The dazed feeling still hadn’t worn off by the time I got back to the Guiding Room.
SSS-rank.
I’d barely allowed myself to consider the possibility, but SSS? Seriously?
That was a rank even higher than Kim Yong-ha.
It was completely absurd. In the original novel, Hwang Seol-bin was a D-Rank Guide who struggled every single time he tried to Guide an Esper. That never changed—not even when he died.
But now his rank suddenly changed…?
Was it because I’d possessed him? Because I was really Hwang Dae-heon, not Hwang Seol-bin?
It wasn’t impossible. After all, unlike the original version of him, I’d never once had a hard time while Guiding.
Still, it wasn’t exactly shocking. The possession itself already broke every rule. If my presence had affected his stats, it actually made some kind of sense.
But that’s not the real problem…
The issue was that not only did I know about this new rank—so did Kang Biso and Kang Bijun, the two most dangerous Villains in this entire story.
Given the situation, I hadn’t had a choice but to reveal it to them. Still… what if they used that rank as leverage to pressure me into joining them?
The thought left me unsettled. But I wouldn’t know anything for sure until I talked to them face-to-face.
Back in the Guiding Room, I picked up my phone. There was still plenty of time left before my official shift ended.
“There aren’t any Espers scheduled this afternoon…”
So… can I just go home?
At the Guide Center, Espers were usually assigned until the official closing time of 6 p.m., but if there weren’t any appointments, we were allowed to clock out early. In other words, there was absolutely no reason for me to hang around anymore.
Decision made, I quickly packed up my things. No Espers, no obligations—no reason to waste time here. Chances like this didn’t come often.
Since I’d be heading home early for once, I figured I’d play with the dog a bit, maybe even take it for a walk. Later tonight, I’d head to the hideout and have a proper talk with the Kang Biso brothers…
I stepped out of the Guiding Room and picked up my pace.
“Hey. Hey.”
What should I eat for dinner? I was kind of craving something warm and soupy…
“Hey! Hey, Hwang Seol-bin!”
“…?”
I turned at the sound of a familiar voice, and my expression soured on instinct.
“Where the hell’s your head at? I’ve been calling you.”
It was Kim Hyun-joong. I should’ve kept walking.
“…I heard you got reevaluated. Anything come up?”
So that’s why he stopped me—he wanted to know about the reevaluation.
“And what would you do with that info? Shouldn’t you be off guarding Kim Yong-ha or something?”
“I asked you first.”
Even after I responded, he just plowed ahead with what he wanted to say.
I bit back a sigh and replied as calmly as I could.
“…Didn’t I tell you not to act like we’re close?”
“What, are you still mad?”
“Ha. Mad?”
Mad? Did he really think all that shit he pulled the other day was just me being moody?
I stared at him, speechless, and Kim Hyun-joong had the nerve to nod confidently.
“Yeah. Mad. You’ve always had a habit of throwing little fits now and then. Just don’t take it too far. If you keep this up, I’m seriously gonna get pissed. Got it?”
He really chalked up a serious warning to a simple tantrum. Would it even make a difference if I said anything else at this point? Why the hell did Hwang Seol-bin ever like this guy? What was there to like?
“You’re acting all high and mighty just because you saved Guide Kim Yong-ha that one time… but that was pure luck. I only slipped up because I wasn’t feeling well that day. Got it?”
I clenched and unclenched my fist, wondering if I should warn him again. But Kim Hyun-joong just kept running his mouth.
“Just because Guide Kim Yong-ha calls you ‘sunbae,’ you think you’re hot shit now? You’re still a D-Rank. What are you so proud of? Know your place. Just go back to Guiding me quietly like you used to—”
“Hey.”
“…What? Did you just call me ‘hey’—ugh!”
I grabbed him by the collar and yanked him down. He blinked in shock, totally stunned, unable to say a word.
There’s a limit to how much bullshit I’ll tolerate. I let it slide once, and now he thinks he can talk down to me?
“Did you forget what I told you last time?”
“W-what…?”
“I said—twice—stay the hell out of my life.”
“Hey… ngh!”
Twisting the hand clutching his collar, I squeezed tighter around Kim Hyun-joong’s throat. He tensed his neck like he was trying to resist, but his wide eyes said it all—he really didn’t think I’d go this far.
Pretty sure I grabbed him like this last time, too… Did he forget because there’s nothing but air in that head of his? If he couldn’t even remember the warning I gave him, then maybe it was time he learned the hard way—let his body remember for him.
“…Ha.”
I sighed and tightened my fist. Kim Hyun-joong flinched.
Yeah, no matter how pissed I was, throwing hands at the Guide Center wasn’t the best idea. It’d just draw attention. Better to keep it quiet. I could always deal with him later—outside, where there were no eyes. This wasn’t my only chance.
“Kim Hyun-joong. Listen carefully.”
“……”
“This is your final warning. Try acting like you know me again—just once—and I swear, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
I yanked him even closer and locked eyes with him. His face turned pale. He’d looked just like this the last time—scared out of his damn mind. Hopefully this time it actually sank in.
“Remember this well. It’s your last chance.”
Done talking, I let go of his collar and turned away. I walked off slowly, and thankfully, Kim Hyun-joong didn’t say another word. Looked like he finally got the message.
When I stepped outside, the sun hit me full in the face. It was still bright out, and the warmth somehow eased my mood a bit.
Right. I’m off work early today. No reason to carry this bad energy home. I’ll pick up some snacks for the dog on the way—spoil him a little. I needed some healing too.
With lighter steps, I picked up the pace.
***
Baek Beom’s routine had gotten pretty simple lately.
He’d sleep all morning, then finally open his eyes sometime in the afternoon. After that, he’d eat the mountain of dog food that Hwang Seol-bin always left out for him before leaving for work—probably to keep him from going hungry. Then, he’d stretch out his limbs with a few lazy yawns. If the collar started to feel annoying, he’d just shift back into human form.
Back when he was still fully a werewolf, his life had been nothing but eat, sleep, and survive. But ever since he started receiving regular Guiding, his thoughts had started to expand. Sure, he still ate dog food out of hunger, but at least he wasn’t just a slave to instinct anymore.
And with Seol-bin gone during the day, he could turn into a human and enjoy some proper downtime. Honestly? Life was good.
In human form, Baek Beom unhooked his collar and plopped down on the couch, flipping through TV channels. After a while, his stomach growled again, and he wandered over to the fridge.
Predictably, there was nothing good. Hwang Seol-bin always ate out and only ever stocked the place with dog food and snacks.
“Guess I’ll order something again.”
Baek Beom headed into the bedroom and reached under the bed. From beneath the mattress, he pulled out a handful of restaurant flyers and some bills—cash he’d quietly swiped from Seol-bin’s wallet, plus a few menus he’d found lying around.
Ordering food while Seol-bin was at work had become part of his daily ritual. He used to be cautious, worried he’d get caught, but once he realized Seol-bin never noticed, he stopped holding back.
“Had mala soup two days ago… Maybe seolleongtang today?”
After a moment of thought, he picked up the hotel phone and casually placed the order. Now all he had to do was wait.
“Oh—bathroom.”
Scratching his head, Baek Beom stepped into the bathroom. The mirror over the sink reflected his current form.
His long, tangled white hair was a mess, falling over a chest covered in scars. He brushed his bangs back, revealing sharp, slanted eyes and blood-red irises.
Looking down, he eyed the faint scar Seol-bin had left on him. It had mostly healed now, just a light mark.
Honestly, there wasn’t really a reason to stay here anymore. But still…
He feeds me. Guides me before I rampage.
It was just too comfortable. If he were being honest, he didn’t want to leave. He wanted to keep leeching off Seol-bin forever.
Then suddenly, a memory from last night popped into his mind. He’d been watching Seol-bin sleep when those tempting lips had murmured something.
“Book… of Wishes.”
Yeah, that was what he said.
Baek Beom rubbed his chin. Book of Wishes, huh…
The name rang a bell. It stuck out because it was so cheesy.
If I play this right… maybe I can make a deal with him?
He chuckled to himself, lips curling into a grin.
Still, where was that food? Was it gonna take forever?
Bored, his eyes drifted to Seol-bin’s bed—the same bed where they’d rolled around all night yesterday. Slowly, Baek Beom climbed onto it.
Sniff sniff… Seol-bin’s scent.
It was good. Too good. What was this smell? It wasn’t anything he’d ever scented before, but the more he inhaled, the more addictive it became. He pressed his face into the blanket, rubbing against the lingering scent like a satisfied beast.
“Haah… so nice.”
Just breathing in Seol-bin’s scent made his sleeping face flash through Baek Beom’s mind.
That delicate face… and those two moles under his eye? So damn sexy.
He couldn’t resist the urge. He’d even licked them once, just to see how they tasted.
Every time the urge overwhelmed him, he’d have to clench his teeth and force himself to stop.
…I wanna lick him all over.
Those moles. That sharp nose. Those flushed, red lips. He wanted to trace every inch of it with his tongue—down his neck, over his chest, lower and lower… What would he taste like?
“Haah…”
He was getting hard. Fast.
Swallowing thickly, Baek Beom hesitated for just a second. Then he pulled the blanket Seol-bin had used close, burying his nose in it. One hand clutched the fabric, inhaling Seol-bin’s scent deeply. The other wrapped around his throbbing cock and started moving.
“Haah… hnn… Seol-bin… Seol-bin… haah…”
The smell alone was enough to drive him wild. What he really wanted was to pin Seol-bin down and make him his. Taste him. Claim him. Force a Guiding out of him and maybe drive them both insane from the overload. It’d feel even better with the Guiding.
Just imagining it made him lose control. Licking his lips, Baek Beom kept moving his hand.
“Ahh… Seol-bin… Seol—”
His release was right there. His strokes grew faster, rougher.
And just as he reached the edge—
“…Puppy? I came home early to—huh? Not here? Is he in the bedroom?”
—that voice.
The one voice he absolutely shouldn’t be hearing right now.
No way. I’m hallucinating. It’s gotta be a hallucination.
Still gripping his cock, Baek Beom froze in place.
The footsteps came closer. And then, the bedroom door opened.
His eyes met Hwang Seol-bin’s.
“…Ah!”
“……”
He was so screwed.
