Something Keeps Appearing in My Subspace - Chapter 188

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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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188. Jo Ji-hyuk (3)
“S-rank? That’s bullshit.”
Veronica scoffed, but Jo Ji-hyuk merely smirked in response, his lips curling upward with amusement.
“Bullshit? I’d say it’s actually underselling it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t do this with empty hands.”
“But you know I can’t just hand over an S-rank item like that.”
Both Veronica and Jo Ji-hyuk appeared at ease. There was no sense of a fierce battle of wits in their words.
“Let’s be straightforward about this. I’ll give you the item based on the value of the information.”
“Hmm. You won’t change your story, will you?”
“Think about everything I’ve given you so far. When our interests align, I keep my word.”
Faith spoken from the lips of an Übermenschen—it sounded less like a deep bond and more like a matter of mutual interest.
As Jo Ji-hyuk stroked his chin in contemplation, Veronica continued.
“This matter is important to us too. If I gave you an S-rank item, I gave it. It’s not something that would derail our plans.”
“True. If I’m going to stab you in the back, I’ll do it later.”
“You really do understand, don’t you?”
Despite the chilling talk of betrayal, the two laughed together. Perhaps madmen truly do understand one another.
I listened to their conversation while smiling, though my heart churned with anxiety.
“Recently, the Korean Hunter Association has been quietly purchasing Gate Metal.”
“Gate Metal?”
A sigh escaped me involuntarily. My grip tightened on Eshirel.
“I received word from a Gate Metal collector. He said he’s been losing consecutive auctions to Korea and quietly asked if I had any information.”
“Could there actually be something to it?”
“Almost certainly. When I investigated, I confirmed they’re making purchases discreetly. On the surface, it seems ambiguous, but….”
“When you suspect something exists, everything looks different?”
“Exactly. When I tried to verify the Gate Metal they’re holding through an insider, their security clearance increased.”
My mind grew hot at Min-seok’s words, but I forced myself to remain calm.
In moments like this, composure was paramount.
“This is information only I know now. I’ve already dealt with that collector and secured all the metal.”
“If that’s true… it’s worth demanding an S-rank item for.”
“Exactly. It’s also why you need to help me. It means we can now use Gate Metal.”
Veronica fell silent for a moment.
“However, I can’t provide payment immediately on this. To be honest, it might just be a precautionary measure. Other organizations also stockpile metal for future contingencies.”
“I’m saying this precisely because it’s different.”
“In your assessment?”
“The Korean Hunter Association is conservative in such matters. But their stance is changing? There’s only one reason.”
The one consolation was that the information hadn’t been completely exposed. It hadn’t come from the Association itself.
They only suspected something was happening.
‘No. Even calling it a consolation feels absurd.’
It changed nothing regardless.
If this information reaches the Übermenschen… Min-seok’s safety would face serious consequences.
‘We’re not hiding this for nothing. If they knew we could use Gate metal, the Übermenschen would lose their minds.’
Considering Min-seok’s age, brainwashing and suggestion would be easy, so they’d definitely target him.
That meant constraints would be placed on our actions too. We couldn’t constantly monitor Min-seok’s safety.
The truth would come out someday, but not now. Absolutely not now.
I’m still insufficient, and Mister is still insufficient. Even after we grow stronger, it’s a truth I’d rather not reveal.
“Fine. What you want is for us to provide Gate metal in addition to the items, right?”
“That’s right. It benefits you too. Once I become Association President, you’ll be able to use it freely.”
Use it freely… The way he spoke, as if he’d already placed Korea and us beneath his feet, was almost laughable.
Listening to the conversation, I made my decision. At minimum, I couldn’t let these people leave here.
From what Jo Ji-hyuk was saying, it seemed no one within Daeup knew about the connection with the Übermenschen.
And since he said he’d dealt with the informant, Jo Ji-hyuk and that Witch were all who knew about Min-seok right now.
‘I have to handle this here.’
I made my decision and immediately radioed.
“Seo Seung-yeon.”
-Yes?
“Could you provide support?”
-Support? Suddenly?
“I need to capture these guys here. They know about Min-seok.”
It was such an abrupt statement that Seo Seung-yeon’s surprise was natural.
-Is it possible?
“It seems possible. If it gets dangerous, pull out immediately. I have a way to survive too.”
-Sigh…
I heard Seo Seung-yeon let out a small sigh. Then came the sound of her feet pushing off the ground with a tap.
-Well, let’s give it a try.
“Thank you.”
I suppose I should count myself fortunate. Seo Seung-yeon had a straightforward personality, so she readily agreed with my intention.
-How much was the international bounty for capturing the Witch again? I don’t think it was much.
“It’s all yours, Seo Seung-yeon.”
-Really?
That was enough joking.
It wasn’t the best move I’d envisioned. However, with Min-seok involved now, it had become the only best move available.
-I’ve requested support from Seo-ung. Saebyeokbit might struggle, but Chulbyeok will come. It’ll take a while though.
“Thank you.”
I took a deep breath. Gripping Essirel tightly, I sharpened my focus and prepared for Severance.
There was nothing better than Severance for ambushing these bastards sitting and conversing.
* * *
‘I need to handle this in one strike if possible.’
The opponents were two vanguards.
But I didn’t know when they’d become six. Even disregarding the Nameless Woman outside, who wasn’t even an Awakened, there were four more out there.
That’s why I had to pour all my strength into the first attack, the ambush. Han Hye focused intently on her spatial sense.
She poured all her mana into preparing Severance.
‘If I think of items like the Amulet of Protection… I’ll use rapid successive strikes.’
The way to break through items with barrier functions like the Amulet of Protection was to attack in rapid succession.
Han Hye concentrated on the spaces around Jo Ji-hyuk and Veronica’s necks, hearts, and heads—their vital points.
She was preparing to use Severance on five different spatial points for each of them. Not simultaneously, though.
With an extremely brief time gap, the barrier would shatter, and the Severance strikes targeting different vital points would obliterate the enemy.
‘If they have yet another item, I wouldn’t know… but I have to try.’
Han Hye poured all her mana into Severance. It was already a skill that consumed considerable mana, but she held nothing back.
Her advantage was that she could rest in the Subspace without time constraints and return whenever she wished.
“Well, I think we’ve covered the main points.”
“Right. Once I take the Association President’s position, we can nail down the specifics.”
Han Hye waited for the perfect timing while holding Severance at the ready. An ambush shines brightest when the opponent lets their guard down.
Of course, they were unaware of her presence, but she was aiming for an even better moment.
Fortunately, she didn’t have to wait long. Jo Ji-hyuk and Veronica clinked their glasses together, satisfied with their agreement.
The moment the two brought whiskey to their lips, Han Hye unleashed all her mana into Severance.
“I’m glad it went better than expected….”
More precisely, it was when Veronica was about to continue speaking.
-Whoooosh!
Five lines were drawn across Jo Ji-hyuk and Veronica’s bodies. Abdomen, knees, head, neck, heart.
The abdomen came first. She’d reasoned that both of them likely had protective measures like the Amulet of Protection.
-Crack!
And Han Hye’s prediction was correct. At the first Severance, barriers materialized over both Veronica and Jo Ji-hyuk’s bodies.
The shattering was instantaneous. Regardless of the barrier’s rank, Han Hye’s skill was S-rank.
The second Severance targeted the knees. Even if they reacted immediately to the first attack, she intended to sever their mobility.
Jo Ji-hyuk’s knee split open. However, Veronica’s barrier activated once more.
-Crack!
Then the Severance strikes aimed at the head, neck, and heart came simultaneously. All delivered in less than a second.
Even elite hunters called the vanguard found it difficult to react.
They were confident in their abilities. The attack hadn’t registered on their senses, and it came while they were completing their agreement and raising their glasses.
Twisting their bodies was all they could manage. The lines Han Hye had drawn appeared across Jo Ji-hyuk and Veronica’s bodies.
-Squelch!
-Whoooosh!
Severance, powered by every ounce of mana.
The ambush was successful. However, since the enemy were elite hunters, not all of her intended strikes landed perfectly, and she couldn’t sever their limbs completely.
But it was more than enough to render both of them combat-ineffective.
Jo Ji-hyuk and Veronica twisted their bodies in different directions, resulting in different injury patterns.
“Ugh!”
“Cough!”
Jo Ji-hyuk sustained wounds to his chest and shoulder. While the chest and shoulder wounds were deep, he could still make sounds.
Veronica’s reaction was slightly delayed due to being a mage. Her head and half her neck were split open, and a line was drawn completely across her heart—all that escaped was a deflating scream.
I’ll deactivate the Holy power.
Since I’d launched a surprise attack, there was no need to waste Holy power. Han Hye didn’t bother responding.
Veronica lay on the ground, her eyes fixed solely on Han Hye, while Jo Ji-hyuk slumped in his chair, unable to hide his shock.
“Y-yes, how did you—?”
There was no time for words. The opponent was the opponent. At close range anyway, Veronica was already on death’s door.
Han Hye immediately drove Esirel into Jo Ji-hyuk’s chest and twisted her wrist.
“Gasp!”
I hadn’t let my guard down. Jo Ji-hyuk was now in a state of complete combat incapacity.
I turned my attention to Veronica, the blood mage.
I wanted to incinerate Veronica herself with Blaze, but I’d depleted nearly all my mana and couldn’t use it anymore.
Otherwise, I’d face mana exhaustion. It was just as I moved to close the distance and swing my blade.
—Splurt!
Veronica’s body exploded. Like a balloon bursting. Han Hye evaded the blood spraying in all directions with a leap.
It was only possible to react that quickly because I maintained tension and vigilance even in this situation.
Where Veronica had been, a palm-sized blood-red sphere remained, and as Han Hye leaped away, it moved urgently.
And it entered the Nameless Woman who had been standing behind Veronica, now devoid of consciousness.
‘What…?’
The question Han Hye harbored internally was answered by Chun-bae instead.
I’m not entirely certain, but it appears to operate on a principle similar to a lich’s phylactery. If the user employs blood magic, you must eliminate that core.
‘Is the Nameless Woman herself like a new vessel?’
—Affirmative.
Han Hye’s brow furrowed. I’d anticipated this kind of situation. These vanguard members would have tricks up their sleeves.
Indeed, hadn’t Veronica’s protective barrier activated twice?
However, when Jo Ji-hyuk and Veronica fell, I’d felt a moment of thinking it might be easy—that much was true.
I hadn’t expected one of them to survive intact like this.
‘Still, Jo Ji-hyuk is out.’
I’d even driven my blade into the chest of an opponent near combat incapacity. I only needed to face one opponent.
“How adorable you are…”
The Nameless Woman—or rather, the entity that was now Veronica—displayed an eerie smile.
“How dare you do such a thing? I nearly died.”
“I meant for you to die. Unfortunate.”
Han Hye smiled coldly in return. I still didn’t let my guard down. The situation wasn’t satisfactory, but this opponent was worth fighting.
She too had stats close to a vanguard member. Veronica seemed to regard Han Hye with slight contempt.
Moreover, the opponent wielded blood magic. I thought it would be advantageous to face her with Blaze.
For that, I needed to replenish my mana…
“At your level, an attack like that just now must have drained you almost completely, yes?”
“Well, you could say that?”
It was true that I’d consumed most of my mana, so Han Hye admitted it calmly. Veronica’s lips curled upward.
“I’ll make you my slave and keep you by my side.”
The Witch declared with blazing eyes, but Han Hye calmly opened a Subspace.
“Fine. Whatever happens. We’ll see in a moment.”
“…What?”
As Han Hye stepped into the Subspace, Veronica was taken aback. Han Hye merely shrugged.
“It’ll only be a moment for you.”
“Wait, just a moment—”
Leaving the bewildered Veronica behind, Han Hye closed the Subspace’s door. It was time to replenish her mana.

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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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