DPGR 137

Just as Alpha Team expected, things unfolded exactly that way.

Kwak Jiheon even brought up a presentation screen to reveal the contents of the hint notes coming out of the dual dungeons.

Then he spoke about the soon-to-open Final Dungeon.

“W-what did he just say?”

“Final dungeon? What dungeon?”

“Wait… they’re expecting it to be at least SS-rank? Hold on, were there ever even dungeons above S-rank?”

The entire auditorium stirred in confusion. Amid the chaos, Kwak Jiheon projected his voice with firm resolve and said everything he intended to say.

–An anonymous individual foresaw the Final Dungeon. Its location, difficulty level, environment, monsters, every bit of intel crucial to the strategy has already been secured. There’s no need to worry.

“…?”

Even the Alpha Team tilted their heads at that one, visibly puzzled.

Kwak Jiheon went on to say that the only remaining piece was to confirm the exact date the Final Dungeon would appear, and then they’d be fully prepared.

“Um, Director! I have a question!”

Someone in the audience raised their hand boldly. At Kwak Jiheon’s nod, the question came.

“Who exactly is this anonymous person? Are they someone we can trust?”

–They are trustworthy. But I won’t reveal their identity. They don’t want to become the center of attention.

Jiho poked Dojin in the side.

“Is that ‘anonymous someone’ you, hyung?”

He whispered it so only Dojin could hear. Dojin nodded.

“…Seems like it.”

But Dojin looked just as caught off guard. Clearly, this wasn’t something he’d agreed to in advance.

While watching Kwak Jiheon try to calm the semi-panicked crowd, Jiho couldn’t help but wonder if this was really the right way.

***

For the sake of more efficient management, Kwak Jiheon announced he would merge the Esper and Guide wings and designate them as one unified center.

On the outside, civilians unaware of the internal circumstances criticized him as a power-hungry maniac.

But Kwak Jiheon ignored all the talk and judgment surrounding him.

He didn’t have the luxury to care. As the Center Director, he was busy leading people and taking the most dangerous roles on himself.

“Esper Dire- no, I mean, Center Director! I really think you should stay back and command from the center…”

“Are you serious? We’re short on every single esper. You think I can just sit around giving orders?”

“But it’s too dangerous!”

“Exactly.”

“…Sorry?”

“Because it’s dangerous, I have to go myself.”

Kwak Jiheon responded heartily to the secretary trying to stop him. It drove the poor secretary mad, tasked as he was with keeping the center running.

Though he knew full well how much trouble he caused, Kwak Jiheon pretended not to notice.

‘I’ve been away from the front lines for too long. I’ve lost my touch. I need to get my combat senses back, there’s no time.’

So he didn’t hesitate to step into dungeons himself.

The espers, who had initially wavered with anxiety, found strength again as they watched him take the lead.

It was a time when both espers and guides were pushing forward with all they had.

***

As time passed, the weather grew colder.

It was as if the dungeons were affecting the climate, temperatures dropped drastically, and snow fell in thick waves.

As the world became blanketed in white, Dojin’s condition deteriorated.

He couldn’t fall asleep unless he was holding Jiho, and even then, he would repeatedly wake from nightmares after only a few hours.

The more the snow piled outside, the more that day he lost Jiho seemed to consume him. Jiho, on the other hand, was doing surprisingly well.

Like Dojin, he sometimes had nightmares, but he recovered quickly and managed his anxiety on his own.

“Hyung, are you okay?”

“…Yes. I’m alright now.”

It was another ordinary dawn. Jiho had woken Dojin yet again, who was tossing and turning from a nightmare.

Dojin clung to him, trembling, but gradually calmed down as Jiho gently released guiding energy.

“…I’m sorry. Because of me, you can’t sleep either.”

“Mm, it’s fine. The real problem is you, hyung.”

Jiho truly looked composed as he spoke. His eyes were swollen with sleep and fatigue, but he didn’t seem frightened or distressed.

‘How can he be so okay with everything?’

Dojin remembered Jiho’s “nightmare” from the Japan dungeon. Jiho had experienced the same, or perhaps even worse pain than him.

‘And yet he’s not falling apart like I am.’

Jiho was steady. Meanwhile, Dojin was the one being eaten alive by nightmares.

“Guide Jiho, aren’t you scared?”

“Huh? Of what?”

“…You went through a lot in your past life. Bad things.”

Dojin wanted to ask, aren’t those memories painful? Aren’t they hard to bear?

Jiho paused for a moment, then shook his head.

“I’m okay.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I mean, sure, thinking about it does feel crappy…”

Jiho burrowed into Dojin’s arms and hugged him tightly around the waist.

“But you’re with me now, hyung.”

The past should stay in the past. What mattered now was living in the present, looking toward the future.

Under Dojin’s care, the boy had grown enough to understand where to focus to find happiness.

As Dojin watched Jiho say those words, he began to wonder, maybe Jiho was actually stronger than him.

‘I picked up a tiger cub without realizing it.’

That thought made Dojin chuckle softly. He lay down again, tightly holding Jiho’s hand.

“Let’s go back to sleep.”

“You’re not going to sleep, though.”

“…”

“You’re scared you’ll have another nightmare, aren’t you?”

Jiho gently touched Dojin’s cheek. His cheeks, thinner than before, had lost some of their softness. Jiho frowned in distress.

“It’s okay, so go ahead and sleep. You’re tired.”

“I’m fine too.”

Jiho was being stubborn. Lately, Dojin had found Jiho’s growing stubbornness impossible to beat.

“…Then how about we just talk?”

“Talk? About what?”

“Anything we haven’t said. Things we’re curious about. Silly stuff.”

“Hmm…”

In the dark, Jiho’s eyes sparkled. Dojin couldn’t take his eyes off the ever-changing expressions on his face.

The warmth in his arms, the heartbeat against him, and every little movement all reminded him that Jiho was alive.

“Oh! I do have a question.”

Jiho smiled brightly, voice light with excitement.

“When’s your birthday, hyung?”

“My birthday?”

“Yeah. Mine’s May 5th. It’s not actually my real birthday though. It’s the day I entered the orphanage.”

“…Ah.”

May 5th. That was Children’s Day. On a day meant to celebrate kids, Jiho had been abandoned and taken in by an orphanage.

Dojin’s eyes softened with sorrow, and Jiho shrugged as if to say it was fine.

“But I still like my birthday. The orphanage had too many kids to celebrate every birthday, you know? But on Children’s Day, we got donation gifts. I was the only one who always got birthday presents every year.”

Jiho knew Dojin felt sorry for him. While he appreciated the concern, he didn’t want to be pitied.

So he kept his tone light and continued chatting.

“What about your birthday, hyung?”

“Mine… it’s April 11th.”

“April 11th…”

Jiho repeated the date under his breath again and again, trying to memorize it.

“Is there anything you want as a birthday gift?”

“All I need is you, Guide Jiho.”

“Be serious.”

At Jiho’s insistence, Dojin chuckled softly. He brushed his lips against Jiho’s soft cheek.

“I don’t know… even just a single flower would make me happy.”

“That’s it?”

“It’s not ‘just.’ If it’s from you, anything would make me happy.”

Unable to hold back his affection, Dojin hugged Jiho’s waist tight. Jiho giggled from within his embrace.

Their silly, meandering conversation went on for a long time after that.

“What would you want to do if our powers disappeared someday?”

“First thing? Sleep in all day with Guide Jiho.”

“Same here. And I want us to go out and have fun too.”

“Where would you like to go?”

“Hmm… an amusement park? I’ve never been.”

“Sounds fun. We should go to one for your birthday.”

“…Really?”

“Really.”

“Hehe. That sounds amazing. Then what should we do on your birthday?”

“Well…”

In the quiet bedroom, their voices murmured on endlessly. They talked about their future, the things they hadn’t said yet, and the things they’d always wanted to do.

“Oh. There’s one thing I want to do.”

Near the end of their long chat, Dojin took Jiho’s left hand and fiddled with it.

“What is it?”

Jiho looked puzzled. Dojin lifted his pinky to his lips and gently bit it.

“Hyung…?”

“I actually wanted to put a ring on this finger.”

“…?”

Jiho’s eyes widened. The faint pre-dawn light from the window made even his trembling eyelashes shimmer.

Dojin kissed the corners of Jiho’s eyes.

“I wanted to propose to you with a ring.”

That day they came back from the Jeju dungeon. If the dungeon hadn’t broke out at the center, maybe that wish could’ve come true.

Then maybe by now, they would be calling each other lovers and whispering sweet words without hesitation.

“…I’d like that.”

Jiho mumbled, his cheeks flushed red. He spoke as if he’d already received the proposal and was giving his answer.

Dojin smiled softly. He pressed his lips firmly to Jiho’s.

“Not now, but someday.”

“Mm…”

“After the Final Dungeon is over, I’ll propose to you properly.”

“…Okay. I’ll wait.”

Even though he was dying to fast-forward time, Jiho gave a gentle smile and replied.

In the cool air, the sounds of their breaths blended into a soft, sticky warmth.