This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 567

“Could you describe in more detail about the woman you saw?”

If I were to ask just one question, what should it be?

It was quite a challenge to decide, and as I pondered more and more, rather than lightening the weight of my worries, it felt like they were piling up heavier, making it difficult to reach a conclusion. But in the end, my choice was to confirm whether the woman Miss Almighty mentioned was indeed my mother.

In a way, this could have been a choice that threw away an opportunity, but from my perspective, it was the best option.

After all, it could be someone entirely different who just happened to have a similar scar in a similar place, right?

Of course, one could argue about the chances of two people in the world having such a scar, but that actually means it’s not entirely impossible to dismiss the possibility.

It wouldn’t hurt to be sure.

So, I asked, and perhaps from the other person’s perspective, my choice seemed somewhat unexpected.

“Hmm…”

With a sound that could be taken as meaningful, Miss Almighty began to lock her gaze onto my face as if piercing through it.

How much time passed in that state?

“Could I borrow a pen? And some paper too.”

Miss Almighty abruptly requested a pen and paper.

A pen and paper, huh.

Those are easy enough to obtain, but to suddenly ask for those makes me wonder if she intends to draw something to explain rather than just talk.

Logically, doing a portrait wouldn’t be easy, but the confidence on her face made me think she must have some solid basis for it.

Going by her expression, it seemed so, so I fetched the pen and paper as requested.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to go too far to find them. They were prepared in a corner, likely anticipating the need.

As I stared blankly at the items just presented to me, Miss Almighty picked up the pen, twirled it skillfully between her fingers, and then started drawing on the paper.

There was no hesitation in her movements, filled with conviction.

Swish, swish—

The sound of the pen and paper rubbing against each other resonated continuously.

And each time, a line emerged from the pen’s tip that, even to someone like me, who was indifferent, looked quite smooth.

I wondered what kind of confidence she had to choose drawing over words; perhaps she used to draw a lot.

But even if we assume that’s the case, the skill evident right before my eyes was anything but ordinary.

It was almost as if she possessed a talent related to that.

‘That couldn’t be, though…’

After all, given Bora, such talents shouldn’t be dismissed lightly, but remembering the tales Chae-rim shared previously, it seemed like she had skills unrelated to art.

Yet, such a graceful drawing technique.

Thanks to that, I unknowingly fixated my gaze on the paper, but the pen that had been frolicking around suddenly halted.

“If you stare at me so intensely, it makes me blush, you know.”

Apparently, my gaze was stressing her out.

I immediately withdrew my attention from the paper, and only then did the pen begin to move again.

“Now, let’s see if it’s the person you were hoping for.”

Soon after, a sheet of paper was thrust in front of me, and on that paper was a drawing so detailed it wouldn’t be strange to mistake it for a photo.

At first glance, it seemed she was doodling without much thought, but suddenly producing such a drawing was astonishing enough to warrant admiration, though shock overtook that emotion instead.

After all, the woman depicted was undoubtedly my mother.

She looked slightly older than the last time I had seen her, but I was certain.

It’s only logical that a child wouldn’t fail to recognize their parent’s face, right?

If this had sprung forth from that woman’s fingertips, it meant the two must have met for real… but how on earth did that happen?

Did they already know each other?

Could it be that my mom, in some predicament that forced her to hide, sought out this woman for help?

As dozens, perhaps hundreds of questions swirled in my mind, what I genuinely wanted to ask was limited.

For instance… how did you come to know my mother? Or was your sudden trip to Korea somehow related to me or my mom?

Those kinds of questions piled up in my throat, tapping against my uvula, yet I hesitated to speak them.

I had no choice; unlike before, the questions I was about to throw out now had a price attached.

And the cost would be paid by Chae-rim or me.

The issue was… apart from that person, no one else knew how the price would be paid.

So of course, hesitation crept in, and I couldn’t help it.

‘Huff…’

Still, if I asked just one… just one question, could I handle it?

After overthinking for a moment, I steeled my resolve and opened my mouth.

“How did you come to know my mom?”

A question stemming from much consideration.

The response from the other party was straightforward.

A significant, meaning-laden smile aimed right at me.

That was all Miss Almighty’s reaction after hearing my question.

“Well… that’s a bit awkward to answer.”

“…?”

Awkward to answer, huh?

Could she be planning to brush me off like this?

Thinking that could be the case, I instinctively furrowed my brow just then.

Having drawn diligently and spoken a few words, perhaps out of thirst from all the talking, Miss Almighty picked up the teacup in front of her and took a sip of the now lukewarm tea before placing it back down and finally speaking.

“Well, you see… she came looking for me first.”

“…”

“To my surprise, though… I thought my heart would stop in that moment!”

There was a hint of exaggeration in her words, but it clarified one point.

That is, Miss Almighty and my mother were not long-time acquaintances.

Otherwise, there would have been no reason to speak like she had just done.

This meant that my mother had approached Miss Almighty for some underlying purpose…

But what could that purpose be?

Although I could instantly recognize my mother’s face after hardly seeing her for a long time, that part remained a complete mystery.

The only thing I could vaguely guess was… perhaps it had something to do with the research my mother was so devoted to?

As I was lost in those speculations, it seemed Miss Almighty was dissatisfied with my lack of genuine curiosity, prompting her to encourage me.

“So… aren’t you going to ask more?”

With a delicate smile, her voice seemed to press me, echoing in my ears.

That subtly oppressive tone had an unknown effect, making my shoulders feel heavier.

“…Come on, that’s enough, right? If you keep this up, I might lose my patience.”

Chae-rim, who was sitting right next to me and firmly holding my hand, suddenly glared at her, creating an air that made any tension vanish as she spoke.

“Your tone is quite sharp for someone lecturing on manners.”

“Well? If that’s how you felt, then sure. But… I hope you’d consider who caused this situation.”

In reality, Chae-rim was entirely justified in her sharp reaction.

From her viewpoint, it was perfectly reasonable for her to be on edge, considering the very person who had just exposed the secret we had painstakingly kept hidden for years was sitting right in front of us.

Had she perhaps taken in that heavy silence and was now poking me in the side, almost daring me to break that silence?