Kang Hak-gwan furrowed his brows and let out a heavy sigh.
“I can’t believe you tried to escape again…”
“Isn’t it only natural for someone locked up to want out?” I shot back.
“I told you, didn’t I? There’s no way out. Just give up already.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Kang Hak-gwan signaled to the Espers behind him. In the blink of an eye, I was surrounded. Cornered in this cramped space, outnumbered on top of it—my fists clenched on instinct.
The Espers began closing in, one of them stepping forward with a particularly hostile glare.
“You’d better just give in qui—urk!”
Before he could finish, I drove my fist straight into his face. The others flinched, faces twisting in shock, then came rushing in one after another. Seriously? All this for a single Guide? What a joke. They should be embarrassed.
As one of them lunged with both arms out to pin me, I slipped into his space and slammed an uppercut into his chin. Another attacked from behind, but I twisted to the side, deflecting it, and then slammed my foot into his solar plexus. Espers in front and behind me crumpled to the floor, groaning in pain.
“Guh!”
“What the hell?!”
“Stop—agh!”
I didn’t hesitate to go for their weak points. They couldn’t even get a proper counterattack in before dropping like flies.
I hadn’t been caught by ZEC’s Villains—no way I was losing to a bunch of Espers swinging their numbers around. Annoying as it was to take them down one by one, it wasn’t exactly hard.
Then suddenly, one of them jumped me from behind and wrapped his arms around my waist. I met his desperate eyes with a grin.
Twisting hard, I drove my elbow into his temple. He staggered from the hit, grip faltering, and I grabbed his arm to flip him over cleanly.
Thud!
“Gah…!”
An Esper bigger than me went flying and slammed into the ground. The others froze at the sight, clearly stunned, and began backing away in hesitation.
At this rate, I could actually get out. That thought had barely formed when Kang Hak-gwan—who had been calmly watching this whole time—let out a sigh.
“Permission granted to use abilities. He’s clearly not some ordinary Guide.”
The tense Espers perked up at those words, their confidence instantly returning. They began activating their powers, clearly thinking they had the upper hand now.
In an instant, the narrow hallway lit up with bursts of vibrant color. The mix of abilities filled the space with shimmering light— it probably looked like chaos and danger to anyone else. But to me? It just looked like a sun catcher.
Because none of it works on me.
They stretched out their hands and fired off their powers. A swirl of abilities—flames, electricity, ice, psychic blasts—came crashing toward me with intimidating force. But the moment they reached me, they simply vanished. As if they’d never been there at all.
“…Huh?”
“Why… why isn’t it working?”
They stared dumbfounded, eyes flicking between their hands and me.
“What are you all doing?!”
Kang Hak-gwan’s voice rang out, furious and disbelieving. The Espers just stood there awkwardly, hands still raised, staring at me in shock.
“W-We swear, our abilities just disappeared on their own!”
“This doesn’t make sense! Nothing’s working! Why…?”
Kang Hak-gwan waved his hand sharply, cutting through their excuses.
“Tch. Can’t even take down a single Guide…”
With another sigh, he stepped forward, sparks snapping to life around him with a harsh bzzt-bzzt. The pressure in the air shifted.
Even though I knew none of their powers could touch me, the crackling energy radiating off him made my throat go dry. My body tensed instinctively at the sheer force of it.
He activated his ability deliberately, like he was trying to set an example. Yellow light began to build in his palm.
“You’re all useless,” he muttered, voice full of disgust. “Can’t even use your powers properly.”
His glare swept over the other Espers, who quickly lowered their heads in shame.
“Guide Hwang Seol-bin. Just give up and go back to your room quietly. This is your final warning.”
His tone was calm, but the threat was obvious. I shook my head.
“No.”
“Then I have no choice. Don’t worry—you won’t die.”
The sparks around his hand flared and lashed out at me— but just like before, they vanished the moment they reached my skin. Not even a trace remained.
For the first time, Kang Hak-gwan’s cold, hardened expression looked downright stupid. He stared at his hand, then at me, eyes wide with disbelief— and for some reason, watching that made me feel oddly satisfied.
He tried again, unleashing his power. Crackling sparks surged toward me, vicious and loud— but just like before, they fizzled out before making contact, disappearing without a trace.
Try all you want. You’re not laying a finger on me.
I let a small smirk curl at my lips and kept my eyes peeled for a chance to break through. His tightly controlled expression had finally begun to fracture— and right now, in that fleeting moment of hesitation…
I sprinted straight at him and threw a punch at his face— a face I’d hated from the moment we met.
But unlike the other Espers, Kang Hak-gwan recovered fast. He turned his head, narrowly dodging the blow.
“Tch…”
I clicked my tongue. Of course he wasn’t just some mid-tier pencil pusher—they didn’t assign him as an investigator for nothing. Without missing a beat, he closed the distance and grabbed me by the collar, yanking me up off the floor.
“Finally caught you.”
“Let go of me!” I snarled.
“We’ll figure out why your powers don’t work later.”
“The hell you will—!”
He stared at me like I was some fascinating lab specimen, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. I met his gaze with a crooked smirk.
Too bad for him. I was just getting started.
I drove my arm down hard against his neck. Caught off guard, he didn’t dodge in time.
“Guh—!”
The air left his lungs in a grunt as his grip loosened. I kicked him away, putting space between us. Just as I prepared to charge in again—
I froze.
The Espers were surrounding me once more. Bruised, limping, barely holding it together— but their eyes burned with determination.
This wasn’t going to be easy.
I might’ve been stronger than any one of them, but they still had the advantage in numbers.
The longer this dragged on, the more my stamina would bleed out. Eventually, they’d wear me down and capture me again.
I exhaled slowly, gaze locked on the Espers closing in.
And then, suddenly—someone stepped in front of me. A man in all black, wearing a mask, stood between me and them. Shielding me.
“Who the hell are you?!” one of the Espers shouted.
Where had he even come from…? Wait… no.
That mask. That all-black outfit.
My heart jolted.
No way.
Kang Biso.
Had he come all the way here… for me?
Staring at the broad back blocking my view, my chest clenched with something I couldn’t quite name.
This was already the second time Kang Biso had come to save me.
But… was this really okay? As glad as I was to see him, I couldn’t stop the worry creeping in. One more person wasn’t going to shift the odds in our favor.
Still, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Anxious, breath caught in my throat, I watched him carefully.
“Kang Hak-gwan! Intruder!”
The Espers, as if waiting for the cue, charged toward us in unison.
But Kang Biso didn’t move. Even with enemies rushing in from all directions, he stood tall—calm, steady, like none of them were worth his time.
They hurled punches, unleashed their abilities— but none of it landed.
There was no way Kang Biso, of all people, would be hit by attacks I could dodge.
“Gah!”
He weaved through their strikes with ease, catching a wrist mid-swing, twisting it until bone popped.
One by one, they dropped, cries of pain echoing through the hall.
Then—Kang Biso snapped his fingers.
Like puppets with their strings cut, the remaining Espers collapsed. Just like that.
I could only stare, stunned. I’d never seen him fight before. Not like this.
“…So you’re the intruder from before.”
Kang Hak-gwan, who’d been watching it all unfold, finally spoke.
Kang Biso didn’t respond. He just stared at him—silent, unmoving.
The air felt like it could snap at any moment.
Kang Hak-gwan acted first.
“Watch out!”
Sparks flared from his hand, bright and fast—
“Damn it—!”
I ran forward, grabbed Kang Biso’s hand—and the electricity vanished.
Gone.
The power didn’t reach him.
Relief rushed in—but surprise hit just as fast. I hadn’t known. That even someone I touched became immune.
Kang Biso seemed to realize it too. He gave me a quick glance, then gently pulled his hand away. Without a word, he launched himself at Kang Hak-gwan.
Kang Hak-gwan met him head-on, hurling electricity like a storm. Kang Biso dodged, darted forward— he was already in close range.
He threw a punch. Kang Hak-gwan twisted away, narrowly avoiding it, then fired another electric blast.
“Kh!”
Kang Biso flinched. He didn’t dodge in time.
The electricity hit him directly. A sharp groan escaped his lips, and his body trembled— then slowly, he sank to one knee, motionless.
Unconscious.
“Kang—!”
I bit back his name, unable to say it with Kang Hak-gwan still watching. The man wiped a drop of sweat from his brow, finally relaxing.
“…What a nuisance. But at least now—urk!”
It happened in a flash.
Kang Biso—who’d seemed unconscious—punched him square in the ankle. Kang Hak-gwan stumbled, groaning in pain. Kang Biso swept his leg out, bringing him down, then climbed on top of him without hesitation.
He raised his hand—
Snap.
Kang Hak-gwan’s eyes rolled back. He passed out instantly.
“Is that really the best you’ve got?”
With that, Kang Biso turned and walked toward me.
My heart thudded louder with every step.
Was he okay? Was he hurt? Should he go to a hospital?
There was so much I wanted to say, but the emotions swelling in my chest left me speechless.
He stopped in front of me.
And slowly pulled down his mask.
The face I’d missed so much came into view. His hair was soaked with sweat, and his expression still sharp from battle— but his eyes softened as they met mine.
Warm. Familiar.
A gentle smile tugged at his lips.
“…I came to get you.”
He held out his hand.
I stared at it.
And I felt it—pure, overwhelming relief. He’d come for me.
All the doubts, the fear, the guilt… pointless.
He’d always said we’d face things together. Maybe now… I could finally believe that.
Without hesitation, I reached out and took his hand.
And as his fingers curled tightly around mine, as if he’d never let go again—
I smiled. Wide and bright. Just for him.
