There Are No Humans in the Monster Company — Chapter 43: Gangsol Prison (4)

Chapter 43: Gangsol Prison (4)

“…Huh?”⁠

Beside‌ me, Lee Seong-hoon‌‌ let out a stunned exclamation.

The‌⁠ corridor on the‌‍‌ left was the‌ same as the‍⁠ ones we had‌ traveled through so‌⁠ far.

A continuation of that‌ hell filled with black rust running‍‍‍ down the walls, crushed chunks of⁠‌⁠ flesh, and dampness⁠‌ mixed with the‍‍‌ smell of blood.‍

However,⁠ the corridor on‌ the right was⁠ so clean that‍ it was unsettling.‍

“Hyung,‍ look… look over⁠⁠‍ there! It’s a normal path!”

Hope‍ lit up Lee⁠ Seong-hoon’s eyes.

As⁠ if drawn by‍‌‍ a magnet, he⁠ tried to take⁠ a step toward‌ the corridor on‍‌ the right.

“Seong-hoon.”‍‍‍

“…Yes?⁠⁠⁠ Hyung, it’s that‍ way! If we‍ go there, maybe⁠ we can get‍ out!”

“Calm‍ down and step⁠‌ back.”

I stopped him with‍ a cold, firm‍‌ voice.

I looked at the⁠‍ corridor on the‌ right.

Fluorescent⁠⁠‌ lights flickering at‌ regular intervals.

A spotless floor.

And‍ an orderly atmosphere.‌‍⁠

It⁠ looked so perfectly⁠ normal that it⁠ made one forget‌ we were inside‍ an eroded distorted‌‍ zone.

But‍ the necklace hanging⁠‍‌ around my neck‌ told a completely‍ different story.

‘…Something‍‍‌ isn’t right.’

The‌‍ pendant hidden beneath‍⁠‌ my shirt began‍ to emit an‌⁠ unpleasant sense of⁠ presence.

Its‌ weight increased.

Pulses and heat seeped⁠‌ through it.

Under‍ the vision it⁠ granted me, that⁠ clean corridor did⁠ not appear as‍‍ a beautiful white‍⁠ color.

It‌‍ was an artificial‍ red.

So⁠‌ faint it seemed⁠‌‌ transparent.

Yet⁠‍ permeated with a chill capable of⁠ wearing down bones.‌‍‌

“H-hyung…‍⁠‌ that place really⁠‌ looks safe… why⁠ are you acting‌‌ like this?”

“When‍‍⁠ something looks that‌ perfect, it usually‍ means there’s an‌ even bigger problem.”‍‍‌

I answered quietly while‌⁠‍ holding the necklace.⁠⁠‌

Lee⁠⁠‍ Seong-hoon looked at⁠⁠‍ me with a frightened expression.

“Think‌⁠ about the prison⁠‌ guards we saw‌‍ earlier. Every corridor⁠‍ we’ve passed through⁠ was filled with⁠ blood, flesh, and⁠⁠ corpses. Because they’re‌‍‍ spaces used by⁠⁠‍ prisoners.”

I pointed at the⁠ obsessively clean corridor.‍‍‌

“But‌ this is too⁠ clean. Too normal.⁠ Too orderly.”

“…And⁠‌⁠ why is that…?”‍

“If‍‌ it’s a space‌‍ maintained that perfectly,‌‌ it means whoever‌‌ manages it must⁠⁠⁠ use it frequently.”

Lee‌ Seong-hoon swallowed and⁠‍ lowered his head.‍⁠‍

The hope that had‍‍ appeared in his‍‍‌ eyes was once again replaced by deep fear.

He‍ looked back at‍ the corridor on‌‌ the left.

That⁠‍ horrible path filled⁠ with pools of‍ blood and the⁠⁠ stench of decay.⁠

“It’d‍‌ be nice if‌‍‌ some sort of‌ rule manual or something showed up,‌ but for now,‍‌ let’s keep moving.”⁠

I smiled bitterly and⁠‍ stepped forward first.‌

The‍ path on the⁠‌ left was still⁠ covered in the‍ yellow warning haze‍⁠⁠ displayed by the‍‌ necklace.

But‌ at least it‍‍‌ was more honest⁠‍ than that deceptively‌ perfect corridor on the right.

In‍‌ this place, the‍ only survival rule‌ I could choose‌ for myself was⁠‍ to trust a familiar mountain of‍⁠ corpses more than‌‌ a beautiful hell.⁠

Behind⁠ me came the‌ trembling footsteps of‍‌ Lee Seong-hoon.

The‍⁠ sound of our‌‍ feet sinking into⁠ the sticky floor‌ echoed loudly.

We‍‌ turned one corner.⁠‌

Then‍‌ another.

And‌‍ another.

For⁠ a long time,⁠ we walked without‍‍ speaking.

Eventually,‍ we practically stopped‌‍ talking altogether.

When‌‍ we breathed, the‌ stench entered our‌‌ lungs.

When‍ we looked away,‍ the figures inside⁠ the cells stared⁠ at us.

Simply⁠ walking felt as‍⁠ though it were⁠ slowly wearing down⁠ our minds.

The‍ air itself seemed‌⁠‌ alive, pressing against‌‌ the backs of⁠⁠⁠ our necks.

The‍‌‍ floor was viscous.‍

And‌‍‌ the sensation of‍‍ our ankles sinking⁠⁠‍ into flesh and⁠ bones repeated itself⁠ over and over again.

“…There‌ are bars.”

Lee‌‌⁠ Seong-hoon finally spoke.‍

At⁠ the end of‌ the corridor stood‍ a single iron⁠⁠ gate embedded in‍ the wall.

Unlike the countless cells‍ we had seen so far, there‌ was no prison‍ behind those bars.⁠‌⁠

Only⁠ darkness.

It was rusted.

And‍ dried bloody handprints remained on it.⁠‌

But we had no⁠‌ other choice.

I grabbed the bars⁠⁠ and slowly opened‍⁠ them.

And⁠⁠ at that moment—‌

The‍ space changed again.‍

The gate we had‍‌ entered through vanished.‍‌

And‌‌‌ before us appeared—‌

“…A library?”

Old‌⁠⁠ bookshelves were arranged‍ at regular intervals.‌⁠

It‌⁠ was a small‌⁠ library.

Perhaps⁠‌ one belonging to‍‍ a middle school.⁠

Or‌ maybe a high‍ school.

Most‍‍‌ of the bookshelves‌ had collapsed.

The⁠⁠ books had been‍ torn out and scattered across the‍ floor.

But there weren’t only‍ books.

Between⁠ the shelves.

On‍‍‌ the chairs.

And‌‌⁠ all over the‌⁠⁠ floor.

There‌ were corpses mutilated⁠ so badly that‌ it was impossible‌⁠ to recognize their⁠ original forms.

The⁠‍ blood had hardened‍‍ around them.

One‌ still slumped over‍ a desk wearing‌‌ glasses.

Another⁠‌⁠ remained frozen in‌ front of a bookshelf with a broken neck.

“This‌‌ place…”

“First,⁠‍‌ let’s rest for‍ a moment.”

I interrupted Lee Seong-hoon.‍‍

“There‌ are no signs⁠ of prison guards.‍‌ At least for⁠ now.”

It‍ looked like a school library.

Or⁠ rather, an imitation‍‌ of one.

A recreation covered in⁠‌ blood and flesh.‍‌

The‌ shelves had collapsed.‌

And‌‌ torn books were mixed with severed arms on the‌‍ floor.

I stayed near the⁠ entrance for several‌‍ seconds, sniffing the‍ air.

Decay.‍

Moisture.‍

Death.

But nothing moved.

It‍‌‌ wasn’t a very⁠⁠⁠ large place.

If a prison guard were nearby, we⁠ would have noticed⁠‌ immediately.

And⁠‍ above all, I wanted to get⁠ away from those‌ unbearable cell corridors‌‌ filled with aberrant‌⁠ voices as quickly‌ as possible.

After⁠ checking the area⁠‌ once more, I walked deeper inside.⁠⁠

I chose a chair‌ and sat down.‌

I brushed away the‍⁠ dust.

Subtly‍ pushed aside some‍ bloodstains.

And⁠ leaned back.

‘It’s⁠‍ ridiculous to feel⁠‍ something like this⁠⁠ in the middle‌ of a field⁠ of corpses.’

But⁠ still.

For the first time⁠⁠ in a long‌‌ while, I felt⁠ the accumulated tension‍ loosen.

Lee‍ Seong-hoon also approached⁠ and sat down cautiously.

He‍ tried to lean against the backrest.‌

Then‌⁠ he noticed the‌ blood smeared across‍ it and flinched.

But‍ even that seemed‌ like a luxury‌⁠ at the moment.‌⁠⁠

“…We’re⁠‍‍ still alive.”

Lee‍ Seong-hoon whispered.

I didn’t turn my⁠⁠⁠ head.

“Hyung…‍⁠ do you really⁠ think we’ll be‍⁠ able to escape‌⁠ like this?”

“To‍‍ try escaping, you⁠ first have to⁠‍ stay alive.”

“I‌ guess that’s true,‌‍ but…”

Lee‍‍ Seong-hoon muttered to‍‌ himself.

“This place is too‌ scary… This isn’t⁠ a dream, right…?”⁠‍

I didn’t answer.

I simply closed my eyes and pretended⁠⁠‍ I hadn’t heard‍ anything.

I also pretended not to hear the‌⁠ words that came next.

“Where‌ are your companions, hyung? Is there⁠ any way to find them?”

“……”

“And‌‌ these books seem‍ really old too…‌⁠ Even though it’s⁠‍ strange, they aren’t organized. It’s different⁠‌ from the corridor‍ earlier, but…”

“……”‌

I didn’t even respond⁠‍ with single-syllable answers.‍‍

I didn’t want to⁠⁠ prolong the conversation.⁠

Beyond‌ my personality, this⁠⁠⁠ was not the‍⁠ time to share‌⁠ emotions through words.⁠‌‌

I was grateful that⁠ he had followed‍ me without breaking‍‌ down in tears.‍‍

But‍ beyond that, it⁠ was something I couldn’t handle.

Even‍‍ so, Lee Seong-hoon‌ spoke again.

“Hyung,⁠⁠‌ that bookshelf over‍‍ there…”

“Seong-hoon.”‍‌

“…Yes?”‍⁠

“Get‌ some rest.”

I heard him hold⁠ his breath.

But⁠ he immediately fell‌ silent again.

I rested my chin‍‍ on one hand‍ and looked around.‌

This prison was alive.‍‌

The spaces changed constantly.‍⁠

The‌⁠⁠ paths distorted themselves‌‍ whenever they had the chance.

Will‌⁠⁠ Director Mok and‌ Supervisor Shik know⁠ that I disappeared?‍

Before‌ opening that door,‍⁠ Director Mok had sensed something.

He⁠ said he felt‍‌ a presence.

He‍ said it was‌⁠ strange.

He⁠‍ even changed our‍‌‌ direction slightly.

Could‍ he detect my‍ location as well?‌

Would‌‍‌ the other two‍ still be together‍ while I was⁠‌⁠ the only one‌⁠‍ separated?

Or‍ had all three⁠ of us been scattered apart?

What⁠ if all of‌‌ us had been‌ separated?

I let out a short sigh and‍ covered my face‌ with both hands.⁠⁠

I rubbed my face‌‍ once.

Then‌⁠⁠ again.

A pulse.

The‍‍ rosary tightened.

‘At‌‌ least it helps‌ reduce useless anxiety.’‍‍‍

The⁠ company’s items were genuinely useful.

In‌⁠⁠ a cold way.⁠

They allowed me to‍⁠‌ maintain only thoughts‍‌ focused on survival.‌

I pulled the extractor‌‌ from my clothes.‍‌

The⁠‍ device, stained with⁠ half-dried blood, rested heavily in my‌⁠ palm.

A red indicator glowed‍ on the front‍‍ panel.

20%.‌

It‌‍ was still not⁠ enough.

‘Even‍ so…’

I tried to put⁠ the extractor away⁠‍‍ again.

At‍ that moment, Lee⁠⁠ Seong-hoon spoke once‍‌‌ more.

“Hyung.”‌

I had told him to rest.

That⁠‌ meant he should‍ stay quiet.

I frowned.

Just‍‍ as I was‍‍ about to turn‍‍ my head, Lee‌ Seong-hoon pointed at⁠ something with a thin, trembling finger.⁠

Without moving my head,⁠ I followed the⁠ direction of his‌ finger with my‌‌ eyes.

‘…What‌‌ is that?’

Between‍ the library shelves.

Behind‍ the shadows.

Two⁠ figures were standing there.

One‍⁠‍ was a sturdy‍‌ man who looked‌ to be in‍‍⁠ his early twenties.‌‍

Beside‌‍ him stood a woman with short‌‌⁠ hair and a physique that did not pale in‍ comparison to the‍ man’s.

Both⁠ appeared human.

Unlike‌⁠ the corpses in‌ the library, they‌‌ were standing on‌⁠ two healthy legs.

They⁠‍ were moving.

They⁠⁠ were alive.

“…Seong-hoon,‍ behind me.”

“Are they people?”

“There‍‌‌ are many things‌‌ that look like people without actually‍‍ being people.”

I slowly stood up.‍

Very‌ slowly.

And‌ focused my attention‍ on those two‍‌ figures.

I didn’t speak to‌⁠ them.

They‌ didn’t say anything⁠‍ either.

A tense silence.

And at the point⁠ where our gazes‌‌ met, a thick⁠ tension flowed, as‌ heavy as the‌ very air of⁠ Gangsol Prison.

The‌ two figures finally came into view.‌‍‌

A man and a woman cautiously peering‌ out from between⁠ the bookshelves.

The‌ man looked to‍‌ be in his early twenties.

He‌ was tall and‌‍‍ wore sportswear covered‌‌ in blood.

He‌⁠‍ carried a backpack‌ on his back.‍‍

The‍ woman was slightly⁠‍‌ shorter.

But‍ her gaze was sharp.

She‍ had short hair⁠ and wore dark‌⁠ athletic clothing.

And‌‍‌ she watched in‍ my direction with‌ empty hands.

Instinctively,⁠‍ I lowered my‌‍ body.

I sensed movement behind⁠⁠ me.

It‍ was Lee Seong-hoon.‌‍‌

Without‍‍ making a sound⁠ or revealing his⁠ presence, he hid⁠ behind my back.‍

“Don’t⁠‌ move.”

I muttered quietly as‍‌ I lowered one‍‌‌ knee to the‍ floor to maintain‍ my balance.

My‌‌‍ hand naturally slid‍⁠⁠ inside my clothes.

The⁠‍‌ cold surface of⁠ the bone pen⁠‍ touched my fingers.‍

I didn’t have a proper weapon for‌⁠ subduing someone.

But‍ I also didn’t⁠⁠ want them to⁠ discover that I was practically unarmed⁠ in the middle⁠⁠‍ of this hell.⁠

Who‌‌ were they?

First,‍⁠ I needed to⁠⁠‍ understand the situation.‌

Then—‍‍‍

“Oh,‍ wow, you scared us! It’s okay, it’s okay. Relax.”‍

The‍ man slowly raised‍ both hands and⁠ spoke with a smile.

A carefree voice.

Cheerful.

Far‍‍ too light for⁠ a situation like‌ this.

“We’re…‌‍ uh… from the‌ Anomalous Disaster Management⁠‌ Department. We’re from‍‍‍ the Control Team!‍ You know us,‌ right? The Control Team! We’ve come‌ to rescue you.”‍

The‌ Anomalous Disaster Management⁠ Department?

That‌⁠ unexpected name momentarily‍ took my breath‌‍ away.

As‌‍‍ he casually looked around the blood-covered‌‌ library, he continued⁠‍ speaking.

“My⁠‌‌ name is Agent‌‌ Min Do-hyeon. Wow,‌ this place is‌ really terrifying, isn’t⁠ it? Honestly, even‌ horror games don’t⁠ go this far.‍ Are you two⁠ okay?”

Instead‌ of answering, I narrowed my eyes.‌

I felt the strange⁠⁠‌ pulse of the necklace beneath my‍‌ shirt.

‘How‌ strange.’

That‍ man who claimed‍ to be Min‍‍ Do-hyeon.

And‍ he said he⁠ belonged to the⁠‍ Anomalous Disaster Management‍ Department?

“A‌‍ rescue agent?”

“Exactly!‍ We arrived a bit late, didn’t‌‍ we? The paths‍ kept changing, so‍ it took us‌‍‍ quite a while.⁠ Ah, and we‌ have some food⁠ in the backpack,‍ first-aid supplies, and⁠⁠ a few tools. Not much, but⁠ you’ll be safe if you come⁠ with us.”

He‌ continued speaking completely‍‍ naturally.

But⁠ I was more‌‌⁠ focused on his‍ appearance than his‌ words.

He‌ wore black high-mobility⁠ tactical clothing.

And⁠ athletic shoes.

He‍⁠ looked nothing like‍ the agents of⁠‌ the Anomalous Disaster‍‍ Management Department I had seen before‌ in the endless‍ corridors.

Both‍⁠ Yeom Hwi and⁠ Seo Ryu had⁠⁠⁠ worn elegant formal⁠ suits and dress⁠ shoes, as though‌ attending a funeral.‍

And‌⁠ on top of‌ that, he was‌⁠ supposedly an agent‍‌⁠ exploring a distorted zone.

Yet‌ all he carried was a knife‍‍‌ and an expandable⁠⁠ baton.

‘He‌‍⁠ doesn’t have a firearm.’

No‌‌ matter how I looked at him,‍‍ he was completely‍ different from the⁠‌‍ genuine agents of‌ the Anomalous Disaster⁠ Management Department I had seen before.‍

I slowly turned my‌ head and looked‍‌ at my own‍ clothes.

Even‌‌ though they were‌⁠ a mess from‍‌ blood and chunks of flesh, I was still wearing⁠⁠ a suit.

It⁠‌ was worth taking‍ the gamble.

I needed to confirm⁠‌⁠ the truth before⁠ deciding how to‌⁠‍ deal with them.‌‍

“Really?‌ I don’t remember⁠ seeing you before.”

“Huh?”‍

“…Because‌‍ I belong to‍ the Anomalous Disaster‍ Management Department.”

For⁠⁠ a fraction of⁠ a second, the‌⁠ other person’s eyes‌‌ wavered in a strange way.