Chapter 3: The Price of Trust

There were a few errors in judgment.

First, I forgot that I was in the body of a normal human being, not an Esper.

Physical ability wasn’t the problem.

What I had overlooked was how dull my senses had become — dull enough that I couldn’t even notice someone approaching until a syringe was jammed into my neck.

And another mistake — I trusted people too easily.

“If you play on people’s emotions like that, nine times out of ten they’ll fall for it!
‘That’s my daughter’s surgery money…! Without that, I’m done for…!’
Puhaha!
I thought this bastard wasn’t taking the bait, but here he came walking right into it.”

I shouldn’t have let such a cheap sob story move me.

Whether his daughter lived or died shouldn’t have mattered to me.

Too late for regret now.

The man mocked me, reenacting that same pitiful act he’d done in front of the bank, his tone dripping with fake emotion.

“I don’t wanna be the bait anymore, man!
What if I screw up and actually die?”

“Idiot, someone weak-looking like you has to run off with the money — that’s how we lure them in!”

It had all been a trap from the start.

They’d deliberately sent a scrawny guy to play the pickpocket and bait their prey.

If the thief had looked too strong, no one would’ve stepped up to chase him.

“You… bastards…”

Maybe the drug was wearing off, because I could finally speak again.

But my legs were already tied tightly together, and even as they started binding my hands, I couldn’t move a muscle.

“Maybe it’s ‘cause he’s young? The drug’s wearing off fast.”

“Kid’s got a filthy mouth though, huh?
Calling adults bastards and shit…
Ugh, I should rip his tongue out later.”

Even as I started regaining consciousness, they showed no sign of nervousness.

They’d done this countless times before — that much was clear.

How many people had they hunted like this and sold for parts?

The crueler the world became, the more crimes like this spread.

And now it looked like it was my turn.

“Do what you want later, but tie his hands first!
Car’s here — hurry up and load him in!”

The big guy seemed to be the leader.

If they tied my hands too, that would be the end.

Even if this mess was my own fault, honestly, I still didn’t want to die yet.

But there was no clear way out either.

I was trapped.

“Hey, move it! Hurry up and—”

The big man’s words never finished.

Because—

“W-what the hell is that?!
H-hyung, look!”

His head vanished in an instant.

Where it had been, a fountain of red blood shot high into the air.

And behind it… stood a monster with three heads — like Cerberus.

I hadn’t even sensed it approaching.

“Grrr…! ROAAR!”

The three heads tore into what was left of the man like starving beasts.

The body didn’t even have time to fall before chunks of flesh were ripped away.

One mouth devoured the torso, another the legs — bones and flesh splitting apart as easily as tofu.

“Wh-what the f*ck… is this…!”

The scrawny “pickpocket” who’d been tying my hands froze completely, his face blank with horror.

Even I was shocked by the monster’s sudden appearance, but there was no time to sit still.

Feeling sensation return to my body, I quickly untied the ropes around my legs.

By then, the creature had finished its first meal.

Now came the important part.

I’d been given another chance.

“What do you think it is?
It’s a grim reaper sent to punish scum like you.”

I freed my ankles, grabbed the terrified man by the shoulder, and hurled him straight toward the monster.

Then I ran.

“S-save me…! Aaaaagh!
Please, no—! Aaaaaah!”

His shrieks tore through the air behind me, but I didn’t stop.

How could someone so vile dare to beg me for mercy?

Humans really were disgusting.

This was why I’d stopped helping others.

It always ended with a knife in my back.

It’s not like I was always this selfish… or maybe I should say “self-centered.”

People might think otherwise, but I used to be quite altruistic.

That’s why I’d risked my life fighting monsters, protecting others without asking for anything in return.

But if you end up with a hole through your stomach because of that soft-heartedness… wouldn’t anyone lose their compassion?

Especially after being used and betrayed by the very same humans you protected.

Here’s a secret…

I actually died once.

And after fifteen years, I went back — to when I was seventeen.

Maybe that’s why… I started to hate this world a little.

“At this point, isn’t it fair to assume Jin Sehyun’s working with ‘X’?
How else could he keep surviving alone?”

“Come on, no way.
He’s just overrated.
Still, incompetence is a sin, isn’t it?
If he’d just die cleanly for once, we wouldn’t have to keep our hopes up.
Why does he always come back alive?”

People were always quick to talk about others.

The same voices that once called me humanity’s last hope now spat only scorn.

Even when I risked my life heading into battle, all I got in return were insults.

I’d thought I’d grown used to it — but it still stung.

I asked myself countless times.

Why was I the only one who could fight ‘X’?

Why did only my attacks land?

Why could only I hurt it at all?

If only it weren’t me…

Then maybe none of this would’ve happened.

Pointless thoughts that kept eating away at me.

Ignoring the bitter voices in my head, I stepped into the Guide’s office.

“Guiding, please.”

“…Ugh, we’re already short on Guides as it is… Sit down.”

Even here, I wasn’t welcome.

I ignored the Guide’s clear annoyance and extended my hand.

With the shortage of Guides and battles growing fiercer, getting even one session was difficult.

“Man, guess you don’t wanna die, huh?
You’re here for guiding again.”

I ignored the mocking whispers from around me.

I was too tired to explain myself anymore.

“Haa… You’re still unstable.
Don’t fight today — just go in and rest a bit.”

Maybe because our compatibility rate was poor, the mana inside me didn’t calm completely.

But I didn’t complain.

Guides were too rare — sometimes more valuable than Espers themselves.

If I hadn’t been heading out to face ‘X’ today, I probably wouldn’t have gotten a turn at all.

“That’s enough.”

As long as the mana didn’t spiral out of control, it was fine.

Once the session ended, I finished preparing for the subjugation and went to the Director’s office.

“Jin Sehyun.
If you fail to take down ‘X’ again, think about how many people will die because of you.”

“…Yes, sir.
I’ll keep that in mind…”

“I’m not even asking you to win anymore — just stop the slaughter, at least!
Tch… What’s the point of having an SS‑rank Esper if he’s useless?
Whatever, get out.”

Even as the Director hurled those cold words without looking at me, I didn’t leave.

There was something else just as important as the mission.

“…Director, please make sure my team gets their medicine.”

Finally, his eyes met mine.

“Do you even know how much that medicine costs?
If you had any shame, you’d show results for once!”

I knew.

If I failed to defeat the humanoid beast ‘X’ again, my comrades — my remaining old teammates — would pay the price.

With their lives.

To prevent that meaningless loss, I had no choice but to fight again.

“I’ll be back.”

There was no one left who still believed in me.

Leaving behind their cold stares, I headed toward the ruined heart of Seoul.

Strangely enough, I felt calmer walking through this desolate wasteland.

Only outside the so‑called “safe zones,” in the dangerous ruins, could I finally breathe easily.

At least here, no one looked at me with contempt.

No one mocked me.

No one hated me for no reason.

“Welcome back.”

Ironically, the monster ‘X’ before me was, in a way, kinder than any human.

At least… it didn’t despise me.