DB Vol 1 Part 3

The Central Hospital, possibly due to catering to Espers, had facilities as good as a hotel. The outdoor garden, in particular, was spacious and well-landscaped like a park. No, it was so lavish that calling it well-landscaped seemed inadequate. As if it were a miniature European palace, there was even a fountain surrounded by marble decorations in the center. That’s why the patients strolling here had relaxed expressions on their faces.

However, Won-woo, sitting on a bench in the corner observing them, felt the opposite. To him, this world felt like hell. In this place, Espers still ruled the world as there were no Purifiers, and it was as if the reality that he had never escaped from his family had come true.

If this really was a parallel world, how did he end up here? He had some guesses. He had encountered this world’s Ji Won-woo at a monster farm. And the power of the teleportation portal that instantly folds space for teleportation comes from the Monster Farm.

So he thought that perhaps some unknown power from the Monster Farm had opened a dimensional gate. Of course, he had never heard of such a case, but it was the only reason he could think of. Whatever the exact cause, it wasn’t very important right now.

Even if he knew how to return, there was no need to go to great lengths to do so. In his world, the absence of Espers brought peace, but it did not mean he was happy or joyful. For Won-woo, who was alone, everywhere was the same. It’s just that his original world didn’t bother him because there were no Espers.

That’s why the Espers passing back and forth in front of him were quite irritating. The habit of eliminating Espers on sight during the long war remained, and he wasn’t used to having to leave perfectly alive Espers alone. Should he just eliminate them all? At that moment, a long shadow fell over Won-woo.

“Mr. Ji Won-woo.”

Having long since abandoned the ‘Ji’ surname in his original world, Won-woo’s reaction was a beat slow due to the unfamiliarity. And when he looked up and saw the Esper standing in front of him, he inwardly sighed. Ah, again. One of the Espers he had killed was standing there alive, looking down at him.

Il-hae was a B-rank Esper, but because he was a rare mental type, could therefore be part of the Head Center’s third team. His ability to create illusions was quite useful in battles against monsters, even though he bore the B-rank label.

“I heard Ji Won-woo woke up, so go to the hospital and find out how he survived the Monster Farm,” the team leader, Yoon Geon-young, had suddenly ordered him that morning. Il-hae almost questioned it. Why me? Seeing the dissatisfaction in Il-hae’s expression, Geon-young frowned.

“You got along with him the best, didn’t you?”

What nonsense. He had never even spoken a word to Ji Won-woo. But soon he realized that’s why the team leader’s words were true. When other team members spoke to Ji Won-woo, it was all provocations and curses. To the point where not saying anything at all seemed the most friendly. But still, he couldn’t believe an Esper like himself had to move for this kind of paperwork signing job.

“Oh, and get his signature on the long-term leave form too.”

Yoon Geon-young turned away without even waiting for a response after giving that instruction. Il-hae reluctantly headed to the hospital. He was curious about how the guy had survived being chased by monsters. But it was just a mild curiosity. Why did he, a field Esper, have to meet him in person to hear about it? 

But when he finally found him in a corner of the hospital’s well-landscaped garden, his curiosity turned to puzzlement. Why is he staring at him like that?

“You must have encountered monsters inside the farm, right? I’m asking how you survived.”

However, the response was the same as before. He just stared up at him. They said he survived death, but was he still in shock? But the eyes staring straight at him felt a bit different from the previous hazy impression. Should he say they were clearer? It was almost uncomfortable.

“Mr. Ji Won-woo, can’t you hear me?”

When Il-hae asked with irritation, Won-woo’s mouth slowly opened.

“I can hear you. I was just contemplating life and death.”

Won-woo was genuinely struggling with the thought of life and death, specifically regarding the Esper standing before him. Should he kill him or not? Unaware that his own life was hanging in the balance, Il-hae asked irritably.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Nonsense. Won-woo looked around. Was there any world that looked more like nonsense than this? Won-woo decided to check once more if this was indeed a parallel world.

“What’s your name?”

“Me? Ha, seriously. It’s Kim Il-hae. We’re on the same team and you don’t even know my name?”

“Ah, we’re on the same team?”

What’s this, is he really out of it? Or did he get some brain damage from being attacked by monsters? Il-hae asked, filled with exasperation.

“Do you not remember who I am?”

Of course, he remembered. He had killed him with his own hands. Since Espers had abilities, it would be more difficult if he failed to kill them. That’s why he meticulously gathered all sorts of trivial information about the Espers he needed to eliminate and thoroughly prepared for the mission. He knew him better than anyone else.

But he couldn’t exactly say, “I know you very well,” to this world’s Il-hae. Won-woo didn’t answer and turned his gaze away. Even if it wasn’t this person, his mind was too complicated to deal with anyone right now. Won-woo’s silence only made Il-hae, who wanted to finish his business quickly and leave, more frustrated.

Normally, he would have turned around and left, ignoring the team leader’s orders, but something was bothering him about the Ji Won-woo before him. He was always quiet, but now it felt different. Before, he seemed like someone who didn’t know how to speak, but now he seemed like someone who kept his mouth shut out of annoyance. Was he always like this? Strangely, Ji Won-woo no longer seemed like the pushover he used to be.

“Hey, Mr. Ji Won-woo.”

“The farm where I encountered monsters is a place where they deliberately grow monster trees, right? Just to get seeds.”

“It’s not just seeds. The seeds that grow on monster trees are the most powerful energy source on Earth.”

“But there’s a big risk factor in just harvesting seeds. The monsters.”

Who doesn’t know that? Il-hae looked at Ji Won-woo with disdain.

“That’s why we have Espers.”

“What about civilian casualties?”

So what about it? Il-hae looked down at him, barely holding back his annoyance. Why was a Guide spouting the kind of nonsense usually reserved for safety advocates opposing the collection of seeds?

“They’ll manage on their own. Do Espers have to save everyone?”

Espers were already contributing enough to the world by making it possible to use the seeds as raw materials. The monster trees that appeared one day were a disaster. Unlike ordinary trees, these trees that suddenly appeared from who knows where were as hard and rough as stone.

They resembled towers roughly piled together from stone, but since they were rooted in the ground and grew towards the sky, bearing fruit, they were called trees. In just a few days, these trees grew taller than a two-story building and produced large fruit pods. The fruits hanging in clusters on the bizarrely extending branches without leaves looked like placentas enveloping fetuses. Of course, there were terrifying monsters inside.

The world paid a huge price because of these monsters. However, the seeds abundant in the fruits of these terrifying and powerful monsters made the world prosperous again. Under the right conditions, a single seed no bigger than a thumb could burn for over a year, emitting tremendous heat.

One of those seeds could power a car to run non-stop for a month. When this fact was revealed, monster trees changed from targets for elimination to resources to be utilized. If you wanted to benefit from them, it was only natural to accept the inevitable sacrifices.

“Espers should save everyone.”

“Ha, why should we?”

“It’s you who can’t give up on the monsters.”

“…”

Il-hae paused. He couldn’t refute immediately. Half because he was dumbfounded, half because he was surprised. To think a Guide would dare to openly state his opinion to an Esper. While looking straight at him, no less. Moreover, his way of speaking was somehow unfamiliar.

“Look, you seem to be against Esper privileges, but I have no intention of entertaining such nonsensical arguments, so shut your mouth.”

Il-hae warned strongly on purpose, but Won-woo just turned his gaze away as if annoyed. Il-hae’s eyebrows twitched at this seemingly dismissive behavior.

“Ha, why am I getting worked up over something so useless.”

He muttered as if to himself, but Won-woo retorted in a mumble.

“Right. It’s useless now.”

After trying so hard to end the long war, suddenly falling into a parallel world made everything turn to nothing. Seeing the Espers before him made him feel like his whole life was being denied. His already sunken mood after the war ended plummeted even further.

“Don’t you remember how you survived when chased by monsters?”

He heard Il-hae’s question, but Won-woo didn’t answer this time either. He was annoyed. He didn’t even know what he should do here. The Won-woo of this world he met at the farm told him to live, but how ridiculous is that? This world’s Ji Won-woo gave up everything and found peace in death, so why tell him to live? What do he have left? Won-woo’s eyes, staring into space, were filled with emptiness.

A gentle breeze blew, further disheveling Won-woo’s already messy hair. But Won-woo didn’t move a muscle, like a statue unaware of even the wind. The atmosphere was strange. Feeling as if he shouldn’t disturb him, Il-hae was momentarily captivated. But soon he remembered who he was dealing with. It’s just that troublemaker Ji Won-woo. What was he zoning out for? Il-hae pushed the documents he’d brought from the team leader right under his nose.

“This is the long-term leave form. Sign it.”

“…”

“You’ve been wanting to leave the team because you couldn’t adapt anyway, right?”

“…”

“This is driving me crazy. What’s the point of coming back alive if you’ve turned into an idiot.”

When he openly expressed his irritation, this time there was a response.

“Am I alive? Is this really reality?”

Won-woo’s voice asking the question was serious. Il-hae could definitely write one sentence in his report: Ji Won-woo appears to have memory and cognitive issues due to the shock of the accident. Having reached this conclusion, he didn’t want to waste any more energy on a madman.