Chapter 72: Awakening (3)
Chapter 72: Awakening (3)
It didn't take long for the rest of the Dire Wolves to be wiped out once they lost their leader, the Alpha.
The battle concluded the moment Laysia crushed the face of the final Dire Wolf, leaving it dead on the spot. As soon as she confirmed the fighting was over, Grace rushed to Han Shin’s side.
"Han Shin! Did you realize something?"
She had been monitoring his condition throughout the battle and suspected he had finally tapped into his talent as an Awakener, but she wanted to be sure.
"Yeah. I can sense the power inside my body and use it now... but I’m not exactly sure what kind of power it is. It feels like what I sensed from Tiamat, but it’s a bit different from the Divine Power of Tiamat that you use."
Laysia, who had followed close behind Grace, fell into thought upon hearing Han Shin’s words.
Could it be...?
A sudden realization struck her.
"Let's harvest the core and get out of here first."
She wanted to ask him right away, but as Han Shin said, they had cleared the dungeon. It was better to discuss it once they were outside.
The mark of Tiamat on the back of Han Shin’s left hand glowed as he absorbed the mana from the dungeon core within the Alpha Dire Wolf he had slain personally. Then, he pulled out his smartphone and operated the app to exit the dungeon.
*
"Oh? Shin-ah. Why are you back so soon?"
Kang Yujin spoke, slightly surprised by Han Shin’s early return.
She had been in the middle of cleaning the house using her psychokinetic powers when she saw the three of them return. Usually, even when Han Shin and Grace went to a dungeon, they wouldn't stop by the house until the afternoon. This was much earlier than expected.
Seeing the blood splattered across Han Shin’s body, she worried he might be hurt, but she felt relieved when she saw his face looked fine.
In response to her reaction, Han Shin explained what had happened in the dungeon. First, the good news.
"I think I’ve figured out how to use my power as an Awakener now."
"Really? Shin-ah, that’s wonderful!"
Since Yujin was always worried about him, Han Shin becoming stronger was naturally a cause for celebration.
"What kind of power is it?"
At her joyful question, Han Shin made a slightly troubled face.
"That’s the thing... I’m not sure. I can definitely use it now, but I don’t know what it is."
Now that they were out of the dungeon, Laysia decided it was time to speak up.
"Han Shin, you mentioned it felt like Tiamat’s energy but different from Divine Power, right?"
"Yeah. The nature of it is definitely different from Divine Power."
Han Shin thought the same as he tried circulating the power latent within him once more.
"In my opinion... I believe you have become a Dragon Knight."
"A Dragon Knight?"
Han Shin asked back, hearing the term for the first time.
"Yes. Before Tiamat became a god, she was originally a Dragon. Because of that, it’s possible that during the contract process, you showed an aptitude for being a Dragon Knight and awakened as one."
Han Shin felt that Laysia’s explanation made sense. It was certainly power derived from Tiamat, but it wasn't Divine Power—it was something else.
"I think Laysia is right. Do you know anything more specific about Dragon Knights?"
"Yes, but it might be a long story. Why don't you wash up first?"
"Ah... right. Let's do that."
Han Shin belatedly realized he was a mess. While Grace and Laysia weren't particularly splattered with blood or disheveled, staying like this was an inconvenience to the others.
Han Shin, Grace, and Laysia all agreed to wash up and meet in the living room.
A short while later, the three of them, now clean, gathered in the living room with Kang Yujin. Laysia immediately began telling Han Shin what she knew about Dragon Knights.
"I haven't seen a Dragon Knight in person either; I’ve only seen them in records. All the dragons in our world had already left before I was born. Very rarely, humans would appear with the ability to bond with a dragon and accept its power. Those who were given the chance to contract with a dragon were called Dragon Knights."
"Then... according to what you're saying, I’m connected to the part of Tiamat that existed as a dragon before she became a god."
"Yes. By any chance, has your body's recovery rate improved?"
"Uh, yeah. It has."
Not only Han Shin, but Kang Yujin and Grace’s eyes widened slightly as well, as they were already aware that Han Shin’s recovery speed was unnaturally high. At their reaction, Laysia gave a gentle smile.
"I read in the records that because Dragon Knights are bonded with a dragon and exchange power with them, their recovery rate becomes incredible and their physical abilities skyrocket."
Since it perfectly matched Han Shin’s condition, Kang Yujin and Grace felt that Laysia’s words were likely correct.
"I think Miss Laysia is right."
"I agree as well."
With both of them in agreement, Han Shin also concluded that her assessment was correct. He felt a renewed sense of gratitude toward Tiamat. Regardless of her original intentions, she had healed his body and granted him this power.
"I guess I have Tiamat to thank for this, right?"
Han Shin wanted to interpret it positively.
Considering she assigned Grace to me out of consideration and helped me adapt easily with the Manager App, it must be true, right?
"Yes, I believe Tiamat intended for this."
"I think so too."
As followers of Tiamat, it was only natural for Grace and Laysia to interpret things positively, given they had also received her help and served her. In reality, Tiamat hadn't intended for this specific outcome, but the three of them didn't even consider that, choosing to believe it was her divine will. There was no harm in thinking that way, after all.
Having resolved one curiosity, Han Shin brought up a heavier topic. He turned his gaze toward Kang Yujin, who had been listening silently without joining the conversation much until now.
"Noona. We just went into an E-Rank Portal, but Dire Wolves appeared."
"What? Are you serious?"
"Yeah."
Upon hearing Han Shin’s words, Yujin’s expression stiffened as she asked for confirmation. Having been active as an Awakener under the name Wolyeong for two years, she knew that the monsters appearing were strictly determined by the rank of the portal.
To be precise, this was a truth proven by thirty years of accumulated data—an unchanging law of their world. With her extraordinary intelligence, Yujin kept all this data in her head. Even though she hadn't visited a D-rank dungeon recently, she understood exactly what Han Shin was saying.
"There's no way Shin-ah would be mistaken... but wolf-type monsters only appear in D-rank or higher..."
Yujin muttered seriously. It was a grave matter; if the established knowledge of the world was being warped, the potential for casualties was immense.
What if this wasn't just a one-time stroke of bad luck for Han Shin? What if this was happening in every portal across the globe?
Han Shin shared this concern, which was why he was taking it so seriously. While Yujin was lost in thought, Han Shin briefly explained the problem to Laysia. Grace didn't need an explanation, as she had already learned from Yujin and Han Shin that specific monsters were tied to specific portal ranks while she was adapting to Earth.
After hearing Han Shin’s explanation, Laysia immediately understood why Yujin and Han Shin were reacting so gravely.
Just then, one of the two smartphones Yujin had placed on the table began to vibrate.
Vrrr-vrrr-vrrr—.
It was the highly secure smartphone Yujin used exclusively for communicating with the Association. Everyone’s eyes turned toward the device. Yujin had a hunch as to why the Association was calling. Han Shin and Grace felt the same.
"Shin-ah. I’m going to take this call for a moment."
"Okay."
Yujin grabbed the phone and quickly headed into an empty room on the second floor. She wanted to prevent any chance of her identity being leaked through the voices of others, and she also didn't want to show her cold, professional side to Han Shin.
Yujin answered the still-vibrating phone.
"Yes."
"Wolyeong-nim. Are you able to talk?"
"Yes. Go ahead."
The voice of the Association staff member on the other end sounded frantic.
"Anomalies are occurring in recently generated portals where monsters above the designated rank are appearing. We can still manage for now, but could you please remain on standby in case of an emergency?"
It was exactly what she had expected. Yujin now knew for certain that what Han Shin had experienced was a worldwide phenomenon.
The problem was that she was currently in Nepal. Han Shin and Grace could return to Korea at any time now that Grace had identified the coordinates of this location and their home, but Yujin couldn't.
Although she had been registered as a Follower candidate on Han Shin’s Manager App after receiving Tiamat’s Divine Power through internal ejaculation when she and Grace were held by Han Shin on a safe day... she still didn't possess the qualifications to enter Grace’s Sanctuary.
To return to Korea, she would have to take a plane.
I don't want to go... but I have no choice...
To be honest, Yujin didn't want to go or deal with it. Han Shin was always her top priority, and she just wanted to stay by his side.
"Yes, I’ll contact you when I’m available."
At Yujin’s half-acceptance, the Association staff member sounded relieved.
"Understood, Wolyeong-nim. We’ll wait for your call."
"Yes."
Yujin hung up immediately. Her heart wanted to refuse, but she was afraid that doing so would make her look like a cold-hearted woman to Han Shin. Knowing how Han Shin had selflessly helped others two years ago, it was obvious he would insist on helping.
Still, if I use Grace’s help, I’ll be able to see Shin-ah...
Considering that Han Shin could freely travel to Korea through Grace’s Sanctuary, Yujin decided it would be better to return home immediately and assist the Association.
Yujin stepped out of the room to break the news to Han Shin.