DPGR 106

Now, several days later—

Beep. Beep. Beep.

After receiving emergency treatment from a healing Esper at the scene, Jiho had been immediately transferred to a hospital, where he remained hospitalized.

Though his wounds had fully healed, his consciousness had yet to return.

The doctor’s opinion was that his body and mind had undergone such immense strain and shock that what he needed most was rest.

“Captain Baek…”

“……”

“Please rest, even just a little. You don’t look well.”

“……”

It had already been three days. Three whole days had passed, taking the last of December with them. The new year had arrived, and Dojin’s young guide had turned twenty-one.

But Dojin, still tending to the unconscious Jiho, had lost track of time and was slowly growing gaunt.

He refused treatment for his own wounds and declined any guiding medication. He hardly left Jiho’s side.

Once again, it was their team members who stepped in to stop him.

“If Guide Jiho wakes up and sees you like this, it’ll be a problem. He’ll probably blame himself.”

For the first time, Dojin responded to Yulchan’s words. His eyes twitched slightly, then he let out a sigh.

“…You’re right.”

“…!”

“I’ll go wash my face, at least.”

“Yes! While you’re at it, please eat something and take your guiding meds, too!”

Yulchan’s face lit up, along with those of the other worried team members.

Dojin said nothing in response to the last part, simply stepping out of the hospital room.

Sehun followed close behind.

“Uh, Captain…”

“…Is something wrong?”

“It’s just…”

After hesitating for a moment, Sehun continued.

“The Director wants you to return. Public opinion’s starting to stir a bit… There’s talk back in Korea about whether Alpha Team is transferring to Japan permanently.”

“…Ah.”

While Dojin had been out of it, Sehun, as vice-captain, had been managing Alpha Team in his place.

Dojin rubbed at the corner of his dry eyes with a fingertip. They burned slightly from the dryness.

“We’ll go back.”

“Then I’ll arrange to—”

“Not right away.”

“Pardon?”

“If we move him too soon and Jiho Guide’s condition worsens… I’ll return once he wakes up. You take the others back to Korea first.”

“But… without you, how are we supposed to…”

“You’ll manage. Help settle the public.”

“……”

Dojin’s voice held no inflection. His expression remained blank, and his eyes were lifeless.

Seeing how utterly drained Dojin looked, Sehun couldn’t say a word in response.

Dojin gave Sehun’s shoulder a light pat and walked down the hall.

That day, Sehun began persuading the others, and they made plans to return to Korea ahead of him.

Even after they left, Dojin remained at Jiho’s side, never straying far.

People in Japan had heard of Jiho’s bravery. They did everything they could to support both him and Dojin.

“…Ugh.”

“……!”

Then, three days later.

“…Mmm…”

“Guide Jiho?”

Jiho’s eyelids, which had remained motionless all this time, began to twitch faintly.

Dojin’s eyes widened in shock.

“Jiho!”

“Uuh…”

Finally, Jiho’s eyelids lifted. Like someone waking from a long, deep sleep, he tried to raise his hand to rub his eyes.

But having been bedridden for so long, he didn’t seem to have the strength. His fingers twitched, and his arm shifted slightly before falling limp again.

Unable to watch any longer, Dojin gently held Jiho’s hand and caressed his cheek with the other.

“Guide Jiho. Are you awake? Do you know who I am?”

“…Hyung…”

“…Ha… Thank you, thank you…”

Dojin’s eyes brimmed with tears. He pressed his forehead against Jiho’s hand and murmured his thanks to no one in particular, over and over.

Meanwhile, Jiho’s mind was growing clearer by the moment.

“Where… cough! Ugh…”

“Shh. You’ve been unconscious for a long time. Don’t strain yourself.”

Jiho’s eyes widened in surprise, seemingly startled to hear how long he’d been out.

He moved his dry eyes around to examine the room. The sharp scent of disinfectant and the beeping of a heart monitor were familiar.

“A hospital…?”

“Yes. A military hospital in Japan. Would you like some water?”

Jiho’s voice came out cracked and broken. His throat had dried out from disuse.

When Jiho gave a faint nod, Dojin’s expression wavered again. He poured lukewarm water into a glass and brought it over.

“Here… carefully.”

“…Ugh…”

As he supported Jiho and helped him drink, Dojin quietly explained everything that had happened.

“Thanks to you, we succeeded in clearing the dungeon.”

“Ah…”

“Others are aware of your contribution. Now that you’ve woken up, it won’t be long before people come rushing here.”

But despite his words, Dojin didn’t look pleased. He seemed somehow discontent.

Jiho, unable to understand that expression, leaned back on the stacked pillows and stared quietly at him.

Then Dojin cupped Jiho’s cheek and rubbed it gently with his thumb, letting out a long sigh.

“…I was really, truly worried.”

“Hyung…”

“I thought I was going to lose you. I’ve never regretted not having a different ability before…”

“……”

“If I were a healing Esper, I could have saved you right there. I beat myself up every night for not being able to do that.”

“Hyung.”

“Thank you so much for waking up like this.”

Only then did Jiho truly see the condition Dojin was in.

His face was beyond pale, lifeless even, his hair messy and unkempt. Dark shadows clung beneath his eyes from exhaustion, and his cheeks seemed slightly hollow. His lips, cracked and dry, were scabbed over from being chewed.

That haggard appearance felt unfamiliar and painful to witness.

He had always been mature, composed, and put together.

‘Because of me…’

It was all because of him.

Normally, he would have been drowning in guilt or self-loathing, but strangely, he didn’t feel that way this time.

If anything—

It felt odd seeing Dojin so anxious because of him.

His fingertips, his stomach, and even his throat all felt like they were tingling.

Even when he’d lost consciousness inside the dungeon , at the moment he heard Dojin screaming his name, he had felt something similar.

‘I shouldn’t make him worry…’

And yet, ironically, Jiho liked that Dojin was worried about him.

Unable to put that feeling into words, Jiho simply nuzzled his cheek into Dojin’s palm.

“Hyung… hug me.”

When he asked in that childlike voice, Dojin’s expression melted like snow. He gently hugged Jiho, held him for a moment, then pulled back.

“Now that you’re awake, I’ll go call the doctor.”

“…Hyung?”

Jiho blinked in confusion, looking a little bewildered.

He had asked for a hug. Was that all he was going to get?

Dojin pretended not to notice Jiho’s eyes and hurried out of the room.

Left alone in the quiet, Jiho tilted his head and blinked.

“What was that…?”

His voice echoed faintly through the hospital room.

According to the doctor’s examination, Jiho was in perfect health.

He was simply physically weakened, so the recommendation was to eat well and slowly rebuild his strength through light activity.

Dojin decided to remain a few more days until Jiho’s strength returned.

“Hyung, what about the other team members?”

“They all went back to Korea. Having the entire team stay in Japan was drawing attention.”

“They’re all okay?”

Despite being the one most severely injured, Jiho was the one worrying about everyone else.

Dojin’s chest tightened with emotion. He lightly stroked Jiho’s hair, then gently pulled his hand away.

“Yes. Everyone’s safe.”

“Thank goodness…”

Jiho, who had seemed a little tense, visibly relaxed and smiled.

Dojin shut the window, which had been open for ventilation, and placed a mug of warm tea in Jiho’s hands.

“Any other questions?”

“Yes.”

Dojin tilted his head slightly, signaling Jiho to go ahead. Jiho began listing his questions without hesitation.

“About the dungeon. That dream demon I saw—she was the dungeon’s boss monster, right? But no matter how I think about it… she was different from what the monster encyclopedia described. The records showed that dream demons walked on two legs, but they didn’t look that human. And she spoke like a person. She even talked to you. How is that possible? Why weren’t you surprised that she spoke? Don’t tell me… you knew her or something…”

“Wait, wait.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll explain slowly, one at a time. So, Guide Jiho, you’re curious about the dream demon, correct?”

“Yes.”

He nodded, his tousled hair swaying with the motion.

Dojin pulled over a stool and sat at the edge of the bed, answering carefully.

“Actually, I encountered that dream demon in a nightmare.”

“A nightmare? You had a bad dream too? What kind of—wait, never mind. I won’t interrupt. Please continue.”

Dojin stopped talking and looked at Jiho with a faint smile. Embarrassed, Jiho clamped a hand over his mouth.

Dojin finally let out a soft laugh and shook his head.

“I’ll tell you about the nightmare another time.”

“Okay.”

So curious, he’s just like my little nephew, Dojin thought. Lately, Jiho had been talking more, asking more questions.

He’s become a little question machine.

Sometimes it was a bit much, but it was still a welcome change. Better than when he was constantly walking on eggshells.

Dojin held back a chuckle and resumed.

“According to what the dream demon said…”

He began recounting the same things he had already told the Alpha Team and the Esper Director.

That the dream demon was a servant of the gods, chosen by the gods themselves. That monsters with self-awareness like her might begin to appear more frequently.

“…They might already be among us.”

“Huh?”

Jiho’s eyes widened at the possibility. That seemed a bit of a stretch.

It didn’t sound like something Dojin would normally say.

But Dojin only shrugged. Then he glanced toward a corner of the hospital room.

Jiho followed his gaze.

In the corner lay a large, snow-white fox curled up in a ball.

“…Heendungi?”