This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 525

Today I learned that there are indeed many newspapers in our country.

“Coming from Fishing and Economics! Just one comment about how it feels to be released from isolation—”

Goodness, whether it’s in the fishing section or the economics section, who on earth decided to combine these two into one name?

Surely, in the blinding flashes of light that would make anyone lose their mind, I was having such pointless thoughts.

Did I somehow manage to push through this crowd to reach the front? Or did I just shove everyone behind me out of the way to get here?

Just as someone shoved a microphone in my face, complaints erupted from all around.

“Hey, move aside! Let me cover this alone!”

“What?!”

“Let’s maintain some manners! Have some decency!”

Thanks to that, the person who thrust the microphone at me shrank back and was pushed further away.

“Could you please strike a pose for us?”

“You’ve just been released from isolation, do you not feel sorry for the other victims of monsterization?!”

“Please share your thoughts on being released from isolation—!”

If they want to ask questions, just ask the questions; if they want to take pictures, then just take the pictures.

What kind of mindset do they have, demanding proper answers from me while firing off flashes like they’re explosives right in front of me?

It might be obvious, but I truly had no room to answer the reporters’ questions right now.

With the constant flashes disrupting my focus, keeping my expression stable was already pushing my mind to its limits; amidst all that, was there really any space for that?

Then again…

Chae-rim had advised me not to answer the reporters’ questions if possible.

Even if I didn’t intend it that way, depending on how the reporters interpreted my words, I could suddenly become the villain, so it was better not to engage at all.

Of course, behaving that way could give the impression that I was dismissing them… but Chae-rim assured me that wouldn’t be a concern.

After all, despite the crazed looks on their faces, everyone still remembered that until very recently, I was just an ordinary person.

So even if I kept silent and didn’t respond to their questions, from their perspective, they were more likely to see it as me being nervous rather than dismissive, according to Chae-rim.

I firmly believed in Chae-rim’s argument and had maintained my silence.

“Dogun!”

“Just one comment, please! Dogun!”

“Could you wave your left hand for us, please!!!”

“I’m from Man and Sense! What do you think about the other victims of monsterization? Just one comment, please!”

Are these journalists professionals or what?

Even though I kept silent, none seemed to call me out or take offense at my silence.

Instead, it was just a crowd filled with those trying to get at least one scoop from me.

‘At this rate, someone’s going to get hurt…’

Right now, everyone was standing okay, but if even one of them loses balance and falls, it would undoubtedly cause chaos.

Everyone’s eyes were practically spinning in their sockets, after all.

Well, even if that happens, it might be somewhat of a self-inflicted situation, and that part I could accept, but was there really nothing worth reporting?

Would they really swarm like this on someone’s commute?

‘No, considering this level…’

Most newspapers are likely to pump out articles related to this, but if they follow that, it might actually be better to take a more niche route for views.

I don’t know much about the industry, but somehow that seems likely…

Regardless, now that things had turned out this way, I was finally realizing what a brilliant decision it was to commute with Chae-rim today.

Thanks to Chae-rim being here, I could remain so calm; if I had come alone, what would have happened?

“Official duties in progress! Please cooperate!”

“I ask for your cooperation!”

If those staff from the association had rushed out like this, instead of opening a path, I would have been completely surrounded by reporters, unable to move!

No doubt the reporters would have been trying to pick me apart.

But as for now, what’s the situation?

No matter how much those obsessed with exclusives and views are out there, no one dared to block the path of someone as important as the Vice Chair.

Every time the association staff mentioned their official duties, the crowd around us would part like the Red Sea welcoming Moses.

Thanks to that, I managed to step inside the association building without much hassle.

“Phew…”

Of course, I said that, but my mind was already half somewhere else.

Maybe it was all those flashes, but my head felt like it was throbbing a bit—I should probably take some painkillers.

I dressed nicely in a suit and tie for work today, and yet, what was this madness?

It was impossible not to think that as I ran my hand over the wrinkled fabric of my suit.

But surely, there should have been staff from the association nearby, providing full security, so how on earth did I get through?

I was fortunate I had covered my left arm with thick sleeves and gloves beforehand; otherwise, I could be in a tricky situation right now.

Thinking about how things could have gone wrong sent a shiver down my spine while I was nervously fiddling with my gloved left hand.

Did Chae-rim perhaps notice my state of mental exhaustion?

She had been talking to the association staff around us but returned to my side to gently pat my back.

“You did well.”

Thanks to her, I was able to break free from my worries.

“It seems this will continue for a while, right…?”

“Uh… probably? But it will surely be less hectic than today.”

“Well, that’s at least some relief.”

“If we can just hold out a few more days, they’ll eventually disperse on their own, so let’s hang in there a little longer, okay?”

“Yes.”

Honestly, I had expected this much.

So, I was confident I could manage for a few days.

Anything beyond that and I wouldn’t know how I’d react; that was my concern.

‘Such a thought feels a bit off, but…’

If only another incident would come up soon, that would be great.

Because the moment something like that happens, some of these reporters would surely head that way.

Somewhere nearby, Dogun was lost in his trivial concerns, wondering if there might just be a celebrity scandal on the loose.

He didn’t notice the look in Chae-rim’s eyes, filled with deep concern.

‘But… he seems okay. Thank goodness.’

What could I even say?

Chae-rim had not forgotten the advice—or rather, warning—from the doctor who first examined Dogun.

In other words… if Dogun got too stressed, his powers could become a bomb instead of a blessing.

That was why today, despite having done all the necessary preparations, I was still a bit on edge…

It turned out that being overly prepared was the right call.

Once the situation calmed down and I got a good look at Dogun’s face, thankfully, it didn’t seem like he was too stressed.

For the first time since waking up today, I could finally relax.

‘It would be nice if everything continues this smoothly from now on…’

In that sense, those reporters are a real pain.

If they’re going to report, why can’t they just be a bit more courteous? What right do they have to act like they’re ready to devour the very person who used to be an ordinary citizen?

Especially towards someone who was just an ordinary person until recently!

‘Not to mention…’

Why do they keep jamming that microphone in my face?

Nowadays, technology is so advanced that you could capture sound without shoving a mic right up against someone’s face.

Do they have some sort of disease that makes them feel they’ll die if they don’t put a mic right up to their subject’s face?

It’s ridiculous how they immediately thrust the microphone forward, pouring out their grievances—such things I really can’t stand.

‘This won’t do.’

I definitely need to take some kind of measures.

And that’s what naturally led me to that thought.