Something Keeps Appearing in My Subspace - Chapter 124

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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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124. Guild Conference (2)
The Guild Conference was being held on the 216th floor, the highest level of Beijing Tower.
A building standing 1020 meters tall.
I’d initially thought there might be a sparring arena around the 900-meter mark, but after hearing the details, that wasn’t the case.
The actual floors in use were lower. The banquet hall and sparring arena were on the 214th floor, roughly 770 meters up.
Even so, using the Heavenly Sword posed no problems whatsoever.
‘The Heavenly Sword has a stat ceiling limit, after all.’
The sword’s description stated it grew stronger the farther from the ground, but even that had its limits.
During the Falling Crisis, I’d felt it was roughly three times stronger subjectively, but that was because my stats had been low back then.
After experimenting outside while riding Yong-yong, it turned out to be more precisely a numerical stat increase.
For example, physical-related stats would rise by +N. I hadn’t verified the exact numbers, though.
‘Whether it’s 900 meters or 770 meters, either height is enough to max out the ceiling.’
Because of that, my tension came from a different direction instead.
As the elevator climbed upward now, the elite hunters from various nations would be waiting above.
They were the beings I’d dreamed of becoming ever since my days as a porter. Idols of sorts, you might say.
I’d even sparred with Shin Chang, whom I admired, and now I found myself meeting them as near equals, though I felt a slight tremor nonetheless.
“Hah.”
As the 216th floor drew near, I took a short, deep breath. Then—ding—the elevator doors slid open.
The 216th floor, reconfigured for the Guild Conference, unfolded before my eyes.
The first thing I saw was the central podium. A large screen stood behind it, befitting the conference setup.
In front of it was an arrangement of circular tables.
“….”
Then I spotted mostly familiar faces among the hunters. The moment we stepped out of the elevator, gazes poured down upon us.
Apparently, we were the topic of interest. The expressions ranged from expressionless to brimming with curiosity.
I didn’t roll my eyes or anything. Since Shin Chang was leading, I simply followed behind him.
But then some people approached us directly.
“Hey!”
They were Russian hunters, and from the way they greeted Shin Chang, they seemed to know each other.
Since he’d mentioned meeting Fist King recently, they apparently had some prior connection.
I’d heard Fist King wasn’t coming, which was a bit disappointing. He was someone I wanted to meet at least once.
“How have you been?”
“…Fine.”
“Still quiet as ever. Is that the Space Mage?”
With interpreters standing nearby, it wasn’t difficult to grasp the context of the conversation.
Shin Chang nodded.
“Think he’ll win?”
“Of course.”
The man who’d been greeting us chuckled and, passing by Shin Chang, extended his hand toward me as well.
“Pleased to meet you. We’re looking forward to this.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
I found myself exchanging greetings with hunters I’d only known by face. Though we didn’t have long conversations.
I glanced around discreetly—the Chinese delegation hadn’t arrived yet.
‘Are they planning to make a grand entrance at the end?’
I exchanged pleasantries with hunters who had connections to the Saebyeok Guild and made my way to our seats.
For someone as taciturn as Shin Chang, quite a few people came to greet him.
Of course, Shin Chang simply listened briefly to each one.
Hmm. Perhaps that’s exactly why people prefer him? He doesn’t waste words on unnecessary talk. Or maybe it’s because of his abilities.
‘Some people didn’t show up either.’
Just as only five members came from the Saebyeok Guild, the Guild Conference didn’t include every member of each nation’s elite delegation.
Having all members of the elite delegation absent would momentarily compromise the nation’s security.
If a sudden discharge-type Gate opened, it would be catastrophic. For that reason, many were regrettably absent.
The United States’ superhuman was one, and Russia’s Fist King was another.
‘I heard Shin Chang doesn’t usually attend either.’
The leaders of elite delegations—S-rank hunters over level 60—typically don’t participate.
Their roles assigned by their nations are significant, and besides, they can just hear about it secondhand anyway.
Because of that, I felt a certain gratitude.
If not for the issue with Liu Zhen, Shin Chang wouldn’t have come to China at all.
“They’re arriving now.”
At someone’s words, all eyes turned toward the back. The Chinese hunters were entering.
Liu Zhen appeared alongside the S-rank spearmaster who had been defeated by Shin Chang.
As the S-rank spearmaster’s expression hardened slightly upon seeing Shin Chang, our eyes met as well.
Those blazing eyes seemed to glare. Our gazes locked only briefly before it ended.
“The Guild Conference will begin shortly. We ask that all hunters please be seated.”
With the arrival of the Chinese hunters, the conference commenced.
* * *
“…Korea has successfully conquered only one Trial Gate thus far, but there remains the possibility of more appearing.”
“We understand that the rewards are exceptional, and given their disappearing nature, competition is inevitable.”
“However, the UN Gate Countermeasures Committee requests that all hunters exercise maximum caution in your conquest efforts.”
My first Guild Conference began with a simple introduction, followed by details about the Trial Gate we had conquered.
Because of this, attention turned somewhat toward the Chinese delegation, who hadn’t shared information, and they appeared visibly uncomfortable.
“Additionally, we wish to inform you of newly discovered Gates. ‘Chain-type’ and ‘Magnetic-type’ have emerged. We extend our gratitude to the hunters from Egypt and Norway who reported these.”
Information about Gate interiors is classified. In the early days of the Gate crisis, global cooperation had been established, but that was no longer the case.
Because of this, when such reports were made, the Gate Countermeasures Committee made efforts to provide corresponding compensation.
Chain-type and Magnetic-type. These were terms I was hearing for the first time, so I had no choice but to focus intently.
“In Chain-type Gates, the interior does not reset. If Team A fails to conquer it, the Gate continues from that exact state.”
“What exactly do you mean by ‘continues from that state’?”
The conference had a fairly open atmosphere—if you had questions, you could raise your hand and ask.
“…When the next team enters the Gate, it proceeds from the moment the previous team failed. There have actually been cases where hunters from the previous team were held captive and were rescued.”
So the Gate’s content continues. In a way, that was fortunate, but in another way, it was dangerous.
You could rescue those who went before, but if they had caused problems through their failure, you’d have to deal with those consequences as well.
‘Is that also because the mana density increased?’
-Affirmative. As mana density rises, increasingly diverse and difficult Gates appear.
After hearing this explanation, I asked Chun-bae, and received an answer I’d somewhat anticipated.
Indeed, ever since this Gate crisis, I’d felt Gates not only becoming harder but also more varied.
“Self-growth Gates resemble chain Gates in that they develop on their own, but there are subtle differences.”
“There have been reports of Gates that are actively avoided—where no subjugation attempts have been made—yet their recommended levels have increased.”
No one had even entered, yet the Gate’s recommended level rose. It was difficult to believe.
However, Chun-bae, who’d been listening to the explanation, provided the answer instead.
-Both Gate types share similar aspects, but the latter is considerably more dangerous. It’s crucial to subjugate them as quickly as possible.
‘Right. The longer time passes, the bigger the problem becomes.’
-It’s worse than that. With self-growth Gates, each time they develop, their difficulty increases beyond the recommended level. If left unchecked, they eventually become impossible to handle.
‘Do they give a lot of experience?’
-Affirmative.
Hmm. Perhaps these Gates might actually suit us.
Since Gates at our recommended level feel easy given our overwhelming growth rate, entering self-growth Gates matched to our level could yield even better results.
“Both cases represent only a single discovery, but I believe these are matters we must keep in mind. They may already exist, but we simply don’t know about them yet.”
Afterward, hunters exchanged questions and answers—inquiries about the structure and how subjugation had been conducted.
After a brief Q&A session, the moderator continued.
“Additionally, reports of obtaining sacred-related items from high-level Gates have increased slightly.”
“We believe this information will inevitably reach the general public before long.”
“However, to prevent social chaos, we ask that all hunters continue to maintain strict confidentiality as you have been.”
This was something I’d heard from Seo-ung before. Sacred-related matters are treated as top secret worldwide.
It couldn’t be otherwise, since Earth has religions.
After the Gate crisis, there had been significant problems from a surge in cults and religious conflicts.
‘I wish I could obtain those items.’
From what I gathered, sacred-related items were being handled by national governments and the Gate Countermeasures Committee.
It was a shame that I couldn’t reveal details about Chun-bae, even though he was the one providing these meals.
“Now, I have important information to share with all the hunters gathered here.”
At that moment, the moderator opened his mouth with a solemn expression. Behind him, images of Australia’s landscape began appearing on the screen.
A continuously active mega-sized Gate.
The land surrounding the Gate had been transformed as if it belonged to another world.
“Recently, we’ve determined that mana continuously leaks from Australia’s Gate, and this leakage is affecting the increase in mana density within Earth’s atmosphere.”
The atmosphere instantly froze cold. Even the faintest murmurs disappeared in that moment.
So Earth had already identified this.
“If this continues, atmospheric mana density will increase at a faster rate than usual, and we’ll face threats from even larger emission-type Gates than we do now.”
“Does that mean we need to close it?”
“Unfortunately, yes. The only solution is to close the continuously active emission-type Gate in Australia.”
“How could we possibly….”
I already knew from Chun-bae, but the expressions of hunters hearing this for the first time were quite grave.
It couldn’t be otherwise. Catoblepas was a creature I’d need to level up considerably more before I could defeat it.
“Of course, I understand it’s impossible right now. It will take time. I hope it won’t be too long, but that’s precisely why I’m bringing this up here.”
“….”
“I’m asking for your help here. Australia transcends personal interests and national boundaries. Your genuine assistance will be crucial in the future.”
* * *
With the discussion of the Australia Gate issue concluded, the first day of the Guild Conference came to an end.
However, the bombshell statement dropped at the end cast a heavy pall over the atmosphere.
When I first entered this place, hunters had been chatting with smiles on their faces….
Now everyone spoke quietly with serious expressions. We were no exception.
“Damn, how are we supposed to close that?”
“He didn’t say it had to be right now.”
“We’ll have to go, won’t we?”
“We will. Assuming it’s true, not closing it would definitely become a major problem.”
Even the Saebyeok Guild members looked grave. Shin Chang, who had been quiet, finally spoke.
“…Time is the issue.”
“Right. We can’t handle it immediately, so we can only hope nothing serious happens before we grow stronger.”
“Everyone, let’s not get too serious about this. Worrying now won’t change anything anyway.”
Seo Seung-yeon, whose naturally brighter personality shone through, shrugged and lightened the mood. Then she turned her gaze toward me.
“I’m actually fine with it. When that time comes, I think we’ll go with the Dragon Guild, and that’s reassuring, right?”
“True. At our current growth rate… we probably will go together.”
“Or maybe by then the Dragon Guild will be the vanguard?”
“Huh?”
I briefly faltered at the Saebyeok Guild members’ conversation and asked back, but the tone was half-joking, half-serious.
“Hmm. If it were another guild, people would probably call that nonsense… but with the Dragon Guild, it might actually happen.”
Thanks to that, the atmosphere lightened for a moment.
Liu Zhen suddenly stood up from the Chinese table nearby and began walking toward us.
“Oh, he’s coming.”
“Is he asking to go now? Wasn’t it supposed to be tomorrow?”
Naturally, every hunter’s gaze in the space turned toward us. Their eyes gleamed with interest.
Liu Zhen approached and asked me.
“Everyone’s been talking. How about tomorrow evening instead?”
The question was simple. He really seemed determined to defeat me at the banquet.
“If that’s what you want, anytime works for me.”
I smiled and nodded in agreement.

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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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