Episode 58. A Good-Bad Guy, a Just-Bad Guy, and a Weird Guy (1)

As if he couldn’t bring himself to look at her directly, Seonghwa lowered his head. After a long hesitation, he finally replied,

“…Well, it’s because you’re helpful to Juyul. And… it seems like he trusts Guide Maeng Sodam a lot.”

“Mutual trust is important, of course. But… Esper Cha Seonghwa, you believed—or wanted to believe—that I was Baek Juyul’s exclusive Guide even before there was any real trust built between us, didn’t you?”

At that, Sodam felt his fingers flinch beneath hers. In that single moment, her lingering doubts became certainty. Ever since their encounter in Gunsan, Seonghwa had been treating her like she was Baek Juyul’s exclusive Guide.

Treating her—not respecting her as one. The distinction between the two was subtle, yet entirely different.

Recalling his words and behavior, it became obvious: Seonghwa had been intentionally positioning Sodam next to Juyul. The most plausible explanation? Probably a deep-seated inferiority complex toward his SSS-class childhood friend.

…But then, why did he try so hard to win over Han Daram? Was it just his taste, after all?

Daram was such a faint presence in the original story that she hardly even appeared unless Juyul was involved. After their early interactions, she was mostly shown around Seonghwa. And while the narrative didn’t explicitly say so, it was clear that he had been trying hard to court her—presumably to highlight how Daram stayed loyal to her love for Juyul, even in the face of someone as earnest as Seonghwa.

But if he really had been harboring inferiority back then, he should’ve pushed Daram toward Juyul and aimed for a stronger Guide himself. If, instead, he had genuinely fallen for her along the way… well, then it made sense that he would choose her happiness over his own envy. That aligned with his character.

Even so, Sodam was nothing like Daram. In personality, in appearance—they were complete opposites. Sodam was definitely not Seonghwa’s type. Which meant he wouldn’t fall for her. So maybe, just maybe, he was forcing Sodam to stay by Juyul’s side so he could keep someone like Daram—an E-class Guide—closer to himself.

That thought stung more than it should have. Maybe it was because the original story had built him up to be such a “good guy.” She felt a strange sense of betrayal.

Et tu, Seonghwa? No, Bruseonghwa, not you too…

Fuming, Sodam suddenly sat up and glared at Seonghwa with fire in her eyes.

He didn’t say a word—couldn’t, really—just stammered in silence, confirming her suspicion. And sure, maybe he wasn’t the one getting crushed between an S-rank and an SSS-rank like she was, but his life was still way easier than hers. With that thought to fuel her, she let the words fly without holding back.

“I only just became Baek Juyul’s exclusive Guide a few days ago. But Esper Cha Seonghwa—you’ve been calling me ‘exclusive’ from the moment we met.”

“…That’s…”

“Don’t give me that ‘I genuinely thought so’ excuse. You knew I wasn’t. You even knew I’d been coming in and out of the Guiding Room every day while Baek Juyul wasn’t even in Korea. If you really believed I was his exclusive Guide, wouldn’t you have asked him at least once?”

“…”

“At first, I just thought, oh, this guy’s a little weird, and played along. But now I really want to know. Esper Cha Seonghwa—why does it have to be me as Baek Juyul’s exclusive Guide?”

Every word Sodam said hit straight at the parts Seonghwa himself had been avoiding. He could say he knew she’d been coming in because Juyul had asked her to—use that as an excuse. But if he did that, she’d ask the next question: Then why did you keep treating me like his exclusive Guide, even knowing I wasn’t?

Looking up at him, sitting straight with a sharp gaze, Sodam seemed more like a divine judge come to punish him than a frail Guide. Her pale face and fierce black eyes felt like they were exposing every corner of his conscience. She didn’t give him a moment to think or fabricate a lie—just kept pushing.

And then she dropped the final blow—a line perfectly designed to make even a frightened mouse lash out at a sick cat.

“Honestly, at this point, I’m starting to wonder if Esper Cha Seonghwa is just trying to make things harder for Baek Juyul.”

“…”

“There are tons of higher-ranked Guides better than me. Even if you can’t go as far as the Association President and outright oppose it, I don’t understand why you keep pushing me onto him.”

“…Maybe you’re right.”

“…Huh? What do you mean—”

But her words were cut short.

Seonghwa gripped her thin shoulders and pushed her flat onto the bed.

He didn’t stop there. He slid one leg between her thighs and used his free hand to hold her by the jaw.

The distance between them vanished in an instant.

The look in Seonghwa’s eyes was terrifying. Not mad, not emotional—just… unhinged. His golden eyes shimmered with an inhuman gleam, standing out starkly from his familiar black hair. Sodam, used to seeing black-on-black, felt like she was staring into something that wasn’t quite human. Something strange, radiant—and deeply unsettling.

The thought that she might die quietly and without a trace brought with it a chilling reminder—Seonghwa’s abilities.

Fire. Flame. Lava. This man could manipulate anything hot at will. If he so much as flicked a finger, Sodam could burn to death without a sound.

Fear tightened in her chest, stealing her breath. She wanted to shut her eyes, to look away from him—but his gaze pinned her in place like chains, leaving her utterly frozen. And then, as if everything until now had just been a lie, Seonghwa, still looming over her, finally spoke. His voice was laced with venom.

“I like people like you. People who know exactly what they want and are willing to do anything to get it.”

“…”

“If I said I could give you what you want—if you’d betray Baek Juyul for it—could you do it?”

“…”

“Let’s use each other. For mutual benefit.”

His hand slid down from her shoulder—slowly but with chilling purpose—as he began to undo her pajama buttons, one by one. It wasn’t until he passed her chest and moved lower that she finally came to her senses, grabbing hold of his wrist.

She’d been frozen—not just from fear, but from disbelief. She had trusted him, at least a little. This was the same man who had carried her when she collapsed, who blushed just from hearing her change clothes.

Forcing down a dry swallow, Sodam opened her mouth, her voice trembling.

“Would betraying Baek Juyul really… benefit you, Esper Cha Seonghwa?”

“…Of course it would.”

“Don’t lie. There has to be another reason—ugh!”

He let go of her jaw abruptly, the force sharp enough to sting. But the pain confirmed one thing: her words had hit a nerve. Good. If she could shake him even slightly, maybe she could get out of this.

She tried to speak again, but then his hands gripped her hips.

Crap. This was bad. Ever since meeting Samuyeon, she’d been keeping a folding knife on her—but it was in the pocket of her outerwear, and right now she was wearing nothing but a thin pajama set.

All I’ve got are my hands and feet. One hand for a punch, one for a gouge. First the eyes, then a hit, then a kick—run like hell. I can do this.

Tensing her whole body, Sodam balled her fists. Seonghwa caught the motion and gave a low, amused scoff.

“You really think that’s going to work on me?”

“Well. If my only two options are to resist or die, wouldn’t you rather die putting up a fight?”

“Why would I kill you? You’re the only Guide my dear friend has.”

“…Then what the hell do you want from me?”

At her question, Seonghwa slowly leaned down. When his burning-hot hand brushed the exposed skin between her loosened pajamas, her whole body broke out in goosebumps. Tilting his head as if he were about to kiss her, he murmured his answer directly above her lips.

“Love me.”

“…What?”

“If that’s too hard, then abandon Baek Juyul and come to me instead.”

He’s insane. Absolutely, completely insane.

That was the only thought that shot through Sodam’s mind in that moment. This wasn’t about getting a stronger Guide than Juyul. This was about taking the affection of the one Guide Juyul had come to trust. Seonghwa didn’t want a better match—he wanted to steal what Juyul held dear.

Suddenly, every puzzle piece snapped into place. Why it had to be her as Juyul’s exclusive Guide. Why, in the original story, he had so desperately tried to seduce Han Daram. Why he was threatening her now, like this.

It was all driven by a vile, festering inferiority complex. He didn’t approach her with kindness like he did with Daram in the original—he used force, because Sodam, an F-class Guide who cared about money, was easier to tempt. He figured someone like her would be easier to manipulate, easier to break away from Juyul.

And Sodam… had stepped on the landmine herself.

I should’ve just played dumb. God, I didn’t need to know any of this…