There Are No Humans in the Monster Company — Chapter 42: Gangsol Prison (3)

Chapter 42: Gangsol Prison (3)

Without‌ a doubt, everything‌‌ had gone relatively well.

Or⁠‌ at least, that‌⁠‌ was what I believed.

Even‌‌ those endless corridors‍ eventually had an‌ end if one‍ kept walking long⁠ enough.

And⁠ at the end‍‍ of those corridors‍⁠⁠ covered in bars, blood, and flesh,⁠‍ there was a door.

And‍ when we opened‌⁠⁠ it, we found⁠ a completely different⁠‍ space.

‘A‌ forced labor workshop?’‍

Probably.⁠⁠‌

There‌ were old lockers‍ lined up against‍‌ the walls, broken‌ desks and cabinets,‍‍‌ pieces of old‍‌⁠ machinery, and fragments‍ of rusted metal⁠ larger than the‍⁠ palm of a hand.

And everywhere there was‌ blood, chunks of flesh, severed knees,‌‍ and twisted fingers.‌

Dust had settled over⁠ all that chaos.‍‍⁠

Like‍ someone’s memories.

Remains‍ that had already‌⁠ died, yet still‌ remained there, corroded by erosion.

Director‌ Mok silently took‌ out the extractor⁠ from within his⁠ clothes.

The indicator light on⁠ the device glowed‍‍ a faint red.‍

It‌ was approximately ten‌‌‍ percent full.

“……”‍‍‌

He‌‌ observed the extractor‍ in silence for‍ a few seconds.‍

Then‌‌⁠ he suddenly raised⁠⁠ his head.

And‌‍ his gaze drifted‍‌‌ toward empty space.⁠⁠

I became curious about⁠ what he was‍‌‍ looking at and‍⁠ followed the direction⁠ of his eyes.⁠

But⁠ all I saw‌ was a blood-soaked‌ wall.

The‌‌ wall was stained⁠ a dark red.⁠

And⁠⁠ in one corner,‍‌‍ a piece of‍‌⁠ flesh resembling an ear slowly writhed.‌‍

‘What‍ is he looking‌‍ at?’

Director‍⁠⁠ Mok answered in⁠‍ a low voice.‍‌

“There‌ is someone.”

“……Excuse⁠⁠ me?”

“Besides‍ us. They belong⁠‌ to another organization.‍‌‌ It’s strange. If‌ possible, it would⁠ be better not⁠⁠ to encounter them.”‌

His⁠‍ voice remained calm.‌

But‌‌ the meaning of⁠⁠‌ his words was entirely different.

The⁠‍ fact that there‌ was someone else‍ in this place.‌

That‍ meant the existence‌ of a variable‍‌‌ impossible to control.‌‍

“I‌ will temporarily change‍‌ our route.”

“Yes.”

Director⁠ Mok put the⁠ extractor away once‌ more.

Supervisor‍ Shik tilted his‌‍ head.

And⁠‍⁠ I shrugged while⁠ pretending to maintain⁠‌ a calm expression.‍⁠

Then⁠ the three of us opened the⁠‍ next door.

Creeeeak.‌‍

The‌ heavy iron door⁠ slowly opened.

And‍‌ another dark corridor appeared.

At‌‌ that moment.

“Huh?”‌‍

I froze.

Director‌‌‍ Mok and Supervisor⁠ Shik had disappeared.‌

“……What…?⁠⁠ What the hell…?”‍‍

I was alone.

Completely⁠⁠ alone.

With‌‍ a certainty so‍‍ absolute it was‍⁠ unbearable.

The‌ door was closed.‌‍

No.‌

It‍‍ wasn’t even closed.‌

It‌‌ had disappeared.

The⁠⁠⁠ door we had‌‌ just entered through⁠ had vanished without‍ a trace.

In‍ its place, there‍ was only a dead-end wall.

‘Fuck.’⁠

The⁠ smell of decay⁠⁠‍ saturated the air.‍

The‌‌ floor was covered⁠ with dried remains‌ of flesh.

Barred⁠ cells stretched along⁠ both sides of‍ the corridor.

And⁠⁠‌ grotesque voices continued‌‍ leaking from within‌ them.

The⁠⁠ structure was similar⁠ to that of‌⁠ the previous hallway.⁠⁠

But the lighting here‌⁠ was much dimmer.‌

“……Kill me…… kill me……⁠ kill meee……”

“PleasesavememomanddadarewaitingformeI’mnotaprisonerItoldyouIwasjustgoingtoschoolImissyoumomhelpmedad”‍

“Hihihihihihihihi……”‍‍

I swallowed again.

My‍ stomach felt unsettled.‌‍‍

Neither‍ the pulse of⁠ the bone pen‌‍ nor the warmth‍‍ of the rosary‌ were of much help.

My‌ survival instinct kept‌‍ hammering at my‌⁠ mind.

‘I’m alone.’

This‍‍ was bad.

This was not a place where someone⁠ could be alone.

I could not be‍‍‌ here without Director‍⁠‌ Mok or Supervisor⁠‌‌ Shik.

By‍ myself, I could do nothing.

— You are trash.

That⁠⁠ was when it‌‌ happened.

Thunk.‌

Thunk.⁠⁠⁠

I heard it.

Somewhere‍⁠ in the corridor.⁠

The‍ sound of metal⁠⁠ boots striking the floor.

Slow,‍ steady footsteps.

Thunk.⁠‌‌

Thunk.⁠

It‌ was a prison guard.

Thunk.

Thunk.⁠

The‍‌ sound was approaching.⁠⁠⁠

Slowly.‌

But⁠ without stopping.

It was coming directly‌⁠ toward me.

‘An‌ escape route?’

The‌ corridor was completely‌‌ straight.

A kind of endless‌ dead-end passage.

The‍ door I had‍⁠ entered through no‍‌ longer existed.

And‍ from the opposite‌ end, a prison⁠‌⁠ guard was slowly‌ advancing.

I literally had nowhere‌ to go.

‘…Damn‌‌ it.’

The moment I inhaled,‍ the footsteps stopped.‌

The‍‍ guard had detected‍ my presence.

I looked around.

Cells‌⁠ to the left‍ and right.

Indescribable things stirred behind‍ the bars.

In‍‌‍ one of them‍‌ was a tongue‍ as long as⁠ a person.

In⁠⁠⁠ another, an armless⁠ man repeatedly slammed‌‍ his head against‍‍‌ the wall while‌ chanting over and‍ over.

“Open‍ it. Open it. Open it.”

“……Ah.”

Which‌‍‍ of these cells‌‍‍ could I hide‌‌ in?

The‌‌ answer was simple.‍⁠

None‍⁠⁠ of them.

The‍⁠ exit had disappeared.⁠

And‌ escape was impossible.‌⁠

‘Then‌‌ there’s only one‍ option left.’

I lowered my gaze⁠⁠ to the corridor‌⁠⁠ floor.

Countless⁠ corpses were piled⁠ on top of‍ one another.

Flesh.⁠

Blood.‍

Entrails.‌

Skin.‍⁠

Bones.‌‍⁠

Rotting⁠‍ remains stuck to the floor.

I bit my lip⁠‍‍ and stretched out⁠‌⁠ my hand.

I no longer had⁠ time to think.‍‍

I gathered handfuls of‌⁠‌ flesh and human⁠⁠ remains and threw‌‌ them over my body.

Then⁠‌ I buried myself⁠⁠ within that pile.‍⁠

An‍‌⁠ unimaginable stench pierced⁠ my lungs.

It⁠⁠⁠ was not simply‌‌ the smell of‍ flesh and blood.⁠⁠‌

It‍ was like being⁠‍ swallowed by a solidified mass of‍‍‍ suffering and terror.‍

I buried my face in the blood.⁠⁠⁠

Twisted⁠⁠‌ my body until‍ it matched the posture of a corpse.

Bent‌ my arms as though they were⁠‌ broken.

And‍ forced one leg‌⁠ into a crooked angle.

‘It‌‍ has to believe‍‍ I’m dead.’

I even eliminated the⁠ sound of my‌ breathing.

The⁠ effort of keeping‌ my chest from⁠ moving sent cold‌‌‍ sweat running down⁠ my back.

Thunk.‍

The‍⁠ guard’s footsteps echoed at the end‌ of the corridor.⁠‌⁠

Thunk.‌‍

Thunk.‍

Thunk.⁠⁠

“……”‍‌

I held my breath.‍

It‍ felt like my⁠ brain was about⁠ to explode.

Thunk.⁠‌

Thunk.‌‍

The‌⁠ footsteps stopped.

‘It’s⁠‌ right in front‌‌ of me.’

I felt a damp‍‌ breath.

The‌ guard stood motionless‍ beside me for⁠⁠‍ several seconds.

Then‌‍ it slowly turned around.

And⁠‍ then.

Thunk.‍⁠‌

Thunk.

It⁠ started walking again.‌‍

My⁠ lips moved almost‍ imperceptibly.

I opened my eyes‍ and slightly turned‌⁠ my head.

I could see the⁠⁠ guard’s back.

The⁠‌ monster continued walking⁠‍ calmly down the‍‌‍ corridor.

And⁠ when it seemed like it was‌ about to collide‌‌ with the wall,‍‌ the wall simply⁠‍ absorbed it.

Thunk.‍

Thunk.

Thunk.‌

The sound gradually faded‍‍‌ away.

Even‌‍ then, I did‌ not move.

My⁠ entire body was‌‌⁠ covered in blood‍ and chunks of‍⁠ flesh.

And‌‍ it was not⁠ pain that was‍ suffocating me.

It⁠ was disgust.

‘Did‌ it leave…?’

I slowly sat up‌‍ from the bloody‍‍⁠ mass.

Rotten⁠ blood dripped from‌ my body.

I was so covered‍ in blood and⁠‍ human remains that‌ I looked like‌‌ a living corpse.

The⁠ metallic stench of‍ blood had adhered‍‌‌ to me like‌⁠‌ a nauseating layer, and within it,⁠‍⁠ I carefully tried⁠ to catch my⁠⁠ breath.

‘Good. If I stay‍ still a little‌‍ longer and then⁠ move…’

From‍ somewhere in the⁠‌ hallway came the‌ creak of a door opening.

Someone.‍

Or something.

Had‌‍ appeared again.

Just‍‌ as I was⁠⁠ about to throw‍ myself back onto‌‍⁠ the floor and‌ pretend to be‌‍ dead, I heard‌‍ a voice.

“Uh…⁠ excuse me… is‌‌ someone there?”

My⁠ heart jumped.

And⁠ at the same⁠ time, I thought‌ only one thing.‍

Could‌ prison guards talk?‍⁠

And‍‌‌ with such a young voice, at‍⁠ that?

Instinctively,‌ I lowered myself‌⁠ and hid among⁠⁠ the corpses again.‍

As‍⁠⁠ I did, I replayed that youthful⁠‌⁠ voice still echoing‍‌⁠ in my ears.‍

“Is…‍ is someone there…?”‌

It‍‍⁠ was obvious.

The‍ voice of a teenage boy, probably‍‌ between fifteen and‍ eighteen years old.⁠

I slowly raised my⁠⁠ head.

And‍ then, at the‍‍ end of the⁠ corridor, around a bent corner, a boy appeared.

A short school uniform‌⁠⁠ jacket.

The‌‍ tattered remains of‌⁠‍ a torn shirt.⁠

Bloodstained‍‌ pants and sneakers.⁠

And‍‍ in his left‌ hand, he tightly⁠ gripped a small⁠‍‌ metal pipe he‍‍ had probably picked‍⁠ up somewhere.

He⁠⁠ was too young.‌‌‌

‘…A‍‍ student. Middle school‍ or high school?’‍⁠

More⁠ specifically, he looked‍ like a dying‍⁠ high school student.‌

His‌ bloodied face was‌ covered in bruises.‍⁠

His⁠ left eye was‌ so swollen he‍‍ could barely open‌ it.

And one of his⁠‌⁠ knees appeared twisted.‍

Then‌‍ our eyes met.‍‌‍

“Ah…‌⁠⁠ I…”

“……”‍⁠

“I…‌ I was just⁠‌‍ on my way‍‌‌ to school and…‌ when I woke‍⁠ up… I was‌ here…”

His‍⁠ voice cracked.

It‍ was the voice‍ of a terrified⁠⁠ child struggling not⁠ to cry.

I had risen from⁠‍ among the corpses‍‍ covered in blood.⁠

And⁠ upon seeing me,‍ the boy stumbled⁠‌‌ backward in shock.‍⁠

“Ah-ah!⁠⁠ I’m sorry! I’m‌‌⁠ so sorry! Sorry‌‍‌ for talking to you for no‌ reason!”

“……”‍⁠

I slowly opened my⁠ mouth.

“What’s⁠‌ your name?”

The‍ boy pressed his‍ lips together.

After‍ hesitating for several‌ seconds, he answered‌‌⁠ in a low⁠ voice.

“…Lee⁠ Seong-hoon.”

“What’s⁠ the last thing‌⁠⁠ you remember?”

“Huh?”‌

“I’m‍⁠ asking how you⁠‌ got here.”

At‌ my words, Lee‍ Seong-hoon flinched and‍‍ began stammering.

“I‍‍ just… uh… I was in the‍‍ library. I was‌‍ going to the bathroom and then‌⁠ I saw a strange hallway…”

“And‍ then?”

“I‍‌ think I passed‍⁠ out for a moment. When I woke up… I was here…”

My‌ mind began to‌‍ work.

‘He’s⁠ a completely normal‌ civilian.’

If the Anomalous Disaster‍ Management Department existed‌ to rescue civilians⁠‍ in disasters like⁠⁠ this, they probably‍ had protocols for‍⁠ situations like these.‌⁠

But I was nothing‌ more than a rookie employee at⁠ an absurd company‍⁠ infested with monsters.‌⁠

“Tell‌‌ me how long‌⁠ you’ve been here.”⁠‍

“I‍‌‌ DON’T KNOW! I really don’t know!⁠ I think I saw the sun⁠ rise several times, but… maybe that⁠‌ was a dream‌ too…”

That‍ was when something caught my attention.‌

Something‍ visible beneath the‍‌ collar of his‌ clothes.

An⁠ obvious wound on‌‌ the back of‌ his neck.

Perhaps⁠‌ he had been‍ attacked by a prison guard.

The⁠‌ blood was still fresh and had‍‌ not yet dried.‍‌

When I saw it,‌ I closed my⁠ mouth.

The‍ boy was still trembling.

He⁠⁠ could barely remain‌ standing and leaned⁠‌ against the wall.‌

His‍ eyes constantly shifted‌‌ between distrust and⁠ hope as he‍‍ looked at me.‍

Depending⁠ on what I did now, he‍ might live or‌‌⁠ die.

‘I‌ can barely take⁠ care of myself…’⁠‍

But I still had‌ not fully adapted‍‍ to this company’s⁠⁠ madness to the point where I could ignore such⁠‌‍ a desperate look.‍‌⁠

Maybe‌ it was also‌‌ because I was⁠‍ afraid of being‍⁠ alone myself.

I sighed silently and⁠⁠ cautiously extended a hand.

“…My‍ name is Jeong⁠‌ Haeil. There are⁠⁠ people I know‌ in here. If⁠ we can find‍ them, we can⁠ get out together.”⁠

At‍ that moment, his⁠ pupils widened.

He‌ said nothing.

But I could read it clearly.

The‍‌ emotion of having‍‍ survived.

As‍⁠‍ I looked at‍⁠ that mixture of‌⁠ terror and relief‌ in his eyes,⁠‍ I realized something.

It⁠ was the first time I had‍ seen a genuinely‌⁠ human emotion inside‍ this hellish prison.‍⁠⁠

“A-are you… a real⁠ person?”

“Yes.⁠⁠‌ Probably.”

“Huh…?”⁠⁠

The‌‌ boy was acting‍⁠ exactly the way‍‌ I had when‍‌ I first entered⁠‌ the company.

Without‍ saying anything, I placed a hand⁠‌ on his shoulder.⁠

He⁠‌ was trembling so⁠⁠⁠ badly that he seemed unable to‌ control his knees.⁠

At‍ first, he had⁠ looked at me‌⁠ as though he‍‍ had found salvation.⁠

And⁠ now he was‍‌ looking at me as though begging⁠ for help.

‘I‌⁠⁠ can’t even protect myself, and now⁠ I have to‌‍⁠ carry a kid along.’

The‍‍ sticky blood and‍ entrails were still⁠ covering me.

Prison guards could appear‌‍ at any moment.

And‌⁠ above all, we‌‌ were still inside‍ a distorted zone.⁠⁠‍

A place where even‌ standing still to‍‍ survive could become⁠ a crime.

Even‍ so, I tried‍ to wear the‌ calmest expression possible‌ to reassure him.‍

“It’s‌ alright. We’re still‍‍‌ okay. If you‌‍⁠ just stick close‌‌ to me, you⁠ might not die.”‍

“…Really?”‍‍⁠

“I‍ said you can‍‌⁠ survive. I don’t⁠‍ know under what‌ conditions, but you⁠ can.”

I tried to soften⁠‌ my words.

And apparently, it worked.⁠⁠

Trembling,⁠ Lee Seong-hoon nodded‌ beside me.

I could hear him‍ suppressing a sob.‍‌‍

We‍⁠ began walking down‍ the corridor again.⁠

The‍ flesh still covered⁠ the floor.

The⁠⁠ screams still clung‍ to the walls like stains.

Whispers⁠ and cries continued‌ leaking from the⁠‌ cells.

But⁠ I ignored them.⁠‌

And‍ Lee Seong-hoon, terrified,‌ did not speak‍ again either.

I turned my gaze‌ toward the cells.⁠

Closed‍ iron doors.

Darkness‍‍ from which grotesque sounds emerged.

And⁠ a concentrated smell‍ of blood.

Without‍‍ saying anything, I looked at Lee⁠ Seong-hoon again.

“Hyung…”‍‍

I slightly turned my⁠‌ head.

“Takemewithyoutakemewithyoutakemewithyouyoucomeintooyoucomeintooyoucomeintoo”‌

“Thatdaytheteachersaidwewereallsinnersandhesaidwehadtobepunishedandhesaidwewouldallcontinuetobesinnersuntilthesaviorwhodevourstheworldarrived”‍‍‌

“LetusreceivesalvationandgotoheavenwewillgototheheavenofthesavedtheGreatBeingwilldevourusall”‌‍‍

The⁠ grotesque voices continued⁠ flowing endlessly.

I let out a sigh and spoke‌ in a low‌ voice.

“Ignore‌‌⁠ them.”

“…Huh?”‍

“They’re‍ probably beings being‍⁠ eroded by Gangsol‍‍‌ Prison. We’re not.‍‌‍ I can’t do⁠‍ anything for them.”

It⁠ was ironic.

The‌ very same words‌‌ Director Mok had‍ told me a short while ago⁠‍ were now the‍‌ words I was‍⁠ repeating.

Lee‌ Seong-hoon hesitated for‌‍ several seconds as⁠⁠⁠ he looked at‍‌ the countless cells‌‍ stretching out on⁠⁠⁠ both sides.

Then‍ he looked back‌ at me.

“It‌‌ doesn’t matter who’s⁠ in there. It’s⁠‍ not our concern.”‌

My⁠⁠ tone was firm.‍‍

Lee‍ Seong-hoon chewed on‌‌ his lips for‍ several seconds and‌ then lowered his‌⁠‍ head.

Finally,⁠‍ he spoke cautiously.⁠

“…Understood,‍ hyung. Thank you.”‍⁠

I did not respond.‌‍

But‍ for some reason, the sticky sensation‍ beneath my feet‍⁠ became a little⁠⁠⁠ more bearable.

We continued moving down⁠ the corridor.

And‌⁠ after who knows how long…

At⁠‌‌ the end of‍‍ that hallway covered‌ in viscous darkness,⁠‌ a fork in‌ the path appeared.⁠

It‌⁠ looked like the⁠‌ enormous open mouth⁠ of some gigantic‍⁠ creature.

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Chapter 42: Gangsol Prison (3)

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