This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 324

Kuwung—!

The barrier shook violently, almost as if it might break.

“What was that just now…?”

“Could it be… was Lightning Lady hit?”

“Why didn’t it break? What’s different about this attack?”

“Of course… it keeps repeating the same attack pattern stubbornly, but it seemed too strange to be true… was this the situation they were waiting for?”

And watching that scene, people buzzed with conversation.

Every little detail served to crack the belief that no one could doubt—eventually, Chae-rim would have to be the one to win.

And fueled by the reactions of those around her, Yoonseo, slightly flustered by an unexpected hit, bravely staged a delightful rebellion against Chae-rim…

Though, in reality, nothing quite so dramatic unfolded.

It was only natural, after all, because this wasn’t a drama; it was harsh reality.

Moreover, Chae-rim was a veteran with years of experience in the field.

So, surely she wouldn’t be flustered just because she got hit once.

Yet… it seemed like her pride might have taken a tiny scratch.

Or perhaps Yoonseo’s hit was heavier than Chae-rim had anticipated.

In any case, before the crowd’s commotion could settle, Chae-rim quickly sprang to her feet and dashed straight towards Yoonseo, leading me to a sudden realization.

What I considered Chae-rim’s full power was, in fact, only a fraction of her actual strength, as she still had reserves left.

No, forgetting that, what just happened was truly…

Honestly, I couldn’t even see it clearly.

After all, it felt like I had blinked once, and suddenly Chae-rim, who had been standing far away, was now right in front of Yoonseo.

Standing before Yoonseo, she ripped off the protective gear around Yoonseo’s neck and crushed it in her hands.

Thanks to that, both I and the noisy crowd around us were left dumbfounded, only for an announcement signaling the end of the match to flow from the speaker overhead.

The barrier, which extended from the floor to the ceiling, began to descend once more right after that.

“Everyone, thank you for your hard work preparing for the match… and Management Team, please take care of the arena and the barrier.”

Thus, the sounds that had been blocked by the barrier began to reach our ears again.

“Yoonseo, you worked hard today during the exams as well.”

“Yes, yes…”

This included the voices of Chae-rim and Yoonseo.

After managing to land a hit on Chae-rim only after enduring so much, it must have been utterly bewildering for Yoonseo when everything ended so abruptly.

Chae-rim’s words made me nod unconsciously, while Yoonseo, slumped on the ground, couldn’t muster the courage to get up.

Could it be that she was so startled by Chae-rim appearing right in front of her after merely closing her eyes for the briefest moment that she had lost strength in her legs?

Considering her expression, which looked dazed like someone under a spell, and seeing her unable to move even after plopping down on the ground, it certainly seemed that way.

Eventually, Chae-rim supported Yoonseo, leading her out of the arena, and after being assisted like that, Yoonseo ended up right in front of me.

“You must have been very surprised. Dogun, keep a close eye on Yoonseo until she calms down.”

Perhaps it was the way Chae-rim naturally walked up to me and asked me to take care of Yoonseo that led to the curiosity.

“Who is she?”

“Do you know her?”

“Boyfriend… but that seems a bit too young for a title?”

“I feel like I’ve seen that face somewhere…”

“Right? Hmm… where have I seen her before?”

“By the way, didn’t she just be with Yoonseo earlier?”

“Ah… I think that might have been the case…”

The gazes of those around us, as well as those situated far away, converged on me, and people began muttering about my identity, which felt incredibly burdensome—

“Ah, yes.”

Ignoring the stares, I nodded and accepted Yoonseo.

There was no other choice because I couldn’t focus on anything else; Yoonseo’s current condition looked far too serious.

She wore the kind of expression that suggested she was completely out of it.

That feeling seemed to dominate her face.

After preparing intensely for an entire month just for today, did the shock of her efforts resulting in nothing just hit her all at once?

‘Well…’

Before Chae-rim earnestly stepped in, things had been going relatively well, so it makes perfect sense for her to be utterly shocked.

While I was thinking that and moving to support Yoonseo, Chae-rim’s voice continued.

“Then, could you do me a favor? Oh, and…”

“And?”

“I think I might be late today, so don’t wait around unnecessarily.”

“For the exams?”

“Yeah.”

To be completely honest, I was exceedingly curious.

It’s only natural since I was just as eager to know the results.

Yoonseo had just said earlier that she felt she did adequately on the written exam, so she must have scored above average…

But the key point was definitely the recent match…

I had no clue about that.

I thought Yoonseo demonstrated her potential enough, but I also couldn’t shake the feeling that her loss was oddly anticlimactic.

So I ended up lost in thought, and my confusion perhaps showed on my face.

“Why? Curious?”

Seemingly stiff from the earlier match, Chae-rim, who hadn’t left just yet and was doing some makeshift stretching, suddenly threw that question at me.

“Uh…?”

“The exam results.”

“Ah…”

Of course, I was curious, but… was it okay to ask about that?

Just as I began to feel that way, Chae-rim started laughing, softly exhaling as if she found my expression amusing.

“Even if you’re curious, just hold on a bit. The results will come out soon enough.”

With that, she patted my and Yoonseo’s shoulders in turn, and just like that, it seemed it was finally time for her to leave.

Chae-rim turned away, ready to depart.

“Uh, sister.”

Had I not called her, she likely would have left without a second thought.

“Yes? What is it?”

“About your side. You should probably check in at the infirmary just in case.”

“Ah… um…”

“Don’t brush it off as a nuisance or say you’re busy.”

I had this nagging feeling about her side from earlier, and with a tinge of worry, I just put it out there. It seemed my feeling was right after all.

I could almost hear her eyes rolling.

“Please, it’s just a scratch…”

After a while, that was all the comment she managed.

“Haah…”

“I get it, I get it. I’ll go. I’ll go.”

“Is that a promise?”

“Uh… yeah.”

She really has this childishness in strange places.

Well, since I got a confirmation from Chae-rim?

It was time to take care of Yoonseo.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I’d be of much help, but…

Until I waved Chae-rim off, Yoonseo remained trapped in that dazed expression.

Was her shock really that profound?

I thought I did well enough.

‘Well…’

That was just my perspective, after all.

Yoonseo was the one who faced off against Chae-rim.

“Uh… um… are you okay?”

I ended up stuttering out that line…

To which Yoonseo responded with an unexpectedly bewildered reaction.

“Uh, what? What do you mean?”

What was with her reaction, as if she had no idea what I was talking about?

Could it be that she was in such a daze from losing to Chae-rim so easily?

“No, I meant… regarding the match. You prepared so hard. I just wondered if you felt let down after losing so easily.”

“Ah… honestly, it does feel a bit anticlimactic like you said…”

But?

“However, I showed everything I’d been training for. Plus… I even landed a hit on my sister.”

Yet even so, losing meant indicating a lack of skill on my part.

Yoonseo’s face looked relatively composed as she expressed those thoughts.

“Is that so…”

That eased some of my worries.

“I thought you were just zoning out like a wall after the match ended.”

“Ah, that? I did feel something… feel it, but…”

“Feel it?”

“More than that, I just thought it was impressive.”

What was this?

This maturity is…

Not long ago, she was just a kid; when did she grow up so much?

Was that why I reached out subconsciously for Yoonseo’s head.

“Ah, why are you ruffling my hair! It’s going to get all messy!”

Of course, right after I placed my hand on her head, I was met with fierce resistance.

“Not that, I just thought… when did you grow up so much.”

“What are you talking about? I’ve always been mature!”

“Oh, really? Then why are you still the same height since middle school…?”

“I’ll kill you. Seriously.”

Seeing her snarl like that, it looked like she’d regained some energy, so I thought to ease up on my support, but before I could do that, Yoonseo grabbed me by the collar.

As a result, I was suddenly stuck, unable to relax my grip.

“Ah, forget it. Let’s go eat. I got all nervous from hearing about who did exams today, and I ended up starving all day.”

“Then who told you to starve?!”

“Geez, even when worrying about others, you have to…”

“So then what are we eating?”

“Well? Should we ask the uncle?”

“Ah, right.”