“You were hiding it here all along? No wonder I couldn’t find it!”
A rush of overwhelming excitement surged through me. Nice! I shouted inwardly as I quickly grabbed both volumes of the Book of Wishes.
Finally…
I had them. Every last one.
Now all I had to do was escape this research facility with the books in hand.
“Where do you think you’re going—!”
Someone was here—!
“Urgh!”
It happened in a flash. I’d been so caught up in the Book of Wishes that I didn’t even realize something was flying toward me until it was too late.
I didn’t see what it was. The moment I sensed something coming, I ducked on instinct—and just as I did, something else came hurling right after, as if it had anticipated my dodge.
I couldn’t avoid it.
It slammed into my back with full force.
The pain was so sharp I dropped the Book of Wishes, collapsing to my knees before falling flat on the floor.
“Kuhk!”
What the hell… is going on?
The pain was unbearable—blinding. But there was no time to curl up and protect myself. Alarms were going off in my head. Danger.
I forced my head up, desperate to see who attacked me. Whoever it was, I was going to make them pay.
But when I saw who it was—I froze in disbelief.
“Kang… Hak-gwan…!”
When did he get here?!
Apparently, he’d figured out from our last fight that Esper abilities didn’t work on me. This time, he hadn’t used any powers. He’d just picked up debris—broken brick fragments—and thrown them at me.
My eyes dropped to the massive chunk of stone in his hand, and I bit down hard on my lip.
No wonder it hurt so damn much. Getting hit by that should’ve broken something. It was a miracle I was still conscious.
Damn it. I let my guard down. I’d been so focused on Kim Seong-gyeong that I completely forgot Kang Hak-gwan was also stationed in this facility.
I tried to get back on my feet, but before I could, Kang Hak-gwan closed the distance and drove his boot into my gut.
“Guhk…!”
“What a surprise. Fancy seeing you here, Guide Hwang Seol-bin.”
Like hell it’s a pleasant surprise.
Groaning, I curled in on myself, clutching my stomach. I had hoped I’d never see him again.
His cold, dry voice cut through the air like a blade, and I clenched my teeth. I wanted to stand, but my body still wouldn’t respond. Desperate, I reached for the Book of Wishes that had fallen to the floor—but before I could touch it, Kang Hak-gwan stomped down on my hand.
“Ugh!”
“So this is the Book of Wishes, huh?”
He bent down and casually picked up both volumes from the ground.
“…G-Give it… back…”
“I was wondering where it had gone. Who would’ve thought you’d stash it in a place like this? I suppose I owe you a thank-you.”
What the hell is he talking about…?
I looked up at him, confused. He tucked the books into his coat with a smug grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
“I was after the Book of Wishes too, you know. Thanks to you, I’ll be putting it to good use.”
Damn it…
My expression twisted with frustration. I never once suspected Kang Hak-gwan had his sights on the book. I always assumed he was just a watchdog, stationed here to guard it, not someone with his own agenda.
The revelation made my skin crawl.
But there was nothing I could do. That first hit had done serious damage. My body wouldn’t listen to me.
Kang Hak-gwan looked down at my crumpled form, smirking as he lifted his foot again. And without an ounce of hesitation, he slammed it into my chest.
“Kuhk!”
The brutal blow sent a wave of pain tearing through me, and my consciousness started to fade.
No… I can’t black out now…
I’d finally gotten my hands on the Book of Wishes…
My vision blurred, and through the haze, I saw Kang Hak-gwan turning his back and walking away.
Outside, the deafening sounds of battle raged on. Explosions. Shouts. The clash of Espers.
Kang Biso and Kim Seong-gyeong were still fighting.
Dammit, Kang Biso, Kim Seong-gyeong… This isn’t the time for that…
You have to stop Kang Hak-gwan…
My eyes locked on his retreating figure—until the darkness swallowed me whole.
***
Kang Biso felt something was off in the middle of his fight with Kim Seong-gyeong.
He had been completely focused on his opponent when he suddenly heard a dull crash somewhere nearby.
Normally, he would’ve dismissed it—probably just another explosion caused by the Villains. But this one was too close.
Without even realizing it, Kang Biso turned his head instinctively—toward where Hwang Seol-bin might be.
But Seol-bin wasn’t there.
He looked around again. Nothing.
His chest tightened. A sharp unease clawed its way into his thoughts.
And then, at last, he sensed it—another presence. One he hadn’t noticed until just now.
The moment Kang Biso sensed that presence, he realized he wasn’t the only one—Kim Seong-gyeong, mid-swing with a fist aimed straight at Biso’s face, suddenly froze.
A heavy silence fell between them.
At the same time, both turned their heads toward the shattered door that had been torn apart by their fight.
A figure was slipping away through the exit.
That silhouette—
“Kang… Hak-gwan?”
Kim Seong-gyeong must’ve heard Biso’s mutter. He lowered his fist and whipped his head around, eyes scanning frantically for Hwang Seol-bin. But when he didn’t see him, his expression turned pale with realization.
“Wait… Let’s pause for a second. Something’s not right here.”
Even Kim Seong-gyeong could feel it—something was off. He stepped back, tension still thick in his shoulders.
Kang Biso darted toward the collapsed section of the wall. He could sense Kim Seong-gyeong following close behind, but he wasn’t a concern right now.
Biso squeezed through the gap, eyes widening as he took in the space beyond.
A hidden chamber. He hadn’t expected anything like this. How had they not known something like this was here?
Then he saw him.
“Hwang Seol-bin…!”
He rushed to the figure lying crumpled on the ground.
What the hell happened? Who did this to him?
Seol-bin was strong. More importantly, Esper abilities didn’t work on him. Biso had assumed he’d be fine—he’d never imagined something like this would happen.
And then, that fleeing silhouette—Kang Hak-gwan. Could it really have been him?
If so, why leave Seol-bin behind? Wasn’t he the target?
The thoughts tangled in his head, but they didn’t matter right now. Seol-bin came first.
Kang Biso lifted him gently into his arms and patted his shoulder.
Come on, stay with me. Wake up, please…
“Nnnh…”
“Hwang Seol-bin!”
“..Kang Biso…”
“What happened? Are you hurt? Who did this? No—never mind that. Let’s get you to a hospital first.”
“Kang… Hak-gwan… He ran off with the Book of Wishes…”
“Kang Hak-gwan?!”
So it was him. That silhouette—he’d been right. That bastard had laid hands on Seol-bin and stolen the book?
Biso grit his teeth hard.
“There’s no way… Esper Kang Hak-gwan wouldn’t—”
Kim Seong-gyeong’s voice came from behind. He had stopped just outside the room, unable to step in, and stared at the sight of Seol-bin collapsed in Biso’s arms. The moment Seol-bin named the culprit, disbelief overtook his expression—and he ran off without another word. Probably to confirm it for himself.
Biso held Seol-bin tighter.
“Don’t worry. I’ll find that bastard and bring the Book of Wishes back.”
“…Okay.”
Seol-bin’s features relaxed slightly at those words, and he slowly closed his eyes again. His breathing was steady—he wasn’t in danger, just unconscious.
Biso adjusted his grip and ran.
He’d told Seol-bin he was after the book, but truthfully, that wasn’t the priority.
All that mattered now was Hwang Seol-bin’s safety.
First, let’s get him out of here.
Holding him close, Biso sprinted through the ruined facility. The book could wait.
“…Bijun. Tell all Villains to evacuate the research facility immediately. Fast as possible.”
[“Got it!”]
Kang Bijun’s voice crackled through the comms, calm and fast. He must’ve already understood what was going on.
With that taken care of, Biso turned his focus entirely to getting Seol-bin out.
He looked down at the man in his arms, whose breath came in faint, ragged gasps, and ran faster, not once looking back at the wreckage behind him.
***
“Hyung!”
“Bring the healer Esper, now.”
“Already waiting downstairs.”
They’d barely made it back home before Biso was laying Seol-bin on the bed. Bijun rushed in right behind him—quick, efficient, prepared, as always.
Luckily, it was nothing serious. Just some bruises.
The healer Esper that had been on standby got to work immediately, and soon, Seol-bin’s complexion eased. His breath came steadier now, no longer strained.
“Haah…”
Biso clenched his teeth.
Just a few minutes of distraction, and Seol-bin ended up like this. Kang Hak-gwan—he’d never forgive him.
“So, wait. Kang Hak-gwan’s got the Book of Wishes now? That means he went back to the research facility, right? Great. We’re back to square one.”
Bijun let out a long sigh. Biso didn’t answer. He was too focused on how to corner and destroy Kang Hak-gwan.
Bijun glanced at his brother, sighed again, and left the room with a shrug.
Now it was just the two of them. Biso sat down by the bed and carefully brushed the hair from Seol-bin’s face.
That could’ve ended so much worse…
He’d been too focused on Kim Seong-gyeong and left what truly mattered vulnerable. That would never happen again. From this moment on, Hwang Seol-bin would never leave his side.
Biso sat by the bed and kept watch—never closing his eyes.
***
The next morning, the door flew open with a loud slam and Kang Bijun came running in, out of breath.
Biso frowned, irritated. “What now?”
“Hyung! It’s all over the news—total chaos!”
“Why?”
“Kang Hak-gwan! He ran off with the Book of Wishes! He’s completely disappeared—off the grid!”
Biso’s face darkened.
He’d assumed Kang Hak-gwan would return the book to the research facility. That had been the logical move.
But instead, the bastard had just… vanished?
Seol-bin had said as much, but Biso hadn’t been sure if it was true. Now it was confirmed.
That crazy son of a bitch…
“…Looks like things just got interesting.”
A smirk curved on Biso’s lips.
Now, whoever caught Kang Hak-gwan would become the new owner of the Book of Wishes.
The rules had changed.
It was no longer sealed in a high-security facility.
It was in one man’s hands.
His eyes met Bijun’s. A flash of resolve sparked between them.
“Dig up everything on Kang Hak-gwan. His residence, contacts, connections—everything.”
“On it.”
Biso’s eyes were colder than ever.
It was time to turn the hunt around. And make Kang Hak-gwan the prey.
What are they even going to wish for and can the book of wishes really grant wishes they dont even have proof it actually grants wishes. And the others cant even read whats written on it seems to me that everyones too obsessed with this and the plot is dragging out. Btw this man with a wife and daughter really ran away for an artifact that may or not work and that he cant read, seriously!!?