Chapter 52: In Nepal (1)
Chapter 52: In Nepal (1)
‘It really is nice being rich.’
The journey to Nepal with Kang Yujin was far more comfortable than Han Shin had expected.
Kang Yujin had told the staff that they didn't need to enter the section where the two of them were staying and that she would call if they needed anything.
As a result, she only summoned them occasionally when something was required. They brought everything immediately and always checked if there was anything else they could provide.
"Is there anything else you need?"
Each time, Kang Yujin would answer the stewardess at the door.
“No, we’re fine. I’ll call you if we need anything else.”
The reason she kept them from entering the room while handling requests herself was, of course, to prevent any contact with Han Shin.
Han Shin’s physique was far too sturdy and healthy for someone supposedly confined to a wheelchair.
So far, no one had noticed anything strange, so his secret remained safe, but it was only natural that the more time people spent around him, the higher the chance they would sense something was off.
That was why Kang Yujin intentionally took the lead.
There was also another reason: the stewardess was subtly showing interest in Han Shin.
“Understood. Please be sure to call if you need anything.”
When Kang Yujin turned her away, the stewardess retreated with a look of disappointment.
After fending her off and closing the door, Kang Yujin felt a surge of pride, thinking she had successfully chased away a little vixen trying to cling to Han Shin.
Han Shin, for his part, realized exactly why Kang Yujin was acting that way.
Her desire to spend time with him without being disturbed was a clear expression of her affection.
Being loved always felt good, so Han Shin found Kang Yujin’s behavior quite adorable.
The facilities inside the plane were exceptionally luxurious, making the long flight incredibly comfortable.
After a flight of just over seven hours, the plane carrying the two of them arrived in Kathmandu.
From the air, Han Shin and Grace could see the massive barriers surrounding the city, giving Kathmandu the appearance of a mountain fortress.
Upon arriving at the airport, they exited through a private passage prepared for VIPs and immediately boarded a waiting vehicle that took them to the mansion Kang Yujin had purchased in advance.
The mansion was located on the outskirts of the city, quite close to the barrier.
It was a recently built property intended as a villa for wealthy foreigners. Kang Yujin had deemed it perfect for their needs and bought it without even haggling.
With its high walls, a large garden featuring a pond, and a long, rectangular two-story building with a modern design, it looked expensive at a single glance.
The people who guided them were from a local security firm hired by Kang Yujin, famous for their skill and for maintaining client confidentiality.
Han Shin used a specialized vehicle that allowed him to get in and out without needing to be physically lifted from his wheelchair, so he was able to disembark without their assistance.
Even though the security personnel were known for their discretion, there was no reason to reveal that Han Shin was merely acting.
Kang Yujin pushed Han Shin’s wheelchair from behind as the two of them entered the house.
The security team, who would be responsible for guarding the perimeter, told them to call if they needed anything and then stepped outside.
Once they were gone, Kang Yujin locked the door.
Knowing there were no more prying eyes, Han Shin immediately stood up from the wheelchair.
“Ah… I feel like I can breathe again. Gwaaah!”
Since contracting with Tiamat, Han Shin’s body had recovered and become far stronger than before, making it a torture to sit still for so long.
Han Shin stretched his stiff muscles.
Meanwhile, Kang Yujin picked up a remote control from a table and pressed a button.
Immediately, the large glass windows overlooking the exterior began to be covered by black walls.
This was a feature designed to turn the house into a bunker for the safety of the occupants in case monsters invaded the city.
She wanted to check if the function worked properly, but more importantly…
Even though the windows were one-way glass that prevented people from seeing in, she activated the shutters to block the view entirely.
Han Shin quickly pulled out his smartphone, opened the Manager App, and summoned Grace.
A cluster of light gathered into a pillar, and once it dissipated, a platinum-haired female knight appeared.
Thinking there might be an emergency, Grace was wearing her silver full body armor and had her hand gripped firmly on her sword hilt.
She relaxed upon seeing that it was only Han Shin and Kang Yujin, with no immediate threats.
Her sharp gaze softened, and she released her grip on the sword.
Seeing Grace summoned, Kang Yujin felt a bit disgruntled that her sweet time alone with Han Shin had come to an end.
‘But… it can’t be helped.’
She knew very well that Grace was indispensable to Han Shin, so she accepted the situation despite her lingering disappointment.
Furthermore, without even realizing it, a sense of mutual trust had been steadily building between Kang Yujin and Grace.
Since she had been told before being reverse-summoned that Han Shin and Grace would be traveling for a long time, Grace spoke as soon as she saw him.
“You’ve worked hard, Lord Han Shin. You too, Yujin.”
“It wasn't that bad, Grace. Thank you for waiting for us alone.”
Han Shin comforted her, feeling guilty for leaving her alone in the Sanctuary, even if it had been unavoidable.
Grace felt heartened by Han Shin’s attitude.
She could feel that the man she loved was thinking of her.
As a warm atmosphere began to settle in, Kang Yujin’s eyes narrowed slightly before she quickly put on a bright smile.
“That’s right. It wasn't hard at all. Go ahead and change your clothes. Let’s have a quick meal first.”
“Alright.”
Kang Yujin also changed into comfortable clothes and prepared a meal.
In the meantime, Grace and Han Shin took out necessary supplies from the subspace and organized them.
Han Shin, Kang Yujin, and Grace were all relieved that the journey to Nepal had gone without a hitch, and they celebrated the successful start of their plan.
After finishing the meal, Han Shin picked up his smartphone and opened the Manager App.
‘Tiamat is still sleeping. I wonder when she’ll wake up.’
Tiamat’s SD character was still fast asleep on the bed.
Even after making Han Shin her proxy, she seemed to be constantly in this state, likely still recovering her power.
‘I need to get stronger quickly.’
Knowing that Tiamat’s recovery would be faster the stronger he became, Han Shin resolved once again to work harder.
“Oh… there are so many portals being picked up.”
Han Shin was amazed by the sheer number of accessible portals compared to when he was at home in Korea.
In Korea, usually only one or two would appear, and sometimes he even had to wait.
But here, about six were available for immediate entry.
This was because Nepal’s rugged terrain and the surrounding monster ecosystems made it difficult for Awakeners to access portals easily.
Since they had to form large parties to move, specific dates were set for group expeditions to manage the costs and preparation.
Because today wasn't an expedition day, there were many vacant portals.
“Should we go in right now?”
Feeling the need to speed up Tiamat’s recovery and grow stronger himself, Han Shin spoke to Grace with enthusiasm.
Grace smiled at Han Shin’s motivation and nodded.
“Yes, Lord Han Shin.”
“Be careful. I’ll finish tidying up the house.”
Neither of them objected, and since they weren't tired and had plenty of energy, they decided to strike while the iron was hot and enter a dungeon immediately.
Han Shin and Grace entered the dungeon.
After that, the two of them cleared six dungeons in rapid succession.
Han Shin’s personal growth played a major role.
Ever since he had first taken up the spear in battle, he had gained insights into combat that transcended specific weaponry. His ability to coordinate his movements with Grace had reached a point of significant growth.
The two of them had reached a level where they could fight through E-rank dungeons without needing a break.
The only disappointing thing was that Han Shin still hadn't properly awakened his talent.
He still couldn't feel Qi, nor could he manipulate psychokinesis or mana.
As a result, he focused solely on increasing his weapon proficiency.
By the time they reached the sixth and final dungeon available for the day…
Han Shin had become as proficient with the spear as he was with the sword.