Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1)
Or rather, my body was being forced to adapt to her mechanical precision.
Several more days passed after that.
Working together with Supervisor Hong Na-gyeom turned out to be smoother than I had expected.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
At least here, within Zone D of the Extraction Room, the survival rules I had learned were still working.
I had even become comfortable enough to exchange a slight nod whenever we passed each other in the hallways—though I never received a response.
Now I was gradually getting used to the curt instructions she gave me, her grimly sarcastic remarks, and her cold attitude toward dimensional entities.
At times, I felt a weight around my collarbone whenever I sensed that red killing intent flashing behind her, but they say humans are animals capable of adaptation.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
“Gasp… haa… pant…”
A cup of iced coffee that Assistant Manager Son had probably left for me sat on my desk.
It had already become lukewarm.
‘It’s almost time to get off work.’
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
“…You were hiding again?”
The White and Chubby Furball.
I felt a strange presence beneath my legs.
When I looked down, I saw that familiar creature staring at me while devouring cookies at incredible speed.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
The dimensional entity that was always hidden somewhere and, before I knew it, would appear and settle beside me as if breathing were his natural right.
While chewing on cookies, the furball rubbed his head against my hand and started licking the back of it.
Without thinking much about it, I reached out and stroked that damp, round head.
“It’s time to go home. meadow You should be in your place too. abstract You’re still a dimensional entity, aren’t you?”
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
A moist breath, like the brushing of plant leaves.
At that moment, a current of air stirred behind me.
‘Damn it, I’ve grown way too attached to him.’
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
“Employee Jeong Haeil.”
Green leaves sprouted luxuriantly around his immaculate suit.
When I slowly turned around, Director Mok was standing there like a shadow.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
I carefully raised my head.
Was it just me, or did the word good sound absolutely terrible?
“I have good news.”
And at the center, hidden among the knots of wood, dozens of green eyes emerged like frog eggs, staring directly at me.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
As if he were reciting someone’s final will and testament, he spoke slowly and calmly.
“It seems that starting tomorrow, we will officially resume extraction operations in distorted zones. atlas It will be a field assignment.”
“Yes, Director Mok.”
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
‘That is not good news.’
The pen I was holding fell to the floor.
Clack.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
Strange places outside this strange company.
Extraction operations in distorted zones.
Places where reality wrinkles, space twists, and time stops flowing.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
I asked as cautiously as possible.
Slightly inclining those massive shoulders that resembled tree branches, he replied.
“…I heard that extraction operations in distorted zones are the responsibility of Extraction Team 3. legend Has something changed?”
The unpleasant memories of that endless corridor resurfaced in my mind.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
My head began to spin.
His voice spread around me like roots.
“Currently, all of Extraction Team 3 has been assigned to Project Wonderland.”
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
Even on that featureless face made of bark, the smile resembled a gentle breeze moving through trees.
I asked with dry lips, but Director Mok merely smiled silently.
Was there no chance at all that I could stay behind?
“Are we all going together?” All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
Without realizing it, I pressed a hand against my forehead.
“Three people will be going. canvas Me, Employee Jeong Haeil, and Supervisor Shik.”
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
I felt my heart sink heavily.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
Then am I the one who has to use my body as a shield?
Even White and Chubby Furball tilted his head and spat out the cookie he was eating.
‘If Supervisor Shik is the attacker and Director Mok is the support specialist…’
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
A smile is the first mask for survival.
I had no guarantee that I would still be alive tomorrow.
I immediately raised my head and put on the best professional smile I could manage.
“Yes, understood, Director.”
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
“I will handle all the preparations. arcade Employee Jeong only needs to come tomorrow without worry.”
After saying that, Director Mok returned to his workstation with an unsettling sound of bark scraping against bark.
But right now, I had to smile.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
My mind was already replaying the unpleasant sensations of the distorted zone.
Come without worry?
That endless gray corridor.
That was practically the same as telling a condemned prisoner to walk cheerfully toward the gallows.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
‘At least I’ll be going with my superiors.’
On the other hand, that meant venturing into a distorted reality alongside monsters.
On one hand, I would have bosses capable of protecting me.
That horrible place that devoured both sanity and physical endurance.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
When I regained a bit of composure, I felt a dull impact against my legs.
“Pant! crystal Pant… pant!”
Just imagining myself walking through that endless corridor with them made my bone pen begin to pulse, the rosary grow warm, and the collar become heavier.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
But I wasn’t in the mood for that right now.
I could have handed him the entire bag while thinking, Maybe I’ll die tomorrow, so eat as much as you want.
White and Chubby Furball was bumping his front paws against my knees.
With cookie crumbs stuck around his mouth, he looked up at me with shining eyes, demanding more.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
Poor guy, but it worked surprisingly well.
The moment I spoke that name, the creature’s front paws froze in midair.
“No. advance If you keep this up, I’m going to tell Supervisor Hong Na-gyeom.”
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
“That’s right. sphere Go get some sleep. portal I also have things to organize if I want to survive tomorrow.”
He seemed to remember the time he ended up rolling around completely tied up.
His fluffy body instantly shrank back, and he began whimpering sadly while lowering his tail.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
I finished the now-lukewarm iced coffee in one gulp. Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates.
The ice had completely melted.
Faced with my firm attitude, the furball shot me one last resentful look before shuffling away with his back drooping, heading toward his containment chamber almost as if he were rolling rather than walking.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
‘Project Wonderland, distorted zones…’
I toyed with the bone pen and the collar in my pocket.
Why was there no one left in the extraction teams except Team 1?
That watered-down taste resembled my fate a little too much.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
I let out a long sigh as I gathered my belongings.
The morning arrived as always.
Outside the office windows, with the workday nearly over, there was nothing but a blanket of absolute darkness stretching into the distance.
***
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
06:45.
Though it wasn’t actually important.
I woke up groggy and turned on my phone screen.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
I washed my face, fixed my hair, and put on a suit over a white shirt.
My physical condition was good.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
As always, the start of the day began in a completely abnormal way.
“Survive one more day.”
After completing the most important preparation for going to work, I opened the front door.
As I adjusted my tie and shoes, I said to myself:
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
“Gruuu… grrr… grooo…”
Director Mok raised his head as his green leaves swayed gently.
Supervisor Shik also seemed happy to see me.
“Ah, you’ve arrived, Employee Jeong Haeil.”
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
He shook his black fur as he approached.
I had to suppress with all my strength the urge to go back inside my apartment.
In one of his hands, he was holding a pair of giant handcuffs whose purpose I preferred not to ask about.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning. avalanche I’ve arrived at work.”
Then I smiled cheerfully and bowed my head to both superiors.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
[Distorted Zone Code B-13]
Deputy Director Mok opened the folder he was holding.
I cautiously stepped closer to check the name of the place we would be heading to today. Read original high-quality translation at indratranslations.com.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
Classification: Grade B
Name: Gangsol Prison
Special Notes: Level 1 Control Zone of the Anomalous Disaster Management Department
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
Without realizing it, I narrowed my eyes.
My eyebrows instinctively furrowed.
‘A prison?’
“Today we will be heading to Gangsol Prison.”
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
In a calm voice, Director Mok continued.
“It was originally a real correctional facility located in Gangwon-do. aspect However, eight years ago, a sudden anomalous phenomenon occurred, resulting in the complete massacre of everyone inside. auction It has since been entirely contaminated and transformed into an erosion-type distorted zone, making it impossible to analyze its structure through conventional methods.”
‘The name alone already bothers me.’
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
I needed to start understanding these things.
My probation period was coming to an end.
After reflecting for a few seconds on what I had just heard, I asked cautiously.
Although the words were Korean, it felt like he was speaking another language.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
“Yes. acquire Hallways do not lead back to the same place, and doors continuously change. alpha The very concept of location is unstable, and sectors appear or disappear depending on perception and observation. anxiety Even if you believe you have passed through a room, that room may cease to exist forever.”
“If you say its structure is impossible to analyze… does that mean the routes constantly change?”
Internally, I thought:
Outwardly, I nodded attentively.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
Director Mok’s tone remained as polite as ever.
“This mission is not a conventional dimensional entity extraction.”
‘We’re screwed.’
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
But every word sent chills down my spine.
“…Then what are we extracting?”
“Gangsol Prison houses numerous unidentified dimensional entities, but our objective is not to extract energy from them.”
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
“The primary objective is to absorb the erosion waves emitted by the distorted zone itself.”
“This is the Erosion Extractor we will be using today. aluminum It is a portable device rather than a fixed installation. advance Operators must enter the distorted zone carrying the equipment and collect the structural erosion of the contaminated space.”
Turning to the next page of the file, he pointed with one of his branch-like fingers toward a briefcase sitting in the center of the office.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
They resembled flashlights.
With a low growl, Supervisor Shik opened the briefcase.
And a strange whitish mist slowly drifted from their tips.
Inside were three metallic devices barely larger than the palm of a hand.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
“This equipment refines and extracts in real time the invisible spectra emitted by the space itself. alien The problem is that, over time, the dimensional entities within the distorted zone begin to detect and pursue those who are damaging their territory.”
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
“Exactly.”
“…That means the longer we stay there, the greater our chances of dying.”
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
I remained silent. This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com.
Director Mok smiled kindly.
“Therefore, today’s objective is simple. atomic Enter the designated location, endure until the extractor is completely full, and escape.”
At this point, the phrase extraction work was little more than an endurance competition.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
Deputy Director Mok’s words made my eyes widen instantly.
“We will enter through the main gate.”
The difference was that this competition had no prize and no award ceremony—only death.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
“…The main gate?”
The question lingered in my mind, but never left my mouth.
‘Are either of those options actually good?’
“Yes. legend Gangsol Prison recognizes everyone who enters as prisoners. agent That is precisely why we must enter through the main gate. afford If we do not, the ‘prison guards’ inside will recognize us not as prisoners, but as intruders.”
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
I nodded unconsciously.
Supervisor Shik interjected while remaining hunched over.
“Even to avoid suspicion, it is more favorable for survival to accept, as much as possible, the role of a prisoner.”
“Grrr… grrrk… gruaaah… geurk… grooo…”
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
And on top of that, a prison contaminated by anomalous phenomena.
Going to work in a prison?
The truth was, it didn’t seem important what Supervisor Shik had said.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
As I mentally recited a litany composed entirely of insults, Director Mok spoke as if he had heard my thoughts.
“I see.”
“We are nothing more than parasites feeding on that repetition.”
“Guilt and responsibility. artist Punishment and purification. atom This place still repeats those concepts.”
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
He added the sentence in a calm, damp tone.
I smiled.
“There should be no problems returning alive.”
Quite cheerfully.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
There was no time to prepare mentally.
“Yes. avalanche I’ll do my best.”
And replied firmly,
***
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
By the time we reached the elevator, I already had the face mask in my hands.
I followed Director Mok and Supervisor Shik out of the office and down the hallway.
Beneath the corridor lights, the sound of our footsteps stretched out stickily, as though it were made of melted plastic.
As always.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
No floors.
This time, there were no buttons either.
The doors opened, and the three of us entered together.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
I didn’t even know where we were going.
I didn’t know whether we were descending, ascending, or remaining still.
No direction.
There was only the sensation of movement.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
After a long while, the doors opened.
Time sliding silently by without a single mechanical sound.
The moment I looked up, the landscape before me was not real.
Or rather, it was a reality that had abandoned memory.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
A deep, sticky red.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
There was no sun and no clouds, yet a crimson light spread everywhere, as if someone had spilled blood across the heavens. Indra Translations protects the hard work of translators and authors.
The sky was red.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
Collapsed metal fences.
Twisted steel structures.
[Gangsol Prison]
And at the center of it all.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
A scar driven into the middle of the wasteland.
The outer walls were blackened, as though marked by some ancient punishment.
Every window was shattered.
As if testifying to forgotten crimes, a gray concrete ruin rose unevenly into the air.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
[NO TRESPASSING]
And in faded red letters, it still read:
A collapsed sign hung above a deformed metal gate.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
And silence before the entrance.
Dust-laden wind crawling across the ground.
I read those words several times.
An empty horizon.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
It was a scene as strange as it was absurd.
Stems covered in green leaves emerged from his body and adjusted the valves of the cylindrical device.
As if nothing were unusual, Director Mok was already taking out the extraction equipment.
Not with his hands.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
It was the pill created by the Universal Employee Benefits Machine using Supervisor Hong Na-gyeom’s money and my blood.
I pulled a small white pill from my pocket and showed it to him.
“The equipment is in optimal condition.”
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
“Director, may I ask a question before we go in? palette I received this from the Universal Employee Benefits Machine, but… I don’t know what it’s for.”
Suddenly, I thought that perhaps Director Mok might know something about it.
Since I only had one, I couldn’t simply swallow it to test its effects, so I had kept it until now.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
I couldn’t simply take it to find out what it did.
In the case of the collar, its purpose had been obvious because it displayed colors intuitively, making it extremely useful when dealing with dimensional entities.
But the pill was different.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
The dozens of moist green eyes hidden among the knots in the wood swept across the pill resting in my palm.
Director Mok slowly turned his head.
“Oh… I see they granted you a Mental Contamination Purifier.”
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
When I repeated the phrase, Deputy Director Mok’s leaves rustled softly.
I tilted my head slightly while staring at the pill in my hand.
“A Mental… Contamination Purifier?”
“In distorted zones such as this one, the boundaries of the self tend to become blurred. afford Of course, we are carrying several company prototypes, so it should not become a serious problem. amber However, if your cognitive system becomes distorted, if you begin seeing things that do not exist, or if you fall into a state of contamination where you lose your own identity, then swallow it. alien It will forcibly reset your mind.”
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
‘I’ve already experienced it with Nameless and with The Portrait of a Dismantled God.’
I more or less understood the concept.
Mental contamination.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
Or perhaps it had anticipated that I would eventually be assigned to a mission inside a distorted zone?
Had it predicted that my mind would gradually become contaminated while dealing with dimensional entities?
The Universal Employee Benefits Machine granted whatever the user needed most.
But at least for now, it didn’t seem like something I needed.
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
At my response, Director Mok’s numerous pupils watched me for a few moments with unusual intensity.
“…Understood. sphere I’ll use it if it becomes necessary.”
Without thinking too much about it, I tucked the pill into the bottom of my shirt pocket.
‘It feels more like something it gave me for a future emergency.’
Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 40: Gangsol Prison (1) by Indra Translations.
“If preparations are complete, we will proceed with entry.”
But soon he looked away and extended his stems toward the ruined main entrance of the prison.
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