She answered that and suddenly glanced at Jinseong as if recalling the task she had taken on.
Though she did not speak, her eyes conveyed a message.
She was asking what would happen to the items when they went on a trip.
It was a worried gaze questioning whether the management of the items couldn’t just stop.
『Items.』
Such an ambiguous expression.
However, both Rise and Jinseong knew very well what this vague term referred to.
What they were talking about were the items they had recently looted.
During a time when tensions between Korea and Japan were escalating, they had seized divine objects and records of magic through a clever snatch.
These were so precious that they were managed by the state, holding worth both financially and historically.
After plundering the items with his mercenaries, Jinseong had tossed them deep into the ocean, using evil spirits to slowly transport them to a single place.
He put in tremendous effort to ensure there was no observation of the evil spirits or energy leaking from the divine objects, making the spirits move along the ocean floor rather than swimming.
From Korea to North Korea.
From North Korea to the West Sea.
From the West Sea to the South and East Seas and then to Japan.
In this way, all the divine objects that had been in Korea were moved to Japan.
The same went for the items in Japan.
After temporarily sealing them to hide their identity, they used empty spaces to transport them, and when entering crowded areas, they coated them with divine power to disguise them. Moreover, these items were moved swiftly by evil spirits and dolls created through magic.
Thus, all the items plundered from Korea and Japan were transported to the shrine.
So, was there a specific reason to move them to Japan?
There were several.
One motive was to conceal the identity of the person committing such terrorist-like acts, who was none other than ‘Park Jinseong’. Considering the abundance of CCTV cameras and the significant attention from China, it was also inappropriate for Korea to hold these items. Additionally, with North Korea above, there was a possibility of complications from evil spirits or evil entities when storing them, as well as the risk of exposure to warehouses leading to Jinseong becoming the first target in the event of any unforeseen variables.
Many reasons.
But the most important reason was simple.
It was easier to manage.
Thanks to the Energy Dome, using energy was more efficient, making management that much simpler. Japan’s larger land area also provided good opportunities for creating hidden spaces. The powers of the residents were strong, and with connections, almost any issue could be smoothed over.
Unlike the Korean people, who were busy prying into others’ affairs, the Japanese often displayed a strong indifference. Even if they showed subtle interest, invoking the magic word ‘bother’ would make them step back.
Given the frequent occurrences of natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis, if issues were to arise, it could be convenient to mimic natural disasters to bury facilities.
Utilizing the tabooed facilities of the shrine allowed for the pretense of being a religious site.
Even if military equipment was discovered, they could simply cloak it under the pretext of being ‘heritage from the former Japanese Empire’ or ‘facilities from the imperial era’, passing it off smoothly.
With the perception that firearms circulate through the Yakuza, it wouldn’t seem odd to resort to using them if necessary.
…
…
…
These countless advantages were not to be taken lightly.
Thus, Jinseong chose to transfer the stolen items to Japan.
And he built a ‘warehouse’ in a cave to store the items moved there.
The construction was not difficult.
By sending spirits to inspect the cave’s structure, it was a straightforward task, and the narrow passage could be expanded by mobilizing capable individuals blessed by Jinseong.
There was no need for exceptionally strong capable individuals.
Even with merely average capabilities, with hammers and picks, breaking down the cave walls and expanding space was no problem.
Were there concerns about the cave collapsing?
That wouldn’t be an issue either.
They could use divine power or magic.
They could command insects to fill in gaps or create supports, or use all sorts of means to hasten the drying of concrete. They could even maneuver rebar like a snake and set it up as pillars in places that people couldn’t easily access.
The abundance of methods was the solution.
Security was also not a concern.
Numerous capable individuals were mobilized, and they were brought to the location while obscuring visibility and confusing their senses, implementing a ritual of magic to ensure secrets remained hidden. They would also undergo the curse that activated in the case of disclosing any secrets.
If someone were to reveal secrets on their own volition, a powerful curse would befall their family, and if someone subdued them and sought confirmation of secrets with a clear intent, their brain would be contaminated.
Isn’t that a hefty risk?
Indeed.
The risks were great.
But despite knowing all the facts, they consented to such ‘security measures’.
The reason could be immense wealth, or perhaps another blessing Jinseong had conferred upon them, or strong connections channeling into the upper class.
But one thing was certain: they reaped benefits equal to the risks they undertook.
Like protagonists of an epic journey, putting their lives on the line, they would weigh dangers against gains and choose to move forward.
Thus, the construction was completed in no time.
Thanks to their enthusiastic help.
The secret haven constructed became a space now filled with ominous traps, imprinted by Jinseong’s touch.
Ominous traps, spaces to be utilized as dwellings, secret areas for multi-purpose use, and the ‘warehouse’ positioned deep within had all been established. This secret space was managed solely by Jinseong and Rise.
It was a secret that held no benefits by leaking out.
If exposed, it could turn both Korea and Japan against them, posing a dangerous risk.
Hence, only Rise, the most trusted individual, could share this space.
And the fact they created it for just the two of them brought immense joy to Rise.
Claiming it was for her training as a shamaness, she came and went from the cave, using purified salt and divine power generously while aiding Jinseong in sorting and managing the ‘items’. She even decorated the dwelling like a newlywed’s house and stayed there for several days managing the items.
Through this process, Rise’s efforts were not in vain.
She grew very close to Jinseong.
Rise and Jinseong shared the same dwelling.
Sharing the same dwelling meant sharing daily life as well.
It was inevitable that their relationship would deepen throughout this process.
Of course, the Jinseong in Japan was a fake body made of insects rather than his real one.
But even a fake body needed to perform tasks akin to what a regular person would do.
To provide nutrients to the insects forming his body, he had to eat, and to control the insect body, he needed to perform acts similar to resting regularly. He also required time to recover from damage incurred during the process of managing the divine objects.
Rise took full advantage of these gaps.
She cooked meals to serve Jinseong and offered help during rest periods or engaged him in conversation.
While she didn’t directly inquire about Jinseong, she meticulously remembered bits of information regarding his preferences from his attitudes and speech patterns.
It didn’t stop there.
Using the crucial powers of purification salt and divine energy meant that her body became quite salty and it was easy to break a sweat, which also meant frequent bathing was necessary.
Did she need to bathe even if she didn’t sweat much?
Yes.
She had to.
The act of ‘washing the body’ holds meaning in both East and West as cleansing evil or impure things and making the body pure and clean. Thus, even if she didn’t sweat much or was not very salty, to prevent any potential accidents, she needed to bathe.
Though it was a tedious task… it came with ample rewards.
By bathing often, her skin improved, and she could show off her freshly bathed appearance to Jin
