Something Keeps Appearing in My Subspace - Chapter 103

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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103. Lv39 Guardian, Kim Han-chul (1)
-If it’s collapsing mana, it can be healed with Elixir.
“Huh?”
-Elixir can’t cure every curse. However, it can heal curses that place strain on the body. Collapsing mana is one of them.
Guardian Kim Han-chul.
He was an exceptionally well-rounded tank-type vanguard who possessed both an A+ rank skill and an A rank skill.
His specialty was using the A rank ‘Presence’ skill to threaten monsters and tank aggro from enemies.
Furthermore, his A+ rank skill ‘First Guard’ was renowned for its ability to take attacks meant for his teammates in his stead.
‘Thanks to learning various secret techniques during his advance team activities, his combat ability isn’t lacking either.’
Before retiring due to the ‘collapsing mana’ curse, Kim Han-chul had been among the world’s top vanguards.
In other words, if we could just heal him with Elixir, bringing him to the Dragon Guild would be an absolute gain.
-Considering your current teammates, the addition of an A+ rank Guardian would bring tremendous synergy to your composition.
Right. While Mister and I rampage at the front, Kim Han-chul could perfectly protect the rear.
Moreover, the timing was opportune.
Kim Han-chul’s level shown in the news was 39. We were still at 35, but it was a gap we could definitely close.
-Considering the duration of the curse, you’ll likely need about a month or two even after treating him with Elixir.
According to Chun-bae, his weakened body would need time to recover.
‘A month or two?’
We wouldn’t even need two months. With our party’s growth rate, one month would be sufficient.
“Tch. I wonder if curse specialists will show up later?”
“Well, since Dragon Knights and Space Mages exist, I’d imagine they would.”
While I exchanged quick words with Chun-bae, Mister and Min-jae were discussing Kim Han-chul.
Only Lee Shin-hee read the seriousness in my expression and looked at me.
“Did you think of some method? Or is there a cure in the Subspace?”
“No. That’s not it. Well, in a way, maybe?”
At Lee Shin-hee’s words, both Min-jae and Mister turned their gazes toward me.
“I heard from Chun-bae that Elixir can solve that curse.”
“Huh?”
“Really?”
Mister, startled, opened his eyes wide.
“Now that I think about it, the explanation mentioned it could cure physical curses… Wait, why didn’t I think of this right away?”
“It was our first time seeing Elixir. And we just heard about Kim Han-chul.”
“Hmm…”
Still, it was fortunate we learned the news during the guild meeting. We could make a decision right here.
“What do you all think about investing the Elixir to treat Kim Han-chul?”
“On the condition he joins our guild, right?”
“Of course. No matter how pitiful the situation, we can’t just give it away for free. Unless we’re offering just the Elixir as compensation.”
The best outcome would be bringing Kim Han-chul into our guild. However, there was still one concern that lingered.
Kim Han-chul had been active in the United States after awakening and served as part of the advance team. The current US Advance Team, that is.
It meant he could have deep bonds with his existing team. If that were the case, could we really force such a person to join our guild?
Well, in that case, I need to figure out what I can offer in return.
“Right. There’s no point forcing him into the team if he’s not willing.”
“Exactly. His current colleagues are the US Advance Team, aren’t they? They’re competing for first and second place in the world. We could probably get something comparable to an Elixir.”
Perhaps I could obtain a Skill Level-Up Voucher or a Job Skill Acquisition Voucher.
Honestly, considering the value of the Space Mage and the princess, I think getting those instead of an Elixir would be sufficient.
Of course, strictly speaking, recruiting Kim Han-chul as a guild member on favorable terms would be the best outcome.
Skill Level-Up Vouchers and Job Skill Acquisition Vouchers can be obtained later, but people are harder to come by.
‘Competent people already have teams, and training new ones is difficult. Our growth rate is just too fast.’
In any case, the guild members were all in favor of using the Elixir to recruit Kim Han-chul.
“Even if he goes elsewhere, if we establish this connection now, we can ask for cooperation in the future when we need it.”
“That’s right. Either way, we’re doing him a favor. Coming to us would be ideal, but still.”
“I’m in favor! That way you guys can be even more active!”
“I agree too. It seems difficult to recruit anyone better than Kim Han-chul.”
After getting their agreement, I immediately pulled out my phone. The Hunter Association had apparently handled Kim Han-chul’s return to the country.
I needed to contact Seo-ung.
-Yes, Han Hye.
“Is it possible for me to meet with Hunter Kim Han-chul?”
-Hunter Kim Han-chul?
I heard confusion in Park Seo-ung’s voice through the phone.
-Could it be…! You can resolve the collapsing mana?
“I obtained an Elixir from this Gate. They said it can resolve curses that consume the body a bit.”
-An, an Elixir?
“Yes. It’s an S-rank item.”
-….
Even though I wasn’t facing Seo-ung directly, I could almost see his dumbfounded expression through the phone.
The same look he’d had when he saw the Red Dragon with his own eyes.
“Of course, I can’t just give it away. The possibility looks high, but I can’t guarantee that treatment will be successful either.”
Since I couldn’t say definitively that healing was possible, I spoke carefully for now.
“So I think we need to discuss conditions. Ideally, we’d like him to join our guild or receive items of equivalent value….”
-Of, of course. That’s only natural. Please wait a moment. I’ll speak with the Association President and call you right back!
* * *
“What? An Elixir?”
“Yes, that’s what they said. An S-rank item that resolves curses consuming the body.”
“Huh… Well.”
The Association President clicked his tongue with an incredulous expression.
“You obtained it from this Gate?”
“Yes.”
“What a remarkable coincidence.”
“That’s what they say.”
“I always wondered what the Space Mage would bring next… but to get it right after Kim Han-chul arrives.”
“It’s not quite 100% yet.”
The Association President shook his head at Park Seo-ung’s words.
“It’ll be 100%.”
“Pardon?”
“I don’t know why, but I have that certainty.”
“…Actually, I felt the same way.”
“I’m not joking.”
“Neither am I. I’m not flattering you or just agreeing—it’s a genuine feeling.”
When the Association President squinted suspiciously to see if he was serious, Park Seo-ung met his gaze with confidence.
“I should ask Kim Han-chul’s opinion first. He’ll definitely agree, of course.”
“Yes. Isn’t he the Hunter who considers entering Gates and slaying monsters his life’s purpose?”
“That’s right.”
Then Park Seo-ung, who had been pondering, opened his mouth.
“Association President.”
“What?”
“About the Space Mage. Isn’t it true that he doesn’t actually obtain things from the Gate itself, but rather from the Subspace?”
“What do you mean?”
“Consider this: which sounds more credible—’I stole a dragon egg from a modified level 90 survival-type Gate’ or ‘I awakened a Subspace and found a dragon egg inside it’?”
The Association President fell silent, thinking for a moment.
“….”
“Surely the latter, right?”
Of course, if that were simply the case, the Hunters who entered with him would have survived. But….
Looking at it purely from the story’s perspective, the latter did seem slightly more credible to the Association President.
“Just as Han Hye reported initially, the incident occurred because of the Great Worm, and the correction she made later could have been to protect a secret.”
“…!”
“The Mage uses new magic every time he enters a release-type Gate. The reports say he finds Hidden dungeons through spatial awareness, but even if we accept that he can find them, the amount he obtains is excessive.”
Certainly, the Association President could see that aspect too.
“Are you suggesting this Elixir is the same?”
“Isn’t the timing too coincidental, as you said? How does it work out so perfectly, right on cue!”
Park Seo-ung swallowed hard.
“What if the Subspace isn’t really a Subspace at all, but more like a treasure vault of another dimension? And he’s just been taking things from there.”
Of course, half of it was true and half was not.
Most of what the Dragon Guild members obtained was indeed found in Gates, and the Red Dragon actually existed.
“Your theory might be correct.”
“Isn’t it?”
“…Though it does feel like excessive speculation.”
When the Association President answered seriously, Park Seo-ung looked slightly dejected.
“But what does the truth matter?”
“What?”
“You’ve seen the Space Mage. He’s a good person. He’s not someone who would do anything improper.”
“I agree.”
“You’ve been grinding the Gates hard. And since you’ve lost family, it makes sense you’d be hungry for growth through revenge.”
Park Seo-ung nodded.
“Regardless, it doesn’t matter to us. Even if what you say is true—that this is a treasure vault of another dimension. We benefit either way, don’t we?”
“That’s right.”
The Association President fixed Park Seo-ung with a sharp gaze.
“So if you go around spouting off about this and get caught, you’re dead.”
If word of this leaked out, it would be catastrophic. And wasn’t there already movement from the Übermenschen side?
With the Space Mage and Dragon Knight approaching B-rank, things were relatively safer now, but this wasn’t something to speak carelessly about.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Seo-ung.”
“Yes.”
“I mean this sincerely.”
The double emphasis stemmed from the fact that Park Seo-ung was a decent person, but occasionally had a reckless streak.
“Understood. I’ll only speak of it in front of you, Association President.”
“That’s not what I meant either.”
“Then should I not speak of it at all?”
“….”
“My apologies.”
“…Never mind.”
* * *
Not long after, the Association contacted us again. They conveyed that Kim Han-chul wanted to meet as soon as possible.
-We’ve already discussed the matter on our end.
The Association had spared me the trouble by speaking with Kim Han-chul beforehand, and the terms were as follows.
-It’s not guaranteed to be 100% effective. However, if you wish to proceed, we’ll provide an item equivalent to an S-rank Elixir.
-If the treatment succeeds and you join the Dragon Guild, you won’t need to pay for the Elixir.
I’d felt some reluctance about laying out conditions to a sick man’s face, but that concern was instantly resolved.
Fortunately, Kim Han-chul agreed to the Association’s terms without a moment’s hesitation.
And so we made our way to Kim Han-chul’s hospital room at the Hunter Specialist Hospital near the Association Vicinity.
I heard he’d said he’d come to our Guild House himself.
‘His will to recover seems incredible.’
Still, it felt wrong to summon a sick man, so we went to him instead.
When I saw Kim Han-chul lying in the hospital bed, I was honestly a bit shocked.
The Kim Han-chul I knew was the dependable vanguard of the US Advance Team.
Now he looked nothing like a level 39 Guardian.
Beyond being gaunt and skeletal, his complexion was so pallid he looked like he might stop breathing at any moment.
Yet the light in his eyes as he looked at us remained unchanged—burning with resolve.
“…Thank you for coming. I’m Kim Han-chul.”
His voice was hoarse and speaking seemed to take effort, but the strength contained within it came through clearly.
He reached out his hand from the bed with difficulty.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Han Hye, Guild Master of the Dragon Guild.”
I grasped her extended hand.
“I hear you’ve already been briefed on the details.”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“Pardon?”
“I agree to all the terms.”
But Kim Han-chul, standing before me, proved to be far more composed than I’d anticipated.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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