This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 230

Chae-rim’s Perspective

It’s a bit weird to say “in the past” because it feels like something from ancient history, but anyway, Chae-rim naturally understood that kids these days are extraordinarily fast compared to when she was a student.

Why wouldn’t she know?

The kind of articles that make the headlines in portal news pop up just when I’d nearly forgotten them.

In fact, some of the really fast kids are having their first experiences at an age that, back in the day, would have been unthinkable—like, seriously, when they’re so naive that they don’t even know what’s going on!

So, it wouldn’t be that strange to think something like that could happen between Dogun and Yoonseo.

Sure, it’s not strange, but still… who would have guessed that I would come to know the reality of those “kids these days” this way, rather than just reading about it in articles?

“Hah, well…”

From what Dogun told me, the two have known each other since kindergarten, over ten years now.

At some point, they probably began to see each other as the opposite gender, which might have led their relationship to develop.

Of course, it makes sense; both Yoonseo and Dogun are at that age where curiosity about the opposite sex is in full bloom.

So, perhaps that is natural, no, definitely natural.

“Bu-but… shouldn’t they… at least use a condom?”

From their conversation, it sounds like Yoonseo is the one saying not to use one, but what will they do if a baby happens?

“Or could it be…?”

Is there really a big difference between using one and not using one?

Is that the reason?

I do remember hearing something similar somewhere before.

The heroes, who are practically risking their lives, supposedly have a stronger libido than women in other professions, and considering they’re all adults, many have married early due to their job nature. So, they have shared topics like that more often than I’d expected.

I may not have participated in those conversations actively, but from snippets I’ve heard, they said there’s a significant difference in sensation between using and not using contraceptives.

Apparently, when using protection, the heat must be less intense, yet it digs deeply inside; the sensations during the finish are said to be notably different.

And then, they added that once you get hooked on that feeling, you could never go back to using one.

So, could it be that Yoonseo has become addicted to that sensation?

Is that why she took the initiative…?

“Just how often have those two…?”

I mean, leaving that aside, don’t they think there might be someone in the next room?

They didn’t even step outside, so how could they… be so nonchalant about it?

That’s why I ended up pressing my ear closer to the wall, hearing sounds that were embarrassingly revealing.

I knew full well that eavesdropping was wrong, but I thought I should at least check.

I might have been mistaken about something, after all.

There was absolutely no other purpose for pressing my ear to the wall—

“Ugh…♡”

Just then, I heard it.

I overheard something I shouldn’t have.

Following that sound were the sort of noises one would expect when a bed is shaking violently.

It was so obvious that I could no longer deny what was happening… the unmistakable sounds coming from beyond the thin wall, causing my body to shiver involuntarily.

At the same time, complex emotions began to creep up my body.

The guilt of doing something that shouldn’t be done.

The shame from listening in on someone else’s most private moment.

And a sense of bewilderment and frustration that I couldn’t quite place.

So many feelings swirled inside me, stirring up chaos in my heart.

Funny enough, even while feeling all of this, I couldn’t pull my ear away from the wall.

It was as if someone had smeared glue in that brief moment.

I knew I shouldn’t continue eavesdropping; I had to put an end to it here, but my body utterly refused to comply.

“Why? Are you hurt?”

“No…”

“Then?”

“I-it tickles…”

Even while this was going on, their intimate activities continued.

Perhaps because of what had happened earlier and how long they’d been at it, Dogun seemed to be straining a bit.

“Haah…”

A sound reminiscent of a long, heavy sigh pierced through the wall and filled my ears, causing my body to tremble once more.

Simultaneously, my face felt so hot compared to earlier… as if I had caught a nasty cold.

Strangely, the insides of my throat felt warm too.

“Is it hard…?”

“No, I’ll keep going.”

“Uh… yeah…”

So, Yoonseo could make sounds like that too…

I already knew that Yoonseo liked Dogun.

How could I not know?

She was giving it away so openly.

But I always thought she didn’t have much of a cute side, unlike her usual pestering behavior…

But since her throat had been warm for a while now, could that be why?

Suddenly, my throat felt like it was on fire.

I desperately tried to swallow some saliva, but it was no use.

The problem was that I couldn’t just step outside for a drink since I was dying of thirst.

Because if the sounds were clear enough for me to hear them, then anything I made would inevitably carry over to them too.

And if that happened?

They would surely notice my existence while lost in their own world beyond the wall.

I had to prevent that at all costs.

So I tried to endure for now, but my body, completely clueless, began to signal not just thirst, but also the urge to pee.

When it was just thirst, I felt like I could hold on well enough, but with the urge to pee on top of that, there was a limit to how much I could endure.

Eventually, I cautiously moved from the bed, careful not to make noise, and slipped out of the room—

Was it a misstep that I took my ear off the wall for that brief moment?

As soon as I stepped out, I bumped into Dogun coming from the next room.

And there he was, beads of sweat glistening all over his face, looking like he had just finished an intense workout.

Could the basin he was holding be for cleaning up afterward?

I think I’ve heard somewhere that couples clean each other after their business is done, but regardless, what’s certain is that I’d run into the one person I didn’t want to see the most at this moment.

Was that why…?

“Hmm? Were you in your room?”

When Dogun took a step toward me, speaking in that manner, I instinctively flinched and stepped back.

Whether it was a reflex of guilt or something else entirely, I couldn’t tell.

“By the way, why do you look so sweaty… did you have a nightmare or something?”

Then, with a look of concern plastered on his face, Dogun’s hand reached out toward me…

And I saw it.

More precisely, I “caught a glimpse.”

A glimpse of a ‘man’s’ body, partially visible through his damp white T-shirt.

The image intruded upon my vision so naturally, merging with the conversation I had overheard while in the other room… and my heart, which had already been racing oddly, now beat wildly.

Thump…! Thump…! Thump…!

The sound of my heart felt so powerful that it was as if my whole body had turned into a drum.

“…Sister?”

In that moment, when I was caught in a panic, Dogun’s left hand gently poked my cheek.

What I felt in that moment was… ‘electricity.’

That tingling sensation began at my cheek, racing down my spine and quickly coursing through my whole body.

Just like when I first awakened my talent so many years ago.

And so…

“Sister?!”

Just like back then, I crumpled down right where I stood.