Something Keeps Appearing in My Subspace - Chapter 232

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

232. Fist King (2)
I didn’t spar with Fist King that day. He rose from his seat and clenched his fists, but Shin Chang’s intervention stopped him.
“Enough. We’ll do it later.”
“Why?”
“Your body isn’t in peak condition.”
Fist King had sustained injuries. So had Shin Chang. I’d rested in the Subspace, but both of them had pushed their bodies to the limit on the front lines.
Their minor wounds hadn’t fully healed.
“That’s fine though.”
“It’s a matter of courtesy.”
At Shin Chang’s firm words, Fist King paused in thought before nodding.
“True. The Space Mage would want to face me at my best too.”
Well, that’s not quite right.
That was my honest thought, but fighting at full strength was preferable regardless. I’d have more to learn that way.
In any case, that gathering ended after we’d had a moderate amount to drink. Both Shin Chang and Fist King expressed their gratitude to me.
For breaking the barrier so we could survive.
“Not at all. Without the two of you, I wouldn’t have been able to defeat the enemies.”
That was what I truly wanted to say. Without Shin Chang and Fist King from the start, we couldn’t have repelled this counterattack.
All I could do was leak information about what I knew, but that was merely a temporary measure. They would have attacked differently in the future.
‘This situation isn’t bad at all.’
Though Fist King had agreed to help, it was far better to have mutual assistance between us rather than remain burdened by one-sided debt.
Moreover, deepening camaraderie with someone of Fist King’s caliber was something to welcome.
It wasn’t merely about friendship with the world’s second-ranked hunter.
I’d gained not only military strength to counter external forces like the Übermenschen and China, but also a powerful ally to jointly prepare for future mana erosion.
‘It’ll be difficult to grow as close as with Shin Chang… but we should be able to lend each other a hand when needed.’
Anyway, the three of us meeting without Seo Seung-yeon was unusual—Shin Chang spoke far more than expected. Even accounting for Fist King’s comfort, it was rather peculiar.
He also paused less between words than usual. Curiosity got the better of me, so I asked.
“You’re quite talkative today.”
“…I always talk well.”
Shin Chang hesitated briefly, then added as if making an excuse. Fist King burst into laughter.
“This guy’s just in high spirits. He’s happy. Plus he’s had some drinks.”
“Happy?”
“We crushed the Übermenschen and those Chinese bastards. Lei Chuang was the one trying to kill him.”
“Trying to kill him?”
“Yeah. Like an assassination. And this time he broke him spectacularly.”
Ah, so that’s the story.
In any case, I’d learned that Shin Chang becomes more talkative when he’s in a good mood. Though it seemed I wouldn’t see it often. He’d closed his mouth the moment I spoke.
So we decided to spar a few days later. Fist King said he’d stay in Korea for about ten days.
There was quite a bit of discussion about this as well.
-The Korean Hunter Association expresses sincere gratitude for Fist King’s assistance…
Strictly speaking, since he’d arrived via Coordinate Secretary, Fist King’s presence in Korea was administratively problematic.
Of course, Korea had no reason to resent Fist King for the assistance he’d provided.
Having a trustworthy, powerful hunter bolstered national security. Moreover, since he traveled alongside Shin Chang, with whom he had a personal connection, he wasn’t the type to cause major incidents.
Internet reactions mirrored this sentiment.
-World’s strongest illegal immigrant lol
-What, legally an illegal immigrant? These people are insane
┗For real lol They’d only come to their senses if laws disappeared
┗There’s no such thing as law before Fist King’s fists
-The Hunter Association requested his support anyway, so it’s not really illegal immigration
┗Shh, the illegal immigrant angle is way more fun
However, the complaints came from Russia.
-Russia hopes for Fist King’s swift return home. Worried he might be injured…
-Fist King: “I came on vacation to see a friend. I’ll leave when I feel like it.”
When Fist King threatened that if they called one more time, he wouldn’t return at all, the calls truly stopped. I couldn’t even imagine what his image was like in Russia.
Instead of calls, the Russian Hunter Association’s president was desperately summoning him through official statements….
“Oh, that? I decided to enter a Gate anyway.”
“Pardon?”
“I had original plans, so I just came.”
“You can do that?”
“How would I know if Russia has spies? If I suddenly canceled, they might’ve thought something was off.”
Well, that’s true, but shouldn’t you return quickly if you have plans?
Seeing my expression, Fist King chuckled.
“I told you? The benefits of living without thinking.”
Though honestly, that seemed less like living without thinking and more like just doing whatever came to mind.
“If you’re upset about it, you should’ve been stronger than me.”
Well, there was no real counter to what came next. For hunters, strength is everything.
* * *
Overcoming the assault from both Übermenschen and China wasn’t merely about survival. Both were future enemies.
Beyond annihilating the enemy’s forces, I had achieved my own growth through combat.
[Lv57 Sovereign of Space, Han Hye]
Strength: 75
Agility: 85(+5, +1)
Stamina: 79(+7)(+1)
Spirit: 68
Mana: 100(+2)(+1)
Bonus Points: 0
Skills: Subspace(S-rank) Lv5, Incinerate(S-rank) Lv5, Severance(S-rank) Lv6, Leap(A-rank) Lv6, Flame Resistance(A-rank) Lv9, Crescea Swordsmanship(B-rank) Lv7, Cockfighting(B-rank) Lv7, Interpretation(B-rank) Lv1, Swift Movement(C-rank) Lv6, Cold Resistance(C-rank) Lv4, Poison Resistance(D-rank) Lv6, Imperial Basic Swordsmanship(E-rank) Lv8
I’d spent all bonus points again. While unable to enter the Subspace, I’d invested them whenever mana and stamina depleted.
It was disappointing that my level didn’t rise from defeating Awakened ones, but my skill levels increased significantly.
‘I couldn’t observe it properly during combat, but….’
Incinerate, Severance, Leap, Crescea Swordsmanship, and Swift Movement all leveled up. Five skill level-ups wasn’t something that happened easily even when entering Gates.
It had been difficult at the time, but looking back, it was quite a satisfying outcome.
-Everyone’s recovering well physically, I trust?
-Yes, it looks like we’ll be back to normal in a few days.
We faced overwhelming numbers with a handful of people. We held our ground in an unreasonable situation for far longer than expected. Injuries were inevitable.
Han Chul, who had recently recovered, sustained considerable injuries, and both Min-jae and Lee Shin-hee accumulated numerous minor wounds.
They hurled poisoned daggers and toxic projectiles from every direction. Our next Gate expedition would have to wait until we healed.
It wouldn’t take long.
‘We can apply and prepare starting with the next public announcement.’
Saebyeokbit suffered similar injuries. The fact that no one died was nothing short of miraculous.
In hindsight, the discord between the Übermenschen and the Chinese Assassins certainly played a role.
Because the enemy refused to take risks, we managed to survive with only injuries.
After considerable shock, condemnation, and criticism of the madness displayed by China and the Übermenschen, naturally the discussion turned to other matters.
[Dinosaur Guild, Saebyeokbit ← Are these guys insane?]
Wow, I thought it was just a few Übermenschen and some Chinese hunters, but that wasn’t it?
-They came in crazy numbers lol
┗It’s a miracle anyone survived. How did no one die?
The Übermenschen executives have 40-60 level Rogues, damn.
┗Most of them were apparently level 40s-early 50s Rogues, but that’s still insane
-Looking at this, it seems like hunters above level 50 have an insurmountable wall that can’t be crossed with just a level or two difference
┗Gate difficulty changes from level 50 onwards anyway
┗Ability seems more important than level. Shin Chang beat an S-rank as an A-rank
Comparing the enemy’s scale to our forces, the fact that we suffered zero casualties was quite remarkable to people not just in our country, but around the world.
[Remarkable teamwork from Korean hunters!]
[Individualistic hunters should learn from Korea….]
Particularly in the Western world, where individualism runs strong, there was talk that this defense succeeded precisely because different guilds could unite their hearts and minds.
Though I think that’s going too far. Foreign hunters facing death would do the same.
Of course, in a hunter society with such stark disparities in strength, there are sociopaths and truly arrogant hunters.
Considering that trash gets the most media exposure… it’s hardly surprising that the public has formed such a fixed image of hunters.
“But what’s up with Han Hye? She’s got that lineup after just one year of awakening, that’s crazy.”
┗What else? She’s a big deal
┗Big deal Han Hye
┗My take) What did Han Hye do? I heard Shin Chang caught Lei Chuang and Fist King handled Temur and the Übermenschen
If Han Hye hadn’t broken the barrier, we’d all be dead.
┗That’s not just talk?
┗All skills were sealed by the barrier and we were losing ground, what nonsense are you spouting
┗Didn’t you see the broadcast after the barrier broke? Fist King and Shin Chang bleeding while holding the line?
There was plenty of discussion about me besides Shin Chang, who defeated Lei Chuang, and Fist King, who faced multiple Übermenschen.
While I couldn’t deliver a more impressive combat performance than those two, I garnered attention for shattering the barrier.
[Han Hye ← How did she break an S-rank barrier?]
From the video, she just touched it a few times and it shattered completely
-No clue? There’s no record of that.
-Don’t try to dig into it. There are plenty of people outside targeting Han Hye, so we don’t need to create unnecessary danger.
┗Would our investigation really put her in danger? They’ve probably already figured it out anyway.
┗Still, we might be giving them more information than necessary.
-Since she’s a Space Mage, she probably used the Subspace somehow? That’s how she disabled the barrier too.
┗The Subspace was sealed inside, so she couldn’t use it there. But she could outside?
┗Yeah, that’s possible. Or it could be a different skill? Either way, it’s definitely S-rank. She broke an S-rank barrier after all.
┗Seems like a different skill. The Subspace hasn’t been revealed.
┗So basically, barriers don’t work on Han Hye at all?
The consensus was that since my skills, Shin Chang’s, and Fist King’s had been sealed along with an S-rank enhancement, Han Hye must possess yet another S-rank skill.
I didn’t bother commenting on that. I didn’t plan to in the future either.
I couldn’t prevent information about the battle at the Emission-type Gate from leaking, but I had no intention of revealing it myself.
In any case, the Ring of Conspiracy had regained its color, and I could say we’d overcome most of the crises given to us—first the Hall of Winners, now the Übermenschen.
‘Most of them.’
The given crises weren’t entirely over yet. This wasn’t about the mana erosion that Chun-bae constantly warned me about and kept me vigilant toward.
It lay in the gift the God of Play had given me.
A flame monster resembling Ja-tan.
Come to think of it, every gift from the God of Play had meaning. All the items had been used in appropriate places.
‘The Heavenly Sword against Falling Caution and Liu Zhen. Coordinate Secretary in this situation. The flame monster will definitely appear too.’
I wasn’t sure if he knew about Liu Zhen’s affair, but I’d put it to good use against Falling Caution back then.
There were only three instances, but what mattered was that I’d utilized them in some way.
That meant Ja-tan would appear around me before long. Probably at an Emission-type Gate.
Since he called it a gift, wouldn’t a Gate open near Seoul, probably at the Han River?
“When will it happen?”
I’d discussed this with Mister too. He understood my sorrow and seriously pondered it with me.
“Hard to say. It shouldn’t take too long.”
The trials he’d given me along with his gifts were things I could overcome at my current level. Though sometimes they were difficult.
For instance, being exposed to somewhat dangerous situations. The additional Emission-type Gate that opened was an example of that.
“I need to prepare diligently.”
One part of that preparation was sparring with Fist King.
* * *
I faced Fist King alongside Shin Chang. Ah, this time Seo Seung-yeon was also present. Shin Chang seemed to have lost his energy in the meantime.
“Ready?”
“Yes, thank you for this.”
It was time to train martial arts through Fist King. I could also test the martial techniques I’d combined.
A martial artist of the same caliber as Shin Chang. To face him, I gripped my sword firmly.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————