This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 108

What unfinished business did I leave behind last time?

What could it possibly be?

Why is Dogun, who usually doesn’t get flustered, suddenly acting all twitchy the moment he hears that?

I was curious.

And it nagged at me.

So while I kept silent, Baeksulhwa continued speaking.

“I think if it’s possible, we should resolve it sooner rather than later… what do you think, Dogun?”

“…Hmm, that certainly makes sense. We can’t keep training like this forever.”

“Exactly.”

Listening to their back-and-forth conversation made me feel like I was left all alone, just an outsider observing.

Earlier, when I deliberately brought up a topic that only I was familiar with, was Baeksulhwa feeling like this too while Dogun and I talked about it together?

Is that why they’re bringing up something that only they know, to get back at me?

It definitely felt bad enough that I couldn’t help but feel as if I were being overtly excluded.

It was like being bullied outright, if I had to describe it, and it made me feel seriously awful.

So even as I squeezed my hand holding the chopsticks tightly, their conversation kept going.

“Then, is there any time that works for you?”

Are they really going to meet separately outside?

Judging by that comment, it seems like that’s the plan.

I didn’t like that one bit, but I had no reason to intrude.

I didn’t want to force my way in like before either.

Technically, I couldn’t.

I’d just reconciled with Dogun… and doing that would mean tearing apart what I had just mended.

So I tried to endure it.

I really despised the thought of letting them meet alone outside, but… I was determined to endure.

“For me… as long as you’re okay, I’m fine anytime. I can just fit around your schedule.”

But why was she throwing that comment while glancing over here?

I’d soon find out.

After all, she made it clear with her own words.

“Or… how about meeting on the weekend, like yesterday? Weekdays can be pretty tiring anyway…”

‘Like yesterday’

Did that feel unusually loud, or was it just my imagination?

It couldn’t have been a coincidence.

Thanks to that, I realized something.

‘…I see.’

What I had been trying so hard to dismiss as coincidence yesterday was actually fate.

What does that mean?

There was only one conclusion.

That woman is also aiming for Dogun’s attention.

Yeah, otherwise, there’d be no reason for her to put on such a bold smile as if declaring war on me, nor to exclusively engage in conversation with him.

Watching something that had only existed in vague imagination take shape before my eyes was indescribably horrifying.

The feeling of crisis must have surged up from deep inside me because of that.

…This can’t go on.

I thought I had to do something.

I needed to squeeze myself into their conversation somehow.

That’s why I picked up one of the cards I had prepared.

‘With this feeling…’

I didn’t plan to offer it, though.

I wanted to do this when the atmosphere was better.

But there was no choice.

Standing in front of Dogun, my dimwit brain could think of nothing else.

“…Hey.”

So—

“Yes?”

“Here.”

While they were chatting, I quietly presented what I had made towards Dogun.

…The effect was undeniable.

Since the conversation started, Dogun’s face, which had been directed towards Baeksulhwa, became flustered, and suddenly focused entirely on me.

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you going to eat?”

Of course, I had to endure the burning embarrassment for this, but… it was bearable.

It was far more tolerable than watching them talk just the two of them, powerless.

“Umm, uh…”

It wouldn’t be quite accurate to say it was a bonus, but I was also pretty pleased to see Dogun flustered.

How long had he been looking bewildered like that?

“Well… I’ll eat it.”

That was the conclusion Dogun reached.

Since we weren’t alone and there were other people watching, I guess he hesitated a bit to accept what I handed him.

Maybe that’s why Dogun’s hand reached out toward me, but… I had no intention of giving in just yet.

I carefully pulled back the end of the wrap I thought I had done well.

“Did you wash your hands?”

“Huh?”

“I said, did you wash your hands?”

And then I pulled out the excuse I had prepared.

Of course, Dogun couldn’t manage a retort at all.

Thus, I could smoothly continue with my words.

“It would be a bit odd to go wash them now… just eat it when I serve it.”

“No, that… this is a bit…”

“Why? You fed me one by one when I was taking care of you.”

So, what’s the reason behind him saying this isn’t okay?

The effect of my words was tremendous.

I didn’t know if it was because he felt Baeksulhwa’s gaze or if there was another reason, but it successfully got Dogun, who was lost, to move.

Slowly, Dogun leaned his upper body closer.

With around a 30-degree angle, he shortened the distance, and his mouth suddenly opened wide.

And then, with that wide-open mouth, he just gobbled what I was holding.

Then, staring straight at me, he seemed to be asking if that was good enough… and that was fine.

That was fine.

‘Just now, did his lips definitely touch…’

The problem started right after I realized it.

It wasn’t like it stuck and then came off; it just brushed lightly, yet how could it feel this potent?

The barely-there moment seemed to burn intensely at my fingertips as if Dogun’s lips were still there.

So… I couldn’t stop my face from flushing red.

“T-This too…!”

“I’m still chewing…”

“You like this, right? Hurry up.”

*

Yoonseo was just flustered, but to a third-party observer, it looked entirely different.

Especially since people had no way of knowing the state of Yoonseo’s heart, it just looked like the two were being all lovey-dovey.

And not just any lovey-dovey, but using the friendship accumulated over ten years to be extra mushy about it.

‘I don’t like this…’

It was as if they were completely forgetting about me while doing their little thing, and so I was secretly chewing the inside of my cheek out of irritation.

I didn’t like it.

If Dogun really wanted to eat those things?

He could have just waited until he got home; there was no need to come all the way here.

Honestly, that would have been much more convenient for him too.

‘Aren’t you right next door?’

Even so, what was the reason to come trespassing like this?

Was it that urgent? Or did she want to interfere with his training, perhaps?

‘Sigh…’

What on earth was going on at this hour when he should be training?

It felt exactly like seeing a bunch of speakers lying around the training ground and watching those two play around while we were here.

All sorts of reasons were making my frustration bubble up, but… what irritated me the most was myself.

When did I start getting so annoyed over trivial things?

Even when I tried to ignore it and pretend I didn’t care, it was clear that I was failing miserably.

I was that displeased.

Especially the sight of Yoonseo barging in at this time and acting like that was just unacceptable.

No, it wasn’t just about her demeanor.

I simply… didn’t like her at all.

What especially irked me was that she kept on getting Dogun’s attention with her hands plastered with band-aids.

I had sensed that earlier, but there was no need for her to strut around like she was proud of her “sufferings.”

What on earth was she doing?

With such a show, even if she leaves after this, there’s no way Dogun could completely focus on training like before.

If you’re going to stick on band-aids, at least do it properly.

‘…Tch.’

Everything about this was just annoying from start to finish.

All I wanted was for Dogun to prioritize me during training, even just for that time.

I didn’t wish for anything more, so why was she getting in the way of that?

If you keep doing this… I can’t help but want more.

‘So this is… your fault, after all.’

Unlike someone who’s been holding back all this time, I’ll never lose to someone who’s enjoyed so much until now—

“Speaking of which, the Regular Tournament is coming up soon…”

I turned towards the meddlesome obstacle who was selfishly interrupting even my tiniest ambition.

“I wonder… are you preparing well?”