This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 499

Chae-rim had been moving as quietly as possible given the circumstances, but there was, in fact, a limit to hiding her identity.

Moreover, wasn’t Chae-rim quite eye-catching? It wasn’t just her looks; her innate talent had always drawn attention. So, when she returned to the scene almost as if she were still an active hero after several years, and started stirring things up, it wasn’t surprising that reports began flooding the internet.

The climax of this phenomenon was when Chae-rim successfully entered the room where her target was hiding, unleashing her powers to subdue them. The distinctive blue light spilling out through the hotel window was a sight to behold.

Though Chae-rim had stepped back from the field for a few years and her presence had faded somewhat, that blue light had become her trademark whenever she showcased her abilities during her active days.

Now, after years, to see that trademark reappear right in the heart of Seoul was bound to cause quite a stir among her fans who’d been waiting for her comeback.

Thus, people of all ages, jubilantly rallied together in excitement, igniting various online communities while discussions about the incident flared up, indicating the urgency for a response from the Association.

“Can you believe it? A Hero trying to scam other Heroes…”

“Honestly, if it had ended there, it would have been a relief, but I don’t think those guys would stop.”

“And why’s that?”

“It’s obvious. They probably had a list of heroes they invested in, aiming to scam regular investors too.”

“What kind of person would fall for that…?”

“There’d be plenty if you look around. Sure, we know what’s what, but people hearing about heroes investing in something would naturally get tempted.”

Thanks to that, anywhere you turned, you could find conversations buzzing about the matter. Amid the chaotic discussions, the Association’s response to the incident sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Heroes are fundamentally part of the privileged class. Especially a First-Class Hero—they are practically irreplaceable.

That’s not even mentioning the current Association, which was so short-handed that they were barely hanging on. Thus, the Association found it challenging to take decisive action.

Also, considering the fact that Chae-rim had stepped back from the field only to return just in time to stop the incident before it escalated, that Hero turned a scammer from a perpetrator into an attempted perpetrator.

Because of that, everyone expected the Association to cover things up rather than take strong action… but this time, it was different.

Perhaps they were aware of the sharp decline in people’s trust towards the Association lately.

Usually, criminals face easy sentences, like getting assigned to remote areas to serve time through community service. Contrary to that expectation, the Association’s firm response was startling.

They threw two Heroes directly implicated in the coin scam into a special prison reserved for the most heinous criminals, the Awakened who committed awful crimes.

If those two had been regular people, they might have had a trial, but the Association had the authority over the punishment of criminals who were Awakened, leading them to become inmates in a special facility filled with other Awakened criminals in the blink of an eye.

And this resoluteness in the Association’s response set the stage for excitement among those who’d been silently preparing for disappointment.

“I wasn’t expecting the Association to act so decisively…”

“Right? I figured they’d send them off to some remote area and claim they’d done their job.”

“Does this mean they’re worried about what we think?”

The one to benefit from that atmosphere was none other than Chae-rim.

Perhaps it was because she stepped up to solve the incident herself.

Those who were reminded of the heroic persona she’d showcased during her active days began supporting her more actively, and some neutral factions within the Association changed their stance, choosing to side with Chae-rim.

With that newfound strength, Chae-rim launched herself into action regarding Dogun, the issue that had to be shelved due to the sudden outbreak of the coin scam.

Though that wasn’t her original aim, the situation unexpectedly put the initiative in her hands.

Chae-rim wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip away, and as the heated atmosphere began to cool down, she unleashed the press releases she had prepared all at once.

As the saying goes, there’s no competition against sheer quantity.

With the buzz ahead of the subject that would inevitably stir up the public again being widely disseminated, the atmosphere that had begun to calm quickly reignited.

Those most actively responding to this were people with acquaintances or family members affected by monsterization.

On the opposing side stood those who cried out, “They are just another now, aren’t they? It’s only fitting they be disposed of!” Meanwhile, the Association merely isolated them without any updates.

In the midst of rising tensions, Chae-rim’s claims rallied those who had begun to grow weary.

“What crime did the victims who were present that day commit!?”

“The Association must promise unconditional protection for the victims of monsterization!”

“Is it really alright for the Association to not even stop the assaults from Another Ones!?”

Having already gained public support, even a small group with voices as loud as a crowd’s join would be a formidable backing for Chae-rim.

Of course, should she mess up while backed by such public goodwill, the backlash would be immediate, but Chae-rim was confident. She was certain she wouldn’t fail.

With her newfound might, she lifted the restrictions placed on Dogun under the condition of keeping an eye on him, redirecting attention towards him—the first in society to recover from the effects of monsterization.

As she stepped through the door, she knew she would face numerous cameras and innumerable gazes.

Ironically, while the door was quite common in places like hospitals, it somehow felt extraordinarily large.

Thus, perhaps it was natural that my fingertips were tingling more frequently.

Even though I was prepared to face the reporters waiting beyond that door, I found myself unable to take a single step.

“Haah…”

I wondered if letting out a big sigh would help relieve the burden within me, but it did nothing. Instead, the anxious feeling just grew stronger.

In that simmering anxiety, Chae-rim’s hand reached out, gently holding mine.

“Don’t worry too much. Everything… will be alright.”