Chapter 110: Japan (18)
Chapter 110: Japan (18)
As soon as I returned to Laysia’s Sanctuary, I pulled off my helmet and collapsed onto the floor.
Having fought so fiercely against such a massive swarm of Orcs, my gear was a total mess, caked in black blood and dust, and my body was drenched in sweat.
“Ugh...”
This was the first time I’d let out such a groan after a battle ended.
Of all the monster hordes I had faced so far, this was the largest. No matter how many I killed, they just kept coming. It had been truly exhausting.
The only saving grace was that after we took down the boss monster, the Orcs fell into disarray, giving us the opening to withdraw immediately. Since a Portal collapses once the boss monster—which acts as the Dungeon Core—is defeated and its mana is absorbed, there was no reason to linger.
I wasn't particularly greedy for artifacts, and since we were all quite spent, we moved straight to Laysia’s Sanctuary without a second thought.
Groan...
They say once you sit, you want to lie down, and that was exactly how I felt. Since there were no eyes on me here, I sprawled out spread-eagled on the floor.
Now that the battle was over and I was safe in the Sanctuary, the tension bled out of me, replaced by a delayed, throbbing ache throughout my entire body.
Man... everything hurts...
I hadn't noticed it in the heat of battle, but the spots where the Orcs' spears had grazed or poked me were starting to sting. I stared blankly up at the Sanctuary’s pure white ceiling.
I really have changed.
To stand before that many Orcs and not feel a lick of fear... It hit me then just how much I’d changed.
Two beautiful women—one with pale-gold hair and the other with light-red hair—appeared in my field of vision. Looking down at me, both appeared just as exhausted as I was, yet they wore smiles.
“Han Shin-nim, you really outdid yourself today.”
“You did well, Han Shin-nim.”
“Thanks.”
Praise always feels good, no matter when you hear it. It felt even better coming from these two beautiful women who were essentially my mentors.
Regardless, Tiamat’s preparations had played a huge role this time. Of course, considering the source of my strength was my contract with Tiamat, that went without saying. The armor Tiamat gave me was a lifesaver; it prevented the attacks I’d failed to dodge due to my lack of experience from turning into fatal wounds.
I had watched Grace and Laysia during the fight. No matter how many Orcs they faced, they barely allowed a single hit, dodging effortlessly and leading the monsters exactly where they wanted them.
On the other hand, I...
Well, even I had to admit I fought like a total brute.
Still, it was a stroke of luck that I suddenly realized how to channel the Power of the Dragon during the fight. Perhaps due to the enhanced recovery that came with that power, the throbbing pain began to subside, and I managed to push myself up.
Seeing this, Grace spoke.
“Han Shin-nim, that silver aura that surrounded you during the battle... Have you truly mastered the method of utilizing the Power of the Dragon?”
“Yeah. I have.”
Both Laysia and Grace looked at me with pride, which made me feel even better. It was obvious they would notice. After all, I had collided head-on with a massive boar and come out unscathed, displaying incredible superhuman strength.
Both Grace and Laysia originally manipulated Qi, but after becoming Tiamat’s followers, they used a power that combined Qi with Tiamat’s Holy Power. In a way, whether it was the power they used or the Power of the Dragon I used, it all originated from Tiamat. That was likely why the silver aura I radiated felt familiar to them.
However, depending on their individual traits, Grace’s power felt like her sharp Sword Energy had become even more lethal, while Laysia’s felt more like she was channeling Qi to create powerful explosions.
Hmm... what about me...?
The only thing that came to mind was that I simply got stronger. It felt a bit abstract—like I was able to exert physical force far beyond my natural limits. I wanted to get a clear explanation from Tiamat, but she was still fast asleep...
Well, things turned out well, and I can figure it out one step at a time. There haven't been any issues so far, so there's no point overthinking it.
Anyway, I should probably call it a day for hunting, right? I had hoped to finish everything today, but that last battle really drained me.
“We should probably stop here for today, right?”
“Yes. We’ve cleared quite a few Dungeons today, and we still have tomorrow. There is no need to overexert ourselves,” Grace replied.
“I agree,” Laysia added.
Both Grace and Laysia judged that resting was the safer option. Since we were calling it quits, I needed to wash up... but first, I had to let Noona know. I realized I needed to contact her and tell her we were finishing our Dungeon run for the day. Otherwise, she’d be the only one still working hard.
“I should tell Noona. Let’s head out for a moment.”
“Understood.”
I quickly put my helmet back on and took the hand Laysia offered. A moment later, with the familiar sensation of floating, I emerged at the lodging we had been assigned earlier.
After confirming no one was around, I immediately sent a message to Noona.
[We decided to stop the hunt here for today.]
We had agreed to contact each other like this if there were any changes or issues, so she would likely check it once she exited her Dungeon. As it turned out, she was already outside, as a reply came back instantly.
[Got it, Shin-a. Let’s meet back where we started this morning.]
Ah... come to think of it, it might look strange to outsiders if I went off to rest separately from her. Since we were done for the day, it would be better to be seen with her.
I immediately explained the situation to Laysia and Grace.
“Noona said okay. You two go ahead and wash up first. I think I should join up with Noona so it looks like we’re finishing the hunt together.”
“Understood.”
“We’ll do that.”
The two of them agreed to my request and Noona’s plan without hesitation. The starting point was only about ten minutes away, so I could easily get there on my own.
After reverse-summoning Grace and Laysia, I pulled out and donned a black robe that cast a Perception Distortion barrier. This black robe possessed similar abilities to the one Noona wore, capable of distorting perception and even granting a form of invisibility. Since I had to slip out of here unnoticed to join Noona, this was necessary.
*
Fortunately, nothing happened on my way to join Noona. By carefully avoiding people and moving cautiously, I didn't seem to be detected by anyone. Their lack of reaction suggested they didn't even perceive me.
I soon spotted Noona, the Korean Association staff, and the Japanese Association officials gathered together. Seeing Noona wrapped in her own black robe was a relief.
However, as soon as they saw me, I felt a stir among the crowd.
What is it...?
I thought I had come in secretly. Did I get caught?
★ ★ ★
Contrary to Han Shin’s worries, he hadn't been "caught" in the sense of being discovered while sneaking.
The reason everyone besides Kang Yujin was buzzing the moment they saw Han Shin was because of the Dungeon he had just cleared with Grace and Laysia.
The Dungeon containing the massive Orc tribe was one they had planned to subjugate later by deploying Japanese Awakeners as a joint force. They had temporarily postponed informing Han Shin about it, assuming that based on the scouting reports provided to Moon Shadow and Knight, he would realize it was a Portal infested with an Orc tribe and avoid it entirely.
It was a perfectly rational assumption. By the standards of Earth’s Awakeners, the idea of entering a Dungeon crawling with an entire Orc tribe solo was not even worth considering. No matter how strong an Awakener was, their stamina and strength had limits, and clearing a massive horde alone was bound to be incredibly taxing.
Thus, the Japan Branch of the Awakener Association was utterly shocked to hear that the Reinforcement Portal containing the Orc tribe had suddenly vanished. Given the circumstances, it couldn't have been a natural dissolution; someone had cleared it, and that "someone" could only be Knight.
Of course, the truth was that Han Shin hadn't annihilated the Orc tribe and cleared the Dungeon alone; he had done it with the help of Laysia and Grace.
However, to the outsiders who had no way of knowing this, he was judged to be a powerhouse with nonsensical capabilities.
‘Where did a monster like this come from...?’
‘That dried black blood... it’s Orc blood.’
‘He really cleared it alone...’
Furthermore, because Han Shin had traveled there immediately without washing his Silver Full Body Armor, it was still stained with the blood of the Orcs he had fought. Although he was wearing a black robe, every Awakener present saw the black Orc blood smeared across the faceplate of his silver helmet.
It was something Han Shin hadn't even considered, but because he was now perceived as a warrior of overwhelming power, the crowd fell into a hushed frenzy the moment he appeared.
Kang Yujin wasn't quite sure how to handle the atmosphere. In truth, she had also overlooked the social implications. Knowing how strong Grace and Laysia were and hearing how quickly Han Shin was growing, she had simply expected the three of them to clear the Orc tribe Dungeon safely. Like Han Shin, she had failed to consider how this would look to the public.
“We’ll stop here for today and finish the rest tomorrow.”
“Yes! We will escort you to your lodgings immediately!”
“Please do.”
The statement that he would rest immediately after clearing an Orc tribe Dungeon had been relayed by Kang Yujin before Han Shin arrived, and to the others, it was now seen as perfectly natural.
‘Of course. No matter how strong he is, he cleared an Orc tribe Dungeon solo. He must be exhausted.’
This was the unanimous thought shared by everyone present, whether they were Association officials or Awakeners, Korean or Japanese.