This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 73

Turning back time a little, just when Yoonseo was planning to sneak out of school a bit early, Baeksulhwa was wandering around the training ground, gathering the training equipment scattered everywhere.

“Ugh…”

A deep sigh filled with frustration slipped from her lips amid all this.

If someone saw her, they might wonder why she was sighing when the tough training had already finished, but honestly, it couldn’t be helped.

After all, today she hadn’t gained much from the training either.

Still, the reason it wasn’t as suffocating as before was probably that she had finally succeeded in giving Dogun a nudge.

Of course, the nudge wasn’t exactly asking him for help, but more like suggesting he consider a career path as a hero manager… Honestly, that wasn’t much at all.

Thinking back to how careful she used to be about even bringing that up shows just how significant this change was.

In a way, she had just taken her first step… and while this made her feel a bit anxious, she decided not to let that get to her.

After all, there’s a saying: “Well begun is half done.”

No matter how the process turned out, she had at least started, so all she needed to do was subtly encourage Dogun to seriously consider that career path every morning.

Then, when he thought, “This could work,” she could deliver the well-prepared words she had lined up.

There was a high chance he would go for it.

Pausing momentarily from organizing the training equipment for such daydreaming, Baeksulhwa soon realized that this was not the time for idle thoughts and hurriedly finished tidying up.

To be in front of the main gate when school ended, she needed to hurry a little.

Of course, she still had some time, but that was just if she planned to go as she was; after all, she couldn’t just step out like this when she had sweat pouring from her training.

With that in mind, Baeksulhwa headed straight for the shower room.

After showering thoroughly and drying off completely, she changed into her school uniform and headed directly to the main gate—

“I wonder if it would be a bit… burdensome to act like I know her? Maybe just a nod of acknowledgment will do…”

Thinking that, Baeksulhwa slowly moved toward the main gate, unaware that as soon as she arrived, she would run into a familiar face that was not entirely unfamiliar, but rather one that lingered in her memory.

“Hmm…?”

It was the girl leaning against the wall next to the main gate, most likely ‘Yoonseo,’ someone mentioned often by Dogun, which widened her eyes in surprise.

Given that they weren’t on particularly friendly terms, Baeksulhwa figured that if she built a rapport with Dogun, they would run into each other someday, but to think it would happen today!

Her reaction came purely from that reason, but to her surprise, the response she received was anything but ordinary.

“…Huh?”

Fumbling over her words with a bewildered expression while looking at Baeksulhwa was something she could understand.

Yoonseo might still remember the regular tournament from last year or they might have briefly crossed paths at the uniform store; either way, it was valid.

The problem lay in what followed her confusion.

The surprised expression that quickly turned into a piercing gaze and the cold aura that began to swirl above her face clearly indicated that she regarded Baeksulhwa as an enemy.

But why?

Was it because of that humiliating defeat in last year’s regular tournament?

Was that why she was acting like this now?

Today, she felt annoyed multiple times due to Dogun’s constant chatter about ‘Yoonseo, Yoonseo,’ but aside from that, given that she and Dogun didn’t exactly maintain a typical friendship, it made her responses all the more perplexing…

“Ah…”

Unlike when she faced Dogun, she didn’t feel any urge to reciprocate.

There was a clear realization as she pondered why Yoonseo was behaving that way.

She might not know what Dogun thought, but at least Yoonseo definitely didn’t see him as just a friend.

What does that mean?

It meant that trying to cultivate any closeness was pointless.

What girl in the world would be thrilled to have another girl hovering around the guy she had her eye on?

Sure, Baeksulhwa didn’t want Dogun himself but rather the abilities he possessed, but explaining that would likely not lead to, “Ah, I see,” and acceptance.

So, what was left?

They were bound to end up in a conflict over what they both wanted.

And above all, leaving everything else aside—

“Is she… a bit full of herself?”

Did she already forget that Baeksulhwa utterly crushed her last time?

“What about you…?”

That’s why she had deliberately pretended not to recognize Yoonseo, fully aware of her identity.

And did that act of feigned ignorance actually have an effect?

Yoonseo, perhaps feeling wronged or annoyed by the fact that she remembered while Baeksulhwa did not, her eyebrows could be seen twitching as they arched upward.

Seeing that made Baeksulhwa feel an inexplicable sense of relief and peace.

Though she couldn’t understand why that was the case, more pressing matters demanded her attention.

“With that school uniform you’re wearing, you seem to be a Whisong student. May I ask what brings you to our school?”

“…”

No answer came back.

Of course, that made sense.

Standing there at this hour suggested she must have a friendship with someone, so why would she be able to respond?

“I’m sorry, but if you don’t provide a valid reason, I have no choice but to take action.”

Naturally, no reply again.

Given that is what she anticipated, she smoothly continued speaking.

“There’s been an incident where some villains disguised as students in uniforms attacked students on their way home.”

That was precisely the reason she stood by the main gate as the school was letting out.

Admittedly, after that incident, thanks to the authorities realizing the situation, they significantly increased the number of heroes assigned for school security, meaning that anyone not wishing to enter special correctional facilities would avoid targeting schools…

But still, as is always the case with life, one could never be too sure.

So, to ensure safety during peak hours when students were moving in groups, hero candidates were often stationed at the entrance like now.

However, since she was treated as more than just a suspicious person and regarded as a villain posing as a student, she could no longer stand by idly.

“…I’m here to see a friend.”

The eyes, which had been fixed on Baeksulhwa with great intensity, slowly softened, and an irritable voice came from the lips that jutted out angrily.

It sounded almost like she was challenging, “What’s it to you?”

*

It was then that Dogun, hastily walking to the main gate to get home and rest, caught sight of the two standing at the entrance.

His normally steady steps were absent, given that he had just exhausted himself trying to contain his friend’s mouth, suspecting he might be the new male transfer student in the rumor mill.

As he approached the gate, he noticed a small crowd gathered, which piqued his curiosity.

“What’s this…?”

Did something happen?

As that thought flitted through his mind, he pushed through the crowd to get through the gate and—

Saw two familiar faces glaring at each other, embroiled in a confrontation.

“…?”

For a moment, he was genuinely bewildered.

That made sense; nothing was clear at all.

Starting with the question, “Why is Yoonseo here?” to wondering why those two were acting that way at all—it raised all kinds of questions in his head, and those flooded thoughts sent his already overwhelmed brain into a full-blown panic.

Was it any wonder then that he experienced what felt like a mystical phenomenon?

It was as if some translation AI had been installed in his brain, making the once-unintelligible ‘female speech’ from a previous life automatically get translated right into his ears.

“Is that so? If it’s a friend, who are you talking about?”

-If you can’t say it, just turn back, okay?

“Um, no, but I said I came to see my friend. What’s it to you?”

-Why should I have to say that? And anyway, if I do, will you even understand who it is?

“I’m sorry, but I’m the Student Council President at this school.”

-You could just ask the student council members to check for you. Why don’t you just tell me?

While going through that experience, one thought came to him.

“Wow…”

I genuinely want to escape…

But he knew he couldn’t.

That’s why—

“Hey? What’s up, Oh Yoonseo! What are you doing here?”

After squeezing his eyes tightly shut for a moment, he put on the most composed voice and expression he could manage as he intervened between the two.