Chapter 88: Chaos (11)
Chapter 88: Chaos (11)
After spending the entire night clearing the dungeons that had appeared across southern Korea during the recent crisis, Kang Yujin returned home, her body heavy with exhaustion.
The Association viewed Moon Shadow’s proactive efforts to extinguish the immediate fires as a massive contribution—so much so that Park Min-woo himself had stepped forward to express his gratitude.
The fact that she had moved to clear the dungeons all night before the Association even had a chance to ask moved them deeply. They believed that Moon Shadow had acted for the sake of others, setting aside personal greed in such a dire situation.
Contrary to their assumptions, Kang Yujin had moved solely for Han Shin’s sake, but the result was beneficial for everyone regardless.
Exhausted and wanting nothing more than to rest at home while waiting for Han Shin, Kang Yujin had asked for her usual compensation and left the Association immediately. This behavior only served to improve her reputation further in the eyes of the Association; they saw her lack of lingering interest in rewards as a sign of true character.
Not that she cared about her reputation.
Having just returned home and changed her clothes, Kang Yujin covered her mouth with her right hand and let out a long yawn.
I guess fighting all night without a wink of sleep really takes its toll…
Her body felt sluggish. As waves of drowsiness finally began to crash over her, she knew she had to sleep.
As she changed into her pajamas and prepared for bed, various thoughts flickered through her mind, but she pushed them aside for later. She lay down on her bed for the first time in a long while.
Feeling the soft, plush texture of the mattress, she pulled the covers up and closed her eyes. But just as she was about to drift off, she sensed a presence in the living room.
Her eyes snapped open. She bolted upright and hurried out of the bedroom.
No one had opened the front door, yet a presence had suddenly appeared. She didn't even need to look to know who was out there. She threw open her door and ran out.
Just as she expected, Han Shin, Grace, and Laysia were standing in the living room.
"Shin-a!"
Kang Yujin rushed over and threw herself into Han Shin’s arms.
Technically, they hadn't even been apart for a full day—only about half a day—but seeing Han Shin’s face filled her with pure joy and relief. She had wondered if he might arrive in the morning, but she had also considered that he might go straight to a dungeon, which was why she had been trying to sleep.
Han Shin felt a slight jolt as Kang Yujin collided with him.
If he still had the body injured in the accident two years ago, such an impact would have been a burden—impossible, even. But now, having forged a body sturdier and more powerful than any other Awakener, he didn't budge, catching her firmly in his arms.
The soft sensation of her body through her thin pink pajamas and the fragrant scent of someone who had just washed before bed tickled Han Shin’s nose.
Han Shin looked down at Kang Yujin, who was clinging to him in her sleepwear, and asked with a hint of confusion, "Noona? Were you sleeping until now?"
It was a reasonable question, as Han Shin had never once seen Kang Yujin sleep in late. Furthermore, he knew roughly when she was supposed to have arrived in Korea yesterday. He assumed she would have slept and woken up by now, so seeing her in this state made him think she had overslept.
"Ah… well…"
Kang Yujin explained that as soon as she arrived yesterday, she went to the Association to hear about the situation and then spent the entire night clearing dungeons in the southern region. She told him she had only just returned and was about to go to bed.
Even though she was an Awakener, Han Shin’s expression stiffened when he heard she had gone straight to the Association and spent the night raiding dungeons after a seven-hour flight without any rest.
"Noona, you should have slept first..."
Hearing that she had pushed herself so hard to hunt immediately, Han Shin’s first instinct was naturally worry.
Kang Yujin gave him a bright smile, telling him not to worry. She started to explain what she had heard from the Association regarding how portals were being handled and generated worldwide.
"It’s okay. I’m just a little tired. Oh, and Shin-a, I heard from the Association—"
However, Han Shin realized that if they kept talking, the conversation would drag on and she wouldn't get any rest. He gently cut her off.
"Let’s talk after you’ve had some sleep."
Kang Yujin was momentarily startled by Han Shin’s hand stopping her, but she quickly realized why he was doing it. Her eyes curved into crescents, the beautiful black-haired woman in a ponytail unable to hide her happiness. She could feel how much Han Shin worried for her and cherished her.
Seeing her nod in agreement, Han Shin felt a pang of guilt.
Ugh… while Noona was doing all this, I was busy having sex with Laysia yesterday…
Of course, Han Shin had a justification for his time with Laysia. It was a necessary act for leveling up. However, he couldn't deny that he had enjoyed it and felt good being with the beautiful Laysia.
Han Shin led Kang Yujin back to her room and made her lie down. Kang Yujin followed submissively as he took her by the right wrist and tucked her in. To her, being cared for by Han Shin felt so sweet that it seemed to wash away all the fatigue from her night of labor.
Like an obedient child, Kang Yujin lay in bed as Han Shin instructed and fell into a deep sleep almost instantly. No matter how strong an Awakener she was, her body demanded rest after such a grueling schedule.
Once he was sure she was breathing rhythmically in sleep, Han Shin quietly slipped out of the room.
Closing the door softly so as not to wake her, he looked at Grace and Laysia, who had been waiting for him in silence.
Naturally, both women felt a mix of envy and a slight prickle of jealousy. Seeing the way Han Shin worried for her and looked after her made the affection between the two seem palpable.
Still, they didn't let it show. They knew how hard Kang Yujin had worked and felt she deserved that much of a reward.
Grace believed it was only fair, and considering how much time she spent apart from Han Shin, it made sense that he would be so attentive.
Laysia felt a similar guilt to Han Shin; while Kang Yujin had been clearing dungeons for his sake, she had been trembling with pleasure in his arms. She had been debating whether she should tell Kang Yujin about their relationship, but seeing the situation, she realized now was not the time.
"Grace, let's come back this evening."
"Yes, Lord Han Shin."
Grace nodded at the suggestion to return once Kang Yujin had gotten enough sleep.
The three of them then returned to Nepal via Grace’s Sanctuary and began clearing dungeons again.
Since Noona worked that hard, I have to…
Han Shin, who was already determined, found a new source of motivation.
The same went for Grace and Laysia. Seeing Kang Yujin work so hard to clear dungeons and prevent potential disasters for Han Shin’s sake sparked a sense of competition in them.
The area around Nepal had been in poor condition compared to developed nations even before the current crisis. Han Shin’s only thought was to clear as many dungeons as possible here to eliminate variables and grow quickly.
The weapon Han Shin chose for today was the spear.
He still hadn't decided on a primary weapon. Since Grace had been training him the longest, she should have been able to identify which weapon suited him best… but even she found it difficult to choose one for him.
He was proficient with everything.
Grace had plenty of experience teaching and advising knights who were less skilled than herself, but this was a first for her. It was a testament to Han Shin’s incredible talent for weaponry.
With the familiar sensation of his body becoming weightless, the three of them entered the dungeon. Han Shin took the silver spear Grace pulled from her subspace and gave it a light experimental swing.
Good.
Even though he was using a spear today instead of the sword he used yesterday, the sensation remained consistent.
The monsters they encountered in the first dungeon were massive mantises. As soon as he saw the creatures known as Giant Mantises, Han Shin leveled his spear and charged.
He swung and thrust the spear with no hint of awkwardness.
Slash!
The sharp spearhead sliced through the dark green carapaces of the giant insects. Assisting Han Shin as he aggressively engaged in combat, Grace and Laysia began to sweep through the mantises alongside him.