After wandering aimlessly for a while after leaving the hideout, I ended up in front of the Guide Center. It was the only place I could think of.
The building was still brightly lit, suggesting someone was still inside. Figuring I’d just spend the night here and worry about everything else after some sleep, I cautiously approached—only to hear a voice call out behind me.
“Mr. Hwang Seol-bin?”
“…Team Leader.”
I turned around to find the Team Leader staring at me in surprise.
“Wait, aren’t you still on vacation? What are you doing here this late? And what’s with those clothes?”
“Ah, that’s… uh…”
How was I supposed to explain this?
“My house got destroyed in a dungeon incident…”
His eyes widened like he hadn’t expected things to be that serious.
“I don’t really have anywhere else to go, so… would it be alright if I stayed in the Guiding Room just for tonight?”
“I mean, it’s not a problem, but…”
“Thank you. Then, I’ll…”
Before he could say anything else, I quickly turned and walked into the Center.
Surprisingly, he didn’t try to stop me.
Good. If he’d started asking a bunch of questions, it would’ve been a huge pain.
Once I reached the Guiding Room, I collapsed onto the bed and shut my eyes.
So this was how my vacation ended. Kidnapped by Kang Biso, escaping from that hideout… I still didn’t know why he abducted me. But I felt like I’d learned more about the Villains—stuff that wasn’t even covered in the book.
Before I could think about it any deeper, I blacked out and fell asleep like I’d been knocked unconscious.
***
Knock knock knock—
The sound of knocking jolted me awake.
…Where am I? Why am I here again?
A familiar white ceiling. Soft overhead lights. A desk with neatly arranged supplies.
Right. The Guiding Room.
I must’ve fallen asleep here last night. My head still felt fuzzy, like I hadn’t fully woken up. As I shook it off, trying to get my thoughts in order, the knock came again—this time with someone calling my name.
“Mr. Hwang Seol-bin?”
“Yes. Come in.”
I wiped my face with my hand and responded. The Team Leader opened the door and stepped inside, checking my expression as he spoke.
“Sorry for waking you up so early.”
“No, it’s fine. I was about to get up anyway. But… is something wrong?”
“Here, take this.”
He handed me a black T-shirt and pants.
…Why is he giving me clothes?
As I looked at him in confusion, he met my eyes with a worried expression.
“You said your house collapsed, right? Where have you been staying all this time? You should’ve told me sooner. I would’ve helped.”
“…Thank you.”
I hadn’t expected that kind of kindness. Still a bit dazed, I stared blankly until he placed the clothes in my arms and handed me a few sheets of paper.
“It’s a dorm application. Might be a good idea to move in. Everything you need to know is written there, so look it over and apply if it works for you.”
“…Okay.”
“I know things have been hectic lately, but try to rest whenever you’re not Guiding. And if you need to step out during the day, just go ahead. No need to worry about it.”
“Thanks for everything. Really.”
“A Guide needs to be stable if they’re going to Guide properly!”
When I first met him, I thought he was a sharp, uptight guy. Turns out he’s surprisingly warm and caring.
He waved off my thanks and left the room. I stared down at the clothes and paperwork in my hands.
Thanks to Kang Biso, my precious vacation was completely wrecked. Still, since they were letting me step out when I didn’t have Guiding duties, I figured I could still tackle the things I originally planned to do—just in smaller chunks.
Trying to keep a positive mindset, I got dressed.
***
I still had about an hour before work started, so I stepped outside and headed to a convenience store.
I hadn’t eaten since yesterday, and my stomach was growling.
I grabbed a cup ramen and a triangle kimbap for a quick breakfast, then started walking back to the Center. As I got closer, I spotted Kim Hyun-joong standing awkwardly in front of the building, fidgeting like he was waiting for someone.
What’s he doing just standing there like that?
He looked like trouble. I figured I’d just walk past him and ignore it.
But before I could even try, Kim Hyun-joong glanced around, spotted me, and shouted—
“Hey! What the hell took you so long to show up for work?”
Judging by his reaction, he had no idea I’d spent the night here.
Kim Hyun-joong stared at me, his face twisted like he’d just chewed on something rotten.
“I mean, we didn’t get to talk properly last time, right? So I waited around. Just wanted to have a quick chat. What, is that a problem?”
Was this part of the original story?
That was all I could think about. If this were the real Hwang Seol-bin, he’d probably be moved to tears by the gesture. But to me, it was nothing more than awkward and unwelcome.
From what I remembered, once Kim Yong-ha entered the picture, Kim Hyun-joong didn’t give Hwang Seol-bin the time of day.
While I was lost in thought, Kim Hyun-joong’s tone suddenly softened, like he was trying to be careful.
“Hey… so, um…”
“…Just say it.”
“You’re starting back at work today, right?”
“Yeah. I am.”
“I’m reporting here starting today too. And, uh… by any chance, are you close with Guide Kim Yong-ha?”
“…What?”
Seriously? Why was he bringing up Kim Yong-ha out of nowhere?
I shot him a look, and even he seemed embarrassed by his own question, quickly averting his eyes.
“I, uh, I’ve been assigned to his security detail. He asked me about you.”
So he already had security? Not surprising for an S-Rank. Of course he’d get special treatment. I already knew from the story that Kim Hyun-joong would be his assigned guard, so that didn’t catch me off guard.
But the fact that Kim Yong-ha had asked about me…?
We’d barely exchanged more than a few words outside the medical room.
Still, what pissed me off more was the sheer gall of Kim Hyun-joong—asking about Kim Yong-ha, knowing damn well that Hwang Seol-bin had feelings for him.
Some things never change.
“If you two are close, maybe… I don’t know, say a few nice things about me? Come on, we’re friends, right?”
I already knew from the novel that he was self-absorbed and dismissive toward Seol-bin, but seeing it firsthand? It was infuriating.
“Hey! Why aren’t you answering me?”
Just as I was deciding how to deal with him, Kim Hyun-joong’s face twisted into a sneer, and he switched topics.
“By the way, what happened with that Esper? The one you were with outside your place the other day.”
Esper…? He meant Kang Biso? Why was that name coming up now?
“You’re just gonna fall apart again and fail at Guiding anyway. You should dump that freak. I’m only saying this ‘cause I care about you.”
That was it.
I glared at him, unable to hold back.
“What? What? Did I say something wrong?”
He answered with the most arrogant, smug expression imaginable.
“…Did you forget the warning I gave you last time?”
“What?”
“Seems like you’ve got the memory of a goldfish, so let me spell it out for you again.”
“……”
“Stay the hell out of my business. Don’t get involved in my life. I don’t need you around.”
“Wh-what?”
“And as for Guide Kim Yong-ha? There’s nothing going on between us. But even if there were, I wouldn’t have a single thing to say about you, so stop getting ahead of yourself.”
“Hey! What the hell’s gotten into you?! I’m Kim Hyun-joong! Kim Hyun-joong, damn it!”
He was practically shouting now. I glanced around to confirm no one else was nearby, then grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall.
“Guh…!”
Caught off guard, he couldn’t even react. His head thudded against the wall with a dull crack.
I took out the pen I always carried and pressed it against his neck like a blade. His face drained of color in an instant.
Sheer panic. And confusion. Like he couldn’t wrap his head around what was happening.
Esper powers didn’t work on me. To me, Kim Hyun-joong was just another powerless civilian.
And scaring a civilian? That was child’s play.
“If you ever pull this crap again, I won’t let it slide. Don’t talk to me, don’t look at me. As far as I’m concerned, we’re strangers from now on. This is your last warning—as someone who used to be your friend. Got it?”
“U-ugh…”
I pressed the pen a little harder. That did the trick—his head bobbed up and down in frantic agreement.
Good. The threat landed. Guys like him were textbook cowards—submissive to the strong, predatory toward the weak.
I slowly stepped back, pulling the pen away from his throat.
“Hah… hah… Y-you…!”
As soon as I let go, Kim Hyun-joong slid down the wall and collapsed into a heap. He was taller than me by a head, yet now he sat on the floor, staring up at me with wide, terrified eyes.
I looked down at him coldly, then turned and walked into the Center without another word.
Hopefully, that would be the last time I’d ever have to deal with him.
***
Back inside the Center, I headed straight for my room and collapsed onto the bed without a second thought.
Starting the day with Kim Hyun-joong had completely ruined my mood.
I wondered how many Espers were scheduled to come in today. I just wanted to get through it quickly and relax.
There was still a bit of time before my shift officially began, so I figured I’d make myself a cup of coffee. Just as I got up, there was a knock at the door.
What kind of Esper knocks before working hours even start?
I wanted to pretend I wasn’t there, but since I’d just come back from a full week off, I couldn’t really ignore it.
“Come in.”
“…Hello.”
It wasn’t an Esper.
It was Kim Yong-ha, holding a coffee carrier in one hand.
Even after a week, he looked the same—pretty enough to pass for a doll.
“Oh, hello.”
“I just… wanted to drop by and say hi. Thought maybe you’d like a coffee.”
He pulled out a cup from the carrier and handed it to me.
“Thanks.”
I was used to making my own or getting it from Yoon Yi-hyeon. I’d never had anyone actually bring me coffee before. It was… a surprisingly nice feeling.
As I took a sip, Kim Yong-ha hesitated, then quietly spoke.
“I started working here, too.”
“Oh? That’s great. Honestly, for someone like you—who came through a dimension shift—this is probably the best place you could’ve ended up. They provide housing and meals, too.”
“I still don’t know much, so… I’m not sure if I’ll be any good at it.”
“I’m sure you’ll do just fine.”
He was the protagonist, after all. An S-Rank Guide. There was no way he wouldn’t excel.
“Um…”
“Yes?”
He fidgeted, looking even more hesitant than before, and then finally got to the real reason he’d come.
“I’m still really clumsy when it comes to Guiding… Would it be okay if I came by now and then to ask you questions?”
I nodded right away.
That had been my role in the book—to help Kim Yong-ha adapt to life at the Guide Center. To be the foundation he could build on.
Hearing him ask for help first made things a lot easier. I’d been wondering how to get closer without making things awkward—this saved me the trouble.
“Of course. Come by anytime.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. Feel free to ask me anything.”
“Thanks. I’ll be counting on you, then.”
He smiled at my answer, gave a polite ninety-degree bow, and walked out.
Now that’s what respectful looks like.
If Kim Hyun-joong had even a shred of this attitude, I wouldn’t have minded putting in a good word for him. Not that any of that mattered now.
I sat down, took another sip of coffee, and started flipping through the day’s assignment sheets.
Let’s see which Espers I’m Guiding today…
The list had shrunk considerably. Probably because of the new S-Rank Guide.
Only half the usual number. Most of the high-ranking Espers who’d previously been assigned to me had probably switched over to Kim Yong-ha.
Less work was nice… but wouldn’t that be a lot for him to handle right away?
Then again, this was Kim Yong-ha—the protagonist. Overflowing with talent. He’d manage just fine.
“…Huh?”
[Kim Seong-gyeong – S-Rank Esper]
I stared at the file, not trusting my eyes.
Kim Seong-gyeong?
Why was his name in my folder?
Was it a mistake? With Kim Yong-ha now at the Center, why would he be scheduled to receive Guiding from me?
