This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 190

In front of Dogun, I pretended to be fine, acting as if it didn’t bother me at all, but in reality, that was far from the truth.

How could I be okay? How could I act like it didn’t matter? How could I not be bothered?

Starting tomorrow, Dogun was going to live with other girls in this house.

Not just one, but three girls lined up to live with him.

That fact kept poking at my heart, again and again.

The reason I moved my body energetically was precisely because of that.

If I didn’t push my body to exhaustion, it felt like my mind would wander into troubling thoughts.

I could just picture Dogun laughing and having a good time with those girls.

And once such an imagination started, it wouldn’t stop; it would just keep going indefinitely.

I knew better than anyone that it would definitely happen, and that made me move my body even more fervently.

At the same time… I felt a bit forlorn.

What if things were like before?

No matter what emotions I felt, Dogun would have noticed long ago.

But today was different.

Was it because there were so many people around?

Or perhaps he was just too busy with all that he had to pay attention to.

The reason wasn’t clear, but that difference made me feel a peculiar sense of longing.

Would I have to keep experiencing this feeling and situations like these?

Just thinking that made my heart feel tight, as if something was choking me.

At the same time, I felt myself shrinking.

It couldn’t be helped; I wasn’t confident.

I didn’t believe I could endure it when that situation actually unfolded.

So, was it that I’d feel like laughing in such an incongruous situation?

Such a feeling before anything had even happened, let alone it actually occurring.

‘By the way…’

What on earth was that lady doing over there?

She kept glancing over here with a look as if she had just committed a crime.

That said, I had no intentions of asking why she kept stealing glances.

Honestly, just the fact that she was here bothered me enough to not want to engage in any conversation.

In any case, my melancholic mood lingered on until the cleaning was completely finished.

One would think I’d feel better seeing all the dust wash away, but regrettably, that wasn’t the case.

During the cleaning and right after it ended, I couldn’t help but notice the two individuals hovering around Dogun.

Honestly, I’d love to squeeze between those three and drive them off far away from Dogun, so they could never come near him again.

But I couldn’t do that.

The more I observed the three, the more I realized how unqualified I was.

A childhood friend of ten years.

That title I had once proudly held suddenly felt so shabby.

It was inevitable, considering that I felt that way when I compared it to the titles of the two sitting beside Dogun, which were just too grand.

It was fine that there were only three Special-Class heroes in Korea.

That could be understood…

‘She said she was the top, didn’t she…?’

Top-ranking?

The mere fact that Baeksulhwa, whom I had considered somewhat beneath me until now, had that title was utterly shocking.

Let alone, I had turned her down when she offered to help Dogun at his most difficult time.

With that, I couldn’t possibly insert myself among them.

Their titles were so magnificent that I felt unworthy, making me think that I had no place there.

As I slowly shrank away, the one consolation was none other than Dogun’s attitude.

Even with those beside him, he hadn’t forgotten about my presence.

“…Hey! Yoonseo!”

In that moment, lost in negative thoughts, Dogun’s voice snapped me out of my dwindling focus.

“Uh, yeah?”

What could he possibly need?

Before I could think deeper, I caught sight of his worried gaze.

“Are you very tired?”

To be honest, I was a bit tired.

I’d used a lot of talent here and there, which resulted in considerable mental fatigue.

However, if I answered that way, wouldn’t he just tell me to go home and rest?

That was not an option.

Even if I went home, I wouldn’t be able to rest comfortably, and I had no idea what might happen with the three left alone in the house.

So, even if I was tired, I had to endure it here.

“No, I’m fine.”

I answered that while forcing a smile.

“Really? Is there anything you want to eat?”

Now that I thought about it, I was supposed to decide what to eat after finishing the cleaning.

However… I didn’t really crave anything.

With such a sight right in front of me, how could I possibly have an appetite?

So I simply replied that anything was fine.

“Really? Hmm, then how about samgyeopsal?”

After a moment of contemplation, that was what Dogun suggested.

“Uh? Samgyeopsal?”

“Yes, since everyone must have inhaled a lot of dust…”

“Let’s wash our throats with the grease of samgyeopsal?”

“That’s the idea.”

Perhaps the sight of the two of them getting along so well after nearly a month of hardship together made me feel a bit displeased.

“…Samgyeopsal isn’t bad, but isn’t it a bit too much to order in?”

Baeksulhwa, sitting opposite of him, immediately attempted to cut in.

“Come on, Senior, why order samgyeopsal? It’s best when grilled yourself.”

Of course, it didn’t take long for Dogun’s resistance to shatter that hope.

“Is that okay? You must be tired from cleaning…”

“Eh, did I do it alone? And regardless, I’m the host of this house, so it’s my treat.”

With that, Dogun lightly patted his knees a couple of times and stood up.

“If you’re going to buy groceries, come with me…”

“Then let’s go grocery shopping…”

At that, the two flinched and reacted.

Perhaps it was a bit embarrassing that they acted almost simultaneously, as if they had made some kind of promise.

Both Chae-rim and Baeksulhwa’s faces turned slightly red, and they cleared their throats in succession.

Then, following that sound, came Chae-rim’s firm voice.

“Just so you know, you can’t go alone.”

“…Ah.”

“I won’t tell you why you can’t.”

“Yes, of course…”

Watching Dogun as he thought, slightly furrowing his brows as if he hadn’t considered that possibility, I silently thought that I would love to go along if I could.

Yet, unlike the previous two, I couldn’t muster up the courage.

So, I couldn’t say anything.

“Just as long as you aren’t alone, right?”

“Um? Well…”

“Then…”

Just when I was about to give up half-heartedly, a hand reached out in front of me.

“Hey, sorry, could you come with me?”

I couldn’t believe the fact that someone was extending a hand towards me.

I could only stare blankly at that hand held out before me.