This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 173

Silence descended around us, as if someone were pressing down on our shoulders from above.

And maybe it was because of Chae-rim, the very person who was using that silence to apply pressure.

Despite the overwhelming number of people, a shadow of tension loomed over the faces encircling us.

When there is a situation with such an overwhelming number of people, doesn’t someone usually pop up, intoxicated by the unfounded confidence that comes with it?

However, no one took on that role.

Everyone just held their breath, watching Chae-rim’s every move, no one daring to step forward.

After Chae-rim had uttered that single sentence earlier, her mouth finally opened once the atmosphere shifted into her grasp.

“Wait, am I supposed to come if you tell me to, and go if you tell me to go?”

That could be seen as a challenge to the authority of the Association Chairman.

Perhaps because, while she didn’t mind challenging others, she couldn’t just ignore that remark while serving the Chairman.

The moment everyone was too tense to speak, a somewhat plausible rebuttal flew towards Chae-rim.

“Y-Yes, but the hero affiliated with the association must follow the orders given by the association…!”

That was true.

I think I had heard that such a clause exists in the association’s regulations.

Among many rules, it was said to be the first rule?

That’s how much the association valued controlling heroes.

Of course, there was some flexibility; it was said that if it couldn’t be helped given the situation, a degree of consideration would be granted…

“But, I’ve heard that if someone repeatedly disobeys, they get no mercy.”

I had heard that if such a person appeared, a punishment squad directly under the Chairman, endowed with talents rivaling those of the heroes, would be dispatched to impose sanctions directly on the said hero… Looking around at those surrounding us, that story, which felt very much like an urban legend, seemed quite plausible.

Anyway, while the representative was trying to argue using their own logic, it didn’t work on Chae-rim at all.

“That only applies when it’s an official order from the association, and I doubt this qualifies as such!”

“That, um…”

“Or are you saying an official order was issued just to take me along?”

Chae-rim seemed sure that wasn’t the case.

Thinking about it, if they were to forcibly take Chae-rim like that, it would surely cause a significant uproar once the truth got out.

After all, Chae-rim had only just returned from a place that could be called hell a few hours ago.

And yet, instead of letting her rest for even a moment, they’re summoning her to the association?

Those who claim that we must save those suffering from being captured by another ones sooner rather than later would probably hesitate to voice that sentiment about this.

Moreover, Chae-rim had described the Chairman as a politically minded person, unrelated to the powers they wielded.

So they wouldn’t want to carry unnecessary burdens, would they?

“If that were the case, there would have been an official order, right?”

Perhaps Chae-rim thought the same.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t act as if they should show the official order when it wasn’t provided.

To cut to the chase, Chae-rim’s and my predictions were spot on.

It turned out it was indeed not an officially issued command but rather a personal order issued by the Association Chairman, which meant no one among those surrounding us could object to Chae-rim’s words.

“If it’s not an official order, I don’t have to comply, right? Isn’t that so?”

“…”

“If you’ve got nothing else to say, step aside. I’m starting to get annoyed.”

That single remark was all it took to part the crowd surrounding us like Moses parting the Red Sea.

“Well, let’s hurry to the hospital.”

Standing in front of the path that had opened up, seeing Chae-rim look back at me made me think how grateful I was to be on the same side as her.

What if someone else had been in Chae-rim’s place?

I can’t help but think that what Chae-rim had done, acting so boldly, would have been impossible for anyone else.

I would probably have faced some resistance before being dragged away by those people.

If I got dragged away, I wouldn’t have fared well at all.

‘Well…’

If it weren’t for Chae-rim, I wouldn’t have managed to escape that crazy world and return to the original one anyway.

Anyway, just before Chae-rim, who had been quietly standing behind, moved on, I decided to throw out one last remark to the person she had been arguing with earlier.

“Oh, and tell the Association Chairman that once my business here is done, I’ll find my way back on my own, so don’t keep bothering me with unnecessary summonses.”

With that final word, I slipped through the crowd and hopped into a taxi that just happened to pass by.

Once I was in the taxi, I felt like the tension that had been building up inside me had finally eased.

“Haah…”

As I sighed, probably reflecting my relief, Chae-rim turned to me, chuckling slightly as she engaged with the driver.

“Why the sigh? Were you nervous?”

Nodding slightly at her added comment, Chae-rim ruffled my hair.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let them near you again.”

What was she planning to do?

I was curious, but I didn’t ask.

There wasn’t a good time or place to inquire.

The taxi, which was smoothly sailing down the road without any blocks, soon stopped in front of a large hospital, and Chae-rim immediately snagged a special room on the top floor and shoved me inside before heading straight for the association.

Having finally found myself in a situation where nothing seemed urgent, I could finally pick up my phone.

With my newly acquired mobile phone in hand, I started to ponder.

And after some thought, the conclusion I reached was… Yoonseo.

The reason I decided to contact Yoonseo first instead of my senior was simple.

I had heard from the taxi driver that there was a large-scale rift incident about a month ago, which prompted them to advance the qualification exam.

‘My senior must have surely participated in that…’

If that was the case, she was probably taking the exam right about now.

Receiving my call in such a situation, I couldn’t rule out the possibility that my contact would disrupt her focus even slightly.

People’s mental states can be sturdy yet fragile—sometimes they waver from unexpected sources.

I wouldn’t want to disturb her when I couldn’t assist in helping her pass the exam.

So, I ruled out contacting my senior.

Having personally heard from her about her motivations for aspiring to become a hero made it even more so.

Thus, I decided to contact Yoonseo first—

—but the phone was currently turned off…

Selecting a name I was all too familiar with from the contacts, I called, only to be met with the helpful message that the phone was turned off.

‘Darn…’

What should I do?

After a brief moment of contemplation, I slightly adjusted my route and sent a text to the driver.

Did the driver also have a mobile phone on hand?

A reply came back immediately.

And it wasn’t a text; it was a call.

“Hello? Is this you, Dogun?”

—”Is that really you, Dogun?”

And that was just the beginning.

The questions began to pour out like a waterfall from that moment onward.

In the midst of the flood of questions, the instant I managed to slip out, what rang in my ears was… the words from Yoonseo’s dad, saying he would come to the hospital where I was currently admitted.

‘He was with Yoonseo…’

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