This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 172

“Bombs, huh.”

Why say something so creepy?

It must have been the exact moment I thought that.

“Oh, was the word ‘bomb’ a little too much? It’s not like something is actually going to explode or anything.”

The doctor, who had tilted his head slightly, immediately corrected his statement that hadn’t even been out for five minutes, let alone one.

“Well, anyway, as you probably felt just now… it would be best to manage your stress well to avoid any issues.”

As he said this, the doctor shifted his gaze slightly from Chae-rim to me.

“Unless you want to see Awakened individuals around here collectively clutching their stomachs and wailing.”

Just as he added that, the packaging work, which had been silent for a long time with just the bandage beside him, finally began.

And to say this might feel a bit apologetic to Chae-rim, but those who have wrapped bandages before definitely do it at a completely different level.

It looked like it was wrapped carelessly and haphazardly, but the result looked like something a nurse who had worked in a large hospital for decades had done.

With this, it would be hard for anyone to even suspect that I was cosplaying as a patient.

If only it had stopped there—

“By the way… if news of her abilities gets out, villains will go crazy and come after her, right?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“No, I’m serious, right? If they just torment her enough to break her mentally and toss her into a place like the Association building, it’ll be easy for them to take it down.”

Why does he always have to add comments that lower my likeability?

After having one last playful banter with Chae-rim, the doctor targeted me this time.

“Anyway… as your attending physician, let me give you some advice: if you foresee any stressful situations, it’s best to avoid them.”

“Excuse me?”

“Right now, I’ve managed to suppress the mutations by embedding my abilities along the border, but if that gets neutralized… you know what I’m saying?”

As he said this, the doctor’s grin was unmistakably that of someone hoping for the next opportunity.

Thanks to that, while I wore a vague expression, his sudden comment echoed in my ears.

“That aside… have we met somewhere before?”

“…Huh?”

“Your face has felt strangely familiar since earlier.”

And it seemed that Chae-rim couldn’t hold back from retaliating against what was clearly a tease.

“Don’t make unnecessary jokes.”

She immediately interjected, growling at the doctor, yet he remained unyielding.

“But I’m serious…”

And with that rather frivolous remark, the treatment that had been filled with chatter and mischief finally came to an end.

Perhaps, because the urgent fires of treating my arm had been extinguished, it was understandable that although it was still impossible to fully treat my arm, I felt considerable relief just by blocking further mutations.

Thanks to that, I was able to think about what came next.

Was I the only one relieved by that realization?

Chae-rim’s expression as she exited the doctor’s mansion was noticeably more relaxed than when we entered.

And with that relaxed expression, the proposal she made was—

“Then, shall we go buy a mobile phone first?”

That was it.

A mobile phone, huh.

To be honest, it felt a bit sentimental.

Back when I was wandering through the world of Another Ones, I never imagined I’d get to use one again.

Yet I couldn’t bring myself to throw it away, as the battery had completely died, holding onto it as a hope against hope.

Throwing it away felt like I would be giving up the possibility of returning to my original world.

Thanks to that, the condition of the mobile phone that had accompanied me through all those journeys was far from good, but it was not unusable either.

It did get quite battered during our travels, as the screen was cracked like a spider web, but at least it wasn’t completely destroyed.

So, if I charged the battery, it would probably work just fine.

That’s why I agreed to Chae-rim’s suggestion of buying a mobile phone.

If there’s a place that sells mobile phones, they will inevitably sell chargers too.

So I planned to buy a charger and then charge my phone, before letting Yoonseo or Senior Seolhwa know that I was safe, so they would no longer worry.

I was following Chae-rim with that thought in mind.

“What are you doing over there?”

I must have been searching for a compatible charger for my phone at the place where mobile phone accessories were displayed.

Thanks to the quick-witted staff recognizing the new guest as the “Lightning Lady,” Chae-rim, who was talking to the manager, suddenly called out to me.

“Huh?”

“Come here and choose a color quickly.”

And she meant to say, why am I just standing there and not choosing?

Naturally, I wanted to refuse at first.

Even if my mobile phone had been completely busted, I would still refuse.

Despite being a bit wrecked and having a crack on the screen, it was honestly still usable.

There was no need to go far; my previous self had used a phone in a similar condition for years without a problem.

So I was going to refuse, saying it was still usable but… Chae-rim was relentless.

“Come on, the screen is cracked.”

“No, but…”

“If you’re not going to choose, then I’m picking out the color I like, okay? What color did you say this was?”

“Phantom Green.”

“Sounds good. I’ll take this one.”

“Oh, okay.”

Thanks to that, I snapped back to reality and realized a brand-new phone that had been out for less than three months was now in my hands.

And the data transfer had been completed too.

No, let’s brush past that; why is she buying three phones?

When two are for me and Chae-rim, then what about the extra one?

“Oh…”

Could it be… one for work and one for personal use?

Did that flicker of confusion show in my eyes?

“Oh, this? I have someone to send it to.”

Chae-rim replied while scribbling something with a pen on the back of the newly bought white one, responding to my unasked question.

“Should I send it to the address you wrote earlier?”

“Yes, please do that.”

And with that, I was left wondering about what happened to the newly introduced face who had taken my place—

“By the way, do you have any plans for your previous phone…?”

“Ah, can you give it to me?”

“Huh? Oh, sure.”

“Just in case…”

With a mumble, blue electricity sparked from Chae-rim’s hand, and it became an electric roast phone, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, evolving into an absurd state.

Did I really just witness that?

As the memories of the time spent with that phone replayed like a slideshow…

It was a brief moment.

I couldn’t be stuck there forever; the performance of the new phone was unrealistically good, and there were several urgent contacts to make.

“Let’s see… next, the hospital would be a good place to contact.”

“Hospital?”

“Yeah, just in case.”

“Is that okay?”

“Because of your arm?”

“Yeah, I just…”

“Don’t worry about that. If I provide suitable warnings, it’ll figure itself out.”

“Really…?”

“Yeah, just consider it a few days of relaxation at a hotel or something.”

With that, as we headed towards the hospital where Chae-rim suggested we stay for a while, I was planning to contact either Yoonseo or Senior Seolhwa.

I was about to do that, but… it seemed I might have to postpone contacting the two.

It didn’t feel like a good situation to reach out in.

What are these people?

What are they doing, surrounding me and Chae-rim like this?

I couldn’t help but have some guesses, but I wasn’t ready to be certain.

And more than anything… the pressure was intense.

While I panicked, Chae-rim remained calm throughout.

Is she really confident enough to take on this many people?

“You’re a bit late. I thought you would get here faster.”

“…”

“Seems like you’ve been busy lately?”

“The Association Chairman is looking for you.”

So these guys came from the association, huh.

What had been a tiny sliver of doubt turned into certainty as I internally nodded, while Chae-rim’s expression shifted to one that suggested ‘the moment has finally come.’

Of course, that expression lasted only a brief moment.

And truly, the next moment was exactly what I expected.

Chae-rim’s face turned bland as she said—

“Hmm… so?”

The words flowed from her lips that matched her expression perfectly.

“…What?”

And perhaps regardless of their true intentions, those approaching her as representatives were surely not expecting Chae-rim to confront the Association Chairman so openly.

The eyes of the person leading the group widened to the size of saucers, quickly revealing the emotion of surprise within.