This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 407

The situation unfolding right now is far more serious than I had initially thought, thanks to Chae-rim’s explanation and the sporadic comments thrown in by Yoonseo and the Senior during the ongoing events…

‘Even so…’

The moment I step out of this hospital room, it feels like I’m heading straight to a quarantine facility.

It’s like I’m being treated as though I’ve contracted some new virus.

Is that really the case?

To be honest, I’m not sure.

It’s just that, while I might have imagined scenarios involving being kidnapped and locked up in some unknown place due to a strange power tied to my left arm, I had never once considered what it would be like to be quarantined in a hospital like someone suffering from a contagious disease.

Maybe that’s why I keep wondering, ‘Is this right…?’

And perhaps because of that specific thought…

I suddenly became incredulous at the Association’s rigid way of handling matters, which seemed to have the flexibility of an ant’s butt.

It’s funny because, on the one hand, I couldn’t help but think that their perspective was completely valid.

The more I think about it, the more I begin to wonder what’s the real difference between Monsterization and a contagious disease.

Try as I might, I couldn’t find a clear distinction.

The only real difference appears to be that Monsterization isn’t contagious?

In that sense, what if Monsterization had contagious properties?

It would undoubtedly be horrific.

‘Thank goodness it’s not contagious…’

If it were, the world would be in the throes of a zombie apocalypse right now.

And I wouldn’t have woken up in a luxurious hospital room, but rather some sterile chamber.

‘In any case…’

From that angle, I thought there isn’t much difference between someone afflicted by a contagious disease and someone who has undergone Monsterization.

‘…No, that’s not right.’

From the Association’s standpoint, they might prefer someone with a contagious disease.

The thing is, once you isolate them, they would just suffer quietly, but someone who has undergone Monsterization would struggle fiercely to escape.

Letting them struggle without intervention poses the risk of them succeeding in their escape, potentially leading to utter disaster.

Certainly, the folks at the Association must be aware of this simple fact, so their current inflexible approach makes sense…

Still, it would be nice if they allowed for some exceptions.

If they had, I would have likely cooperated with the Association’s ongoing research on Monsterization at this point, in a grander sense.

It’s truly a shame.

Thinking that I must continue this endless waiting in here until the Association makes some decision only heightens my regret.

But what can I do?

Wishing for something won’t change reality.

So now?

It’s time to stop clinging to pointless thoughts and instead accept reality.

“Wait a minute. Then what about underwear…?”

In that sense, I was just pondering what I immediately needed and blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

And before I even finished asking…

“Oh, if it’s underwear, you can check this drawer over here…”

What I found was a drawer stuffed to the brim with what appeared to be brand-new underwear that still looked recently unwrapped.

“Are you serious… Did you buy all new things?”

“Uh, well, since we don’t know how long we’ll be here…”

Maybe the thought was that the more the merrier.

Well, having more would definitely be convenient, but… isn’t that a bit much?

If someone saw this, they’d think I practically raided an underwear store!

‘By the way…’

It felt oddly like a few were missing…

That thought crossed my mind at that exact moment.

Since it was VIP-only, the hospital clothes weren’t particularly special, but I felt the sensation of brand new underwear against my skin, which was uncomfortable at best.

The fabric of the panties felt stiff, almost like they had just come off the shelf.

And that slight discomfort led me to an instinctual realization.

In other words, I had unconsciously reached into something akin to Pandora’s Box.

The fact that my panties, which I had worn for almost a week while being unconscious, felt as if they were brand new implies someone had changed them while I was out cold.

‘The real question is…’

Whose handiwork was it?

If it was Chae-rim or Yoonseo, who took the extra care while the latter was busy?

I’d feel embarrassed, but somehow I would manage to move past it.

But what if it wasn’t them?

If it was the Senior or Bora who had done it?

If that really was the case, what reaction would I have?

Would it be appropriate to say I was surprised they took such care and thank them?

Or perhaps…

Separating that stream of thoughts, one thing was certain: if it really was Bora or the Senior who had taken the time to change my underwear, I might not be able to look them in the eye for a while.

Honestly, it would be awkward enough to ensure that happened.

‘It would be a relief if it was just the Senior…’

At least I had a kind of relationship with her… somewhat.

Compared to Bora, who I’ve had no interaction with at all.

So it would be more embarrassing if it were her.

The chances of that happening are quite low, though.

That’s only because, even though Bora has changed quite a bit, she isn’t really the type to step up and make those kinds of moves.

‘Then who could it be…?’

Is it likely to be either Chae-rim or Yoonseo…?

Or perhaps surprisingly the Senior…?

Even amidst such uncertainty about whose doing it could be, one clear point stood out: that it probably wouldn’t do me any good to make an issue of it.

If things work out nicely, it would be a relief, but if things go wrong, I could end up digging my own grave.

How dire would that be?

After Chae-rim responded to my question, I didn’t say a word about the underwear, perhaps out of concern that the situation might turn awkward.

And at the same time, I worried about whether my attempt to change the topic might show too much effort…

Luckily, though, it seemed like my topic change didn’t come across as all that awkward to the others.

“Anyway…! Just in case, I made sure to gather some items that might be needed during your stay here.”

“No matter how I look at it, this doesn’t seem like a mere temporary setup…”

I wasn’t just saying that to express my gratitude towards Chae-rim’s effort; it was actually true.

Each time Chae-rim opened a drawer, items would tumble out, showcasing an assortment of daily necessities.

“At this point, I could honestly set up a mini household here…”

“Anyway! If you find you need something while you’re here, you know, right?”

“Yes, I’ll let you know right away.”

“Okay.”

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It seems like everything is hardest at the beginning; once I admitted there were things beyond my control?

Exactly after that, accepting reality became considerably easier.

The slight irritation and growing sense of frustration felt the same, but somehow I began to think, ‘Well, it can’t be helped.’

And because of that gradual acceptance of reality, starting the very next day, the four women began taking turns visiting my hospital room.

And the reasons behind those visits were incredibly diverse…

For instance, Bora, who was taking a short break?

She mostly used the excuse of wanting to share meals together.

Eating alone felt lonely, so she pushed the agenda of sharing meals if we had to eat together.

And compared to the others?

Some had the most unexpected excuses.

Just like today.

Considering the current situation, there was no way the Senior wouldn’t be busy, yet she made the time to bring a bunch of stuff with her, making me wonder what that was all about.

“Yes…? What are we doing?”

“Exercise.”

“No, what kind of exercise are we doing all of a sudden here…?”

To be honest, at first, I thought maybe I had misunderstood her entirely.

It seemed shocking at first, but once I spotted the yoga mat appearing from the depths of her shopping bag, I realized…

The Senior was dead serious about this.