DPGR 148

With solemn expressions, the exploration team had set out, but they returned only half a day later, empty-handed.

“This is strange. It’s too quiet.”

All they could see around them were sheer cliffs, mountains, snowdrifts, and heavy, dark clouds.

At first, the absence of monsters had been a relief. But as the hours passed without encountering a single thing, the silence began to feel ominous.

“There’s just too much snow to find any traces.”

The unrelenting blizzard seemed determined to cover even the slightest trace of any monsters that might have passed through.

And with thick clouds clogging the sky, the already dim surroundings grew darker still. As night began to fall, they couldn’t continue the search.

“…Let’s spend the night here in the safe zone and move on at sunrise tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir!”

“We’ll need to start at dawn, so make sure to rest up and conserve your strength!”

In the end, the strike team decided to spend the night in the safe zone they had established earlier.

It was getting darker faster than expected, and since no monsters had been spotted nearby, they figured one night should be safe enough.

“Guide Jiho.”

As soon as the short strategy meeting among the espers concluded, Dojin went straight to look for Jiho, the young guide who had surely been waiting anxiously inside the safe zone.

“Hyung!”

Jiho had already been watching from afar as Dojin spoke with the other espers. Now, bundled up in a thick coat, he ran straight into Dojin’s arms.

“Wh-what happened? The atmosphere seems bad… Did you get hurt?”

“No. I’m fine.”

“Then… someone else?”

“No one was hurt.”

At that, Jiho let out a huge sigh of relief. But as he repeated Dojin’s words in his mind, he realized something was off.

“…No one? Not a single person?”

“No. Actually…”

Just as Dojin was about to explain, Kwak Jiheon, the commander of the Korean strike team, addressed the group.

“We’ll be staying here tonight! We move out as soon as the sun rises, so get to bed early!”

“Here? Are you sure there aren’t any threatening monsters nearby?”

“Yes. That’s what the scouts confirmed. We’ll have rotating watch shifts, so don’t worry too much. Just focus on getting some rest.”

Commanders from other countries were also summarizing the situation to their respective teams.

Jiho stared blankly at Kwak Jiheon, still trying to process everything. Dojin gently redirected his gaze.

“Are you very cold?”

He rubbed his hands together to warm them, then cupped Jiho’s flushed, chilled cheeks in his palms.

While the safe zone blocked out the wind and snow, the cold seeping from the ground couldn’t be avoided. Unlike Dojin, who had been moving around all day, Jiho had been mostly sitting or standing still, with little chance to build body heat.

“I’m okay. I have my artifact, remember?”

Jiho shook his head bravely and showed the silver ring on his right thumb, one of the warming artifacts issued to guides who didn’t have special abilities.

“Still, it’s a low-tier item. I should’ve bought you something better with my own money.”

“Oh, come on. I’m lucky to have this. It’s not like I’m going to freeze to death.”

And after the environment inside the Final Dungeon had been revealed, related artifacts had become nearly impossible to find. Even if Dojin had wanted to buy one, there likely wouldn’t have been any left.

“I really am okay.”

Jiho seemed even more energetic than before entering the gate. Dojin knew it was an act, Jiho w​unauthorized copy​as trying not to worry him.

And Dojin had no intention of worrying Jiho either, so he let himself fall for the act.

“…But still, if it gets too cold, you have to tell me.”

“I will.”

As the two spoke, others began settling down early, adjusting to the deepening night.

Dojin went to his backpack and pulled out a two-person sleeping bag.

“Come here, Guide Jiho.”

“Huh, what?”

“Quickly now. It’s cold. You’ll sleep warmer if we stick together.”

He’d brought a two-person sleeping bag just for this.

My body temperature runs a little high… if he sleeps in my arms, he won’t catch a cold.

Unaware of Dojin’s thought process, Jiho blushed and glanced around.

But everyone else was also lying down in pairs, so Jiho quietly crawled over and lay beside him.

“Are you warm enough?”

“Yeah. You’re really warm. Did you use your power?”

“A little. I can control it precisely, so don’t worry, I won’t accidentally burn the sleeping bag.”

At the teasing comment, Jiho let out a small giggle.

Dojin chuckled softly, slid an arm under Jiho’s head, and wrapped his other arm around his waist, pulling him close.

Jiho buried his face in Dojin’s chest and clasped the hand on his waist, sending a faint guiding energy through it.

“…Guide Jiho. I told you to sleep.”

“I will. I’m going to sleep now.”

“……”

“I just… since you’re using your power to keep me warm, I should guide you too.”

Who knew what danger awaited tomorrow. If something went wrong due to lack of guiding, Jiho would only blame himself.

“When I fall asleep, the guiding will fade on its own. So don’t worry, just sleep.”

Whispering that, Jiho soon closed his eyes. Dojin watched his peaceful face in the darkness.

He could tell what Jiho was thinking.

“…I’m fine.”

He said softly. Jiho smiled with his eyes closed.

“Okay.”

“Really, I’m fine.”

“Okay.”

It was unclear if Jiho truly understood what Dojin meant, or if he was just humoring him.

After a long yawn, Jiho’s breathing grew steady. Dojin felt the guiding energy flowing through their clasped hands gradually fade and murmured,

“Even if I’m not okay… I know you’ll come to save me. So I’ll be okay.”

No response came. Dojin stared at Jiho’s sleeping face for a long time. When the faint guiding finally stopped completely, he brushed Jiho’s cheek where it peeked out of the sleeping bag and hugged him closer, closing his own eyes.

The wind howled outside. He could hear snoring, sleep talk, and murmurs from espers on night watch. All the sounds blended together.

Dojin focused on Jiho’s soft, steady breathing and began counting in his head.

He was just starting to drift off when–

Boom! Ka-Boom!

“……!”

Explosions and tremors from afar jolted him awake.

“Mm…?”

“Guide Jiho! Wake up!”

“Hyung?”

Dojin shook the sleepy Jiho awake, leapt out of the sleeping bag, and grabbed his weapon.

As he approached the edge of the safe zone, something came into view in the darkness.

From the direction of the sound, the sky flickered with black-red light.

Given its position in the sky, most assumed it was a flying-type monster.

“What, what is that? A monster? Is it a wyvern?”

“Shit. Don’t tell me it’s a dragon?”

“Stay alert! Look up! Flying monster incoming!”

But Dojin thought differently.

This vibration I’ve been feeling… it’s not from the air.

Thud— Thud— Thud

The tremors grew stronger. Dojin realized it wasn’t an earthquake, but footsteps.

Ka-Boom! Krrrrra-Boom!

The crimson light in the sky flared again and struck down nearby.

Squinting, Dojin tried to make out what it was in the flash.

In the blue twilight, a silhouette flickered in the red glow, it was a monster, one unlike anything he had ever seen.

“Not flying! It’s a giant-type monster!”

At Dojin’s shout, everyone’s face turned pale. A monster of that size… it was beyond anything they had ever imagined.

Nearby, a terrified guide asked in a trembling voice,

“Sh-should we light a fire?”

“Yeah, fire! Where’s the wood? Where’s the kindling?!”

“We need visibility! Let’s make some torches–!”

Several guides panicked and joined the chaos. Most had no real field experience.

Thankfully, before they could light anything, veteran espers stepped in to stop them.

“Quiet! Don’t light anything!”

“That thing hasn’t spotted us yet! Lighting a fire now would be suicide!”

Meanwhile, the monster’s massive body thudded closer and closer.

It would walk slowly, stop, lower its head, then walk again.

The creature was drawing near.

Screeeech! Kyeeeek!

Strange cries joined the air, clearly from other monsters, not the giant one.

Everyone held their breath.

The giant monster passed by a short distance from the safe zone, gradually moving away.

Thud— Thud— Thud

It was impossible to tell if it was the ground or their hearts that were trembling. As the monster approached, their bodies froze, their limbs tingled.

The sheer murderous aura and pressure were suffocating.

Sweat slicked every weapon grip.

Thud— Thud— Thud

No one spoke. No one moved. They just stood there, trembling, waiting for it to be gone.