This World is too Cruel to Men

The moment their eyes met, the little girl vanished the thing she had been levitating in her palm as if she had been caught red-handed doing something naughty behind the adults’ backs.

This confirmed her suspicions once more.

The kid in front of her was indeed one of those commonly called a genius.

If so?

She needed to revise her strategy quickly.

If, by any chance, they proceeded as planned and later the child or her parents realized their worth and switched to another agency, it would be a significant loss for the already understaffed institution.

And if that happened?

Those in charge of the initial contract would also be affected.

They’d be blamed for letting a gem slip through their fingers, failing to recognize its true value.

She wanted to stay with the institution indefinitely, so she wanted to avoid that outcome at all costs.

Hence, the need for a revised strategy.

Of course, recognizing the need didn’t mean she could immediately implement it.

She simply didn’t have the authority.

Her role here was merely to assist her senior; she wasn’t the one leading the proceedings.

Therefore, to change the course of the contract, which seemed to be nearing its conclusion, she needed to persuade her senior.

‘The higher-ups did say to secure as many potential Heroes as possible…’

It didn’t prick her conscience too much to interrupt her senior, who was undoubtedly inwardly delighted at the prospect of closing the deal and heading home.

“Um, Senior. Could we talk for a moment…?”

“…Why?”

Although the higher-ups had instructed them to be generous with promising individuals, being too generous could be detrimental in the long run.

So, she couldn’t speak openly in front of the child’s parents and had to settle for a vague excuse.

Fortunately, her senior, puzzled by her unusual behavior, frowned and asked what was wrong, but readily got up from her seat.

“I apologize, but could you excuse me for a moment? I received a call from the higher-ups…”

“Huh? Oh, yes…”

“It might take a while, so please take your time reviewing the contract.”

Having barely managed to excuse herself, she then—

“So, what’s the matter?”

“Senior, about that kid’s contract terms… let’s raise them. To A-rank.”

“…What?”

Naturally, she couldn’t avoid the incredulous stare directed at her.

After all, she was the one who had vehemently insisted before arriving that a C-rank contract was sufficient for the child.

Now, she was suddenly suggesting an A-rank, not even a B-rank… From her senior’s perspective, having accepted and acted upon her initial recommendation, it was only natural to be dumbfounded.

‘But…’

What could she do?

She had seen it.

Why had she insisted that a C-rank contract was sufficient after hearing that the child’s Awakened talent was Water Manipulation, or rather, something closer to Liquid Manipulation?

Because she had believed the talent, while potentially powerful, had clear limitations.

But what if those limitations didn’t apply to this child?

She believed that even offering the S-rank contract, usually reserved for individuals with extremely high Hero potential, wouldn’t be a waste.

Not every genius became a Hero, but most of those called geniuses did rise to the position.

“That kid? Even if she is, Water Manipulation abilities…”

“Yes, they have clear limitations.”

That’s why many failed the exam, unable to showcase their potential despite possessing a powerful talent.

“But… she’s different.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Didn’t you see? While you were focused on explaining the contract to her parents, what was that child doing on her own?”

“…Well, I was busy focusing on the explanation.”

Following those words was a look that clearly asked why she was making such a fuss.

It stung, but she was already certain. Once her senior heard what the child had casually done, she would understand.

“Did you, by any chance, feel the air suddenly become humid during the explanation?”

“Hmm? Now that you mention it… Don’t tell me.”

“Yes, that’s exactly it. She was creating and playing with something like a cloud, all by herself.”

This was a level that only a handful of those with similar talents could achieve.

Unfortunately, the individual famous for this feat was a Villain, not a Hero.

In any case, a seven-year-old, Awakened for less than half a day, casually performing such a feat?

She couldn’t even begin to imagine the potential dormant within that small body.

“At that level, she’ll be at least…”

“Frozen-level, wouldn’t you say?”

The moment she mentioned the name of the Villain who had once troubled the institution and its registered Heroes, the child’s value skyrocketed.

At that point, an A-rank contract, which included constant security detail for the individual and their family to prevent them from being snatched by Villains, became a necessity.

If they failed to do so and something happened, and that child ended up being called a Villain instead of a Hero?

The institution and the citizens might face a second Frozen.

The monster who, in the final battle before capture, had frozen an area with a 5km radius.

As a member of the institution tasked with protecting citizens, she had to prevent that.

So she argued her case, and as a result, successfully changed the rank on the contract presented to the child’s parents.

Of course, getting their signatures on it was a completely different matter.

Naturally, the child’s parents were puzzled by the sudden change in the contract.

But that was all.

The terms weren’t worse, and not many people would nitpick over a better offer.

So she thought she could smoothly conclude the contract with a brief explanation—

“Then, we look forward to working with you.”

“You needn’t worry.”

“Mommy, Mommy.”

“Yes? What is it, sweetie?”

“Are we moving again?”

There was an unexpected hurdle.

“No… I don’t want to move…”

The child, Yun-Seo, whom they had assumed to be quiet, suddenly started whining.

Seeing the child’s face, which had instantly turned into a pout, everyone involved in the contract was taken aback.

“Can’t we not move…?”

It was Yun-Seo’s dad who stepped in to soothe her.

“I apologize. Our daughter hasn’t been living in this neighborhood for long. She just made friends at kindergarten, and now we have to move again…”

“Ah, um…”

All the two representatives could do at his apologetic words was awkwardly scratch their cheeks.

The truth was, they knew.

While it was called “adult circumstances,” from a child’s perspective, it was undeniably a cruel thing to do.

Of course, some children acted like they didn’t care about leaving their kindergarten friends, blinded by the prospect of becoming a Hero, but… this child didn’t seem to be one of them.

And that made things difficult.

“Miss, can’t I not move? I don’t want to leave my friends… Sniff…”

Normally?

She would have proceeded regardless of the child’s pleas.

But now, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

In her mind, the child before her was already a future Hero.

What if something like this gave her a negative impression of the institution?

She couldn’t imagine how that might play out later.

It might be needless worry, but… that’s how people’s hearts worked.

You never knew what might set someone off, not even yourself. So, she couldn’t help but be cautious.

“Maybe you’ll make even more friends at the new kindergarten?”

“But… then I won’t have my current friends…”

The moment she heard the immediate reply, she knew.

This child was extraordinary.

Of course, she couldn’t stop trying to persuade her.

“You can keep in touch with your current friends, can’t you?”

“They said on TV that out of sight is out of mind…”

What were children watching these days that made them say such things so casually?

Slightly stunned by the remark, as if the child had prepared for this moment, she heard Yun-Seo continue.

“Can’t I just… learn here? I really don’t want to move…”

“Yun-Seo, no whining. I’m sorry. Our child is causing trouble…”

“But I don’t want to! I just made friends…”

While observing the exchange between the girl, who seemed mature beyond her years yet also very much her age, and her parents trying to calm her down with stern expressions, she wondered.

Was there really no other way?

Lost in thought, it was her senior, who had been silently observing, that offered an alternative.

“How about this?”

Generally, Awakened children were transferred from their existing educational institutions to government-established facilities for basic training.

After completing the required education, they could leave the Awakened-exclusive institutions and attend regular schools.

However, that was the standard procedure. There were alternatives for children with extenuating circumstances, such as health issues.

What her senior was suggesting to the parents was one such alternative.

“Remote learning?”

“Yes, it’s originally a program for Awakened children who can’t attend regular schools due to circumstances…”

Making a seven-year-old separate from her friends was a cruel thing to do, her senior said, casually mentioning something she never cared about during work. She was inwardly impressed.

“What do you think? If you both agree, I don’t see why Yun-Seo can’t be enrolled in that program.”

“Is, is that alright?”

“Of course. This isn’t special treatment; it’s Yun-Seo’s right. If she becomes a Hero, she’ll be fighting to protect citizens. We can’t make a child like that cry over something like this.”

Although they didn’t show it outwardly, the sudden move must have been a burden for the parents as well.

Their faces brightened noticeably.

As did Yun-Seo’s, which had been clouded with a frown.

“So I don’t have to move?!”

“Yes, that’s what the lady said.”

“Really?”

“Yes, so you should thank her.”

“Thank you!”

“It’s nothing. But… you have to study hard, okay? If you fail the monthly exams, I won’t be able to help you anymore.”

“Okay! I’ll work hard!”

Watching her senior effortlessly build rapport with the future Hero, she couldn’t help but acknowledge inwardly, Senior is a senior for a reason.

Nodding to herself, she had no idea.

That this entire meeting, from beginning to end, had unfolded exactly according to someone’s plan.