This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 167

I naturally expected that there would be many reporters waiting.

And it’s understandable, considering who called this press conference.

It was none other than Chae-rim.

But how could someone with the title of a reporter not participate in such an event?

That could be seen as a dereliction of duty.

Maybe that’s why it really seemed like reporters had come from everywhere.

As soon as I stepped into the press room, the sound of cameras snapping echoed non-stop.

It was truly an environment where no person could help but feel the pressure.

Nevertheless, Chae-rim looked completely unfazed, as if she was used to this kind of thing.

So I tried to mimic her nonchalance, but… unfortunately, that was impossible.

“So, who is that man?”

“Don’t you know? Wasn’t he the manager?”

“Doesn’t Lightning Lady work without a manager?”

“Then he must be someone from the Association.”

“Really? But why does he look so unfamiliar?”

Every time I tried to think, thoughts questioning the relationship between Chae-rim and me kept creeping into my ears.

As I hesitated, Chae-rim confidently walked ahead and soon reached the table set up for the press conference.

Then, sitting down and glancing at me, she said—

“What are you doing? Hurry up and come.”

That was it.

Her words, spoken in a voice that wasn’t too loud but also not too quiet, created quite a stir.

As soon as those words spread throughout the press conference, I felt the gazes of those who were previously looking at us change dramatically, filled with curiosity about who I was.

Naturally, the gazes that were mostly directed at Chae-rim now flocked toward me.

And Chae-rim added fuel to the fire.

“Seriously, there’s no need to be nervous…”

As she said that, she couldn’t help but rise from her seat and made her way back to where I was, taking my hand and leading me toward the table.

I couldn’t help but wonder how I appeared to the reporters watching Chae-rim so determinedly guiding me forward.

I wouldn’t need to confirm it to know.

Just seeing those who looked at me with expressions suggesting they were dying to know more was enough of a sign.

In such a scenario where intense gazes from all around were piercing me…

“So, shall we begin?”

Chae-rim had seated me first and then taken her place beside me, declaring the start of the press conference.

Were all of them simply waiting for those words to come from Chae-rim?

Hands shot up from everywhere.

Some even jumped from their seats in a frenzy, it was that intense.

As Chae-rim slowly scanned the entire press conference, she finally selected someone.

“Yes, you, reporter?”

Did he not expect to be chosen?

“Oh, yes! Then I’ll ask a question. The Association has announced that you were in a state of disappearance…”

At first, the reporter seemed a bit flustered, but he quickly regained his composure and began to fire questions.

The Association claimed you were missing; how did that happen?

Was the Association trying to deceive everyone?

Questions with that kind of nuance flowed from the reporter’s mouth.

After a barrage of questions, Chae-rim’s response was simple.

“Missing… I guess that’s how it was handled.”

That was an ambiguous statement full of implications.

And maybe it was effective because, oddly enough, question marks appeared over the faces of not just that reporter but others as well.

Chae-rim’s statement continued shortly after.

“To put it simply… the Association’s announcement is not false.”

“What? What do you mean…?”

“Actually, I was in a state of disappearance until just a few hours ago.”

The sudden onslaught of curious gazes, seemingly asking “So what are you doing here?”, attacked Chae-rim.

“So, then next question?”

Of course, Chae-rim seemed uninterested in answering.

Overlapping with those wandering gazes that naturally flowed toward me, Chae-rim effortlessly picked out the next person.

Then came the expected questions directed at Chae-rim’s previous remarks.

“You mentioned just a few hours ago you were in a state of disappearance. What exactly do you mean by that?”

“Just as I said?”

“I mean, what exactly does that mean?”

“Reporter?”

“Yes?”

“When a rift occurs, in what situations would one be declared missing?”

“Uh… obviously…”

Typically, when a rift incident occurs, one is declared missing usually in one of two scenarios.

It’s presumed they were victims of the Anothers, or they were caught up in a rift that happened to be a devouring type.

However, the former wouldn’t apply to Chae-rim.

It would simply be nonsense for Chae-rim to get caught by mere underlings, and even if she did, sitting here wouldn’t make any sense whatsoever.

The reporter wouldn’t have been oblivious to that fact, and so a fleeting look of “Wait, is that possible…?” crossed their face almost instantaneously.

“So, you mean you were caught in a devouring rift and then returned…?”

“I’ll take the next question.”

And that was just the beginning.

From there, there was no order to the chaos.

“Is it true that you were caught in a devouring rift and then returned?”

“What was the world beyond the rift like? Please tell us!”

“How did you return?”

“What existed beyond the rift?”

Questions poured in from all sides, as if competing to be the loudest.

Seriously, why are they still raising their hands?

It was a scene that could hardly be called anything less than chaotic, and it made me smirk internally.

“About that, I think it’d be more reliable to ask Dogun over here.”

The control that was being wrested from Chae-rim’s grip suddenly shifted towards me.

And naturally, I must have seemed simpler to the reporters than Chae-rim, who might just upend the whole situation at any moment.

Questions that I had been holding back suddenly flooded in.

The general themes of those questions could be boiled down to…

‘What are you even doing here?’

‘What is your relationship with Lightning Lady?’

‘Did you also get caught in the rift and return?’

‘What does the world beyond the rift look like? What is in it, and how did you get back?’

Which one should I answer first?

It didn’t seem easy to answer that question, and as I hesitated, Chae-rim seemed to notice and interjected right on cue.

“Alright, everyone?”

Her voice was enough to halt the reporters, who were worked up like dogs watching a potential scoop.

“It seems like everyone is a bit too excited. As you can see, I’m not exactly in a normal state, am I?”

Hearing her words, perhaps they felt embarrassed for bombarding someone who clearly looked like they were in dire need of help.

A series of coughs erupted in the press conference.

“Calm down, everyone. Take it easy.”

Seizing that moment, Chae-rim once again showcased a seemingly protective stance around me, allowing us to finally speak in a more organized atmosphere.

Initially filled with curiosity, it didn’t take long for the press conference to plunge into shock.

“Wait, what…?”

“What kind of nonsense are you talking about…?”

“Are you asking us to believe that?”

It was no wonder; these were impossible-to-believe tales.

The existence of the colossal tree, which could be seen as the source of the Anothers, along with those who were literally suffering unto death within it, and the presence of humanoid monsters guarding it.

None of it was untrue, yet it seemed unbelievable to them.