Approximal Guide Vol. 4 Chapter 3

“What do you think of Director Lee?”

Director Lee? This confirmed that Kim Moohyuk was undercover. Kim Moohyuk responded to the man’s call without looking at him, kissing the guide’s earlobe and replying.

“Well, you don’t know until you try. Just by looking, he seems a bit off, so…”

I frowned at their dehumanizing conversation.

“He doesn’t look bad. You might need to rough him up a bit to get him to open up for guiding, though.”

…That meant they had used violence on Sergeant Kang, who couldn’t guide properly. I glared at Kang Jinseong discreetly. You’ve tormented him in every way possible. I’ll make sure you pay for this. Both Kang Jinseong and his father were trash. I felt even more pity for Sergeant Kang, who had to endure living with them.

No wonder he let himself go so easily… Sergeant Kang’s wrists were still scarred, and yet they planned to exploit him for money again. Even though it’s my body now, the fact that Sergeant Kang’s suicide attempt was known to his only family outside the military—his uncle and cousin—yet they continued this behavior was infuriating.

I tried to suppress my grinding teeth. The man hummed at Kim Moohyuk’s words and said,

“I brought him as a gift for Director Lee, but if you don’t like him, should I return him?”

At that, Kang Jinseong trembled.

“Please give him a chance! You said yourself that he’s good at guiding! His rank is a bit low, but you mentioned his quality was good last time…”

Sergeant Kang’s rank has increased, you know? It infuriated me that they were so eager to sell my guiding services without my consent. I stood there expressionless, trying to control my anger. The man raised an eyebrow and tilted his head.

“I mean, I want to honor our past dealings, but Director Lee isn’t interested…”

Kang Jinseong then knelt and crawled to Kim Moohyuk, rubbing his hands together.

“Director! His guiding is really good! Please give him a chance! …Hey! What are you standing there for, you idiot? Get on your knees and beg Director Lee!”

This is insane. At my age, I’m supposed to kneel and grovel before Kim Moohyuk? It’s not like a fairy appeared and asked if I’d rather win the lottery or kneel before Kim Moohyuk. I didn’t like the idea of kneeling for free. Kim Moohyuk glanced at me and smirked.

“He doesn’t seem to like me much either.”

…That guy… He’s deliberately provoking me when I’m already furious. Despite my anger, my gaze was fixed on the guide’s hand touching Kim Moohyuk. It looked like the guide’s hand would slip through the unbuttoned shirt any moment. I never taught him to be so promiscuous. What has he been doing to make this act look so natural? I fumed internally as Kang Jinseong dragged me to kneel before Kim Moohyuk. Kim Moohyuk raised his hand to stop him.

“No, it’s fine. I don’t like handling guides roughly.”

“Really…! Thank you…!”

At Kang Jinseong’s reflexive response, Kim Moohyuk turned to me and smiled. Then he reached out, grabbed my wrist, and rubbed the inside of it with his thumb in a circular motion.

“…!”

The sudden ticklish sensation made me shiver slightly. Kim Moohyuk looked at me with a low, intense gaze. His lips were smiling, but his eyes were sharp. …He doesn’t seem to like this situation. But I was the one dragged here, unaware that Kim Moohyuk was undercover, so I felt wronged.

Then I felt a tickle between my fingers. Kim Moohyuk had intertwined his fingers with mine.

“Ugh…”

“He’s pretty, isn’t he?”

The last question was directed at the man. The man, who had been watching us with interest, nodded.

“He’s pretty and his guiding is good. Just give him to Director Lee.”

The man laughed, rolling the Baccarat glass in his hand. The ice clinked as it hit the glass. Kim Moohyuk pulled my intertwined hand and said,

“Shall we?”

What do you mean, shall we? I had no idea how far he had infiltrated or what level of cooperation he expected from me. But my conflicted expression must have looked like fear to the others, as the man laughed and spoke.

“Why is he trembling? That Hyung isn’t a bad guy. Are you scared, kid?”

Kid?! These young ones are something else. If I had lived a bit more actively, I could have married at twenty and had a kid in high school by now. Yet here I am, being called a kid at this age. What a world. Despite my thoughts, I had no choice but to follow Kim Moohyuk’s lead. The guide sitting next to Moohyuk stared at me.

Why are you glaring? Did I ask to sit here? They’re the ones insisting I sit. I sighed internally, trying to ignore his gaze. I had no idea what Kim Moohyuk wanted. It was strange that he wasn’t surprised to see me here and remained calm throughout.

I was dragged here suddenly by Kang Jinseong, or whatever his name was, and happened to run into Kim Moohyuk. But Kim Moohyuk acted as if he had expected to see me here. Seeing him here confirmed that this place was connected to Accent. As I sat in the empty seat next to Kim Moohyuk, the man gestured to the guide sitting next to him. The guide stood up, approached me, handed me a glass, and poured an amber liquid from a crystal bottle.

The man nodded, indicating I should drink. This was problematic… Sergeant Kang’s body was in poor condition due to frequent suicide attempts. It wasn’t just a lack of muscle; the body was naturally weak and always frail.

Since I took over this body, I’ve been exercising and eating three meals a day thanks to Kim Moohyuk, so it’s improved a bit. But it’s still far below the average adult male’s physical strength. I couldn’t predict how strong alcohol would affect Sergeant Kang’s body. He had never drunk alcohol in this body. But I had to decide quickly because the man was still watching me. Just as I decided to down the drink in one go, a large hand suddenly took the glass from me and replaced it with apple juice from a jar-like glass bottle. Looking up at the owner of the hand, I saw Kim Moohyuk’s expressionless face.

“Kids drink juice.”

Then, without taking his eyes off me, he brought the glass to his lips and downed it in one go. His thick Adam’s apple moved up and down. I stared blankly at Kim Moohyuk, realizing he had called me a kid.

…Even this guy is teasing me now. It was absurd, but I couldn’t question it in this situation, so I kept my mouth shut. The man chuckled softly.

“It seems Director Lee likes him. Should I give you two some privacy?”

The implication of his words was utterly vile. Before I could frown in disgust, Kim Moohyuk wrapped his arm around my waist and lifted me.

“Why bother in a crowded place? I’ll find another spot.”

At Kim Moohyuk’s words, the man burst into hearty laughter, clapping his hands. After finishing his laugh, he nodded.

“I thought you were a boring guy, but now you seem more human. Hey, show Director Lee to a suitable room.”

I had to try hard not to frown. I knew many espers treated guides like objects. Even in the military, where guides were taught to be cherished and protected, there were countless cases of human rights abuses against guides. It was even worse outside the military, where such education didn’t exist. But this was too much. The chimeras trapped in the factory, the kidnapped guides paired with chimeras, and now this place. I realized Accent’s actions were more insidious and vile than I had thought.

“Well then, Director Lee, have a good time.”

Barely managing my expression to hide my anger, I followed Kim Moohyuk out of the room, his arm still around my waist. The guide who had been instructed to lead us glanced at my face but quickly turned and walked down the hall to a nearby room.

“Here it is.”

“…”

Kim Moohyuk opened the door without responding to the guide. He pushed me inside, then entered and slammed the door shut. I immediately turned to frown at him, but he was staring at the door, pressing his index finger to his lips, signaling me to stay quiet.

“…”

“…”

As the silence continued, the sound of footsteps outside gradually faded. I sighed. Kim Moohyuk looked around the room and said,

“There don’t seem to be any listening devices, but there are CCTV cameras in all four corners of the ceiling.”

“…”

I almost turned to check but stopped myself just in time. Kim Moohyuk then approached me.

“We have an audience, so we should put on a show.”

“What…!”

Before I could finish, he suddenly grabbed me, pulling me into an embrace. Kim Moohyuk immediately lifted my chin.

“Kiss me.”

“…What?”

“If you initiate, the voyeurs watching the CCTV will be convinced.”

“…”

I couldn’t tell if he was serious or joking. But in this situation, he had no reason to joke, so I hesitated and tilted my chin slightly higher. My lips trembled involuntarily. I had to kiss my student of my own volition. Just as I closed my eyes tightly, deciding to do it just once.

He grabbed me by the back of the neck and pulled me close. Our lips met. Before the kiss could deepen, Kim Moohyuk murmured under his breath.

“Your expression is exactly the same as when you drank that god-awful alcohol earlier.”

“…”

“This should taste better, so maybe relax a bit.”

With that, the kiss deepened. Feeling the sensation of his lips, I trembled involuntarily. To think I’d be in contact with Kim Moohyuk like this outside of guiding. Back when I was his instructor and he was my cadet, I couldn’t have imagined this.

“Wait, stop…”

The word “stop” was swallowed whole. He tilted his head, sealing the gap between our lips. I felt something enter, and instinctively clutched the front of his shirt. Come to think of it, I’d never had this kind of physical contact with anyone before kissing Kim Moohyuk.

Since manifesting as a guide, I’d always been by Ha Seonghan’s side, and Ha Seonghan never needed this kind of deep contact for guiding. Even aside from that, I wasn’t someone who particularly sought romance. I enjoyed being alone, and whenever I felt the slightest bit lonely, Ha Seonghan and Kim Moohyuk were always there.

Then it hit me. I was Kim Moohyuk’s first kiss, and he was mine. When he first entered the center, the situation was so urgent that I hadn’t even thought of it as a kiss. I’d been too busy guiding him, leaving no room for other impressions. But reflecting on it now, that was my first time too. My face flushed red so suddenly that I felt my skin burn.

Unfortunately, Kim Moohyuk, who had briefly pulled away, caught the whole ridiculous scene.

“…Why’s your face turning red?”

“Ugh… None of your business! Move!”

I tried to push him away as if I’d been ambushed. He was right—I had no reason to blush. But the heat on my face wouldn’t subside. My ears felt like they were about to explode. Unable to endure the sensation, I kept trying to push him away, but then Kim Moohyuk spoke. His eyes, tinged with an unreadable emotion, flickered as he looked down at me.

“…Baby, you’ve got a long way to go if you’re trying to fool those guys out there.”

With that, he pulled me in again, and the kiss grew deeper, as if his words had lit a fuse. Wherever he learned this, Kim Moohyuk was clearly skilled enough for even someone inexperienced like me to notice. Or maybe…

“Wait, ju—”

A plea escaped my lips without meaning to. My nerves felt like they were being set on fire. I didn’t understand why I was feeling this way because of Kim Moohyuk, but my tension was plain as day. With my eyes tightly shut and my hands clutching at his shirt, I forgot to even breathe.

…But I had my excuses. This was my first time experiencing anything like this. I’d never known what a kiss felt like before. Even when Kim Moohyuk bit my lip once, it hadn’t been like this. The sensation of someone else’s flesh entering my mouth made my breathing shallow. I had to use all my strength to stop strange noises from escaping. Kim Moohyuk loosened his arm from around my waist, letting his hand drift downward to rest on my hip. His thumb moved in slow, circular motions along my lower back.

“Kim Moohyuk, wa—”

I couldn’t even properly say “wait.” I didn’t realize I’d called his name without honorifics. A shiver ran down my spine. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might break my ribs. The guiding energy inside me surged uncontrollably, making my brow furrow deeply. Then Kim Moohyuk, having withdrawn what he’d slipped into my mouth, pulled away slightly and spoke.

“Enjoying yourself during an operation, are you?”

“Excuse me… It’s your operation, not mine! I got dragged into this! Now move, if you’re done!”

Kim Moohyuk chuckled softly. His slightly glistening lips made my face heat up again as I realized the reason behind it. I shoved at his chest. This time, he stepped back without resistance, still grinning as he spoke again.

“They’re probably expecting more than this, you know. If you’re already like this, what are you going to do?”

Then, as if to tease me, he flicked my reddened earlobe with his finger. I clutched at my ear, my eyes brimming with a mix of resentment and frustration. Why are you so… shameless? I never taught you this! Where did you even learn it? Feeling betrayed, I glared at Kim Moohyuk.

“Hmm, that’s quite the rebellious look.”

Grinning, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one, a sight unfamiliar to me.

…Come to think of it, he’d been smoking when we reunited. Kim Moohyuk hadn’t been a smoker before. Where did he pick up such bad habits? Furious, I snatched the cigarette from his lips, crushed it, and threw it to the floor. I warned him sternly.

“Where did you learn to smoke? And what’s with this habit of guiding like that?”

Instead of answering, Kim Moohyuk suddenly moved his hand downward. He unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants with a loud zip. My eyes widened.

“W-what… what are you doing?”

“I-I’m trying to escape.”

Though he answered indifferently, mimicking a stutter was clearly meant to tease me for my flustered state. Suppressing my frowning expression, I was about to retort, questioning what taking off clothes had to do with escaping, when I noticed Kim Moohyuk was actually about to pull his pants down completely. I let out a shriek.

“What are you doing?!”

“Would you even understand if I told you?”

Kim Moohyuk’s answer was flat and nonchalant. I instinctively moved to cover my eyes but paused, realizing—why was I even reacting like this? Wasn’t I the one who trained him from the moment he entered the center, guiding and mentoring him? But before I could resolve my inner conflict, Kim Moohyuk simply pulled his pants down.

Struggling not to let my gaze drift downward, I tightly shut my eyes and turned my head away.

“I-I don’t have any such intentions! Even if this is for disguise, I can’t do it!”

“What can’t you do?”

Kim Moohyuk’s calm tone grated on my nerves. As I peeked open my eyes to scold him to put his pants back on, I saw him touch his thigh. He had been wearing a garter belt on his muscular thighs to keep his shirt tucked in, and the black strap contrasted strikingly with his skin, making the taut muscles stand out. Pressing a small button on the side of the belt, he revealed a tiny silver device and pressed it with a click.

Startled, I asked, “W-what is that…?”

“An EMP jammer. You need to disable the CCTV first to escape, don’t you?”

Acting as if nothing had happened, Kim Moohyuk pulled his pants back up. I stood there, slack-jawed and flustered.

“I-I really don’t know what you’re thinking…”

“Why? Do I look weird just standing here?”

“No! Just hurry and get dressed!”

At my outburst, Kim Moohyuk smirked and fastened his belt. The sound of the zipper closing seemed deafening. My gaze flitted nervously around the room, unable to settle anywhere, as my cheeks flushed hotly. Catching my expression, Kim Moohyuk squinted and asked, “What were you thinking?”

“N-nothing… No, wait… It’s not about me. Why did you have that in there? And you could’ve just taken it out without pulling your pants down!”

“If I started digging around inside my pants, wouldn’t that look even stranger?”

…Thinking about it, he was right. But I refused to acknowledge it. It felt like he was constantly pulling some absurd stunt on me—shameless, outrageous behavior that I couldn’t tolerate. However, upon reflection, he hadn’t actually done anything wrong. The kiss for the disguise was insignificant in the context of the center, where physical contact of that sort wasn’t unusual. Taking off his clothes was also for a valid reason. I had no grounds to scold him, yet my chest felt tight with irritation.

Why was I so upset with Kim Moohyuk? Why had I been angry with him ever since I found him in that room and saw a guide by his side? Why was I even feeling this way…? Could it be that I…

“What are you thinking?”

Could it be that I…

“I said, what are you thinking?”

Right, that’s it! I was worried about Kim Moohyuk! The sudden changes in his behavior—kissing me without warning and dropping his pants—had me concerned. And at the same time, I hadn’t fully come to terms with his growth. He had matured into a capable esper, but I still saw him as the young cadet I’d nurtured and protected. That must’ve been why I overreacted.

Realizing this, I felt a surge of pride as I looked at him. Yes, I acknowledge your growth. As your instructor, I’m proud of you. With that sentiment, I gazed at Kim Moohyuk with warmth in my eyes.

Noticing my expression, Kim Moohyuk raised an eyebrow slightly. “Why do I feel so disgusted all of a sudden?”

“It must be your imagination. Now hurry up and explain the next part of the operation. How do you plan to escape?”

“…No, I feel genuinely gross.”

Ignoring his muttered complaint, I approached the door. Pressing my ear against it, I tried to catch any noise from the corridor, but it was silent. Gesturing for him to follow me, I signaled that it was time to move. Kim Moohyuk sighed lightly, keeping his eyes fixed on me as he began unbuttoning his shirt.

…That’s probably part of the plan too. Don’t let it bother you. This time, I’ll sincerely congratulate him on his growth. Repeating this to myself, I worked hard to suppress my surprise. Watching my composed yet slightly strained face, Kim Moohyuk smirked, clicking his tongue in amusement. Before I could react, he grabbed me with one arm, pulling me into his embrace. The next thing I felt was his teeth sinking into the nape of my neck.

“Ah…!”

“Let’s go.”

Before I could even protest, he grabbed me by the waist and opened the door. The arm wrapped around my waist tightened firmly. Just as I was about to tell him to ease up, I froze. Despite hearing nothing earlier when I pressed my ear to the door, a guard was stationed in the hallway. The unexpected presence startled me, and Kim Moohyuk chuckled, burying his head against my neck.

“Okay, I get it. You don’t want to do it here. Let’s go somewhere better, Hyung.”

…What? Do what? The only thing we were supposed to do was escape. Confused by what he meant by “somewhere better,” it took me a moment to realize he was still acting. Worrying about my face growing red, I wrapped my arm around his neck. It was all to cooperate with his plan.

“Y-yeah… I can’t do it here, either.”

Whatever it was. Was my stuttering too much? Kim Moohyuk gave me a side-eye, clearly unimpressed with my acting, and smirked slyly.

“You’re getting shy again. That’s when I like you the most.”

…Excuse me?! What did he just say? I gawked in shock, my mouth hanging open, and Kim Moohyuk casually closed it for me with his hand. Then, without missing a beat, he led me down the hallway, walking past the guard. Once we were clear, he grabbed my hand and broke into a run.

“How far can you run?”

“I don’t know. Maybe… 30…”

“30 kilometers?”

“…30 meters.”

Kim Moohyuk’s light jog faltered slightly. He let out a dry laugh and sighed as though disappointed. When I looked at him questioningly, he shook his head and, without warning, hoisted me up by the waist. Slinging me over his shoulder like a sack of rice, he bolted down the hallway.

“Ugh, put me—down!”

Each step sent jolts through my body, making it hard to speak properly. Kim Moohyuk, however, showed no intention of slowing down, let alone putting me down. The rapid movements made my head spin, and just as I thought I couldn’t handle it anymore, he suddenly turned a corner, only to reverse direction immediately. Straining to lift my head, I saw several espers chasing us from the other end of the hallway.

“Have we already been discovered?!”

“Yeah. It’s because you couldn’t even kiss me properly. Our cover story was that it was our first day dating, but your acting was awful.”

…So this is somehow my fault?! And where did this “first day dating” narrative even come from? Dumbfounded, I couldn’t even muster the energy to respond. Kim Moohyuk sprinted to the end of the hallway, turning right at a T-junction. I was starting to doubt whether he even knew where he was going when a familiar door appeared in front of us—the very door I’d been dragged through earlier.

“Hold on tight.”

“T-tight to what—?”

Before I could finish, Kim Moohyuk kicked the door open. The force of the impact nearly sent me flying forward, but I managed to grab onto his shirt, barely staying upright.

“Ugh…!”

Thank goodness I hadn’t eaten dinner; otherwise, I might’ve thrown it all up. Despite the spinning in my head, I tried to focus on our surroundings in case someone was following us. To my surprise, Kim Moohyuk suddenly stopped, and I felt the impact as his foot landed a sharp kick into someone’s stomach.

“Ugh—!”

“Urgh—!”

Both the person Kim Moohyuk struck and I groaned simultaneously. Though I wanted to tell him to take it easy, considering this was an escape attempt, I knew better than to voice it. Perhaps noticing how unsteady I looked, Kim Moohyuk spun me around and slung me onto his back. Somehow, I didn’t slide off, but the stability was strange—like some kind of circus performance. Speaking of circuses, wasn’t there a legendary troupe called the… Never mind. My head was spinning too much to think straight.

Thankfully, the sound of footsteps and banging doors signaled that we were nearing an exit. Once we got through that door, we’d probably be outside the building. Kim Moohyuk seemed ready to dash forward when a familiar voice called out from behind us.

“Where do you think you’re going, Mr. Lee?”

It was a man’s voice. Damn it. When did he catch up? Sensing trouble, Kim Moohyuk quickly set me down and said, “Stay here. Don’t cause any trouble.”

…What trouble could I possibly cause?! My bewilderment was short-lived as several espers flooded the narrow hallway. If there was one silver lining, it was that the tight space limited their numbers, making it easier for Kim Moohyuk to handle them. The first man lunged at him, followed by others in quick succession, as the hallway descended into chaos.

Kim Moohyuk initially used his telekinesis ESP to knock them down, then climbed over the fallen espers and kneed the jaws of those following. Screams filled the air. Luckily, the hallway was one-directional. I locked the iron door to prevent reinforcements from the club. Facing enemies from both directions in such a narrow hallway would be challenging, even for Kim Moohyuk.

Kim Moohyuk had already taken down over ten espers. There weren’t many left behind the man. The man finally smirked.

“We could have been great partners.”

Kim Moohyuk replied, breathing heavily.

“Yeah.”

“If only you weren’t with the center.”

The man suddenly expanded his ESP wave. Unlike other espers, his ability was visible—a black mist that seemed light but moved rapidly towards me, bypassing Moohyuk.

“…”

Kim Moohyuk cursed and turned, running towards me. That brief moment felt like slow motion. Just as he got ahead of the mist, he reached out, shielding my head and directing his ability at the ceiling. With a crash, the ceiling collapsed, burying several espers behind the man. I quickly reported the situation.

“The door is locked!”

“Good job securing it.”

Kim Moohyuk calmly responded, kicking the locked door. With a bang, the iron door flew off. Screams echoed. The door seemed to have hit those dancing on the stage, but no one appeared injured.

Without stopping, Kim Moohyuk ran towards the stairs leading to the ground. Large guards resembling sumo wrestlers blocked the entrance. Ignoring them, he dashed past, narrowly avoiding their grasp. Reaching the stairs, he used his ESP to propel himself up ten steps at a time. I poured guiding into him, feeling it was all I could do.

At the top, a bald man was closing the door to the ground, receiving instructions through an earpiece. Kim Moohyuk clicked his tongue and shot his ESP. With a loud noise, the thick iron door flew off and embedded in the ground. I cheered internally. The powerful strike made escape seem imminent. But then I looked back, like the man in the old myth who doomed his wife to hell. I spoke in disbelief.

“…Ha Seonghan…?”

I couldn’t help but mutter. There was a familiar face, not Ha Seonghan’s but Han Jaemin’s. He stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching me escape in Kim Moohyuk’s arms. Ha Seonghan’s lips moved. I wondered what he was saying.

‘Again.’

I barely read one word when Kim Moohyuk, still holding me, ducked and kicked the jaw of a bald man swinging a club at his head. The bald man staggered and fell forward. I looked back again. Ha Seonghan was still watching me. He moved his lips once more.

‘See.’

See… again…? I muttered in disbelief. I hadn’t understood Ha Seonghan at the chimera factory either. I turned away from him. Meanwhile, Kim Moohyuk had successfully gotten us out. He ran as fast as a mountain bike. Then I remembered our escape plan and stopped him.

“Kang Jinseong’s car is here! Let’s take it.”

“…”

Kim Moohyuk nodded, breathing heavily. I pointed in the direction we had come from. It wasn’t far. Kim Moohyuk started running again, carrying me.

Fortunately, we soon reached a familiar road. The car parked on the shoulder was indeed Kang Jinseong’s.

“That’s the car!”

I looked closely to see if anyone was inside. The interior light was on.

“That bastard…”

I couldn’t help but curse. Inside, grinning, was the scoundrel who had sold his cousin for money an hour ago. Without hesitation, I got out of Kim Moohyuk’s arms, ran to the car, and slammed the hood. The startled man’s face turned hostile as he got out to confront me.

“Hey! Are you crazy?!”

“You’re the crazy one. Don’t you have anything better to do than sell your cousin and laugh about it?!”

I kicked him without hesitation. Of course, it didn’t seem to hurt. Despite daily exercise, Sergeant Kang’s body wasn’t one to build muscle easily.

“What the hell are you talking about? Do you want to die?”

Of course, Kang Jinseong didn’t hold back. He raised his hand as if to slap me. Naturally, he didn’t succeed. His attempt was immediately intercepted by Kim Moohyuk. Kang Jinseong glared at him, his expression dark, and asked,

“And who the hell are you?”

“You’re the one who dragged him all the way here, huh?”

Moohyuk asked me in a relaxed tone. I nodded.

“He forced me to come here. I got slapped, and he even pulled my hair.”

I sold him out completely. Kang Jinseong looked at me in disbelief, but I stood firm. Kim Moohyuk frowned deeply as he looked down at him, his presence radiating menace.

“And what gives you the right to hit someone? Are you a psychopath?”

“What are you even saying? Argh—!”

With a swift motion, Kim Moohyuk twisted Kang Jinseong’s arm. The audible pop suggested he’d likely dislocated the shoulder.

“Ahhh—!”

Kang Jinseong screamed without pause, but Kim Moohyuk showed no mercy.

“Quiet.”

“Sniff… hic…”

With just that simple command, Kang Jinseong clamped his mouth shut, stifling sobs with his free hand. Tears streamed down his face, pitifully. It was hard not to sigh. So remorseless when hurting others, yet so sensitive to his own pain. Despite his broken demeanor, Kang Jinseong’s spirit wasn’t completely crushed. As he glared at me with tear-filled eyes, he suddenly shouted as though blaming me for not helping.

“Hey, Kang Hajung! Get him off me!”

“Why are you yelling at me? He’s the one holding you. And just so you know, you’re going to get shipped off to the detention center. How dare you threaten a military guide and force them to sell illegal guiding services?”

“What… what…?”

He looked utterly flustered, stunned that I had said such a thing. Kang Jinseong had likely threatened Sergeant Kang with physical violence, forcing them to sell guiding illegally, followed by another threat to report them to the center and get them dishonorably discharged. What he didn’t realize, however, was that military law governing espers and guides was meticulously designed to protect guides from esper abuse. While espers often held the upper hand in power dynamics, the law mostly favored guides when it came to such disputes.

And for a civilian, not even an esper, to coerce a guide into selling their services? The center wouldn’t let Kang Jinseong off the hook. Even if we didn’t have immediate evidence, a forensic investigation of his phone would reveal everything. I urgently called out to Kim Moohyuk.

“Captain! Take that guy’s phone first!”

Normally, Moohyuk would give me a lazy look, as if to say, Why don’t you do it yourself? But today, he listened without a word. He shoved Kang Jinseong aside, opened the car door, and grabbed the phone plugged into the console.

“What are you doing!”

Kang Jinseong, now sprawled on the ground, whimpered in pain from his injured shoulder. But when he saw his phone in Moohyuk’s hand, his face contorted with panic. I raised my middle finger at him as I spoke.

“The military police will be knocking soon, so don’t even think about running. Special forces police will find you wherever you go. Don’t make their job harder.”

Despite my “kind” advice, Kang Jinseong looked like he was ready to explode with frustration and rage. He couldn’t fight back against Moohyuk’s strength but seemed desperate to lash out at me. If Moohyuk weren’t here, he probably would’ve lunged at me. Pathetic. Just like his uncle. With the phone secured, we had enough evidence to request a restraining order. That would ensure he couldn’t approach Sergeant Kang or me anymore.

Suddenly, Moohyuk grabbed my arm and pulled me around the car’s hood, shoving me into the passenger seat.

“What are you doing?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he closed the door, got into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and rolled down the window.

“Move.”

It turned out he was talking to Kang Jinseong. Despite clutching his injured shoulder, Kang scrambled to his feet, stamping his feet anxiously.

“No, please, sir! I haven’t even finished paying off the loan on that—”

Of course, he hadn’t paid it off. That’s probably why he resorted to exploiting Sergeant Kang to illegally sell guiding services. But Moohyuk wasn’t about to sympathize. He beckoned Kang Jinseong with a single finger. When the man hesitantly approached, Moohyuk spoke.

“Hand.”

“W-what…?”

Kang Jinseong’s eyes remained clouded with confusion and fear. Slowly, he opened his palm and showed it to Moohyuk.

Without hesitation, Moohyuk reached for the wiper control lever beside the steering wheel, gripped it firmly, and snapped it off with a resounding crack. He placed the broken piece onto Kang Jinseong’s open palm.

“What the—ugh!”

Startled, Kang Jinseong forgot about his injured shoulder and jumped in place. Kim Moohyuk spoke with an unfeeling expression.

“If you don’t move, next is the steering wheel.”

“Eek!”

At those words, Kang Jinseong quickly stepped back. Kim Moohyuk shifted gears and pressed the accelerator. The car surged forward with a roar that resembled a great beast. The ride was as smooth as before—impressively so.

“Oh, yeah, this is fun!”

I chuckled as I glanced at him. Moohyuk gave me a sideways glance and then smiled faintly. His barely raised lips were enough to appear like a smile, and I found it satisfying.

Before long, the car approached the entrance and exit of the factory complex. Looking out the window, I let out a small, dry laugh. Moohyuk must have heard the faint sound because I sensed his gaze shift toward me. Realizing it wasn’t the same kind of excited laugh as before, he asked,

“What’s funny?”

“Nothing… it’s just funny, that’s all.”

I didn’t have much else to say. I couldn’t help but wonder how a simple outing to grab a meal with a fellow soldier had turned into this mess. The rearview mirror showed no sign of pursuers. Kang Jinseong, who had been sitting on the ground sobbing earlier, was now just a tiny speck in the distance. Suddenly, I thought of Ha Seonghan, who had appeared before me in the underground parking lot disguised as Han Jaemin. What could he have been thinking, showing up like that?

Swallowing a sigh, I decided to ask about something that had been bothering me.

“So, why were you there earlier?”

“Do I look like someone who answers all your questions?”

He replied indifferently. Geez, he was unusually curt today. Not that he owed me an answer, but I was curious. I hesitated, opening and closing my mouth as I tried to find the words. Just then, a sharp screech pierced the air, the sound of metal being sliced. Sparks erupted before my eyes, and I suddenly felt a heavy pull in my tailbone, followed by a ticklish sensation in my stomach.

Everything seemed to slow down as if caught in a time-lapse. Objects rearranged themselves in slow motion. Then it hit me—I was airborne. The realization struck like lightning. My body refused to accept the reality, adrenaline surging through me. My pupils narrowed, my heart pounded wildly, and terror rippled down my spine. I was thrown from the perfectly bisected sports car.

The severed seatbelt whipped against my waist as I flew through the air.

“Kang Hajung—!”

The sleek, polished car frame shimmered in the air, split cleanly in two. Kim Moohyuk reached out toward me as I was flung skyward. His ESP ability felt like it was crawling toward me in slow motion. I looked down at him in alarm. Though we’d been sitting in the same car moments ago, he was now so far below me that I couldn’t help but look down. Half of the car remained suspended in midair while the side Moohyuk was in plunged into a massive sinkhole that had opened in the road.

“Kim Moohyuk!”

Time resumed its normal flow, and I screamed desperately. My airborne body landed softly on the severed half of the car’s seat. Meanwhile, Moohyuk and the other half of the car disappeared into the gaping abyss. The sinkhole was an unending void of darkness, its depth impossible to gauge.

Then, from the depths of the car wreckage, Moohyuk reached out and tried to climb out of the hole. I extended my hand, trying to help, but of course, I couldn’t reach him.

The enormous hole began to close quickly, shrinking until it became nothing more than a dot, and then it vanished completely. The road returned to its unremarkable state, as if nothing had ever happened.

“What the…?”

I could only mutter dumbly. A car split in half midair, with one side plummeting into a suddenly appearing sinkhole, and then the hole vanishing as if nothing had occurred—it was unbelievable even though I had witnessed it. After hovering for a few seconds, my half of the car descended gently, like a leaf landing on the ground.

I unfastened the seatbelt and scrambled out of the car, scanning for whoever was responsible for this madness. Ridiculously enough, the culprit was the first to call my name.

“Hajung.”

“….”

Han Jaemin—no, Ha Seonghan—stood in the middle of the road, staring at me. My voice caught in my throat, and I hesitated before finally managing to speak.

“…Where is he?”

“….”

“Where’s Kim Moohyuk?”

Ha Seonghan’s expression was unreadable. Wearing Han Jaemin’s face, he looked at me with an unfamiliar gaze, so different from the person I once knew.

“Where is he!”

“Is that all you have to say to me, Hajung?”

What else was there to say? I bit back a curse.

“What am I even supposed to say here?”

My voice trembled uncontrollably. For years, I lived in hell after losing you like that. I was too afraid to follow you, fearing I might not get a chance to reincarnate. I was terrified that our paths would diverge. While Kim Moohyuk spent years searching for the ones responsible for this mess after losing me, I couldn’t even muster the strength to do the same. I hated the Accent scum, but I didn’t have the will to promise myself vengeance against them.

Whenever I thought of you, I fell apart. But now look at this. How could you appear before me like this, in this form? How could you betray everything we promised each other and stand before me as this? You of all people—Ha Seonghan—how could it be you?

“I can explain everything, Hajung.”

Ha Seonghan took a step toward me, his tone earnest. I retreated just as far, refusing to let the distance between us close. Realizing the gap wouldn’t lessen, he stopped in his tracks.

“I had no choice but to do this. There was a reason.”

“Shut up. You have the audacity to talk about reasons while showing up like this?”

By the end, my voice was practically a scream, barely holding back a sob. My knees throbbed painfully. They were a permanent mark of shame—a guide who let his Esper die—and for years, they’d reminded me of that. Even now, on rainy days, I clung to sanity, fighting the madness of missing you.

But how could you? How could you show up here as one of them? A member of the Accent filth who sell guides like merchandise? After everything we fought for together on countless battlefields, how could you betray it all like this?

“Enough. Bring Kim Moohyuk back.”

“…”

“Where is Kim Moohyuk?”

My shout echoed across the empty road. Ha Seonghan looked at me with an unreadable expression.

“…That’s the only thing you care about?”

Of course it was. My Esper right now was Kim Moohyuk. Not you, who faked his death for years only to return with a different face, but Kim Moohyuk, who grieved for me, cursed the Accent, and threw himself into danger. I didn’t say these words aloud, but the Ha Seonghan who had spent his life by my side didn’t need me to. He already understood. He smiled—a cold twist of his lips that didn’t reach his eyes—and spoke.

“He’s probably dead.”

“What?”

“There’s a skilled Spacer among them. I dropped him into an underground space. Either he fell to his death, or he’ll stay trapped forever.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

No. That couldn’t be true. There was no way Kim Moohyuk would die like that. I trusted him. A Spacer? Someone who could manipulate space, cutting and stitching it back together? If the Accent had someone like that, it would explain how they’d sliced the car in half. But Kim Moohyuk wouldn’t have gone down easily. He had to be alive.

Think, Kang Hajung. Think. How could someone escape from a Spacer’s subspace trap? I had to figure out a way. Kim Moohyuk had to be alive. As I pieced together potential strategies, Ha Seonghan chuckled darkly, as though he could see right through me.

“You’re not even going to ask why I had to die? Why I did all of this? You’re not interested at all, are you?”

“Do you really think dying and leaving me behind was justified? And then you joined Accent? You’re nothing but a traitor. Not to the nation, but to us. To the bond we shared. You threw that away without a second thought.”

At my words, Ha Seonghan’s eyes narrowed, his brows knitting in frustration—a habit of his when deeply angry. Even with his unfamiliar appearance, his old mannerisms surfaced, making it all the harder to forgive him. No matter what had happened, he should have told me first. If it was a matter of life and death, he should have trusted me. The years I spent stuck in a mire of despair came rushing back, and my resentment surged.

“I told you I had my reasons,” he said again, his voice strained.

I spat back, my face pale with fury. “Maybe you did.”

He took a hurried step toward me, his expression desperate.

“Yes, I did it because of y—”

“But that doesn’t justify abandoning me for years to wander, thinking you were dead, you bastard.”

With that, I turned and sprinted toward the source of the erratic spatial distortions I’d detected. If Ha Seonghan hadn’t mentioned the Spacer’s involvement, I might not have sensed it. But now, I knew where to look. Spreading a thin web of guiding energy, I sought the Spacer’s unique ESP signature, careful not to alert Ha Seonghan.

My guiding web wasn’t something that could fool an Esper like Kim Moohyuk, but Ha Seonghan’s rank wasn’t as high, and he didn’t notice. That was the only reason this would work. I had taken only a few steps when―

“Urk―!”