Something Keeps Appearing in My Subspace - Chapter 126

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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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126. Guild Conference (4)
Why wouldn’t Liu Zhen have shown such overwhelming confidence against me in the first place?
I had confidence too, which is why I made the proposal. But Liu Zhen shook his head.
“That would be difficult. I’d like to, but this blade isn’t mine. It belongs to the state.”
State property, then.
I felt a twinge of disappointment. I considered asking him to check with someone, but it felt tacky and inelegant.
“I do have one decent piece of equipment, though. How about that?”
Instead, Liu Zhen made a counter-proposal.
“Equipment?”
“B-rank. It’s something you wear under your clothes. I’d rather not go into the details.”
A smile bloomed across my face. I’d been feeling somewhat disappointed just moments before.
Of course I had no intention of backing out. Besides, Arachne’s undergarment was also a B-rank item.
“Fine. No backing out, right?”
“That’s what I’m hoping for.”
Liu Zhen grinned widely and nodded enthusiastically. He had an almost refreshingly straightforward air about him.
A flicker of doubt crossed my mind. Was this really the person I knew?
Come to think of it, when he first approached me, he’d stated his business concisely, and just now was no different.
-Everyone talks too much. How about tomorrow evening?
-I was thinking of doing it now.
The image I’d seen in the video was somehow different from this.
Suddenly, something from a few days ago came to mind—words spoken by Zui Yuan, the former Chinese Hunter who had gone to Britain.
-I hope you won’t hate him too much before seeing him in person.
-He said that even though he has no connection to Liu Zhen, since China is so particular, that might not be his true nature.
Had the interview been edited with malicious intent?
But it was video footage. His expression and words had seemed quite hostile toward me.
‘I’m not sure. He might be doing it for the sake of appearances in front of others.’
I’d considered striking him with the Heavenly Blade wreathed in scorching flames, but I decided to show mercy for now.
The Chinese side might have disliked me, but Liu Zhen hadn’t spouted nonsense to my face.
Moreover, hadn’t he offered a B-rank piece of equipment? True, it was wagered, but that still meant he was offering it.
We faced each other and began warming up lightly. Liu Zhen nodded slightly.
“Shall we begin?”
“Let’s do it.”
In that instant, Liu Zhen’s aura transformed. A sharp, power-laden gaze fixed upon me.
Because of that gaze, I felt the attention of the Hunters watching us recede into the distance.
“Hoo.”
I took a short, deep breath. The Training Ground, roughly eight meters on each side, wasn’t particularly spacious. The limited space didn’t matter.
How I utilized it was precisely a measure of my skill.
After all, hadn’t my recent enlightenment come from combat in cramped quarters?
Crack!
And as if by agreement, Liu Zhen and I launched ourselves from the ground simultaneously. My speed was faster.
Because I have the Heavenly Sword.
“….”
I could see surprise flicker across Liu Zhen’s sharp eyes. I simply offered him a knowing smile.
Clang—!
A clear metallic ring echoed through the banquet hall.
‘Let me test the waters first.’
Honestly, I’d considered using my stats to achieve an overwhelming victory… but that would be the coward’s way out.
Facing S-rank swordsmanship was an opportunity in itself.
While crushing him decisively might feel satisfying, it wouldn’t contribute much to my own growth.
* * *
“The Space Mage is faster?”
“S+ rank is impressive, though.”
Han Hye and Liu Zhen’s first clash.
The hunters watching marveled at the sight. Neither was from the vanguard ranks. They were still in the Super Rookie phase. Yet it was astounding.
They weren’t drawing attention for nothing. This was a duel between the one who set the growth record and the one who shattered it.
Moreover, Han Hye’s speed felt comparable to that of the vanguard hunters themselves.
“…Isn’t she faster than me?”
“She might be.”
“I’m being serious.”
Han Hye and Liu Zhen’s blades clashed violently across the Training Ground. In terms of pure swordsmanship technique, Liu Zhen held the advantage.
Sharp, piercing strikes aimed at Han Hye. Yet she overcame them through her stats.
No—it was more than overcoming. She was gaining the upper hand.
Those without deep knowledge of swordsmanship would simply think they were fighting evenly.
“The Space Mage isn’t being pushed back?”
“She seems to be defending while looking for openings.”
Han Hye viewed this duel with Liu Zhen as part of her own training. That’s why she didn’t overwhelm him.
S-rank swordsmanship. She intended to engage with it as much as she could. There was enlightenment to be gained from it.
So she focused on deflecting Liu Zhen’s blade using footwork from the Cockfighting Stance and the Empire’s foundational sword techniques.
Her restraint was limited to brief offensive attempts using Cresea swordsmanship.
‘This is considerable.’
S-rank swordsmanship was truly S-rank. Just as when Shin Chang had demonstrated his technique, I felt a massive current flowing through it.
Cutting, twisting the wrist to thrust, spinning the body to sweep.
It seemed trivial, yet it became a towering wave.
After receiving Liu Zhen’s strikes several times, I nearly fell into a trap without realizing it.
‘If I hadn’t trained with Shin Chang, this could have been dangerous.’
Fortunately, with the power amplified by the Heavenly Sword and my enhanced Strength and Agility stats, I could counter it without difficulty.
Within the narrow Training Ground, the two blades collided endlessly. Their positions constantly shifted.
“The Space Mage isn’t using teleportation?”
“She must think it’s worth testing without it. She’s not using the Subspace either.”
“She might actually be preserving them. The opponent has to stay conscious of that threat.”
“Liu Zhen keeps rolling his eyes. The Space Mage is sharp.”
The vanguard hunters watching the match were each voicing their opinions.
Han Hye could notice Liu Zhen’s eyes widening in surprise as they fought.
Did he not expect me to be this strong?
Han Hye nodded inwardly at the question forming in her mind.
‘That makes sense. He was told I’m S+ rank, but he probably didn’t anticipate all stats increasing by 3. Same with the Heavenly Sword.’
After their blades clashed forcefully, the distance between them naturally widened. Liu Zhen opened his mouth.
“…Your skills are genuine. I thought you were all talk.”
Of course, Han Hye, who didn’t understand Chinese, couldn’t comprehend what he said.
‘What is he saying?’
As she wondered, Chun-bae answered in her stead.
-He says your skills are genuine. He thought you were all talk.
‘You’re not just making up your own interpretation, are you?’
-How could I? My efficiency isn’t poor for nothing. Didn’t I understand your words immediately?
‘Oh, right?’
Han Hye was taken aback. It was because Chun-bae had a translation spell fundamentally cast upon him.
‘Why didn’t you tell me earlier instead of having me hear it through an interpreter?’
It was said playfully. After all, it was strange to understand everything without an interpreter.
However, Chun-bae answered seriously.
-I thought it was necessary. Every conversation with you consumes my holy power.
‘Really? Then I shouldn’t joke around either, should I?’
-….
Chun-bae fell silent for a moment.
-This much is certainly within usable limits, but… understood. I will refrain from unnecessary words going forward.
At Chun-bae’s dejected and dispirited response, Han Hye scratched the back of her head.
Hmm, have I been too harsh on him lately?
‘Chun-bae, you know I was joking, right? Go ahead.’
-….
‘I’m serious, it was just a joke.’
-I was also joking.
‘This guy? We’re in the middle of a match.’
There was also something puzzling about the situation.
‘All talk? That’s ridiculous. He was the one who opened his mouth first. Did someone manipulate him?’
Unfortunately, Han Hye couldn’t continue her thoughts. Chun-bae’s brief breathing exercise ended, and Liu Zhen charged at her again.
However, remarkably, Han Hye’s last speculation was true.
Liu Zhen, a rural boy, had awakened an S-rank sword skill at seventeen, catching the attention of China’s mainstream hunters.
A talent that reached level 42 in just two years.
To nurture this young talent to their liking, they manipulated the information directed at Liu Zhen.
To such an extent that all SNS and internet content appearing on Liu Zhen’s smartphone were fabricated to suit the Chinese Government’s tastes.
The reason Liu Zhen had opened his mouth in the first place was because he had been told that Han Hye had disrespected him first.
-The Space Mage from Korea disrespected you, they say. Called you nothing special. I think it would be good to say something like that.
-The Space Mage defeating a high-grade Ogre is probably a lie. It was fabricated to steal your reputation.
Of course, China’s actions stemmed from Liu Zhen’s absolute conviction that he could never lose to Han Hye.
He was a combat-class hunter possessing S-rank swordsmanship. Full-scale national support backed him as well.
Han Hye, by contrast, was a support-class hunter despite being S+-rank. According to our investigation, the Korean Hunter Association had only provided her with elixirs and a B-rank sword technique manual.
With the level gap and the difference in skill grades, Liu Zhen’s victory seemed assured.
Moreover, if the original plan had proceeded as intended, the match would have taken place during the first controversy, before Han Hye had grown this much.
Who could have imagined that in such a short span, Han Hye would break Liu Zhen’s records, achieve tremendous growth, and even obtain the Heavenly Sword?
* * *
‘Hmm. This should be enough.’
To be honest, I found it difficult to immediately grasp the depth of S-rank swordsmanship. Naturally, I wasn’t fighting while having someone explain it to me like Shin Chang did.
Still, I was certain I had witnessed a realm I didn’t know before. There was certainly room for improvement by reviewing this.
‘What more could I gain by continuing?’
-It’s difficult to say with certainty, but the probability is low. S-rank swordsmanship is a martial art imbued with the philosophy of a swordmaster who dominated an era, so even a genius would find it difficult to understand from a single viewing.
Just in case, I asked Chun-bae, and he gave me appropriate advice. It was time to end this.
I swung my sword broadly and created distance.
“Huff….”
Unlike me, Liu Zhen’s breathing had become quite ragged. It couldn’t be helped.
The current level difference between Liu Zhen and me was three.
However, I was S+-rank. Including the Heavenly Sword, the stat gap would be quite significant.
-Liu Zhen tired first?
-Is the Space Mage winning decisively?
-And he didn’t even use Subspace or teleportation?
-That’s what they’re saying.
From what Chun-bae was relaying in real time, the other hunters had all noticed as well.
Glancing sideways, the expressions of the Chinese hunters were grim.
Especially the S-rank spear master. He had positioned himself as if ready to charge forward at any moment, but he couldn’t.
It was because Shin Chang was staring at him intensely.
“…I concede. You’re strong.”
Chun-bae translated Liu Zhen’s murmur. Tsk, seeing him acknowledge it like that, he doesn’t seem like a bad guy.
I’m not sure why that is.
“Let’s finish this.”
Without an interpreter present, he probably didn’t understand my words, but he seemed to grasp the meaning well enough.
Liu Zhen nodded.
-Whoosh!
I overlay blazing onto the Heavenly Sword. Since I had practiced quite a bit, the Heavenly Sword wouldn’t melt.
The flames didn’t ripple like they were alive as with the Wind-Flow Sword, but this was sufficient.
“…What?”
“Oh?”
I felt the crowd’s astonishment. I smiled wickedly and swung the Heavenly Sword. The flames spread out like a fan.
Of course, I had no intention of breaking Liu Zhen’s sword.
I’m a Space Mage, after all. I wanted to win the way a Space Mage should.
The moment the fan-shaped flames obscured Liu Zhen’s vision, I opened a Subspace behind him.
—A deep hum echoed through the air.
Then I thrust my blade through the Subspace and opened a second Subspace beside Liu Zhen.
Remarkably, Liu Zhen reacted to it.
With a sharp metallic ring, he blocked my sword as it came thrusting from the side. His S-rank swordsmanship was clearly no joke.
A soft sound escaped.
But he couldn’t have anticipated the leap that followed. That’s precisely why I’d been holding back on using it until now.
The perspective shifted. Before he could react, my blade was already at his back.
“Hah.”
Liu Zhen exhaled a deep sigh, raised both hands, and calmly conceded.
“I’ve lost.”
Well, even if we’d exchanged a few more blows, this would be sufficient proof that I’d overwhelmingly dominated Liu Zhen.
Liu Zhen opened his mouth with a somewhat complicated expression.
“It seems I was mistaken about you.”
“Apparently so.”
I’d heard things through Chun-bae, but Liu Zhen didn’t know what I’d said, so he tilted his head in confusion.
Still, he looked at me with clear eyes and continued.
“I’ll give you what I promised now. If I wait any longer, I won’t be able to.”
Was he saying the Chinese Government wouldn’t allow it if he waited? Liu Zhen sheathed his sword and suddenly began removing his upper garment.
No, seriously? He’s taking off his clothes here? While I was still processing my shock, Liu Zhen continued speaking.
“Still, a strong person shouldn’t disparage others first. That’s not a virtue befitting the strong.”
The moment Chun-bae relayed this to me, doubt naturally arose.
“What nonsense is this? Who disparaged anyone first?”
Suddenly, a suspicion formed in my mind.
—Chun-bae, can you use magic to translate my words to him?
—Affirmative. Of course it’s possible.
In that instant, I used my flames to create a spherical barrier around us. Just as I had when rescuing the Saint.
Wasn’t he supposed to be nineteen this year?
All this time, I’d thought the young man received attention too early and lacked proper manners.
But it seemed I needed to have a proper conversation with him.
There were aspects of him that resembled children I’d seen during my Gate orphan days.
And perhaps—just perhaps—there was something I could help him with.
“What is this?”
Liu Zhen was greatly startled by the sudden appearance of flames.
“I think I need to correct some facts. What you know seems to be wrong.”
And when my words reached him in Chinese, his eyes widened even further.
“How do you speak Chinese?”
“There are ways. But it seems you’re being manipulated somehow.”
Liu Zhen’s expression grew complicated at my words.
“I heard something similar recently.”
“Heard it? From whom?”
I still didn’t know if my suspicion was true, but could there really be another seeker of genuine knowledge in this place?
“The Übermenschen. From a place the nation has designated as evil.”
“What? No, wait a moment.”
Why would the Übermenschen come up here?

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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
—————