“…The Book of Wishes is over there.”
I thought we’d have to argue more, but Kang Hak-gwan simply glanced toward the room on the right. His eyes were hollow—resigned, like a man who’d given up everything. I walked up to him, struck the back of his neck just as I had with the woman earlier, and knocked him out cold. Then I turned toward the room he’d pointed to.
Kang Biso quietly followed behind me. I wasn’t sure whether the book would really be there, but the moment I opened the door, I saw them—two volumes of the Book of Wishes sitting plainly on top of a desk.
He really stole them without a second thought…
As soon as I saw the books, I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh. Kang Hak-gwan, who was always so cold and calculating, had let greed get the better of him. Without thinking things through, he’d stolen the books and tried to run.
Human greed really is terrifying. Then again… maybe I’m the same. I came all this way just to get my hands on these too.
I picked up both books. Just to be sure, I flipped through them to check for any tricks—but no, they were definitely the Books of Wishes that recorded my story. I let out a long breath of relief. After everything… I’d finally found them.
The Book of Wishes.
“…So that’s all five now, right?”
“Yeah. We’ve got them all. Let’s go home.”
I placed the books into the bag I’d prepared and headed out of the room. That’s when I noticed Kang Biso had stopped walking behind me. I turned around, wondering what was wrong, and saw him glaring at Kang Hak-gwan like he wanted to tear him apart.
I walked over and gave his shoulder a few taps.
“…Let’s go.”
“We’re just gonna leave him like that? After everything that bastard did to us? I should at least beat him within an inch of his life!”
“It’s fine. He’s already paying for what he did. The government’s not going to let a guy who stole the Book of Wishes off the hook.”
“…Tch. I guess you’re right. Damn it…”
Clicking his tongue in frustration, Kang Biso backed down—but the fury still hadn’t left him. He shot me a quick glance, then walked over to the unconscious Kang Hak-gwan and kicked him hard in the stomach before shuffling back to my side like a sulking puppy. The look in his eyes said, That much is okay, right?
Honestly, if I hadn’t gone soft because of that crying kid earlier, I would’ve taken revenge twice over for everything I went through. Seeing Kang Biso get a bit of payback on my behalf… it made him even more endearing. I lifted my hand and gently stroked his head.
With a bright smile, Kang Biso leaned into my touch like a content kitten.
[“Get out of there, now! The government’s making a move! If they catch up with you, it’s gonna get messy!”]
Right then, Kang Bijun’s urgent voice crackled through the radio. Sounded like the fake intel he’d planted had finally been exposed. He’d bought us more time than I’d expected. I met Kang Biso’s eyes, grabbed his hand, and sprinted out of the house.
Finally…!
All five volumes of the Book of Wishes were mine!
I hadn’t read the two new ones yet. What kind of stories were inside? I couldn’t wait to get home and find out.
“Let’s go—back home…!”
“Yeah!”
***
“Haah… haah… Dammit!”
Kim Seong-gyeong, uncharacteristically out of breath, arrived at Kang Hak-gwan’s house. It had been ages since he’d run this hard. His chest burned, breath came in gasps, but the anxiety clawing at him kept his legs moving—he couldn’t risk missing Hwang Seol-bin.
He pounded on the door, hard enough to break it. Just in case, he tried the handle—it was unlocked. His face stiffened.
He burst inside. Kang Hak-gwan was already unconscious. A woman who appeared to be his wife was also collapsed on the floor. And from one of the rooms came the sound of a baby wailing, sharp and constant.
He tore through the house, checking every corner—but the Books of Wishes were gone. Hwang Seol-bin was nowhere to be found.
It was over.
Kim Seong-gyeong clenched his jaw.
Hwang Seol-bin. Kang Biso.
“Shit!”
He’d lost them both.
The frustration, the helplessness—it all boiled over, and before he could stop himself, he yelled. Loud. Angry. Unlike his usual composed self.
With the Books of Wishes gone, it would be nearly impossible to ever cross paths with Hwang Seol-bin again.
That thought alone made panic rise like a tidal wave. He felt like he was about to lose his mind.
If only he’d gotten to Kang Hak-gwan first. If he’d secured the books, he could’ve convinced Seol-bin to stay. He could’ve reasoned with him.
But now it was too late.
Back when the books were still at the research institute, they’d had some room to breathe. They knew Seol-bin would eventually show up. But now? That chance was gone. Probably forever.
Kim Seong-gyeong was drowning in despair.
“Haa… haa… What happened?! Where’s sunbae? Where’s Kang Biso?!”
Kim Yong-ha—who had insisted on coming along and couldn’t be left behind—finally arrived, gasping for breath. His eyes darted around the scene, and then he rushed over to Kim Seong-gyeong with a desperate look.
Behind him were government Espers who’d come along, all watching Kim Seong-gyeong carefully.
If we’d just gotten here one day earlier… even a little faster…
Kim Seong-gyeong shook his head slowly, his face dark. Seeing that, Kim Yong-ha followed his gaze—and his expression twisted as he spotted Kang Hak-gwan lying unconscious nearby.
The government Espers sprang into action. Kang Hak-gwan was arrested on the spot. His wife and the crying child were taken into custody as well.
It was over. Everything… had come to an end.
…No. Not yet. It’s not over. Not completely.
Kim Seong-gyeong’s gaze, icy and sharp, pierced through the unconscious body of Kang Hak-gwan.
He hadn’t been able to bring Hwang Seol-bin back… but Kang Hak-gwan—after all the corruption he’d committed, after framing Seol-bin, after imprisoning Guides—he would pay. For all of it. He and Kim Yong-ha would testify.
And maybe… once the truth came to light, once all the lies were exposed and justice was served… maybe then, Hwang Seol-bin’s heart might begin to thaw. Maybe he’d come back.
Holding onto that fragile hope, Kim Seong-gyeong turned to Kim Yong-ha, who looked completely lost and hollow.
“There’s something I need you to do, Kim Yong-ha.”
“…Me?”
“Yes. It’s for Hwang Seol-bin.”
“If it’s for sunnbae, I’ll do anything!”
Kim Yong-ha’s unwavering answer made Kim Seong-gyeong smile bitterly. It was time. Time to fix everything that had gone so terribly wrong.
***
When they brought Kang Hak-gwan back to headquarters, the front of the government building was already packed with reporters and onlookers. The moment word got out, the place had become a circus.
Inside the vehicle, Kang Hak-gwan finally came to. As soon as he saw Kim Seong-gyeong seated beside him, he seemed to grasp the situation. Whether it was resignation or realization, he didn’t resist. The man who had always carried himself with arrogance now just sat there—silent, dazed, powerless.
Kim Seong-gyeong glanced out the window at the chaos unfolding, then turned to the Espers escorting them.
“Clear a path. I need a moment alone with Esper Kang Hak-gwan.”
“…It could be dangerous, sir.”
“It’s fine.”
Kang Hak-gwan’s wrists were secured in high-grade suppression cuffs—he couldn’t use his Esper abilities even if he tried. Even without them, he was A-Rank. No match for Kim Seong-gyeong.
But more than that, there was no fire left in him. He looked like a man who had already lost everything.
“…Understood.”
The Espers stepped out, leaving only Kim Seong-gyeong, Kim Yong-ha, and Kang Hak-gwan inside the car.
Kim Seong-gyeong looked at the man before him. This was the same superior who used to issue orders with a smug expression, always calm, always in control. If this had been before, maybe the sight of him like this would’ve stirred some pity.
But not now.
Not when the price for his arrogance had been Hwang Seol-bin.
With a voice as cold as stone, Kim Seong-gyeong began the interrogation.
“Esper Kang Hak-gwan. Did you see Guide Hwang Seol-bin?”
“…Yeah. I saw him.”
A long silence passed before Kang Hak-gwan finally spoke.
“Did he take the Books of Wishes?”
“…Yeah. He took all of them.”
“…Haa.”
Of course…
“This is all your fault!” Kim Yong-ha suddenly exploded, his face red with rage. “Why the hell did you steal those books?! If you hadn’t gotten greedy, we wouldn’t have lost sunbae!”
Kang Hak-gwan’s expression darkened. He didn’t say a word in return.
He probably regretted it more than anyone.
If he hadn’t stolen those books… things might not have spiraled out of control like this.
Kim Seong-gyeong placed a hand on Kim Yong-ha’s arm, calming him down before turning his attention back to Kang Hak-gwan.
Then, with calm precision, he laid out what would happen next.
“Esper Kang Hak-gwan. I’m going to tell the press everything. Every last detail of what you’ve done. I don’t care if you lie. Both Kim Yong-ha and I will testify.”
“…Do whatever you want. I’m finished anyway.”
Kang Hak-gwan’s voice was hollow. Empty. His expression was void of even the smallest shred of hope. This was his downfall—his own making.
As a final courtesy, Kim Seong-gyeong explained exactly what would be said to the press. Gave him a moment to mentally prepare.
Kang Hak-gwan just nodded silently.
Everything was ready.
Kim Seong-gyeong stepped out of the car, Kim Yong-ha at his side, and hauled the defeated Kang Hak-gwan out with them.
The moment they stepped into view, the sea of reporters erupted.
“Esper Kim Seong-gyeong! What happened here?!”
“Is it true that Esper Kang Hak-gwan stole the Book of Wishes and fled?!”
“Just one comment, please! Esper Kim Seong-gyeong!”
“Move aside.”
Pushing past the press, Kim Seong-gyeong finally reached the government building entrance. There, he stopped.
He turned. Faced the flashing cameras. And spoke. He revealed everything.
The near-imprisonment of Hwang Seol-bin and Kim Yong-ha. The lies about Seol-bin’s rank. The abuse. The corruption Kang Hak-gwan had covered up for years. Every last truth was laid bare.
“Is it all true?!”
“Are you saying Hwang Seol-bin really is an SSS-Rank Guide?!”
“Where is he now?! Where’s Guide Hwang Seol-bin?!”
“Please… stop looking for him.”
His voice trembled, just once.
“He’s a victim. Of the government, of the Guide Center… of Esper Kang Hak-gwan. Don’t hurt him anymore. And the Book of Wishes—forget about it. The idea that it grants wishes… it’s a lie. Nothing more than a fairy tale.”
For the first time in his life, Kim Seong-gyeong lied. When the government found out, all hell would break loose. But he didn’t care. He’d do anything to protect Hwang Seol-bin.
He only hoped that somewhere, watching the news, Seol-bin would see this. Understand that everything had changed.
Even if it took years—decades—he just wanted him to know he could come back.
With that hope burning in his chest, Kim Seong-gyeong looked straight into the cameras and spoke clearly, slowly, without hesitation.
“Come back anytime, Guide Hwang Seol-bin. You’re not a criminal anymore. The real criminal… has already been brought to justice.”
The broadcast was aired nationwide. And for a time, it dominated every headline.
