This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 521

I actually already knew.

It wouldn’t be as easy to get Dogun’s help as it used to be.

After all, if Dogun’s situation was the same as before, that would be one thing, but now Dogun has things to do on his own, right?

So, while I had anticipated that it wouldn’t be as easy as just wanting him to help, it was still unavoidable that my lips would puff out in disappointment.

If it were like before, I wouldn’t even need to say anything separately…

No matter how I think about it, the feeling of disappointment wouldn’t leave my mind.

Still, I didn’t want to burden Dogun, so I was probably trying my best to manage my expression in that moment.

From my perspective, I thought I was doing my best, but Dogun, who knew me for over ten years, probably saw it as quite lacking.

“You must have something you want to ask me.”

That was the truly piercing remark that slipped from Dogun’s lips, as if he could see right through my thoughts.

Thanks to that, I couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy inside, even though I knew it would be pointless to let it show.

Why does he suddenly become so perceptive at times like this… Wouldn’t it be better if he was like this all the time?

Just as I was internally grumbling about that, I eventually nodded and agreed to Dogun’s words.

It couldn’t be helped.

Looking at the expression on Dogun’s face, it didn’t seem like denying it would lead anywhere.

What use is it to say no to someone who is already half-confirmed?

So, I obediently nodded, and then Dogun, who seemed deep in thought while making a sound like ‘hmm…’, finally spoke again.

“Um… I think you’ll find out once you try, but there should be some time while working.”

“…?”

“Of course, you’ll need to get permission from Chae-rim first… But I think if you ask nicely, she might allow it?”

“What for?”

“Uh… For a date.”

A date?

Why did that word just pop out of nowhere?

I glanced at Dogun, feeling confused, and he seemed to have checked my expression at a similar moment.

The instant our eyes met, Dogun’s face lit up with a look that seemed to say, “Oh? Was it not that…?”

“Were you not saying that because of that?”

“What are you talking about? No, that’s not it.”

“Then…?”

“I just… wanted to ask if you could help me train a little…”

I said it.

I ended up saying it.

In trying to clear up Dogun’s misunderstanding, there was no choice but to reveal the truth, but I didn’t regret it.

What could I do?

It was already done.

So, instead of wasting time on something like that, it would be far more efficient to acknowledge it and honestly ask for help now that it had come to this.

After putting on the most desperate-looking expression I could muster, I sent it towards Dogun.

And maybe that action wasn’t completely ineffective.

A look of contemplation rose on Dogun’s face.

…

It was pretty obvious that I wanted to ask him for something, so I was wondering what exactly that could be.

I never thought it would be a request to help with training.

Although Yoonseo isn’t the type to slack off on training, she also isn’t the type who takes it as seriously as a senior would, as far as I remember.

What could be the reason for her sudden change?

‘Could it be…’

Did something happen during that business trip?

The only possibilities that came to mind were pretty much just that one.

But it’s hard not to think it might not be just speculation considering that Yoonseo had shown an unprecedentedly serious attitude after getting thoroughly beaten by a senior during the mock battle before graduating middle school.

That’s how Yoonseo was.

She seems a bit lackadaisical most of the time, but once she senses a crisis, she becomes extremely sharp and active.

Yet, suddenly seeing her become so fixated on training…

What on earth happened during that business trip…?

As I was pondering that, I just nodded my head for now.

Since I left the hospital under the watchful eye of Chae-rim, it could be said that I should also consider Chae-rim’s opinions, being my guardian and responsible party, but I figured she wouldn’t oppose it anyway.

Considering that Chae-rim is just as serious about training as a senior, it’s more likely that she would support it.

With that thought in mind, I nodded, and perhaps that was the answer Dogun was hoping for.

Yoonseo’s expression, which had been pouting just moments ago, bloomed brightly.

Honestly, up until just now, she looked like a wilted flower that hadn’t seen sunlight.

What’s so great about me helping her train… Is it really that good?

That it could make her expression change so dramatically?

Honestly, since Yoonseo has become a bona fide hero, if she really sets her mind to it, she could easily receive help from someone more capable than me…

Whether to feel thankful for her trusting me and my abilities to that extent is honestly something I’m not sure about, but regardless, it did make me feel somewhat reassured.

So, while I was busy chopping the ingredients for dinner with my hands, my mind kept racing on how to train Yoonseo.

‘For starters…’

I should first gauge her current level.

While we’ve been a bit distant, I’ve kept track of Yoonseo’s achievements, but seeing it through writing or video is, of course, different from seeing it with my own two eyes.

Plus, I highly doubt Yoonseo would have shown her full power against mere lackeys and Another Ones.

So, it’s only right that I should definitely get a better understanding of Yoonseo’s level first.

That way, I could create a training course suited for her, or equip her with new options that I didn’t recommend before due to lack of ability.

Just at that moment when I was earnestly putting my thoughts together…

The sound of clattering continued, and finally, it seemed Chae-rim had finished cleaning the room.

Chae-rim came out of the room, holding a garbage bag that looked larger than her body in each hand.

It didn’t look like there was that much trash, but I suppose she decided to clean out unnecessary items all at once.

After helping Chae-rim take out the trash and returning, I saw Bora had joined Yoonseo.

“Oh? What’s going on? When did you get here?”

“Just now.”

Had she really been sitting in the art studio working on her manuscript until just a moment ago?

“Then you should take a break…”

“No, I’m going to eat, too.”

Unlike her usual style with medium-length hair, Bora had tied her hair up, and with a bright smile, she began to chop the remaining ingredients.

As Bora joined the cooking team right after Yoonseo, it might have put Chae-rim in a somewhat inconvenient position.

“Ahem.”

“What?”

“Uh, I was just wondering if there’s anything I could help with.”

Chae-rim, who approached me and cleared her throat for a moment, asked while checking my reaction.

It’s quite unfortunate for her, but with Bora and Yoonseo already in the kitchen, it felt like we were almost at capacity.

While it wasn’t impossible to squeeze someone else in, considering the flow of movement, this felt like the best option.

But then again, it’s not like I could just blatantly refuse her when she’s the one speaking like this, so I thought for a moment and then pointed to the wide table in the living room.

“Um… then could you tidy that up for me?”

“Huh? Why the living room?”

“I think it’d be better to eat there tonight. The kitchen is a little cramped, and the chairs aren’t the most comfortable for sitting for long, right?”

“Ah, I suppose that is true.”

Having sent Chae-rim off to the living room, it wasn’t long before the senior returned.

I thought it would take a bit longer for her to come back, but maybe she hurried a bit upon hearing the news of my discharge.

She looked a bit tired.

So I wanted to let her rest until the meals were ready, but unfortunately, she was the one to decline first.

She couldn’t just relax while everyone else was busy working, she said.

So I asked the senior to help with the transport and setting up of the finished dishes.