I ran my hand along one of the walls, eyes darting around the area.
“You mean here?”
“Yeah. That’s the exit.”
I casually approached the guy who looked like the slowest of the bunch and asked. Instead of getting suspicious, he actually smiled and gave me directions. How thoughtful.
I turned my back to him, lips curling into a faint grin. What a kind soul.
If he ever shows up at the Guide Center, I’ll make sure to act like a stranger and sneak him a Guiding session—just once, out of gratitude.
“All you have to do is hold your token up to that wall… but it doesn’t really matter. We’re still in training, so we can’t leave even if we want to.”
He pointed at a blank, unmarked section of wall. Just a plain slab—nothing special.
No wonder I couldn’t find it. The exit was disguised as a wall. How the hell was I supposed to figure that out on my first day here?
Sure, I’m a Special Agent or whatever, but expecting me to find a hidden door without any equipment? That’s just unreasonable.
“So, uh… do you have your token with you?”
“Obviously. Don’t tell me you forgot the rule—you’re supposed to carry it with you at all times.”
“Ah… I kinda left mine behind…”
“Tch. I knew something was off when you showed up late earlier. Make sure you have it next time.”
“Yeah. But, um… maybe you could—”
“Let’s just head back. If the Instructor sees us wandering around, we’re screwed.”
His eyes darted nervously around the hallway. He looked genuinely worried.
Would’ve been nice if he opened the door for me too while he was at it. But maybe that’s asking too much.
Which left me with just one option.
“Right? Yeah, guess we should head back.”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Let’s go. The Instructor’s probably looking—ugh!”
Thunk!
The second he turned his back, I struck the base of his neck. With a sharp grunt, he collapsed to the floor.
I rolled him over and rifled through his pockets. A silver card slipped out—no writing on it, just a small golden star glittering in the corner. Definitely not your run-of-the-mill access card.
“So this is the token.”
I held it up and ran it along the wall where he’d pointed.
Then—
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
“Ugh…”
[Emergency alert! Emergency alert!]
A deafening alarm and warning blared from the speakers, loud enough to split my ears.
Shit. What did I screw up?
I glared at the unconscious trainee. That Guiding promise? Consider it revoked.
While I hesitated, wondering what to do next, the sound of multiple footsteps echoed from down the hall.
A group of trainees I’d been training with earlier stormed into view.
“…What the hell did you just do?!”
Their shoulders were tense, faces tight with panic. They looked between the unconscious guy and me, and their expressions quickly hardened.
Damn it. This is bad…
Still, I figured I’d bluff as far as I could.
“We were just walking around. Then, out of nowhere, he collapsed.”
“Don’t lie! There’s already a warrant out for you!”
“The Deputy Commander is on his way too!”
The Deputy Commander—Kang Bijun. So they figured it out.
I glanced toward the disguised exit behind me. So close. And I still got caught.
I slipped the token into my pocket and ran a simulation in my head. I was out of options. I’d have to take them down and make a run for it.
Six trainees. I need to finish this before backup arrives.
From what I’d seen in training, they were all useless without their abilities. Which meant I had to strike before they could activate them.
Unlucky—but also lucky.
The numbers were annoying, sure, but in situations like this, the bank robbery method always worked best.
I pointed behind them and called out.
“Oh? Deputy Commander!”
“Deputy Commander?!”
Just like before—so gullible.
They all turned their heads to look, following my finger—and I didn’t waste the opportunity.
I moved. Fast.
“Gah!”
I slammed my foot into the gut of the trainee at the front of the group, and the ones behind him collapsed like dominos. They hit the ground in a tangled mess, flailing and yelling in a chaotic pile.
“Damn it! Get off me already!”
“Ugh! My leg’s stuck!”
“What are you doing?! Move!”
One trainee finally managed to scramble upright and came charging at me, rage in his eyes.
“You bastard—!”
Thud!
“Gah!”
My fist buried itself in his stomach. He gasped, his breath catching as his body folded in half before he crumpled to the floor.
“Moron. You’re supposed to use your ability.”
Another trainee stepped up, more confident now that they’d recovered some composure. With a sharp motion, he slashed the air with his hand like a blade. The space split, and wind surged toward me with deadly precision—sharp enough to feel like it could slice straight through my body.
I raised my arms, bracing myself. If I got launched into the air, I could still use breakfall to avoid major injuries…
“…Huh?”
My eyes widened.
The wind that had been barreling toward me started to fizzle out, losing its shape until it completely vanished—like it had never existed.
Both of us froze. The trainee who’d launched the attack blinked, stunned. A beat of silence stretched between us.
“W-What the hell?!”
He looked at his hand, then at me, confused and panicking. Then, determined to make it work, he braced himself again and conjured another attack. This time, the wind howled even louder, powerful enough to make me stumble back slightly from the sheer pressure.
Cold sweat slid down my spine.
If that hit, I’d be dead for sure.
…Wait, again?
Just like before, the instant the wind reached my vicinity—it vanished. Like steam dissipating into air.
That’s when the pieces started to click. I’d seen this happen before… back when Kang Biso tried to use telekinesis on me.
— Huh?
— …?
— Wait, what’s going on?
— …Is there a problem?
— Did I overdo it? No, this is weird. Really weird. Huh?
Just like now—his ability hadn’t affected me at all.
“Hey! What are you doing?!”
“I-I don’t know! Something’s wrong. My ability isn’t…”
“Ugh, forget it! Move aside!”
This time, a fire-type trainee stepped forward, glaring at me.
“I’ll take care of this. Let’s see if you can handle this.”
He clapped his hands together, then rotated them in a circle. Between them, a massive fireball formed. The heat was instant, stifling—it sucked the air from my lungs.
“Take this—!”
He thrust his hands forward, launching the blazing fireball straight at me.
So they really were trying to kill me.
Right. I was a wanted man now. Maybe they figured it didn’t matter if I died.
Should I dodge? Or… wait.
Instinct screamed at me to move. Every cell in my body screamed danger. But a strange feeling held me back.
This had happened too many times already—and each time, I came out unscathed.
I knew I’d be fine.
Sure enough, just as the fireball reached me, it fizzled out like a candle in the wind. Gone.
“My power just vanished… What the hell…”
“What are you?!”
“How is that even possible…?!”
The trainees stared at me, stunned, their voices full of disbelief.
Just like the wind, the closer the fire came, the more it faded. It disappeared right before my eyes, snuffed out like it had never existed.
One failure after another. The trainees’ confidence shattered.
One of them was so stunned he collapsed onto the floor, legs giving out.
“Haa…”
A slow grin spread across my lips.
I didn’t know how or why, but Esper abilities didn’t seem to work on me.
Maybe it was something that came with this possessed body—some hidden power I hadn’t realized. Whatever it was, I wasn’t complaining. Not now.
Take away their abilities, and these Espers were just rookies. Barely trained, all bark and no bite.
Me? I was a fully trained Special Agent. A body built for combat, honed and conditioned to survive anything.
Let’s see who wins in a straight-up fight.
“So… I guess it’s my turn now?”
I rolled my wrists and started walking toward them.
The trainees panicked, scrambling back, eyes wide.
“T-Trainee Number 8! C-Calm down! We’re on the same side! Aren’t we?”
“Who was it that attacked a comrade first? One wrong hit, and I’d be dead before I even had a chance to resist.”
“What the—!”
The trainees glared at me like I’d just betrayed them, but I moved faster than any of them could react.
“Don’t worry. I’m a nice guy, so I’ll just knock you out for a bit. I’ll make it as painless as possible, so just stay put, okay?”
Thud!
“Aagh!”
“Ugh…”
After knocking them all out cold, I casually shook out my wrist.
It felt weirdly refreshing to move freely again after so long. Now all that was left was the escape—then everything would be perfect.
“Hahaha!”
A sudden laugh stopped me cold. I flinched and turned around.
“Hyung! It is you, right?”
Kang Biso stood there, wearing an expression like he was thoroughly enjoying the show. Beside him, Kang Bijun looked pale as a sheet, like he’d just witnessed something inhuman.
Kang Biso’s eyes gleamed with something far deeper than amusement—thrill, satisfaction… and something else. Something darker.
I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but whatever it was, it didn’t sit right.
“Sorry, you’ve got the wrong guy.”
I lowered my voice and played dumb.
“Nah, I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure it’s you, hyung.”
Kang Biso wasn’t the same as the person I’d seen earlier in the Captain’s Office. No, this was the Kang Biso I used to know—relaxed, teasing, almost amused. His eyes roamed up and down my body with obvious interest, like he was evaluating something that belonged to him.
That look is seriously pissing me off.
“I’m tired of the mask. I want to see my hyung’s real face. Aren’t you gonna show me?”
“Once again—you’ve got the wrong person.”
I kept denying it, even though we both knew the truth. Kang Biso didn’t seem surprised. He just shrugged and stepped forward.
“…Hyung, let’s live here together. I’ll do anything you ask. Anything. Just stay with me.”
“I’m going to have to decline.”
Pretending any longer was pointless, so I cut straight to the rejection. Firm. Unyielding.
My eyes flicked toward the wall where the exit should be. I had a feeling it wouldn’t open just by waving the token around randomly like before.
Where was it? Where did I need to place the card?
Then I remembered—a tiny golden star I’d glimpsed on the floor during the fight. The same mark that was on the token.
That had to be it.
It was so obvious, it almost felt like a trap. But my instincts told me it was right.
“Come on, don’t be like that~ Just stay here with me, yeah?”
His voice turned syrupy sweet, practically dripping with affection, but I shook my head again, this time even firmer.
“For the last time—I said no. I’m leaving. I hate being caged.”
And with that, I crouched down and pressed the token to the star on the floor.
With a soft hum, the hidden door began to slide open.
As I waited for it to fully part, I pulled off my mask. A rush of cool outside air swept across my face.
Kang Biso lifted a hand toward me, flicking his fingers like he was about to use his ability—but as expected, nothing happened.
He let out a short, breathy laugh, like he’d known it wouldn’t work.
“…Hyung. I’m not giving up. I’ll come find you again.”
“You’re always welcome to drop by the Guide Center for a Guiding session. But anything beyond that—I’m not interested.”
I stepped backward through the door as it began to close behind me. Kang Biso’s eyes never left mine.
But this time, there was no hunger in them.
Just sadness. Deep, aching sorrow.
And seeing that look—despite having done nothing wrong—I felt like I’d committed some unforgivable sin. A tight, uneasy feeling twisted in my chest.
I didn’t like this.
…
The door sealed shut behind me.
I turned and walked away without looking back.
I’d forget this feeling. I had to.
What mattered now was my freedom.
Freedom—that was enough.
Once Kang Biso finds out about Kim Yong-ha, his obsession with me will disappear in an instant.
That’s how the original story goes, after all.
