There Are No Humans in the Monster Company

“There is no established usage limit. matrix As long as you have sufficient capital and blood, you can theoretically perform an infinite number of refinements. action However, if it determines that the value of the inserted materials falls below a certain level, it will not activate. arctic It also does not accept as material products that it has created itself.”

“Is there any limit to the number of uses?”

As I asked that, I touched the bone fragment shaped like a pen that was faintly pulsing inside my pocket.

Supervisor Hong Na-gyeom, who had been heading toward the door, stopped and slightly turned her head to look at me.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

As I listened to her words, I examined the Universal Employee Benefits Machine once more.

But upon closer inspection, its shape was strange.

Beneath the blinking red lens, I saw the slot through which it had devoured the banknotes.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

For a simple opening meant for inserting paper currency, it was excessively wide, and its entrance opened in an unsettling way.

‘What would happen if I put in something that isn’t money?’

As if it could easily swallow something other than money.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

From behind the heavy lead door of the containment chamber came the sound of something sharp scratching against a metal plate.

“Huff… huff…”

Scrraaatch! acid Scrraaatch, scrraaatch!

That unsettling thought had just crossed my mind.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

“…A dimensional entity?”

A familiar wet breathing filtered through the crack beneath the door.

Without either of us noticing, he had made his way there and was protesting to be let inside.

It was that White and Chubby Furball.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

Without hesitation, she pulled a dagger from her clothes.

Hong Na-gyeom’s eyes widened.

The black blade was coated in a viscous and unpleasant substance.

Anyone could see that it was a weapon designed to kill.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

The tip of the blade stopped less than a foot from my chest.

“W-Wait, wait a moment!”

Just as she was about to open the door and brandish the dagger, I hurriedly stepped in front of her.

“Move aside! avalanche According to regulations, any unauthorized dimensional entity that leaves its containment chamber must be neutralized immediately. afford Otherwise…”

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

“No, Supervisor Hong. ability It’s a D-rank dimensional entity that arrived while you were away. portal Besides, it poses almost no danger. arch Extraction Team 1 has already given him permission to wander outside.”

She looked like someone with an almost pathological fear of breaking the rules.

Upon hearing my explanation, her eyes wavered again.

Her shoulders trembled slightly.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

Hong Na-gyeom’s brows twitched.

She alternated her gaze between the door behind me and myself before muttering in disbelief.

“It’s not that… It’s just that this thing is a little special.”

“You’re telling me that a D-rank dimensional entity left his containment chamber, made it all the way to a C-rank extraction room, wandered around the hallways, and yet nobody did anything? acoustic Have you already suffered mental contamination?”

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

It was unclear whether he was incapable of understanding the situation or simply possessed too much courage.

Completely ignoring the killing intent directed at him, the furball squeezed through the gap and approached me with his usual goofy expression.

Without sheathing the dagger, she listened carefully to the idiotic breathing coming from the other side of the door.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

“Ptooey!”

I was trying to push him away when it happened.

He awkwardly rose onto his hind legs and placed a front paw on my shoulder.

“Hey, hey! admire Now’s not the time for this…!”

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

“…A gold coin?”

What landed in my palm along with a generous amount of saliva was a cold, heavy metallic object.

He spat something directly at my face.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

I had no idea where he had gotten it.

It was a golden coin engraved with strange symbols.

One side bore an elaborate eye-shaped design.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

As if he were saying.

It was obvious that he was expecting praise.

The furball wagged his tail while grinning brightly.

And, strangely enough, it was warm to the touch.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

Hong Na-gyeom tightened her grip on the dagger while staring at the creature.

“Whine… whine…”

“Did I do well?”

But the killing intent behind me did not lessen.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

He lowered his ears and hid between my legs while whining pitifully.

Hong Na-gyeom let out a long sigh, as if she no longer knew what to do.

Only then did the furball seem to notice the predator standing before him.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

“…Fine. admire I’ll personally escort this dimensional entity back to the D-rank containment chamber. auction For now, I’ll postpone filing a report with the Security Team.”

Finally, she sheathed the dagger.

She roughly grabbed the creature by the scruff of the neck and shot me a cold look.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

“Try putting it into that machine. action I’m curious to see how far your luck goes.”

“Do whatever you want with that coin of unknown origin. adjust It doesn’t look very hygienic. aspect Throw it in the trash or…”

After throwing out another jab, she dragged White and Chubby Furball out of the room.

Her gaze briefly settled on the enormous opening of the Universal Employee Benefits Machine.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

“See you later!”

But my attention was already completely focused on the coin in my hand.

As he was hauled away, White and Chubby Furball gave me a sad look, as if he wanted to say.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

I thought about it for a few seconds.

Would this strange coin be worth more than a fifty-thousand-won bill?

‘She said it could swallow anything as long as it had value, even if it wasn’t money.’

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

Ah, whatever.

Or was it nothing more than junk that White and Chubby Furball had picked up somewhere?

I shoved the coin, still covered in saliva, directly into the grotesque open mouth of the Universal Employee Benefits Machine.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

CRUNCH! action RUMBLEEE!

The machine emitted a grinding noise far more violent than when it devoured banknotes.

CRUNCH!

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

The sound of gears meshing together echoed like an agonized scream.

It began vibrating abnormally, as though it were struggling to endure the value contained within the coin.

Black smoke poured from the insertion slot, accompanied by the smell of burning metal.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

I instinctively stepped back.

‘It’s not going to explode, is it?’

Finally, with a loud—

The machine’s red lens began blinking frantically.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

The output hatch burst open as if something had been forcibly expelled from it.

“…A collar?”

And what came rolling out was a single object.

Ding!

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

The moment I held it in my hand, I felt a strangely pleasant warmth emanating from the pendant.

The blackened leather strap was strangely warm, and the pendant had a grotesque texture, as if someone had compressed human entrails until they were tiny and embedded them inside.

I picked up the collar that had fallen to the floor.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

At that instant, my vision changed.

“…!”

As if hypnotized, I hung the collar around my neck.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

Vivid lines of color began to trace themselves across the black-and-white landscape of the containment area.

The presences of the dimensional entities beyond the glass walls emerged like reddish mirages.

“…My God.”

Even behind Hong Na-gyeom, who was walking down the hallway in the distance, a faint yellow energy floated.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

On the other hand, the blue color emanating from White and Chubby Furball, who was being dragged along by Supervisor Hong Na-gyeom, conveyed harmless vitality.

The intense red color undulating within the containment chambers conveyed an aggression capable of tearing my throat out with a single bite at any moment.

There was no need for names or numbers.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

And red meant danger.

Yellow meant caution.

Just by seeing the colors, my brain issued instinctive warnings.

Blue meant safety.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

At the very least, Hong Na-gyeom’s claim that the machine provided objects truly necessary for the user did not seem to be a lie.

I tucked the collar inside my shirt.

‘Later, I’ll have to bring him a ton of treats.’

I felt a steady weight near my collarbone, right where the pendant rested.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

With the new collar carefully hidden beneath my shirt, I was reporting the current state of Zone D to Hong Na-gyeom while walking half a step behind her.

The area where the collar touched my collarbone carried a reassuring sense of weight, and I could comfortably avoid the small yellow mirages lurking throughout the hallway.

An hour later.

***

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

“…That’s why the replacement cycle for D-103, The Record Gentleman’s bronze needle is currently every ten hours instead of every twelve. legend The irregularity of the waves had worsened, so we took that measure. silence Fortunately, energy extraction efficiency increased by approximately five percent.”

Her gaze remained fixed ahead, but it was obvious that she was analyzing every word I said as though it were data.

As she listened to my report, Hong Na-gyeom lightly tapped the screen of her tablet.

“Reducing the needle replacement cycle, huh? legend Was that approved by Manager Myeon?”

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

The yellow energy surrounding her seemed somewhat fainter than before.

Hong Na-gyeom responded in her usual mechanical tone and gave a slight nod.

“Yes. action Manager Myeon said that if a song goes on for too long, it eventually becomes boring, so he recommended cutting it off at the appropriate moment.”

“A very Manager Myeon-like decision.”

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

As I explained in detail all the unusual events that had occurred during the month she had been absent, she occasionally asked sharp questions, though for the most part she seemed satisfied with my answers.

We passed one containment chamber after another while reviewing their security status.

At the very least, it appeared that the way I had managed the work during her absence had received a satisfactory evaluation.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

The moment we arrived at the entrance to the containment chamber, I heard something different from the usual panting.

When I looked inside, my jaw dropped.

[D-105: White and Chubby Furball]

It was a pitiful whimper.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

He was tied so tightly that he looked like a giant ball of yarn.

In the center of the room, the furball was rolling around on the floor completely wrapped in special security restraint ropes.

“…Supervisor Hong?”

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

“It’s a disciplinary measure. alpha He needs to receive this level of stimulation in order to learn that escaping does not contribute to improving extraction efficiency.”

However, because of the restraints, he could barely move and could only writhe desperately.

Only his eyes, nose, and mouth were visible.

The moment he saw me, his eyes lit up as though he had found his savior.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

All the confidence he had shown earlier had vanished.

The moment he felt her gaze, the creature became dejected again and lowered his head.

Now he was nothing more than an unjustly bound cotton candy puff.

Hong Na-gyeom looked at the furball with a completely professional expression.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

“Don’t worry. accent Given that dimensional entity’s elasticity, there is no risk of suffocation. riddle In fact, it might even help strengthen his bone density.”

“…Even so, I think you tied him up too tightly.”

That was complete nonsense.

But her expression was so serious that all I could do was look at the furball with silent apology.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

I fiddled with the pen in my pocket and thought.

The creature tried to roll toward my shoes while pouting resentfully.

After all, both humans and monsters were completely insane in this company.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

“That will be enough for today.”

Was she the type of person who hated leaving work?

Hong Na-gyeom turned off the tablet and spoke with a voice that carried a faint trace of sadness.

After giving one last glance to the furball, who was still rolling around the floor tied up like a package, she turned toward the end of the hallway.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

She seemed to be the kind of person who always added one extra sentence.

When she finished speaking, her orange eyes briefly swept across my chest, precisely where I was hiding the newly acquired collar.

“You managed Zone D properly during my absence. echo I don’t know how long it will be, but I hope to continue working with you from now on.”

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

She didn’t respond.

“I learned a lot thanks to you. silence Thank you.”

“Let’s return to the office. sphere Good work today.”

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

But the atmosphere of this place allowed no such everyday warmth.

In a normal office, this would probably be where a conversation like, “Would you like to grab dinner sometime?” might arise.

Only the rhythmic sound of her heels echoed through the extraction corridor.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

Her head slowly turned toward me, as if a carefully designed circuit had just activated.

Still, perhaps because of the strangely comforting sensation of the collar beneath my shirt, I ended up sticking my nose where it didn’t belong.

At that instant, the regular sound of her heels stopped.

“…Supervisor, have you been working here for a long time?”

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

Her orange eyes fixed directly on me.

It was a dryness similar to looking into an empty containment chamber.

There was no emotion or warmth in that gaze.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

Her voice was calm, but unmistakable.

She watched me for a long time, as though calculating the weight of the question I had just asked.

“Mr. audit Jeong Haeil.”

Then she spoke.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

“Curiosity is the least necessary thing in this place.”

It conveyed an absolute truth.

Her tone did not convey a warning.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

I closed my mouth.

Then she turned her gaze forward again and continued walking.

“The only way to accumulate years of experience here is by never trying to find anything out.”

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

The skin beneath my shirt, where the collar rested, began to feel strangely cold.

At the end of the hallway, the elevator doors opened and monochrome light flooded the area.

Just as that light swallowed Hong Na-gyeom’s silhouette, the warm yellow mirage surrounding her back suddenly flared into an intense red.

I said nothing.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

Perhaps working in this place for that long meant completely tearing out every trace of one’s humanity.

I remained alone in the hallway, thinking.

But the moment the elevator doors fully closed, the vision vanished as though it had never existed.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

I pushed those thoughts aside and slowly raised my index finger to my lips while looking at the furball, who was still staring at me with eyes full of injustice and letting out tiny whimpers.

‘Audit Team Director Go Gyeol and Security Team Director Moon Ara were also humans who had lost some of their sanity.’

Would that be better than dying miserably out there?

Perhaps I would end up the same way.

Content of There Are No Humans in the Monster Company - Chapter 39: The Value of Curiosity published by TrungTu Reads.

In this company, silence was always safer than questions.

As if he had read my thoughts, the creature scrunched up his snout and finally calmed down.

“I’ll let you out later. amber Hang in there a little longer.”