Something Keeps Appearing in My Subspace - Chapter 123
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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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123. Guild Conference (1)
During the two-hour flight, I exchanged only brief introductions with the Saebyeok Guild members accompanying me on this journey.
The Saebyeok members seemed eager to strike up a conversation, but they merely greeted me and then withdrew.
I could sense their wariness around me. It wasn’t because of my fame, but rather because they were all watching Shin Chang’s expression.
It appeared he had instructed them not to bother me unnecessarily before my match with Liu Zhen.
‘They could talk to me, though.’
Spending three days together would give me opportunities to grow closer to Saebyeok. Since we might cooperate in the near future, I needed to make a good impression.
Level 40 and around level 60. A twenty-level gap was a tremendous disparity at this range, but….
Our guild’s growth rate was equally extraordinary.
If we hadn’t avoided combat-focused Gates to solidify our foundation, I would have surpassed Liu Zhen’s level long ago.
“Wow, there are so many. It seems like three times more than in Korea.”
Even after arriving in Beijing, I was bombarded with camera flashes. It had been the same in Korea, but the scale was entirely different.
A gathering where advance teams from each nation converged.
Since these were people rarely seen in person, crowds of both ordinary people and journalists had gathered in overwhelming numbers.
“It’s definitely record-breaking.”
The Saebyeok Guild members beside me nodded in agreement.
“I’ve attended several Guild Conferences, but I’ve never seen crowds like this. And the journalists too.”
“It does seem like Han Hye is receiving a lot of attention.”
“It wasn’t this intense when Ganier came.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It seems like there are more people this time.”
William Ganier.
Representing the United States, currently level 64, a hunter boasting the world’s number one ranking by level alone.
Like me, a unique rare class superhuman.
A person who shares a job title with a famous American character and enjoys tremendous popularity within his own country.
‘He cannot fly through the sky, but….’
With S-rank physical enhancement and regeneration, plus an A-rank heat ray skill, he was undoubtedly one of the strongest hunters.
I heard he wasn’t participating in this Guild Conference. His guild members were coming instead.
“He’s certainly a major topic of discussion.”
It felt like journalists from not only China but the entire world had converged here. I could see people of all kinds.
It seemed my match with Liu Zhen was receiving considerable attention.
“Well, we did arrive late.”
“True. They’ve probably already taken all the photos with the others, and now it’s just us.”
I heard hunters from other countries had arrived before the Guild Conference began and were sightseeing around China.
Typically, hunters found it difficult to travel abroad.
There were issues like unilateral contract termination leading to overseas immigration, and regulations regarding safety and security were strict.
They had to apply to the Hunter Association due to their country’s security concerns, and they also needed permission from the country they wished to visit.
‘It’s far more troublesome and difficult than for ordinary people.’
In other words, the Guild Conference was also an opportunity for hunters to travel abroad relatively freely.
We timed our arrival precisely late because of the potential complications this issue could cause.
I hadn’t intended for it to happen, but somehow I’d become the protagonist making a grand entrance at the very end.
Well, I was certainly at the center of attention this time around.
“One moment, please.”
Just as I was about to complete immigration procedures, an obstacle emerged. The Chinese side had decided to make trouble.
I’d sensed their hostility from the moment we arrived, the way they’d been eyeing me with clear antagonism.
Our interpreter and the Association Staff exchanged words, their expressions darkening.
“What’s the problem?”
“They’re saying they need to inspect the inside of your Subspace.”
“Excuse me?”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
Not just I, but the members of the Saebyeok Guild frowned in displeasure.
Hunters are naturally sensitive about anyone touching their equipment.
Since Awakened can perceive the specifications of gear, allowing inspection would expose one’s weaknesses and abilities.
This might be acceptable for ordinary travel, but when entering through a Guild Conference or official Hunter cooperation, such requests were rarely made.
“They’re saying they don’t know what might be inside the Subspace.”
“Seriously? Please. As if they don’t know. They’re suspecting us right now?”
Seo Seung-yeon stepped forward, her expression hardening.
Of course, airport detection dogs would normally sniff both the Hunters and their luggage, but inspecting a Subspace was something else entirely.
“Isn’t it obvious what they’re really after?”
I let out a hollow laugh and opened my Subspace.
Whoosh—
The Chinese personnel flinched at the sudden opening of the Subspace. There were limits to how unreasonably one could treat people.
“Go ahead and check. If you can enter, that is.”
After hearing the translation, the Chinese personnel peered toward the Subspace, but of course they couldn’t enter.
“They’re asking you to open it so they can go inside.”
“It doesn’t work by my will alone. Only I can enter. Yong-yong is a special exception.”
After relaying my words, they conferred among themselves, then brought out what looked like a camera on a pole and inserted it into my Subspace.
I wondered why they’d do that when they should know it’s physically immune, but apparently they just wanted to see inside my Subspace.
“Is it okay to leave that in there?”
“It’s fine.”
From the moment I opened the Subspace, I’d manipulated the interior space so nothing would be visible.
All they’d capture would be darkness.
“Ugh, how crude. They’re trying to probe abilities through such underhanded means.”
Seo Seung-yeon was right. All that talk before was just an excuse—they’d been trying to investigate my abilities.
They muttered among themselves, but since I simply endured it, they eventually let me complete the procedures without further obstruction.
A welcome greeting of “we’ll see if we can find anything, and if not, so be it”—it was impossible not to find it unpleasant.
Perhaps because of what happened with Liu Zhen, the Chinese weren’t particularly favorable toward me either.
Well, I’d try not to dwell on it too much.
How many more times would I come to China? This might very well be my last visit.
* * *
I boarded the limousine prepared by the Korean Hunter Association, passing through journalists hurling questions in various languages.
English was mixed in among the Chinese, but unfortunately, I couldn’t understand it.
I knew only the most basic English, and how could a Gate orphan like me possibly know foreign languages?
Even if I were intelligent, there was nothing to be done if I hadn’t learned them.
“They’re already putting us in a bad mood from the start.”
Mister complained briefly, and Min-jae shrugged his shoulders.
“In a few days, it’ll be the opposite. The scale will be much different too.”
“That’s right. The Guild Master will repay them.”
Kim Han-chul backed up Min-jae’s words. Looking at them quietly, they seemed to be of similar rank.
Did this happen because I gave Min-jae an elixir? Like how Min-jae received magical secrets from me?
“Did you see their eyes earlier?”
“Yeah. They were glaring intensely. Especially Han Hye.”
“I thought her face would be pierced through.”
Though they spoke jokingly, the gazes we received were truly intense. The Chinese eyes were sharp.
They were looks that made it immediately clear they weren’t friendly.
“Surprisingly, they didn’t throw eggs or stones. I’d heard such ominous rumors that I even imagined blocking them.”
“You too? I did the same.”
Min-jae agreed with Mister’s words. In truth, I had as well. I’d even concentrated on my spatial sense and prepared to unfold a Subspace.
Seo Seung-yeon, who had been listening to the conversation, answered instead.
“Apparently, the Chinese side managed that strictly. There were many foreign journalists present too. It would be a national disgrace.”
“And building the arena carelessly isn’t a national disgrace?”
Everyone laughed at Min-jae’s remark. Even Saebyeokbit. Regardless of how the Chinese side treated us, our atmosphere was quite good.
The Saebyeokbit Guild members didn’t seem particularly worried about me either.
The accommodation came quickly.
It was a place separately prepared by the Korean Hunter Association due to concerns about wiretapping and security.
‘Given the case of the S-rank healer kidnapping in the United States, anything could happen.’
When I arrived at the accommodation and asked about some people giving off an unusual atmosphere, I heard they had also come from the National Intelligence Service.
As it was indeed a global event, Korea seemed to be paying considerable attention to it.
“The Guild Conference schedule will proceed over three days.”
After organizing our luggage, I gathered with the Saebyeokbit Guild members and listened to an explanation about the conference.
“Tomorrow, the first day, the UN Gate Countermeasures Committee will come and inform us about recent Gate change trends and confirmed special Gates.”
“The second day will feature meetings where advance teams from each country discuss unusual sightings, new monsters, and countermeasures they’ve encountered in recent Gates.”
It was a rare gathering where advance teams from each country carved out time to meet, but the schedule wasn’t overly tight.
After all, the Guild Conference was closer to an international exchange venue for navigating the Gate crisis.
“The first day evening is free, and the second day evening will host the conference banquet. On the third day, as you all know, everyone returns.”
The Association Staff finished his explanation and directed his gaze toward me.
“We believe the Chinese side will request a duel with Hunter Han Hye at the banquet on the second day.”
There had been a verbal exchange with Liu Zhen, but we hadn’t officially set when to duel.
“Since they’ve also secured a location advantage and prepared, they’ll likely want to do it where many people can watch.”
All eyes in the room turned toward me. I shrugged my shoulders lightly.
“I’m fine with whenever.”
* * *
The next day.
The roads leading to Beijing Tower were completely cordoned off and empty due to the Guild Conference event.
“Wow, it really is tall.”
“You can’t even see the top? It’s hidden by clouds.”
Thanks to that, we arrived at Beijing Tower without much delay. It was certainly impressive in height.
A 1020-meter ultra-high-rise building.
The enormous structure, built from the seized personal fortunes of purged Chinese high-ranking officials, was overwhelming just to behold.
While the decision to construct the arena up there was questionable, I could understand why they’d chosen this location for the conference.
Of course, what caught my eye most was the massive crowd gathered in front of the tower.
“Shin Chang! Shin Chang!”
“Han Hye!”
“The Sniper!”
The moment I opened the limousine door, blinding flashes and deafening noise greeted us. It was more like calling out than cheering.
Journalists capturing photographs, naturally.
Even though their Korean was halting, hearing my name called had the effect of turning my head involuntarily.
Of course, the gazes of the crowd beyond them were, at best, not particularly welcoming.
“First time walking a red carpet.”
“Me too.”
Unlike Saebyeokbit Guild, who were accustomed to such occasions, our guild was experiencing this for the first time, so there was a certain excitement in the air.
I felt it too. I walked toward the tower with the most composed expression I could muster.
Among the people frequently calling out in Korean, I noticed a section where Westerners were standing.
“Red Dragon! Red Dragon!”
“Yong-yong!”
“Space Mage!”
It wasn’t just their halting Korean that caught my attention.
[Please show us Red Dragon! Please!]
[I love Yong-yong]
There were signs bearing photographs of Yong-yong, and there were also signs with pristine Korean characters printed from who knows where.
I’d heard that Yong-yong had hardcore fans abroad, and I suspected these might be them.
Mister noticed this too and gave my shoulder a light bump. Hmm. I wonder if it would be okay to show them.
While there were many people around, the space where hunters could pass through was quite spacious.
Still, I couldn’t summon without asking, so I sought permission through the interpreter.
“Could you ask if it’s okay to summon Red Dragon?”
When the interpreter asked, the Chinese official tilted their head and picked up a walkie-talkie. They seemed to be communicating with someone above.
While they’d seemed slightly hostile when I first asked, after hearing the response, they broke into a light smile, suggesting the atmosphere wasn’t unfavorable.
I’d heard that Yong-yong was quite popular in China too—perhaps that was why?
“They say it’s possible. They just asked that you not keep it out for too long.”
“That’s plenty.”
A low rumble echoed through the air—
The moment I summoned Yong-yong from the Subspace.
“Kyaaaah!”
“Waaaaah!”
As Yong-yong emerged from the Subspace, an enormous roar erupted across the plaza before Beijing Tower. I could even hear a thunderous “Roooar!”
Even the locals who had been eyeing us with such hostility moments before were now cheering with unbridled enthusiasm.
-Krwaaa!
When Yong-yong let out a small roar, the dragon enthusiasts reacted as though they might collapse backward.
Someone shouted “Thank you!” and the interpreter relayed their words for them.
“They say they would die happy right now.”
“That’s wonderful. Good work, Yong-yong. Back inside now.”
I summoned Yong-yong back and walked toward the tower, noticing the atmosphere had shifted dramatically from before.
The hostile gazes had undeniably diminished. The entire mood had softened.
I was genuinely surprised by the transformation. I’d heard Yong-yong was popular, but witnessing it firsthand was something else entirely.
Was this the Yong-yong effect?
Well, regardless, it wasn’t particularly important at the moment.
I gazed up at the seemingly endless Beijing Tower. The elite teams from each nation awaited above.
‘Liu Zhen will be there too.’
I stepped forward with unwavering confidence.
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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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