This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 168

“Do you have any proof that what you’ve said so far is true?”

“Y-Yes! Proof! Do you have proof?”

Proof, huh.

Watching the people standing up like a swarm of bees, demanding such a thing from Dogun, felt somewhat amusing.

It was like watching a farce unfold.

Proof, why on earth would we need that?

Dogun hadn’t told a single lie since he started his story.

And among the reporters, those with even a hint of awareness had likely perceived that fact instinctively, one way or another.

Yet there they were, still clamoring for proof while keeping their mouths tightly shut… Perhaps it was partly because Dogun seemed relatively easy to deal with, but the bigger reason was that they didn’t want to believe what they had heard until now.

Simply put, they didn’t want to believe it.

The truth that mankind, the so-called apex of creation, had been treated almost like livestock and raised in such a manner was too much for them to accept.

Of course, from their perspective, it was understandable.

After all, admitting it meant they would have to acknowledge the possibility of eventually becoming just like that.

However, this was a reality that had to be faced, whether they accepted it or not.

Those who treated humans like mere resources would not suddenly change their ways.

The Another Ones would continue to target humans, and thus their threat was always looming.

Besides, weren’t they equipped with the means to counter the Special-Class heroes, which were supposed to be humanity’s trump card, after a long wait?

‘She looked like she couldn’t escape the nest…’

But there was no guarantee the next entity would be the same.

And once that being began to operate in earnest, the danger posed by the Another Ones would escalate to an unimaginable level.

Yet here they were, engaging in pointless debates about how they couldn’t believe his words, instead of accepting the harsh reality and preparing for it.

Honestly, it didn’t come as a shock.

I’d seen enough signs to predict this much.

Naturally, I had long since set countermeasures against such a situation.

So, instead of being surprised, I felt a bittersweet sensation.

Yes, I had measures in place for such a situation, but I had hoped we wouldn’t have to use them.

However… given how things had turned out, it seemed we would have to.

Without delivering even a shock, it would be a vain effort to convince the reporters gathered here.

“…You mentioned proof, right?”

With that said, I couldn’t help but insert myself among the reporters, bustling around insistent on demanding proof from a flustered Dogun.

“Well, if you want it that badly, I might as well show you. Proof.”

And just as the reporters hesitated at the sudden interruption, I used my talent to levitate the bag I had left behind.

I then placed it among the reporters, and finally, their gaze, which had been fixed solely on me, shifted elsewhere.

“Go ahead and check it yourself.”

At that moment, as the reporters’ attention was drawn to the two bags nestled between them, I spoke, though not a single one of them stepped forward to inspect it directly.

‘Seriously…’

How could they all act as if they had an unspoken agreement?

Watching them swallow their frustration nervously, I couldn’t help but smirk inwardly.

Had they sensed my mood at all?

Or perhaps it was simply that their pride was stung by everyone behaving the same way, but one person did step forward.

“What the heck…!”

With that, someone pushed through the crowd and lifted the bag with a half-exasperated voice, but the moment they yanked it open—

“EEEEK?!”

A piercing scream pierced the press room ceiling.

Of course, that scream belonged to the very person who had opened the bag.

They seemed to lose all strength in their legs, shocked beyond belief.

Where once they confidently stepped forward, now they lay sprawled on the floor of the press conference room, their face as pale as a ghost.

Before their wide, alarmed eyes lay the tentacles that had come along with the Rift.

“Ugh…”

While their flesh might have held up, with tentacles wriggling just inches from their eyes, it was hard for them to regain their composure.

The tentacles, held in place by my talent, writhed in frustration, causing the collapsed reporter to emit sounds that seemed to drain the very soul from them.

“What… what is that…”

“Th-Th-The body…”

“Wooof…”

Naturally, the reactions of the others nearby were not too different.

Though they were relatively less shocked, everyone wore a face that reflected their disbelief, as if they’d seen a ghost.

I figured that was enough proof for now, so there was no need to humiliate the departed further.

“Are you not going to confirm anything more?”

I asked, hoping that someone might muster the courage to close up the bag that had just been opened before the whole press conference room.

But this time, nobody stepped forward.

“Then, I think we’ve said everything we wanted to say, so let’s wrap this press conference up. I’m sure everyone will be very busy from now on.”

Strangely enough, the moment I said that while shoving the contents of the bag back inside, the reporters’ expressions changed dramatically.

“D-Did you just take that picture?”

“Huh?”

“Did you just take that picture?!”

“I-I took it, but…”

“What are you waiting for? Send the photo immediately!”

Even the one who had almost collapsed on the floor, terrified, had that reaction, so how could I be surprised?

That meant I didn’t need to worry about our discussions today leaking out.

For now, that was more than enough.

The more widely today’s discussions spread, the more cumbersome Dogun would become to deal with from the Association’s perspective.

While this newfound fame served as a shield, I needed to figure out what to do about Dogun’s arms as they continued to mutate.

First, I had to figure out what to do about those arms at this moment and then negotiate with that Association Chairman lady.

Of course, that wouldn’t be easy.

She wasn’t someone who would back down easily.

So, I had no time to waste.

“Let’s go.”

With that, I gathered the bag and Dogun, making my exit from the press conference room.

The issue was, where exactly were we going…

‘What the heck…’

Where should I go?

Where could I take action on Dogun’s arms?

Who could I consult to keep Dogun’s secret safe?

As hard as I tried to think, there was only one person who seemed to have even the slightest chance.

A being with immensely powerful healing abilities but was avoided within the Association, labeled as a crazy person.

‘Doctor.’

If I entrusted her with the task instead of solving her intellectual curiosities, the likelihood of the Association Chairman leaking anything about Dogun would decrease significantly.

Being half-crazy yet scarily rational, she would likely respond with something along the lines of, “Unless you pay the right price, don’t expect to get anything out of me,” even if the Association Chairman demanded Dogun’s information directly.

Besides, it wasn’t likely the Chairman would threaten her for information.

Though she was indeed a formidable individual, the powerful healing talent she possessed meant that even high-ranking individuals treated her like a precious healing potion, making it difficult for the Chairman to approach her.

‘Regarding the healing cost…’

I figured tentacles similar to those I’d used to enlighten the reporters on reality earlier would be more than enough.

Having solidified my decision, Chae-rim was heading towards a small research facility on the outskirts of the city with Dogun.

At that very moment, articles hastily written by the reporters who participated in the press conference began to invade the internet.

Among them were some normal articles that warned about the danger of the Another Ones while writing about Dogun, who became the first human to be caught in the predatory Rift and successfully returned, just as Chae-rim had privately hoped—

– Who is Mr. A, the man of Lightning Lady?

– The pink atmosphere flowing between Lightning Lady and the unidentified man A, who is he?

It seemed like they were trying to show that foolish individuals existed everywhere, as they packaged the sensational headlines with nothing but a quest for views.