“When we go in, first…”
Life sure loved its ironies.
Kang Biso, who’d always seemed like an adorable little brother, turned out to be the captain of this place. And here I was, walking straight toward the very guy who had kidnapped me—with my own two feet, no less.
Ugh, I really don’t want to do this.
Every step toward him felt like I had boulders tied to my ankles.
Should I just cash in the wish ticket and get out of here right now? That had been the plan when I made the bet to begin with.
But if I brought it up out of nowhere, it’d definitely raise suspicion. And I wasn’t even sure if the Deputy Commander would honor it. He said he would, but who knows if he’d actually follow through?
Sure, he might pretend to go along with it just to save face…
Honestly, maybe knocking him out and making a break for it would be smarter. There’s no one around watching, after all…
My thoughts came to a screeching halt when the Deputy Commander stopped in front of a door.
It wasn’t even that far from the training center. Guess I really don’t have a choice now…
Knock knock.
He tapped on the door.
So this is where Kang Biso is?
“Come in.”
As soon as the voice responded, the Deputy Commander opened the door and stepped inside.
I hesitated for a moment before dragging my feet in after him. The room was tidy—almost office-like—but what caught my eye first was the luxurious sofa in the middle that felt totally out of place.
And there, seated with a scowl on his face, was Kang Biso. He didn’t look happy.
“Captain. This is Trainee Number 8. I brought him by to introduce him.”
“…Do I look like I’m in the mood for greetings right now?”
His icy tone and sharp glare were completely different from the Kang Biso I used to know.
The face that always smiled now twisted with irritation and barely-contained anxiety. His eyes, once full of warmth, now burned with a cold, lethal edge—like he might kill someone at any second.
Even his voice, which used to drip with playful charm, was now flat and low, making it crystal clear that he was in a terrible mood.
This version of Kang Biso felt completely unfamiliar. Was this his true face—the face of a Villain?
But the Deputy Commander acted like it was nothing new. He strolled right in and perched casually on the sofa’s armrest.
“Still, I brought him all the way here. Doesn’t hurt to at least say hi, right?”
“And why should I?”
“This one’s got real potential. Thought it might be good for you to know about him.”
Kang Biso didn’t even lift his head. He just looked my way with an exhausted, uninterested expression.
As I stood there staring back like an idiot, the Deputy Commander gestured for me to say something already.
That’s when I remembered how I must look. I’d been yanked here straight from training—still wearing a black face mask.
Actually… this might work.
Good thing I left my glasses behind. Kang Biso hadn’t realized who I was yet. Right now, keeping my identity under wraps was top priority.
“Hello, sir.”
I gave a slight bow. My voice trembled from nerves and came out sounding weirdly distorted—almost like voice modulation.
Kang Biso stared at me for a second, then turned away, clearly losing interest. He looked back at the Deputy Commander instead.
“Kang Bijun… Bijun-ah. I really don’t have the luxury to be worrying about some trainee right now.”
“…Hyung. I mean, Captain.”
Hyung?
Wait. Did Kang Biso just call the Deputy Commander “Kang Bijun”?
The way they addressed each other so casually made me look up in surprise.
Kang Biso. Kang Bijun.
Those names… were they brothers?
“Alright, fine. Whatever. Actually, this works out. Since he’s talented, have him help find the person I’m looking for.”
“A person?”
“Yeah. Someone I really like. No—love, actually.”
Love? Who the hell does he love?
I’d assumed he was looking for me, but I guess not? Did Kang Biso even have someone he was in love with? In the novel, he’d wanted to possess Kim Yong-ha, but in this world they’d barely crossed paths—if at all.
Wait, did he seriously fall in love at first sight in that short moment?
Hearing him say the word “love” left a bitter taste in my mouth.
It felt like being a puppy at a shelter, completely ignored the moment someone new showed up.
“I brought them here to keep them safe, even took extra care. And then—just like that—they vanished the second I stepped away. I know they’re still somewhere in this facility, and yet we still haven’t found them. Isn’t that funny?”
He said it was “funny,” but there wasn’t a trace of amusement on his face. If anything, he looked like he was about to explode. His entire expression was menacing.
Hold on… he is talking about me, isn’t he? I’m the only one who suddenly disappeared from that room.
No way… he couldn’t have kidnapped Kim Yong-ha already, right? The Guide rankings haven’t even been announced yet…
So… I’m the person Kang Biso claims he’s in love with?
Seriously? Just like that? Why?
Did we even have anything going on between us? All I’d ever done was Guide him a few times. That was it. And we’re both guys, aren’t we?
…Then again, with how things work around here, same-sex relationships seemed totally accepted, probably because of Guiding. So maybe that wasn’t the issue.
But then—why me? Why the hell would he say he loves me?
“Captain, relax. You know better than anyone that it’s impossible to sneak out of this place unnoticed, right?”
“…I mean, yeah, but still.”
“Exactly. No one gets out without a pass. And you said the person you kidnapped is a Guide? Guides can’t just walk out of here like it’s nothing. They’re definitely still inside. So seriously, ease up a little. You’re scaring the newbie half to death.”
I stayed silent and shifted my gaze like I was intimidated, keeping a close eye on Kang Biso’s mood.
If I spoke up now and messed up, I’d blow my cover. And once that happened, I’d probably get dragged back and locked away in that room again—for good.
The way Kang Biso was acting right now… he was way too unstable. Way too dangerous.
Thankfully, Kang Bijun’s words seemed to take a little of the edge off.
“God… this is driving me crazy.”
Even so, Kang Biso raked a hand through his hair in frustration, his elegant curls whipping around wildly. Honestly, he looked like an angry dog.
“…I just wanted to treat him well, you know? And now he’s gone, just like that. I’m going insane here.”
“Haah…”
Kang Bijun let out a deep sigh, shaking his head.
That sigh should’ve been mine. Was he seriously losing his mind over this? Still, seeing him all downcast like that… yeah, this definitely felt like the Kang Biso I used to know.
“Anyway, I’ll make a proper introduction later. For now, trainee, head back. Captain’s not exactly in the best condition.”
“Yes, sir.”
I gave a brief nod and slipped out, throwing one last glance at the gloomy expressions on both their faces.
I might’ve gotten away with it this time, but if they started a full-scale search, it’d only be a matter of time before they found out who I was.
I needed an escape plan. Fast. Before they found me.
But how? If you don’t know—ask.
As long as I kept the mask on, I could still pass for a regular trainee. That meant I could probably get away with asking a few questions without drawing suspicion.
Time to head back to the training grounds.
***
Once they were alone, Kang Biso shot up from the couch.
“Nope. I can’t just sit here. I’m going to find him myself. I’m not waiting around anymore.”
“Don’t go tearing through the place like a lunatic. Just sit tight. Do you see all this paperwork? If you’re going to go on a manhunt, at least finish this stuff first. Do you have any idea how far behind you are?”
Kang Bijun stepped in front of him without hesitation, blocking the way like a wall. Kang Biso shot him a look sharp enough to kill, but it didn’t work.
“Finding my Guide is more important. You don’t get it, do you?”
“I do. But so is doing your damn job as Captain. How many times have I told you to keep up with your responsibilities? You’re the reason this pile even exists. It all needs to be done today.”
“Fine. Fine. But I’m finding my Guide first.”
“We already put out a full alert. The entire place is being searched top to bottom. And don’t forget—this is our facility. We designed the whole damn thing. You know it’s not easy to get out.”
Kang Biso was stubborn, but Kang Bijun wasn’t exactly a pushover either. Classic siblings. Neither of them was backing down. Kang Biso clenched his jaw in frustration.
“…That Guide—Hwang Seol-bin—he’s not like the others. He’s different. Special. I’m telling you, he’s going to pull something no one else would.”
Oh boy. Here we go. “Special.”
Kang Bijun grimaced.
From what the reports said, Hwang Seol-bin was a textbook case of an ordinary D-Rank Guide. Quiet, passive, and often overlooked by the people around him.
The only thing remotely unusual was his unusually high Matching Rate. That was probably what had Kang Biso wrapped around his finger.
“Yeah, sure. Someone’s got it bad.”
“No, I mean it. He’s strong. Really strong. For all we know, he could take down everyone in this building and escape.”
Kang Bijun stared at him, completely deadpan.
He couldn’t possibly be serious.
“He’s a Guide. Even the best Guide is still just a Guide. It’s a completely different ballpark from an Esper. You know that.”
“…But still—”
“Enough. Focus. Just look through these. These are the files for the new recruits, including the one from earlier. You can at least manage that, right?”
Kang Bijun shoved the file folder into his hands. Kang Biso accepted it with a sour look and started flipping through it reluctantly.
“…Wait a second.”
“What now? If you’re about to bring him up again, save it and check the damn files.”
“There are only seven new recruits?”
“What are you talking about? It clearly says eight.”
“No, seriously. There are only seven.”
“…What?”
Kang Bijun’s face twisted with confusion as he snatched the file back. The paper had obviously been altered—part of it covered with correction tape. Underneath, it said “7 recruits,” with a note that read: “Removed due to overseas escape.”
“But I swear there were eight trainees during the session. This doesn’t make sense…”
“Did you see Number 8’s face earlier?”
“Huh? That wasn’t the same guy. He wasn’t wearing glasses. And his face—he was seriously pretty. Honestly, he looked more like an Esper than a Guide. No way that was a normal Guide’s presence.”
“Pretty, huh?”
“I didn’t get a good look but… yeah, he was pretty.”
Kang Biso’s face twisted into a crooked smile.
“…What? What’s with that face?”
“Did he have moles under his eyes?”
“Moles?”
At the question, Kang Bijun recalled the face of the masked trainee who’d taken off his mask during the break.
Pale skin like powdered snow. Pink lips. Two small moles sitting right under one eye.
Kang Bijun wasn’t the type to care about appearances—but that face had stuck with him.
“…Yeah. Two. Under his left eye.”
The moment he said it, Kang Biso’s face lit up—and Kang Bijun instinctively flinched.
Sure, he was his older brother, but that expression? That smile? It was downright terrifying.
“…Found him.”
