This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 519

I couldn’t help but think, observing Dogun’s side profile deep in thought, what on earth he was concentrating so hard on.

Thank goodness it seems I wasn’t caught.

Considering how Dogun often catches on quickly to strange situations, I worried that perhaps my lie would be uncovered at any moment.

Looking at the way he had acted until now, it didn’t seem like he had figured out that I was lying.

Of course, all the behaviors he had shown so far were merely fabricated, and it’s possible he might have already sensed something but was intentionally pretending not to know…

Honestly, that probability isn’t very high.

This is simply the truth, as one of the most sensitive people to those kinds of things is Dogun himself.

Yet, the fact that everything has remained quiet until now… suggests he hasn’t noticed anything yet.

‘He might have suspected something, but…’

Any such suspicion would have melted away the moment he received the souvenirs from the support team.

It’d be great if I could continue to dodge the issue like this in the future…

But I suppose that’s going to be tough.

There’s really no such thing as absolute certainty in this world, and given that Dogun is currently supporting Chae-rim, who is struggling with her own issues, it’s only a matter of time before some expedition-related documents inevitably land in his hands.

Even considering that Chae-rim agreed to help keep a secret, such an event will surely occur sooner or later.

So… I need to verify whether the information acquired from that Riruka Shaki person is truly accurate as soon as possible.

Only then could I potentially use that fact as a bargaining chip when the situation arises.

‘The problem is…’

How on earth can I confirm that…?

In a situation where nothing seems certain, the only thing that stands out as definite is that, with our current strength, we absolutely cannot obtain what we want.

Not that the expedition team is underpowered.

What was the expedition team’s purpose anyway?

As the name suggests, the expedition team exists to “explore” Heogye and identify threatening elements.

In that light, while the rear unit might differ, the advance team is equipped with strength that perfectly aligns with that goal.

However, if the purpose of the expedition changes from mere exploration to something else—like identifying the nesting locations of unique entities presumed to be in the heart of Heogye and retrieving helpful samples?

Honestly, with our current strength, that would already feel quite vague.

Thinking about how the Another Ones wouldn’t just sit still when we invade makes it even more so.

‘It’s undeniable that the organizational capabilities of those affiliated with the RK Guard are exceptionally high, but…’

What is necessary in such situations is not that.

In dire straits—where circumstances have unraveled to the point of being left alone among enemies—what’s needed is overwhelming force capable of breaking through everything and returning to reality.

That’s what is required.

‘Of course, acquiring that kind of strength is never going to be easy.’

If we limit the field to within the country, there likely are only three individuals who possess such power, currently sitting at the Special-Class level.

While it’s a long shot, Baeksulhwa could also be a potential candidate if all else goes well.

But even then, considering she is merely a Second-Class hero at the moment, one could argue that looking for alternatives among the First-Class heroes might be more reasonable.

Yet, that’s something you can only say if you don’t truly understand the situation.

After all, the reason Baeksulhwa has yet to rise to the First-Class level isn’t due to a lack of skill, but rather to a lack of achievements compared to other Second-Class heroes who have been active for a relatively long time.

If you purely look at skill, even among the Second-Class, it’s hard to find anyone who can match Baeksulhwa’s level, even if she ascends to First-Class.

Moreover, especially considering… if Dogun confines the scope to person-to-person battles, Baeksulhwa’s ability, which is practically ‘the strongest,’ also has a favorable matchup against the Another Ones.

Thinking about it, this may actually be quite natural.

Unlike others, who need to break through the Another Ones’ hard exoskeleton to deal damage, Baeksulhwa’s ability allows her to disregard that and deal damage directly to the inside.

According to Dogun, it’s a method that utilizes vibrations generated by sound…

Anyway, that was the first time I thought, “I wish I had that ability,” after observing someone else’s talents.

If only I could do something like that with the abilities I possess, one of the many worries weighing on me could be resolved simply.

‘…This won’t do.’

The original plan was to spend the week until the next shift preparing my condition as best I could while spending as much time as possible with Dogun, but… it seems I might need to postpone that.

I’ll have to set that aside for later… and dedicate that time to training.

That way, when the Association makes a decision based on the information we gathered this time, I’d be able to confidently present myself.

After all, there might be a chance to find clues to restore Dogun’s left arm to its original state, yet I would miss out on that opportunity just because of a lack of skill?

I find it hard to believe I’ll be able to forgive myself for that complacency.

So, I should start whipping myself into shape from now on.

It’s a bit late to say this, but ever since passing the special exam, I’ve definitely been somewhat… complacent.

To be precise, I hadn’t felt the urge to keep running further.

Having already achieved the dream of becoming a hero, I even found myself drifting apart from Dogun back then.

So, while Baeksulhwa kept racing onward without knowing what satisfaction was, I merely watched that scene from afar, feeling a little envious.

The time wasted back then means I need to push myself several times harder now.

That thought had barely taken root when—

“—Hey! Yoonseo!”

When I returned home, filled with excitement to cook for the first time in a while, I was jolted by Dogun’s voice, echoing in disbelief at the chaotic state of the house.

Breaking off my train of thought, I turned my gaze in the direction of the voice, only to see Dogun wearing a look that seemed to say, ‘Caught you!’

“This, this… couldn’t you control yourself and not mess around?”

That’s not what it was, though.

Could it be that Dogun saw it that way while I was in the middle of cleaning?

Well, even if that were true, I didn’t really have any strong counterarguments.

After all, it was indeed true that I had been the only one to pause while everyone else worked hard to tidy up the house.

“Oh, sorry, I was just thinking about something…”

“Right, of course you were.”

With that, Dogun raised a finger and pointed toward a plastic box in the corner of the living room.

To be precise… it was the litter box for Miya.

“Even so, you should face the consequences for slacking off when everyone else is working, right? Could you take care of that?”

At that moment, Miya, who had hidden in a corner out of surprise since the people who had just been providing her food and snacks suddenly started rummaging through the house, chose to reemerge.

“Mia, Mommy’s going to clean the bathroom for you. Great, right?”

Meow—

Did she truly understand Dogun’s words?

After hesitating for a moment, Miya slowly approached, circling around me, and eventually clung to my left leg, nudging it gently as she meowed.

Is this a sort of thank you?

The warmth wrapped around my left leg finally gave me the courage.

The courage to ask Dogun if he could help me with training.

Sure, the reason Dogun had been able to remain free was that Chae-rim promised to keep an eye on him herself…

But still, she couldn’t be there 24/7.

So, if Dogun could spare even a little time to help me train, even if it were just for a moment?

Reaching the level of quick development that I had back then might be a stretch, but perhaps I could start moving beyond the stagnation I had been experiencing for so long.

I really wish that could happen…