Something Keeps Appearing in My Subspace - Chapter 247
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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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247. Essirel
China wasn’t my concern, so after Seo-ung left with a smile, I immediately went to sleep.
Even if there were no issues between China and me, my body wasn’t in a state to visit the Gate right now.
Couldn’t I just recover in the Subspace? Of course I could.
But… why would I?
I had no intention of wasting my limited healing facilities on that.
It had taken quite a long time from my first amazement at seeing the healing space to actually using it, so I wondered if it was even worthwhile…
‘My usage has been increasing steadily.’
I’d been visiting frequently since meeting The Butcher. Unlike the Previous Princess, who used to get nagged by Chun-bae about overusing the healing facilities, I didn’t hear complaints, but I still needed to be conservative.
Not for the sake of the next princess. It was because I might end up using it even more frequently going forward.
“Ugh, I’m exhausted.”
After getting up, I received a detailed explanation from Chun-bae about Domain Manifestation. Since I’d acquired the skill, he went into more specifics than before.
The abilities of Domain Manifestation were as follows.
1. I could apply buffs and debuffs to both myself and my opponent.
2. Buffs and debuffs had maximum limits. The debuff’s effectiveness varied especially depending on the opponent’s resistance.
3. If I reduced one of my specific abilities, I could amplify the effects of buffs or debuffs slightly more.
In this case, buffs and debuffs applied to skills as well. That’s why my Swift Step was strengthened through Domain Manifestation.
The applications were diverse. For instance, I could reduce my strength while significantly increasing my agility.
It was impossible to reduce the destructive power of unused skills and strengthen other stats or abilities instead…
But seeing Swift Step enhanced without imposing any restrictions showed it was a sufficiently powerful skill.
-I recommend practicing actual usage once you’ve recovered. Given your current overexerted state, it could actually harm your body.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t test it immediately. I felt frustrated because there were so many things I was curious about.
For instance, what level of effect could Scorching Flame and Severance achieve when strengthened through Domain Manifestation?
-When you defeated Ja-tan, you used it unconsciously, so it only applied to Swift Step.
If you’d used Domain Manifestation and then Severance, wouldn’t you have been able to say “Shell cracked! Sliced right through…!”?
Of course, there was a minor… no, actually a significant problem.
-Domain Manifestation also consumes quite a lot of mana.
The issue was that all my skills had high mana consumption. Of course, it was something I could resolve by resting in the Subspace.
But while resting and clearing my head felt good, there was also a sense that the flow of combat was being disrupted.
‘Tch. Maybe Chun-bae’s mana intensive training could help with that.’
I also needed to receive training in mana control using the Holy attribute I’d obtained from the Underground Waterway. But time hadn’t opened up since the Emission-type Gate erupted afterward.
In any case, it was better to do mana control training in optimal condition, so it naturally got postponed.
.
.
.
Several days passed. China ultimately managed to block the second colossal Gate. No neighboring countries helped them.
Except for those treated as hunter colonies by China.
‘These bastards. They could do it themselves.’
Of course, they suffered enormous damage. The city where the colossal Gate erupted was nearly destroyed itself.
But I wasn’t the only one who felt something strange upon hearing the news.
“There are quite a few high-level Rogues on the casualty list?”
“Did they kill their own teammates?”
“Are you trying to cover it up? No way.”
It was a conversation between Mister and Min-jae. Lee Shin-hee nodded in agreement as well.
“Suspicion can kill. They would have had to accept those who returned, but family ties can’t restrain them forever. There are people without families too.”
“They’re doing this even with the colossal Gate causing such chaos?”
In truth, it wasn’t really my concern. Countless Chinese hunters had appeared on the casualty list alongside the Rogues.
It had dealt quite a significant blow to those who targeted me this time.
The Übermenschen were no different. The Dark Night Barrier prevented them from inflicting the damage they’d originally anticipated through their traps, but…
It was clear they’d taken considerable losses themselves. Fist King and Shin Chang had thrashed them quite thoroughly.
‘Though China mostly covered it up.’
Fist King had speculated that they’d originally planned to use Lei Chuang as a disposable pawn, but regardless, China had lost the world’s seventh-ranked hunter.
Had they known a fourth Outburst-type Gate would erupt, they probably would have delayed their betrayal.
I considered it all their own karma.
A butterfly effect, you might say. Losing Lei Chuang had cascaded into massive casualties among other hunters.
“Thank you for everything.”
In any case, once the Chinese situation was resolved, I was discharged from the hospital. I hadn’t waited until the situation was completely resolved before leaving.
Even now, my recovery speed was unrealistic by ordinary standards.
It’s awkward to say it myself, but it was only possible because I was a special hunter.
While receiving hospital treatment, Lee Shin-hee, who possessed an A-rank healing skill, continuously aided my recovery.
My natural regeneration was also fast thanks to my high vitality stat. Still, I wasn’t at a level where I could engage in combat immediately.
Some rehabilitation was necessary. I had injuries in so many places. But it shouldn’t take too long.
-Now we’ll proceed to the advanced stage of mana manipulation.
Under Chun-bae’s judgment, even without moving my body, intensive training in mana manipulation and domain expansion continued.
-It shouldn’t be too difficult. The framework remains the same as before.
“Recognizing the mana circuits more precisely and expanding them in various ways?”
-Affirmative. The essence of mana manipulation ultimately lies in maximizing the efficiency of the mana you possess.
“Right. You can’t draw out mana you don’t have.”
-Correct. It’s about reducing the loss rate in mana usage and increasing density even with the same amount.
Soon, Chun-bae’s power burst forth from the bracelet. The force he guided coursed through my mana circuits.
“Ugh!”
-You must endure it.
The circuits I’d previously refined were forcibly expanded. New pathways opened as well. Pain naturally accompanied this.
Yet simultaneously came a sensation of expanding awareness. A realization that my body was this vast and that circuits could form here too.
-Now operate along the path you just experienced. You must recognize and utilize all of it. Even circuits that seem to take a detour serve the purpose of preventing mana loss.
This was intensive training learned at the cost of rare divinity. I focused more intently and listened to Chun-bae’s words.
And following Chun-bae’s guidance, I carefully manipulated my mana.
“Huh?”
Nothing changed dramatically. However, I felt my mana efficiency improve beyond what it was before. My recovery speed too.
It seemed trivial, but my current mana efficiency was incomparable to that of ordinary hunters.
This encompasses all the Advance Team hunters who hadn’t received training from Chun-bae. There might be those who awakened on their own, but they wouldn’t match Chun-bae’s level.
I had simply taken one step further beyond that.
-This should be sufficient for Han Hye.
“Wait, what about me?”
-A mage’s mana manipulation requires more intricate refinement.
“Wouldn’t it be better if I did the same?”
-Negative. Rather than pursuing greater efficiency in mana, Han Hye would benefit more from investing in swordsmanship and similar skills.
“I suppose so.”
Time is finite. Even if the Subspace is infinite, my body remains unchanged. In other words, using the Subspace means drawing from my future time.
Besides, I’ve achieved rapid growth, so I can’t chase only mana. If Chun-bae says it’s sufficient, then it is.
“Then please take good care of Min-jae next.”
-Understood. Next, we’ll move on to Domain Formation.
Domain Formation came next. And just as I’d anticipated when I heard about it from Chun-bae at the hospital…
“This is incredible, isn’t it?”
It was quite an excellent skill.
-Affirmative. The Previous-Previous Princess utilized Domain Formation extensively.
“I can imagine. Especially for a mage… though actually, it’s not a skill that only benefits mages.”
I was already looking forward to using it inside a Gate.
* * *
After leaving Chun-bae with Min-jae, I headed to the workshop where Min-seok was crafting. It was different from the setup we had at home.
The Hunter Association had prepared an optimal space with better tools and facilities as they researched the crafting skill.
Of course, information about Min-seok remained highly classified. Even within the Association, only those directly under the Association President knew about him.
We did receive help from the Iron Wall Guild, but given how quiet things have remained, I believe they’re all trustworthy people.
“Brother!”
“We just saw each other yesterday—why are you acting so excited?”
Min-seok puffed out his chest confidently, seeming a bit surprised that we usually ate together at Mister’s place.
“This is the first time you’re visiting my Workshop!”
“You’re right. This is your ‘Workshop.'”
“Exactly!”
I pulled Essirel from the Subspace and showed it to Min-seok.
“This is your sword…”
“Pretty good, right?”
“Yes. It looks amazing.”
However, Min-seok pointed to the tip of the blade.
“But the interior here is in an unstable state.”
“You can see that?”
“Of course! I’m working incredibly hard at this too!”
Right. When Min-seok repaired the Flowing Sword, he crafted along the damaged sections. That’s why a “Critical Success!” occurred.
“May I touch it?”
“Go ahead.”
I handed Essirel over without hesitation. My reluctance to have it enchanted wasn’t because I doubted Min-seok’s abilities—just watching him work with the Flowing Style Blade proved his talent was extraordinary.
The issue was that his skill level simply wasn’t yet sufficient to handle high-grade equipment.
‘Looking back now, I probably should have let him do it.’
In truth, my initial refusal to have it enchanted stemmed from doubting whether he could maintain such a rapid growth rate indefinitely.
At first, I’d assumed he’d plateau once he reached a certain level.
“Hmm….”
Min-seok examined the blade briefly, his brow furrowing slightly.
“Is something wrong?”
“I was hoping to use the Gate metal you gifted me, but I think something else would suit it better.”
“You don’t have to force yourself to use it.”
“But the results were so good when I did it that way before.”
“Should I have given you more materials?”
Min-seok shook his head vigorously.
“No, no! It’s fine. Either way, since you’re trusting me with this, I’ll do my absolute best!”
Min-seok spoke with conviction. Working at the Hunter Association had made him seem a bit more mature somehow.
“Alright then. I’ll step back so I don’t get in your way.”
“Please watch from the side! I’m going to enchant this with everything I’ve got!”
Min-seok, fist clenched with determination, was quite endearing. Even the Association Staff member observing from the side couldn’t help but smile.
“Then, I’ll begin!”
With that spirited declaration, Min-seok retrieved the Gate metal he’d brought from the storage room in back. It was B-rank. A-rank enchantment was still beyond his reach.
But in the time since I’d last seen him, Min-seok had grown—his technique was noticeably different from before.
-Crack!
First came the shaping of the Gate metal with a carving knife. Previously, he’d simply brought the raw metal into contact with the blade.
He refined the Gate metal into what resembled a rectangular block, carefully carving away excess material.
“Phew….”
Min-seok exhaled softly once the metalwork was complete. This too was part of the enchantment process.
I could sense the flow of mana even as he struck the metal.
After steadying his breathing, Min-seok brought the carved Gate metal to Essirel. The process resembled what came before.
The Gate metal made contact with the blade’s tip. But the difference was that Min-seok now held something like a carving knife in his other hand.
-Clang!
Then Min-seok’s hand moved. The Gate metal followed along Essirel’s contour, and with each motion, the carving knife kissed its surface.
I could immediately tell something different was happening. Light was blooming between Essirel and the Gate metal.
“Oh…!”
The Association Staff member assisting Min-seok let out an exclamation. Coming from someone who’d watched countless enchantments….
It seemed this enchantment was going to be another resounding success.
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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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