Ch.126Chapter 5. Do Ji-hwan’s Ambitious Project (3)

Surrogate mother.

It’s illegal in many countries, and even where it’s legally recognized, there are various restrictions and strict conditions. Even when it actually happens, it often leads to numerous complications afterward.

There are genuinely unfortunate circumstances where people seek surrogates, but most try to resolve their situations on their own rather than involving others.

But what about this world?

An era where ability users lead society.

An era where babies born without abilities are ignored.

As giving birth to an ability user could make one’s life flourish, humans began to entertain a despicable thought:

“As long as the child is an ability user, does it really need to be my biological child?”

Ah.

It seems demons don’t only possess ability users.

Human greed knows no bounds, and humans will find or create any method to satisfy it.

“If we use an ability user’s genes to have a child, there’s a high chance the child will be born an ability user, right?”

“A child of an S-rank would almost certainly be an ability user, wouldn’t they?”

“So if we ask an S-rank to have a child for us, wouldn’t that produce an extraordinary ability user?”

Though it might seem repulsive, it was also an extreme manifestation of human desire.

If a child is going to be born anyway, it’s better if they’re born an ability user.

Even if half the child isn’t biologically mine, as long as they grow up not knowing and support me in the future, what’s the problem?

Whether it’s a surrogate father or mother, ultimately, if the ability user child and parents become a family connected by heart, isn’t that what matters?

With such thinking, humanity created a method.

They passed legislation, gave special treatment to ability users, and made such arrangements possible “if the ability user wanted it.”

Extracting an ability user’s genes to conceive a child was illegal.

But having the ability user directly participate was allowed.

“Men sow the seeds, women lend the field. And thus, in 100 years, all citizens of our country will be ability users. Hmph! What? Genetic issues? Is it reasonable to apply human genetic standards to ability users?”

Under such pretenses, humanity began seriously considering the “mass production” of ability users around 2020.

If one male ability user and one female ability user meet, marry, and have a child, one ability user is born.

“Ladies and gentlemen, have you ever watched horse racing? Do you know how racehorses are born?”

Someone used a metaphor for those who might find the topic uncomfortable.

“They breed. They use stallions with superior genes to impregnate mares with superior genes. The offspring is born with a body prepared from birth solely for running, for racing.”

Utilization as a breeding stallion.

“Horses give birth to one foal approximately every 11 months. Even if breeding starts now, it will be nearly a year before a single foal is born. I’m not sure if twins are common, but well, you understand what I’m saying, right? Twins would be a bonus, but one is fine too.”

The combination of superior genes.

“A male with superior genes naturally has a duty to spread those genes to multiple females. Passing genes to just one female? Oh, that would be a tremendous loss for all of humanity… I mean, the horse racing world. So the breeding stallion must meet as many mares as possible. The male just needs to work hard for one night, and then the female carries and delivers the foal after 11 months.”

Naturally, in terms of reproduction, males can guarantee “more instances” relatively speaking.

“Everyone, don’t overthink this. Don’t complicate it. Humanity has repeated the same behaviors throughout history, as proven by historical records. Only the subject has changed. Everyone, shouldn’t we ensure our children are ability users? In an era where everyone has superpowers, would you let your child live without abilities?”

Considering human ethics and universal morality, this seems fundamentally wrong.

“This isn’t wrong at all. Yes, if you want to have offspring that carries your blood, do so. But don’t complain later if the child isn’t born an ability user. That was your choice.”

But humans always twist even seemingly legitimate logic to justify selfish desires.

“Everyone, think of it this way: It’s no different from sending your child to a kindergarten that teaches Korean from an early age. Would you not have your child learn Korean early? Now we must learn Hangul. The era where English was sufficient worldwide is over! Now, we must study Korean!”

To reiterate:

“By spreading Korean ability users’ genes, making every newborn in this country an ability user—oomph! Who are you?!”

This world is a Korean nationalist fantasy novel.

“Korean! Ability user! Male! S-rank! If such a person exists, spreading those superior genes worldwide is humanity’s mission for the next generation—urgh!”

* * *

Insanity.

The moment I heard “surrogate mother,” a chill ran down my spine.

“Seol-hee? What did you just say?”

“I said I’ll be your surrogate mother. Me.”

Baek Seol-hee, who had been sitting on the bed, slowly stood up.

Though shorter than the fairly tall Ymir, she exuded an overwhelming charisma like Mount Baekdu.

“Since your wife can’t have children now, if you want a child, there’s only one way, right? Having a child through another woman.”

Logically, there’s no error.

While logically sound, ethically it’s problematic.

“Seol-hee, do you understand what you’re saying?”

“Of course I do. I’m not stupid. I’m an adult and a first-generation ability user. Compared to others, I was essentially born with abilities earliest. Would someone like me say such things without thinking?”

Baek Seol-hee was incredibly confident.

“As a hero and as a woman, I want to help however I can. It would greatly benefit me personally too.”

“How would becoming a surrogate mother benefit you?”

Before I could gather my thoughts, Ymir stepped in.

“An S-rank hero having a child with some unknown ‘non-ability user’?”

Ymir carefully concealed that I was the Goblin.

Of course, someone could deduce the “Do Ji-hwan = Goblin theory” by connecting Platinum Sun and Goblin, but it’s reasonable to assume very few people could make that connection.

“What would happen if Korea’s strongest female hero suddenly announced she was pregnant? Wouldn’t the world turn upside down trying to identify the father?”

“I can take responsibility.”

“Responsibility? Really? When it would completely derail Do Ji-hwan’s life?”

“That too, I can take responsibility for, which is why I’m suggesting this.”

This won’t work.

We’re not communicating effectively.

“I have plenty of money. Both from being an S-rank hero and from investments I’ve made through financial planners—I’ve accumulated substantial assets.”

“And with that, you plan to hide Do Ji-hwan in some remote villa?”

“With money, nothing is impossible. Especially with government support.”

“You’d even mobilize national power?”

“Of course. From the government’s perspective, they might be disappointed I’m not having a child with their preferred man, but ultimately what they want is for Baek Seol-hee to have an ability user child. That’s how this benefits me too.”

Right now, Baek Seol-hee seems to be thinking about which apartment to move the Do Ji-hwan couple to where they could live away from public attention.

“The child born with abilities might end up on a government leash.”

“Then I’ll step in to help. I can negotiate with the government for the child’s freedom.”

“What if the child isn’t born an ability user?”

“Even if not an ability user, being Ji-hwan’s child is what matters. Since I’m giving birth, the child would likely be an ability user to some degree, but it wouldn’t matter if not. Half the blood would be Ji-hwan’s.”

“Um, Seol-hee?”

I interrupted their conversation and grabbed Baek Seol-hee’s shoulders.

“I think you’re getting carried away. Please be a bit more rational…”

“I am being more rational and logical now than ever before.”

This is serious.

This woman is genuinely looking at me.

It’s different from Ymir’s case.

Ymir tests me, subtly probes for information, acts perceptively, and gradually takes what benefits her from me.

Baek Seol-hee is different.

She’s not testing me or checking if I’m lying.

Like a true hero.

“Is it that you dislike surrogacy, or that you dislike me? If it’s the latter, I’ll cleanly give up. But if it’s the former.”

She’s approaching me with complete “sincerity.”

“If your wife approves, wouldn’t it be fine? Call her now. Right now.”

“Seol-hee, listen—”

“Come on, call her. Ask if it’s okay for me to be your surrogate.”

“…I’m curious about that too.”

Baek Seol-hee in front.

“Since we’ve gotten to the topic of surrogacy, we can’t not hear from the person most concerned, can we?”

Ymir behind.

And me caught between them.

“Alright.”

Ring ring.

I made the call.

[Hello?]

“Honey, it’s me.”

[…Yes, honey.]

Well then.

“Do you have a moment to talk?”

[I’m working, so just three minutes. What is it?]

“So.”

They thought I wouldn’t do it.

“The two women I’m meeting on Sejong Island… they’re saying they could be surrogate mothers. Would that be okay?”