Kang Biso gazed at me with those big, tearful eyes, looking utterly heartbroken. It was clear from his expression—he wanted me to throw away the ring I’d gotten from Kim Seong-gyeong.
Too bad for him—I had zero intention of getting rid of it. That ring was basically an extra lifeline. Why would I toss it? In a world this dangerous, keeping a protective item like this was pure common sense.
“…Can’t you please throw it away?”
As expected, he looked like he was about to cry. I turned away, forcing myself to ignore him. If I kept looking into those eyes, I might actually cave.
“It was a gift. Throwing it out would be rude. More importantly, why don’t you sit down first? You’re here for Guiding, aren’t you? I also have some questions for you.”
Kang Biso frowned at my words, but I ignored it, locked the door, and took a seat. He followed suit without much resistance, but his eyes stayed glued to my hand the entire time.
This is way too uncomfortable.
At this rate, he’d keep staring as long as the ring was on my finger. With a sigh, I slipped it off and tucked it into my pocket. Only then did he finally lift his gaze and meet my eyes. His face was still full of obvious dissatisfaction, but I had nothing more to offer.
“No matter how much you pout, the answer’s still no. This ring protects me. And in a dangerous world like this, a weak Guide like me needs every bit of protection he can get. I’m not throwing it away.”
“…A weak Guide? You?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re calling yourself weak? The same guy who took down Espers at our hideout like it was nothing? The one who shut down their powers instantly?”
…Fair point. I had no comeback. I may have gone a little overboard back then.
“If it’s something like that, I can get you a new one! A hundred of them! A thousand! Just… please, throw that one away? Huh? I’ll buy you something better. Oh! What if we got matching ones—like couple rings? We could wear them together, forever…”
Having extras wasn’t the issue. I just didn’t see a reason to take one from him. And couple rings? With Kang Biso? Sorry, but not in a million years. He could daydream all he wanted—it wasn’t happening.
I brushed off his nonsense and finally asked what I’d been curious about since yesterday.
“Before we start the Guiding, there’s something I need to ask.”
“What is it? Ring size? Or are we talking about the house we’ll live in together? Just say the word—I’ll tell you everything.”
So much for changing the subject. But hey, if he was offering full transparency, I might as well use it.
I got up and leaned in close to him. Kang Biso stiffened, holding his breath. Given how common physical contact was during Guiding sessions—and the lack of CCTV in the Guiding Room—it made sense that he’d get nervous.
But I had no plans to touch him. I just didn’t want anyone else overhearing our conversation. Even with the door locked, you never knew who might be listening in.
“The Guiding assessment. Was that result really accurate?”
That was what I wanted to know most. Even in the novel, Kim Yong-ha—the most revered Guide—was only S-Rank. And me? I wasn’t even the protagonist, and yet I was rated SSS-Rank. It didn’t make any sense.
“…Honestly, I was shocked too. I checked for system errors, combed through all past cases… but yeah, you’re the first SSS-Rank ever.”
Just as I feared—the worst possible outcome.
“If people find out about my rank…”
Was that a threat? Was he planning to use this against me?
I studied his face to read his intent, but all I saw was raw obsession and possessiveness. His eyes, burning with a desperate hunger, looked exactly like they had when I escaped the hideout—when he swore he’d never let me go. I swallowed hard.
Come to think of it, Kang Biso was no lightweight. He might act like a sweet, harmless puppy calling me hyung and clinging with affection, but beneath that cute exterior was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Let’s not forget—he was the leader of ZEC, the most dangerous Villain organization in the world.
“……”
“…It’d be chaos if word got out. Of course, Kang Bijun and I won’t say a word. But the whole world would scramble to get you. And if they can’t… they’ll try to kill you. I wouldn’t be able to receive Guiding anymore. And honestly, I’m not thrilled about the idea of you becoming famous either.”
“…You’re serious?”
“Dead serious. So relax, okay? That look on your face—it’s scary, hyung.”
I must’ve been glaring without realizing it, tense from expecting blackmail. Kang Biso looked like he was about to cry again. I forced my expression to soften, and only then did he brighten up.
“Alright. I’ll take your word for it.”
“But… could you do me a favor in return?”
Of course. There was no way a Villain like Kang Biso would keep a secret for free.
“What is it?”
His cheeks flushed bright red, and what he said next completely threw me off.
“Will you go on a date with me?”
“…What?”
“You promised we’d have a meal together, remember? But then some random Esper showed up and ruined it. So this time, let’s go on an actual date. Please?”
I’d been ready for a ridiculous demand, thinking he might use my rank as leverage. But this? I didn’t know what to do with this.
Compared to the secret he was keeping, the favor was absurdly modest. If it really was just a date… it almost felt like getting off scot-free.
Given my history of being kidnapped and locked up, I couldn’t completely rule out the chance of getting abducted again… but since I’d already escaped once, it didn’t feel like much of a concern anymore.
After a moment’s thought, I gave a small nod—and Kang Biso’s face lit up instantly.
“Really? You promise? Then how about this weekend? Is Sunday good for you?”
“Yeah. That works.”
“Great! Let’s meet on Sunday, then. Our first date… I’m so excited!”
A date, huh… We were just two guys grabbing a meal—did it really need to be called a date? But seeing how happy he looked, correcting him felt a little unnecessary. So I quietly nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Yes!!”
More than anything, the way Kang Biso lit up with joy because of a single word from me… it didn’t feel bad at all.
***
Contrary to my fears that Kang Biso might get clingy again, the Guiding session went surprisingly smoothly. It ended quickly and without incident.
He obediently reached out his hand for Guiding, then as soon as we finished, he got up and reminded me several times not to forget about our Sunday date before walking out of the room.
It had gone so smoothly, it almost felt anticlimactic—but since I was finally off the clock, I wasn’t about to complain. I was more than ready to head back to the hotel.
I wondered if Baek Beom was back by now.
I left the Guiding Room, picking up my pace, when a voice called out behind me.
“Sunbae!”
I turned around at the familiar voice—Kim Yong-ha was walking toward me.
“…Kim Yong-ha?”
Had he finished for the day too? Why was he alone again?
I clicked my tongue. While I was relieved not to see Kim Hyun-joong, it was frustrating that his supposed bodyguard kept leaving him unattended—especially when things were already tense with Baek Beom.
“Are you heading home?”
Even with that blank look on his face, he couldn’t hide how happy he was to see me.
“Yeah. Time to clock out.”
“Must be nice… I want to go outside too, but they keep saying it’s too dangerous. Being stuck with Kim Hyun-joong or the other Espers all the time is exhausting. I’m starting to feel caged in.”
“…Yeah, I can imagine.”
“Even now, I had to beg just to go on a short walk alone. I’m sure someone’s still watching me from a distance, though.”
Hearing the resignation in his voice made me feel bad. Adjusting to a new place was hard enough—being stripped of your freedom on top of that had to be suffocating.
After a brief hesitation, Kim Yong-ha spoke again.
“Um… Sunbae, are you free this Sunday?”
“…Sunday?”
“Ah, it’s nothing serious. I’ve just been feeling a bit lonely being stuck in the Center all the time. And I never got the chance to properly thank you for saving me the other day. So I was wondering… would you be willing to have a meal with me?”
The moment he said “meal,” I remembered the date I had just promised Kang Biso. I paused.
“I was thinking we could eat at the cafeteria. I know it’d be nice to go out, but that’s probably not allowed right now. The cafeteria lady offered to make whatever I wanted on Sunday, so… if there’s something you like, I could ask her to prepare it.”
So S-Ranks got that kind of treatment, huh? Customized meals, constant bodyguards—the special treatment was unreal. No wonder Yoon Yi-hyeon couldn’t stand him.
Still… Sunday is already booked.
I’d already made plans with Kang Biso. Not that I wanted to come into work on my day off anyway.
I was about to decline when Kim Yong-ha spoke again, this time in a quieter, more vulnerable voice.
“…It’s hard to even talk to you during the week, and I’ve had a lot on my mind lately. Being stuck with the security detail all day, even on weekends… it gets lonely.”
“……”
“You always eat lunch alone too… so I thought, maybe, we could share a nice meal together over the weekend. If that’s okay with you…”
The way he said it made me hesitate. I already knew that even with a few threats out of the way, Kim Yong-ha’s road ahead wouldn’t be easy. That only made me feel more sympathetic. And maybe, without realizing it, I’d grown a bit attached to him too.
But Sunday really was impossible.
“Um… I already have plans for Sunday. But how about lunch tomorrow instead?”
“Lunch tomorrow?”
“Yeah.”
“Well… if you’ve already got plans, I understand. But promise me we’ll eat lunch together tomorrow, okay?”
“Of course. I’ll wait for you outside the cafeteria.”
“Great! Oh—and I’ve been holding you up too long. You should head home. Be safe, and I’ll see you tomorrow!”
I gave him a light nod and turned to go. I could feel his eyes lingering on my back, but I ignored them and made my way outside.
***
Kim Yong-ha stood there, staring at Hwang Seol-bin’s retreating figure with a look that was far more somber than usual. It was subtle—his usual spaced-out expression made it easy to miss—but something about him had clearly shifted.
“Guide Kim Yong-ha.”
“…Esper Kim Hyun-joong?”
“Done with your walk?”
At Kim Hyun-joong’s question, Yong-ha nodded, stealing one last glance in the direction Seol-bin had gone before turning away.
I should’ve asked him out for Sunday…
He bit his lower lip, replaying what had happened an hour earlier.
A Guiding session had been canceled for once, giving him a rare bit of free time. Wanting to see Hwang Seol-bin—someone he hadn’t even had the chance to run into lately—he headed toward his Guiding Room.
He’d arrived in good spirits, just about to knock on the door… when he heard voices from inside and instinctively paused to listen.
“Our first date… I’m so excited!”
The voices were muffled, and most of the conversation was unclear. But that one line? He heard it clearly. The giddy voice of another man… and Seol-bin’s quiet agreement in response.
Kim Yong-ha’s brow furrowed so hard it almost hurt.
A date?
Shaken, he’d stumbled back to his room in a daze. The idea that Hwang Seol-bin was going on a date—with another Esper, no less—hit him like a punch to the gut.
Determined to stop it, he’d run straight back to the Guiding Room and managed to catch Seol-bin before he left, asking him to have dinner. But he’d been turned down.
Grinding his teeth, Kim Yong-ha muttered to himself.
“Even I haven’t had a date yet…”
“Huh? Guide Kim? Did you say something?”
“Ah—no, it’s nothing.”
I want to be closer to Sunbae too…
There had to be a way. A way to become closer to him—closer than anyone else…
