CH56 | MCT

As You Wish (4)

Tae-soo brought the car to a stop.

Stepping out, he took in the vast, open view.

From here, the entire desert stretched out beneath him.

[It must be breathtaking during the day. Especially at sunrise or sunset.]

His chest felt lighter, as if the sheer expanse of the view had cleared his mind as well.

[Still, the moonlight gives it a unique charm. And look at the stars—it's like they could spill right out of the sky.]

[It’s beautiful. The desert, the moonlight, the starlight… and that wishing rock over there. Thank you for bringing me here.]

She pointed toward a peculiar rock formation—

A rock shaped like an eagle.

[It looks like an eagle.]

[Eagles are symbols of courage and wisdom. The desert warriors say that if you make a wish here, it will come true.]

Something struck Tae-soo as odd.

‘She keeps saying desert warriors instead of tribesmen.’

Wrapped in her black cloak, she pressed her hands together and closed her eyes.

She looked serious as she made her wish.

[What did you wish for?]

[It’s a secret.]

[Does it have anything to do with me?]

[Secret.]

She wrinkled her nose again.

[You know, if you keep it a secret, it might never come true.]

[Actually, it’s the other way around. If you say it out loud, it won’t come true.]

Her eyes sparkled mischievously—
clear and beautiful.

[No, the world works differently. If you want something, you have to say it. If you don’t, no one will ever know.]

She let out a small laugh.

[Oh? So if I don’t say it, no one will know? Then, tell me—did you not see me pulling the string earlier?]

[I saw it.]

[And yet, you just walked past my tent?]

[You only pulled the string. You didn’t give it to me.]

Tae-soo’s tone was playful, and she shot him a glare—but in the prettiest way possible.

[Well, I did notice the Bedouin women swarming around you. You weren’t waiting for someone else to hand you their string, were you?]

This time, she extended the end of a string toward him—deliberate and unhesitant.

[Forget the other strings. Take mine.]

She looped her arms around his neck, her voice a sultry whisper.

[It’s a desert night. I’m freezing right now.]

What a shameless woman.

Tae-soo suddenly thought—

‘I hope she wrinkles her nose again.’

And so—

[What are you doing?]

[I told you—I’m cold.]

He draped his coat over her shoulders.

[Wear this. It’ll keep you warm.]

She fell silent for a moment before sighing theatrically.

[A gentleman who gives his coat to a cold woman—very noble. Very romantic.]

Then—

She wrinkled her nose again.

Just as he’d hoped.

Adorable.

[You’re pretending not to know on purpose, aren’t you?]

[Is it that obvious?]

[If you wiped that smirk off your face, you might just fool me. You’re so mischievous.]

Before she could say another word, Tae-soo wrapped an arm around her waist and lifted her into the air.

Startled, she let out a small gasp and instinctively clung to his neck.

As she leaned into him, that familiar, delicate scent of hers filled his senses.

Tae-soo whispered softly in her ear.

[Be honest with me.]

[What do you want me to do?]

She let out a soft chuckle.

[And if I tell you, will you do exactly as I say?]

[Gladly.]

She traced a fingertip over his lips, her voice turning into a whisper.

[I want you to make me forget everything… so completely that I can’t think of anything else.]

Her eyes burned with undeniable heat.

[Just like that night.]

Tae-soo’s answer had been decided from the very beginning.

[Then I have no choice but to give you exactly what you want.]

***

The first day after escaping the desert—their water ran out.

By the second day, even the last scraps of jerky were gone. No food.

By the third day, their bodies gave out completely. They saw hallucinations. Heard phantom voices.

By the fourth day, all that remained was despair.

They crawled, dragged themselves forward like insects across the burning sand.

At this rate, they wouldn’t make it out alive.

"The desert... it’s terrifying."

"Does it ever end?"

The damn dunes kept stretching on forever, one after another, an endless expanse of torment.

The creeping realization sank in—

They might actually die here.

"Choi Sajang... that bastard..."

They couldn't afford to die in the desert before settling the score.

He gritted his teeth and forced himself upright.

“Just a little more… just a little longer…”

No one agreed.

All he could see in their eyes was despair.

But in the Vice President’s eyes, there was still a burning determination.

“We’ve made it this far… we’re almost there… Tomorrow, we’ll be out of this desert…”

It was hope fueled by sheer willpower.

Only then did the others nod weakly.

“That… would be nice…”

“Tomorrow… let’s hope we make it out…”

They had no strength left.

Wrapping themselves tightly in thin blankets, they braced for another night.

The desert’s nights were merciless.

Huddled together, they shivered uncontrollably.

“I miss the Bedouins… their food… their tents…”

“It was warm there…”

“Haa… they gave us meals… and water…”

Their throats felt dry and raw, as if stuffed with sand.

Their cracked lips had been bleeding for some time.

The desert’s night was ice. The desert’s day was an oven.

“Please… just…”

“Let us make it…”

One by one, they drifted into sleep.

[They’re asleep.]

From a distance, desert warriors watched through their telescopes.

[Shall we bring them in now?]

[No. Let them rest for now. Keep watch nearby, and report immediately if anything happens.]

[Understood.]

That night, a falcon soared into the sky, carrying a message from the desert warriors.

The next day, they were rescued.

Out of nowhere, desert warriors appeared.

“W-We’re… we’re saved…”

It was a miracle.

[Set up shade. Make thin soup. Let them rest here for a while.]

The desert warriors gave them water and massaged their numb limbs.

“T-Thank… you… Thank you… sob…”

For the first time, it truly sank in.

They were still alive.

[No need to thank us.]

But the words that followed were cold.

[Rest while you can. We will return to the village soon.]

“Ah… finally, back to the village…”

[Not you. You will go your own way.]

“W-What…?”

The realization hit them like a blow.

They were being left behind.

If they were abandoned in this desert again…

They knew this time would mean certain death.

[We will leave behind water and supplies. This time, may you truly find your way out. Go where you wish.]

They had risked everything to escape, and now… freedom felt like a cruel sentence.

“N-No… please…”

Seeing the water pouches and food bags being handed to them, they broke down in tears.

“Please, don’t leave us here. Don’t abandon us in the desert…”

“The desert is terrifying. Take us back… to the Bedouin village… please…”

They clung desperately to the desert warriors' robes.

One of the warriors, about to leave, turned back.

[Our village… was it not the place you were so eager to escape?]

“No… no… that’s not it…”

The survivors of Samwon Construction shook their heads frantically.

But the desert warrior’s voice remained firm.

[We do not take back those who have chosen to leave.]

“P-Please… we beg you…”

"Please, take us with you."

The desert warrior fell silent.

For a long moment, he simply stared down at the survivors of Samwon Construction.

Then, the vice president crawled forward and fell to his knees.

"We were wrong. We were completely wrong. Please… have mercy on us."

[Do you even understand what you did wrong?]

"We want to apologize to the women. But to do that, we need to return to the village."

His words sparked a chorus of desperate voices.

"We have to apologize in person."

"We don’t know the way back. Please, guide us."

The desert warrior nodded.

[If that is what you truly desire.]

He ordered his men to bring the camels.

[Then we shall grant your wish. We will take you back to the village.]

The moment those words left his mouth, the Samwon survivors erupted in cheers.

As they were helped onto the camels, they dared to dream of a better future.

"Finally… we're leaving this cursed desert…"

Their suffering was over.

Soon, they would return to a place that was safe, warm, and familiar.

It felt too good to be true.

With trembling hands, they raised their thumbs toward the desert warriors.

"You’re angels. Truly, you’re angels."

"We’ll never forget this kindness."

"You crossed the desert just to save us… we’ll be grateful forever… sob…"

One by one, they were helped onto the camels.

The path they had staggered through for days, desperate to escape, was now covered in just two hours by the desert warriors.

"We… we made it back…!"

"We actually survived…"

Overwhelmed with emotion, they choked back tears.

Just before reaching the village, the desert warrior turned to them once more.

[Even now, if you wish to leave, I will let you go. But if you enter this village, you must apologize to the women. Do you still wish to go?]

"We will apologize. Of course, we will."

By now, they had fully accepted their fate.

The moment they stepped back into the village, they bowed their heads deeply before the women they had wronged.

"We are truly sorry."

"We regret everything."

"Please… give us one more chance."

They had nearly died in the desert.

And it was these very warriors—their supposed enemies—who had saved them.

"We tried to harm you… and yet, you showed us mercy. We don’t deserve it."

For the first time, their apologies were sincere.

The Bedouin women looked at them in silence—then, at last, their faces softened into smiles.

[Very well. We forgive you.]

And with that, the former captives were returned to their tents.

Lying down in their old spots, they couldn’t stop smiling.

"This is paradise. It’s better than paradise."

"We’re safe… truly safe."

"The suffering is over. We survived."

The place they had once despised and longed to escape—now, they were grateful beyond words.

Their hearts swelled with appreciation for the Bedouins.

"That moment they saved me… I will never forget it."

"Not even in death. It was nothing short of a miracle."

"Heaven must have been watching over us. I swear, I saw my ancestors for a moment back there."

From that day forward, they quietly accepted their life in the village.

And the food given to them by the Bedouins…?

"Wow, what a feast! Thank you for the meal."

"I don’t know who the cook is, but they’re a genius."

The water given by the Bedouins.

"I can’t believe you’re sharing such precious water with us."

"Really, thank you. It must have been difficult to find in the desert."

The clothes and blankets given by the Bedouins.

"Thanks to you, we sleep warm every night."

"You’re like charity angels. Out there, it was impossible to find cloth."

"We’ll wear them well. We’re truly grateful."

Watching this, the Bedouin chief turned to Tae-soo, smiling in satisfaction.

[They once tried to escape in the name of self-reliance… and yet, it seems they’ve truly been rehabilitated.]

Tae-soo nodded in agreement.

[As long as things turned out the way they wanted, that’s all that matters.]

After all, no one forced them to escape.

They had gotten exactly what they wanted, and everything had worked out in the end.

Well, almost everything.

"So… is there anyone willing to go drag Choi Sajang back here? No one? Yeah, I figured."

"We can’t let him sit back in comfort, spending money from the safe while we went through hell."

And so, they turned to the desert’s angels—the Bedouin warriors—for help.

"I know where Choi Sajang is. Please, go get him. Bring him back. Of course, we’ll compensate you handsomely."

They were placing their trust in the warriors.

"Half of the money in his safe! We’ll give that to the Bedouin people."

They even offered a bounty.

The others nodded in agreement.

"We’ll give our share to the Bedouins as well."

"We’ve been freeloading all this time… It’s only right that we pay for the food and shelter we’ve received."

The vice president spoke, his eyes burning with determination.

"So please, bring him back. No matter what it takes."

He gritted his teeth.

"That’s my last bit of malice, my last bit of stubbornness… and my only remaining wish."

"After everything I went through because of that bastard!"

"I suffered, so now it's your turn to suffer!"

"Choi Sajang, there's no way I'm letting you off easy!"

The Bedouin chief glanced at Tae-soo, smirking.

[Benefactor, should we grant their wish?]

[It’ll be troublesome for the desert warriors, but if it’s a wish… why not?]

That very day, the desert warriors effortlessly captured Choi Sajang and his fleeing accomplices.

Just as the vice president suspected, they had holed up in a hideout, living in comfort.

"It's a misunderstanding! We were just waiting nearby until the Bedouins stopped fighting!"

"Then why aren’t you at the construction site right now? Vice President, are you gonna keep looking at me like that?"

"Do you think I can look at you any other way right now? Choi Sajang, I swear I’ll kill you today!"

Inside the tent, where all twelve executives of Samwon Construction had gathered—

That night, the tent was filled with chaos, screams, and the sounds of a brawl that lasted until dawn.

The Bedouin chief beamed.

[Thanks to them, we’ve earned two million dollars. Not a bad price for granting a wish.]

[Consider it their way of paying for food and lodging. Seems they really wanted to return the favor.]

Tae-soo fiddled with the telegram in his pocket.

It was a message from Song Changjun.

"A plane carrying special agents will arrive tomorrow afternoon, Saudi time."

Tae-soo turned to the chief and the executives, offering his farewell.

[Tomorrow, people from Korea will be coming to take them back. Please don’t be alarmed and cooperate.]

When Tae-soo mentioned Samwon Construction's executives, the Bedouins had already anticipated it.

So they nodded calmly.

But his next words caught them completely off guard.

[I’ll be returning on the same flight.]

It was a thunderclap on a clear day.