This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 166

“Wait a second.”

With this, the story was bound to change.

If the sensation I just felt wasn’t some kind of misperception, then it would definitely turn out that way.

It’s unavoidable because to describe the current situation, everyone is using their mobile phones in a scenario where there’s no way to charge the batteries.

“Can’t you just not use them?”

If that were possible, I would have done so.

“That’s the problem: it’s not possible.”

Now, let’s say that, in that situation, the world’s very first mobile phone charger is discovered.

How much would that charger be worth?

Surely, leaving aside the value itself, it would become an object of desire for anyone.

And among those, the ones who would want it the most would definitely be… those who use their mobile phones often and a lot.

For example?

Heroes would be such people.

It’s rare to find someone with the title of hero who doesn’t pay attention to the condition of the Talent Organ.

So if it becomes known that Dogun has such abilities, the Association would certainly go all out to target him.

If that happens, Dogun’s status wouldn’t simply be that of a usable experimental subject with strangely transformed arms.

The issue is that it’s not just the heroes who care about this.

There are plenty of others who care even more than the heroes.

Villains, for instance.

For heroes, the problems related to the Talent Organ are fundamentally linked to survival, while for villains, losing the Talent Organ is essentially a matter of life and death.

After all, the Association wouldn’t just sit back and leave a villain who has lost their power due to a broken Talent Organ unchecked.

No, the Association wouldn’t even need to get involved.

If that fact got around, those who were lurking from below or beside would surely take action.

Of course, there was a way to keep Dogun’s existence secret from the villains.

There is, but… it probably wouldn’t be very effective.

The current state of the Association is rotten from within, so such measures wouldn’t hold much power.

Even so, it’s impressive how they still manage to play their roles to some extent…

“This is troublesome…”

What should I do?

What would be the best course of action?

Honestly, if it were only the heroes I had to deal with, I would be somewhat confident.

Most ordinary folks can be easily suppressed.

The real problem is… the villains.

Unlike heroes who have to care about their public image, those people will come at you with any means necessary.

Can I hold off the Association’s tricks while also fending off those guys?

To be honest, I wasn’t that confident.

There’s a saying that you can’t stop ten hands with just one hand.

People can’t be perfect all the time, and eventually, there will surely be a gap. If that happens, it would be quite a fatal result for Dogun.

If that’s the case, I might as well—

“…Sister?”

It was Dogun’s voice that suddenly cut off my endless thoughts.

The moment I heard that voice, filled with curiosity, I realized something.

While I had been lost in all kinds of thoughts, I hadn’t said a single word to the person involved, Dogun, about the abilities.

So first, I should fill him in.

But before that… let me confirm once again.

What is going on?

Why is he alternating between grabbing my hand tightly and letting it go, especially when it’s the hand wrapped in bandages?

I had no idea what Chae-rim was thinking.

It would have been nice if he could at least respond when I called out.

As a result, all I could do was wait for Chae-rim’s antics to come to an end.

“…Ah, sorry. That must have been confusing.”

Fortunately for me, Chae-rim’s strange behavior didn’t last very long.

After a few repetitions of gripping and releasing, she soon nodded her head with a determined expression.

Though what that determination was about, I couldn’t tell.

So what the heck was that all about?

Just as I was wondering about this in my head, Chae-rim suddenly switched to a serious expression.

“Dogun.”

With that serious expression looking at me, I found myself unable to avoid straightening my posture.

“Yes?”

“What if, I mean, what if you gained abilities?”

If I didn’t realize something was up with her after such a question, I would probably be a fool.

Still, I hesitated and asked anyway.

“Did I gain them?”

“Maybe. I’m not sure. I don’t really know if this should be categorized as a talent.”

The conclusion was something that was almost close to a certain answer, but it didn’t bring me joy.

That’s because I was aware of what it could imply.

Could it be that Chae-rim’s weird hand movements were due to that?

If that were the case, then the serious expression she wore while looking at me could very likely be because I had gained some kind of power… but what could it be?

What did Chae-rim feel from me?

What could have caused her to react so seriously?

Since it was Chae-rim and not someone else, I couldn’t help but feel serious myself.

If Chae-rim was reacting like this, it meant it must be a power that could cause problems somehow.

“What kind of ability is it?”

So I asked her, wanting to know what kind of ability I had.

“Could it be… the Talent Organ?”

What came back was a rather unexpected answer, or rather, a question, and I found myself nodding in confusion.

“I know of it.”

Of course, even if I said that, it was merely to the extent of hearing about it.

“Then, does that mean that no matter what method is used, it’s impossible to restore the Talent Organ?”

“Even using healing abilities?”

“Yes, and because of that, a lot of heroes end up retiring. They announce otherwise publicly, but…”

“Ah…”

So I could only react like that to Chae-rim’s follow-up statement.

“But what if a means to treat it appears?”

“What would happen, huh…?”

I couldn’t help but think, without needing to see the situation unfolding.

Everyone, heroes and villains alike, would surely rush in with their eyes wide open, trying to grab it.

“Right, that would surely happen. But you know… what if that means you?”

“…Huh? What do you mean?”

What did I just hear?

I was certain I heard something; however, I couldn’t be sure if I had understood it correctly.

It was that absurd and nonsense-sounding.

So I tried to convince myself that I must have misheard.

I was sure that was the case.

But—

“You heard that correctly.”

Chae-rim was relentless.

She nailed it down without mercy.

Thanks to that, I finally understood why Chae-rim had been looking at me with such a serious expression.

It was only natural for her to be serious.

What we were worried about was the Association stepping in to secure my safety, and if that happened, it was clear that not just the Association, but also villains would target me.

“Then, then hiding for now is…”

“…Yeah, for now, that would be the best course of action.”

Chae-rim added that with the acknowledgment that just having light contact could unleash abilities, there were no guarantees it could be hidden forever, so we needed to prepare measures in advance.

“Of course, the priority is to handle the immediate issues at hand.”

“…That’s true.”

“In that regard… how will you manage?”

“I’m not sure.”

To be honest, I wasn’t that confident.

After all, where have I ever been involved in something like a press conference?

Even when combining both my lives, I had never participated in such a thing till now.

But there was no way I could avoid it.

“Well, if we just face it head-on, won’t it somehow work out?”

That was all I could say for the moment.

“Alright.”

Did my answer from earlier please her that much?

With a smile, Chae-rim grabbed my hand and started to lead me.

By following her, what awaited me was—

“Lightning Lady!”

“What? Is that for real?”

“Wasn’t she missing after getting sucked into the Rift?”

“But who’s that guy with her?”

“Isn’t he the manager?”

“I don’t know! Just take the picture!”

It was a press room packed full of reporters and cameras.