This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 309

Dogun’s Perspective

“If I’m going to hire someone as a manager, then it has to be you, Dogun.”

Was it because of the serious tone of my senior’s voice?

That statement felt like a confession to me.

Perhaps that’s why, upon hearing those words, my heart started beating wildly.

Of course, I didn’t let it get to my head and act rashly.

After all, while it may have sounded that way, it was too ambiguous to truly call it a real confession.

What was certain, though, was that it didn’t feel bad at all.

“Hmm.”

It couldn’t be helped.

It couldn’t be helped because I was a complete rookie in this industry.

What that meant?

It meant that when it came to abilities as a manager, there could easily be people who were several times more capable than me.

Of course… if someone had that much skill, there was a high likelihood they were already managing other heroes in the field…

Anyway, my senior had given up all those possibilities and said it had to be me.

So, it was only natural that I felt good about it.

The tingling sensation in my stomach, which was trying to sneak up and make me smile, was the reason I coughed awkwardly and covered my mouth with my hand.

Feeling good but grinning broadly would just make me look silly.

After controlling the corners of my mouth, I said, “Well… if you say that, I have no choice but to work hard.”

I used humor to lighten the mood.

Because if I didn’t, I’d be overwhelmed by the ambiguously embarrassing feelings crawling up my body right now.

So I said that, and thankfully, my teasing seemed to have some effect.

My senior chuckled, her face breaking into a natural smile as she responded to me.

“Then I can expect great things today, right?”

What did I say to her after that…?

“Of course! Just trust me. I’ll make sure you have a comfortable time.”

Yeah, I definitely said that.

So what could I do?

Everything around was brand new, making my eyes and mind spin.

At that moment, I was struggling with the operating console that an association staff member had brought in, trying to understand as much as I could with the accompanying manual.

“How… is it going?”

My senior, who had briefly left to change clothes, returned with that question.

As I instinctively turned to look, I was left speechless by what I saw.

It was impossible not to be stunned because my senior’s outfit was completely different from what she usually wore.

What do you call that… a Rider Suit?

I might not know the official term, but regardless, my senior was wearing something that clung tightly to her body.

As a result, her already voluptuous figure was showcased perfectly in that outfit.

It was absolutely the kind of attire that any man couldn’t help but be drawn to.

Without realizing it, I stared in awe, and based on my reaction, my senior’s face turned slightly red.

“Is this… a bit weird?”

Weird?

What on earth was she basing that nonsensical comment on?

The truth was that I was just now realizing how much I liked Rider Suits.

But weird?

If I stayed silent any longer or nodded even slightly, she’d probably head right back to the changing room with that assertiveness, so I immediately denied it.

“N-no! It’s not that…”

“Then?”

“Uh, um… how should I put this…”

Hesitating, I took a moment to think.

I couldn’t help but feel that if I let any of the thoughts bubbling in my head out without filtering, it might come off as sexual harassment.

“…It’s just that it’s different from your usual style, so I was a bit surprised?”

“That’s definitely true…”

“But it really suits you.”

“…Really?”

From the way she responded, it seemed like she didn’t quite believe me, but it was true.

The combination of my senior’s consistent effort and talent with the form-fitting black Rider Suit along with her long black hair was simply a perfect match.

By the way, why was she suddenly in a Rider Suit?

That became clear soon enough.

Because she showed me herself.

“Senior… you can ride a bike too?”

“Actually… I just learned not long ago.”

“Oh…”

“Originally, I was using a car provided by the association to get to nearby scenes, but… well, the car has its limitations.”

I see…

‘That’s right, there are plenty of narrow alleys that cars can’t get through…’

But still, a bike?

Just a few months ago, my senior, the epitome of diligence as the Student Council President, was now on a bike.

With the memory of her steadfastness as a symbol of reliability, the contrast felt dissonant, but… strangely, they seemed to fit well together.

The bike was entirely black, matching the Rider Suit she wore, and both exuded a futuristic vibe.

Moreover, the sheath for the sword, which I hadn’t noticed earlier, further contributed to that vibe, making her look as if she’d just stepped out of a cyberpunk world.

Putting on the helmet hanging on the bike would only amplify that impression.

Honestly, I was a bit worried too.

Bikes don’t exactly have the best reputation for safety.

“You probably already know this, but… just remember to take care of yourself first, okay? Don’t push yourself just because you’re in a rush.”

My concerns were the reason I tightened my grip on her hand and urged her to be cautious.

And thankfully, my grip seemed to work.

“Okay, I’ll do that.”

Maybe to reassure me, my senior squeezed my hand firmly and smiled brightly.

After bidding farewell to her, I returned to the association and headed towards what could be called the control tower.

As I settled into one of the prepared seats, my first duty as a manager began.

And as I got into the thick of it, I quickly realized why my senior, usually tough and resistant to complaining, had to ask for help.

Beep—!

Beep—!

Beep—!

Beep—!

What’s that sound?

That was the alert signaling that a request for deployment had come in for my senior.

The sounds rang out loudly as I swiftly adjusted her status from unavailable to available on the operating console, just as I had read in the manual.

‘What the…’

To be honest?

Recently, I thought my senior was busy due to an overwhelming workload rather than simply an influx of tasks; I figured it was because she was trying to handle everything alone.

From my perspective, that was the only explanation since she had just obtained her hero qualification, making her a “rookie.”

Generally, new members are typically not assigned too much work in any group.

Even if they were, it would usually be simple tasks manageable by anyone or those designated for training…

So, her deployment request list, which should contain easy tasks, was strangely mixed with things I wondered if a rookie hero should handle at all.

Therefore, I couldn’t help but feel a bit perplexed.

‘This seems a bit strange…’