The sound of tapping keys never faded from the office. The relentless task of writing reports on never-ending incidents was pushing everyone to their limits.

  But it was a task that could not be avoided. Incidents showed no mercy to Seok-young’s schedule.

  As a result, Seok-young had been suffering through near-daily overtime recently. Though he never asked for it, the surge in Tool-related cases meant the workload gravitated toward him.

  Due to the severity of the situation, additional personnel had been deployed, but it wasn't enough. Those working under Seok-young were also struggling with the daily grind of late nights.

  Yet, the situation continued to push them further. Not only was the paperwork daunting, but checking the scene every time an incident occurred was also the duty of Seok-young and his investigators.

  Even if they only stayed in the office for paperwork, they had to brace for overtime every day. How much more was the work delayed every time they had to head out to the field?

  The working environment was becoming so harsh that anyone involved would shake their head in dismay. Even with staff reinforcements, practical limits weighed heavily upon them.

  Back when Seok-young first received data on the Tools and began working with Jihyeon, things weren't this bad. Seok-young found himself missing those days. Back then, those causing trouble were groups like organized gangs or pseudo-cults—not individuals. Because they were large-scale, they involved bringing in many people at once, but the actual frequency of work was lower than it was now.

  But things were different now.

  The Tools had begun to take root among ordinary people. The speed of it was terrifying. Despite the exorbitant prices, there were more foolish people than one would think who chose their own ruin, unable to overcome their desires.

  Recently, any nonsensical incident that broke out was invariably caused by a Tool. It started with using Tools to settle grudges and evolved into people using them to steal money or commit fraud.

  Specifically, the spread of Tools among teenagers was a massive headache. So-called "iljin" (bullies) purchased Tools to torment other students, but conversely, cases of victims buying them to kill their tormentors now occasionally made the news.

  Consequently, the media blamed the police for their incompetence day after day. However, those useless articles, written only to line the pockets of media outlets, served only to demolish police morale.

  Still, the situation here was relatively better.

  Jihyeon.

  The hooded hero—who claimed to have been forcibly implanted with an imperfect Tool against his will—always appeared when needed. He had resolved a significant portion of the city's problems.

  While feeling ashamed that public power could not cope properly, Seok-young, who watched from the closest distance, knew better than anyone how immense Jihyeon's help was.

  However, his help was ultimately limited to preventing incidents from escalating once they had already started. Unless the root cause was addressed, nothing would change.

  They had to catch the distributors. Jihyeon agreed, and using police force, they were now working hard to track down those selling the Tools.

  But even that had its limits.

  The biggest issue was the number of police officers. As always, they were short-staffed. Thus, if possible, support from other cities was desperately needed.

  However, the situation elsewhere was not good either. By now, Tool-related incidents were no longer a rare occurrence in other cities. It was unknown where they were being distributed, but people were crossing the line with Tools as if it were nothing.

  But those other cities didn't have a Jihyeon.

  That meant every time an incident occurred, people died. In a situation without a talented individual like Jihyeon, Tool-related incidents always ended in tragedy. Numerous victims. And a conclusion that ended in a fatal shooting rather than an arrest.

  If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  But what other way was there?

  An ordinary person could not guarantee victory against a Tool user. Even the lowest-grade Tool provided defense that could withstand rifle rounds. Moreover, those whose reason had been consumed by the Tool had no sense of restraint. Dangerous and violent, they thirsted for blood as if they were monsters from mythology.

  Unable to bear the sight, some police officers sacrificed themselves by using Tools despite Jihyeon's warnings. Thanks to that, they managed to prevent more damage in immediate cases. But the end was never good.

  Ruin.

  The more one drew out the power of an implanted Tool as incidents occurred, the more they became stained with madness. No matter how strong one’s sense of justice, it was an unavoidable fate. Jihyeon was a very exceptional case; the rest not only sacrificed themselves but also brought misery to everyone around them.

  "Come to think of it, that sniper from last time has almost recovered now... A young student, no less..."

  Seok-young let out a sigh. Despite his excessive workload, he couldn't help but think of the girl Jihyeon had barely saved.

  The girl was truly lucky. Jihyeon had exerted himself for the sake of the person he needed to save, despite the shock from the explosion of the werewolf—the agent who had belonged to a national institution. It was a mental strength that truly earned him the title of a hero. Though Jihyeon usually made remarks that got under Seok-young’s skin, he was incomparable to an ordinary person.

  Thinking back, Jihyeon had said he suffered from extreme compulsions. He only wanted to protect his family, but fate wouldn't leave him alone, and because of that, he was struggling every day to keep the line he had drawn for himself.

  Seok-young could only sigh at Jihyeon’s words. Jihyeon would likely never be able to receive psychiatric treatment. His Tool had already implanted knowledge into him that far exceeded human limits. His brain was in a state that went way beyond what an ordinary person could judge.

  But that wasn't all. Jihyeon had said his body had reached a point where medicine no longer worked. Not just painkillers, but even simple digestive medicine was useless. While one might think of him as an invincible hero, the reality was different, and watching from the side, Seok-young only felt frustrated.

  Still, for now, they had no choice but to rely entirely on Jihyeon. And Seok-young knew well that finding and crushing the dealers in places Jihyeon couldn't find was the only way they could repay him.

  "Sigh..."

  With a sigh, Seok-young resumed his work. What he was doing now was more than just writing reports on simple incidents. The sound of tapping keys filled the office once again.

  Night.

  A time when all things fall into sleep. However, Min-a was looking at something on her phone in her room. It was none other than news and community posts. Checking things she normally had no interest in was all to keep track of the man known as the "Hooded Man"—Jihyeon.

  Public safety had worsened significantly of late. The number of police officers was insufficient, and taking advantage of that gap, the number of people targeting the weak, including women, had increased.

  Yet, there is always hope in the darkness. Jihyeon always appeared at the scene of incidents wearing his hood. He performed unbelievable miracles, reducing damage and playing a major role in apprehending perpetrators. That alone was enough reason to keep tabs on him. Who wouldn't be interested in a superhero who seemed to come straight out of a movie?

  But for Min-a, it was a bit different.

  Jihyeon was a truly difficult man. Even though he knew how Min-a felt, he rejected her, claiming it was dangerous to be near him. Yet, Min-a didn't know what to say to a man who would rush to her side faster than anyone else if something happened to her.

  Of course, Min-a understood the reason Jihyeon gave. She had met him in the first place because of the pseudo-cult. And they had used Tools. They used Tools that neutralized CCTVs without needing implantation, and many other things that put her in danger. Thus, Min-a still felt a slight fear just hearing about Tools.

  But Jihyeon was different. He always worked himself to the bone for others to a foolish degree. That was why he couldn't properly accept her heart. Yet, Min-a knew well that he looked after her whenever something happened.

  So, Min-a had said she wouldn't give up, and Jihyeon, uncharacteristically, had given no answer. Min-a thought that such a side of him was like a man his age who hadn't had a proper relationship yet.

  Perhaps that was a frustrating part of him. However, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Being pointlessly serious meant that once he gave his trust, he would keep it until the end.

  "Sigh..."

  Still, Min-a’s heart was heavy. She felt weighed down by her own heart, which she could not control.

  "Huh? What's this?"

  Min-a muttered to herself as she saw a community post that caught her eye. There was a hint of bewilderment in her voice.

  "So... someone says they're a nurse, and a man in a hood comes to visit a girl hospitalized at their hospital every day?"

  Seeing that, Min-a couldn't help the surge of anger rising within her. It might be jealousy. Of course, she knew Jihyeon might be visiting someone who got hurt because of him, or perhaps he went for other reasons. Nevertheless, the darkness growing in her unrequited heart was driving her crazy.

  "...I should call him tomorrow."

  Min-a exercised the best patience she could summon. She knew that calling him now would likely be a nuisance. But she couldn't stop the tears. Min-a thought about how fickle the human heart could be.

  Still, wiping her tears, she slowly read the rest of the post just in case she was jumping to conclusions.

  "Ah..."

  Min-a let out a sigh after reading the end of the post. The moment she saw that the girl Jihyeon was visiting was unconscious, her heart grew heavy in a different way.

  How many unconscious people had Jihyeon seen? The moment the thought crossed her mind that she might have died or ended up that way if things had gone wrong, she sighed again.

  And she felt pity. For his fate, as much as she always thought of him. Her complex emotions turned into tears once more and flowed down her face.