This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 362

After drifting apart from Yoonseo, I started to occasionally… no, more than occasionally, have these thoughts.

So… it’s the kind of thought where I wonder how great it would be if I could go back to the past.

It’s just that ever since I became distant from Yoonseo, I came to realize it anew.

The significance of the name Oh Yoonseo in my life was far greater and more immense than I had ever thought.

Perhaps that was why I suddenly became aware of this fact.

Since then, the feeling of emptiness that began to circle around me would mercilessly torment me at any time.

Thanks to that, every time I felt that way, I found myself thinking that if only I could go back to the way things were.

However, I could only think about it; the reason was simple.

Because I didn’t know.

I didn’t understand why Yoonseo was angry, or why she was expressing that anger.

It was quite frustrating that even after a whopping three years, that single fact hadn’t changed since then.

Unlike the numerous things that had changed over three years.

So what can I do?

Through three years of experience, I learned that recklessly confronting her would only trigger more of Yoonseo’s ire, leaving me no choice but to be more cautious instead.

Of course, I hadn’t completely ruled out the idea of apologizing outright.

In my sheer frustration, I thought that maybe if I did that, something would change a bit.

Even though at one point I genuinely thought like that, the reason I never acted on it was singular.

If things were to go well by pushing forward in that way, I wouldn’t have asked for anything more, but no matter how I thought about it, the chances of things going well seemed less likely than the opposite.

For some reason, I felt like I might just hear something like, “Do you even know what you did wrong?”

So, I was by no means combative; instead, I was just trying to find a chance to slightly mend the gap that had opened up between us—

“…if you want to, go ahead and do it.”

To be honest, I never imagined this would happen.

So… I didn’t think Yoonseo would take my suggestion of, “If you’re okay with it, how about we try it out as a last resort?” so readily.

‘Of course, I genuinely want to help…’

Based on past patterns, I thought she would unequivocally reject me, yet things suddenly took a turn, leaving me a bit dazed.

“Uh, um…?”

Despite Yoonseo’s gaze fixed on me, I had no choice but to blurt out those words.

My response was based purely on those reasons… but perhaps it was perceived differently in Yoonseo’s eyes.

Yoonseo’s eyes, which had been looking at me, flickered a couple of times before beginning to scowl.

“…What’s this? Were you just saying that?”

“That’s definitely not it! Absolutely not!”

“Then what?”

Was she asking what that reaction just meant?

Given that her gaze was still locked on me, it seemed that way, so I scratched the side of my neck with my finger and continued.

“No, I was just… I thought you would reject it.”

I didn’t feel the need to clarify why I thought that.

I figured Yoonseo would understand.

Sure enough, she didn’t inquire about that at all.

As if… she felt it wasn’t necessary to.

Was that why?

Instead, Yoonseo brought up something else.

“Well… originally, I was going to decline but…”

So she was initially going to decline.

That meant something had prompted Yoonseo to change her mind. What could that possibly be?

Before I could even ponder that question, Yoonseo’s voice followed.

“Someone said managing everything on your own is getting tough. Plus… I have to prepare for the promotion test.”

I see, so the change of heart was due to advice from Chae-rim and the Senior.

Thinking back on how the atmosphere was then, I honestly doubted whether it could be called advice…

Anyway, since Yoonseo changed her attitude, perhaps that counts as advice.

“So, you’re going to help me, right?”

“Of course! When it comes to schedule management, I’m a pro now…”

“Is that all about schedule management?”

“Uh, um… if you need help during training, then…”

When I told her to just say it, Yoonseo finally nodded with a satisfied expression.

“Well, to be honest, I don’t know how much help I’ll be…”

“That’s for me to decide. You don’t have to worry about that.”

Well, if she felt that way…

I was just about to mumble that to myself and nod along when—

“Wait a second, what about the training we do every morning?”

The Senior, who had been wearing a face that looked like she was holding something back, rushed in between us with a rather urgent look.

“Uh… can’t we just do it together?”

“But Yoonseo tends not to participate in morning workouts. We can’t just change the training time for her.”

“Ah, um…”

“You don’t need to worry about that, Sister. It’s not that I can’t do the morning training; I just haven’t.”

“Really? Are you sure? You look like you struggle to wake up in the mornings.”

“Well, initially it might be tough, but… I’ll probably adapt quickly.”

They were exchanging remarks like that.

“Hey, guys, just a second.”

Chae-rim, who had been glued to the TV, slipped between us as if nothing had happened.

“How about we put this conversation on hold and focus on this for now?”

As soon as they fixed their eyes on her, she said,

“It seems like it’s about to start.”

Bearing along with that, I threw a glance towards the TV.

To my surprise, the organized display that greeted me was a stark contrast to the earlier chaotic setup, suggesting something was being prepared.

And then, a seemingly meaningless countdown began.

Once it hits zero, perhaps they’ll finally reveal that new technology…

“What could that new tech be?”

“Who knows?”

“Seeing how serious they are, it might be related to the Rift Alarm Device, right?”

“That’s probably not it.”

“Why not?”

“If that were the case, they would announce it sooner rather than dragging it out.”

If it isn’t related to the Rift Alarm Device, then what could it be?

What are they looking to unveil with such hype?

“In that sense, I think it might be a technology that could spark quite a controversy when revealed…”

As Chae-rim added that, the number on the screen finally hit zero, and the unveiling of the newly prepared technology under the headquarters’ supervision began.

.

.

.

Were they nervous due to the live broadcast?

The woman’s face, who appeared with the title of Director of Technology at the Hero Association, looked somewhat tense.

It couldn’t be her first time participating in an event at such a level, especially not as the Director, yet she appeared that way.

So?

That means… the technology to be announced today is unusual.

Was that why?

Her needless commentary seemed to stretch on.

Ladies and gentlemen, you are witnessing a moment where humanity’s history will change…

Does she really think that the longer her speech goes, the better it sounds?

—Since the dawn of civilization, humanity has always been a predator, an invader, and at the same time, a ruler. However, what happened since these creatures started tearing through the air?

Creatures… could she be referring to the Another Ones?

—Since the beginning of civilization, humanity, once at the top of the food chain, has been demoted to a position of being prey, trembling at the prospect of an invasion that can begin at any time.

Her voice sounded almost like a grim reflection of how painful and frustrating humanity’s reality had become.

—Throughout this time, humanity has suffered from their unilateral invasions.

Listening to that voice alone made it seem as if she genuinely empathized with the suffering.

—Some have lost friends, some loved ones, and others, their families.

I wasn’t sure how true that was.

—Losing someone, losing something… is such a… sad thing.

Was there someone among the reporters present today who had lost someone due to the Another Ones?

From outside the screen, voices of solidarity echoed continuously.

—So… should we let them know soon, right?

Perhaps invigorated by that voice.

—How painful it is to lose someone.

Her voice grew even stronger.

—In that sense, I present this to you: a device that will return humanity to being predators, invaders.

And alongside that, a massive machine named the Artificial Rift Generator appeared on the screen.

The moment I laid eyes on it, I instinctively understood.

The underlying meaning of what the woman, who had introduced herself as the Doctor before, had said.

Just as hope seemed to be flickering into view, I realized that at this timing, my understanding hit me.

My face involuntarily tensed up.