This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 338

Everyone has their own deficiencies.

No matter how capable someone is, even if they’re like a superhuman who seems to lack nothing, that’s not the case.

And this deficiency is quite peculiar… it manifests differently in each person.

For instance, there’s a type that struggles and writhes in agony due to thirst for what they don’t have on a daily basis.

There are also those who only feel the presence of their deficiency when faced with a specific situation.

From what I’ve seen, Chae-rim clearly seems closer to the latter.

‘It’s a bit strange that such traits come out only when alcohol is involved…’

In any case, the type of deficiency Chae-rim has seems to be related to “normalcy” or “school life.”

Maybe it could be both.

How can I be so sure?

Well… there wouldn’t be a reason for her to act that way otherwise.

‘Thinking about it, that’s not really a special matter…’

Given that I’ve learned about the life of “Hero Candidates” by observing Yoonseo and the senior next to me, it was basically no different from the idol trainees I saw through documentaries in my previous life.

The only difference is that they spend a bit more time at school?

But even that didn’t seem to hold much significance.

Considering that most hero candidates, except for special cases like the senior who even held the position of Student Council President, end up spending a majority of class time asleep, it wasn’t really meaningful at all.

Moreover, while Yoonseo somehow managed to get through, fundamentally, once they awaken their talents?

They’re whisked away to an educational institution specifically for Awakened individuals, regardless of their own will, and only after becoming high school students do they mingle with regular people.

Then, once they become high school students?

Unlike middle school, they have only about three years left until a single chance at a qualification exam, and they have to constantly compete against peers in similar situations.

In other words, no matter how strong one’s mentality is, that environment is bound to make them sensitive.

In such a situation, how many people can genuinely make friends and hang out with those friends like regular kids do?

When you remove the title “Hero Candidate” that makes them appear to be very special, they’re merely high school students.

Considering that, it would be fair to say there are almost none.

And perhaps… Chae-rim was like that in her high school days.

Of course, it’s hard to imagine Chae-rim looking anxious, but even those who are expected to be ahead may have their own worries.

Even after passing the qualification exam and starting activities as a hero, she probably faced significant challenges.

While others envied the glamorous side of the name Hero and wished to have it, Chae-rim spent that time fighting for her life against villains and Another Ones while her peers were enjoying their fleeting youth, drinking, going on trips, and dating.

‘She’s gained wealth and fame in exchange for that sacrifice, but…’

Chae-rim, still in her early twenties back then, might have felt envy watching those her age savoring their youth.

And perhaps that kind of deficiency, which usually doesn’t surface, might be showing itself through the medium of “alcohol,” which often comes to mind in one’s twenties.

Of course, this is just my personal speculation; she could simply be someone who enjoys drinking games.

Nevertheless, as that thought firmly occupied a corner of my mind… it became hard to outright refuse Chae-rim’s request filled with unexpected anticipation.

“Do you have any special game you want to play?”

I had no choice but to ask Chae-rim that question, largely because of that reason.

They say you should grant even a deceased person’s wish, so how could I refuse asking to play a drinking game?

“Really? Are we actually going to do it?”

Unlike me, the others, especially Yoonseo, didn’t seem too thrilled.

It felt like they were saying that the current atmosphere isn’t bad, so why should we do that?

“Why? Doesn’t it seem fun?”

“I agree. I think it’ll be fun, just like Dogun said.”

“Me too…”

“Seems like the senior and Bora agree with that?”

“Hmmm…”

“Huh? Could it be…? Are you scared?”

“Just… don’t regret it later when you lose.”

While I led the atmosphere that way, what was Chae-rim doing…?

“Umm… what would be good…”

She was furrowing her brow, contemplating which game to choose.

And after much deliberation, Chae-rim finally concluded—

“Hey, have you guys ever heard of a game called Five Fingers?”

That was it!

Honestly, when I first heard it, I didn’t have a clue what kind of game it was due to its unfamiliar name.

After listening to Chae-rim’s explanation right after, I realized that what she was talking about resembled the game “Son Byeong-ho,” which I knew from my previous life.

You know, the kind of game where everyone takes turns stating a condition, and if they apply to themselves, they fold one of their fingers until someone has no fingers left?

That seemed perfect for sitting around and playing comfortably.

“Alright, do you all understand how to play?”

“Yes.”

“Yep.”

“Got it.”

“Now, the only thing left is to decide on a punishment… what should it be?”

“Indian slap?”

“Pinch?”

“Get slapped on the wrist by others?”

Everyone seemed rather apathetic when the first suggestions were made, but they became enthusiastic when it came to punishments.

“Hmm… that might unnecessarily heat up the atmosphere, so why not just have a shot of liquor as the punishment?”

“I think Indian slap sounds interesting…”

“If you get that, Yoonseo, I could make you not say anything…”

Fortunately, it seemed as though Chae-rim’s not-so-subtle threat did the trick.

With Yoonseo shifting her approach and expressing active agreement, the punishment for the loser was decided as a relatively mild shot of liquor.

“Now that the punishment is decided… shall we really begin?”

The game that started like this proceeded in a pretty calm atmosphere for the first few rounds.

It definitely was like that at first…

But as the rounds increased, the skilled players and the less-skilled began to separate, and the atmosphere started to heat up gradually.

And then, the flames were further fueled by…

“…Woman fold.”

“Whoa… that’s a bit much…”

“Dogun, I didn’t see you that way, but you actually have a sneaky side, huh?”

“That’s really low, seriously.”

“Low? Who was it that targeted me when I had only one finger left after spraying perfume?”

“That was you if you’re complaining.”

“I just shouldn’t have shown up with perfume in the first place, then.”

“That’s right.”

It was, of course, me.

But it couldn’t be helped.

I noticed something naturally as I participated in the game.

The fact that I was the only guy among the five would be a significant weakness in this kind of game.

So I had to just go for it blindfolded… but that was just the beginning.

Since I crossed the line first, the others seemed to feel less pressure, and from that point on, the conditions became deeper and deeper.

In precise terms, it felt like it had transformed into a truth game disguised under the guise of Son Byeong-ho.

“I call on those who have never been on a date with a guy to fold.”

The moment those words spilled from Bora’s mouth, Yoonseo, the senior, and Chae-rim all folded their fingers.

Thanks to that, with only two fingers remaining for Chae-rim, it seemed she couldn’t allow herself to go down without retaliating.

“Those who have never traveled with a guy, fold.”

Casting a quick glance at the others, Chae-rim then proceeded to play the bold card.

“But! If you can’t tell when and who you went with, you gotta fold.”

Adding conditions that didn’t even exist before.

And understandably, Chae-rim’s actions sparked resistance.

“What’s this? How can you suddenly add conditions like that?!”

“Why? Because there are punishments, it has to be clear.”

“Then shouldn’t you go first? If you can’t say, you have to fold too!”

“What? It’s my turn, so that’s not applicable.”

“Since you added the condition first, you should do that much.”

“Huh, uhm…”

Surely she didn’t expect a counterattack like this.

After a brief moment of embarrassment, whether due to alcohol courage or something else, Chae-rim’s face turned slightly red as she cautiously spoke.

“Umm… do you all remember? I went to Busan with Dogun last time.”

“That was for work, right? So that isn’t traveling.”

“I never said I only worked while there, though?”

Though she claimed her innocence, why was she shooting glances at me?

“Ah, anyway! Next is Seolhwa’s turn!”

“Well… then I’ll say it was during the training camp. You know, our school is co-ed, right?”

And surprisingly, as she spoke, even the senior shot a glance in my direction.

Of course, it was retracted quickly.

“You remember, don’t you? That’s when I first met you.”

“Ah… that’s right… I think it was around dawn?”

“Not quite dawn, late enough, though. It rained… a lot. Thanks to that, both Dogun and I ended up drenched…”

“Okay, acknowledged. So now it’s Yoonseo’s turn?”

“I’ll go with the school trip.”

“Oh, that sounds a bit boring…”

“Why? It’s a ‘trip’ after all.”

In that way, while Chae-rim was trying to make bold moves, she missed the crucial part, leaving Bora as the only one to fold.

The issue came next.

In a situation where the conditions had vastly heightened, perhaps Yoonseo didn’t want to stand out by avoiding participation.

With a swallowing sound, she tightly shut her eyes and—

“Those who have never kissed, fold.”

She dropped a bomb in the midst of an already heated game.