This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 273

Bora’s Perspective

How did I come to love comics and drawing them? Like many things, it began with something trivial.

From the perspective of the staff member who first introduced me to comics, I must have been such a ruckus that they thought, “Maybe if I give them a comic book, they’ll calm down a bit.”

The very first comic I encountered was a typical girl’s comic.

It was about a protagonist who, due to her pathetic talent, was ridiculed by those around her. However, through a certain event, she discovered the true value of her talent and worked hard to become a hero.

Nonetheless, I couldn’t help but get immersed in it… because that little book, about twice the size of my palm, contained everything I secretly wished for.

A warm family that cares for and loves the protagonist, friends who are always a pillar of support, and even the protagonist’s very free-spirited image, unlike anyone else.

How could I not fall into it?

Thanks to that, for a few days after I was first introduced to comics, I really just read comics nonstop.

The staff member who had handed me the comic book, thinking I might want to take a look, continued to bring new comic books as I suddenly became quiet.

In that way, I was introduced to a variety of comic books, each containing its own unique world.

There were comics featuring monsters called zombies, and stories where the only hero who survived a world destroyed by monster invasions desperately tried to change the future by returning to the past, and even tales depicting the romance between an ordinary girl and boy.

Every time I picked up a new book, it felt like a new world was unfolding.

Consequently, I became even more deeply absorbed in comics, which might have made my obsession appear distasteful to someone.

At some point, the comic books that had occupied one side of my room began to disappear one by one.

The staff member who brought new comic books every time they visited was also nowhere to be seen.

I heard they were reassigned elsewhere… and that was all I could learn about the staff member’s whereabouts.

Perhaps they thought that if they spoke too much, they’d face a similar fate—so even when they swapped people and repeatedly asked the same questions, they wouldn’t go further.

So, after living deeply absorbed in comics, when I suddenly found myself unable to read them, I felt angry and disappointed initially.

However, that state didn’t last long.

That’s because my curiosity began to swell in my chest, rising like a wave.

Could I also draw comics?

The attempt itself wasn’t too difficult.

I had always prided myself on being quite good at drawing, and the tools I needed for drawing were in abundance around me due to my talent.

So, I began by making comics with those tools.

And the more I drew, the more I realized that I couldn’t achieve the flavor I desired with just those.

The drawings were definitely pretty, but it just wasn’t the right taste.

So, at first, I asked the staff from the association to bring me things like paints, gradually adding what I thought I might need.

But eventually, I got caught, and I was banned from even drawing comics.

If I was going to waste my talent on something like this, they said I shouldn’t draw at all!

Upon hearing that, I thought it was ridiculous.

Just because I drew something doesn’t mean it all becomes reality—it’s not a waste.

What absurd standard were they judging by?

Anyway, thanks to that, from then on I had to procure the necessary materials myself, and I had to draw secretly from the staff.

One of the things I painstakingly completed ended up in Dogun’s hands.

So perhaps that’s why.

The experiences I went through to finish that were flashing through my mind like a slideshow.

At the same time, my heart raced with worry.

After all, although I had been caught drawing in front of others, this was the first time I was showing a completed version to anyone.

“What if they think it’s boring…?”

Thus, that thought was the first to pop into my head.

Did the authors of the comic books I read go through such feelings when they first started?

Meanwhile, I was gripping my hands tightly, which I had hidden behind my back to prevent Dogun from catching on.

Then, suddenly, the fluttering sound that had been ringing since earlier stopped—

“Um…”

An ambiguous sound escaped from Dogun’s mouth.

So… was it not good?

Thinking that it might be, I bit my lower lip in frustration, and just then, Dogun’s voice resumed.

“This… this comic, you know.”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Is this the end? Is there no next part?”

Hearing those words from Dogun, I naturally realized something.

For a comic artist, the utmost compliment isn’t ‘You draw really well.’ or ‘The story is interesting.’ but rather ‘Is there no next part?’

How on earth should I express this overwhelming feeling?

The thought crossed my mind, filling my heart with joy and fulfillment.

That’s why I thought to myself.

I’m glad I revealed my secret to Dogun.

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Dogun’s Perspective

When I first received the comic manuscript from Bora, to be honest, I had no expectations.

It couldn’t be helped since my tastes were entirely grounded in my past life, making it so that most comics, movies, and dramas from this world don’t align with my preferences.

Of course, there were a few things that even I found entertaining.

However, even those often had moments that made me sigh, like…

For instance, when something happens, the male lead hides behind the female lead, doing nothing, and then suddenly pops out to act all flustered as she resolves the incident.

Even though I confidently considered myself fully adapted to this world now, I couldn’t help but feel discomfort and a sense of disconnection when watching those scenes.

So, honestly, I wasn’t expecting much… and flipping over the completely white cover, I was taken aback.

“No way, what the heck…?”

It wasn’t because the drawings were terrible.

Rather… it was the opposite, I’d say.

The stunning drawings that captured my eye from the very first page were so impressive I wondered if her wrist would hold up.

But it wasn’t all just impressive drawings.

If every scene was drawn like that, I would have felt a sense of breathlessness from the overwhelming talent.

Good illustrations have something about them that captivates the viewer.

Did Bora know this?

She inserted cute illustrations here and there, allowing the viewer to breathe without it feeling awkward.

It was a level of pacing that was close to perfection.

“I knew she was good at drawing, but…”

Why do I know this?

There was a time in kindergarten when I felt self-doubt looking at one of Bora’s drawings.

Yet, could it be that her talent is fundamentally based on the act of ‘drawing’?

Bora’s artistry had reached a different realm as if she had spent all her time solely drawing.

And it wasn’t that the story was lacking.

So maybe that’s why.

“This is the end? Is there no next part?”

I blurted out as I quickly reached the last page of the manuscript, which had seemed quite thick when I first received it.

“Um, that… it was just completed recently, so…”

As soon as I asked, I received an answer, and I quickly felt dejected.

“Um, I have other content, would you like to see that?”

Of course, when those words escaped from Bora’s mouth, I nodded as if nothing had happened.

And the moment I finished thoroughly reading the new content that jumped out of Bora’s secret box…

“I feel like she should definitely debut…?”

That was the thought that immediately crossed my mind.

Was this how those who first recognized a genius felt in the annals of history?

I wanted to do something for her, but not knowing what to do made me feel anxious.

“If she becomes famous as a comic artist, the association won’t be able to mess with her easily…”

On the other hand, such thoughts began to form in my mind.

Maybe that influenced me.

“Bora…”

“Uh, yeah…?”

“If you’re okay with it, how about entering a competition or something?”

Before I realized it, I was holding Bora’s hand tightly as I said that.