The smartphone’s ringtone echoed. Looking at it, Jihyeon let out a sigh. It seemed something had happened again today. Jihyeon paused his research for a moment. Research was important, but there was an urgent matter to attend to now. Besides, his current research required time.

  A toxin remover, or a "Driver."

  The name didn’t matter. Creating a device that allowed for the pure use of power without the side effects of a Tool was not something that could be achieved overnight. However, Jihyeon stood up without hesitation. It was a relief that he had told his family he was working a part-time job, allowing him to move freely at this hour.

  With that thought, Jihyeon gathered his gear and headed out. Sunglasses, a mask, and a hood pulled down low—this was his public persona. Jihyeon hurried to perform the work of a hero rather than a researcher. If he was late, many people would get hurt; that was a simple fact.

  It was an incident. Specifically, an incident caused by someone consumed by a Tool going on a rampage.

  The faster he moved, the more lives he could save. Since he didn't know what kind of ability he was up against, he had to hurry even more. He was tired of being late and living with regret.

  Fortunately, the police here had grown accustomed to the sight of Jihyeon running out. In a sense, it was an uneasy cohabitation, but the police had accepted Jihyeon as one of their own.

  As he ran, Jihyeon thought about what form the Tool would take this time and what he should do in response. Recently, the types of Tools had changed significantly. While they remained close to "discard" grade, they were no longer limited to just superhuman strength and durability.

  From fire-attribute Tools to ice, wind, or even those that could freeze a person in place, the scenes were always a mess due to the variety of abilities. There was no way for an ordinary person without abilities to cope. Even if they fled to save their lives, they couldn't be blamed. It was no different from a natural disaster.

  That was why the scene needed Jihyeon. The extraordinary had invaded the ordinary, and incidents could now break out anywhere at any time. Consequently, people always had to accept dread and fear as a part of their lives. At this point, Jihyeon was the only one who could turn the extraordinary back into the ordinary.

  Thus, the police cooperated with Jihyeon, and Jihyeon did not betray the expectations of the police. It was a cooperative relationship based on mutual need. Jihyeon didn't think it was a bad arrangement. While the life of a vigilante seemed attractive at first glance, it ultimately meant doing everything alone.

  However, when state power functioned correctly, it achieved things Jihyeon could not do alone. At least for now, he could not deny that the authorities were a help to him. Grateful for that, Jihyeon chose another means of transportation to the scene instead of running.

  Of course, he didn't take a car. That would be too slow. Once an incident broke out, the roads would immediately become congested. Cars would be stuck, and the police would lose all their mobility. Instead, using his psychokinesis like a grappling hook, Jihyeon soared through the forest of buildings toward the scene.

  Moving swiftly like a hero in a movie, cutting through the wind was dangerous yet thrilling. Moving with practiced ease, Jihyeon soon arrived at the scene. In the process, he didn't forget to use his Tool to neutralize CCTVs to avoid public attention. Now skillfully using multiple Tools simultaneously, Jihyeon reached the site while remaining hidden.

  Then, he saw it—a scene filled with ice.

  This time, someone using a Tool with the power of ice had gone on a rampage. The woman, consumed by the Tool's power, was creating ice spears and hurling them in all directions, causing destruction. Once again, destruction that an ordinary person wouldn't even dream of responding to filled the area.

  If it were just a matter of things freezing over, it might be manageable. However, from the smashed vehicles to the surrounding environment, it was a living hell that no commoner could handle, even by risking their life. Those already caught in the fray were clutching their frozen hands, feet, arms, and legs, screaming in pain. If left like that, they would surely suffer greatly from frostbite.

  But to recover them, he first had to subdue the rampaging woman. It didn't look easy, though. She screamed in a voice full of rage. It was hard to make out her words, but the way she repeatedly called out something made it clear that a specific individual had incited her anger.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  However, because she was using a Tool, Jihyeon could not obtain her information using his own power. Thus, revealing himself, Jihyeon asked a nearby officer.

  "What exactly happened to cause this?"

  The officer looked startled by Jihyeon's sudden appearance. However, since the groundwork had already been laid, he cooperated and spoke readily.

  "The woman rampaging over there caught her husband cheating and flew into a rage. I don't know where she got that Tool, but the husband is already beyond saving. Same for the person he was with."

  Jihyeon sighed at the officer's words. Where the officer pointed, there were already two people who had crossed the point of no return. The man was one thing, but the woman identified as the other party was a complete victim. It was a truly tragic case.

  Jihyeon realized just by looking. The woman had rejected the man's advances and avoided him; she had absolutely not committed any wrongful act. If anyone were to speak ill of her honor, Jihyeon would not forgive them.

  However, the rampaging woman likely didn't know that. She had simply surrendered her body to rage and run wild. Since the husband had betrayed her trust several times before, her anger was understandable. The problem was that she had crossed a line that should never be crossed.

  Ultimately, one side paid the price for their foolishness, but the other met a wrongful death. To mete out punishment for that, Jihyeon had to subdue the woman consumed by the Tool. But before he could even try, the woman hurled an ice spear. Its tip was so sharp it could be used as an awl, and its speed was comparable to a bullet.

  But Jihyeon was already prepared.

  CLANG!

  The sound of the ice spear shattering against his barrier echoed loudly. The officer beside Jihyeon was so shocked he slumped to the ground. Still, realizing he was safe, the officer looked at Jihyeon with awe. They had merely watched as their patrol car, which had served as their legs, turned into a block of ice.

  Now, a belief filled the officer's heart that anything was possible as long as Jihyeon was there. However, Jihyeon couldn't immediately answer that faith. Even he needed time for his strategy.

  At first glance, it seemed simple. The woman didn't appear to have superhuman strength. Since she was likely just an ordinary housewife, that was natural. However, the obstacles were far more lethal than expected.

  First, the woman protected herself with ice spears like a porcupine. Their sharp tips could easily turn anyone who approached recklessly into a pincushion. Moreover, everything that touched the area around the ice spears froze instantly.

  Even using the power of fire, he might not easily melt the ice of a rampaging user. Nor could he blindly use psychokinesis or electricity. Of course, the current Jihyeon could perfectly draw out the Tool's power to neutralize her. However, knowing it might explode like a booby trap in response to her being knocked out, Jihyeon was cautious.

  "Then I'll have to use this."

  Muttering to himself, Jihyeon decided to use a Tool he had recovered previously. it was a Tool he had taken from a cult member who had raided the boss's hideout. It was a Tool more effective when used briefly as needed rather than being implanted in the body.

  Specifically, it was a Tool that rendered a person within sight unable to move. While it could freeze multiple people at once, Jihyeon didn't particularly like it because it also rendered him unable to move in that case. However, for subduing just one person, it was sufficient. If there was no superhuman strength involved, it was a simple task.

  Jihyeon activated the Tool to freeze her movement while buying time by forming a barrier.

  "Urgh!"

  An indiscernible sound escaped the woman's mouth. It meant the Tool's power was working properly. However, her Tool was unaffected by her body being restrained and unable to move. Pure rage was enough. Toward Jihyeon, the woman unleashed a barrage of ice spears made by the Tool.

  "Sigh..."

  Jihyeon let out a sigh at the attack. It seemed finishing the job gently would be difficult. Instead, he drew out the electric power within his body and intercepted all the ice spears in a single instant.

  In a flash, the area was filled with water vapor. The ultra-high-voltage electric whip intercepted every ice spear, and the resulting vapor clouded everyone's vision like a fog.

  A moment later, after a flash of light, the situation was over. The rampaging woman had moved here and there to find her enemy, revealing an opening. In that gap, Jihyeon, who had hidden himself with a Tool, approached as closely as possible and used his power.

  Fortunately, the Tool in her body didn't explode after the rampage. Of course, that didn't mean removing it was easy. Tools circulated among people lately were twisted in some way, making removal extremely difficult. Removing them recklessly could mean the person might never wake up.

  However, Jihyeon removed the Tool as delicately as a high-precision machine. The knowledge he gained from studying the structure of Tools was a great help in such moments.

  "Ah..."

  As the Tool was removed, the woman exhaled as if waking from a nightmare. Fortunately, there seemed to be no issue with her consciousness.

  But realizing reality is a cruel thing. She soon screamed and fell into despair as she realized what she had done. She likely hadn't wanted this. But it was already a belated regret.

  Jihyeon said nothing to her. The rest was for the police to handle. With that thought, he handed her over to the police. Then, he vanished from public view as if nothing had happened—just as he was supposed to.

  People, now accustomed to Jihyeon, weren't even surprised and began to go about their work. It was a typical scene of the extraordinary having become ordinary. The precarious daily life, maintained only because Jihyeon was there, drew to a close once again.