Something Keeps Appearing in My Subspace - Chapter 200

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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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200. Trial of Fire (1)
I’d heard there had been extensive discussions leading up to the Trial of Fire Gate.
Hunters do study before entering a Gate and prepare for unexpected situations, but….
Trial Gates are closer to Gates that nations compete over, and we were inside a Ruin Gate anyway.
Experts at the forefront of Gate research and Hunter Association Staff had held meetings on our behalf.
‘There was even talk that paradoxical spaces might appear.’
In the Trial of Stamina, a Sea had emerged. Of course, its fundamental nature qualified as a trial of stamina, but people viewed it differently.
The hypothesis was that the Trial of Fire Gate might produce a cold environment like a Snow Field.
For instance, a Gate could appear where one had to continuously maintain fire in an extremely frigid place.
Of course, this wasn’t the mainstream opinion. It was more of a hypothesis—something that could happen.
-That’s no problem at all. We have plenty of space in the Subspace.
For other Guilds, this opinion would have been rejected because they’d need to pare down their supplies, but with us here, there was no issue.
We could employ a dual approach—preparing for the Lava Zone while also packing cold-weather gear to prepare for a frigid environment.
“It’s as expected.”
“Yes. I was wondering if it might actually be a cold place.”
However, such preparations proved futile when the Gate we entered turned out to resemble a Lava Zone.
The moment we stepped inside, an intense heat washed over us.
“That’s fortunate. We’re wearing heat-resistant gear anyway.”
Right. Since there was a high probability of a fire-related area, we’d changed into appropriate clothing.
We’d excluded equipment vulnerable to fire and donned heat-resistant gear instead.
As a result, our team’s overall combat strength—whether Chulbyeok or the team as a whole—had weakened somewhat. Equipment restrictions had been imposed.
Even I had removed my cloak. Everyone else had stripped off equipment that could catch fire.
[Trial of Fire]
-Reach the end of the Flame Maze.
In any case, the mission given by the Trial Gate was simple: reach the end of the Flame Maze.
There was no time limit, but in a sense, it was just a Labyrinth Gate with a different name. Of course, there was a separate reason it was a Trial Gate.
For one, fire surrounded us on all sides. Literally. The walls and ceiling of the Labyrinth burned with raging flames.
Only the floor wasn’t engulfed in flame….
The problem was that intense heat still radiated from it. It was dark volcanic stone with what looked like streams of lava flowing between the rocks.
It didn’t seem to be actual lava, but the temperature itself was extraordinarily high. It felt like standing atop lava itself.
“Ugh, the heat….”
“Damn, it’s hotter than I expected.”
“My gear is heat-resistant, right?”
“It is. It’s just hot.”
The Hunters who’d entered with us naturally made such comments—the heat was that intense. It was like stepping into an extraordinarily hot dry sauna.
In reality, it was far worse than that. Flames surrounded us on all sides, and heat rose from the floor. The shock wasn’t limited to the Chulbyeok Guild members.
“If we stand here too long, even our shoes will melt….”
Min-jae and Lee Shin-hee were already sweating profusely.
“Don’t worry about that. Han Hye brought tons of spare equipment.”
“Your weapon will be fine, right?”
“Wouldn’t it be fine?”
In the midst of such chaos, I was naturally the exception. Grade A Flame Resistance Level 7. At this stage, I could avoid feeling the heat altogether. It was merely a pleasant warmth. The same applied to Mister.
“Still, the space here is wide enough for Yong-yong to move around.”
Even with flames on all sides, the space itself was quite expansive. It would be difficult for Yong-yong to fly and display his abilities, but he could move alongside us without issue.
“Grrr!”
Of course, Yong-yong absolutely loved this scorching environment. He was letting out contented cries.
“We’re ready.”
Lee Hong-ju approached me. I was slightly surprised to see command naturally falling to me.
“Oh, me?”
Now that I thought about it, we hadn’t discussed command of this subjugation team during the meeting. I’d naturally assumed Lee Hong-ju would take it.
The level difference was only about 2 levels, and Lee Hong-ju had far more experience with situations like this.
“Of course, Han Hye should be the leader. I mentioned it beforehand before we left the Dragon Guild.”
It turned out Lee Hong-ju had already spoken about it.
“Not only are you higher level, but this is a flame-related Gate, and my flame resistance isn’t very good. It’s right for Han Hye to lead, especially with your spatial awareness.”
With him saying this much, there was no need to decline. It was all experience, and his reasoning wasn’t wrong.
“The problem is which of these two paths we should take.”
A Labyrinth engulfed in flames on all sides.
The rear was blocked, but ahead, spaced about 15 meters apart, two paths stretched out before us. A familiar fork in the road within a Labyrinth.
“Should we use the right-hand rule or the left-hand rule?”
In truth, there’s no correct answer in situations like this. My spatial awareness didn’t extend several kilometers.
“We typically use the left-hand rule, but how does the Dragon Guild usually handle it?”
“We usually go with our gut feeling at the moment… Since it’ll probably be similar either way, let’s try the left-hand rule.”
And so we advanced down the left path.
* * *
“We’ll resupply the heat-dissipating stones again! Please let us know if anyone needs to change their shoes.”
Through the Hunter Association, we’d brought heat-dissipating stones that dispersed heat and kept things cool, but they didn’t last long in such intense conditions.
Since we felt the heat even while holding them, we opened a Subspace at regular intervals to resupply.
“Damn, so this is a Subspace. Insane.”
“Right? If we’d carried the whole box, our backs would’ve snapped.”
“Wouldn’t the box have burned? All the heat-dissipating stones would’ve been consumed anyway?”
“There’s packaging, you know.”
“Even that would melt in this kind of heat. We might not have been able to use the stones at all.”
This was the moment the Chulbyeok Guild Members truly felt the power of my Subspace. The space where I kept the heat-dissipating stones was one thing, but…
The fact that the stones could be used in their original condition was what mattered.
“Is that even the main issue? Our equipment’s the problem too. If it’s this bad at the entrance, wouldn’t the soles of our shoes melt once we get past the middle?”
“How are the Russians even surviving here? Willpower?”
“They must’ve prepared extensively. When we entered, I saw the rear guard carrying two or three bags each.”
In any case, Lee Hong-ju and I took the front. The center had the rear guard and Chulbyeok’s vanguard together, while the back had Han Chul and Chul-gi Mister standing with Yong-yong.
It was nearly a perfect formation. Thanks to that, I even got the chance to converse with Lee Hong-ju.
“Han Hye, you really don’t seem bothered by the heat at all.”
Thanks to the acquaintance I’d developed at the Swordsmanship Meeting, Lee Hong-ju didn’t seem intimidated by me either.
“If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your skill rank…?”
“Grade A.”
“As I thought. Man, I’m really envious.”
“I was fortunate.”
“Come on, that’s all Han Hye’s ability.”
Lee Hong-ju spoke with genuine sincerity, and suddenly the situation felt oddly poignant. It was something I’d felt often before.
Just a year ago, I was an unawakened person dreaming of awakening. I’d envied Lee Hong-ju so much, but in such a short time, our positions had reversed.
“Huh? The path ahead is blocked?”
And soon, a dead end appeared. Rather, a wall of flames blocked our way instead of a path.
“Did we take the wrong route?”
That’s when the Labyrinth transformed.
-Whoooosh!
The walls of flame that had surrounded us on all sides suddenly began to recede.
In other words, more space had opened up.
“Enemies appearing from all sides!”
The problem was that enemies had been lurking in the space where the flames had vanished. They hadn’t registered on my spatial awareness at all. They must have been concealed within the flames themselves.
The implication was clear: these enemies had been born from the flames.
“What should we call those things? Burning soldiers?”
“Those look like Lizardmen? I’ve never seen ones like these. Should we call them Fire Lizardmen?”
In any case, the enemies came in various forms. There were monsters that resembled humanoids made entirely of flame, and Lizardmen that spewed fire.
Beyond that, there were also ash-like entities that scattered powder. The appearance didn’t really matter.
“Defensive formation!”
The defensive formation was simple. Lee Hong-ju and Chulbyeok’s vanguard, Chul-gi, and Han Chul blocked all four directions.
My role was to move fluidly and support whichever position seemed to be struggling.
“I’ll gather them on my side for now!”
“Got it!”
“Face me!”
As Han Chul shouted, the enemies on nearly three sides turned their attention toward him. It meant the other direction would have an easier time.
“Skills toward Mister and Han Chul!”
“You got it!”
Mister turned his body and raised his spear. It seemed he intended to use the Dragon Scale Piercing Spear he’d recently acquired.
Surprisingly, it had excellent immediate utility. Since he could harass enemies from a distance.
I immediately moved to the opposite side. It was where Lee Hong-ju was holding the line. I stood beside him and deflected the blade of a flame soldier.
Despite being a sword made of flames, it carried a strong physical force, much like when I’d faced the spirit before.
“Pour it all out!”
Behind that, the Chulbyeok mage’s magic cascaded forward. Having apparently mastered quite decent water magic, swirling water spheres advanced toward the enemies.
However, the effect was somewhat ambiguous.
-Sizzzzle!
-Screeeech!
I had dealt damage to the enemies made of flame, but the water had immediately vaporized in reaction to the surrounding heat.
A dry sauna had become a wet sauna in an instant. My vision darkened in a heartbeat. It was a dangerous situation.
“Water magic is forbidden!”
“I apologize!”
“No, it’s not your fault!”
There was also my own failure in not anticipating this beforehand. Either way, one side’s vision was nearly paralyzed. If things continued like this, the rear guard would be in danger.
I charged forward directly. With my spatial awareness, there was no problem.
As I forced my way through the space, the enemies—unlike us—immediately recognized me even within the heat.
I was surrounded in an instant, but it posed no problem. The heat was not a major threat to me, so I engaged in combat using Tui Gye.
I parried the black flames and dodged the cascading fire by twisting my body. Then I thrust my blade at the enemy once more.
“Han Hye! Are you alright?”
“Yes!”
Perhaps because I couldn’t be seen, I heard Lee Hong-ju’s voice calling out to me. What was fortunate was that the heat was so intense the steam vapor didn’t linger long.
“I’m here!”
Han Chul drew aggro from the opposite side again. In the meantime, it seemed the Mister’s Dragon Scale Piercing Spear was ready.
-Kwaaang!
While Han Chul held out against the monsters drawing his aggro, the Dragon Scale Piercing Spear swept over the enemies.
“Wow, insane….”
“Did you see that?”
Exclamations of amazement came from the Chulbyeok Guild Members. Of course, they weren’t the only ones shocked.
This was our first time seeing them in actual combat.
‘Better than I expected?’
The battle ended quickly thanks to my efforts, Han Chul’s, and the Mister’s. As all the enemies fell, the distant wall of flame drew near again.
No one had suffered critical injuries, but it had not been easy.
“Um, could someone heal me here….”
These were monsters that wielded fire. Even with a mage present, we couldn’t defend against all the flames they spewed.
There were those with minor burns, so Lee Shin-hee began healing.
“It’s intense from the start.”
“It’s called a Trial Gate for a reason. Last time with the Trial of the Sea, there was no combat….”
“We need to be more careful. We should ban water magic entirely.”
A rule was being established in that moment. Though the enemies were made of fire, the battlefield itself was unfavorable.
“Still, there’s satisfaction in having fought.”
After the battle ended, the wall of flame that had blocked our path disappeared. We walked a bit further and a door appeared.
“It seems doors only appear after we achieve victory in combat like this.”
It was remarkable—a stone door within a wall made of fire.
“But why is there a lever?”
The peculiar thing was that there was a lever beside the door.
“Won’t something terrible happen if we pull it?”
Just in case. We decided to prioritize safety. We attached a heat-treated rope to the lever and decided to pull it from a distance.
-Click!
—Clang!
When I pulled the lever, nothing happened.
“Huh?”
“What’s going on?”
The door simply wouldn’t open. I’d definitely heard a sound, though it hadn’t come from nearby.
“Didn’t you hear something opening?”
“Yeah. Should we just push it?”
“It won’t budge.”
That’s when it suddenly struck me—the fork in the path from earlier.
“Wait… could the door on the other side of the fork have opened instead?”
“Huh?”
“The sound did come from the right.”
“Damn it, were we supposed to split up the whole time?”
That seemed to be the case. Either we should have split from the beginning, or we’d taken a much longer route.
“This is frustrating…”
“But if we’d split up, I don’t think we would’ve won that fight…”
“So we win and then take the long way around?”
The problem was that the fork had been about fifteen meters away back then, but now with our direction changed, it was beyond my spatial awareness.
It would be difficult to leap back there and pull the lever.
‘Wait.’
Then, a brilliant solution to this predicament came to mind.

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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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