DPGR 166

After letting go of his anxiety, Jiho became even more proactive in his duties as Baek Dojin’s paired Guide.

It was a direct result of the realization he’d come to that day, as he listened to Baek Dojin’s heartbeat. That the Dojin from the first life and the Dojin from the third life were the same person.

Jiho even began correcting Baek Dojin’s rotten attitude. All the nagging he had previously held in, thinking it wasn’t his role, he now let out without restraint.

“Hyung, couldn’t you participate a bit more in training?”

He called out Baek Dojin’s lax attitude and sent him off to train.

“And I’d like it if you could be just a little kinder to other people too. They’re our coworkers, after all.”

He reached into Baek Dojin’s social life and began fostering some basic interpersonal skills.

“And during dungeon raids too. You’re already doing well, but I’d like you to give it your all. You’re an S-rank, and a multi-ability Esper.”

He praised his abilities while boosting Baek Dojin’s dungeon participation rate, something that even Kwak Jiheon, the Esper Director, and other Espers had given up on.

At first, Baek Dojin was caught off guard by all the nagging. But under Jiho’s sparkling eyes, trusting gaze, and gentle voice, he was lured into doing exactly as he was told.

In the end, while he didn’t quite reach the level of the Dojin from the third life, Baek Dojin did manage to become a decently capable S-rank Esper.

“Hahaha! S-ranks really are different! If you keep this up, you’ll be in the running for a team leader position soon.”

Baek Dojin’s noticeable improvement won people over. When someone known for being rude showed a bit of kindness, it was all the more endearing.

Baek Dojin made an effort to soften his personality and get along with others, and those around him naturally responded.

Jiho watched with pride as Baek Dojin changed little by little, along with his reputation and the goodwill of those around him.

At the same time, Jiho continued to accompany Baek Dojin into dungeons, repeating the cycle of hoping for and being let down by the lack of divine response.

Several years passed just like that.

***

“Guide Jiho. The dungeon we’re entering today is likely to be a double-layered dungeon. It’s dangerous, so maybe you should stay outside this time…”

“No, I want to go too. Please take me with you.”

Jiho pleaded with him desperately. Baek Dojin stared at him for a moment, then, realizing he wouldn’t win this one, nodded.

“…Then promise me you won’t do anything dangerous.”

“Okay. I promise.”

Their pinkies linked. Jiho gave Baek Dojin a bright smile, then fell briefly into thought.

‘Dual dungeons are starting to appear now…’

In the blink of an eye, four years had passed.

Dual dungeons were beginning to crop up, and information on the Final Dungeon was gradually accumulating.

In the second life, that hadn’t started until he was twenty-three. In the third life, it began at twenty-one.

Since the god hadn’t turned back time yet, things were progressing slower than expected.

‘That’s actually a good thing.’

The outcome of the first life was already set. Humanity would fail to conquer the Final Dungeon, and the god would choose Baek Dojin, turning back time around him.

But even so, because the predetermined end of the first life was the destruction of humanity, Jiho found himself hoping that day would come as late as possible.

‘But what if I can’t return before the Final Dungeon arrives…’

Lately, Jiho had been plagued by thoughts, particularly ones about death.

If he died in the Final Dungeon, what would happen to his current soul?

Would he return to the timeline of the third life through death? Or would he simply vanish, unable to save the third life Dojin?

‘That can’t happen…’

He had to go back. Because he had to save hyung. Hyung needed the resurrection artifact, and Jiho was the only one who could deliver it.

It was a belief that had practically been branded into his soul, like a chant, echoing constantly in his mind. But even so, Jiho’s resolve was slowly starting to fade.

‘I think I’ve lost my way.’

There was nothing he could accomplish through his own efforts. That sense of helplessness was rotting Jiho from the inside.

At some point, Jiho stopped hoping he would return. His resignation festered quietly.

***

“Hopefully this raid goes smoothly too, right?”

“…Yeah. I hope so.”

An A-rank medium-sized dungeon had appeared in Yangyang, Gangwon Province. The Beta Team, mobilized for the raid, split up quickly and began hunting monsters.

While waiting inside the safe zone for Dojin, Jiho smiled faintly at another Guide who spoke to him.

“You’re Esper Baek Dojin’s paired Guide, right? How is it? He’s S-rank, so if the Final Dungeon appears, you’ll be going in too. Aren’t you scared?”

“I’m fine.”

“You’ll be entering with him?”

“I probably should.”

“Hmm… If it were me, I’d cancel the contract. I wouldn’t want to die a pointless death.”

The one speaking to Jiho was a Guide paired with a B-rank support-type Esper.

He had approached Jiho for small talk a few times before, but Jiho had always kept his distance. The topics of conversation were always uncomfortable.

“You should cancel the contract and go unpaired, just in case. No need to die for nothing.”

“…A pointless death?”

“Ah, don’t take it too personally. I’m just being realistic.”

He waved a hand and let out a chuckle. Something about that laugh rubbed Jiho the wrong way.

No, maybe it was the moment the words “don’t take it personally” came out of his mouth that Jiho began to feel annoyed.

With nothing else to say, Jiho nodded emptily at the man’s continued tactless comments, then made an excuse to get away.

“I’ll just get some air.”

“…Alright then. I’m sure your head’s spinning with a lot right now.”

Completely unaware that he was the reason for Jiho’s stress, the man shrugged and let him go.

Feeling like he couldn’t breathe, Jiho genuinely stepped out of the safe zone just to get some fresh air.

“Where are you going?”

“I just want to get a little air.”

“It’s dangerous outside.”

“I’ll just stay close by.”

Jiho murmured weakly. His face had grown pale, and even the defense-type Esper who had intended to stop him ended up nodding in reluctant approval.

“It’s dangerous, so please stay just around the front.”

“Yes… Thank you.”

Jiho bowed politely and stepped outside the safe zone. As he passed through the semi-transparent barrier, he felt the air flow more freely around him.

A gentle breeze blew in from a distance and ruffled his hair. It felt like a hand softly brushing over him, and just as that thought passed through his mind.

–Can you hear me, child?

A voice, neither male nor female, echoed directly in his head. Jiho flinched and looked around, trembling.

The voice came again.

–I’m glad you can hear me.

“…God?”

–Yes. Looks like you’ve found the artifact too. Was I too late?

That casual tone made Jiho flare up. His pale face flushed red with anger.

“Why, why are you only contacting me now? It’s been four years…!”

His voice rose, but Jiho abruptly shut his mouth. From inside the safe zone, people were glancing at him strangely.

Realizing how unhinged he must look, Jiho lowered his voice to a whisper.

“I found the artifact a long time ago. But there was no contact, no signal, and I… And what about the third life timeline? How much time has passed there while I’ve been stuck here? What about hyung? He’s still alright, isn’t he? He is, right?”

Irritation and questions spilled out all at once. Though it might have offended a divine being to be spoken to like this by a mere human, the god responded to Jiho with the same gentle patience as always.

–Only one month has passed in the original timeline. So don’t worry. Baek Dojin is doing well, and your body is also in good condition.

One month.

Jiho’s legs nearly gave out. He barely managed to brace himself against a nearby tree.

His entire body lost strength, and fatigue washed over him. He felt like he might cry.

“…Why did you wait so long to come?”

–Well… I’m sorry. I was preoccupied with the world for a while, and to be honest, beings like me who live eternally don’t experience time the same way humans do. I overlooked that, and by the time I checked in on you, far too much time had passed.

Jiho closed his eyes. Anger, emptiness, and relief all swirled together and turned into tears.

As he scrubbed his eyes with a sleeve, the god continued.

–Do you still have the artifact?

“Yes.”

–Good. Then let’s not waste the connection. Let’s go back now.

Jiho was about to nod readily. But then, this timeline’s Baek Dojin tugged at his heart.

‘Can I really just leave like this? What about Dojin-hyung here?’

His real Esper, the one he loved, was the Dojin-hyung from the third life. That hadn’t changed.

But that didn’t mean the Baek Dojin he had spent four years with here was unimportant.

Jiho hesitated, then asked,

“…If I go back, what happens to Dojin-hyung in this timeline?”

–He’ll just keep on living.

“…What about me?”

–Your physical body here was already dead, remember? Once your soul returns to your original timeline, your body will be left behind as an empty shell.

That meant this Baek Dojin would lose his paired Guide without knowing why. He would have to endure Jiho’s death with no explanation.

Jiho felt conflicted. A loud buzzing echoed in his head.

You have to go back. Isn’t that obvious? You came here to save Dojin-hyung.

But… what about the Dojin-hyung here? I haven’t even said goodbye.

So you’re staying? You’ll let the Dojin-hyung who died to save you stay dead?

No, not that. It’s just…

His nose stung. His vision blurred, and his stomach churned. As if reading his thoughts, the god interjected, firm and clear.

–This timeline is destined to end anyway. You already know that, don’t you?

“…Yes.”

–So what is there to worry about? Do you not want to go?

“That’s not it. It’s just… I haven’t even said goodbye to the hyung here. I’m worried about how he’ll be left behind…”

Jiho spoke as he struggled to hold back his tears. A breeze, gentle like the touch of a divine hand, brushed against his hair.

Jiho lifted his head and looked up at the sky. The god’s voice shook his very soul.

–You must really love him.

Even though it didn’t truly understand human emotions, the god spoke as if it knew Jiho’s heart.

–Yes. The Baek Dojin in this world, in the second life, and in the third, they are all the same person.

The god gave Jiho some time, saying he should reenter the dungeon and call upon him again when he was ready.

For a long while, Jiho remained by the tree, replaying the conversation in his mind and trying to settle his thoughts.

But the storm inside him was not so easily calmed.