This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 406

In fact, the Association didn’t exactly earn people’s trust right from the get-go.

At that time, it was entirely understandable, considering how chaotic the world was; not many were willing to extend their trust to a nascent organization that had just started to find its footing.

So, what about the “trust of the people” that the Association had enjoyed until just recently?

It wasn’t something that suddenly erupted like “Boom!” but rather a tower that had been meticulously built over a long period of time, layer by layer from the ground up.

However, cracks began to appear in this carefully constructed edifice as recent events unfolded… Naturally, those involved in the Association couldn’t help but panic.

As someone once said, nothing is absolute in this world, but they might have thought that the trust people placed in the Association would last forever.

Yet that belief shattered with a loud crash… As Chae-rim reported, everyone was left in disarray, which isn’t surprising at all.

‘Well…’

Honestly, it wasn’t my concern, though.

Still, isn’t it right to at least pretend to be worried about a place that somewhat pays my salary?

It’s quite a sad story, but my remarkable memory made it a problem.

After all, I still vividly remembered the time when I barely managed to return from Heogye, and the Association tried to pull me in and mess with me.

Of course, Chae-rim anticipated that move and thwarted their plans before anything could even begin to take shape…

‘But just the fact that they were even going to try that means…’

There’s that saying, isn’t there?

Regardless of what it is, the first attempt is always the hardest.

So if it’s a place that has even attempted something once?

From the second time onwards, it becomes much easier to commit.

The saying “never again” often uttered by those who’ve blundered holds similar logic.

Honestly, can anyone who has already made a mistake really avoid repeating it?

Thus, for me, the Association felt less like a precious place to protect and more like a spot I had to keep an eye on.

That’s why even after hearing that my workplace was in crisis, I remained surprisingly calm.

‘Now that this has happened…’

It would actually be great if they could just forget about me completely…

If that were to happen, I honestly wouldn’t want anything more, but that probably wouldn’t be the case.

How could I be so sure?

Well… thinking logically, that was just the situation.

Unless the research team organized by the Association discovered some definitive solution after diligently studying the monsterized individuals, that was ultimately how it would play out.

After all, from the researchers’ perspective, I’d merely be another unique sample.

Unlike those whose mutations primarily affected their heads, mine was limited to my left arm, and even the external characteristics of that mutated part were different from what was commonly seen in those referred to as monsters.

If the typical appearance shared by the monsterized individuals resembled something similar to exoskeletons wrapping around their bodies, my left arm looked much more human.

So… it was like a bizarre amalgamation of features I had witnessed from those unidentified blobs in Heogye mixed with human traits.

An even more peculiar aspect was that there was a kind of mouth lined with sharp teeth reminiscent of a shark that had settled into my palm and between my fingers.

So not long after turning into this form?

I started testing things out with the trunks, both small and large, that had jumped onto my left hand against my will, intrigued, yet also disgusted.

One of the things I discovered was that those dormant entities would spring to life and gobble down any food I presented to them as if they’d been waiting for it.

And afterward, once they’d safely devoured the food I offered?

‘Strangely uplifting…’

It could have been just a feeling, but that’s how it felt to me.

That weird sensation of something rising slowly from the tip of my left arm was so bizarre, I vowed never to touch it again.

Yet, even I, who knew better than anyone that messing with my left arm would get me nowhere, couldn’t resist the urge of curiosity and unconsciously engaged in such actions.

Given the circumstances, how much more would the Association’s researchers, who had a obsessive dedication to results, act on that curiosity?

Right now, they were so caught up in researching the monsterized individuals that they didn’t have the luxury to divert their gaze elsewhere, but what if that research started hitting walls?

And if information about me happened to seep into the ears of those cornered researchers?

This time, the Association would likely get moving.

“Uh… you know, sister.”

“Yeah?”

“Everything’s fine, but… how long do I have to stay here?”

That was the real reason I asked Chae-rim such a question.

From my perspective, no place could leak information about my condition better than the hospital.

Surely, a hospital of this size wouldn’t be careless in handling the information of patients, especially a VIP patient like me…

But you know, whenever people get involved, there are always gaps that appear.

So rather than face the risk of racking up expensive hospital bills here day by day, I figured it would be better to get discharged and go home where I could rest comfortably.

And considering it was such a reason, I thought those four who typically opposed any effort to get me out would eventually come to understand.

I was only asking because of that…

“Um… well…”

Chae-rim’s reaction was oddly off.

I should say it was different from what I had somewhat anticipated.

What I expected was for Chae-rim to readily nod, agreeing that it would be a good idea or perhaps come up with some reason for why I should stick around just for a few more days.

The ‘reality’ that was right before my eyes didn’t match either scenario.

Amidst Chae-rim’s expression filled with awkward hesitation, someone stepped in for her…

It was Yoonseo, who was in the process of tidying up the mess after the storm of dining known as ‘meal’.

“Sorry, but you can’t leave here.”

“Huh…?”

Can’t leave here?

What on earth does that mean?

I had no idea how to process Yoonseo’s sudden statement, so I instinctively raised my brow, a big question mark forming over my head.

Did she notice the doubt written all over my face?

Or maybe she simply felt her explanation was lacking?

The senior, who was helping Yoonseo and cleaning up the remnants of the meal, smoothly added her input after Yoonseo’s words.

“Dogun, it might be a bit… frustrating for you, but that’s the ‘Monster Isolation Rule’ set by the Association.”

At this point, my curiosity couldn’t help but kick in.

So what would happen if I were to violate this… so-called Monster Isolation Rule?

As soon as I thought to ask, the answer came swiftly:

“What happens? You get taken to the isolation facility, of course.”

Yoonseo wore an expression that seemed to say, “Why are you even asking such obvious things?”

“So if you don’t want to be dragged to the isolation facility, you get that, right?”

“If, then how long do I have to stay here…?”

Being cooped up in this hospital room, it felt like I couldn’t breathe already, and Yoonseo, who was leading the conversation, casually shrugged.

“I dunno? Not my call.”

Then she turned to Chae-rim, who was sitting right next to her.

“Well, you probably know, huh… until when will it be?”

“Well… that’s entirely up to the Association Chairman… so you’ll likely have to stay until they call it quits?”

And just like that… when I finally snapped back to reality, I found myself unwittingly thrust into a life of confinement I had never anticipated.