DPGR 178

Episode 3. A New Challenge

In a quiet room, Dojin sat at his desk with a serious face and tapped the keyboard.

The clacking sound filled the silence. The once white screen was now filled with black letters.

[As everyone knows, the Final Dungeon appeared in a national park in New Zealand. When Korea’s raid team first set foot there, we were so captivated by the beautiful scenery before us that we forgot the situation for a while.]

Two years had passed since the Final Dungeon. A year ago, Dojin had appeared on Kijoon’s YouTube channel to let fans know he was alive, and since then he had received many interview requests and all sorts of messages.

People were still excited about the Final Dungeon and showed interest. In particular, they wanted to hear about it from Dojin’s point of view, since he was considered a hero.

Dojin also wanted people to remember the Final Dungeon. Too many people had died inside, and too many had been injured in big and small ways.

Not only himself, but everyone who had gone there was a hero. He wanted people to acknowledge their effort.

‘How about writing some kind of review on a blog or SNS and posting it?’

When Dojin was worrying about it, Kijoon casually suggested an alternative. So with a rather light heart, Dojin posted his story on a blog. Before long, it became very popular and he even signed a contract with a publisher.

That was how he started writing a book in earnest a few months ago.

“Hyung, I’m here.”

“Ah, Jiho.”

Many things had happened in those two years. Jiho had passed the high school equivalency exam he had so long wished for, and with Dojin’s encouragement he learned and tried various things.

English conversation, piano, guitar, drawing, baking, and more.

As he built up experiences he had never done before, Jiho changed noticeably. He regained health with a good amount of weight, and he grew taller, now standing as a 177 cm young man.

He read a lot of books without being picky, and as he interacted with others at different academies, his vocabulary improved too. Living with Dojin, he picked up his calmness and maturity, and he became more grown up.

His fair round face and big clear eyes still made him look younger than his age, but his unique calm and mature air created a subtle impression.

“You came early today. Wasn’t there much to film?”

Dojin asked while gesturing at the camera in Jiho’s hand. Recently, Jiho had taken an interest in photography and went around taking pictures, which Dojin found admirable and endearing.

Jiho shook his head and came into the room. Dojin reached out to him as he naturally approached. Jiho sat on his lap and spoke with a voice carrying a light laugh.

“Someone recognized me. I was a little surprised because it was the first time someone noticed me even without you.”

“What? Were you okay? That person didn’t bother you?”

“Yes. They just gave me cookies and ran away. They said they were a fan of both of us.”

Jiho dug into his pocket and took out the packaged cookies. From the franchise cafe logo on the wrapper, it looked like they had just given him what they had during the sudden meeting.

Dojin looked at Jiho, who was smiling bashfully, with eyes filled with guilt. As they went out together more often, such side effects appeared.

‘But no strange people have clung to him yet…’

It was around a year ago. Because Jiho was always beside Dojin, his face gradually became known among Dojin’s fans. Along with that, Jiho’s name, his rough age, and the fact that he was Dojin’s pair guide all leaked out in various places.

For now, the fans were restraining themselves, and thanks to the recognition that Jiho was one of those who had fought in the Final Dungeon, he didn’t hear bad comments, but Dojin couldn’t help but worry.

“Have you written a lot?”

When Dojin’s expression darkened, Jiho quickly changed the subject. He looked at Dojin’s laptop screen and his eyes lit up.

“This is before entering the Final Dungeon.”

“…Yeah. Do you remember?”

“Of course. The lake was really beautiful back then.”

“Shall we go once? As a trip.”

“Sounds good. I should bring my camera and take lots of pictures.”

Jiho’s eyes curved brightly. Seeing him boast that he would take nice photos of his hyung, Dojin couldn’t help but smile too.

“Alright. I should look up plane tickets.”

“Yeah. But let’s do that later.”

Just as Dojin was about to grab the mouse, Jiho twisted his upper body and hugged Dojin’s neck. Dojin naturally wrapped his arm around Jiho’s waist and kissed his cheek and lips.

At that moment, his phone on the desk buzzed. Dojin frowned, right when he was about to taste the inside of Jiho’s mouth.

“Hyung, your phone.”

He tried to ignore it, but even that failed. Jiho lost focus, pushed him away, and picked up the phone for him.

“Ha…”

It better be nothing.

Dojin ground his teeth as he checked the phone. Messages from his older sister, Dohee, were piling up.

Noona

Hey what are you doing

Noona

“Are you busy these days?

If you have time, take care of Ihyun tomorrow.”

Dojin’s face instantly turned pale. Just as h e was about to reply, another message arrived

Noona

(Photo of two lines on a pregnancy test)

This time, there was no text, just a photo.

Dojin didn’t immediately recognize it and replied.

Did you get corona?

A while later, Dohee called. Dojin held Jiho tighter and answered with one hand. He meant to say a calm “Hello” like always, but Dohee laughed on the other end.

–Hey! Hahaha! What do you mean corona!?

Her loud laughter even reached Jiho’s ears. Dojin pulled the phone away as if his ear hurt, then answered again once the noise quieted down.

“…Noona, are you crazy?”

–You must be the crazy one. Ah, my stomach hurts. I laughed too much.

Behind Dohee’s voice, he faintly heard his brother-in-law say, “Your stomach hurts? H-hospital. Should we go to the hospital?” Even then, Dojin and Jiho still didn’t understand what was going on.

–I’m pregnant.

“…What?”

“…??”

–Ihyun is going to have a younger sibling.

Jiho, who had been pressing his ear closer to Dojin’s phone out of curiosity, opened his eyes wide. Dojin did the same.

“W-what did you just say she’s having? A baby?”

–That’s right. I’m going to the hospital tomorrow. It’s Ihyun’s day off from school. If it’s okay, look after Ihyun for us. After the hospital, I’d like to go on a date with my husband too.

Dojin immediately looked at Jiho. Jiho quickly nodded.

“Uh, yeah. Should I go pick up Ihyun?”

–No, my husband said he’ll drop her off tomorrow.

Right then, a loud voice came from beyond the phone. “Thanks, brother-in-law! Thanks, Jiho-ssi!” Only then did a smile spread across Dojin’s lips.

“Then bring her to our place tomorrow.”

–Alright, thanks.

“…Yeah. Congratulations, noona.”

At his awkward congratulations, Dohee laughed again and hung up. As soon as Dojin put down the phone, Jiho fired off questions.

“What was that? Noona is pregnant?”

“Yeah. That’s what she said.”

“So Ihyun is going to have a sibling? A younger brother, a younger sister? When is the baby due?”

“They don’t know yet. From the sound of it, they only found out recently.”

“Wow…”

“Is it amazing?”

Jiho nodded. Maybe he was excited by the news of a new niece or nephew, because his pale cheeks flushed red.

Dojin kissed those peach-colored cheeks and sighed. Worry showed on his face.

“Why? Hyung, aren’t you happy?”

“…I am. But I’m a little worried.”

“…?”

“Ihyun… I wonder if she’ll accept having a younger sibling well.”

“Ah.”

Their 8-year-old niece had been the only child in the family until now, growing up like a princess. She wasn’t spoiled endlessly, but she had been showered with attention and love from her grandparents on both sides, her parents, her uncle Dojin, and even Jiho, his partner.

“And also noona’s age.”

Dojin added another reason. That seemed to be the real one.

Dohee being pregnant right before forty. These days many people had children after forty, but as family, it was natural to feel worried.

“That’s true…”

Jiho also drooped with him. Dojin quickly tried to shift the mood.

“Anyway, when Ihyun comes tomorrow, we’ll have to play with her all day. Will that be okay?”

“I’m fine. Playing with Ihyun is fun.”

“But if we just stay at home, she’ll get bored. Let’s go outside. I think I heard that Ihyun has been interested in fish lately.”

“Then should we go to the aquarium?”

Jiho’s eyes sparkled. His obvious curiosity hadn’t changed even as he grew older. Dojin chuckled.

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

Dojin’s arm around Jiho’s waist tightened. He lowered his head and pressed his lips to Jiho’s.

It was to resume what Dohee had interrupted. He tossed his phone onto the small sofa across the room.

“Mm…”

Jiho’s eyes had widened in surprise, but soon he wrapped his arms around Dojin’s neck and closed them. Seeing Jiho willingly give himself up, Dojin laughed with satisfaction.