Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination

I massaged the back of my aching neck as I stretched, and the sound of my joints cracking echoed through the silent office.

As soon as I typed the final period of the report on the monitor, a notification appeared indicating that it had been registered in the system.

‘Time to get off work.’

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

There was only one person in the entire company who spoke like that.

“Your complexion is terribly pale. attic It seems today has been an especially difficult day for you.”

Just thinking about being able to leave that hellish place made part of my chest feel lighter.

I hurriedly packed my belongings into my backpack and was about to grab the coat I had left hanging behind my chair when a calm, chillingly gentle voice brushed against the back of my neck.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

I felt my heart drop to the floor.

I slowly turned my head and saw that, without my noticing when she had approached, Manager Batori was standing right behind me.

‘Could this woman have been manipulating my brain…?’

Her skin, so white it looked sickly, and her grotesque red eyes stood out in my vision more vividly than usual.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

The more warmly Manager Batori smiled at me, the more I could imagine those tentacles savoring every fold of my brain.

Director Won’s words resurfaced in my mind.

He had said that she had erased my fear and planted confidence in its place.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

But Manager Batori narrowed her eyes even further as she looked at me.

“Manager. antique You startled me. academy Were you heading home already?”

My voice sounded as cheerful as I could possibly fake.

I held back my breath and forced a smile.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

I kept my expression composed and answered,

“A dark shadow has fallen over your eyes once again. admire Was the work in Zone C too demanding? advance Or is there another concern tormenting you?”

Every time her gaze lingered near my temples, I felt my brain throb with an unsettling warmth.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

Crack!

“Not at all. canvas I left the window open for a while last night. aspect I guess that’s why I had a nightmare.”

The instant I finished speaking, a horrifying tearing sound exploded beside my ear.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

The impact made my eardrums vibrate.

The plaster had shattered into pieces, crumbling into a cloud of dust.

I slowly turned my eyes and saw a red tentacle embedded in the wall just millimeters from my ear, writhing slowly.

‘…What exactly did I step on?’

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

That certainty struck me hard.

Manager Batori was no longer smiling kindly.

I slowly turned my head back forward, my entire body stiff.

I had triggered something.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

The first was that Manager Batori could detect lies with supernatural precision.

I had overlooked two things.

The second was that she hated lies with a pathological intensity.

Her crimson eyes burned with a terrifying intensity, as though they were about to pierce straight through my retinas.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

“Falsehood does not suit you. orbit It seems that when I repaired you, I neglected to polish the virtue of honesty.”

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

“It seems we have much to discuss. All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com advance Let’s go to the break room for a moment.”

As she spoke in that low, serene voice, dozens of blood-colored tentacles emerged from behind her back, raising their heads like serpents and undulating grotesquely.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

Those cold, viscous membranes wrapped around my entire body as they slid across my skin.

“Manager, wait…!”

The tentacles that sprang up behind me immobilized my limbs in an instant.

I didn’t even have the chance to respond.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

I only had one option left.

I already knew resisting was pointless.

The next moment, completely bound by the tentacles, I was dragged across the floor without my feet even touching it.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

As the fluorescent lights in the hallway passed one after another above my head, I caught sight, through the office door, of Assistant Manager Son’s and Supervisor Shik’s surprised expressions, as though they were afterimages etched into my memory.

‘Director Won… you damned bastard…’

Suppressing a groan, I allowed myself to be dragged away in silence.

***

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

To me, this place has never been a break room, but a torture chamber and interrogation room.

I’ve never come here for something as ordinary as needing sugar.

I hate the break room.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

“Cough…! amateur Cough…!”

The moment I was thrown onto the floor of the room, the cold pressure imprisoning my limbs disappeared.

Thud!

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

“It seems I was too considerate with you. antique If you won’t speak, I’ll find out myself.”

But before I could even get completely back to my feet, the blood-colored tentacles wrapped around my arms and legs again, violently slamming me against the wall.

I braced myself against the floor, trying to catch my breath, and attempted to stand.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

Seeing it writhing as though it were about to rummage through my brain, I shouted in a panic.

“W-wait! arcade I’ll tell you myself! atom I’ll talk!”

Beyond her gentle voice, one of the red tentacles floating at the edge of my vision raised its head like a serpent, pointing directly at my ear.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

A moment later, it slowly withdrew.

Manager Batori remained motionless, watching me with cold, utterly expressionless eyes.

My desperate struggle, so pathetic it bordered on humiliating, made the tentacle stop just before touching my ear.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

I was only a new employee.

I rubbed my neck now that I was free while carefully studying her expression.

She was my superior, a manager.

I was certain there wasn’t a single excuse or improvised lie that could get me out of this situation.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

“…I met Director Won.”

I swallowed before speaking.

If I wanted to prevent those tentacles from digging through my brain again, I had no choice but to reveal my most dangerous card and pray for her mercy.

‘Even so, I hate being manipulated, even when I know it’s happening.’

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

The moment those words left my mouth—

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

Booom!!!

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

The cups on the shelves exploded with a deafening crash.

The fluorescent lights burst apart, scattering violet sparks.

A killing intent erupted from Manager Batori with an intensity I had never felt—or even imagined.

“How dare he…?!”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

The dozens of tentacles thrashing behind her back began writhing frantically, driven mad by bloodlust.

The walls were covered in crimson membranes slowly creeping across their surfaces.

The entire break room had already been dyed red.

“How dare that filthy monkey lay his hands on one of my own blood?!”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

Manager Batori’s body swelled and grotesquely mutated.

Receiving a death sentence from both reason and instinct at the same time wasn’t exactly pleasant.

‘It’s over.’

Her skin, barely maintaining a human form, looked as though it were about to tear apart as dozens of eyes and mouths returned to their original shapes.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

The only thing I could do was close my eyes and accept that I was about to die.

But no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t find any way to survive.

I couldn’t rely on the durability of the Shadow Shell.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

The pain I had expected never came.

However—

“…?”

The deafening roars and vibrations that had seemed intent on shattering my ears vanished as though they had never existed.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

But even so, she was making an enormous effort to regain her usual appearance.

I cautiously opened my eyes.

Manager Batori was still standing there, breathing heavily as she restrained her fury.

Several tentacles were still twitching restlessly behind her back, and thick red veins grotesquely bulged across her pale skin. Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

As she exhaled deeply to suppress her bloodlust, I took the opportunity to carefully get to my feet and brush the dust off my clothes.

“…I must calm down… I must calm down. wizard Mastering anger is a virtue.”

My fingers were still trembling.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

Manager Batori once again looked like the elegant and beautiful woman she always was before speaking to me.

After a few moments, even the last of the tentacles disappeared beneath her clothes.

But at least I no longer felt like my head was about to be torn apart at any moment.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

“…Huh?”

“Forgive me. armor Even after you performed such a beautiful act of repentance, I was unable to reward you.”

The word caught me completely off guard.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

Or an interrogation.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

I had expected a torture session with tentacles rummaging through my brain.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

Her cold fingers gently brushed against my cheek.

I had never imagined I would receive an apology.

Perhaps noticing my bewildered expression, Manager Batori smiled with obvious bitterness and took a step toward me.

Or a merciless reprimand for having come into contact with Director Won.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

It was the same gentle tone as always.

“N-No… I’m fine.”

“I never intended to frighten you. silence It’s just… that repulsive name polluted my ears, and I lost my composure for a moment. harbor Did I scare you that badly?”

But after witnessing that overwhelming killing intent, that kindness felt even more chilling.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

I could only hope that didn’t mean she intended to rummage through my brain again.

But I quickly gave up.

As I felt a sharp pain in my temples, I tried to calculate how much I should tell her.

“Good boy. agent Now tell me everything. orbit What sweet words did that snake, Director Won, whisper to you? august Don’t leave out a single detail. attic I will personally dispel all the confusion he has sown within you.”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

I told Manager Batori everything essential about my conversation with Director Won.

It was much better to be honest.

If I hid something and ended up with tentacles piercing my head—

***

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

To his warnings about Extraction Team 1.

From the fact that my brain had been manipulated according to Manager Batori’s will.

And his attempt to persuade me to take his side.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

With a completely serious expression, she absentmindedly nibbled on the nails of her slender fingers while remaining lost in thought.

Manager Batori was no longer smiling.

When I finished speaking, a cold silence fell over the room.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

Meanwhile, I carefully watched her reactions, wiping the cold sweat from my palms onto my pants.

Tap.

The sound of her nails clicking broke the silence.

Tap.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

Compared to the fear of a possible future caused by Director Won—

But if I hid anything, those red tentacles would immediately begin rummaging through my brain again.

‘Did I do the right thing by telling her everything?’

Director Won’s warnings crossed my mind once again.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

“…I knew you were afraid of us.”

After a long silence, she finally spoke.

The very real pain that Manager Batori could inflict on me here and now was far more terrifying.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

Without giving me time to react, she continued.

“The trust shared between members of the same blood runs deeper than any bond of kinship. airport However, you are, by nature, a human being. arrow I thought it was perfectly natural for you to feel instinctive rejection and fear toward us, who are not of your kind.”

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

That truth was too heavy to either deny or admit.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

“But here, in Extraction Team 1, a single moment of hesitation means death. adopt If fear caused you to lose your composure and diminished your ability to work, it would only mean you would be far more likely to die. aluminum I didn’t want to see you disappear.”

Her voice was especially quiet.

Under the cold lighting of the break room, Manager Batori narrowed her eyes with a melancholy expression.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

According to her, all of this had been for my sake.

It was her confession.

“Perhaps my consideration seemed like an overbearing intrusion to you. anchor But all I wanted was for you to remain calm and survive for a long time, even in an environment as hellish as this. armor That was my way of doing it. audit That was how I chose to show my affection.”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

As I listened to her, something inside my chest stirred strangely.

But I could also sense that, deep down, her feelings went far beyond simply protecting one of the company’s assets.

However, before emotion came another thought that was much clearer.

It was a completely abnormal method.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

Manager Batori remained thoughtful for a few seconds as she brushed her pale fingers across her lips.

“For the time being, it would be best to keep this conversation a secret from Manager Myeon.”

Should I understand and accept someone manipulating another person’s brain in the name of consideration?

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

She didn’t answer.

“With whom?”

“As for Director Won, that wretch… and also that strange dream you said you had, I think we need to discuss them in greater depth.”

I asked cautiously.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

“Leave it to me. anxiety For now, go home. artist Tomorrow, during lunch break, I’ll call you aside. album Until then, try to calm yourself.”

In the end, I couldn’t ask anything else.

She simply gave my shoulder a few gentle pats.

I bowed my head.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

My steps still felt heavy.

“Then I’ll be going, Manager.”

But breathing was much easier than it had been just a few minutes ago.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

“I’m sorry, Jeong Haeil. altitude I truly am.”

Watching me as I walked away, she whispered in a voice so gentle that it was as if she were speaking to something extremely delicate.

When I turned around one last time to look at her, Manager Batori seemed much smaller and more fragile than usual.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

My name slowly escaped her lips.

I left behind that farewell steeped in melancholy and stepped out into the hallway.

“But remember this. august To me, you are more important than any other member of my own blood… and the only life I wish to protect in this cold place.”

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

So did the killing intent emanating from the containment chambers.

The office grew farther and farther away.

When I caught my reflection in the elevator mirror, I still looked pale.

Translation of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 55: The Gentlest Contamination by Indra Translations.

Perhaps the gentlest contamination wasn’t fear.

But Manager Batori’s final gaze had taken root deep within my heart, like blood vessels.

Perhaps it was a sincerity like hers.