This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 132

There’s a saying in this similar Korea that goes like this:

In Korea, there are four guardian deities.

And among them, excluding the Association Chairman who only steps in when the real Korea is in imminent danger?

The active and substantial power is represented by the remaining three Special-Class heroes.

Moreover, the Koreans who love to give nicknames have assigned each of them a title: the strongest, the ultimate, and the fastest.

The fastest is the “Sprinter,” the ultimate is the “World Maker,” and… the strongest is none other than the “Lightning Lady.”

Speaking of the Lightning Lady, not only does the title of “strongest” fit her perfectly, but she’s also notorious for her bizarre sense that the average person can never comprehend—one proof of that being the car now standing right before my eyes.

“A m-monster…”

This car makes you involuntarily think that way, and it could be considered her identity.

How do I know so well?

Well, it’s obvious—I’ve listened to Yoonseo, a long-time fan of the Lightning Lady, spill information about her to the point that my ears might bleed.

Anyway, the important thing is not that… but why this person came here.

The one we sought help from was clearly the Principal, so what on earth happened in between that turned such absurdity into reality?

As I was dazed in such thoughts, the silent one who had been keeping quiet since stopping in front of me and my Senior creaked open her interior.

And right before my eyes appeared her striking red hair that seemed impossible not to notice wherever you were.

I’m not sure if it’s because of the humidity, but the slightly tousled red hair made me sense once again.

So that person who’s sitting behind the wheel is indeed the one I know.

There’s only one person who drives such a car, and with that blazing red hair, it was practically like she was advertising herself as the Lightning Lady.

However, it felt a bit odd that, unlike the videos Yoonseo and I had watched where she always wore a mask, she was here without one.

Not knowing whether she was aware of that fact or not, she stared blankly at me and my Senior and spoke just one line.

“Yeongang High?”

As I instinctively nodded, she added another line.

“Get in.”

Having been on high alert since a while back, it was now my turn to convince my Senior, who was even more wary after hearing that.

“Let’s go, Senior.”

“But do you know who that is…”

And through that discussion, I learned something.

Unlike someone who would have their heart stop from just hearing about the Lightning Lady, my Senior wasn’t very interested in that area.

Of course, it would be strange if a Korean didn’t know her at all, so my Senior probably knew of her existence… but how could she not know that the Lightning Lady drives such a car?

So I said just one line.

“It’s okay.”

It’s okay, she can be trusted.

Still not convinced…?

“Trust me, Senior?”

I urged her to believe me.

I don’t know if what I said had any effect, but while it was impossible to entirely erase her vigilance from her eyes, at least I got her to nod with acceptance.

After convincing my Senior, I turned to the Lightning Lady, who had been leaning in the driver’s seat and yawning softly.

“Uh, where should I sit?”

“Get in the back. Oh, be careful not to slip while climbing in since it’s high.”

That was indeed true.

I’d ridden a truck a few times in my past life, but this was something beyond that feeling.

It felt less like boarding and more like climbing.

Oh, and of course, I didn’t forget to grab the items I had bought at the convenience store before hopping onto the vehicle.

After somehow succeeding in getting inside the car, I noticed that there were thick blankets neatly placed on each seat, presumably prepared for me and my Senior.

This made both my Senior and me hesitate.

The blankets looked quite luxurious and undoubtedly expensive, so I wondered if it was okay to cover myself while soaking wet.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you cold?”

“Uh, it’s that…”

“You’ll cause trouble for me if you get sick from today’s event, so stop overthinking and just cover yourself.”

I hesitated, but she wouldn’t let me be.

So after exchanging glances with my Senior, I obediently wrapped myself in the blanket, and only then did the car start moving.

The ride in this monstrous vehicle turned out to be surprisingly not bad, contrary to what I had expected.

I even got a moment to observe the one in the driver’s seat.

However, it seemed like she was also secretly watching me.

As soon as our eyes met via the rearview mirror, a question shot out from her.

“Why? Are you still cold?”

“No, not really…”

I hadn’t felt a single chill since getting in, thanks to the performance of the blanket.

And with the heater turned on, it was definitely not cold, but… there was something else that bothered me more than the cold chill.

That was, without a doubt, the relationship between the Principal and the Lightning Lady.

What kind of relationship did they have that led the Principal to contact her for help, bringing about the result of a Special-Class hero—of which there are only three in Korea—coming all the way out here in the middle of the night?

That part kept nagging at my mind.

It wasn’t merely out of curiosity.

Though that contributed to it, understanding that would allow me to align better with what would happen next.

Like being scared or trying to extract juice out of something, you know.

Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to ask the question, possibly due to worries about what could happen… My Senior, on the other hand, seemed bothered by it.

“Excuse me, if it’s not too much trouble, can I ask something?”

While I was hesitating, my Senior, who had kept her guarded gaze since getting into the car, directed that question to the Lightning Lady.

I couldn’t help but feel astonished and looked at my Senior, but fortunately, nothing I had feared occurred.

“…Ask away.”

Instead of the appropriate response one might expect, the expression of the Lightning Lady sitting in the driver’s seat subtly shifted.

It looked as if she was thinking… ‘What? Does she not know who I am?’

From her perspective, it must have been utterly baffling.

Even before this, it would’ve been to an extent, but after rising to Special-Class and being granted the title of “strongest,” she must have been surrounded by people recognizing her wherever she went.

“So, without hesitating… what’s your relationship with our Principal?”

“Our Principal? Oh, my mom?”

Thanks to my Senior’s quick thinking, the various questions I had wondered about now suddenly were cleared up.

And at the same time, I couldn’t help but be shocked.

“Mom?!”

I had imagined that the Principal, despite her laid-back demeanor, was well-connected, and after some convoluted avenues, the Lightning Lady had been dispatched. I never expected them to be mother and daughter!

‘So that’s why.’

From the moment I arrived, her attitude had seemed irritated—she wasn’t just grumpy for coming out here at night, but rather had been leisurely at home when her mom called her and dragged her out.

‘Hold on a second. If that’s the case…’

I wouldn’t even need to step up, much less have a chance!

To cut it short, my speculation turned out to be correct.

After racing down the winding mountain road, as we arrived back at the parking lot I had seen during the day, she required just two things from my Senior and me.

First, to not get out of the car and stay put.

And the second was—

“That’s it, right? Running errands?”

“Yes? Oh, yes…”

“Can you hand those over for a moment?”

She wanted us to pass her what we had bought at the convenience store.

Once we obediently handed over the items, the Lightning Lady received the bags, opened them up, and checked the contents inside.

Then she made a comical expression of disbelief and curled one side of her lip, and without hesitation, leaped out of the driver’s seat.

“Huh? Hold on a minute…”

Isn’t that sleepwear?

At that moment, I wondered if I had seen it wrong, but no matter how I looked, it was indeed sleepwear.

And with that fluffy attire, it seemed so warm and cozy for sleeping, she dove into the rain, her first action being—

– “Hurry up and get out, you punks.”

As if she were saying that, she shot a bolt of lightning at a nearby gigantic tree, and it was only after witnessing that scene that my Senior’s gaze, which had been perplexed about the identity of the woman at the wheel, began to widen in realization. The delayed roar of thunder then echoed through the parking lot and its surroundings.

It was a sound that could very well evoke memories of a landslide.