“Guide Kim Yong-ha.”
“Yeah?”
Just as Kim Yong-ha was about to send off the Esper after yet another dull Guiding session, he tilted his head at the sudden remark.
“I heard something interesting recently—wondered if you’d heard about it.”
“…Something interesting?”
Unless it involved Hwang Seol-bin, he wasn’t interested in the slightest. Did they really have to do this? He was about to wave the comment off when the Esper continued.
“Do you happen to know Guide Hwang Seol-bin?”
“Sunbae? What about him?”
Kim Yong-ha’s voice turned sharp with urgency. Thanks to those so-called bodyguards constantly getting in the way, he hadn’t been able to see him at all lately. Did something happen?
“Sunbae…? Wait, you two know each other?”
“More importantly—what happened? Did something go wrong?”
“Oh, no. Nothing like that. I just heard his Guiding’s gotten a lot better lately.”
“…Better?”
“Yeah. Every Esper who’s been Guided by him lately has been saying the same thing.”
He’d been bracing for bad news, so hearing it wasn’t anything serious was a relief—but his Guiding had gotten better?
That came completely out of left field.
“It’s kind of a hot topic among Espers right now.”
“…Is that so?”
“It’s rare—honestly, unheard of—for someone’s Guiding to improve so suddenly. That’s why people are saying Guide Hwang Seol-bin’s rank might’ve jumped way up.”
“His rank…”
“Well… not quite on your level, of course, Guide Kim,” the Esper added with a shrug.
But Kim Yong-ha had already stopped listening. The only thing echoing in his head was the thought of Hwang Seol-bin’s Guiding improving.
“…Guide Kim?”
“Oh. Right. Thanks for letting me know. You can go.”
Still deep in thought, Kim Yong-ha hurried the Esper out and sat back down, alone with his spiraling thoughts.
If his Guiding had improved, that meant the ability wasn’t fixed—it could change. Which also meant… ranks could change too.
Wait a second… “jumped way up”…?
The phrase replayed in his head.
What if—what if Hwang Seol-bin’s rank jumped from D-Rank to S-Rank?
If that happened, he’d be placed under heavy restrictions just like Kim Yong-ha—constantly watched by the Center, barely able to leave. No way he’d be able to meet Kang Biso freely then.
As much as it irritated him to admit it, Hwang Seol-bin would be devastated if he couldn’t see his lover. And if Kim Yong-ha could be the one to stay by his side, offering comfort at just the right moments…
Then maybe—just maybe—he could become the one standing next to Hwang Seol-bin instead of Kang Biso.
But…
The hopeful thought only lasted a second before a heavy sigh escaped him.
Sure, abilities could improve. Ranks could change. But a D-Rank becoming an S-Rank? The odds were worse than getting struck by lightning in the middle of winter. Pure fantasy.
He was ready to toss the idea—until a different angle struck him.
Wait… does it have to be real?
As long as the results announced by the Center said “S-Rank,” that was all that mattered. Hwang Seol-bin just needed to appear to be in the same situation as Kim Yong-ha.
If he could do that, there’d be no need to confine him. He could keep him close—naturally.
Why the hell didn’t I think of this sooner?
His face brightened with the realization… only to darken again just as fast.
For this plan to work, Seol-bin would have to be re-evaluated and the results would need to be altered. Kim Yong-ha couldn’t do that on his own.
Which meant… he needed help.
He hated the idea of relying on someone again—especially after everything that happened with Kim Hyun-joong. But there was no way around it this time.
Was there anyone who could pull it off?
Someone who could tamper with the test results and convince everyone that Hwang Seol-bin was S-Rank…
He gnawed on his fingernail, mind racing—when a deep, imposing voice surfaced in his memory. His head snapped up.
That’s right. There was someone.
“Kang Hak-gwan…”
The scarred government Esper. That suffocating air around him, the way he talked like he already knew everything—it all came back in vivid detail.
He’d only met the man once, but that was more than enough. The memory alone made his skin crawl.
But… if it’s him…
Kang Hak-gwan was a government agent. Altering results within the Center’s system? Probably child’s play for someone like that.
He already knew Kim had locked Seol-bin up before, and still chose to overlook it just because he was an S-Rank. If Kim could just spin a good enough reason, there was a chance—however slim—that Kang Hak-gwan might go along with it.
Of course, it wasn’t a sure thing. There was no telling whether he could actually get the man to cooperate.
But Kim Yong-ha had reached the point of no return.
He’d rather swallow his pride and beg Kang Hak-gwan for help than sit back and watch Kang Biso continue to cling to Hwang Seol-bin.
“…I can do this… I have to.”
Kim Yong-ha’s eyes burned with fierce determination as he clenched his fists.
***
“…Guide Kim Yong-ha. What brings you here?”
He swallowed hard.
Coming to see Kang Hak-gwan had seemed like a good idea in the moment—but now that they were face-to-face, all confidence drained from his body. His throat tightened, his mind blanked, and even speaking felt impossible.
“…Guide Kim?”
“A-Ah, um… I…”
As he hesitated, Kang Hak-gwan’s brows drew together in irritation, his voice hardening.
“If you have nothing to say, leave.”
“I do! I came because… there’s something I need to talk about!”
“…Must be important, if you came running like this.”
Kang Hak-gwan finally looked up from his documents. His expression was cold, voice laced with authority, the weight of his presence alone enough to crush the air out of the room. Kim could feel sweat sliding down his spine as he clenched his jaw to keep his nerves in check.
If I back down now, it’s all over. I’ll never get Seol-bin back—not with Kang Biso standing in the way.
No. I can’t let that happen.
That single thought jolted him awake.
“Then speak. What is it?”
“It’s about Guide Hwang Seol-bin.”
“Haa… Again with Guide Hwang Seol-bin?”
The moment that name left Kim’s mouth, Kang Hak-gwan’s expression darkened. His eyes narrowed with sharp disapproval, like he was reminding Kim Yong-ha he’d already warned him to stay quiet after the last incident. That look nearly made him freeze—but Kim forced himself to breathe deeply and raised his chin.
“There’s been a lot of buzz among Espers lately. They’re saying his Guiding’s gotten noticeably better.”
“…And?”
“I’m suggesting we take this opportunity to have him re-evaluated.”
“That’s not my department.”
Kang Hak-gwan’s disinterest was palpable. His gaze practically screamed You came all the way here for this? But Kim refused to waver. He took a deep breath and pressed on.
“If his reassessment puts him at S-Rank… that might give us a chance to catch that Esper.”
“…That Esper?”
“Yes. The one who broke into the Center. The one who kidnapped—no, abducted—Guide Hwang Seol-bin.”
As a government investigator, Kang Hak-gwan had every reason to want Kang Biso captured. He hadn’t just infiltrated the Center—he’d knocked people unconscious and made off with a Guide under their noses. There was no way they could let that slide. Yet even now, there hadn’t been a single concrete lead.
That had to be driving Kang Hak-gwan crazy. And if so—he’d be desperate enough to latch onto anything.
As expected, his expression finally shifted. The cold disinterest wavered.
Hooked. Kim Yong-ha felt a surge of satisfaction.
He’d gotten his attention. Now all that remained was to convince him to fake Seol-bin’s rank.
“That Esper is obsessed with Hwang Seol-bin. He’s already proven he’ll break into the Center for him. If we play this right, we can lure him in.”
“…What exactly are you suggesting?”
“Have Hwang Seol-bin reassessed. Label him an S-Rank. Put him under surveillance and movement restrictions—just like me. That way, the Esper will think he’s vulnerable and return. And when he does… we capture him.”
“Hmph… I don’t know. I can’t just take your word for it and move forward. If you don’t have something more concrete, I’m not signing off on this.”
Of course. He’d expected that.
But if he couldn’t get Seol-bin listed as S-Rank, he’d never get close to him. Panic started to creep in, and without thinking, he revealed something he’d never meant to say out loud.
“Actually… the two of them seem really close.”
“…Close?”
“I didn’t mean to see it. It was just a coincidence. But… I saw them. Kissing.”
Kang Hak-gwan’s eyes narrowed.
“It wasn’t just some typical Guiding session. It felt more… intimate. Personal.”
“…Are you certain?”
“Yes. I saw it with my own eyes.”
Kang Hak-gwan went quiet, processing. A long moment passed before he finally opened his mouth.
“…So, what you’re proposing is: if we raise Hwang Seol-bin’s rank and keep him locked down, that Esper will come to him.”
“Yes! I’m sure of it!”
Kim leaned forward slightly, voice tight with urgency.
Please. Just say yes.
Everything depended on this moment. Whether or not he could have Seol-bin back—whether or not Kang Biso would be pushed out of the picture—hinged on Kang Hak-gwan’s decision.
Kang drummed his fingers on the desk, his piercing gaze never leaving Kim’s face. It felt like he was trying to read straight through him. Kim’s body instinctively tensed, shoulders trembling slightly, but he forced himself to keep eye contact.
Then, finally—
“…Understood. For now.”
For now? Was that a yes?
Kim Yong-ha tried to read his face, to catch any sign of what he was really thinking, but Kang Hak-gwan’s expression remained unreadable.
Then he spoke again.
“Until that Esper is apprehended, we’ll treat Guide Hwang Seol-bin as an S-Rank.”
“Yes—yes! Thank you!”
A wide smile broke across Kim Yong-ha’s face. Until the Esper is caught—sure. That didn’t matter.
All he needed was time. Enough time to make Seol-bin his.
But Kang Hak-gwan wasn’t finished.
“This time, I’ll go along with it because you gave a plausible reason. But don’t expect another favor.”
The cold edge in his voice made Kim flinch. He quickly bowed his head.
“Yes, sir…”
“…You’re dismissed.”
Kim Yong-ha didn’t wait. He bolted out the room like a man being chased.
“Haah…”
Outside, his legs gave out beneath him. He stumbled, catching himself against the wall, heart pounding and limbs trembling.
His body shook uncontrollably—a clear sign of just how tightly wound he’d been inside.
Gritting his teeth, he muttered to himself.
“…It worked.”
He’d done everything he could.
Now, all that was left— was for Hwang Seol-bin to stay by his side.
