Chapter 73: Awakening (4)
Chapter 73: Awakening (4)
After finishing her call with the Association, Kang Yujin came downstairs and relayed the details of the conversation.
Han Shin grew worried as the realization set in: his recent experience hadn't been a simple stroke of bad luck, but a phenomenon occurring in recently generated portals everywhere.
“Then there must be people getting hurt?”
“Most likely. But since they haven't desperately asked me to come back yet, I think things are still manageable for now.”
Han Shin felt a sense of relief at Yujin’s words. He didn't like the idea of many people being sacrificed.
“Shin-a. Because of this, I think I should head back to Korea first...”
“Ah... Did they ask for your help, Noona?”
“Yes. They don't need me this very second, but I feel like I should be in Korea just in case.”
Han Shin nodded at Yujin’s words.
“Okay. Then... I should head back with you—”
Yujin cut him off.
“No, I can come and go whenever I want thanks to Grace. For now, you stay here and keep leveling up. There might be eyes watching you back in Korea, after all.”
Faced with her undeniable logic, Han Shin immediately changed his mind. His first instinct had been to accompany his sister because he didn't want her traveling alone, but he had momentarily forgotten that they could return home instantly using Grace’s Sanctuary.
“You’re right, Noona. Now that I think about it, even if you go home, I can just go see you with Grace. You’re right.”
‘As expected of Noona.’
Han Shin once again marveled at the wisdom Kang Yujin had displayed since they were children. Moreover, he felt deeply moved by her willingness to return to Korea without hesitation to help others.
Han Shin’s thoughts were written plainly on his face as he smiled at her. Internally, Kang Yujin cheered, knowing she had scored major points with him.
Grace, who knew a fair bit about Yujin’s true nature, remained silent, seeing no reason to intervene. She remembered how Yujin had acted when they fought over Han Shin. Knowing that Han Shin was her top priority—to the point of obsession—and that she was cold toward everyone else, Grace was certain this wasn't coming from the goodness of her heart.
‘Still... the end result is a good deed...’
Regardless of the intent, Grace viewed it positively since Yujin’s actions would result in a beneficial outcome.
“Then I’ll go pack my things right away.”
“Okay, Noona.”
Watching Yujin prepare for her departure, Han Shin felt a renewed urgency to enter a dungeon. Though he didn't know the specifics, it was clear that the situation in Nepal was likely even more severe than in Korea.
“Han Shin, you’re going back into a dungeon, right?”
“Yeah. I think I have to.”
Grace already knew what he was thinking, and Laysia had guessed as much. They could surmise that the appearance of monsters stronger than usual wasn't a coincidence or a natural phenomenon.
Knowing that the Evil God was behind the generation of these portals, it was a natural deduction to assume they were up to something. Whatever had changed on the other side, this shift in the portals was not a good sign.
‘Han Shin needs to get stronger, fast.’
Both Laysia and Grace reached the same conclusion. If the situation worsened and clearing portals was delayed, the Dimensional Barrier protecting Nippur would weaken. If the Evil God’s subordinates—or in the worst-case scenario, the Evil Gods themselves—crossed over to Earth, this place would surely turn into a gruesome hellscape.
Having both witnessed the destruction of their own worlds, they knew the danger more poignantly than anyone. Fortunately, Han Shin was motivated to grow stronger, which put Grace and Laysia at ease. It was a universal truth that without the drive to improve, progress would be slow.
The three of them immediately prepared for the dungeon. After informing Kang Yujin, they selected an E-Rank dungeon they had visited before. Their original plan had been to move up to D-Rank, but given how the dungeons had been reinforced, sticking to E-Rank was the right call for now.
With the familiar sensation of weightlessness, Han Shin entered the dungeon.
This time, the environment was a hilly terrain composed of massive boulders and stones. The spheres of light created by Grace and Laysia’s Light Magic cast long, flickering shadows.
Han Shin had never encountered this type of terrain in any of the dungeons he’d experienced so far. Consequently, he felt more tense than usual.
As planned, Grace took the lead.
“The terrain is ideal for ambushes, so we will move slowly.”
“Got it.”
Now that they knew monsters no longer followed the established data, Grace decided they had to move with maximum caution to prepare for any eventuality. The three of them tightened their formation, keeping a constant watch to ensure they had no blind spots.
Han Shin found the terrain inherently difficult. It felt as though monsters could be hiding behind any of the bizarre rock formations surrounding them, and he had to be careful with every step. The ground was riddled with cracks and holes; as someone who had never been to such a rocky region, Han Shin found the environment unfamiliar and challenging.
‘At least it’s better because Grace and Laysia are lighting the way with Light Magic.’
Since this kind of terrain was rare in Korea, Han Shin had never experienced anything like it even when his body was healthy, so it took some time to adjust.
Fortunately, no monsters appeared during the first thirty minutes of trekking, allowing Han Shin to get his bearings. They moved slower than usual due to their extreme caution, and because there were many steep slopes and dangerous crevices that required thorough inspection, the progress was naturally delayed.
As they continued, they came upon a section that looked like a long corridor, with jagged boulders standing tall on either side. Unlike the terrain they had passed through, this place immediately felt like a death trap.
Grace was on high alert, as they hadn't seen a single trace of a monster yet.
“There is a high probability of enemies here.”
“Understood.”
Han Shin nodded at Grace’s warning. There was no need to give separate instructions to Laysia, who had become a follower of Tiamat long before him and was currently stronger, but Grace had one request.
“Laysia. Can you take the high ground?”
“Yes. Leave it to me.”
With her vast combat experience, Laysia knew exactly what Grace was implying. Even if Grace hadn't suggested it, Laysia would have moved to secure the top herself. Given their party composition, it was necessary for Laysia, the strongest among them, to secure the overhead view to guard against ambushes.
Han Shin hadn't grown enough to safely navigate the tops of the boulders, and there was a risk of him getting seriously injured. Furthermore, it would be problematic if the ground level was overrun, so they reached a mutual decision.
Since Han Shin and Grace had built up their teamwork, and it was logical for Grace to stay behind to protect him, their judgments aligned perfectly. Laysia immediately began scaling the jagged rock face beside them.
“Wow...”
Han Shin couldn't help but let out a gasp of admiration. Watching Laysia scale the stone pillar as if it were nothing was incredible to him. Even for an Awakener, climbing a vertical rock wall so effortlessly was no easy feat. Especially in the dark—even with Light Magic—moving that quickly without equipment or hesitation was truly difficult.
Seeing Laysia reach the top, Grace turned to Han Shin.
“Let’s move out.”
Han Shin nodded and adjusted his grip on his weapon, bracing himself.
As Grace and Han Shin began to move slowly below, Laysia scanned the surroundings from the top of the boulders. With her Light Magic active, any monster would surely be able to see her. She had climbed up knowing this, confident that she could evade any incoming attacks.
Despite the Light Magic illuminating the area, no monsters were in sight.
‘To think there isn't a single trace... How can this be?’
Monsters always left some kind of sign. As long as they were living creatures, there should be fur, feathers, footprints—something. The complete absence of any biological traces was bizarre.
Just as Laysia felt she was missing something, the realization struck her.
‘Non-biological monsters!’
Not all monsters had blood and breath. She finally understood why there were no signs of life.
At that moment, the ground began to shake violently. The sound of rocks splitting and stones falling echoed throughout the entire hilly terrain.