Something Keeps Appearing in My Subspace - Chapter 244

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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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244. Ja-tan (5)
Kim Jung-do, a state broadcaster’s hunter specialist correspondent.
After covering Han Hye when she blocked the first Outburst-type Gate, he became a reporter dedicated exclusively to her.
In truth, after the second Outburst-type Gate, most broadcasting stations sent reporters to cover Han Hye, but….
It was Kim Jung-do who became fixed in the public’s mind as “Han Hye’s specialist correspondent.”
-And yet! She doesn’t tire! Well, she must be exhausted! But she keeps running! She displays impossible dedication for the safety of citizens. That right there—that is what a hunter is!
When footage of Han Hye’s first Outburst-type Gate and the Grendel pursuit was released, Kim Jung-do’s emotionally charged commentary became quite the topic of conversation.
Of course, he benefited from it too. He was the only reporter uniquely invited to the first Gold Ticket Event Venue.
-Will the second event be covered without press?
When there was no word about the second event, he felt inwardly disappointed, but after the Übermenschen incident erupted, he realized he’d been spared consideration and shed tears of gratitude.
In any case, because of that, Kim Jung-do had to wait quite a long time today as well.
-The Dragon Guild hasn’t been deployed yet? They must be saving them as a reserve unit. Since Saebyeokbit headed downward.
Having spent a long time in the industry, he could read the situation unfolding quite quickly.
-I hope nothing serious happens.
Despite being Han Hye’s specialist correspondent, he desperately hoped the Dragon Guild wouldn’t have to rush out somewhere urgently.
-Se, Seoul! A colossal Gate has appeared in the Han River!
When he actually heard about the colossal Gate, he closed his eyes and felt despair for a moment. Not only was this Korea’s second colossal Gate opening, but Han Hye would be in danger.
Still, he had to go. This was his job.
-It, it’s Ja-tan! The nightmare from eleven years ago has returned to the Han River!
And when he confirmed Ja-tan’s appearance, he could only be astonished.
Han Hye is currently Korea’s most famous hunter. Most of the nation’s people also knew the circumstances behind it.
Revenge for her parents.
Ordinary people might assume she’d fight even harder, but Kim Jung-do could only worry whether trauma might surface.
-The Dragon Guild! Facing it alone! Other hunters are dealing with the monsters while the Dragon Guild confronts Ja-tan!
-The first ambush failed, but after consultation, they’re targeting its legs!
-Ah! Ja-tan! Ja-tan! It’s falling! Even though its carapace remains intact, it’s lost mobility! Now if we breach the carapace…!
However, watching Han Hye fight without any hesitation, his emotions surged once more.
He thought he’d managed to hide it while broadcasting, but at some point his voice had grown considerably louder.
-Why is Kim Jung-do crying?
-Who knows? Isn’t he just playing a character? That’s why it became a topic in the first place anyway.
-Damn it, is that what matters right now! The Dragon Guild is in serious danger!
But the situation deteriorated rapidly. No—it went beyond merely unfavorable.
-The Dragon Guild! Breaching the carapace! Do, do you see! Tiny cracks are forming!
Things were good until Ja-tan fell and they targeted part of its carapace.
The problem came when Ja-tan underwent its second awakening.
-Th, this can’t be! Ja-tan! It’s undergone a second, second awakening. The situation….
Even Kim Jung-do, who was broadcasting, couldn’t continue speaking.
-It’s far too hard… Even the worms sprouting from the carapace have hardened… Our attacks aren’t landing effectively.
Kim Jung-do’s voice was losing strength. Han Hye and the Dragon Guild fought valiantly, but now Ja-tan began stirring its body again.
The atmosphere online wasn’t good either.
-Damn it, Ja-tan’s second awakening is insane?
-How the hell do we break through that?
┗ We can’t break through it;;
┗ We cracked it earlier and even knocked it down
┗ That’s because the head and legs are weaker than the carapace. The Dragon Guild figured out how to exploit the carapace
┗ Can’t we just do the same thing?
┗ Damn it, back then it was a soft worm and now it’s a hardened worm
-The carapace is crazy
┗ Carapace-hitting lol soft-hitting lol
┗ You crazy bastards, jokes at a time like this?
-Shouldn’t we retreat first?
┗ Yeah, we need to fall back for now
-Damn it, what if Seoul becomes like Australia?
-We might need to call in foreign support
In the midst of this, the Dragon Guild began moving again.
-Huh? They’re moving! They’re charging?
┗ What are they doing?
-Damn it, they’re really doing that?
-Insane, they cut it before it hardened into a solid worm?
Watching Han Hye spot the weakness of Ja-tan’s second awakening, Kim Jung-do screamed.
-T-the Space Mage Han Hye! She’s discovered Ja-tan’s weakness! Incredible response speed! At this rate…!
-The Dragon Knight’s attack! And the mage’s lightning strike! Whoa! Hunter Han Hye!
And Han Hye raised her shield over the crack in Ja-tan’s body.
-Kwaaaaaang!
-L-light! It’s exploding! Ja-tan! What will Ja-tan do…!
* * *
-Kwaaaaaang!
Just as when I deleted The Butcher, brilliant light swallowed the Han River. My vision blurred from the radiance.
Yet through my spatial sense, I felt the impact strike the crack. The carapace splits under the shock, fracturing and tearing open as it penetrates inward.
“Kiieeek!”
The light that pierced through the crack struck the worms inside. Gaps form between those bursting and dying.
Still, hundreds of worms remained within. Writhing masses tangled like scouring pads.
The light fades and my vision returns. The world still flows slowly before me.
The moment the slightly widened hole and the space within come into view, my spatial sense detects dozens of worms that burst from the carapace, targeting me.
‘Retreat? If I back away now….’
Against the attacks of dozens of worms, there were no blind spots. The world moves slower than usual, but there’s no time for lengthy deliberation.
I threw myself toward the crack. I entered Ja-tan’s body. This was only possible because Absolute Burst detonated the worms around the crack.
I clenched my teeth. My parents were likely dragged into this place by these worms. They were probably consumed by these creatures inside.
But not me. I entered of my own will.
-Crack!
Within Ja-tan’s body, countless worms writhed together beyond those that had burst through his carapace.
The sharp clashing of teeth echoed through multiple channels of perception.
Inside Ja-tan’s shell, with nowhere to escape, dozens—perhaps hundreds—of worms fixed their gaze upon me.
Revolting. Most people despise insects, and I was no exception. But this was no time to indulge such squeamishness.
-Crack!
The protective barriers from my ring and necklace had recharged during my rest in the Subspace, but they shattered in an instant.
“Ugh!”
Feeling the worms tear into my flesh, I pushed through the gaps between them. Searing agony followed.
I clenched my teeth and endured.
Spatial awareness was no longer necessary.
Everything around me was an enemy. I poured all my mana around my body, unleashing Segmentation.
-Squelch!
-Squelch!
Hundreds of tangled worms. The wet, cutting sounds never ceased. Perhaps because my mana was depleting, time seemed to accelerate.
It was fine. I’d done all I needed to do.
No, wait.
There was still one thing left. I gripped the flame talisman in my hand.
-Whoooosh!
It was flame I’d fully replenished in the Subspace. I hadn’t merely restored my vitality.
Raging fire swept through the severed worms. My vision turned crimson.
-Whoooosh!
Literally, fire consumed everything.
I unleashed every ounce of stored flame. This accursed turtle, Ja-tan, was now burning from the inside out.
“Kiiiiieeeek!”
Inside the shell, hundreds of worms shrieked in agony. Amid the raging inferno, the surviving worms still lunged at me.
Even as their bodies melted, they came to bite me.
“Haha!”
Yet laughter escaped me. I laughed even louder. The worm gnawing at my arm was merely thrashing in its death throes. It was a beautiful sight.
Eleven years ago, when this creature first appeared, we had no choice but to flee. I survived only through my parents’ sacrifice.
But now.
I had walked here on my own feet, found this monster, and entered its depths. Armed with flames that incinerate all.
-Crack!
Was there still one with strength remaining? Lost in contemplation, it opened its maw toward my chest—where my heart lay.
I couldn’t react in time, but the Chitin Armor I’d received from Liu Zhen intercepted it. A chill ran down my spine. That had been dangerously close. Without the Chitin Armor, my heart would have been devoured.
A thought suddenly struck me.
There was a time when I believed I was the unluckiest person in the world, that I lacked all fortune and human connections, that bonds were worthless.
‘My parents were gone, and during my orphan years, I was surrounded by nothing but garbage.’
Looking back now, that wasn’t true. There were difficult times, but I survived by meeting Mister. Thanks to him, I even awakened and made it this far.
And Liu Zhen too. His kindness had ulterior motives, but it returned to me during the Übermenschen incident and now, in this moment.
What other bonds might return like this? Shin Chang, Fist King, Dong-hyuk who wielded the Phantom Blade, Han Chul. Many faces flashed through my mind.
I had indeed harbored doubts while resisting the erosion. I’d witnessed what the Gods themselves had endured. Could I truly accomplish this? I’d wondered.
‘But now….’
In this moment, such fears had dissipated. Perhaps, if we all joined our strength together, we could succeed.
It seemed possible.
* * *
“….”
At some point, the wretched screams of those creatures had ceased. The flames still raged, yet no movement could be sensed.
Only the crackling of something burning remained. The acrid stench of charred protein hung thick in the air.
-Thud!
Then, Ja-tan’s body tilted. And I, within him, tilted as well.
Boom-!
A tremendous impact rippled through. Water splashed with a violent crash.
My thoughts were fragmented from exhaustion, but one thing was certain—Ja-tan was unmistakably dead.
[You have defeated Ja-tan.]
[You have gained experience.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Health increases by 20, Mana increases by 10.]
Well, with notifications like these, there was no mistaking it. Perhaps because I’d poured everything into this battle, my body felt utterly drained.
I could have collapsed right then and there. Yet this was not the moment for that. A trace of joy from successful revenge still lingered within me.
-Whoosh!
I wrung out the last vestiges of my mana and leaped onto Ja-tan’s carapace. My gaze turned skyward.
A blue sky stretched before me. My chest swelled with emotion.
‘Are you watching over me?’
Then a black speck appeared in the sky. Could it be… the will of my parents? Their lingering presence? Was such a thing even possible?
…But before I could be moved by such thoughts, I realized it was a helicopter.
My mind had been adrift since defeating Ja-tan, so I hadn’t immediately recognized it.
Only then did my surroundings come into focus. The creatures’ hardened shells had burned away entirely from within, leaving only their carapaces scattered across the Han River.
“Hye! Are you alright!”
Mister rushed toward me, his face etched with alarm. Well, he must have been overwhelmed with emotion too.
Everyone around me stared with eyes wide in astonishment. Hunters with expressions of disbelief.
The enemy was a monster born from an Ultra-Grade Gate. We’d responded with our guild alone.
And I’d ultimately vanquished it myself. Their amazement was well-deserved.
Especially since Mister was essentially my adoptive father. All the more reason for his pride.
The person I once was has grown this much. With composure and dignity greater than ever before, I nodded.
“Yes.”
“Ah, but you don’t look fine at all?”
“Pardon?”
Looking more closely, Mister’s eyes held something other than pride.
“You, you, you bastard! You’re covered head to toe in blood!”
Mister quickly supported me. Lee Shin-hee’s healing spell washed over me. Only then could I look down at myself instead of my surroundings.
I truly was drenched in blood. The worms inside had bitten me ferociously, but….
There were places where flesh had been torn away entirely. My clothes were naturally shredded at the bite marks. It wasn’t just a little blood smeared on me—it was still flowing freely.
No wonder I felt so weak. I still needed to enter the Subspace….
-Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump!
The sound of a helicopter was my last memory.
.
.
.
I learned later that people across the entire world had witnessed this moment. Our country happened to be at the tail end of the wave of Gates releasing creatures.
Worse still, two colossal ones had erupted in our location.
That meant my value had skyrocketed beyond Earth itself, reaching into the cosmos.
To give you an idea of the scale… foreign presidents were sending gifts to my hospital room.

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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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