Chapter 08
“Are we really fighting that guy?”
After the brief introduction with Section Chief Yeom that had gone on for a while,
I spent some time trying to survive by digging through the company computer while the boss kept throwing summaries at me.
After a while of uneasy calm, Section Head Ma stood up first.
“It’s time to go home. Everyone wrap up.”
Then he looked at me.
“Junior Jung? Tomorrow is inspection of B Zone. Section Chief Sik will take you and guide you slowly through it.”
At his words, Section Chief Sik let out a low growl.
The sound shook my bones. It was so heavy I could easily guess how far my breakfast had been digested.
But Section Head Ma just nodded calmly, and Assistant Hand joined in like it was normal.
“Good. B Zone has been stable lately. If not now, when would Junior Jung ever go in? I’ll head out first. See you tomorrow, Ha-il.”
“Yes, see you tomorrow.”
“Go home safely, Junior Jung. Good work today.”
“Yes… I’ll head out as well.”
With those voices behind me, I forced a smile and left the office.
When I opened the door, it felt like opening a familiar, unwanted world.
My room was there, like always.
Half-dried laundry, dim lighting, boxes piled in the corner, a shirt casually thrown on the bed.
The clock on the wall showed 6:42 PM.
“…At least it’s an early leave.”
I muttered.
The only positive thing I could say in this company.
I dropped my bag carelessly and turned on the shower.
The moment water hit my body, it felt like my muscles melted.
After a day of collapsing in the morning, living among monsters, reciting poetry to non-human beings, and trying to communicate with chained beasts—
Even warm water felt like a blessing.
After showering, I lay on the bed, drying my hair with a towel.
The blanket was still damp. The room felt unpleasantly humid.
But I didn’t care.
I slowly replayed the day.
- “By the way, Ha-il, what was your major?”
Assistant Hand.
Even though having a “hand for a head” is still hard to accept, he was the most normal one so far.
At least he could talk.
The only problem is that he treats life-or-death situations like jokes.
- “I remember. Since you’re now part of my bloodline, I hope you survive a long time.”
Section Chief Batory.
Her beauty felt like it was artificially cultivated from all human aesthetics.
But it was all a false shell.
Cracked cheeks, opening mouths, eyes flowing like blood.
And that gaze—slowly tasting me.
- “You are looking at me. I am looking at you. We are becoming alike.”
D-7.
Anemone’s monologue.
Three huge anemones growing from a severed head’s eye sockets and mouth.
Words that shouldn’t exist in any manual.
I was glad I didn’t repeat them.
More precisely, glad I couldn’t repeat them.
Lastly—
- “Grrrrr…”
Section Chief Sik.
Not a beast pretending to be human, but a beast struggling to imitate one.
A massive creature dragging chains.
“From now on, I have to work with them?”
Unfortunately… that was my daily life.
I pulled the blanket up to my chin.
Batory’s drink, Sik’s chains, Assistant Hand’s movements, and the first extraction scene all mixed together in my head.
“….”
Silence.
The fridge in my room clicked softly as it settled.
That was the only normal sound in the world.
The next morning
Work started early and merciless as always.
When I opened the office door, I saw the same—no, the things I should never get used to.
Section Head Ma with seven faces turning at once.
Assistant Hand waving his fist-like head.
Section Chief Batory, quietly watching with blood-red eyes.
And Section Chief Sik, shaking his massive shoulders while dragging chains in the corner.
“Good morning.”
I greeted them politely, keeping a calm face.
In this company, social manners are directly tied to survival.
Section Head Ma smiled kindly.
“Yes, Junior Jung. Another joyful day.”
One of his mouths yawned while another smiled without closing.
“Yes. Morning greetings are the most important thing.”
Assistant Hand added, waving his fist-like hand cheerfully.
Batory only shifted her gaze slightly.
Her neck tilted elegantly, revealing a glimpse of a mouth near her collarbone.
“Hehe… your blood condition is good today.”
It was unclear whether it was a greeting or a request for blood donation.
And then—
Section Chief Sik stood up, chains rattling behind him.
His 2.5-meter body barely fit under the ceiling.
He turned toward me.
Yellow eyes blinked through black fur.
“Grrrrrrr—”
I froze again.
It wasn’t language.
Not even a sound of communication.
More like the breath of a dead god.
The problem was—
‘What… what is he saying?’
Is it “Are you ready?” Or “Don’t be late?” Or… “Are you hungry?”
I didn’t know.
So I just shouted.
“Yes! I’m ready!”
Silence.
Every eye in the office turned toward me.
‘…Did I mess up?’
Before I could panic further—
Section Chief Sik slowly, very slowly nodded.
“Grrrrr…”
A satisfied growl.
Assistant Hand laughed beside me.
“Good, good. Everyone’s energetic today.”
Sik growled back at him and walked ahead first.
His chains scraped the floor as he moved out.
The giant beast, dragging iron chains, brushing against the doorframe.
“Junior Jung’s voice… seems like he will survive today.”
Section Head Ma said something strange.
Then Batory’s voice followed.
“Then why aren’t you following?”
I straightened up immediately and followed Sik.
The hallway was dark and quiet.
Only the shadow of Sik covered the walls.
“Next week… I might die. Maybe. Please don’t.”
At the end of the hallway, the door to the extraction zone opened automatically as Sik approached.
A heavy metallic sound echoed like a steel plate groaning.
Sik glanced back.
I quickly scanned his breath, fur, and eyes, then spoke.
“Understood!”
“Grrrr.”
He seemed satisfied.
The massive shadow stepped inside first.
What awaited us was a space too large to call a containment room.
High ceilings, steel pillars aligned, tubes and injectors hanging from above.
Each cell had red glowing labels and numbers.
Inside each was something writhing behind black glass.
B-6 Containment Cell
Entity: Bell of Void
Type: Object form
Details: Periodic vocalization / time perception distortion / no sound exposure during extraction
“No sound exposure?”
While I read, Sik pressed the control panel with his furry arm.
The door opened.
Inside was an old, huge bell.
Rusty, but trembling slightly like it had a heart.
Nothing seemed special.
Except—
It floated in midair.
And its inside was completely black.
Then—
—DING.
My head rang.
Not sound. Not hallucination.
Something like a hammer striking deep metal from underground.
My vision wavered.
The corridor tilted.
Sik immediately stepped forward.
He shoved me back with one arm and slammed the emergency soundproofing button.
The door shut instantly.
I gasped for breath.
My mind felt strange.
Like I had lost a few seconds of time.
Sik growled again.
“Grrr?”
“Yes… I didn’t hear anything. Completely silent. No problem.”
“Grr.”
He seemed satisfied.
We moved on.
B-8 Containment Cell
Entity: Behind the Butcher
Type: Biological form
Details: Light sensitive / no auditory stimulation / physical suppression effective
My eyes stopped at the last line.
‘Physical suppression?’
Sik moved.
The door opened.
Inside was pitch black.
Something crawled inside.
A creature that looked like a mass of limbs and tongues.
Then it moved.
Sik rushed in.
He roared.
The fight began instantly.
His massive arm slammed down.
Bones cracked.
Flesh tore.
The creature screamed—but it wasn’t really a scream.
Tongues lashed out, wrapping around Sik’s arm.
But he didn’t stop.
He tore them apart.
Blood splattered everywhere.
He ripped open its chest.
Internal organs spilled out, writhing like living things.
And then—
He stepped on them.
Calmly.
A low breath escaped him.
Sik stood up slowly, covered in blood.
Then he looked at me.
“Grrrr…”
Something like satisfaction.
The system voice echoed.
[Energy extraction complete. Target stabilized.]
The door opened.
Sik walked out like nothing happened.
Chains dragging behind him.
I stood there, empty.
‘This… is B-grade extraction?’
There were no procedures.
No method.
Just brute force until it stopped moving.
I looked at the tablet in my hand.
Five words:
Physical Suppression.
That was it.
No details.
No steps.
Nothing.
I came to a conclusion.
This company… is insane.
