“Are you feeling sick?”
His face was flushed red, so I asked just in case something was wrong. Kim Hyun-joong opened his mouth like a fish, speechless, before suddenly springing to his feet.
His posture was… off. He leaned his waist back awkwardly and clutched his lower body with both hands like he was trying to cover something. What the hell? Is that comfortable for him?
“Y-You! What the hell did you just do to me?!”
“Me? I was just Guiding you.”
I stared blankly at him, like what the hell are you even talking about?
“That—That was not normal Guiding!”
“…Why? Did it feel weird? Want me to do it again?”
I reached out to grab his hand again, but Kim Hyun-joong practically jumped out of his skin. Bold enough to ask for Guiding, but now he’s acting like a total prude?
He looked like he had a hundred things he wanted to yell at me, but then he whipped his head around and stormed out of the house without another word. His exit was just as abrupt as his entrance.
“Seriously, what’s his problem?”
He was already a piece of work the first time we met, but now he was just straight-up bizarre.
Whatever. The unwanted guest was gone, so I could finally go about my day in peace.
I had errands to run—hit the bank, grab groceries. I didn’t have the time or energy to waste thinking about someone like Kim Hyun-joong. I grabbed my wallet, threw on my coat, and headed out.
***
I walked briskly down the street and pulled out my phone, opening my notepad app.
Dinner was already planned, so I figured I’d jot down my shopping list while on the way to the bank.
“Oof—!”
I was so focused on my phone that I didn’t notice someone running toward me, and we collided hard.
“Ah, sorry—”
“Grrrr…”
“…Huh?”
The guy in the hoodie didn’t even let me finish. He shoved past me in a panic, like he was being chased.
White hair. Red eyes.
I caught a glimpse of sharp fangs between his lips, and that growl—it sounded more animal than human. He definitely wasn’t normal.
A white-haired man with fangs, snarling in the middle of the city? Yeah, no way he was some average guy. Was he even in the original novel?
I felt a flicker of curiosity but quickly shook it off.
No point racking my brain over something I couldn’t remember. This world was full of ability users—nothing strange about someone like him existing.
I just needed to follow the plot, live out this body’s life, and return to being Special Agent Hwang Dae-heon when the original owner came back.
Now that I think about it… isn’t it almost time for the protagonist to show up?
The story’s first major event: a massive dungeon outbreak coinciding with the protagonist’s debut.
“Can’t wait.”
I’d seen enough Espers to last a lifetime over the past few days, but I was curious about the protagonist—an S-Rank Guide. What kind of guy was he?
Unlike me, who ended up in this world through possession, the protagonist was thrown in by dimensional travel.
I had the advantage of knowing the original plot, so adjusting wasn’t too hard. But the protagonist? Dropped into this world with zero context? He was probably a mess right now. Once we met, I figured I could help him out a bit—as a senior at the Guide Center he’d be working at.
Just like the original Hwang Seol-bin did.
“…There it is.”
Lost in thought about the protagonist, I looked up to find the bank right in front of me.
Inside, there was already a crowd waiting.
I sat down and zoned out while waiting for my number to be called—until suddenly, the doors slammed open with a loud crash, and three armed men burst in.
BANG! BANG!
“Nobody move! Stay where you are!”
“KYAAA!”
Screams rang out, and everyone inside turned toward the armed intruders.
Damn. This is wild.
I was honestly impressed. Never thought I’d witness an actual bank robbery.
Even back in my world, stuff like this didn’t happen every day.
But here? In this crazy book-world? Of course there’d be chaos like this. Daily disasters seemed to be the norm.
If even a side character like me was getting dragged into this much trouble, the protagonist’s life was probably going to be a nonstop disaster reel.
“Everyone, move over there and sit down. Hands on your heads.”
About twenty people did as they were told, huddling together in one corner.
I quietly followed the order, placing my hands on my head and sitting down.
“Now drop your phones in this bag. Anyone caught hiding theirs is getting a bullet to the head, got it?”
Judging from the terrified looks around me, it didn’t seem like any Espers were present. Makes sense—most of them would be busy hunting monsters, not chilling at a bank.
That’s probably why these kinds of low-level criminals were getting bolder.
How long would it take for the police to get here? I still had shopping to do and dinner to make—getting wrapped up in this mess was such a pain.
“Stuff all the money in this bag! Now!”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
The robbers tossed bags at two terrified bank employees and barked at them to fill them up. With trembling hands, the workers began shoving in cash as quickly as they could.
“U-Ugh…”
Is she going to be alright?
My eyes drifted to a woman who’d been worrying me since this started—a pregnant woman, clearly in her final trimester.
She was as pale as a ghost, clutching her belly with both arms like it was the only thing keeping her grounded. Of all the people to be stuck in a mess like this… it was hard not to feel bad for her.
That’s when it happened.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?! You got a death wish?!”
One of the robbers shouted and aimed his gun at a middle-aged man in a suit—one of the hostages. He must’ve been trying to sneak out his phone behind his back to call for help and got caught.
“N-No, it’s not what you think, I wasn’t calling anyone, please—spare me—”
BANG!
“AAAGH!”
“KYAAA!”
The robber, clearly high-strung, pulled the trigger without hesitation. The bullet punched straight through the man’s leg.
Screams exploded. The stench of blood mixed with the bitter scent of gunpowder, and in an instant, the entire bank descended into chaos.
He actually shot him.
This guy wasn’t just bluff and bark—he was totally unhinged. I could only hope he didn’t plan on gunning everyone down. I stayed quiet, but I was ready to act the moment things took a turn.
“Ugh… aah…”
A faint groan caught my ear. I turned my head and saw the pregnant woman trembling, panic washing over her in waves. Her breathing had gone completely erratic.
“Are you okay?”
I shifted closer and positioned myself in front of her, shielding her from the bloody scene.
“It’s alright. You’re going to be okay. We’re going to walk out of here safely, alright? Just breathe with me. Inhale… exhale… slowly now.”
“Haa… huff… haa…”
She clutched her belly and followed my rhythm, gradually regaining control of her breathing.
“And what the hell is this?”
Just as things were calming down, two of the robbers took notice and started heading our way. Clearly, they didn’t like what they were seeing.
The pregnant woman’s breath hitched again, panic creeping back in.
I stood my ground between her and the thugs.
“She’s pregnant. She seemed like she was about to faint, so I was just trying to calm her down.”
“Pregnant? So?”
“Tch. Like that’s our damn problem.”
They sneered and cackled, throwing around filthy jokes like it was all a game. Not a scrap of humanity in these bastards.
No wonder one of them didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
Then, without warning, one of them kicked me in the chest.
“Cut the good guy act, you little shit! You and her, you’re both just hostages, got it? Say it. HOS. TAGE.”
“……”
“I said say it!”
WHACK!
This time, he slapped me across the side of the head. It didn’t hurt much, but it was more than enough to piss me off.
I kept my head low, eyes flicking around the room.
The two in front of me were twirling their guns like toys, clearly enjoying the power trip. The third one stood near the tellers, watching the employees load up the money.
Everyone else had their heads down, paralyzed by fear—but one guy stood out.
He wore a hat pulled low and a mask over his face. Something about him gave me pause.
Earlier, when the robbers were laughing, I could’ve sworn I felt a wave of killing intent from that guy. It didn’t feel like panic. It felt controlled. Focused.
He wasn’t just scared—he was waiting.
An Esper, maybe?
Couldn’t be sure, but he definitely wasn’t just some random hostage.
“Hey, asshole! Still not talking? You wanna die?!”
I stayed quiet, and the gun muzzle shifted to my head.
“Think he’s scared now?” one of them jeered.
The two laughed like it was a joke. Their guns hovered between my head and the floor.
Good. Close range. Easy to disarm.
All I needed was one clean opening.
“Huh? What’s that over there?”
“What?”
I pointed behind them like I’d seen something. The moment they turned their heads out of instinct—
I moved.
In a flash, I lunged to my feet and closed the gap.
“Wha—urk!”
“Guh—!”
I grabbed the gun aimed at me, twisted it away, and slammed a fist straight into the guy’s throat. He crumpled instantly.
Without missing a beat, I drove the butt of the pistol into the other one’s gut. He doubled over, gagging before collapsing in a heap.
Both were out cold before they even realized what hit them.
Huh. That was easier than I thought. Weak reflexes, zero physical capability. Just holding a gun doesn’t make you dangerous, you know.
“Wh-What the hell…?”
The last robber—still busy collecting cash—stared at me, dumbfounded, completely frozen in place.
Without a shred of hesitation, I aimed at the weapon in his hand and fired.
BANG!
Dead-on.
I’d earned a reputation as a sharpshooting prodigy back in my Special Agent days. Nailing a stationary target like this? It was practically muscle memory.
“U-Uhh…”
He stammered, glancing between the gun on the floor and the one in my hands. I let a slow smirk curl across my lips and raised the barrel again, aiming straight at his forehead.
“Unless you’re dying to get a brand-new hole in your skull, I’d suggest you put your hands up. Now.”
Guys like you? You don’t get to challenge a Special Agent and walk away unscathed.
***
“We’re alive!”
“Quick, let’s get out of here!”
“That was terrifying… but did you see him? The way he moved—so fast, like bam-bam—”
“Seriously! Who is that guy? An Esper or something?”
With all three robbers neutralized, the ordeal wrapped up quickly. The last guy surrendered on the spot, and I knocked him out for good measure before handing things over to the bank manager.
“Are you alright?”
“Th-Thank you. You saved us.”
I offered a hand to the pregnant woman still sitting in shock on the floor. She struggled to her feet and managed a weak smile, eyes brimming with gratitude.
“You should get to a hospital. Just to be safe.”
“Yes… I think you’re right. Could you help me to that chair?”
“Of course. This way.”
Meanwhile, the bank staff were scrambling to get things under control, while reporters and onlookers swarmed the lobby like vultures. Chaos in, chaos out.
Taking advantage of the distraction, I discreetly tucked the gun I’d used—and another one I’d picked up—into my coat.
Didn’t expect to come out of this armed. Lucky me.
I took a slow look around, still playing the concerned bystander role. Just making sure no one else needed help.
The pregnant woman was recovering, the middle-aged man was still groaning with a bullet wound in his leg, and then—there was him.
The guy in the hat and mask.
I paused. For a second, I was sure we made eye contact. Maybe I imagined it, but…
That same guy had radiated a sharp, controlled bloodlust earlier. Just for a moment—but enough to register.
Is he dangerous?
I kept my eye on him. Watched for any movement.
Nothing. He stayed still the entire time, completely unassuming.
What’s his deal?
Then again, what were the odds I’d ever run into him again?
WEE-OOO, WEE-OOO
The wail of sirens echoed in the distance. Police, finally.
I shrugged off the lingering unease and slipped out of the building before they arrived—quiet and unnoticed.
Sure, I hadn’t gotten the password I originally came for. But it wasn’t urgent. I could use the card in my wallet for now.
And honestly? I came out of this with something better.
One damaged gun, two perfectly functional ones.
In a world where anything could happen at any time, it never hurt to be armed.
Feeling a bit more prepared, I walked off into the street.
***
From the edge of the crowd, a man watched Hwang Seol-bin vanish into the distance. Once the coast was clear, he pulled off his hat and mask.
“…Holy crap. Did you see that guy? He’s gorgeous.”
“Shh! Quiet! Is he a celeb or something? I’ve never seen someone that good-looking in real life.”
“Think I should ask for his number?”
The man threw a wink at the whispering women nearby, then quickly turned and followed after Hwang Seol-bin.
“Shit… I think I just fell for him again… I’m so screwed.”
He muttered the words under his breath, his face flushed bright red.
