DPGR 109

“Yes. You just came back from witnessing memories forgotten by another-dimensional being, didn’t you?”

The god stretched a hand into the air. Golden lights shimmered and swirled, forming small glowing shapes.

They took the form of someone identical to Dojin.

“In the first wager, you all made it safely to the final battle.”

The glowing image of Dojin fought a colossal monster. Piled beneath his feet were the corpses of countless monsters and humans alike.

But then—

“An unexpected twist occurred. The one who had contributed the most… chose to end his own life.”

Dojin dropped his weapon and charged at the monster unarmed. The monster tore his body apart.

Dojin’s form crumbled, dissolving once more into golden light.

“……!”

Jiho clapped both hands over his mouth. He feared he might scream if he didn’t.

He didn’t know the full story, but it was clear—Dojin had committed suicide.

‘Why would hyung…’

Even as Jiho stood frozen in shock, the god continued his explanation.

“Not long after your death, the outcome was decided. My dimension was the one that lost the final battle.”

The god could not accept that fact. He couldn’t bring himself to abandon this dimension that had become so meaningful to him.

So he chose to use his divine power to gain another chance.

“Reversing time is a heavy burden, even for a god. You remember I told you gods don’t die, yes?”

“…Yes.”

“But if we use too much power, we fall into a long sleep. One that lasts far longer than you humans could ever imagine.”

In truth, sleep was preferable to endless boredom. But a sleeping god’s dimension became easy prey for other gods.

“That’s why I planned to use only just enough power to avoid falling asleep. I reversed time by just a few years.”

Only a few years.

And even that required the utmost caution.

“In my judgment, your death tipped the balance of the battle. And when I retraced the cause of that death, I sensed it had something to do with that child. I couldn’t fully grasp human emotions, but…”

He gestured toward Jiho, who sat frozen on the bed.

From this, Jiho realized he must have died before Dojin in their first lives.

Dojin, who still retained those memories through the dream demon’s nightmares, tensed completely.

The god turned back to Dojin.

“That’s why I chose to reverse time while preserving the memories of your first life. As I predicted, you devoted yourself to protecting that child—doing everything you could to keep him alive.”

In their first lives, Jiho had died inside the dungeon.

So upon returning with his memories, Dojin left Jiho as an unpaired guide. He stayed distant, not wanting to endanger Jiho further.

Yet, in this second life, another twist appeared.

“It was an unforeseen variable. The one who had survived until the end in the first life… died prematurely this time.”

Both Dojin and Jiho’s expressions darkened. The god gave a shrug, then looked toward Jiho.

“And that child.”

“……”

“In this second life, he survived all the way to the final battle. He alone gave strength to countless humans, allowing them to keep fighting. Though… it didn’t seem to be of his own will.”

Horrific memories from the dream demon’s nightmare began replaying in Jiho’s mind.

His breathing quickened. His hands and feet turned cold. Sweat broke out across his body.

Sensing this, Dojin rushed to his side and wrapped him in a hug, patting his back.

“Shhh… It’s all right. Don’t think about it.”

“Huh, hngh…”

“It was just a dream. Just a nightmare.”

Dojin muttered gently while casting a sharp warning glance at the god—as if telling him not to push Jiho any further.

The god, too, wore a face tinged with pity as he looked at Jiho.

Whether it was genuine, or simply an expression crafted by a god incapable of feeling… was unclear.

He slowly walked over and sat lightly on the stool Dojin had occupied, then began again.

“In any case… I realized I was wrong the last time. After that child died in the final battle, my dimension fell once again.”

The god kept thinking.

If he gathered the last of his power to turn back time one more time—maybe this time they had a chance.

The decision didn’t take long. He carried it out.

“This time, I chose that child as the target. But his mind seemed too fragile, so I had to make some adjustments.”

“What did you do to Jiho?” Dojin growled, teeth clenched, as if spitting the words.

But again, the god chose to overlook the insolence, taking it as concern rather than disrespect.

“I buried every painful memory he couldn’t bear. Roughly… everything that happened after you died.”

Everything that happened after Dojin’s death.

The god overlaid what little power he had onto Jiho’s soul.

But it was temporary.

“I knew the overlaid power wouldn’t last long. But I had no choice. I had already reversed time once more, this was the best I could do.”

Thanks to that, Jiho returned without remembering the full horror.

As the god predicted, he searched for Dojin, met him again, and helped him grow stronger.

After finishing his explanation, the god added one last message in a weary tone.

“This is your final chance.”

“……”

“If we lose again… there will be nothing more I can do. You will die. This dimension will fall to beings from another world. And I… I’ll lose the world I love.”

Time had already been reversed twice. No other god had ever tried to claim a second chance during the game.

The gods of the other dimensions mocked Earth and its god, watching eagerly to see what would become of it.

The god’s shoulders slumped. Perhaps because the form he wore was that of a young boy, the sight stirred unnecessary sympathy.

“So you two must do well. Don’t die. Survive to the end. I believe it’s possible if you draw strength from one another.”

That request was followed by a bitter murmur.

“…To think my poor decisions caused my creations to suffer—I have no excuse.”

A moment of silence settled over the room. Soon after, the god’s body began to glow once more.

Dojin and Jiho realized the god was beginning to withdraw.

Dojin quickly called out a question.

“Is there a way to recover my memories? I want to remember both my first and second lives.”

The god’s figure was soon enveloped in radiant light. A calm voice flowed from within it.

“Well, it would probably help if you did… But giving it all back at once would be harmful. I’ll make sure it returns gradually. Just be patient.”

Fwoosh—!

The light grew so bright it was hard to keep their eyes open. As the god’s final words echoed, Dojin held Jiho close in his arms, as if shielding him.

Moments later, the light faded.

The boy who had been perched on the stool swayed, then collapsed.

The hospital room was immediately filled with heavy silence.

That evening—

[(!Breaking News!) A peculiar dungeon discovered in Nevada, USA. Authorities currently investigating.]

News broke of the world’s first dual dungeon emerging in the United States. Time, which had seemed frozen, began to flow once more.

[A dungeon within a dungeon? Gate research chief suspects simple mutation.]

[Peculiar dungeon found in Nevada. Could it lead to a dungeon break?]

[Disappearance of Nevada’s S Team? What is this dungeon?]

The internet, TV—everything was abuzz. All because of the first dual dungeon that had appeared in America.

Though it was in another country, the sheer scale of the incident caused Japanese media attention on Dojin and Jiho to noticeably decline.

It was a relief for the two of them.

“Yes, Master. It’s definitely a dual dungeon. No, I don’t have all the details yet… I plan to return sometime this week. Yes, as soon as possible. I’ll see you then.”

In the now somber hospital room, Dojin’s voice echoed quietly during his call.

Meanwhile, Jiho leaned against Heendungi—who had returned to fox form—and was scribbling something in a notebook.

“Guide Jiho.”

A little later, after ending the call, Dojin walked over to him.

“What are you writing?”

“Mm… Just bits and pieces.”

Jiho handed him the notebook. Across the white pages, messy scrawl filled the space like a child’s writing.

First dual dungeon. Dungeon clearance time…? Dungeon by-products? A gourd, mirror? Notes. Note contents… memory X. Casualties? Not sure.

It was scattered, as if Jiho had simply jotted down every thought that came to him. But within it, Dojin could clearly see Jiho’s desire to be of help.

He gently stroked Jiho’s hair, which had drooped slightly with discouragement.

“This is more than enough.”

“But I barely know anything…”

“I don’t remember anything at all. No one else does either. You don’t have to be the one to figure everything out, Guide Jiho.”

Though meant as comfort, it didn’t quite reach Jiho’s heart.

Seeing how down he still looked, Dojin thought for a moment on how to lift his spirits.

“Shall we go out for a short walk? Even just to the convenience store…”

Because of Jiho’s weakened condition and the swarm of Japanese reporters, the two hadn’t been able to leave the hospital easily.

But now, with attention diverted by the dual dungeon, a short outing didn’t seem so difficult.

Thankfully, Jiho showed some interest.

“…I want ice cream.”

“Yes. Let’s go.”

“And pudding…”

“You can pick anything you want.”

“…Hee.”

Finally, a smile curved Jiho’s lips. His drooping eyes crinkled into a beautiful arc, as if they’d never been downcast.

He told Heendungi they’d be back soon, then hopped off the bed.

“Let’s go, hyung.”

He grinned and naturally reached out to hold Dojin’s hand.

Dojin stiffened slightly, but at Jiho’s puzzled gaze, he forced himself to move casually.

‘…Maybe I should’ve taken more medicine.’

He glanced sidelong at Jiho’s hand, still holding his.

“Hyung?”

But he couldn’t let himself get lost in thought for long. Jiho had gotten sharper lately, he couldn’t afford to let him catch on.

“Yes. Let’s go.”

The two walked out of the hospital room side by side.

Behind them, Heendungi watched them with a distinctly disapproving look.