This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 388

Association Chairman.

The weight of that name gifted an incredible sense of security to the people.

It couldn’t be helped.

It could not be helped because, looking at just her career during her active years, the person sitting in the current position of Association Chairman was someone Chae-rim could never catch up to.

After all, people wouldn’t have called her a ‘Hero’ for no reason.

If you think about it, is it not true that about a third of the reason South Korea can function relatively well is due to her contributions?

That’s right, the second great air raid conducted by the Anothers struck when the damage from the first air raid hadn’t even been fully restored, plunging many into despair.

In such circumstances, it was none other than the current Association Chairman and her colleagues who ran around without sparing their own bodies, gifting people with a thing called ‘hope.’

Was that why?

As soon as the voice of the Chairman echoed through the speakers, the faces of those gathered near Seolhwa, who were wearing worried expressions, noticeably eased.

It felt as if the Chairman had appeared, signaling that it was all over?

Seolhwa, who was so different from them despite being from the same generation, couldn’t empathize with the sense of security they were feeling.

‘Is it really that much?’


Of course… it was obvious that she was a remarkable person.

Why would I not know?

Just recalling my high school days and the name that frequently came up in modern history or Rift study classes was enough.

However… she was no longer active.

Not only was she not active, but she had also retired a long time ago, and yet, she bore that expression of relief.


Was this what they called a reputation?

‘Indeed…’


Just then, while I was silently muttering that Chae-rim had every right to struggle,

“I see you’re having difficulty understanding why we’re reacting this way.”

One of the rescue personnel, the highest-ranked employee among those rescued from the 8th and 9th floors, added with a soft smile.

I hadn’t shown any particular signs, but perhaps the realization I was thinking that reflected in my face?


Anyway, considering the situation, it was a bit awkward to deny it, so I just smiled sheepishly and nodded.

“Yeah… I know she was outstanding during her active years, but I learned about it all from textbooks…”

“Well, that makes sense… Seolhwa, you’re from a much later generation.”

Was the mention of textbooks a point of humor?


The employee, trying to suppress a peal of laughter, cleared their throat repeatedly.

“Speaking of textbooks… does it say in the textbook why the Association Chairman retired from the field?”

“No.”


I remembered it only said when she retired, but nothing more.


Given that it had been over three years now, perhaps it was possible.

“Ah, then it’s understandable that you wouldn’t know.”

“Know what?”

“Well, usually, don’t Heroes decide to retire because of the Talent Organ?”

Thanks to Dogun, we had long been freed from that issue, but still, that was the case.


And that was one of the reasons the Association struggled with a chronic shortage of personnel.

Thinking like that?


I felt a slight pang of conscience for essentially monopolizing Dogun’s abilities.


It couldn’t be helped, considering that if Dogun’s power were unleashed, overcoming the chronic personnel shortages of the Association would be a piece of cake.

Moreover… during a disaster like this, it would be extraordinarily effective.


This chain of thought kept spiraling, but I still didn’t want to focus on that.


There’s no way I’d want to do that.

Once Dogun’s abilities were revealed, I could already see what kind of treatment he’d receive.


Clearly… under the guise of public good, he would be subjected to the monitoring and management of the Association, treated almost like public property.

‘…Or worse.’


If it ended there, it might be a relief.


In the worst-case scenario… Dogun could end up relegated to a Hero’s exclusive plaything.


The possibility was substantial since we were talking about the Association.

If they were to realize the immense thrill that would accompany the restoration of the Talent Organ through Dogun’s powers?


They might assign him that role in the name of relieving Heroes’ stress, disregarding Dogun’s opinion altogether.


Of course, just because the Association stigmatised Dogun didn’t mean Heroes would rush at him like starving lions…


But it wouldn’t be long before that happened.

That’s because once one of them tasted that… thrill, the rumors would spread like wildfire.

‘And besides…’


Dogun was definitely good-looking.


He had the kind of looks that would make any woman feel attracted to him, so the repulsion other Heroes might feel would likely be lessened.


It wouldn’t just be about his face, though.

While not as much as his face, his physique was also impressive.


He had a body that was neither too skinny nor too muscular, perfectly filled with lean muscle.


It was a body that would undoubtedly draw sexual attraction from any woman, and thus, once rumors began to spread, they would undoubtedly escalate to uncontrollable levels.

It’s without a doubt that once Dogun’s abilities were revealed, that would happen, right?


My expression was about to contort on its own.

“…That’s right.”

“Many think the reason the Association Chairman retired was that very issue, but that’s not the case.”

Especially around my eyebrows and the corners of my mouth were causing trouble… rather than showing that as it was, I maintained my usual expression and nodded obediently, only to hear words I had never anticipated.


That the Association Chairman’s retirement from active duty had nothing to do with the Talent Organ.

Someone who was referred to as a hero by the public had doubtlessly poured everything into her active career, and when she began to give her all, it was a foregone conclusion that her Talent Organ would become fatigued, so I had assumed it was undoubtedly because of that.

If it wasn’t due to the Talent Organ, then why did the Chairman retire from active duty?


And that too… during her prime.

‘Could it be…?’


Did she suffer a serious injury while on duty?


And perhaps decided to retire for health reasons?


Considering that was the second most common reason for Heroes’ retirement, it might not be zero percent.

‘But she looks completely fine…’


It was hard to conclude that this was the case given how flawlessly I had seen the Chairman at various events.


If a Hero were seriously injured enough to consider retirement, it would necessarily come with aftereffects, suggesting that couldn’t be the correct answer either.

So what on earth could it be?


Honestly, apart from those two reasons, I couldn’t think of anything else, and while I was in that state of internal questioning…

“Since it’s a personal matter of the Association Chairman, I can’t just blurt anything out, but… what’s certain is that the Chairman’s Talent did not diminish at all during her active years.”

As if it were a matter of her own, the employee puffed out their chest and said that confidently, and finally, I was able to understand.


So that’s why those people had expressed such deep relief at hearing the name ‘Chairman.’

Thinking about it, they had no choice but to react that way.


After all, it literally meant that a living legend had just taken the stage.

‘That aside…’


How strong could a Hero once called a hero in the past actually be?


In the end, that was the part I was most curious about.

She wasn’t a deceased person; she was someone alive and well, and if she were so prominently mentioned in textbooks, it meant she had been extraordinary during her active years…


Having only read about their exploits in text, it didn’t resonate with me in the same way.

I had heard she had a Talent related to… ‘strength.’


‘Strength would imply it’s related to physical enhancement, right?’

But the limitations inherent in physical enhancement Talents were clearly defined, right?


To be referred to as a Hero with that kind of Talent was quite something, wasn’t it?


That would mean her Talent was extraordinary enough to break through the limits generally known for physical enhancement.

Lost in this whirlwind of questions, at that moment…


Once again, a crackling noise emitted from the speakers on the ceiling, sounding almost painful to the ears, before…

“We ask for your understanding regarding the unstable broadcasting status for unknown reasons.”


The broadcast, which had been cut off for a moment, resumed.

“The Association is currently under attack from unidentified monsters, and accordingly, the alert level has been elevated to Code Black.”

Code Black was a term I had heard of.


I remember it was a signal activated when the Association suffered immense damage due to some reason or found itself in a comparable situation…


Just as I recalled that much, a crackle again pierced the air, and the broadcast continued.

“Additionally, with the declaration of Code Black, the isolation of each zone will take place, so those inside the building should follow the manual.”

And with that, the building began to quiver as if it were alive.


This was finally the prologue to resistance.