DPGR 12

“Hah.”

Dojin sighed once more, placing his notebook on the nightstand before sitting down on the edge of the bed. As his weight settled, the mattress sank slightly.

“Ugh…”

Perhaps it was the shift in the bed that caused Jiho to softly groan and toss in his sleep. His body, curled up on its side, seemed to shrink further. Even in such a large bed, he slept like that, so it seemed it was his sleeping habit.

There was something pitiful about even that sleeping habit, and Dojin held his breath, gently brushing Jiho’s hair aside.

“Hmmm…”

The fine, curly strands of hair wrapped around Dojin’s thick fingers. After a few strokes, Jiho let out a soft snore and smiled sleepily.

It was such a lovely sight, so Dojin continued to tenderly stroke Jiho’s hair, his cheek, and the area around his eyes.

Dojin thought that Jiho’s sleeping face, so peaceful, resembled that of a baby.

⸻

The hot and humid air filled his lungs. Sticky beads of sweat trickled down the back of his neck.

Dojin looked around in confusion, his expression dazed. All he could see was the lush greenery around him.

‘Where is this…?’

A crease appeared on his forehead.

He was certain he had closed his eyes in the bedroom, but now he had no idea where he was or why he was there. It felt like there was a fog in his mind.

“Captain!”

At that moment, a familiar voice called out to him. Turning his gaze, kijoon, holding a shield as large as his body, rushed over and blocked his path.

Thud!

At the same time, something heavy collided with Kijoon’s shield and bounced off. Dojin’s gaze shifted to the ‘something’ that had landed in the muddy earth.

It was a monkey-like monster, something often seen in tropical rainforest dungeons.

Screech, kick—

The monster, struggling to get up, caught Dojin’s eye as he blinked silently. Kijoon, looking at Dojin with concern, spoke up.

“Captain? Are you hurt?”

“Huh? Oh, no.”

“But why are you spacing out in the middle of a fight?”

A fight. Oh, right. A fight.

Dojin nodded as if he understood. Yes, that was right. This was a battle.

The fog that had clouded his mind began to clear. He looked at the sword he was holding.

It had definitely not been there just a moment ago, but Dojin didn’t feel any sense of weirdness.

He tightened his grip on it, and with a creak, a few monsters rushed toward him.

Dojin swiftly moved his body and swung the sword through the air. Flames sparked from the blade, flying toward the monsters.

Despite being engulfed in flames, the monsters showed no signs of retreating.

“Kijoon! Shield!”

“Yes!”

Dojin called out to Kijoon, anticipating the situation. Having worked together many times, Kijoon moved with precision at even the shortest command.

Thud, thud, thud!

Kijoon’s shield sent the monsters flying. The destructive force was such that the monsters seemed to be hit by a massive truck, flying through the air and crashing into trees and the dirt.

“Nice!”

Kijoon grinned and clenched his fist. Dojin, letting out a sigh of relief, turned to look behind him.

The team members, who hadn’t been visible until just now, were waiting for his orders.

‘When did they get there?’

It was a question that briefly crossed his mind, but it quickly faded. Yeah, they had probably been there for a while.

‘Something feels off today.’

Despite sensing something was wrong with his own state, Dojin focused on the present.

“Co-captain.”

“Mana is full!”

“B formation!”

Kijoon fell back to cover Sehun. Sehun swung his magic staff and cast a spell.

A pale smog covered the area. All team members, except those holding artifacts, were frozen in place.

“I’ll get the last hit!”

Jihye’s voice had an excited edge to it. The strategy was easier than expected.

Her expression clearly showed that she thought they’d be able to leave early.

Kijoon felt the same way.

“Wow! Let’s have a company dinner after today?”

“Meat! Beef!”

“No, Kijoon, we’re having lamb skewers!”

“I’ll shoot arrows at you with a crossbow and stitch your mouth shut.”

“Ugh.”

The team’s mood was just like any other day. Kijoon and Jihye bickering, the youngest, Yulchan, trying to stop them, and Sehun quietly smiling at them.

Dojin couldn’t help but smile to himself as he watched them, though he quickly composed himself.

Even though the fight was going smoothly, they were still inside the dungeon. He needed to focus.

“Everyone, focus. Kijoon, continue to cover the co-captain. Jihye and Yulchan, try to synchronize.”

“Yes! Yulchan!”

“Yeah!”

Jihye took aim with her bow. A golden bowstring appeared in her hands, where nothing had been before.

She summoned three arrows from thin air and began shooting them wildly. With Yulchan by her side, there was no need to aim at targets.

“Ugh! Too fast!”

Yulchan, still unskilled at controlling his abilities, let out a cry. Fortunately, he used his power without making any mistakes.

Thud! Crunch!

The golden arrows pierced through the frozen monsters’ heads and hearts, without the slightest error.

‘It’s going smoothly.’

Hunting wasn’t difficult. But despite it being a good thing, Dojin’s heart was uneasy.

It felt like the calm before a storm.

Just as he was about to refocus the team—

Rumble, rumble, rumble—

Suddenly, the ground shook. Dojin regained his balance and looked around at the team.

“Everyone, be on guard!”

Kwang!

The frozen mud cracked with a loud noise. Through the gap, the arm of a giant monster shot out.

And it happened to be where Yulchan was standing.

“Ah!”

“Yulchan!”

Dojin quickly moved toward Yulchan’s shadow, but the monster’s movements were faster than his.

“No!”

The monster’s fist slammed down onto Yulchan’s legs, which were lying motionless.

Crack.

With a horrific sound, Yulchan screamed.

The smell of blood filled the air. Hot liquid splattered across Dojin’s cheek. Yulchan gasped, his eyes rolling back, and his body went limp.

No. No. No.

A ringing sound echoed in Dojin’s ears. The next moment, his vision wavered, and the scene shifted.

“There’s no threat to his life. But his legs… he may have to walk with a limp from now on.”

The scent of antiseptic filled the air. The white space felt strangely familiar, as if he had been there just a few days ago.

It was a hospital. Sehun was beside Dojin, and a doctor in a white coat sat in front of them.

Instead of Dojin, Sehun asked the doctor.

“Are you saying recovery is impossible?”

“Perhaps. The damage is too severe. If treatment had come sooner, it might have been better…”

The doctor’s muttering darkened Sehun’s expression. Dojin felt the same way.

The doctor comforted them, saying it was fortunate that Yulchan was an Esper, or the damage might have been worse, but it offered no real solace.

⸻

Flash.

Dojin’s eyelids fluttered open. He took a sharp breath in and exhaled.

His hands, trembling slightly, brushed through his sweat-drenched hair.

“Ha, huff…”

Panting as though he had just run, he sat up.

‘Where is this…?’

A familiar sight met his eyes. It was clearly a hospital, with the smell of antiseptic still lingering, but now that he was awake, he found himself in his own bed.

“A dream…?”

The tropical rainforest, the monster, and Yulchan’s injury—everything had been a dream. A pointless, vivid, disturbing nightmare.

Dojin sighed, the unsettling feeling lingered, and he couldn’t fall back asleep.

‘What kind of ridiculous dream was that…’

It was a ridiculous dream. It had to be.

He bit his cheek lightly and shook his head, but the troubling thoughts in his mind didn’t disappear.

Looking at the clock, it was four in the morning. He thought it might be better to just get up and take a cold shower.

As he tried to push himself off the bed, he heard a faint noise from beside him.

“Ugh, ngh…”

Dojin startled and looked down. A small figure was shaking in the darkness.

‘…Ah.’

Then he remembered the child he had brought with him.

Dojin gently touched Jiho’s back, which was curled up tightly. Through his clothes, the damp warmth was noticeable.

“…Guide Jiho?”

Jiho’s back felt damp under his touch. As Dojin pulled him up by the shoulders, Jiho’s face, soaked in cold sweat, came into view.

“Huh, ugh…”

Jiho’s bangs, wet with sweat, clung to his forehead. His eyes were swollen, and his face was damp from the tears he had shed.

Dojin hurriedly brushed Jiho’s hair aside and placed his hand on his forehead. He was running a mild fever.

“Not good…”

When did he start feeling sick?

Dojin furrowed his brow and stepped out of the bed. He went to the living room to search for the first aid kit.

“Guide Jiho.”

Returning with lukewarm water and fever medicine, Dojin called out to Jiho. Jiho was still groaning, unable to fully regain his senses.

Dojin set the items down on the nightstand and shook Jiho’s shoulder.

Up until that moment, Dojin had thought Jiho was simply groaning in discomfort from his sickness.

“ Guide Seo Jiho.”

After calling out a few times and shaking him, Jiho’s eyelids fluttered open. Tears that had pooled in his eyes trickled down his cheeks.

‘Ah, he’s finally awake.’

All Dojin could think about now was getting the fever medicine to Jiho and letting him rest again. He held out the glass of water toward Jiho.