There Are No Humans in the Monster Company — Chapter 45: Gangsol Prison (5)

Chapter 45: Gangsol Prison (5)

They⁠‍ were the prison‍ guards.

Grotesquely‌ twisted faces.

Deformed⁠⁠‍ guard uniforms.

Two⁠‌ arms warped into‌ the shape of‌ weapons of war‌ and legs as⁠‍ rigid as if⁠ steel pillars had‌ been embedded within⁠‍ them.

There‍‍‌ were four of‍ them.

They‌ saw us and‌‍ moved.

At⁠ a terrifying speed.⁠‍

“They’re⁠‍ coming. Run!”

“Run!”

We‍ ran without thinking.‍

We‌ were outnumbered on⁠‍ open ground. The‌ only available cover⁠ was the ruined metal structures.

“Don’t⁠‌ get separated from‌ me!”

It‍ seemed Lee Seong-hoon‍‌⁠ didn’t even have‌‍‌ the energy to‌ answer. He grabbed the edge of⁠⁠ my clothes as⁠‌ if he were‍‍⁠ going to tear‌‌ them off and‍ started running.

Min⁠ Do-hyeon took the⁠‍ lead with light‌ movements, while Bae‌‍ Hyeon-yu adjusted her expandable baton and⁠‌ matched her pace‌ to Lee Seong-hoon,⁠ who was the⁠ slowest.

Thud!‌‌‍ Thud! Thud!

There‍‍ was no need⁠‌ to look back.‍

The‌ heavy vibrations coming‌‌ from behind traveled⁠ through the ground‌ and reached the‍ soles of my⁠ feet.

Those things bent their⁠⁠ legs at angles⁠‌ impossible for human⁠ joints as they‍⁠‍ kicked up clouds‍ of dust throughout‌‍‍ the courtyard.

The beads of the⁠ rosary around my‍‍ wrist grew so‍ hot they felt‍ capable of burning⁠ my skin.

The‌⁠⁠ heavy sensation at⁠ my collarbone.

And my vision was already completely dyed‌‍ in blazing red.⁠⁠⁠

“Where‌⁠‍ are we going,‍ hyung?!”

At Lee Seong-hoon’s desperate‍ shout, I pointed‌ toward the metal⁠‌ structure in front‍ of us.

“There!‍ That way!”

Wasting‌ time in the‍‍‌ middle of a completely open courtyard⁠⁠ was suicide.

Then,‌ one of the‍‍ guards running ahead‍ of the others‍ planted one of‌ its abnormally long⁠‍‍ arms on the‍ ground and launched‍ its body forward‍‌⁠ like a thrown⁠‍‌ spear.

──GRAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!

Accompanied⁠‌ by a shriek‍ that seemed capable‍ of tearing space⁠ itself apart, the⁠ monster descended upon‍ our heads.

Its target was Lee⁠ Seong-hoon, the one who looked weakest.‌

“Move!”‌

With‌ a roar worthy‍ of a wild‍ beast, Bae Hyeon-yu‌ grabbed Lee Seong-hoon‌⁠ by the back⁠‌ of the neck⁠ and hurled him aside.

At⁠ the same time,‌⁠ the expandable baton‌‌‍ in her hand⁠ carved a huge⁠ arc through the‍ air.

Clang!‌

That‍ did not sound like striking rubber.‍

It‍ was the crash‌ of two masses⁠⁠ of metal colliding‍⁠ head-on.

The⁠⁠ guard’s head twisted‍ at a grotesque⁠‌⁠ angle before smashing⁠‍⁠ into the ground.

But Bae Hyeon-yu’s attack did not end⁠ there.

She‍‌ leaped several meters‍‍ into the air‌⁠ and stomped on‍‌ the monster’s back as it lay⁠⁠ embedded in the⁠‍ ground.

With‌ a dull explosion,‌ the guard’s spine‍ shattered into pieces.⁠

“Don’t‍‍ stop! There are‍‍ still three left!”‌⁠

Bae‌ Hyeon-yu shouted as⁠⁠‌ she exhaled heavily.‍⁠

The muscles in her‍‌ arms trembled from‌‍ the effort.

While‌⁠‌ continuing to run,⁠‌ I glanced at⁠⁠ the Erosion Extractor‌ attached to my‌‍ chest.

‘40%…’‍‍

Even‌‍ amid that absolute⁠ chaos, the extractor‌ continued absorbing the courtyard’s energy, its⁠ indicator slowly rising.‌⁠

Humans‌‌ fighting to survive.⁠‌

And⁠‌‌ a machine silently⁠ feeding on the‍‌ suffering emanating from‌ that battlefield.

I clenched my teeth.⁠

“Agent‌ Jeong! To your left!”

Min Do-hyeon’s urgent shout⁠‍ made me turn‍⁠ my head.

Without⁠‍ realizing it, two⁠‍ guards had already⁠ slipped into my⁠‍ blind spots.

The‌‌ shadow beneath my‌ feet stretched out.⁠‌‍

Just⁠⁠ as one of⁠‌‍ those shadows was‍‌ about to engulf⁠ my ankles, I twisted my body‌ violently.

The⁠ tips of its‌ fingers brushed against‌ my clothes as‌ they sliced through‌ the air.

The⁠ disgusting sensation ran⁠ down my spine.⁠

Instinctively,‌‌‍ I gripped the⁠ white bone pen‌ in my pocket.‌

‘It’s⁠ not even a real weapon…!’

Then, accompanied by a shout, something traced‌ a sharp arc⁠‍ above my head.⁠

“Agent‍⁠⁠ Jeong! Catch!”

Min‍ Do-hyeon’s voice.

What⁠⁠ he had thrown⁠‌ was a short‍⁠⁠ but heavy knife.⁠

The⁠‍ silver blade reflected‌ the blood-red sky‍⁠ as it cut‌ through the air.‌

I reached out by‍‍‍ reflex.

Clack!

The‌ moment I caught the handle, I felt the cold‍⁠‍ tremor of metal‌⁠ run through my‌ palm.

Without hesitation, I adjusted⁠‌ my grip and⁠ turned toward one⁠‍‍ of the guards‍‍ charging at me.⁠‌

Stab!‌

It‌ did not feel like piercing a solid skull.

It⁠ felt more like‌ sinking a blade‌‌ into wet mud.‍⁠

The‌ knife drove deep‌‍ between the bars‍ of the small metal cage embedded‍⁠ in the top‍ of the guard’s‌ head.

Graaahhh!⁠ Grrraaaaaahhh!!

The‌‌⁠ monster’s scream made my eardrums vibrate.⁠⁠

A cold vibration traveled up the blade‌⁠ and into my⁠⁠‍ wrist.

I twisted my arm‍‍‍ with all my strength and dragged‌ the knife down‍‍‌ toward its neck.⁠

A black, tar-like liquid⁠‍ burst out violently‍‍ as the reddish‌⁠⁠ light flickering inside⁠ the cage went‌ out without resistance.‌‌

“Get‌ away from me,⁠⁠ you piece-of-shit monster!”⁠

I kicked the guard‌ in the chest‍ while pulling the knife free.

Behind⁠‍‌ the body as⁠‍⁠ it staggered backward‌ weakly, another guard‌ was already lunging⁠⁠ at me, raising‌ a trident-shaped punishment‍‌ device.

“Hyung!”⁠‍

Lee‍⁠ Seong-hoon’s shout cut‍⁠⁠ through my back.

Just‌⁠ as the trident‍ was about to‍‍‍ pierce my shoulder,‍‌ a massive shadow‌ stepped in front‍‌‌ of me.

Clang—!‌

Bae⁠‌⁠ Hyeon-yu swung her expandable baton and⁠‌ violently deflected the‍ trident’s prongs, producing⁠ a shrill metallic‌⁠ screech.

The‌⁠‌ impact twisted her‍‍⁠ wrist, but she‍‌⁠ did not even‍‍ flinch. She kicked‍⁠ the monster in‌‌⁠ the chest and⁠‍‍ shouted,

“Don’t‍ just stand there!”‌⁠

Her‍ shout snapped me‍‌‌ back to my‌‍ senses.

I tightened my grip⁠‍ on the knife‍‌ and surveyed the area.

The‍ prison guards that‌‍‍ had fallen were‌ beginning to stand‍ again, their joints⁠‌‍ emitting grotesque noises‍ as they bent.‍‍

Even⁠ on the far‌ side of the‍‌‌ courtyard, more black⁠ shadows were starting to turn toward⁠⁠ us.

“Agent‌‍ Jeong! Over there!‌‌ The stairs leading‍ to the rooftop‌ of that building!”⁠

Min‍‌ Do-hyeon pointed toward a corner of⁠‌ the courtyard.

An‌ old administrative building⁠ stood there, its‍‍ structure twisted unnaturally.⁠⁠

A metal staircase hung‌‍ precariously from the⁠ exterior.

It‍ was the only⁠‍ available escape route.‌‍

The‍⁠ guards’ encirclement was⁠‌ tightening.

The⁠ punishment instruments in‌‍ their hands gleamed⁠ ominously beneath the‌‌ blood-red sky.

Feeling⁠ the cold knife⁠‍⁠ in my hand,‍ I shoved Lee‌ Seong-hoon by the‌ shoulder.

“Now!⁠‍ Hurry!”

At⁠‍‍ the same time,‌‍ I ran with⁠ all my strength.⁠

We⁠ sprinted toward the⁠ nearest building, where⁠‌ the twisted metal‍‍‌ staircase hung from‌ the side.

To shake off the⁠⁠ guards pursuing us,‍ I climbed the‌‌ stairs three at⁠‌‌ a time.

I threw open the metal door.

I waited until I confirmed that Bae⁠ Hyeon-yu, Min Do-hyeon,‍ and finally Lee‍‍ Seong-hoon had entered.‌

Then⁠⁠⁠ I slammed the door shut with⁠⁠ all my strength.‍⁠

BANG!⁠‍

The‍‌ chaos vanished instantly.‍

Only our breathing remained.‌‍‌

Leaning against the closed‌‌ door, we all‍‌ inhaled deeply at‍ the same time.⁠

There‌ was more dust‌‍‌ and the stench⁠ of blood than oxygen.

Every⁠⁠⁠ breath made my‌ throat burn.

“Still alive?”

Min⁠ Do-hyeon was the‍ first to speak,‍ wearing an exhausted⁠‌ smile.

“For‌ now.”

Bae‍⁠ Hyeon-yu replied while‌ keeping watch on‌ the surroundings.

I caught my breath‍‌ as well and⁠ looked around the interior.

The‍ administrative building was⁠‍⁠ a warped labyrinth.⁠‌‌

An‍⁠‌ indescribable brown liquid⁠ dripped from twisted‌‌ pipes.

The‌‌ fluorescent lamps hanging‌⁠ from the ceiling‍‍ trembled like dying‌⁠ animals, repeating a sickly flicker.

‘What⁠⁠‌ a disgusting place.‌ It’s revolting.’

With‍ Bae Hyeon-yu leading⁠ the way, we‍ crossed the hallway‍‍ in silence and⁠ entered a small⁠ office.

Collapsed⁠ desks.

Documents‌⁠ reduced to pulp‌‌ by stagnant water.‍‍

Amid⁠ that oppressive silence,‍ I sharpened all my senses.

Clack.‌⁠⁠

“Wait.”⁠

I hadn’t even finished‍‌ warning them.

Thud.‍

Thud.‌‍

Thud.⁠

A heavy vibration echoed‌⁠ from behind the‍‍‌ wall.

“…Again?”‌

Bae⁠ Hyeon-yu had just‍ readjusted her grip‌‌ on her baton‍‍ when the door⁠‍ in front of‍‍ us burst open⁠‍ with a shriek.‍

What⁠⁠⁠ appeared was a prison guard far larger and more⁠ monstrous than the‍‌ previous ones.

Its‌ face had melted‍ until it hung‌ down over its chest.

And⁠ one of its‌‍ arms had completely‍ transformed into a massive scythe.

The‌ monster opened its‌ mouth.

“Get‌‌ back!”

It was faster than‍ the warning itself.

Its‌ target was Min‍ Do-hyeon, who was‍‌⁠ examining a pile⁠⁠‍ of documents with his guard down.‌‌‌

“Min‍⁠ Do-hyeon!”

Bae⁠ Hyeon-yu’s shout exploded‌ through the room.

But‍‌ the distance was‌‍ too short.

Something⁠ drove my muscles‌‌ before I could⁠‍‍ even think.

I suppose I still‍‍⁠ wanted to pretend⁠‍ I was a decent adult.

I slammed my shoulder‌⁠ into Min Do-hyeon‍ and shoved him away.

And‍ at the same‌ time, an impact‌ so heavy that⁠ it numbed my‌ senses struck my‌‍‌ side.

Thrust.‌⁠⁠

A cold sweat cascaded‍‌ down my back.‌⁠⁠

“…Khk.”‌⁠‌

“Hyung!”

Lee⁠‌ Seong-hoon’s scream pierced‌⁠⁠ my eardrums.

It‌‍⁠ hadn’t been a mere graze.

The‌ tip of the‍⁠ guard’s scythe-arm had‌⁠ clearly pierced my‌ side.

The⁠⁠ sensation of that⁠‍ monstrous body, black⁠ and rusted like corroded metal, penetrating‌⁠ my flesh stimulated⁠⁠‌ my brain with‌ terrifying clarity.

Wham!⁠⁠‍

Bae⁠‍‍ Hyeon-yu’s baton struck‌‌ one of the‌‌⁠ monster’s legs, causing‍‍ it to stagger.‍

Seizing⁠ the opportunity, Min⁠ Do-hyeon kicked the‌ creature in the⁠ head and shouted,‍

“Now!”‍⁠‌

At‍‌ his shout, I clutched my bleeding⁠ side with one‌‍ hand and grabbed the handle of the metal door‌⁠ on the opposite‌‍‍ side with the‍‌ other.

BANG!‍

I threw the door‍⁠‍ open.

The‌ other three practically‍‍ dragged me out⁠‍ of the room.‍

Lee‌‍ Seong-hoon was sobbing.⁠

Min‍ Do-hyeon was supporting me.

And Bae Hyeon-yu was‌⁠ searching for a route while watching‌ our rear.

“There’s‌ a door on the other side‌⁠‍ of the stairs!‌ Over there!”

We‌‌ rushed down a grotesque spiral staircase‌‍‌ as though the‍ center of the‍‍ building had collapsed.‍

We‍‍ passed overturned service⁠⁠ windows and caved-in‌⁠ ceilings.

I gritted my teeth‌⁠ and ran toward⁠⁠ the final door.‍

Once⁠ again.

To‌ survive.

When‍ we pushed it⁠⁠ open—

A completely different place‌‍ awaited us on‌⁠ the other side.⁠

“Ugh…‍ ah…”

The‌ moment we closed⁠⁠⁠ the door, I collapsed onto the‌ floor.

My‌ vision flickered violently.‌

The blood pouring from‍‌‌ my side soaked⁠‍ the cold ground.‌⁠

The‌⁠ wound, which had⁠⁠⁠ previously burned, transformed‌ into a horrifying⁠‌ coldness that spread‌ throughout my entire⁠‌⁠ body.

“Agent‌‍ Jeong! Stay conscious!‍ Hyeon-yu, the hemostatic‍‌⁠ agent! Hurry!”

Min⁠ Do-hyeon’s urgent voice‌‍ sounded distant.

Bae Hyeon-yu emptied her‍⁠ backpack and scattered the contents of‌‌ an emergency medical kit.

Gauze and compression bandages⁠⁠ covered my torn‍⁠‌ shirt.

It‍ was useless.

The‌‍ hole carved by‌ the scythe was‍‌‌ far too severe‍⁠‍ to close with⁠ simple bandages.

The‌⁠ gauze was instantly‌ soaked with dark‌ blood.

The‌ pool beneath my‍ body kept growing⁠⁠ larger.

“No…‌ he’s losing too⁠ much blood.”

Bae‍ Hyeon-yu’s voice trembled.⁠⁠

The⁠‍⁠ desperate eyes of‌‍‌ all three were‌‌‌ fixed on me.‌

Beside‌ me, Lee Seong-hoon⁠ covered his mouth while trying to‍ suppress his sobs.‌‌

The‌⁠ necklace on my‍ chest and the‍⁠ rosary around my⁠ wrist vibrated violently,‌⁠⁠ as though trying‍ to replace the⁠⁠ increasingly weak beats⁠ of my heart.‍

‘…I⁠‍‌ have no choice.‍⁠ I’ll have to use it. It’s‍ my first time.⁠‌‍ I guess I’ll‌‌ have to sacrifice‍‌ at least one‌‍ bone.’

Inside‍‍ my clothes, my‌⁠‌ fingers touched a hard, unfamiliar surface.

The⁠ white fountain pen⁠⁠ made from bone‌ fragments.

The⁠ welcome gift Manager‍⁠ Myeon had given‍ me when I joined the company.

Mercy⁠‍ of the Holy‍ Mother.

— For immediate emergency‍⁠ treatment, there is‍ nothing better. If the wound can‍ be directly pierced,‍ it also works‌‌ on puncture wounds⁠ and lacerations.

With‍⁠ trembling hands, I pulled out Mercy‌⁠ of the Holy‌ Mother.

“H-Hyung…‌ what is that?‌ What are you‍‌ trying to do…?”‌

I didn’t even have‍ the strength to‍‍‌ answer Lee Seong-hoon.⁠

I removed the cap.‌

The‍ sharp bone tip‌⁠ was revealed.

I clenched my teeth.‌‍

Then‌‍‍ I drove the‍ tip deep into‍ the bleeding hole‌‌⁠ in my side.

“Hhhngh!”‍‍

I couldn’t even scream‍⁠ properly.

It⁠⁠‍ was like pouring‌ boiling oil into‍ the wound while‍‌ a drill ground‍ my bones from‍‌ the inside.

Crack! Craaack—!

A grotesque sound of‍⁠⁠ breaking echoed inside‍ my body.

The‌ bones around the⁠ wound began to‌‌ deform unnaturally, compressing‍‍‍ my body by‌ force.

After‌‍ an overwhelming sensation‌‌ of hunger, as⁠ though every last⁠ drop of bone‍‍⁠ marrow was being‌ squeezed out, the‌‍⁠ torn organs and‍⁠‍ muscles began weaving‌⁠ together like threads‍ to close the⁠‍ hole.

“What… what the hell‍ is this…?”

Min⁠‌‌ Do-hyeon and Bae Hyeon-yu recoiled in⁠‌ horror.

Fine‍ bone fragments emerged‌ from my side,‍ sewing flesh together‍‍ like needles.

The blood-covered skin trembled‌ as it forcibly‌‌ adhered itself together.‌⁠

The⁠ entire process took‍‍ only seconds.

When‍ the hellish pain⁠‍ receded like a tide, it was‌⁠ replaced by an‍ overwhelming sense of‍ weakness.

“Haa…⁠ haa…”

Dizziness‌‌ struck me.

The‌⁠ fountain pen fell to the floor.‌‌‍

The‍ wound had healed.‍

Or⁠ rather, it had‌ been repaired in‌‍‍ a monstrous fashion.‍

The‌ stitch marks protruded like thick scars.‍

And⁠‌ in exchange, every⁠‌ bone in my‌‌ body trembled.

I had the horrible‌ certainty that a single blow could‌‌ break something.

I placed a trembling‌‌‍ hand against the floor.

The⁠ wound was gone.‌‌

But‍ a part of me had clearly‌‌ been consumed.

“Agent⁠‍ Jeong… are you⁠ alright? What exactly‍⁠‍ was that just‍ now…?”

Min⁠ Do-hyeon looked at‌‌ me with fear‍⁠ in his eyes.‍

‘Good⁠‍ thing I carry⁠ treats for White‍‌⁠ and Chubby Furball.’⁠⁠⁠

Instead of answering, I searched my pocket.‍

I pulled out a piece of candy,⁠‍ unwrapped it, and⁠ put it into‌⁠‌ my mouth.

The‌‌ sugar gave me‍‌‍ a little energy.‍⁠⁠

But⁠‍ the anemia still‌‌‍ made my head‌ spin.

“…I’m‌ fine. I’ll explain‌ later.”

I staggered to my‌ feet.

The⁠⁠ wound was closed,‌⁠ but my body‌⁠‌ creaked like an old machine.

Even‌‌ so, we didn’t‍⁠ have time to rest.

We looked at the‌ space surrounding us.‍

Beyond‍‌ the path obtained⁠‌ in exchange for⁠ sacrificing a portion‌⁠ of my life‍‌ force, an even‌ deeper darkness of‌ Gangsol Prison opened its jaws before‍⁠ us.