There Are No Humans in the Monster Company — Chapter 44: Gangsol Prison (4)

Chapter 44: Gangsol Prison (4)

Silence.⁠

Min⁠ Do-hyeon’s expression twisted‌⁠ slightly.

The short-haired woman beside‍ him instinctively took‍‍ a step back⁠ and lowered her‍ center of gravity.‍⁠

She⁠ kept her hands⁠ close to her⁠ pockets, in a stance that allowed‍‌ her to spring‌‌ into action at any moment.

“…Excuse‌‍ me?”

Min Do-hyeon asked with‌‍ a bewildered expression.‍‍

I narrowed my eyes⁠ and lowered my voice.

“Jeong‍ Haeil, Control Team⁠ of the Anomalous Disaster Management Department.”‌‍

I slowly took a step forward.

The⁠‌‍ sound of my‌ shoes crushing the⁠⁠ sticky pool of‌‌⁠ blood echoed clearly.‍

Behind⁠⁠ me, Lee Seong-hoon inhaled nervously as‍‍ he tightly gripped‍‌ the edge of my clothing.

Of⁠‌ course, it was‌ all a bluff.⁠

But⁠‍ they didn’t know⁠‌ that.

“I‌ would appreciate it if you could⁠⁠ provide your affiliation⁠‌‌ and identity.”

Silence⁠ fell once more.

Min‌ Do-hyeon opened his⁠‌ mouth and then‍‌ closed it again.‌⁠‌

The woman continued watching⁠ every movement of‍ my hands and‍ feet.

As‌⁠‌ for me, I was reading every⁠‌ tiny tremor in‍ their fingers, feet,⁠ and lips.

In‍⁠⁠ a battle of⁠ information, the winner‍‍‌ is always the‍‌‍ one who can‍‍ tell a lie‌‍ as though it were the truth.⁠

“…Well,‍‌ you see…”

Min‌⁠ Do-hyeon smiled while⁠ scratching his head.

The⁠ corner of his‍ lips twitched awkwardly.‌‍

It⁠‍ was time for⁠⁠‌ excuses.

I kept my mouth shut and waited‍ for his reaction.‌⁠‌

“…The⁠‍‍ truth is…”

“That’s‌ enough.”

The‌ woman quickly covered⁠‌ his mouth.

Absolute‌ control, without the⁠‌ slightest hesitation.

Min‍‍ Do-hyeon looked at‌⁠ her in surprise.⁠‌

“Hyun-yu,⁠ it’s okay. They’re also…”

“Be‌⁠ quiet. I’ll decide‌ this time.”

A firm attitude.

She didn’t need to⁠⁠ raise her voice to exert pressure.‍

I turned my gaze⁠ toward her.

The‌ sweat running beneath⁠ her short hair‍‌ glimmered faintly.

She‌ was around one‌‍ hundred eighty centimeters‍⁠‍ tall.

Even⁠‍ beneath her athletic clothing, it was⁠ impossible to hide‍⁠⁠ her muscular and‍ solid physique.

A body like that‌ was a weapon⁠‌‍ in itself, even‌⁠⁠ without carrying one.⁠‍⁠

‘Military? Police? No. Her‍ movements are different. They have something‌ wilder about them.’⁠

It‌ was a functional body, shaped through⁠ the extreme repetition‍⁠ of specific movements.‌

An⁠ athlete?

My‌⁠ gaze dropped toward‍ her lower body.‍

Exceptionally developed thighs.

A highly trained core.⁠‌

“I‌ am Bae Hyun-yu.⁠ If you truly‌ belong to the Anomalous Disaster Management Department, show me‍⁠ your official identification.”‌‌‌

She⁠ extended a hand toward me as‌ she spoke.

The‍ placement of the‌⁠ calluses on the⁠⁠ joints of her‌ middle and ring⁠‍ fingers was unusual.⁠

‘Basketball?‌ Volleyball, perhaps?’

I looked back up‌ at her face.⁠‍

She‍‌⁠ showed no emotion‌ whatsoever.

If⁠ anything, she seemed⁠‌⁠ to be testing⁠⁠ me.

I took a short‍‍ breath and nodded.‌⁠‌

“I‌‍ lost it while⁠ escorting a civilian⁠ during an escape.”‍⁠

A lie wrapped in⁠‌‌ the appearance of⁠‍‌ truth.

When⁠⁠ dealing with people,⁠⁠ my voice can⁠ sound calm and‌‌‌ steady.

I felt Lee Seong-hoon⁠‍ flinch behind me.⁠

But‍‍ a crooked smile‌‍‌ appeared on Bae‍ Hyun-yu’s lips.

“A‍‍ lie. You don’t⁠ carry identification cards.‍‍ You identify yourselves⁠ through armbands.”

“……”⁠

She‍⁠ got me.

Silence‍ fell once again.⁠

Inside‌ my head, the‌ context of all‌ those words flashed‌ by like an‍ electric shock.

‘…She’s‌‍⁠ someone who possesses⁠ information.’

Does⁠ the Anomalous Disaster‍ Management Department use⁠‌⁠ armbands instead of‍ identification cards?

That⁠‍‍ was something even⁠ I didn’t know.⁠‌

When‌ I encountered those‌ two agents in the infinite corridors,⁠‍ I had been⁠ too busy trying‌ to survive to‍‌⁠ notice something like⁠ that.

I slowly lowered my‍ gaze.

‘I’m‍ at a disadvantage.’

Lee‌ Seong-hoon swallowed behind‍ me.

I raised my head‌ and looked at⁠ Min Do-hyeon and‍ Bae Hyun-yu again.‌

“Then…‌ who exactly are‍‌ you?”

The moment I finished asking, Min Do-hyeon‌ spoke again.

Bae‌ Hyun-yu turned her‍ head and frowned⁠‍ slightly to stop‌‌ him, but it‌‍ was already too‌‍ late.

“…We’re from the Erosion‌‍ Alliance.”

Bae Hyun-yu shook her‍‌⁠ head.

But this time she didn’t cover his⁠‍‌ mouth.

She⁠⁠ seemed to have⁠ prepared herself to⁠‍ reveal it sooner‌⁠‌ or later.

I narrowed my eyes.‌

‘The⁠ Erosion Alliance.’

I remembered something Manager‍‍ Moon Ara had⁠ told me.

An‌⁠ organization separate from‍ both the Anomalous‍ Disaster Management Department‍‍ and Limited Company‍‌‌ Where the Dead‌‍⁠ End Up with‍ Ghosts and the Church of the Coming Feast.

An organization formed by‍ unofficial civilians with‍‍ no specialized training.

A group that had‍‌‍ never been registered‌‍ by the government.‌‌

People‌‌ who lacked the‌ power necessary to‍⁠‌ confront anomalous phenomena.‍

Survivors‌‌ who, in places‌ like this prison,⁠ where structures and‌ rules became distorted,⁠⁠ had banded together‌‌ to stay alive.⁠‌

In‍ short, an organization⁠ of people who‍‌‍ adapted to erosion‌‌‍ in order to‍ survive.

“Why‍‌‌ did you hide⁠ it?”

At‌ my question, Min‍ Do-hyeon answered as if he were⁠ in a difficult⁠‍⁠ position.

“Ah,‍ well… you seemed‍ a little dangerous,⁠‍ and then suddenly‌‍ you said you⁠⁠ were from the⁠ Control Team, so…”‌

As he left the⁠ sentence unfinished and⁠‍ scratched his head,‌ Bae Hyun-yu muttered‍‍ briefly.

“It’s even more foolish⁠ to immediately introduce⁠‌ yourself as a member of the‌‍ Erosion Alliance to‌ someone who has⁠ just entered an erosion zone. You‌‌ lied too. You⁠ said you were‌ from the Anomalous‍ Disaster Management Department.”‍⁠

At‌⁠ those words, I had no choice⁠ but to nod.‌‍⁠

“…That’s true.”

And I organized my‍⁠ thoughts again.

The‍‌ Erosion Alliance.

Lee‌‍ Seong-hoon.

And‌‌ the corpses inside the library.

In⁠⁠‍ this situation, the⁠‌ thing I could‌ trust was—

‘Of‌‍ course, absolutely nothing.’‌‍⁠

Bae Hyun-yu immediately continued.‍‌‌

“Then‌‍ what exactly are‌ you? You’re not‍ one of us,‌ you know about⁠ the Anomalous Disaster‌⁠‌ Management Department, but‍ you don’t belong‌‌ to them either,‌ so…”

Bae⁠ Hyun-yu narrowed her‌‍ eyes.

“Limited⁠‌ Company Where the⁠ Dead End Up⁠‌ with Ghosts?”

At‍‍ the same time,⁠ inside the library,⁠‌ in that damp‌‌‌ air mixed with‌ the smell of‌⁠ blood and paper,⁠⁠ the gazes of‍⁠‌ all four people‌⁠ pointed at one‍ another like sharpened‍ blades.

Lee⁠ Seong-hoon, who remained‌ pressed against my‍‌ back, couldn’t endure⁠‍⁠ the strange silence⁠ and spoke in‌ a trembling voice.‍

“T-this…‍⁠ but… if we’re‍⁠‍ all people, doesn’t⁠‍ that mean we don’t need to‍‌ fight each other?”‌⁠‌

“If⁠ you don’t know‍ anything, stay out⁠‌ of it.”

At‌ Bae Hyun-yu’s cold‍ reply, Lee Seong-hoon⁠ flinched and shrank‌‍ back.

He⁠⁠ had spoken without thinking, but even‍‍‍ so, her response⁠‌ was so sharp‌‍‍ that it seemed‌ excessively cruel.

“No,‍ no, Hyun-yu. You⁠ don’t have to⁠‌ go that far…”‌⁠‍

Min‍ Do-hyeon smiled awkwardly‌ to calm her⁠‍ down, then crouched⁠ until he was‌ at Lee Seong-hoon’s‌‌ eye level.

“Buddy.⁠ It’s okay. We’re‍⁠‍ the ones who are too tense.⁠ Try to understand.‍⁠ In a situation like this, anyone⁠⁠ would be on⁠‍ edge.”

“……”‍

“Right⁠‌⁠ now it’s hard to trust anyone,‌ isn’t it? Everyone‌⁠ lies, hides things,‍‌‍ and deceives others…‌‌‌ don’t they?”

A friendly tone.

But⁠ I could sense the hidden intent‍ behind those words.⁠‍⁠

‘That⁠‌‌ guy is good⁠ at making people‌ lower their guard.’⁠

Sometimes,⁠ unnecessary kindness is⁠‍ a form of‌‌ attack designed to make an opponent‌ careless.

I let out a short sigh.

‘I’m‍‌‍ at far too‍‍ much of a disadvantage.’

The Erosion Alliance.

The⁠‍‌ group that Manager‍‍ Moon Ara had‌ mocked and ridiculed‍‌ without end.

And‍‍ yet.

‘They‌ know far more‌‍ than I expected.’‍

They⁠‍ knew the identification‍ methods used by the Anomalous Disaster‍ Management Department.

They⁠ possessed enough information⁠‌‌ to deduce the‌⁠ existence of Limited‍ Company Where the⁠‍ Dead End Up⁠ with Ghosts.

‘Is it possible for‍‍ an unofficial organization‌⁠ to know even⁠ the internal workings‌ of an official institution?’

No.‍⁠

For⁠‌ now, it was‌ still only a hypothesis.

I didn’t know how⁠⁠‍ far their knowledge‍ actually extended.

‘Then‌ my bluff is‌‍ still valid.’

I breathed slowly.

Frowning‌⁠ slightly, I slipped‌‌ a hand into‍ my pocket without saying anything.

Of‌‍ course, I had⁠ nothing in my‍‍ hand.

It⁠ was only a gesture.

And‌ I spoke calmly.

“…I⁠⁠ am currently retired,‌ but it is true that I once belonged to‌‍ the Anomalous Disaster⁠ Management Department.”

A brief silence followed.‍⁠

Amid⁠‌ that silence, I could see both⁠ of their pupils⁠ waver slightly.

“I‍‍ come from the‍‍ Control Team. At‌‍ the moment I have no way‌⁠ to prove my‍⁠ identity, but if‌ we could obtain⁠ some means of⁠ communication, it would⁠‌‍ even be possible‍⁠‌ for the current‍‌ head of the‌ Control Team, Yeom⁠ Hwi, to come‍‌ here himself.”

Min‍ Do-hyeon’s expression changed⁠ slightly at my‍ words.

Even‌⁠ so, it was‌ still impossible to‌⁠ tell what it‌‌‍ meant.

Bae⁠‌ Hyun-yu tilted her head.

“If‍ you belonged to‌‍ the Anomalous Disaster‌⁠‍ Management Department, why‍⁠ did you leave?”

“Because‌‌ of mental health⁠⁠ issues.”

I said it without‌⁠⁠ blinking.

“While⁠⁠ traveling through erosion‍⁠ zones like this⁠‍ one, there were‌‍⁠ colleagues who disappeared,‍‌‍ and I watched‌ my partner get‍⁠ torn apart right⁠⁠ in front of‍⁠ my eyes.”

It‌‌ was a lie.

But‍‌ in a place‍‍ like this, a lie had to‌‌⁠ be capable of⁠ covering the truth.‌

Min⁠‍ Do-hyeon slowly opened⁠‌⁠ his mouth.

“Then‌⁠‍ why did you‍ come back here?‌⁠ You said you‍‌ retired, so why‌⁠ are you in‍⁠ a restricted zone?”‌⁠⁠

“It’s⁠⁠⁠ a personal matter.‌ I can’t go‌‍‌ into details…”

“……”‍

“I‌‍ received a request⁠ from Chief Yeom⁠‌ Hwi. He asked‌‍ whether I could‍‌ help unofficially.”

“……”‍⁠

“I entered temporarily. As⁠⁠ support for the Control Team.”

Another⁠‍‌ lie.

But‌ it was a sufficiently convincing story.⁠

I added nothing more.‍

Silence⁠‍ stimulates the other‍‍ person’s imagination and adds flesh to‌‍ lies.

For⁠‌ a while, nobody⁠ spoke.

Then Bae Hyun-yu asked,‌

“…Don’t‌‌ they usually operate‍⁠ in pairs?”

“I⁠⁠ already told you.‌‍ This is unofficial support.”

I answered quietly.

She‌⁠‍ was probably right‌ about the pair‌ system.

After⁠‌⁠ all, Yeom Hwi⁠‌ and Seo Ryu,‌‍ whom I met‍ in the Infinite‌ Labyrinth, had also‌ been working as‍ a pair.

“And‌‌ what about you?”‌

At‍‌ my question, Min‍ Do-hyeon smiled awkwardly⁠‌ and shrugged.

“We’re‌⁠ conducting a search.”⁠‍

Silence spread once again.‌‌‍

That‍ was when I realized it.

The‌‌‍ tension they were‌ giving off wasn’t⁠‍ simply hostility.

They‌‍‌ were frightened too.

Just‍‍ like me.

They‌ also knew that‌⁠ this library, this‍ prison, and this‌‍ entire space were⁠ an unfamiliar and‍ yet strangely familiar‍ nightmare.

‘I⁠‍ don’t like lying,‌⁠⁠ but…’

Audit Team Director Go‍ Gyeol.

Manager‌‍ Moon Ara.

Supervisor‍ Hong Na-gyeom.

The‌⁠ humans adapted to⁠‌‍ Limited Company Where‍‌ the Dead End‍ Up with Ghosts‌ whom I had‍⁠‍ met.

Rather‌ than revealing that‌ I belonged to the company, it‍‍ was better to‌‌ deceive them.

Creeeak—‍

A strange scraping sound‌‍ came from behind the desk Bae‌‍⁠ Hyun-yu was watching.‌

It‍‌ was far too⁠‌ strange to be merely the creaking⁠‍‍ of a bookshelf.

It‍‍ sounded as though‌ the very seams‌ of space were‌‌ falling out of‌ alignment.

“…Something’s‌ wrong.”

Lee‍‌ Seong-hoon said.

The boy stared at‌ something between the‌ gaps in the bookshelves and suddenly⁠ took a step‌‌ back.

“Hyung,‍ over there… there’s‍‍‌ a path that⁠ wasn’t there before…”⁠⁠‌

I stood up immediately.‌‍

I turned and looked‌⁠ in that direction.‍

The‌‌ place where the⁠⁠ bookshelf had been.‌‌‌

The space that, as far as I remembered, had been‍‍ completely blocked off.‍

Now it was empty.‌

The‌ wall was disappearing.

The‌⁠⁠ bookshelves were coming⁠⁠⁠ apart as though‌‍‍ they were melting.

The‍ structure.

The⁠⁠ shape.

The‍ pathways.

Everything‍ was warping.

“That⁠ was fast.”

Bae⁠ Hyun-yu muttered.

It‌‍ seemed she had⁠ expected it to⁠⁠ some extent.

Without even looking at‍⁠ me, she firmly‍‌ adjusted the strap of her backpack.‍

“We⁠⁠‌ can’t stay in‍ this library much⁠‍ longer. Let’s move‌‍ before it collapses.”‌‌

I nodded.

“Agreed.”⁠

Only‍‍‌ then did Min⁠⁠ Do-hyeon relax his‌ shoulders and agree.‍

“Huff, yeah. Let’s keep⁠‍‌ talking while we‌ move.”

The‌ four of us‌‍‌ stood up at‌‍⁠ the same time.‍

Nobody⁠ gave an order.‌

We‍ simply started walking.‍⁠‍

The‍‌ bookshelves behind us‌ no longer looked⁠‍‍ like walls but‌⁠‌ like cliffs collapsing‍ inward.

I glanced once at‍‌ Lee Seong-hoon.

He‌‌ was still looking‍ around with a startled expression, but⁠‌ at least he⁠⁠ was following us‍‌ properly.

‘For‌ now…’

Without⁠⁠ saying anything, I passed by him⁠‌ and took the‌ lead.

The‌ library exit.

The‍ gate we had‌ entered through had‍‍ changed locations and‍‍ was now there.‍‌

As‍‌ if the library⁠ itself had already‌ decided where to send us.

A gate made of interconnected iron bars.‍‌⁠

The‍⁠ upper half was‍ partially raised, and⁠ beneath it stretched‌ a dark passageway.‍‍

A flickering light shone‌‍ at the far‍ end.

A strange, whitish illumination.⁠

The characteristic screech of ventilation ducts.

We‌ passed through the‌ gate one by‍ one.

“…A‍‌ courtyard?”

Min Do-hyeon was the‌ first to speak.‍‍

We had arrived at‌‍‍ a courtyard.

In⁠ a normal prison, it would have⁠ been the space‍⁠‍ used during the‌⁠ inmates’ allotted recreation⁠‌ hours.

But‌ this place was different.

It⁠‌‍ was an entirely⁠‍‍ new scene.

The‍⁠ basic structure was‌‌ still that of‍‍‍ a realistic courtyard.⁠‍

However,⁠‌ countless impossible things‌‍ were superimposed over⁠‌ it.

Some⁠⁠ kind of distortion‍ warped the outer⁠‌ boundaries of the yard.

The‌ sky was half‍⁠ blackened, as though⁠‌‌ someone had spilled⁠⁠‍ ink across a canvas.

Parts of the tall‍⁠ metal fences had‌ collapsed.

Others‍⁠⁠ stretched unnaturally upward,‌‌ as though twisted⁠ by the hand‌ of an anomalous⁠‌ entity.

The‌ air was saturated with a metallic‌ smell.

At‍ the center of⁠⁠ the courtyard stood‌ a massive structure⁠⁠ made of steel‍⁠ beams.

Mountains⁠‌ of corpses were⁠⁠ piled around it.

At‍ the center of⁠ that structure hung a body with‍ a broken neck,‍‍ swaying slowly like‍‌ a halted pendulum.‍⁠

“Disgusting.”⁠

Bae‌⁠ Hyun-yu held her‌‌ breath.

I slowly narrowed my‌ eyes.

“The‌ situation isn’t good.”‌

“W-why?”⁠

Lee‍ Seong-hoon asked.

I looked directly at⁠ the steel structure and the piles‍‍ of corpses surrounding‍⁠ it.

Something⁠ was moving.

It‌ wasn’t running.

It‌ wasn’t crawling.

It⁠ was watching us.‌

From‍ somewhere.

Without any doubt.

I slowly turned my⁠ head.

Exactly.⁠

The‌‍‌ remains of what‍‌ had once been⁠ a courtyard.

Everything⁠ was open.

Dividing‌ lines that seemed to mark off‌⁠⁠ sectors.

Metal⁠ fences.

Concrete‍‌ walls rising everywhere.‍⁠

Some protruded upward.

Others‌ had sunk into‍ the ground, forming‍ enormous cracks.

‘…How‌ strange.’

As I stepped across‍ the ground beneath my feet, I slowly scanned the surroundings.

This⁠ wasn’t the prison courtyard I had seen when I entered through the‌⁠ main gate.

The‌⁠ structure was different.‌

The‍ layout was different.

The‌‌ distance between the‍‍ buildings in the⁠‍ distance.

The⁠‌ positions of the window frames.

Even‌⁠‍ the direction of the lighting.

“This‌ isn’t the courtyard‍ I know.”

When⁠⁠ I spoke, Bae‍⁠⁠ Hyun-yu gave a brief nod.

“It⁠‌ must have warped.‍ Just like the‌‍⁠ library.”

“It‍⁠ could also be‌‌‍ entirely different coordinates.”‌

Min‌ Do-hyeon murmured.

I was about to reply when I stopped.

Not⁠ because I left the sentence unfinished.‍

But because I heard‍ something.

Clank.‌

A strange sound.

Instinctively,‌ I turned and looked toward its‌‌ source.

In‍ one corner of‌ the courtyard stood⁠‍ a small building‌⁠‍ covered by an‍ iron door.

The⁠ door was slowly⁠⁠ opening, swinging without⁠⁠ any pattern.

The‍‌‌ necklace vibrated softly as it detected‌ a red aura⁠⁠ beyond it.

A shadow.

A presence.

Thump.‌‌

Thump.⁠‍

“Well… they’re here. Run!”‌⁠⁠

The‌‌ moment Bae Hyun-yu‌ finished speaking, those⁠ things emerged from‌ the cloud of‍ dust.

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Chapter 44: Gangsol Prison (4)

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