This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 62

‘Uh…’

What could it be?

At first, I thought it was just a coincidence.

I figured if I was guiding people, there might be a few moments of eye contact, so what was the big deal?

But then it happened twice, three times, and with that recent encounter, I could no longer brush it off.

So, the thought that crossed my mind was, ‘What did I mess up?’

Maybe it was odd that I ran into a sophomore I accidentally met before even enrolling in the class where I took on the role of Student Council President.

But isn’t it just human nature to jump to negative conclusions first?

With that in mind, I started to feel increasingly self-conscious about my appearance.

“Hey.”

“Uh?”

“Is there anything weird about me?”

That question was directed at Jinho Mk.2, who had probably turned into a die-hard fan by now.

After taking a good look at me, I didn’t think there was anything particularly off, but maybe there was something I couldn’t see.

“Weird? What do you mean?”

“Uh, you know… like if my tie is crooked or if there’s something on my clothes…”

“Hmm…?”

Upon hearing my words, he briefly looked at me, perplexed, then started examining me from side to side with his head moving this way and that.

“I don’t think there’s anything weird.”

“Oh…?”

Then what was it?

Was he really just curious?

“But why do you ask?”

“Oh… it just seems like the Student Council President keeps looking in this direction.”

I had said that based purely on observation.

But as soon as the words left my mouth, he burst out laughing in disbelief.

“Man, are you overly conscious of yourself?”

“No, it’s just that our eyes met…!”

“Yeah, right. That’s just your interpretation. From the President’s perspective, she might just be checking if everyone is following along.”

But still, it was pretty strange that we had made eye contact four times…

I brushed it off, as the atmosphere wasn’t exactly welcoming toward my claims.

Meanwhile, our tour of the school facilities was coming to a close.

“Lastly, this is… the Special Physical Education Room.”

Special Physical Education Room.

The moment I heard the term, I instantly understood.

‘So this is the place.’

In other words, it’s a training facility for aspiring heroes.

I had heard that every high school is legally required to have at least one, starting from high school, but I didn’t expect to actually see one here…

The Special Physical Education Room at Yeongang High School was of much better quality than I had imagined.

Considering that the only person who practically used this space was that Baeksulhwa girl, it was even more impressive.

‘Well…’

Upon reflection, it might be expected.

If high schools in the previous life obsessed over sending as many students as possible to prestigious colleges, I’ve heard that high schools in this world pour their hearts and souls into producing at least one successful candidate for the hero qualification exam.

The reason Whiseong High, which I had listed as my first choice, is regarded as prestigious and boasts an overwhelming competition ratio likely stems from that atmosphere.

Anyway, since there’s this subtle rivalry between schools over the number of heroes they produce, I’ve heard that the vibe of regular tournaments starting from high school is quite different.

It reportedly leans more towards inter-school competitions, unlike in middle school.

When considering that unspoken pride, it wouldn’t be surprising for Yeongang High to openly grant various privileges to that Baeksulhwa girl.

‘But then, will I be treated as a traitor during the regular tournament…?’

That lingering worry came to mind because I really couldn’t see Yoonseo doing nothing about this.

Even if I kept quiet, I could imagine she wouldn’t.

No, on the contrary… if I stayed silent, wouldn’t she create more of a fuss?

Considering Yoonseo’s current level, she’d easily be considered an ace even as a first-year.

That utterly meaningless defeat I experienced during the last tournament in middle school must have acted like a wake-up call for Yoonseo, as she had been practicing diligently ever since.

Even before that, Yoonseo was already regarded as a formidable opponent among peers, but just imagine her dedicating herself to her training with that kind of seriousness.

How much would her skills grow?

As Dogun was contemplating Yoonseo while looking around the so-called Special Physical Education Room, coincidentally, Yoonseo was also thinking about Dogun at the same time.

Of course, the reasons were a bit different…

*

‘I miss Dogun…’

Is this what they mean by saying that those who have a place don’t know how it feels to be without one?

Not having that person who was always by my side felt unbearably empty.

It wasn’t like Dogun had gone off to a dormitory somewhere; we were just separated while at school, so I thought it wouldn’t be a big deal once we saw each other afterward…

‘What is he doing right now…?’

Has the entrance ceremony already ended?

The more I thought about it, the stronger my feelings of loneliness became, and out of habit, I found myself fiddling with the band-aid I’d put on.

I felt like if I didn’t do that, my lips would stick out in a reckless manner.

‘Geez… not even a text…’

Of course, I understood.

Being the first day, Dogun was probably busy and wouldn’t have time to look at his mobile phone.

But still… couldn’t he at least send a short message to ask how things were over here?

‘Should I just…’

Send a message first?

That thought crossed my mind, but I couldn’t bring myself to act.

I couldn’t do it because I didn’t know what kind of situation Dogun was in.

If, by chance, a teacher was nearby, and my text made his phone ring and it got confiscated, that would be a disaster.

So I hesitated, yet it annoyed me that I was even hesitating over such a trivial matter.

After all, up until now, I had never had to think about this kind of thing.

‘It’s the first day, will it never end…?’

Given the situation, those were the only thoughts I could cling to.

While Yoonseo was lost in such thoughts, resembling a newly employed office worker who had just sat down and started working, her peers were curiously observing her.

Of course, those looking on with curiosity were only the fellow first-year students who had enrolled on the same day, while the upperclassmen, eager to seize the moment and establish themselves early, cast menacing glances at her.

As poorly timed luck would have it, the assigned seat next to Yoonseo turned out to be the hot seat for one of the senior’s sour looks.

Tentatively, an arm reached over and poked Yoonseo in the side, jolting her back to reality from her trance.

“…Huh? Why?”

And it was at that moment that someone among those who had been glaring at Yoonseo stepped forward.

“Were you Yoonseo? You seem relaxed enough, so I guess you’re the first one we can deal with.”

“…What do you mean?”

“You… haven’t heard anything? It’s about the skill test.”

Skill test.

The moment that term echoed in her ears, Yoonseo thought.

‘Oh, I see…’

That must be it.

Back when we went camping last time, didn’t Dogun mention something like that?

Whiseong High had way more aspiring heroes than Yeongang High, so the atmosphere might be a bit different from middle school.

In that case… wouldn’t the upperclassmen be throwing a fit trying to prove themselves?

So she had asked what would happen if that occurred.

Dogun had said something like this.

– If the upperclassmen start acting up, you should remind them of their place.

Right… he definitely said something like that.

“Ah, the skill test? Sure.”

That was why she nodded so readily at the senior who appeared to be in charge of the second year.

“…What?”

In response, she was met with a look of disbelief.

Did they expect her to be the one getting nervous?

If that was the case, then they had picked the wrong target.

In order to feel nervous, there would need to be a reason to, and honestly, she felt like she couldn’t lose to anyone right now.

Even if what stood before her was that Baeksulhwa girl or whoever she was, it was the same.

Dogun had always told her never to let arrogance take over, but this wasn’t arrogance.

It was confidence.

Confidence born from the belief that the path Dogun had paved and the countless practices they had devised together were absolutely on point.

That confidence filled her heart.

So, she calmly questioned those who were looking at her in disbelief.

“When does the skill test start? I’m ready to begin right now.”

“Hah…!”

What caught her attention through all this was—

‘Come to think of it, that Baeksulhwa girl is from Yeongang too…’

That thought lingered in her mind.

‘Dare I hope…’

What if they happened to run into each other?