This World is too Cruel to Men

Although the Regular Sparring sounds like an ordinary, everyday event in name, it’s actually quite a significant occasion.

That’s why it attracts a considerable amount of attention.

The sparring matches in regions with promising or famous Awakened are even broadcast sometimes, which goes to show how important they are.

There are various reasons for this level of interest… but listing them all would take forever, so let’s set that aside for now.

If I were to predict how today will go, honestly, I can’t be optimistic.

It’s inevitable, because unlike the usual sparring matches between middle school kids, today is different.

Unlike usual, high school Awakened from neighboring areas are participating, making it difficult to predict a victory for Yun-Seo.

‘High schoolers are high schoolers for a reason…’

Simply put, they’ve lived longer.

One might argue that the difference between middle and high school isn’t that big, but they ‘are’ distinctly different.

While middle schoolers are still growing, high schoolers hone their skills daily, preparing for the Hero Qualification Exam they’ll take upon becoming adults.

Of course, not everyone in the world is diligent, and not all high school Awakened are like that… but the difference in their level of seriousness is undeniable.

‘Well, that’s part of it…’

If that were the only reason, I wouldn’t be doubting Yun-Seo’s chances.

I’d be imagining her sweeping the competition, high schoolers included, and winning the whole thing.

My pessimism stems not only from that, but also from the formidable lineup of high school Awakened participating this time.

Some of them even have sizable fanbases and are already gaining fame as the next generation of Heroes.

‘My real worry is someone else, though…’

Anyway, I thought experiencing a loss once in a while wouldn’t be a bad thing, but the thought of Yun-Seo, who’s always won, possibly losing makes me uneasy.

Is this what it feels like to be a worried uncle?

While ‘I’ was feeling this way, the one responsible for my unease was…

“Pork Cutlet Sandwich—! Make me a Pork Cutlet Sandwiiich—”

Not only did she wake me up, but she’s also demanding a Pork Cutlet Sandwich first thing in the morning.

“Hey… if you’re craving a Pork Cutlet Sandwich that badly, why not ask your dad to make one?”

Ever since Kindergarten, Yun-Seo’s dad has been a doting father, and his symptoms only worsened after she started being called a genius.

He’d even find a Mart open at dawn to make her whatever she wants, so why come to me?

I asked her out of genuine curiosity, and an “Ugh…” expression appeared on Yun-Seo’s face, the same face that had been pestering me.

“H-his doesn’t taste the same!”

She then shouted, making me feel almost sorry for her dad.

“A-anyway… I have this condition where I can’t perform well unless I eat a delicious Pork Cutlet Sandwich on sparring days. Do you want me to lose miserably at the Regular Sparring?”

“Wow…”

“…W-what?”

“Nothing, it’s just… the world is vast, and there are so many different kinds of conditions, you know?”

Well, what can I do if she says so?

It’s annoying that she woke me up so early, but I have no choice but to make it.

‘I had to make something for myself anyway.’

But there’s a problem.

“I’m out of ingredients. Oh dear, that’s such a shame. I’m so sad I could cry.”

I said this in a completely emotionless voice, thinking of alternatives, when…

‘Hee hee!’

A chuckle came from behind me, followed by a pack of fresh, pink pork loin appearing before my eyes.

“I knew you’d say that, so I came prepared. See? Lucky you!”

Wait, she had nothing in her hands just a moment ago. Where did she pull that out from?

“Did you steal that from your fridge again?”

“Hey, ‘steal’! Don’t you know the saying, ‘All roads lead to Rome’? It’s all going to end up in my stomach anyway, so it’s fine.”

She’s all talk and no height… Maybe Yun-Seo’s real talent isn’t Liquid Manipulation, but shamelessness.

Anyway, with the ingredients here, the pork loin’s fate as a cutlet is sealed.

The problem is, she didn’t ask for just any cutlet, but a Pork Cutlet Sandwich…

“Hey, if you’ve got nothing to do, go buy some bread.”

I solved that by sending Yun-Seo on an errand.

‘Freshly fried cutlet with freshly baked bread?’

I can’t resist that.

With that single thought in mind, I rummaged through the kitchen, found a meat mallet, and started pounding the pork loin with a satisfying ‘thwack’ ‘thwack’ ‘thwack’.

Yun-Seo, who had left the house at my behest, returned, panting.

With the procured bread, the golden-brown, thick cutlets, and the signature Pork Cutlet Sandwich sauce… the key, of course, was the finely chopped jalapeño pickles mixed into one of the sauces.

This would provide the perfect balance of spicy and tangy flavors.

I placed a freshly made, steaming Pork Cutlet Sandwich into the lunchbox—

‘Whoosh!’

It vanished before my eyes.

The culprit?

Yun-Seo, who had been watching the process with sparkling eyes.

She immediately brought the stolen sandwich to her mouth, and the result was quite devastating.

“Hot…!”

Of course it’s hot; it was just fried.

But despite the heat, it must have tasted good, because she held the sandwich tightly in both hands, refusing to put it down.

Well, that’s fine, but…

“What are you doing?”

“Huh? What?”

“Goodness… finish chewing before you talk. Finish chewing.”

With slightly flushed cheeks, Yun-Seo quickly chewed and swallowed the contents of her mouth before giving me the same puzzled look as before.

“If you eat your lunch like that, what are you going to eat for lunch?”

“I never said it was for lunch?”

Huh?

“I don’t like having anything in my stomach when I spar.”

“Then why…”

Why did she wake me up and ask me to make it?

I was speechless, and Yun-Seo, oblivious to my bewilderment, devoured the other half in an instant, then sucked the sauce off her fingers with a ‘pop’.

“Obviously, I asked you to make it so I could eat it now.”

Ah, so that’s how it is. I had no idea.

“And since it’s freshly fried, it’d be a waste to eat it later when it’s soggy.”

That makes sense.

Some argue that the sogginess is part of a Pork Cutlet Sandwich’s charm, but fried food is always best when fresh.

“Sigh… Fine… Eat up.”

I made another one and placed it down, and Yun-Seo snatched it up without hesitation.

“So, how is it? Think you can perform well now?”

I casually asked as I assembled the third sandwich.

Yun-Seo’s cheeks puffed out as she took a large bite.

She chewed with a ‘chomp chomp chomp’, swallowed, and answered my question.

“Yeah, I can totally win this time.”

“Really?”

That’s good to hear, but… I honestly don’t know if she actually can.

Anyway, after feeding her breakfast, it was almost time to leave for the venue, so I decided to ask Yun-Seo’s dad for a ride again.

“Sorry, Dokgun. Waking you up so early because of Yun-Seo…”

“No, it’s fine. I’m used to it.”

This is the power of almost a decade of experience.

As I was exchanging pleasantries with Yun-Seo’s dad, I heard grumbling from beside me.

I ignored it, and soon, the venue came into view through the car window.

I had to part ways with Yun-Seo at the entrance.

“Do your best. Don’t get careless.”

“I know, I know. Just focus on cheering for me from the stands and deciding what you want for lunch.”

Waving her hand dismissively, as if telling me not to worry, Yun-Seo disappeared down the hallway.

I headed to the spectator stands, and in that short time, quite a few people had already filled the seats.

“There are definitely more people than last time.”

“Yes, I suppose it’s because the high schoolers are participating this time.”

It’s like an exhibition match, so naturally, it would attract more attention.

“That’s right… high schoolers… Hey, Dokgun.”

“Yes?”

“Do you think Yun-Seo can win against the high schoolers?”

“Well, I’d say she has a chance…”

“Really?”

“Yes, but…”

There were a few people I was concerned about.

“But?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

I continued chatting with Yun-Seo’s dad in the stands, and soon, the announcer’s voice echoed through the venue, signaling the start of the Regular Sparring.

The aspiring heroes began to appear, one by one, according to the order predetermined by the institution.

‘She still hasn’t broken that habit…’

It would be great if she could fix that habit.

Of course, if it were easy to fix, it wouldn’t be a habit in the first place.

I was jotting down my analysis of each participant in my notebook when the announcer called the name of someone I had identified as a potential threat to Yun-Seo during my research on the high school participants.

Emerging from the gate connected to the waiting room was—

‘That’s…’

A female swordsman.