DPGR 144

“<My Guide, unlike me, doesn’t have any memories of the first life and only experienced the Final Dungeon in the second. But since he was a Guide, he probably doesn’t know much about combat.>”

As Dojin continued speaking, the foreigners in the video began turning their attention toward Jiho.

Jiho perked up at the sound of his name.

Then, for the first time, Korean was heard from beyond the screen.

“How about it, Guide Seo Jiho?”

Dojin frowned slightly, clearly displeased that someone was addressing Jiho. He made no attempt to hide his discomfort, but Jiho, who was sitting with his back to him, didn’t notice.

Instead, Jiho looked at the screen with a surprised expression, not having expected to hear Korean or be the center of conversation.

As his round eyes widened, the man on the screen chuckled and introduced himself.

“Ah, my apologies. I’m Matsuoka Gensuke, commander of Japan’s psychic military. I’m honored to finally greet the hero of the last S-rank dungeon.”

The way he raised his eyebrows while speaking gave him a shameless air, but his laughter was just as bold as his personality.

Jiho gave a clumsy bow toward the screen.

“Ah, hello… I’m Seo Jiho.”

“Oh! I see, nice to meet you. Ha ha! Well then, now that introductions are out of the way, we are in the middle of a meeting. May I ask you to answer a question?”

“Y-yes?”

“Esper Baek Dojin mentioned that you, Guide Seo Jiho, experienced the Final Dungeon in the previous timeline. Is that correct?”

Only then did Jiho grasp the context of the conversation. His expression brightened slightly.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Jiho recalled what he could and briefly explained what he’d seen.

“…But things happened so fast and unexpectedly back then. I don’t remember all the details. What I do remember is that monsters appeared right from the start and destroyed the safe zone. Because of that, most of the guides died, and the espers fell into chaos after losing them.”

Jiho spoke slower than usual, seemingly careful not to say anything wrong.

Dojin found it surprising that Jiho could recount such a terrible memory from his past life without trembling in the slightest.

That guide who was small and fragile enough to fit snugly in his arms… somehow felt stronger than him now, and the thought made him smile.

“In the Final Dungeon I went through… there weren’t enough guides. Not even close. So I think it would help if there were a lot of defense-type espers to protect the safe zone.”

After finally organizing his thoughts and speaking his opinion, Jiho blushed and fell silent. He worried that he’d overstepped by offering his input.

He glanced around nervously, trying to gauge the reactions of the people on the screen. From behind, Dojin and Jiheon silently sent him threatening looks, practically screaming, Why aren’t you clapping yet?!

“I see. That’s a valuable suggestion. We’ll be sure to take it into account.”

The Japanese center director said this, and those who didn’t understand Korean clapped while listening to the live interpretation.

Jiho smiled shyly, happy that his words had been helpful.

***

The meeting continued for another two hours.

Given the chaos caused by having too many participants during the first life, they decided to divide the operation into three teams to be better prepared for the future.

Still, everyone agreed that the best-case scenario was succeeding on the first try, so the initial team had to be composed of the very best.

All S-rank espers from each country would be included, along with selected A-rank espers with strong offensive capabilities.

For support, they would include defense-type espers who could protect the guides, and only high-ranking guides or those with a wide range would be chosen.

In some countries, there wasn’t even a distinction between paired and unpaired guides. So, the centers decided not to distinguish between them either.

“Then… does that mean even our unpaired guides will be included?”

“Yes. We’ll explain things to them first and ask for their cooperation.”

“Hmm…”

After the meeting ended, Jiho listened to a summary from Dojin and Jiheon and looked worried. Korea’s unpairy guides were already divided into teams by rank.

That meant A-ranks mostly belonged to Team 1.

“If it’s A-rank, that includes Team 1.”

Dojin, who knew about Jiho’s past with Team 1, was clearly displeased about having to work with them.

In both his first and second lives, Jiho had belonged to Team 1 and had been bullied and ostracized by them.

Even in this life, there had already been conflict between Jiho and the Team 1 guides. Dojin, who tended to be overprotective of Jiho, didn’t want him working with them.

But with the meeting over, Korea couldn’t just decide to exclude A-rank guides and only use B-ranks.

“Should I try speaking up?”

Dojin, still unwilling to give up, looked ready to call another video meeting right away.

“Don’t bother. Not all the A-rank guides are in Team 1. We’ll just narrow it down appropriately.”

At Kwak Jiheon’s interjection, Dojin’s expression soured. Jiho took Jiheon’s side and tried to calm Dojin down.

“I-I think if we just talk things through with Team 1, it’ll be okay. Everyone’s lives are on the line, and things are desperate… so once we’re actually inside the dungeon, I’m sure they’ll cooperate.”

Jiho only voiced the positives. It was practically wishful thinking. But it wasn’t entirely wrong.

Both Dojin and Jiheon nodded at Jiho’s reasoning, thinking that once inside, they’d have no choice but to cooperate.

Of course, that assumed Team 1 would agree to enter the Final Dungeon in the first place.

None of them realized yet that this assumption was flawed.

***

“I refuse.”

The leader of Team 1 rejected the proposal the moment Kwak Jiheon brought up the final dungeon strategy. It was a firm declaration, as if they had no intention of stepping into the dungeon at all.

“Team Leader Park. The situation is urgent. Please reconsider-”

“No. I said I refuse. Neither I nor anyone on our team will enter the Final Dungeon. Please take that as our answer.”

There was no room for discussion.

Forget cooperation. The Team 1 guides were murmuring among themselves, questioning why they should risk their lives in the field.

“We’re free guides. We stayed unpaired exactly so we wouldn’t have to go into dungeons.”

“Y-yeah… It even says that in the guide contract, doesn’t it?”

Kwak Jiheon’s face darkened with concern.

“Yes, the contract… But if you look closely, it also states that in emergencies, unpaired guides may be called to–”

“No, no. Either way, we’re not going in.”

Jiheon tried to reason with them, but they shut him down immediately. He sensed a hint of hostility from Team 1.

It seemed they’d never accepted the fact that Jiheon had unilaterally taken over the center’s leadership.

Come to think of it, wasn’t Team Leader Park once considered a candidate for Guide Director?

Jiheon quickly grasped the political undercurrents. Office politics again.

“…Ha.”

In the end, Jiheon gave up trying to persuade them. As he stepped back with a sigh, Jiho, who had been watching quietly, stepped forward.

“If… if we fail to clear the final dungeon… everyone will be in danger!”

“……”

“People you love might die. Lovers, friends, family. So please… can’t you help us, just this once?”

His desperate plea rang out with sincerity.

Jiho clasped his hands together and made eye contact with each of them, begging.

But even so, the Team 1 guides shook their heads.

“It won’t change anything even if we go in.”

“If I’m going to die, I want to be the last one to go.”

“Same here. I’m not going to walk into a death trap of my own accord.”

Some of them looked uneasy or conflicted, but most only repeated that they couldn’t do it, clearly afraid of death.

“Guide Jiho, that’s enough.”

“Yes, that’s enough. Let’s go.”

Dojin wrapped an arm around Jiho’s waist and gently pulled him back.

Jiheon also patted Jiho’s slumped shoulders and walked away with the two of them.

I was wrong…

Jiheon’s expression darkened as he walked away. The words of Team 1 replayed in his head.

If I’m going to die, I want to be the last one to go… I’m not going to walk into a death trap…

Most people probably feel that way.

Jiheon realized he’d been so focused on moving forward that he hadn’t considered the feelings of those falling behind. He hadn’t had the time.

But now he realized things weren’t as hopeful as he’d thought.

Everyone had the same terrified look in their eyes.

Maybe it was because of what had happened during the dungeon break. The unpaired guides seemed especially fearful of anything related to dungeons. Even when they said no, their faces couldn’t hide their fear.

That was why Jiheon gave up trying to persuade them further. Forcing frightened people into the dungeon wasn’t an option.

…This is bad.