This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 382

It’s a bit late to say this now, but I’ve never seen a place where the image inside the Association is so different from the one outside.

Before I got the title of manager, back when I was just an ordinary high school student, the Association seemed like a stern and unyielding place to me.

However, after obtaining the manager qualification and spending three unexpected years there, I discovered that, surprisingly, the Association had its own flexibility.

‘That flexibility was mostly concentrated among the heroes.’

If nothing else, you could say the heroes were definitely taken care of.

Among those, the Association particularly focused on the aspect of ‘rest’.

Given that risking one’s life is the standard in this profession, the stress accumulated while working could be immense compared to other job categories. Therefore, they made sure to provide means for stress relief.

Thus, for the heroes working at the Association, ‘holidays’ were almost a sacred ground, and the act of ‘calling in’ was incredibly unfamiliar.

You could say it was somewhat of an unwritten rule.

But that unwritten rule just got broken.

Along with the sirens still ringing out now.

So Chae-rim and Yoonseo, both displaying annoyed expressions as if they had made a pact, were also exchanging glances as if sensing something was awry.

If the sirens echoing in the room were just one?

The atmosphere would have indeed turned serious, but not to this extent.

For if that were the case, the sound would be calling Chae-rim, specifically the Vice Chairwoman of the Korean branch.

However, the sirens blaring throughout the room were three in total, which meant?

It was a total assembly order issued by the Association for managers, heroes, and even those in management positions.

The Vice Chairwoman Chae-rim, along with the active hero Yoonseo, were certainly called in, but even managers, who barely contributed to actual combat, were summoned.

What could possibly be happening outside?

The more I thought about it, the more a sense of unease slithered up my spine, making my expression harden.

Bang—!

From a distance, specifically from the window at the back, an explosion was heard.

Although it came from quite a way off, the size was still small, but there was no doubt it was an explosion.

Perhaps because of that?

Immediately after that sound echoed, a heavy silence descended upon the room, weighing down on us.

Simultaneously, Yoonseo and Chae-rim’s gazes crossed once again in the air.

And just after that, the one who rose from the bed was?

None other than Yoonseo.

Since the opponent was practically the most senior among the active ones, Chae-rim, was she feeling at all undermined?

Maybe she worried that something might drip out from inside while she moved, as she slid one hand between her thighs and wormed her way across the bed, nervously picking up her clothes that had ended up outside.

Then, she pulled out her mobile phone, which was letting out a loud siren sound.

At that moment, Yoonseo’s attention was entirely focused on the mobile phone in her hand.

Even when she first began to move her eyes, if anything it was just curiosity about what could make such a ruckus, Yoonseo’s face was overtaken by a look of confusion.

And perhaps because I too was looking at her, I picked up on her change right away.

“…Why? What does it say? Is it serious?”

Chae-rim’s lips parted and those words came tumbling out.

And Chae-rim’s voice when she spoke?

It was so calm it was hard to believe it was the same person who had been all fired up just a moment ago.

Perhaps because of the ominous sound from earlier, Chae-rim’s voice sounded tense.

“I-I don’t know…”

Yoonseo’s voice was slightly trembling, following the careful sound of a gulp.

Wait, how could she not know?

That thought must have flickered through my mind.

“It just says… to come to headquarters as soon as I check the message…”

Filled with a confused tone, Yoonseo’s voice continued, and upon hearing that, Chae-rim’s expression grew even more serious.

Then—

“First of all, both of you get dressed.”

Without hesitation, she sprang up and began putting on the clothes she had hastily thrown aside.

Chae-rim’s face was stiffer than ever as she started to put her clothes back on.

Thus, even as I followed Chae-rim’s lead, I couldn’t shake off the question.

Looking at Chae-rim’s expression, which seemed to suggest she knew what that message meant, what could it possibly indicate that made her look so serious?

‘Even when she heard news of the Association Chairman returning, her expression wasn’t this serious…’

That meant?

There must be a situation even more serious than that.

Considering the explosion we just heard…

“Could it be that the Another Ones are launching a large-scale attack?”

That was likely the case.

And Chae-rim’s response to my question was—

“I don’t know.”

It was not much different from Yoonseo’s earlier response.

“However, what’s certain is… we need to join the Association as quickly as possible.”

The problem lay in what followed that statement.

According to Chae-rim’s additional explanation, it was said that the Association had only issued such a large-scale assembly order during the second major air raid.

“So both of you… brace yourselves; it’s probably chaos outside right now.”

“Could it be that the Another Ones have found out we’re planning an invasion?”

How could there be an attack comparable to the second major air raid at such timing?

I couldn’t help but think that.

“…That could be possible.”

Chae-rim seemed to partially agree with my thoughts.

“Anyway, have you both put on your clothes?”

“Yes.”

“…Yes.”

“Then let’s move out right away.”

With that, Chae-rim naturally took the lead as she started to move, and following her, we arrived not at the underground parking lot, but at the entrance on the first floor of the building.

“What about the car…?”

“…We’re walking to the Association. If my guess is right, a motorcycle might work, but a car would likely just get in the way.”

To cut to the chase… Chae-rim’s guess was spot on.

Despite a little damage at the entry point, the inside of the building was relatively calm, in stark contrast to the chaos outside.

It was as if some enormous giant had gone on a rampage, with cars crushed and debris scattered all over the roads.

If we had brought a car?

We would have barely been able to move, getting stuck because of those wrecks.

“Ugh…”

“Help me…”

The street, typically filled with the sounds of engines, was now filled with piercing screams, painful moans, and desperate cries for help.

And layering those sounds like a backdrop was the sound of everyday life shattering.

Perhaps because of the overwhelming sounds that now filled my ears?

Unknowingly, I had stopped in my tracks, clutching my left arm, as a sharp pain began to spread down my back with a crack.

“Get it together. We need to move.”

“Y-Yeah…”

Perhaps my answer hadn’t been reliable.

Chae-rim’s gaze turned toward Yoonseo, who was standing next to me.

“Yoonseo, I know you’re confused, but… Yoonseo, make sure to look after Dogun from the back. If we get separated, we’re in big trouble…”

“…Got it.”

What is this calmness?

Just a moment ago, didn’t they have an intense growling situation?

Although the situation had changed, it was still hard to believe their suddenly shifted atmosphere as I found myself caught in a daze.

“Wait, just a second…!”

“What’s wrong now? We don’t have time for this!”

“Bora!”

With everything changing so quickly, I had momentarily forgotten something crucial.

“Bora? We need to make sure to take Bora with us!”