Chapter 104: Japan (12)
Chapter 104: Japan (12)
The Association staff accompanying Wolyeong were on edge.
They were currently traveling by military helicopter, just as they had the day before, but the atmosphere inside felt strangely chilly.
It was because Wolyeong’s mood felt heavy, like a gathering storm, even though nothing had changed much on the surface. She wasn't voicing any complaints or showing irritation, but to the staff who had supported her for two years, her current aura felt decidedly "low-pressure."
Since this rarely happened, they couldn't help but feel flustered.
Han Shin, sitting silently in his black robe, knew exactly why Kang Yujin, sitting beside him, was acting this way. They were supposed to have breakfast together this morning.
Ugh... I’m such an idiot...
However, he had lost track of time while Ravishing Grace and Laysia. By the time he snapped out of it, showered, and went to find Kang Yujin, she had already finished her meal and was ready to depart.
Han Shin had tried to apologize, but she simply told him they would talk once they returned home. He was left tight-lipped, unable to say another word.
Because of this, even though he sat right next to her in his black robe and silver helmet—making it impossible for outsiders to read his expression—Han Shin was incredibly self-conscious of her presence.
Ugh... how am I going to make it up to Noona...
Han Shin felt genuinely guilty for breaking his promise. But with so many eyes on them, he couldn't do or say anything right now. He decided that as soon as they finished clearing the Reinforcement Portals in Japan and returned to Korea, he would prostrate himself before her in apology.
Since the Kanto region had a high concentration of Japanese Awakeners, they had declared they would handle those portals themselves. Thus, Han Shin’s group was currently heading straight toward the Kansai region.
I should clear these dungeons as quickly as possible.
Thanks to their activities the previous night, Han Shin, Grace, and Laysia had all leveled up using the mana from the Dungeon Cores they had obtained. Having grown stronger, he was confident they could clear the upcoming dungeons even more smoothly.
Contrary to Han Shin’s worries, Kang Yujin’s anger had actually already dissipated.
Of course, she had been upset when Han Shin failed to show up for breakfast. But she wasn't the type of person who could hold a grudge against him for long. Her feelings for him were so vast that she had spent her life looking only at him, even secretly fending off other women who tried to cling to him.
The only reason she was pretending to be angry was that seeing Han Shin look so troubled and apologetic was actually quite endearing. Furthermore, since he had already promised to spend private time with her once this job was over, she figured acting this way might even extend that time a little longer.
She expected Han Shin to feel terrible and to spend his time in Korea sincerely apologizing and focusing entirely on her—and she was exactly right.
The combined motivations of the two led to an increased clearing speed. Kang Yujin cleared her dungeons more quickly and efficiently than the day before... and Han Shin, along with Grace and Laysia, also tore through the monsters with haste.
Everything was proceeding smoothly. Han Shin, Grace, and Laysia had just finished off a Minotaur.
Inside a massive mine, the giant bovine-headed humanoid had charged at them, swinging an axe with glowing red eyes. While they had mostly faced gargantuan monsters the day before, today’s targets were smaller—larger than humans, but small compared to the giants of yesterday.
They engaged in fierce melee combat within the maze-like mine shafts. The training Han Shin had received from Grace and Laysia in close-quarters combat proved to be a great help.
To crush the thick, sturdy skull of the Minotaur in one go, Han Shin had chosen his Warhammer, and it proved to be an excellent choice.
Thwack!
The Minotaur’s skull collapsed under the weight of the Warhammer, and the creature crumpled like a falling tree.
Thud!
The Minotaur acting as the Boss Monster was larger and had darker skin than the others, but... its axe-wielding arm was severed by Grace, and its sturdy legs gave way after Laysia struck the back of its knees with a kick.
In the next instant, Han Shin gripped his Warhammer with both hands and swung it upward, shattering the black Minotaur’s head to finish it off.
This dungeon had taken a bit of time due to its layout, but the combat itself had been easy, making the whole experience feel quite manageable for Han Shin.
However, as he looked for the next dungeon, Han Shin’s expression stiffened slightly. He couldn't help but feel tense upon seeing the monsters listed for the next location.
Orcs.
Two years ago, when Han Shin was still an ordinary person, he had stepped forward to protect others and nearly died. Those were the monsters that had left his entire body crippled.
Back then, a C-Rank dungeon hadn't been cleared in time, and a pack of Orcs had escaped into the world.
Just as Awakeners grew stronger with rank, so did Orcs. Their basic nature was to form tribes centered around powerful individuals, so a large pack meant the presence of a strong leader.
Though not yet confirmed, it was highly likely an Orc Chieftain was present. An Orc Chieftain possessed immense strength compared to regular Orcs. Furthermore, Orcs were dangerous because they were humanoid monsters capable of intelligence and cooperation.
Even by Awakener standards, they were considered extremely dangerous due to their powerful physical abilities and special individuals who could use supernatural powers just like Awakeners. They appeared in various ranks starting from C-Rank, and as the rank increased, the tribes grew larger and the individuals stronger.
In the case of the dungeon Han Shin was about to enter, it was impossible to know exactly how many Orcs were inside. The Japanese Awakeners had fled in terror from the rapidly multiplying horde, and even the reconnaissance team had nearly been killed by the well-organized group.
Considering that the number of Orcs in an A-Rank Portal usually exceeded 3,000, and the reconnaissance team’s estimate was even higher, it had been classified as an A-Rank Portal.
In short, the place was crawling with Orcs, and one had to slaughter them all to reach the Chieftain. This was why it was a dungeon most Awakeners avoided.
The higher the rank, the more Orcs there were, and since there were powerful individuals among them, a massive amount of manpower was required. Furthermore, the ultimate goal in the world of Awakeners was to obtain Artifacts. In a dungeon like this, large-scale battles were inevitable, requiring a lot of time and carrying a high risk of accidental death. The tension was immense.
Since the efficiency relative to the investment was so poor, it was one of the dungeons everyone disliked and found troublesome. Fortunately, Orc dungeons were very rare among A-Rank Portals, making them somewhat manageable.
The Japanese side had assumed that their own Awakeners would have to fight alongside Han Shin’s group to clear this particular dungeon. Therefore, they had suggested to Wolyeong that it would be best to save it for last.
Kang Yujin hadn't cared either way, so she had simply agreed and moved on to clear other dungeons. Since Kang Yujin and Han Shin were currently clearing dungeons separately and couldn't easily contact each other, Han Shin, unaware of these arrangements, was planning to enter immediately.
Grace, having heard that Han Shin had been injured by Orcs in the past, noticed his tension and asked in a worried tone.
"Um... Han Shin-nim. Will you be alright?"
"Yeah. It's something I have to overcome eventually."
Han Shin forced a smile and spoke reassuringly. To him, it was a personal challenge, and while Grace and Laysia were worried, they were also proud of him.
The enemies Han Shin would face in the future were demons—beings far more cunning and powerful than Orcs. There was no guarantee he would never encounter Orcs again, and as an Awakener who had to fight with his life on the line, he needed the courage to face his fears.
Since Han Shin was already strong enough to handle Orcs, Grace and Laysia believed the only potential issue was psychological. Overcoming that depended on Han Shin’s will, so they viewed his determination positively.
"Then, let's move out immediately."
"Yes. I am ready."
"Even if you get hurt, I'll heal you," Laysia said with a gentle smile, trying to ease his nerves. Han Shin couldn't help but smile back.
Han Shin operated the Manager App with a flick of his finger.
Immediately, the three of them felt the sensation of their bodies floating as they were transported into the dungeon where the Orc tribe awaited.