Chapter 62: In Nepal (11)
Chapter 62: In Nepal (11)
Breakfast was a truly massive affair.
Thanks to Yujin-noona and Grace preparing enough food to make the table overflow, there was still plenty left over.
The one thing making me uncomfortable right now was that the two of them refused to let me lift a single finger.
Sitting to my right, Noona wrapped a piece of meat and plenty of vegetables into a ssam and held it out to me.
“Here… Shin-a. Open wide~.”
I let it slide the first couple of times, but continuing to be hand-fed like this felt like I was making things harder for them.
“Noona, I can eat on my own… Mmph.”
The problem was that even when I tried to tell them to stop, neither of them budged.
Noona, who always beamed at me, and Grace, who wore a faint smile, looked no different than usual, yet they were exerting a silent pressure on me.
Unable to withstand it, I followed Noona’s lead.
Noona’s cooking was delicious, but Grace was already waiting—and waiting—to feed me her own contribution next.
“Ugh… I’m sorry, Noona, Grace… but I’m so full I can’t eat another bite.”
“Ah… I understand, Shin-a.”
“Understood.”
Both of them looked visibly disappointed, but I had truly reached my limit.
After taking a glass of water from Grace and drinking it, I tried to do the dishes, but they insisted they would handle it and told me to go rest.
I’d done nothing but rest this whole time…
Ultimately kicked out of the kitchen, I decided to take a walk to help my digestion.
Hmm…
There was a garden outside where I could clearly walk, but the thought of being seen by outsiders felt a bit burdensome. I figured I’d just head up to the second floor and pace around a few times to settle my stomach.
Clutching my smartphone, I strolled around and opened the Manager App.
The cute SD character of Tiamat was still fast asleep.
I wondered when she’d wake up…
Since she was sleeping indefinitely, I couldn't help but be curious. I had things to ask her, after all.
First, let’s see how much my level has gone up…
Oh… I’m finally Level 10.
Seeing the Level 10 mark next to my character, I could tell that my mana had been properly converted into Tiamat’s divine power.
Grace was also Level 10.
Since this was the result of just two days in Nepal, I felt quite proud.
Are there any new features?
I quickly moved my fingers to check for any changes.
Oh, the range for entering portals has widened. At this rate, if I were at home, I could reach all the way to Busan…? The range had increased significantly more than I expected.
This was a great improvement in many ways. Being able to enter a portal from a distance without having to travel much was a huge merit. This would make things quite convenient once I returned to Korea.
Wait?
One of the menus that had been locked was now open.
[Follower Recruitment]?
I decided to check it out.
As soon as I entered, I saw a female character with a black ponytail. I didn't even need to look at the name to know who it was.
Why was Yujin-noona here…?
Was it because we did it raw yesterday?
Considering that when I transferred the mana from the dungeon core to Grace by converting it into Tiamat’s divine power, I had to use a medium through the contact of mucous membranes…
It seemed this hypothesis was correct.
Whether it was a feature that unlocked upon reaching Level 10, or because it was the first time I’d gone unprotected with Noona yesterday—or perhaps both—it was fascinating that she could now be recruited as a follower like Grace.
This was completely unexpected…
Hmm….
Since Noona was an S-Rank Psychokinetic and incredibly strong, it would be amazing to fight alongside her. I was sure she would love it, too. She had often mentioned how disappointed she was that she couldn't go into dungeons with me.
However, there was a problem. Although Noona’s character was displayed, a contract was not yet possible.
Noona’s level, as shown by the app, was 40.
Looking at it from a gaming perspective, it was because my level was too low… and the current situation didn't seem much different.
Even though I had become Tiamat’s Proxy, it was an undeniable fact that I was still far lacking.
Grace was a follower of Tiamat to begin with, and it was only possible because Tiamat had attached her to me in a weakened state to help me…
But since Noona would have to be accepted as a brand-new follower of Tiamat, I would likely need to reach a certain level of strength first.
Come to think of it, that made sense. I didn't even possess enough of Tiamat’s divine power to restore Grace to her original strength yet. I was probably far too weak and lacking to make someone as powerful as Noona a follower right now.
I just found another reason to get stronger quickly.
While looking for other changes, I noticed a new slot had been unlocked in the row below the deployment list where only Grace had been.
There must have been other followers besides Grace, but previously, I hadn't met the minimum requirements to summon anyone else. Perhaps because I reached Level 10, one more was now visible.
Laysia?
For now, I couldn't see any specific information; only the name was visible. Since nothing happened when I tapped it, I assumed I could only call her once I became stronger.
I wondered if Tiamat had set up these small devices as a way to keep me motivated.
Grace might know something, so I’d have to ask her later.
“Han Shin-nim. Tea is ready.”
Right on cue, Grace came up to the second floor and invited me to join them for tea.
Ah… since things turned out this way, I should tell Noona and Grace about the changes in the app. It seemed best for both of them to be in the loop.
“Yeah, I’ll be right there.”
Having tea after a meal had become something of a habit for the three of us.
Grace especially enjoyed these tea times, saying she loved the atmosphere that made her heart feel warm and peaceful.
Every time I heard snippets of her past, I learned how relentless and difficult her life in Nippur had been, so I could fully empathize with her feelings.
“Shin-a. Are you sure you’re not tired? Are you really okay?”
Noona still seemed a bit worried about me.
Then again, I didn't quite understand it myself, so I could see why she felt that way.
“Yeah, I’m really fine, Noona. It seems my body’s recovery rate has improved significantly thanks to Tiamat.”
“Well, that’s a relief… but if you feel even slightly off, make sure to get some rest.”
“Yeah, I will.”
From Noona’s perspective, she couldn't help but worry about me, since I was still weak. I suspected that if she had her way, she’d keep me inside and make me rest all day.
Regardless, her needless worry was a form of affection, which made me feel good.
“Also, I have something to tell you and Grace.”
“What is it?”
I explained the changes I’d found in the Manager App while walking around the second floor.
Naturally, Noona was the first to react.
“Really? Then I can go into dungeons with you later, Shin-a?”
“Yeah, if you’re okay with it, Noona.”
“Of course I’m okay with it! I hope that day comes soon.”
Noona was genuinely excited, hugging my arm and rubbing her cheek against it.
In contrast to Noona, Grace remained calm and composed, though she seemed to be deep in thought after hearing that a follower named Laysia had been unlocked.
“I have never met the other followers myself, so there is nothing I can tell you, Han Shin-nim. I am sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s not urgent, and I can just hear it from her directly once she’s summoned…”
Come to think of it, I’d heard that Grace hadn't been a follower for very long. Since helping me was her first assignment since becoming a follower, it was natural that she wouldn't know.
As I just said, I’d worry about that after I got stronger and summoned Laysia.
But thinking about it, did I even need to summon anyone else for the time being?
Dungeons had become quite easy now that I’d grown stronger… and Grace had become more powerful as well.
It would probably be a distant concern for a while.
I would realize just how wrong that thought was only a few days later.