Chapter 7: When You Can’t Reason With Your Boss at Work
SIb“Manager, we’re back.”p0Tnz
nraWhen I returned to the office together with Assistant Manager Son, Manager Myeon was already seated in his place.oLXAPp
gy6HtAs always, he had seven heads on his shoulders, and one of them was yawning with slightly dried lips.M6HRh
l2vzThe moment I saw that, I turned my head away purely on instinct.71pZ
qxZS4It was impossible to get used to it.OWt1l
fCLThough, well, there was no point in thinking I ever could.euD
Q7whThe human brain was not designed to accept something like the appearance of your direct superior.Ms8l
xgrZT“Ah, you’re back already. Employee Jeong also worked hard.”k6GLckE
gSqdaZ1One of Manager Myeon’s faces, the one with the relatively more orderly mouth, spoke.taCXPZ
ZoT9“Yes, thank you very much.”3fLZ0
IB5efsI responded as clearly and respectfully as possible.8bv
YgmMKMy body was exhausted and my insides were still churning, but when you want to take money out of someone else’s pocket, the bare minimum is to hide everything behind a smile.mLh
VuypSThough in my current case, it was more about survival than money.bvI
4x8Go“I assigned D-7 to him as a start. He understood the manual well and, although there was a small variable midway through the process, he handled it perfectly.”oQHtU1
Sn2vAssistant Manager Son added that while handing over the report from behind.966
3NsmThe fist-head seemed to rise slightly, as though proud.osc
CGoFor an instant, I became confused wondering whether that movement meant nodding or shrugging.egvUrF
eeVf“Oh, that was an excellent start.”s1pfv
cfTZOFManager Myeon spoke with satisfaction while reviewing the report.5mdv
hiHR45aThen he lifted his arm and gave me a few gentle pats on the shoulder.uKpi3T
S2k4YI felt those long, pale fingers brush against my shoulder, but I maintained a calm expression.0BZZII4
8cWC0“It’s not common for a rookie to respond so well during their first extraction. Most of them trigger the alarm.”HUMY
XmkQj“Exactly. Just as Director Gu said, it seems a rather intelligent rookie joined us.”5lp
M8WWWhen Assistant Manager Son snapped his fist once more, one of Manager Myeon’s faces smiled kindly before continuing.DcRSg
OBz“Your reaction speed was good. According to the report, not only did you memorize the content, you also remembered the core of the manual. Mm, very good. Tomorrow we’ll already be able to send you to a risk zone.”F12
NrOManager Myeon’s hand tightened around my shoulder a little more.tA8B
2uJBRisk zone?mtbdyh
W6XKoOQNo. No, I want to believe I heard wrong.aZbW
sjOxVdBesides, I could swear some lips had just licked themselves strangely again.5NxAu
g6j2Irj“I hope you maintain that attitude from now on. The work here doesn’t consist of mechanically repeating things. It requires thinking.”WxS7
cipAqU“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”7R3
FM9mGoI lowered my head respectfully once again.bKi
bxLdAnd sighed deeply inwardly.tCAZ
fOVqTwo monsters were congratulating each other because I hadn’t repeated another monster’s words.OOh
qkJ1TWhat kind of company was this?z8j8e
VmLTlhLCould this really be called work?EKr
tViyc“Now that I think about it, we said you were a competent employee and we didn’t even give you a joining gift. After all, I was the one who personally interviewed you.”1YbSJ
P6vHe said that while pulling a finely decorated small metal box from the back of a drawer.4W6D
Y7NthDOn the surface was engraved the code [D-88].67vdo
ycZwJub“Take it. It’s an item processed by the refinement department from one of the dimensional entities you saw yesterday. Consider it a gift for completing your first practice. Besides, tomorrow you’ll be going to another zone, so you might need it.”26BIWB
7WFSo the part about sending me to a risk zone really was serious.15W
Ek5QFWhen Manager Myeon’s pale fingers opened the box, a faint purple light revealed a strange object.eMzF
29k4WImAt first glance, it looked like an ordinary fountain pen.BajkHr4
1xud1But upon closer inspection, the body of the pen was made from carefully polished human phalanges, while the tip was a sharp fragment of white bone.OaOCtg
ENWPPW“Oh, are you already going to give him equipment?”FwTGZk
2mTAssistant Manager Son shifted aside as though surprised.YSAhk
RqV8o4yTo be honest, it looked extremely unpleasant to use.dFCpn4y
a0ncWithout knowing whether he understood what I was thinking or not, Manager Myeon replied with a warm smile.grif
A4Du6g“It’s not something we officially sell in the company store. Let’s say it’s a welcome gift specially prepared for Employee Jeong. It’s made from the remains of the dimensional entity D-88, the ‘Holy Mother Who Strips the Bones’ The name will be… ‘Compassion of the Holy Mother,’ I suppose.”r0LIVK
6bpHearing him speak like that, it was impossible to come up with an excuse not to accept it.7OeE
MiewThe instant I took the pen Manager Myeon offered me, a chill ran through my entire body and the hairs on my hand stood on end.Qlyt
PmpG2From the cold body of the pen came a faint vibration, like the heartbeat of a living being.nuvKBZ6
AgwDc“The function is simple but effective. If during an extraction you suffer a fracture or dislocation, don’t hesitate to stab the tip of this pen into the affected area.”uhj
MI5Manager Myeon’s seven mouths simultaneously formed a grotesque curve.Pjv
DzJ“The experience of feeling broken bones scream while returning to their place is quite special. There’s no better immediate emergency treatment. If it’s a wound you can directly pierce with the pen, it also works on cuts or scrapes. Ah, and of course, it also functions as a writing instrument.”kAo3F
tJFWhen he finished his explanation, I looked once more at the pen I was holding.pY5
NT0cblThanks to my service in certain special places, I had seen many advanced technologies.ABGrRVi
6g9pgo3But that white bone fragment I held in my hand instantly reduced all achievements of modern science to the level of primitive craftsmanship.wCCEa
wC2ZwOThe walls of the laws of physics crumbled before my eyes like sandcastles.rYL
cDn‘Should something like this even exist in the world?’HI9
d1wx8An object capable of repairing tissue and resetting bones simply by stabbing into the body.0bvXuqM
h2XcIt didn’t seem like a technological product.LDh
LLeDeTIt was more like a miracle created by sacrificing logic and concepts.Rah9
10Yt8Z“Thank you very much. Though honestly, I’m worried it may be too much for me.”2bLmIx
MFEeiI tried to speak calmly, but the tips of my fingers trembled slightly while holding the pen.EgI
WVyIH5xAs Sergeant Jeong Haeil, I admired the strategic value of that object.HsE
mIBAs a psychology student, I felt nauseated by the inhuman efficiency of equipment that repaired human bodies as though they were simple chunks of flesh.DZ0j7
y9oAdQ0“It’s not that remarkable. It’s useless against higher-category damage and, moreover, it consumes calcium, so each use will cause severe demineralization. You’ll have to accept things like deformed limbs or loose teeth.”Tbj
xoKIn other words, if I didn’t want to end up completely boneless, I had to use it sparingly.Pc4ZSz
E3FXudfIt wasn’t treatment.Yvtz
81eIt was a mechanical consideration intended to force the body to continue working.3QMdcG7
Som69L5Even so, when I placed the bone pen into my breast pocket, the heartbeat transmitted from it toward my own heart gave me a strange feeling.WWtCu6
gwu7txySteady, rhythmic pulses.LTD
TsrAQAnd beyond that, in this insane job, I felt a certain practical relief at having equally insane equipment I could rely on.zoO
Vqu“Then I’ll gratefully accept it.”8ukXsqn
DZ3WEThe corners of my lips rose a little more easily.gbHV
rT3qIeThis is good.kMDkF
xNcbDSmile.YNn06s
geEo7LoAs soon as I returned to my spot while maintaining a kind expression, Assistant Manager Son turned his head toward the wall.G04b8h
xjPjfCNo, the head that is, the enormous fist tilted slightly.qOtzAC
a596HMK“By the way, it’s almost time for him to arrive.”XUqj
mXKlwUnconsciously, I followed Assistant Manager Son’s gaze and looked at the clock.sTLbYeP
Il8ef8qMore precisely, I guessed where he was looking and then looked at the clock.iVYuPm
6GPHow did Assistant Manager Son even tell the time?wOhCXYX
jh8uWith a sixth sense?SFUWG6
SaxIf you see with a fist, can it still be called a sixth sense?ljHDP
NYfyAfter even seeing Manager Batory, I could no longer hold back my questions.aXN
B6r4g7“Excuse me… what exactly is Supervisor Shik like?”8FjXbPj
w61c0eAssistant Manager Son snapped his finger as though he had been waiting for that question.ZGs
nC2AV4OManager Myeon slightly raised his head thoughtfully, and the face on his left cheek spoke.TrGDO
uJ4QJKG“He’s the ace of our team. He can handle almost any dimensional entity alone. His extraction capabilities are practically at the level of an administrator.”kio
gYk8zCE“He has a somewhat impulsive temperament, but he’s responsible and very competent. Ah, of course, Assistant Manager Son as well. He can subdue most Class B dimensional entities on his own.”bFTs
KI8At Manager Myeon’s praise, Assistant Manager Son’s fist clenched and opened once with a snap.PDCWJN
zKCZhLw“His personality is… how should I put it… when he concentrates on work, he can become somewhat rough, but that’s part of his nature. Even so, he always takes work very seriously.”cId
nbvdXH“I see. I just wanted to know if there was anything I should keep in mind beforehand.”YA1O6If
bCnZWhen I responded in a lifeless voice, the mouth beneath Manager Myeon’s chin let out a chuckle.uuhl
tzla“Don’t worry. At the very least, he devours fewer employees than Manager Batory.”cqZ
N2pvDevours employees.RJ4
pvEFor an instant, I lost my expressionless composure and my face slightly twisted, but Manager Myeon casually leaned back as he spoke.Tpj
gpCDYH4“So, Employee Jeong. Don’t be too afraid and simply observe and learn just as you are. Supervisor Shik is, without a doubt, the magnificent ace of Extraction Team 1.”lRlW4X
ez0jaGWithout knowing whether that was comfort or a warning, I forced a tense smile.2Crew
6LvuCoAnd thought inwardly.W3DmWYI
rEYuPTemperamental, an ace, a guy I’ve seen many times in the military already.ppH52py
mLwaPeMaybe retiring was the worst decision of my life.97DIb
6nO“Oh, he’s almost here.”UTdMIHj
ol3IThud.DJeK
dj6The moment Manager Myeon finished speaking, a heavy sound echoed from somewhere.PJ3hWHj
Y9PHThud… thud…UHpQwH
VLITFootsteps slowly approaching from beyond the wall.KM4
br7AmSQThey were not Manager Myeon’s soft footsteps nor the rhythmic sound of Assistant Manager Son’s shoes.jvQ7ID8
nKYrThose weren’t footsteps.AFfstaD
NJ4I6oiThey were impacts.q9Z
QV1As though an enormous beast, its center of gravity collapsed, was advancing while crushing the hallway beneath gigantic paws.o1g4
W1dPzThud.oKoW
0ARzbfThuuud.F0GQP
0UVlUThuud.tNOax
pPsmThe rhythm wasn’t even constant.kNDgkej
ivJn7mFBetween the footsteps dragged a heavy metallic and viscous sound.utCAb3B
PxsEk4NClang— scrape— thud—Lxvjlug
BDaThe noise of metal scraping against concrete approached slowly, very slowly.SJ170DQ
P5UDon’t get nervous.C7tG
RRD1One experience with the company infirmary was already enough.V0CXDR
J9e6LRThud—F57plB
G5Js4Thuud—t54i
mlIfIThe hallway footsteps arrived directly in front of the office.L2Nz
a5Z9CYoAnd then, silence.gUDIb
PjEA brief silence.2mmfQyK
UYAJHWithin it, I heard my heart pounding louder than my own eardrums.YIuF2P
EOTXjNClick.Js0uA
NZD3NDThe handle slowly turned.9PBf4Kk
uxbThere were no mechanical sounds or alarms.2OV6
t9TFCbHOnly the faint trembling of the floor as the door began to open.6WGt
F60And finally.RMLo3c
NbgRzKG“…….”LGSB
Ta8When the door opened, something darker than darkness entered.v6D
fDc1cBlack fur.IzrA0N
sSaiMV5Completely black fur, rigid like steel.LTbkmW
lEopIt looked like a beast through whose veins not hot blood, but something entirely different flowed.tpC11RV
VLHQ8fThat thing crouched down, filling the entire office entrance while exhaling a rough breath.j644P
qcT“Grrrrrrrrng…….”Pdyai8n
dkvwWith that low growl alone, the air tore apart and the objects on the desks began vibrating.feASeg
lYNGAmsOne step.Uct
OM6vKTwo steps.s1fh8S
LuRki1That gigantic existence entered.R6GVqx2
xteLGpThe instant I raised my gaze to check what exactly it was, I sincerely regretted doing so.jgPeZb
1CxjaMy hands tensed on their own to the point that it felt like my bones would break.cRnho
9YnLThat thing could not simply be described as large.6pcQDny
BXbKIt easily stood over 2.5 meters tall, and even while hunched to avoid the ceiling, it radiated pressure capable of crushing the entire room.pUiOaIY
lEiUp close, between the black fur bristling like blades, chunks of rotten flesh and reddish scales stuck like scabs could be seen.wWeGH64
dLeN7The skin looked like that of a beast forcibly stitched together, covered in indescribable scars intertwined like coral reefs.gwCt
UDhs‘That… isn’t a suit?’Xor
XytBBesides, Manager Myeon, Assistant Manager Son, Manager Batory, even the tentacled doctor monster, all of them wore normal clothes.Jvu6
LblvhL0But this monster before me was wrapped in thick, rough gray fabric.Hs4zK4
HBTSMEIt resembled a net used to capture beasts or a pile of rotten rags wrapped around its body.i38UX
De15UBetween those worn cloths protruded swollen black muscles as though they were about to burst.aPsUqW
n8XAnd chains.37k
CCKxevLThick rusted chains were embedded into its arms, legs, and torso.pcpyo
9CgThe flesh around them was red and festering, as though the metal and body had fused together.4m5
aEd8y1Every movement produced a horrifying metallic clanking sound.sSesBal
7K3vLBut what was truly overwhelming was the head.wdz
LcJIt was not human.iKLDp
5IWIt was the skull of a gigantic beast.HlBP5gi
s5fDMtOne of the ears had been bitten off halfway, and around the snout were geometric scars, as though someone had stabbed it repeatedly.LySrjC
GkZKOver its mouth, designed more for tearing apart than speaking, it wore an enormous metal muzzle.dAPc7
eNiJT7UBut even that muzzle was warped by the strength of its jaws, and between the gaps gleaming fangs dripped thick saliva.7jD
nal1YAAs though it could crush and devour everything in the world.4gslIll
qpCLBetween those enormous fangs escaped deformed breaths resembling laments.XIrb1
tdvLong arms, curved and covered in worn claws.5ewS
300jIts arms seemed twice as long as a human’s, and the claws dragged along the floor, carving grooves into the cracked concrete.4X7Xk1
g6pmm‘This shit… is supposed to be an employee?’zaTZE2P
VgplzSupervisor Shik did not resemble a living being.oHF
ZUkU4He looked like a natural disaster made flesh.nY1C
MWpJzdTEven without speaking, it could be understood.PjtXVo
STrIVtmThat existence was far closer to tearing people apart than teaching them.5Am
gNafXISupervisor Shik heavily entered the office.0NCa
olIWhen his enormous body brushed against the doorframe, a fluorescent cover nearly got torn loose by his mane.gEM
kEGHe stepped back once as though accustomed to it and let out a long snort toward the ceiling.Qcf6q
wVC“Grrrgh… khk… grrrrr.”Gyw
h2x24The office fell silent for an instant.Zpiyl
MwDPBut it was not an awkward or tense silence.BDE
p2NIt was as though everyone had perfectly understood what he had just said.VERNa
fprE3ptManager Myeon crossed his arms and answered using one of his seven faces.oIK
YBVgaz“Yes. We restocked enough for three days. Besides, you now have a new subordinate, so there’s no need for you to overwork yourself.”yGDUe
pckB4q“Grrr… grrrrr. Huuuh—”zpgSt
wfMKK“Yes, our Haeil. He did very well. It was his first time facing D-7, and even so, he was excellent.”gHx
VxLT6avI stared at that scene in shock.IaMzQyQ
H4l2Could those sounds of boiling phlegm coming from that beast truly be interpreted as language?Dr65rZ
P0sKHow the hell did that work?REwl
yAe16JFFrequencies? Telepathy? Or was there some common language among monsters that I didn’t know?9KaFoCF
wFKKHTSupervisor Shik slowly turned his head toward me.m1ZNlYj
L1vSWithin those golden pupils burning like magma swirled eternal fury and an impossible-to-satisfy hunger.G5yn9
oIPrkxkAnd in the next instant, that gigantic body growled.9HIb
SRWucW“Grrrgh. Krrr, huuuugh. Haaa—”GOWL
ApYS4That could not be called conversation.RZfU
dpTv3SIt was a strange breath dragged up from the depths of the throat.qZPeh
NuIIKNot words, but low vibrations, like bones scraping against one another.alv
gakXLAnd yet, both Manager Myeon and Assistant Manager Son simply listened and nodded naturally.a1d0
9kVJy“Of course. Employee Jeong comes from the military, so he’s physically fit and quick to learn. He’ll surely adapt soon.”0Sy
eSV“Yes, Supervisor Shik. I already taught him the basics, so don’t worry.”ypLqbu
4Pb5D4“Krrgh, huuuuh… grrrrr.”J6BJ
PTpsFI3“Hehe, how about we hold a welcome dinner for Employee Jeong before work ends?”G0D3
vR51JFb“Eh, shouldn’t that wait until Director Mok returns from vacation, don’t you think?”WZFa
23DTO“Grrrrng, khk, grrrrrr….”g5n
N4bO75They were smiling.PS8nYV
ke8UoManager Myeon and Assistant Manager Son were showing sincere smiles in their own ways.rEJ
mkzWUFOManager Myeon softly curved several lips.ggod6ZI
52XN8fAssistant Manager Son lightly opened and closed his fist.KQt
0da4And meanwhile, Supervisor Shik slowly began approaching me.YNl3fXJ
fYxuiCkThud, thuuud, thud—y22X
feOKoThe weight of his footsteps traveled through the floor into my body.QxuLjT
ZfrXmAt that instant, I understood instinctively.NG2ny0f
DGgMfs‘…I’m fucked.’QF5BBEK
pVI6N45I’ve gone through countless shitty situations until now, but this one takes first place.lCtG00
aRCThat existence before me was far larger and more terrifying than any monster I had seen before.UgrF4
X7Ue7He couldn’t speak.yhK7p
NtbbZoLiterally, there was no way to communicate with him.zgC
zS0HFcAnd on top of that, he was supposed to be my mentor.Xbpivvf
YnAaQBD“Gweeeehk.”P4Cr0y0
5UglwOHis growl continued echoing throughout the office while that hoarse breathing drew closer and closer.9Go
xTP5Z2yUntil it stopped directly in front of me.4EfoAJ
nZjRI pushed my chair back purely on reflex.YrsBQe
mZwiza6If he straightened up, he would touch the ceiling.QlNyNWj
iUwrvGgSome part of my brain desperately screamed that I had to run away right now, but my body wouldn’t move.HZMQ
qccntMq‘He’s an employee. He’s an employee, right? A permanent worker at this company. A social existence. A superior… with the duty to train rookies….’QoZEH
A90sSwI frantically repeated that inside my mind.OTrTzI
oI7HAnd then I slowly forced a smile.qHbywG
19FIC“……Nice to meet you. Supervisor Shik.”jzHz
ub0Gv5uThe gigantic beast looked down at me while releasing a low growl.EjpM
PG9iAnd then.V3Vj
UNaz2Very slightly.Ocb
TmvHe nodded.hRHY3
01HWith that simple movement, the air throughout the office seemed to sink.wnTAF
GpiSupervisor Shik slowly lowered his enormous body toward me.zPhGeu
eSnThe more that gigantic torso descended, the more the office lighting became blocked behind him, until his shadow completely crushed me beneath it.Ozjx
p0I“……Grrrrr.”UedXQ
dVGXmrUWithin his voice vibrated a high frequency, like the distant howl of a beast.4Xeii
KpzYvBSlowly, he raised his eyelids.FbEBSf
nU02NIRAnd the instant I came face to face with those burning golden pupils, I felt as though I were staring directly into the abyss of the universe without any telescope at all.0i1DMQ
u30The moment that gaze reached me, every fold of my brain began screaming in terror.fyfpxc
JV2Rc5The sensation of seeing something that should never be witnessed.d8H
vQDy7o7As though my eyes were going blind, not from light, but from oblivion itself.LLy
HnADThe moment those golden eyes looked directly at me, I involuntarily stopped breathing.Oqc
H40iBCI felt my lungs curling upward.tAd
85hxAs though my heart were trying to move inside my stomach.d4si
KYI3H6vThat gaze didn’t seem to pierce only my skin, but drill directly into my brain.mv6a
vloF“Pleasure to meet you. I hope we work well together.”Cu5A
NKi4MfGI gripped my knees so hard it felt as though I were trying to crush them.opS6RX
FErSI tried to maintain a smile, but my teeth trembled uncontrollably.7Xv9DW
3P4MxhlFortunately, that horrible greeting did not last long.dHS
2ZxWhen Supervisor Shik slowly turned his head and straightened back up, I felt my vision cooling until it became bluish.Ig26
SazThen the floor trembled once more.jnxoxY9
5dpHOlPThud, thuud.HCniCG
wNHSupervisor Shik growled as though nothing had happened while licking the wounds hidden beneath his mane.UZ3X
NKXGLMOnly then could I breathe again.eAarXZ
i7MUddIt took several seconds for me to recover my breath.q7wGF43
Hx87TIAnd I realized one thing.kk6
oAOFrom now on, I would have to work beside this monster every single day.6Ln
beZ8uI definitely have terrible luck with mentors.y8BXQ
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Noexy A
MortalThat’s so scary