Chapter 53: In Nepal (2)
Chapter 53: In Nepal (2)
Kang Yujin warmly welcomed Han Shin and Grace as they returned from clearing their final dungeon.
“Great job, you two!”
It was Yujin who had told them to come straight back and wash up after clearing the fifth dungeon instead of stopping by the Sanctuary, so Han Shin and Grace headed directly to the villa.
This particular dungeon had been a goblin village. Since Han Shin had cleared a similar dungeon before, he and Grace were able to finish it even faster this time.
In gaming terms, it was practically a time attack. Rather than advancing slowly, Han Shin and Grace maintained a relentless pace, never stopping the combat until Han Shin finished it by piercing the brow of the Goblin Shaman—the dungeon core—with the tip of his spear.
Between the preparations for moving to Nepal and the constant surveillance from the Association and large clans, Han Shin had been unable to enter a dungeon for some time. Having finally quenched that thirst, he had run through the dungeon without even realizing how tired he was.
Taking the towels Yujin handed them, Han Shin and Grace wiped the sweat from their faces.
“Here, have some water!”
Using her psychokinesis, Yujin brought out the water she had prepared in the refrigerator and set it before them. Both of them expressed their gratitude once more for her thoughtfulness.
“Thanks, Noona.”
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
Savoring the refreshing chill of the water, Han Shin felt a sense of fulfillment. He had finally satisfied the itch he hadn't been able to scratch for a while.
To be honest, he had been inwardly worried about missing out on real combat for a week, so he felt a wave of relief. During the time they couldn't enter dungeons, he had only been training with Grace. Having been cut off from actual battle, Han Shin had felt inadequate and anxious.
Grace had tried to reassure him that he was fine, but Han Shin’s anxiety hadn't faded easily, as he still felt he had much to learn. Though he had told her he understood, those lingering doubts only vanished completely once he resumed hunting in the dungeons.
His senses hadn't dulled at all. His coordination with Grace was perfect, and he could feel his own skills improving at a rapid pace.
“You’re both going to wash up, right? I’ve drawn baths in each of the bathrooms.”
The villa Yujin had secured was a top-tier facility built for the wealthy, so it had plenty of bathrooms. She had prepared everything so Han Shin and Grace could wash up separately.
“Oh, really? Thanks, Noona.”
Han Shin was grateful for how much care Yujin was taking.
“...Thank you.”
Grace’s response was a beat late. She had certainly received a kindness from Yujin, but she was inwardly dissatisfied.
Usually, after finishing a hunt with Han Shin, they would wash together in her Sanctuary. But they couldn't do that today because Yujin had asked them to come straight back.
Yujin was clearly looking after them. Grace was grateful for that, yet something felt off.
The reason for her unease was, of course, Han Shin. Washing together after a hunt and continuing the connection they shared during battle by being held by him was a source of immense pleasure for her. Now, she had been deprived of that.
Grace didn't know Yujin’s exact intentions, but for now, she kept quiet. She couldn't exactly start a fight in front of Han Shin.
In the meantime, Yujin took the sweaty towels and empty water glasses from Han Shin and nudged him toward the bathroom. She told him she would start preparing dinner immediately, so he should hurry and wash up. Han Shin nodded.
“Got it, Noona. I’ll be out quickly.”
“Okay.”
Once Han Shin was gone, Yujin turned around and naturally locked eyes with Grace. Yujin gave her a sly smirk.
Seeing that look, Grace was certain.
“You did that on purpose.”
“Hmm? Did what?”
Yujin spoke as if she had no idea what Grace was talking about, a smile still playing on her lips. Although she had an agreement with Grace, Yujin had been harboring a lot of frustration.
The only time she could spend with Han Shin was late at night. Since she had to sacrifice her sleep to have sex with him, it was physically taxing for Yujin to visit him every single night.
She knew Han Shin trained and went to dungeons every day. No matter how much she liked him or wanted to be loved, she couldn't help but worry about him. It would be a disaster if she demanded too much of him and affected his condition.
Of course, Han Shin’s physique was improving by the day, and his progress as an Awakener was visible, but sleep deprivation was a different matter. So, Yujin had been holding back.
Grace, however, was different. She would be held by Han Shin after their morning training or after finishing a dungeon hunt.
Yujin knew that Grace and Han Shin had to have sex to grow stronger through the Divine Power of Tiamat. In a way, their sexual encounters were an obligation, unlike her own.
Since they shared a room, Yujin would occasionally probe Grace, and Grace never really hid the fact that she had sex with Han Shin every day. Naturally, Yujin’s dissatisfaction had been building up... and that was the hidden reason she had asked them to return to the villa immediately after their final hunt.
Grace’s expression hardened as she realized Yujin had intentionally interfered with her post-hunt intimacy with Han Shin. For a moment, sparks flew between the two women.
However, they couldn't raise their voices or fight openly while Han Shin was washing in the bathroom. Even a little noise would be noticed, and since they didn't know when he would come out, they both kept their voices low.
“I remember we had an agreement... Are you the first one to break it?”
Grace was naturally angry that Yujin had encroached on her time. Moreover, the time she spent with Han Shin had already been somewhat agreed upon with Yujin.
Yujin also realized she was the one who had broken the agreement first, so she averted her gaze slightly as she spoke.
“Well... it’s true I broke it first, but... you do it with Shin every day. I try to control myself for his sake...”
It was a somewhat defensive excuse, but it made Grace flush with embarrassment. Grace also found the pleasure of seeking affection and being held by Han Shin every day impossible to give up.
However, she secretly worried that she might seem too boy-crazy, and she was concerned about Han Shin’s well-being. So far, Han Shin hadn't shown any signs of weakness; his body was constantly improving, and his combat performance was always on the rise, so she had thought it was fine.
But Yujin’s words pricked Grace’s conscience. It was true that she hadn't given Han Shin a single day off and had sought his embrace every single day.
Grace’s mouth worked as she tried to come up with an excuse, but in the end, she couldn't. Yujin’s jealousy seemed strong, but Grace had to admit that while she claimed to be doing it for Han Shin’s sake, she was also satisfying her own selfish desire to be loved by him every day.
...
An awkward silence hung between them for a moment. They understood why the other was acting this way, and since both recognized their own faults, it was difficult to keep attacking.
Ah... maybe I shouldn't have done that...
Yujin was starting to regret it. Now that things had turned out like this, she felt keenly aware of how petty her jealousy toward Grace was.
“Just... go wash up quickly.”
At Yujin’s deflated words, Grace nodded and immediately headed into the bathroom Yujin had prepared.
When the three of them sat down at the dining table for dinner, Han Shin, oblivious to everything, was still buzzing with excitement from the day's combat. Grace and Yujin set aside their conflict for the moment and shared a pleasant meal, smiling along with him.
After dinner, Yujin showed Han Shin and Grace to the rooms where they would be staying for the time being. The rooms were incredibly large for a single person, and the furniture, including the beds, was incomparably better than what they had back home.
While Han Shin and Grace had been hunting, Yujin had already organized their clothes and belongings in their respective rooms, so they were ready for immediate use.
“Well then, Shin. You must be tired today, so get some good rest.”
“Han Shin, please rest well...”
Since it was their first day and Han Shin had just run six consecutive dungeons, he agreed, knowing he needed to rest even if he didn't feel the fatigue immediately.
“Yeah. Goodnight, Noona, Grace.”
Han Shin inwardly found it a bit strange—and even felt a hint of disappointment—that neither of them had asked for sex, but he figured they were just being considerate of his exhaustion and decided to head to sleep.