This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 369

Clearly, you called me “sister” earlier, and now suddenly it’s “aunt.”

Maybe it’s because the memory of that moment when I asked who that girl was while hiding behind Dogun, calling him “Dad,” is still vivid in my mind.

The question of how I could possibly look like an “aunt” is stuck in my throat, but I didn’t let it escape.

After all, the other party was just a little kid, probably around ten years old.

Honestly, getting genuinely annoyed at a kid barely reaching my heart seems a bit excessive, doesn’t it?

So instead of saying what was on my mind, I let another thought slip out.

“You should call me ‘sister,’ not ‘aunt.’”

If Baeksulhwa or Chae-rim were here, it might be a different story, but I’m too young to be called ‘aunt’!

Of course, for a child who has only lived a decade, everyone over there might look the same… but still, that’s not the case!

If I just let it slide because they’re a kid, then what if later they or their parents end up in an awkward situation due to the child’s comments?

“Not all heroes have good personalities.”

Some of them?

I really wonder how those extremely picky ones managed to pass the interviews despite only caring about themselves.

And the phrase they dislike most is, of course, “aunt.”

This is unavoidable… because being called “aunt” clearly indicates I’m of a certain age.

Considering that most heroes retire before they hit thirty?

Being called “aged” implies there’s little time left before retirement.

So that’s why everyone reacts so sensitively over trivial matters.

In that sense, given that I’m standing here and not one of those highly sensitive types, it’s pure luck for that kid and her parents.

If a tightly wound person had encountered this kid, there could have been serious ramifications for her and even her parents!

So I intended to correct the child’s misguided behavior using this opportunity, but…

“But… my mom said I shouldn’t call anyone ‘sister’…”

Unlike my initial expectation that gentle advice might work, the kid was surprisingly tough.

It seems the kid’s mom wanted her to be wary of strangers, hence instilling such ideas in her…

“But it’s okay to call a man you just met ‘Dad?’”

That thought was climbing back up my throat, but instead of saying it outright, I slightly modified my approach.

“Well then, what about this brother? If I go by your logic, shouldn’t you call him ‘uncle’ instead of ‘Dad’?”

“Well… because he’s my dad…”

Calling him ‘dad’ just because he’s ‘dad’?

That response made me realize how foolish it was to expect an impressive answer from a ten-year-old.

“Okay, take a good look at this brother’s face. Is he really your dad?”

“But… he’s just like the one my mom showed me…”

The level of “just like” suggests she must’ve been shown a photo or something…

“…Just like?”

Did I get that kind of response by chance?

I felt suspicion creeping back up, but I quickly shook my head.

As Dogun said, logically, such a thing wouldn’t be possible.

So that means the ‘dad’ figure must be someone who looks similar to Dogun.

And if that’s the case?

The fact they look remarkably alike is definitely explainable.

As I started to think that way, I found myself suddenly curious about the dad’s face, but I pushed that curiosity down and spoke to the girl once more.

“By the way, don’t you want to see your mom? I bet she’s looking for you right about now…”

“Ah…!”

Considering it was based on the child’s perception, it seemed she had completely forgotten she was lost, being right next to someone who looked so much like her dad.

I could picture the look of realization crossing the guarded little girl’s face, shifting to an ‘ㅇ0ㅇ’ expression.

“Don’t you miss your mom?”

“Yes…”

“Then how about we go find your mom together, with me and your brother?”

Sadly, I failed to correct the child’s mistaken behavior, but that’s up to the parents, and anyhow, we can’t just leave a lost child like this.

So Dogun and I teamed up to persuade her.

After successfully persuading the child, we went straight into the association building towards the guide desk set up in the lobby.

“Yes, how can I help you?”

“Actually… we’ve ended up protecting a lost child.”

“What? A lost child?”

“Yes, I saw her standing alone on the walking path just ahead…”

“Oh, I see…”

The reaction of the staff at the guide desk was lukewarm, making me worry whether this was outside their jurisdiction, but they couldn’t be so clueless as to act indifferent towards obvious heroes and their managers.

“Then, from now on, we’ll ensure her safety.”

“That would be wonderful. Actually, my break was just about to end anyway… oh, but could you possibly…”

“Yes?”

“Uh, can we do an announcement for finding a lost child?”

“Ah, well… I haven’t done it before, but we can probably contact the management office to make it happen.”

“Then I’d really appreciate it. Her parents must be anxiously looking for her…”

The conversation concluded with the guide desk staff agreeing to assist in finding the child’s parents, but the key point remains whether that little kid will easily let go of calling Dogun ‘Dad.’

Also… If she clings to Dogun while calling him ‘Dad’?

That’ll require an explanation too.

If we’re not careful, the guide desk staff might misunderstand the whole situation.

So I was worried about that, but contrary to those concerns, the little girl who had been almost like Dogun’s shadow since we first met was surprisingly detached when it was time to part ways.

Dogun’s panic in that moment was noticeably visible.

But perhaps feeling a little sad to part, at the moment I turned away from the guide desk, the little girl came rushing up to Dogun and hugged him tightly, rubbing her head against his body.

She mumbled something quietly as she stepped away again, but I couldn’t catch what she said because it was too faint.

“What did the little one say?”

I asked that as soon as we had a bit of distance from the guide desk, because I was genuinely curious.

I wondered what that girl, who had been calling Dogun ‘Dad,’ said at the very end.

And so I asked—

“She just said… to see you again next time?”

Well, of course…

Calling him ‘Dad’ is ridiculous…

If, according to that little one’s words, we happen to meet again, I guess she’ll call him ‘brother’ then.

“Seriously…”

I can’t let my guard down, can I?

Not only Baeksulhwa and Chae-rim, but now even that little kid…

Though I know Dogun didn’t do it on purpose.

Still… I can’t help but pout.

“Ugh… seriously…”

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At that very moment, as Yoonseo left the guide desk alongside Dogun, internally grumbling her frustrations about him, a woman who had inadvertently become responsible for the lost child cautiously glanced back at the boy and girl, now walking away, and thought.

“Still… I’m glad the kid is quite well-behaved.”

If that kid hadn’t been there but instead her own nephew?

She probably would’ve been screaming for her mom and dad, flailing her arms.

Compared to that, how well-behaved and mature this child is!

“Um… would you like to wait while I make you some cocoa? You can drink that.”

Feeling relieved, she made that generous offer…

“I’m fine.”

Was it just that cocoa wasn’t her preference?

The answer that returned was a refusal.

“More importantly… can I go to the bathroom for a moment?”

“Oh, um…”

The bathroom, huh.

Should I follow her in to help?

Given her age, it seemed like I ought to…

“No, I can do it alone.”

Considering it was a child I just met today, it honestly felt a bit reckless, but when I asked if she needed help, the very grown-up response surprised me.

If she says she can manage, what can I do?

“Um, can I ask just one thing?”

Just as someone came over to the guide desk, I had no choice but to tell her where the bathroom was and let her go alone.

As luck would have it, even more people came up after that, so I couldn’t keep my eyes on the child.

‘…Hmm? Why isn’t she back?’

And after solving those arriving people in almost perfect sync, suddenly, the thought of the child popped back into my head.

So I hurriedly got up and headed toward the bathroom where the child had gone—

‘…?’

In the bathroom, I carefully inspected every nook and cranny, but there was not a single trace of anyone, as if there hadn’t been anyone there from the beginning.