“Follow me.”
I was still making a face like I’d just been handed the most awkward, half-hearted congratulations when Kang Hak-gwan motioned for me to come with him. I trailed behind as he exited the lab, and right on cue, two Espers fell in behind me like they’d been waiting for this moment.
They walked so close, I couldn’t tell if they were here for security or to haul me off somewhere. Either way, it felt off.
Thinking about it now, something had been strange from the very beginning.
Why would a government investigator like Kang Hak-gwan bother attending a reassessment for a D-Rank Guide? And why had he brought Espers, as if he’d been prepared for this exact situation?
They were clearly up to something. I just didn’t know what. The thought made me scowl in frustration.
Before I knew it, we’d passed the lab, crossed the lobby, and entered a more secluded area. I caught hushed whispers around us and turned to see people staring. Their eyes were glued to me—me, surrounded by Espers like I was some kind of criminal.
Great. Just what I needed.
It felt like being trapped in a glass cage. Every stare weighed on me like a stone, pressing in from all sides.
Thankfully, we left the public eye soon enough. Kang Hak-gwan came to a stop in front of a door.
The area was deep within the heart of the Center, somewhere heavily restricted. We passed through several layers of security just to get here. The place reminded me of a ZEC hideout—tight, locked-down, and secretive. I didn’t even know the Center had rooms like this. It threw me off.
Kang Hak-gwan opened the door and stepped inside. I followed.
The room was surprisingly spacious and neat—almost like a dorm room. I blinked, confused.
Why bring me here of all places?
“This will be your new residence, Guide Hwang Seol-bin.”
“…Excuse me?”
Kang Hak-gwan didn’t even hesitate, like my opinion didn’t matter.
“Wait, what? Why would I live here?”
“For your own safety. Now that you’ve been confirmed as SSS-Rank, we’ll need your full cooperation.”
“……I have an appointment scheduled today. I need to leave.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
His tone was firm, final.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The conversation wasn’t even two-way—it was a wall. I bit back the string of curses rising in my throat and clenched my jaw.
If my body weren’t in this condition, I’d already be gone.
At the very least, I need to get my phone. If I can contact Kang Biso, I can figure this out.
“Then at least return my phone.”
“That’s not possible.”
“Why not? It’s personal property.”
“Still not allowed.”
What the hell?
So now they were confiscating my phone too?
I narrowed my eyes at him, but Kang Hak-gwan just looked back calmly, like it wasn’t a big deal.
“We’ll move the rest of your belongings in. So please, just stay put.”
“Hey! I said give me back my phone!”
He didn’t even flinch. He just turned around, shut the door, and left me standing there.
I lunged for the door, but it had already locked behind him. No matter how hard I turned the handle, it wouldn’t budge. The lock was definitely on the outside.
“…Ha.”
I’d had a bad feeling, but I didn’t think they’d actually go this far.
This is exactly why I didn’t want my rank exposed.
Clicking my tongue in frustration, I wandered around the room, scanning the space.
I couldn’t just sit here. I had to find a way out. First, I needed to get a sense of the layout.
It hadn’t even been a few minutes, but the claustrophobia was already setting in.
I was pacing the room when a knock came at the door.
“Your belongings have arrived.”
The door opened, and a man stepped inside. Not one of the Espers from earlier—someone new.
Already?
It had taken over ten minutes just to get here from the lab, but somehow they managed to move all my stuff in less than five?
It’s like they knew I was going to come out as SSS-Rank and had everything prepped in advance.
The man set the bags down and turned to leave, but just before stepping out, he looked back at me with wide, curious eyes—half awe, half fascination.
I thought maybe I could talk to him, get some answers, but just as quickly, he turned away like nothing had happened and slipped out the door.
I tried the knob again, just in case. Still locked.
Clicking my tongue again, I turned to the bags they’d delivered, wondering if there was anything useful inside.
Clothes, toiletries, basic necessities—nothing unusual. Looked like they’d packed up everything from the Guide Dormitory.
Feels like they’re planning to keep me here for good.
I sighed for what felt like the hundredth time and started rummaging through the bags. That’s when something caught my eye.
They even brought this…
My Book of Wishes.
I’d forgotten all about it with everything that had been going on, but they’d actually included it with my things.
A small mercy, I guess.
I carefully pulled it out.
All three volumes I’d collected were there, intact.
The government supposedly had one of their own, and if Kang Hak-gwan had known what this was, there’s no way he would’ve handed it over so easily.
So… does that mean he has no idea what this is?
I absentmindedly flipped through the pages out of habit.
It mentioned things I’d already experienced, but there was no sign of the recent kidnapping or today’s reassessment. Maybe that would show up in the next volume.
The government’s copy probably has entries about me too… but no one’s going to be able to read it anyway.
Kang Biso couldn’t read it. Neither could Baek Beom. So it was safe to assume the government couldn’t either. If they could, they would’ve come for me a long time ago.
Right. No use worrying about what-ifs. For now…
I needed to focus on collecting the rest of the Books of Wishes. If I could gather them all, I’d be granted the one thing I truly wanted.
And what I want most…
…is to return to reality.
Just then, Kang Biso’s face floated into my mind—the man who smiled brightly while calling me hyung, the man I’d come to care for.
If I really went back to the real world… what would happen to him?
I hadn’t let myself think about it before, but now the question hit me hard.
This world was inside a book. Which meant that if I returned to my original world, I’d never see Kang Biso again.
I’d be back in reality, back to living as a Special Agent, throwing myself into missions and risking my life every day.
Kang Biso would be left behind… and knowing him, he might start searching for me. He was always clinging to me, always wanting to be by my side.
I could picture it so clearly—him refusing Guiding, ignoring his condition, all because he was trying to find me. Maybe he’d forget me with time…
But somehow, I didn’t think he would.
My imagination—unapologetically biased—conjured up an image of him, tormented and struggling, refusing to move on.
I’d told myself I was prepared for this back when we started seeing each other.
So why did it hurt so much now?
Why did just thinking about leaving him make my chest feel like it was caving in?
Then, like a lightning strike through my thoughts, it hit me.
I don’t want to leave Kang Biso. I want to stay with him—for a long, long time.
Life as a Special Agent had been gray, cold, and empty. But the days I spent with Kang Biso had been vibrant—like living inside a warm, sweet dream.
I didn’t want to let that dream go.
The idea of going back to a world without him… I knew I wouldn’t last a day.
My fingers toyed with the Book of Wishes, hesitating.
What do I do now?
My goal had started to blur, and with it, any sense of direction vanished.
“Haa…”
I let out a long sigh and stared at the locked door.
I missed him.
So much that it hurt.
If I could just see Kang Biso right now, maybe I’d finally know what to do.
“First things first… I’ve got to get out of here.”
I set the book down and continued inspecting the room.
***
Around lunchtime, Kang Biso headed toward the Guide Center.
He glanced down at the bento box he was carrying—a careful arrangement of all Hwang Seol-bin’s favorite foods, something he’d prepared himself with extra care.
He’s going to love this, right?
Just imagining Seol-bin smiling and saying thank you made him feel full before he’d even eaten.
Humming softly, Kang Biso walked through the Center and stopped in front of Seol-bin’s room.
He straightened his clothes, fixed his disguise—adjusting the hat and glasses—and made sure not even a speck of dust had landed on him along the way.
After a deep breath, he knocked.
He waited, expecting to hear Seol-bin’s voice from inside.
But nothing came.
…Did he not hear me?
That couldn’t be it. The only time Seol-bin had ever ignored a knock was when he’d been locked up.
A bad feeling twisted in his gut.
Kang Biso tried the doorknob—locked.
His heart skipped a beat. He immediately pulled out his phone and called Seol-bin.
The line rang. Once. Twice. Still no answer.
He hung up with a tight frown, opened their message history, and checked the last thing Seol-bin had sent him.
[Got called upstairs. I’ll be back later.]
That was it. That was the last message—and it had come in right after he’d left for work.
Something’s definitely wrong.
Kang Biso turned and bolted down to the lobby.
If something had happened, there was bound to be gossip. And sure enough, he didn’t have to listen long.
“…Reassessment…”
“…A rank I’ve never even heard of…”
Reassessment. A mysterious new rank.
His anxiety surged.
Just then, his phone rang again. He snatched it up—hoping it was Seol-bin.
It wasn’t. It was Kang Bijun.
“Yeah? What is it?”
[“Captain! Where are you right now?”]
“I’m at the Guide Center. Why?”
[“Did you see Hwang Seol-bin? There’s chaos on the news right now!”]
Kang Biso’s face turned to stone.
Reassessment. Mysterious rank. Breaking news.
It all led to one obvious conclusion.
Still, he had to confirm it. His voice dropped to a deadly calm.
“…What are they saying?”
[“There was an emergency alert. An SSS-Rank Guide has appeared at the Center and is currently under protection. Who else could it be but Hwang Seol-bin?”]
Kang Biso scanned the buzzing lobby, lips pressed into a hard line.
So Seol-bin’s rank had been exposed.
He should have been more cautious the moment Seol-bin got summoned upstairs. But he never imagined someone in the Center would’ve figured it out.
Protection? Don’t make me laugh. It’s imprisonment, plain and simple.
His hand clenched around his phone until his knuckles went white.
There was no other reason for Seol-bin to be unreachable.
Someone had locked him away—and they’d meant to.
Of course, the question of who did it lingered at the back of his mind… but more than that, the fear of what might be happening to Seol-bin right now made his thoughts spiral.
…But then, a thought occurred to him.
Kang Biso slowly relaxed his fist.
Maybe—just maybe—this wasn’t such a bad thing.
This could be his chance.
A chance to crush whatever lingering attachment Seol-bin still had to the Center.
Seol-bin hated being locked up. It had happened twice now. And if things played out right, he might get so fed up that he’d finally decide to leave on his own.
And when that happened, all Kang Biso had to do was whisper: “Come with me. Let’s go to the hideout.”
That was all it would take.
Everything he’d wanted from the beginning would finally become real.
Of course, there was no guarantee Seol-bin would make it through this unscathed…
But Seol-bin’s tougher than people think.
And now that he was confirmed SSS-Rank, anyone trying to approach him would be met with layers of security.
Just one week. That’s all I need.
Hang in there, Seol-bin.
Humming to himself, Kang Biso turned and strolled out of the Center, light on his feet.
He might be crazy but he is right.