Chapter 49: Encounter (6)
Chapter 49: Encounter (6)
Relieved that nothing out of the ordinary had happened, Kang Yujin washed up and changed into casual clothes.
The three of them gathered in the living room to discuss their next move. First, Yujin told them about the request she had received from the Association.
“So... should we take a break for a while?”
Han Shin felt that continuing their hunts would be dangerous, now that he realized the Association and the clans were systematically trying to catch whoever was clearing the dungeons.
“I suppose... that would be for the best, wouldn't it?”
Naturally, Yujin spoke cautiously, leaning toward stopping because she was worried about Han Shin.
“Hmm...”
The problem was that Han Shin felt pressured by the idea of just resting indefinitely. Tiamat had gone out of her way to find him, make him her Proxy, and sign a contract because portals were opening more frequently, dungeons were being left uncleared, and the Dimensional Prison holding the Evil Gods was weakening.
He felt burdened by the thought of letting time slip away without doing anything. Moreover, rather than basic training, it was crucial for Han Shin to continue clearing dungeons and absorbing the mana from Dungeon Cores to grow stronger. He also needed to do it to help Grace regain her original power.
‘At my current level, the range of portals I can enter is limited to Chungcheong Province... Ugh...’
Han Shin had leveled up, but he was still only Level 8. Each level required more mana than the last, and since he shared that mana with Grace, it was only natural that clearing F-rank and E-rank dungeons was taking a long time.
After remaining silent for a while, Grace spoke up.
“Shin-a, how about we move somewhere else?”
“Huh?”
Grace’s suggestion hit Han Shin like a bolt of lightning.
“Oh... right. Now that I think about it... we can just go abroad, can't we?”
Portals appeared in every corner of the globe. There was no reason they had to limit their activities to Korea. Since Han Shin and Grace used the Manager App to enter dungeons secretly, they could simply stay in another region for a few months and enter the portals that appeared there.
Financially, they were no longer lacking in the slightest, so there was no reason to hesitate.
“Shin-a, I think that’s the best idea too. There are countries that desperately need help given their circumstances, so it might actually be better,” Yujin added.
As Yujin said, Han Shin belatedly realized that not every country had a proper infrastructure or a fully functioning government. In developed nations, portals were a source of income... but for developing nations, they were still a threat to survival.
Of course, Awakeners from developed countries did go to those places to make money, but there weren't enough Awakeners to cover everything. Furthermore, most Awakeners preferred a comfortable, luxurious lifestyle and were extremely reluctant to be deployed to underdeveloped countries with poor living conditions.
“I should have thought of this sooner...”
Han Shin felt disappointed in himself for not realizing he could grow stronger while helping those in need.
Seeing Han Shin look a bit dejected, Grace and Yujin exchanged glances and smiled subtly. They liked seeing this side of him—the way he reproached himself for not being more considerate of others. It revealed his kind nature.
“Shin-a, let’s discuss where we should go.”
“Okay.”
It would be foolish to just head overseas without a plan. They had to consider many factors: whether the region was safe for Han Shin and Grace, what the local situation was like, and how easy it would be to travel back and forth. Seeking out a place in dire straits just because they needed help would be reckless. Helping others while taking care of oneself was the right way; sacrificing oneself too much or taking unnecessary risks was poison.
The first region they ruled out was Africa. It was a chaotic area where warlords ran rampant, making it too dangerous to predict what might happen. Being an Awakener didn't mean one was immune to gunpowder weapons like guns or cannons. While it was true that powerful Awakeners could face off against and easily massacre ordinary people armed with such weapons, the majority of Awakeners still found it difficult to handle an entire army.
That was why, in developed nations, Awakeners operated in cooperation with the government. In Africa’s current state, the law of the jungle prevailed, with various warlords killing one another in total chaos. Entering such a place to help was dangerous enough to require risking one's life.
Of course, Yujin had the power to crush and grind most Awakeners into dust with her psychokinesis, but she immediately excluded the region because she didn't know what might happen to Han Shin. Han Shin also knew it was a dangerous area, so he agreed without a word.
“Let’s skip North America and Europe too...”
They ruled those out for the opposite reason: they were too stable. The clans and Associations there would react just as sensitively as those in Korea.
They began to eliminate options one by one. The East Asian countries near Korea were also difficult because they were well-organized. South America was rejected for reasons similar to Africa.
After filtering through various conditions, surprisingly few regions remained.
“I think going to Australia or Nepal would be best.”
In the end, these two regions remained. The commonality was that both had close ties with the UK and cooperated to deal with portals, but they couldn't quite manage the load. Nepal’s issue was its high-altitude terrain and lack of proper infrastructure, while Australia’s problem was its small population relative to the size of the continent.
In both regions, monsters that had emerged during the early days of the portals—when the response hadn't been adequate—had adapted to Earth and formed their own ecosystems. Fortunately, both regions had active flight routes, making travel convenient, and the safety of residential areas was guaranteed, fitting their requirements.
After an in-depth exchange of opinions, the three of them decided on Nepal.
Nepal would naturally have fewer eyes watching them than Australia, and given Han Shin and Grace’s current low levels, they had to consider the physical distance required to enter portals via the Manager App. Even if they went to Australia, they would have to travel deep inland away from residential areas, which carried the risk of being discovered. Nepal seemed like the best fit.
“If we say we’re going to Nepal because you want to see the scenery, I don't think people will be too suspicious.”
“Yeah.”
Publicly, Han Shin was still paralyzed from the waist down. Naturally, he would have to use a wheelchair when boarding the plane and act as if his body was still ailing. To justify going abroad in such a state, they needed a plausible reason, and saying it was Han Shin’s wish to see the landscapes of Nepal didn't seem strange.
After thinking for a moment, Yujin asked Grace, “Grace, can you choose exactly where you emerge when you move through the Sanctuary?”
“Yes. If it’s a place I’ve personally visited, I can set the coordinates and emerge there.”
“Hmm... then once we go there once, we’ll be able to move back and forth quite freely.”
Grace nodded at Yujin’s words.
“As long as the safety of the coordinate location is secured, it’s possible.”
This meant they wouldn't have to stay abroad for a long time. Grace snapped her fingers and spoke to Han Shin.
“Shin-a, why don't I try to get a private jet anonymously? If we only need to go there once, it seems better to go secretly rather than leaving a departure record for no reason.”
“Yeah. Like you said, Noona, that sounds better.”
Leaving a record could lead to trouble later, so it was important to keep things as secret as possible.
Grace then pulled out several treasures she had prepared in her subspace—three or four artifacts—and placed them on the table.
“Sell these to supplement our funds. It’ll take quite a bit of money to get a hideout there that’s guaranteed to be safe.”
“Alright. I’ll put them to good use.”
Yujin didn't refuse Grace’s offer. As she said, it seemed better to buy an expensive house—a high-end mansion that would keep random people away even when they were gone. She had money of her own, but there was no reason to refuse when Grace was offering.
And so, the three of them spent their time preparing for their trip to Nepal.