DPGR 25

Meanwhile.

Jiho—the “controversial” center of the frenzy—started his day like any other, completely unaware that the world had flipped upside down because of him.

Breakfast with Dojin, a shower, slipping into the clothes Dojin picked out for him, layered under one of Dojin’s coats. Then, climbing into Dojin’s car for the ride to work.

“Things will get busy at the Center. You’ll be starting your new guide training today.”

Dojin’s voice drifted over as Jiho sat in the passenger seat, gazing out the window.

Jiho blinked in surprise at the sudden announcement, his eyes going wide. Dojin glanced at him and let out a quiet chuckle.

“You do know that now you’re officially a pair guide, you’ll eventually have to go out into the field, right?”

Jiho nodded.

“You’ll need to start training to prepare for gate deployment.”

New guide training.

It was something Jiho had gone through once already in his previous life.

But as an unpaired guide who remained inside the Center, the training had been light. Basic theory, posture, how to manage energy—nothing hands-on.

So naturally, Jiho assumed this time would be the same. Just a review of what he already knew.

Because he still hadn’t fully grasped that he was no longer just an unpaired guide.

Unaware of Jiho’s misplaced confidence, Dojin continued explaining the actual training required for pair guides.

“Of course, you’ll do the standard guiding exercises—but beyond that, you’ll also be learning physical conditioning, self-defense, and firearms.”

Physical training? Self-defense? Firearms?

All of it involved using the body—something Jiho had never needed to do. He blinked, flustered.

Wait a minute…

Now that he thought about it, all the guides deployed to dungeons had one of those gleaming silver guns strapped to their belts.

And considering the unpredictable nature of dungeons, it made sense they couldn’t rely solely on their espers for protection.

Jiho had known that much in theory.

What he hadn’t considered was that he would be the one undergoing that training.

If I’m going to enter gates too, I’ll have to be able to protect myself…

“Guide Choi Geonwoo will be handling your guiding education.”

Jiho tilted his head at the unfamiliar name. Dojin added:

“He’s Jihye’s pair guide. Once we get to the Center, I’ll introduce you to the Alpha Team’s pair guides.”

Currently, Alpha Team had three espers in pair contracts: Dojin, Jihye, and Yulchan.

Among their guides, Geonwoo had the most experience and was the most skilled in guide control.

Dojin encouraged Jiho, saying he’d learn a lot from him.

“As for physical training and self-defense, Gijun, Jihye, and Yulchan will be rotating to oversee it.”

—What about firearms?

Jiho mouthed the question silently, but even with his eyes on the road, Dojin caught it.

“I’ll teach you. Believe it or not, I’m pretty good with guns.”

Jiho remembered—before his awakening, Dojin had served in special forces.

It was hard to imagine anyone better qualified.

When Jiho nodded without even asking for details, Dojin quirked a brow at how readily he accepted it.

With one hand turning the wheel smoothly, he spoke again:

“Well, it’s your first day. Why don’t we start by introducing you to the team?”

As soon as they arrived at the Center, Dojin led Jiho straight to the training room.

Inside, the Alpha Team espers and two guides had already gathered at Dojin’s summons.

“This is Guide Seo Jiho, my new pair guide.”

At Dojin’s introduction, Jiho bowed politely. A hand extended toward him.

“Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Choi Geonwoo—Jihye’s pair guide. I’ll be in charge of your training from here on.”

A man with a composed face and a calm, gentle voice.

Jiho looked at the hand, then glanced at Dojin. Dojin gave a small nod, silently telling him it was okay.

After a brief hesitation, Jiho reached out and took Geonwoo’s hand. The cautious motion made Geonwoo chuckle softly as he gave a light shake.

“I’m Lee Sena. Paired with So Yulchan.”

The woman next to Geonwoo spoke up, her voice sharp and direct.

Jiho’s gaze naturally shifted to her.

Unlike the towering Geonwoo, Sena was small—very small.

Maybe mid-150s in centimeters (1m50, 4’11). Petite just like Jiho.

Her round face still held a bit of baby fat, giving her a youthful appearance.

Trying to mirror his earlier gesture, Jiho offered his hand first. A show of effort on his part. But Sena simply stared at his hand, her expression unimpressed.

“So? What do you want me to do about it?”

“……”

“What, you gonna cry now just ’cause I’m being cold?”

“Sena…”

Yulchan tried to step in, but she brushed him off with ease—even though he was her pair.

“Don’t butt into my personal relationships.”

“Lee Sena.”

“What, So Yulchan.”

The air in the room turned cold in an instant.

Those who knew Sena’s temperament fell silent, all eyes nervously drifting to Jiho.

Was he shocked? On the verge of tears? Maybe not crying, but a trembling lip at least?

But Jiho didn’t look startled.

He didn’t cry.

Didn’t pout.

Instead, eyes gleaming with curiosity, Jiho approached Sena, who was still arguing with Yulchan.

“Wh-what do you want?”

Suddenly approached by Jiho, Sena was caught off guard. Jiho, sensing her surprise, took half a step back and started rummaging through his pocket.

A moment later, he pulled something small out of his pocket—a candy.

“…What’s this?”

As Jiho held it out, Geonwoo, who had been silently watching, murmured under his breath.

“…MyChew?”

It was the candy that Dojin had packed for Jiho in the morning—MyChew.

MyChew = a sign of wanting to get closer.

Anyone who’d been through school would recognize this unspoken rule. Jiho had heard about it from Kijoon before.

So, this was Jiho’s way of showing friendliness to Sena.

Sena, slightly stunned, hesitated before taking the candy from Jiho.

“I’m only accepting this because you’re giving it to me. I’m not really fond of this kind of thing, so next time, you can just keep it for yourself.”

She said it with a sharper tone than necessary, tossing the candy into her mouth with a huff. Even as she chewed, her muttering didn’t stop, but Jiho was content that she had accepted his gesture of goodwill. He smiled to himself.

Dojin, watching the whole scene, couldn’t hide his shock.

He had never received a MyChew from Jiho himself.

Frozen in surprise, Dojin could hear the whispers of the team members around him.

“Is Sena Jiho’s type? They kind of look similar, don’t they?”

“Oh, if those two hit it off, Captain Baek and Yulchan are gonna cry.”

“I’ve never seen Jiho show this much interest in someone. He was so shy when we met him.”

Despite all the murmuring, Jiho remained glued to Sena’s side. His caramel-colored eyes sparkled as they focused on her.

Dojin couldn’t help but feel a little hurt by the unexpected display of affection.

…He doesn’t actually like Lee Sena, does he?

***

From that day onward, Jiho followed his simple routine:

In the mornings, he went to the Center with Dojin, attended guide training in the guide wing until lunch, and then moved to the esper wing to do physical training.

The physical training was nothing intense—just walking briskly on a treadmill for 30 minutes. He wasn’t yet in good enough shape to continue longer.

Self-defense and firearms training had been postponed for now, as he still needed to build up more stamina.

I should work harder so I can learn more quickly.

Jiho was secretly frustrated. He wanted to start learning self-defense and firearms as soon as possible so he could enter dungeons with Dojin.

At his current rate, he wouldn’t be able to keep up in the field. Jiho wanted to be a help to Dojin, not a burden.

His desire to learn and grow burned quietly inside him. Then one day, as he was in the middle of his routine:

“Ah, Captain Baek. Are you coming now?”

“Hmm? Why? Did something happen?”

“The Esper Director asked for you to come to the Center Director’s office with him.”

Sehun, whom Jiho ran into in the esper wing lobby, relayed the message from the Esper Director.

Dojin glanced at the clock. Normally, he would stop by his office, take off his coat, and then escort Jiho to the guide training room.

“We’ll head over in a bit… Maybe 20 minutes… no, 15 minutes…”

At Dojin’s words, a slight look of discomfort passed across Sehun’s face. It was a subtle change, but Jiho, used to reading people’s expressions, noticed it immediately.

Tap, tap.

Jiho pulled on Dojin’s sleeve twice, signaling that he had something to say. He quickly took out his notebook and pencil from his bag and scribbled a note.

[I can go by myself.]

He knew the way to the team leader’s office and the guide training room.

Though Jiho seemed a bit clumsy, he was still an adult.

Dojin didn’t seem to think so, though.