment chamber.

She watched me for‌ a long time,⁠⁠⁠ as though calculating‌‍‍ the weight of‍⁠ the question I had just asked.‍

Then she spoke.

“Mr.‍ Jeong Haeil.”

Her‌⁠ voice was calm,‍‍‍ but unmistakable.

“Curiosity⁠ is the least‌ necessary thing in‍‍ this place.”

Her⁠‌‍ tone did not‌⁠ convey a warning.⁠

It‍‍ conveyed an absolute‌‍ truth.

“The‍ only way to‍ accumulate years of⁠ experience here is‍ by never trying⁠ to find anything‍‌ out.”

Then‍‍ she turned her‍ gaze forward again⁠ and continued walking.‍

I closed my mouth.

I said nothing.

The⁠ skin beneath my‍ shirt, where the‍‌‌ collar rested, began‌ to feel strangely‌⁠ cold.

At⁠ the end of the hallway, the⁠ elevator doors opened‌‌ and monochrome light‌⁠ flooded the area.⁠

Just‍‌ as that light⁠‌ swallowed Hong Na-gyeom’s silhouette, the warm⁠ yellow mirage surrounding‌ her back suddenly‍⁠ flared into an⁠ intense red.

But‍ the moment the⁠‌ elevator doors fully⁠‌ closed, the vision‌‍ vanished as though‍ it had never existed.

I remained alone in⁠‍ the hallway, thinking.‌‌

Perhaps⁠‌ working in this place for that⁠⁠⁠ long meant completely‍ tearing out every⁠‌⁠ trace of one’s‌⁠‍ humanity.

‘Audit⁠ Team Director Go⁠⁠‍ Gyeol and Security‍‍⁠ Team Director Moon Ara were also⁠ humans who had⁠⁠ lost some of‌‍‌ their sanity.’

Perhaps⁠ I would end⁠‍‍ up the same‍ way.

Would‍⁠⁠ that be better‌ than dying miserably out there?

I pushed those thoughts‍ aside and slowly⁠ raised my index‌‌ finger to my⁠ lips while looking⁠‌ at the furball,‌‌ who was still staring at me⁠‍ with eyes full‍ of injustice and‍ letting out tiny‌ whimpers.

“I’ll⁠ let you out‌‍ later. Hang in⁠ there a little⁠ longer.”

As if he had‍‌ read my thoughts,‌‍⁠ the creature scrunched‌⁠ up his snout‌‍ and finally calmed‍⁠ down.

In⁠‍ this company, silence‍⁠‌ was always safer‌ than questions.