This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 302

Dogun’s Perspective

Fortunately, unlike what I had worried about, the press conference itself went off without a hitch. However, that didn’t mean I could head back home immediately, sadly.

The reason was simple.

Due to Yoonseo drawing more attention than I had anticipated, reporters, desperate for an exclusive story, started lurking around the Association building, hoping to snag a private interview with her.

In such a situation, could I just head home recklessly?

I might have honestly witnessed a real-world Pied Piper right there on the road.

“Well, it might be quite a spectacle for onlookers, but…”

I certainly didn’t want to be the one caught in that chaos.

To prevent such a scenario, I decided to return home with Chae-rim.

The problem was… that the press conference had hurriedly created a few urgent tasks for Chae-rim to tackle.

Because of this, Yoonseo and I were left waiting around while Chae-rim had to rush off to deal with matters, which must have felt a bit uncomfortable for her.

While waiting, an employee from the Association, designated as our guide, told us to check out the facilities.

So here I was, tagging along after the employee, exploring the various amenities offered in the Association building.

And if I were to express my honest feelings about it?

I couldn’t help but marvel every time something popped up.

“I thought the facilities at Yeongang High were pretty good, but… can this really be the base of Korean Heroes?”

Every noticeable facility was cutting-edge.

For a moment, I felt my head spinning, but… the reaction of Yoonseo, who stood beside me, was what really caught my attention.

It was inevitable.

I couldn’t help but notice that Yoonseo’s response was somewhat different from what I had expected, considering she had just successfully navigated the major hurdle of the press conference.

Rather than appearing relaxed afterward, ever since returning from the bathroom, Yoonseo had a distant, contemplative air about her.

From where I stood, that just didn’t make sense.

“Could it be…?”

Was she worried about the public’s reactions to the articles?

That thought crossed my mind in an instant, and suddenly I felt it might actually be true.

“I’m sorry, but can we take a short break?”

That’s why I spoke up to the diligent employee guiding us.

“Oh, sure. There’s a rest area over there…”

Just as the employee guided us to the rest area, they quickly stepped aside as if sensing our need for privacy.

“Um… hey.”

“Uh, yeah…?”

“Is there something on your mind that you’re worried about?”

Thanks to that, I could comfortably ask Yoonseo such a question.

And the response that came back was… the kind that made her seem like a person who had just been hit where it hurt.

Seeing Yoonseo flinch like that, I lowered my voice cautiously and asked,

“Is it… that you’re worried about how people will react?”

Sadly, there was no answer.

Still, I resolutely continued,

“While you were in the bathroom, I peeked around a bit, and honestly, I think you don’t need to worry so much. Everyone’s just excited.”

Of course… that would be obvious, but there were certainly a few negative opinions floating around.

However, I made it a point not to mention that.

Why would I do such a thing?

Even just hearing good things was more than enough.

So, I said that—

“… is that not right?”

Somehow, Yoonseo’s reaction was lukewarm.

I was convinced that she was troubled by that exact part, but judging by her response, it seemed like that wasn’t the case.

Because of that, I couldn’t help but shift my approach.

“Or maybe… are you worried you’ll get scolded by your uncle?”

Could that be the issue?

There was a fair chance of that.

Normally, her uncle was incredibly kind when it came to matters related to Yoonseo, but every now and then, he could be exceedingly strict.

Especially in a situation like the present one.

Thankfully, everything had ended without a hitch, but nonetheless, Yoonseo had faced off against a notoriously powerful villain, who had made a ruckus across the neighboring country.

For her uncle or aunt, just hearing that alone would be enough to make them worry if she’d gotten hurt in any way.

Even if they received a message from Yoonseo, that fact wouldn’t change.

In fact… it wouldn’t be surprising if their worry over her well-being intensified the moment they heard from her.

Yoonseo surely would know that, so I figured she might already be gloomy at the thought of possibly facing her uncle’s ire once we got home.

But judging by her reaction, which was just as lukewarm as before, that must not have been the answer either.

Then what on earth was the correct answer?

From both Yoonseo’s and my perspective, the most significant worry—the press conference—had gone smoothly, so what was weighing down on her like this?

With that question pinned deep in my heart, I gazed steadily at Yoonseo sitting across from me.

Yoonseo’s Perspective

My lips felt tingly.

It wasn’t due to Dogun’s gaze directed my way nor the kiss we shared a few hours ago that was on my mind.

No, it was more about the words I wanted to say.

Or rather, it was a question I wanted to ask.

I wanted to know Dogun’s thoughts.

If, hypothetically speaking, there was a way to return his left arm to its original state, what would he choose?

The words hovered right at the tip of my tongue, practically begging to leap out, itching like crazy, yet… I refrained from voicing them for a simple reason.

I hesitated to bring it up because it felt like I would be giving Dogun false hope based on a sketchy remark made by someone I’d just met today.

After all, there was no guarantee that what that person said could actually happen.

Because of that, I couldn’t carelessly bring up such a topic.

Yet, despite that restraint, I couldn’t shake off the mysterious business card tucked away in my pocket… just in case.

Since that person seemed to know about Dogun’s left arm, there must be something worth investigating, possibly even tied to Dogun’s condition.

I didn’t want to do anything reckless and find myself regretting it later.

Still… independent of that, the mere existence of that unique business card was attention-grabbing for numerous reasons.

And the reason it had caught my eye was simple.

It felt so wrong to be keeping something that was handed over by someone obviously suspicious in my pocket, making me feel like I was deceiving Dogun or up to some nefarious deeds.

That’s why I had been so cautious around him since a while ago.

But did that anxiousness somehow make it across to Dogun walking beside me?

Barely stepping into the rest area, Dogun shot me a question.

“Is there something on your mind or something you’re worried about?”

The timing of that question caught me off guard, and I instinctively recoiled.

Still, if I had to pick something positive from this situation, it would be that, surprisingly, Dogun hadn’t been able to guess what I was thinking.

“Well…

Dogun certainly hadn’t followed me to the bathroom and wouldn’t know the details of the conversations that took place there.

Anyway, when constantly bombarded with questions, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut any longer—

“… Nope, not that.”

So, I chose to sidestep the question aimed at me.

And of course, I couldn’t just spill the truth.

Because, if I mentioned that if his left arm returned to its original form, perhaps half of the girls next to him would just naturally fade away, it couldn’t possibly be something I could say.