The two mother and son were silent on the walk home. The mother walked quietly, and the son walked quietly in turn.

  Silence at a time like this was never a pleasant thing. It would have been right to comfort his mother as they walked.

  It was also important to talk about trivial things to bring her back from the abnormal to the normal.

  Jihyeon knew well that truly small talk could calm a startled heart.

  But Jihyeon was not in the mood to say anything right now.

  An ordinary person would be grateful and relieved just to be safe without injury.

  However, Jihyeon possessed an ability. That fact made his shoulders heavier.

  Of course, it couldn't be helped.

  He couldn't monitor his family 24 hours a day. And that was a completely wrong course of action.

  Jihyeon knew well that monitoring them under the pretense of 'safety' was just an act of madness.

  Nevertheless, Jihyeon felt as if everything was his fault.

  That was a dangerous sign.

  The attitude of taking responsibility for everything, like an omnipotent god, is what drives people to madness.

  Jihyeon feared that fact.

  A sigh escaped him.

  What on earth was he thinking?

  And what was he doing?

  At some point, his thoughts started chasing their own tails, and he couldn't shake the feeling that they had strayed from their original path.

  Hadn't he originally decided to live a moderately and normally life with the power he had acquired?

  But the possibility that his family might get hurt kept wearing him down. Just thinking about it was making Jihyeon want to cross the line.

  He shouldn't do that. That was absolutely forbidden. As he thought that, Jihyeon felt somewhat lost.

  Yet, he didn't stop walking. Worry and reality were still separate. For now, he just needed to focus on walking home quietly in silence with his mother.

  His mother's tightly held hand was still trembling.

  The mother, who hadn't yet shaken off her fear, simply wanted to get home quickly and rest. After a night's sleep, everything would just become a day that had passed.

  It's natural for a person to feel drained and unable to do anything properly after being startled by an unexpected event.

  His mother was no different.

  She hated the darkness more than ever, and all she wanted now was to deny all of it. This incident had firmly lodged an unforgettable memory deep in her soul, like an ice pick.

  Still, his mother was not completely consumed by fear like an ordinary person.

  Although she had experienced something beyond common sense, his mother was not broken to that extent. It was something that could shake anyone, but courage was still welling up from a corner of her fear-filled heart.

  The reason was simple.

  His mother was always with her family. This time was no different.

  The path she walked, holding the hand of her now grown-up, reliable eldest son, was no longer scary. Her son, who had suddenly grown up, was the most trustworthy person in the world.

  That fact was somewhat upsetting, yet it was also the greatest pride.

  Therefore, his mother continued to walk, holding her son's hand. Perhaps it was because she felt she could overcome any difficulty by being with her son.

  However, her son was now contemplating what he should do. He was holding his mother's hand but wasn't even feeling her warmth.

  It was about whether to accept that he wasn't omnipotent and live without his paranoid tendencies, or to walk the path of a so-called hero.

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  Considering his personality, he felt the latter would be his inevitable path. However, the misuse of power would eventually make him a slave to that power.

  Incidents like today could happen endlessly.

  And if he stepped up every time such situations arose, he might, at some point, be consumed by the power.

  How many stories of such people had he seen?

  Jihyeon feared transforming in that way. It was only natural, knowing the countless truths from throughout history.

  Those intoxicated by their own power always rushed toward ruin. That was the future Jihyeon wanted to avoid the most.

  Jihyeon wanted to be the one who used the power, not the one who was used by it. Therefore, constantly being wary was only natural.

  Jihyeon suddenly remembered that he was holding his mother's hand. He smiled wryly, realizing he had forgotten the warmth transmitted through his hand.

  He felt like he could now see what he could do and what he wanted to do, just a little bit.

  "Oh my, things are so unsettled these days, aren't they?"

  His mother quietly spoke to Jihyeon, who was lost in thought. Fear of what she had just experienced was still present in her words.

  "Yes, they are. I don't know what's going on. It's a big problem that we keep having to go to the police station."

  Jihyeon only replied to his mother's words. Recalling the recent events, a bitter smile naturally emerged.

  Still, he felt like he had found the answer now.

  It wouldn't hurt to relax his shoulders a little. Thinking that, Jihyeon entered the house with his mother.

  A few days later, Jihyeon and his mother headed to the hospital. Today was none other than his father's discharge day.

  The emotional shock he received because of the scammers had also broken his body. Thanks to that, he had to dedicate himself to recovery at the hospital for a while.

  Fortunately, everything was resolved thanks to Jihyeon, and now he had recovered his health and was being discharged.

  "Oh dear, my son really did a great thing."

  Jihyeon's father, who came out after changing out of his patient's clothes, looked cheerful.

  Of course, there was still a slight discomfort in moving, but it seemed he would be able to return to work soon after physical therapy and recovery.

  "It was nothing. I'm just glad everything worked out."

  Jihyeon said that, smiling happily. As with anyone, he certainly wouldn't dislike his family appreciating what he had done.

  Now, taking a taxi home would be the start of a new everyday life. The family was filled with anticipation.

  "Kyaak!"

  The sudden scream was enough to instantly erase the hope Jihyeon and his family were feeling.

  Near the source of the scream was a man drooling from his mouth and approaching them.

  He was holding a knife and looking around restlessly with completely unfocused eyes.

  Jihyeon knew what had happened just by looking at him.

  Drugs.

  This man was also a drug addict. However, unlike the person who targeted Jihyeon's mother, this man was a resident of a completely different area.

  Jihyeon felt overwhelmed, wondering just how much the drugs had spread.

  He hadn't expected the consequence of deliberately looking away, fearing that his over-involvement might become a problem, to return like this.

  "Keuaaahhh...."

  A strange sound flowed from the man's mouth. It was a sound as if agony were being squeezed out.

  At the sound that was chilling just to hear, Jihyeon and his family grimaced, and the man suddenly rushed forward.

  The direction he was heading was none other than Jihyeon's father. The moment he saw that, Jihyeon focused his concentration to the limit without any hesitation.

  It was instantaneous, but the opponent's movement felt like slow motion. Matching that speed, Jihyeon used some of the knowledge he possessed and subdued him.

  It was by a hair's breadth. Perhaps it was just a sheet of paper's difference.

  Jihyeon didn't even want to imagine what would have happened if he hadn't moved in time.

  The man trembled like a freshly caught fish. But Jihyeon had completely subdued him. The man slowly stopped resisting and just convulsed.

  'That was dangerous.'

  Jihyeon sighed internally. If he hadn't had the ability, he would have been struck. His father's mobility wasn't fully recovered yet, so it could have been a disaster.

  "Who are you?"

  Jihyeon asked, knowing he wouldn't get an answer. But the man had completely lost consciousness now. All he could do was shake uncontrollably.

  Of course, it didn't matter if he didn't speak.

  Jihyeon only needed to look at him. However, Jihyeon's expression, reading the information, couldn't hide his bitterness, shock, and regret.

  A drug that initially provided pleasure but then overwhelmingly amplified a person's aggression.

  Its danger was higher than any drug that had existed before.

  He could have prevented its distribution, but this was the price of leaving it alone because he didn't want to be unconsciously controlled by the power.

  Jihyeon bit his lip, realizing that if he had been determined and moved, this man might not have become addicted.

  'Is this really unavoidable then...'

  Jihyeon forced a smile of surrender. The life he wanted and the destiny he had to walk seemed to have significantly diverged.

  "Ji-Jihyeon... Are, are you okay?"

  His father asked in a trembling voice. He seemed unable to believe the sight of his son easily subduing a madman wielding a kitchen knife.

  "Yes, I'm fine. Weren't you startled, Dad?"

  Jihyeon replied while checking the condition of the man beneath him.

  "W-We're fine, but you..."

  Both his father and mother seemed greatly shocked. Still, confirming his safety, they sighed in relief.

  "I'm fine. Let's get this person sorted out quickly first. He seems dangerous..."

  Jihyeon said that, preparing for any contingency. Fortunately, people from the hospital soon came and managed the man, and everything was wrapped up.

  Of course, they still had to go to the police station, but that was a given, so there was nothing to complain about.

  Jihyeon thought to himself.

  Now, he was saying goodbye to an ordinary life completely. He would try to protect his daily life, but he would no longer agonize over situations like being consumed by the power.

  It was time to make a resolution.

  He decided not to think about unnecessary things anymore. So, as soon as he finished the police investigation today, Jihyeon prepared to move.

  Jihyeon wore a light smile, thinking that he would make the people who forced him to act pay the proper price.

  All his previous agonizing felt foolish.

  Having shed his delusion, Jihyeon reassured his parents, resolving not to put the brakes on anymore.

  Meanwhile, a siren was heard. Jihyeon, now accustomed to it, began to talk with the police.