Something Keeps Appearing in My Subspace - Chapter 295

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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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295. Poison Trial (1)
-Would you like to enter with me?
Fist King’s proposal was something any person—or rather, any skilled hunter—would naturally be tempted by.
Entering a Trial Gate from another country that hadn’t appeared in our nation? Of course it was desirable.
I had already resigned myself to the disappointment of not being able to enter a Trial Gate, planning to return to Korea and immediately attempt a Gate there.
But if an opportunity like this presented itself, I absolutely had to take it.
It didn’t matter if I couldn’t secure separate items from the Trial Gate. The Trial Gates so far had primarily granted stat increases.
Of course, the items I had secured were quite decent, but the stat gains from being carried through had been substantial as well.
“But… me?”
Still, I was curious about the reason.
Why me, suddenly?
Normally, if a stranger offered you something delicious and asked you to follow them, refusing would be the natural response.
Knowing the person didn’t change things drastically. It just meant refusal required more thought.
I certainly wasn’t seriously suspecting Fist King. I was simply curious about his reasoning.
All I knew was that Korea didn’t have information about this Gate yet. Was there some particular story behind it?
-It’s a two-person Gate. But taking our people seems awkward, you know? It’d be the same for you, right?
A two-person Gate? Then that made sense. It would be the same for our Guild too. Bringing Chul-gi would be best, but…
If we actually went in, I’d be worried. There could be situations we couldn’t handle.
A Trial Gate. The difficulty was beyond words, and wasn’t it the highest-level Trial Gate currently in existence?
There was no telling what could happen. And bringing Han Chul, Min-jae, and Lee Shin-hee wasn’t an option either.
“But don’t you have an escape Secretary?”
-To be honest, I pulled some strings.
“Pardon?”
-If I just threw it in and we awkwardly used the escape Secretary to get out, you’d be heading back to Korea anyway, right?
“That’s true.”
-A highest-level Trial Gate. With one person being uncertain, I figured it’d be better to make a good impression on you instead.
“Oh?”
This was actually touching.
Fist King said that for my sake.
-And from our perspective, it’s better to secure definite rewards than to do things halfway. As you know best, Trial Gate rewards are mainly stat increases, right?
“Right. There are secondary rewards too, though.”
-I could make a good impression on you and since you’ve cleared every Trial Gate so far, I could raise my stats too. That’s what I mean.
Fist King laughed through the receiver.
-And I think I can only secure the rewards if I enter with you. That guy Choin can fly, after all.
Ah, so that’s how it works?
-And inside the Gate, I should be able to ride the Bone Dragon too, right?
This seemed like something he was saying so I wouldn’t feel burdened.
Or was it? No, it probably was.
Either way, this was good for me. Russia’s way of scoring points with me and Fist King’s interests aligned.
-But they said from above that the ownership of whatever comes out from inside should definitely be mine.
“I’ll concede that point.”
Wasn’t this an opportunity to enter a Gate that I couldn’t normally access? Such trivial matters didn’t concern me.
As long as I achieved stat increases and came back out, that was enough. Besides, given Fist King’s personality, he’d likely reward me if he discovered anything worthwhile.
“Then I’ll gratefully enter under those conditions.”
-Alright? I’ll send a car right away.
And so I entered the Trial Gate with Fist King as a two-person party. Perhaps the God of Play had been watching over this moment all along.
Just to be safe, I called the Korean Hunter Association as well.
-A Trial Gate with Fist King? Of course that’s possible. What reason would we have to object?
Since they approved on that end, I immediately called Mister.
“Ah, Mister? It’s me. About the Trial Gate? You’ve heard about it, right? I’m going to be entering it.”
The reason was simple: while I was away, they should enter a Gate. Once I returned, my level would increase, and theirs would too.
My guild members needed to gain at least one level by entering ordinary Gates.
“Four people would be too dangerous, so please go somewhere manageable.”
-We’ve been a few times without you. Don’t worry about that.
Then there was nothing holding me back.
* * *
[Poison Trial]
-Level Restriction: 71~80
-Entry Limit: 2 people
The information about the Gate from the Russian side was as follows. I already knew what was inside, but I hadn’t known its name.
But Poison Trial?
The moment I saw the Gate’s name, I couldn’t help but laugh.
Heart of the Thousand-Poison Fox
I possessed the finest equipment related to poison resistance.
It was our habit to carry such equipment in my Subspace and retrieve it when entering Gates, but I never expected it would prove this useful.
If I’d carelessly given it to my guild members, I might have struggled considerably this time.
‘My poison resistance is D-rank.’
Now I understood why Fist King and the Russian side had called for me. If others’ poison resistance wasn’t at an adequate level, the trial would fail from the start.
Fist King, as evidenced by the Catoblepas encounter, possessed a decent poison resistance skill.
For that reason, even entering the highest-tier Trial Gate, I wasn’t particularly afraid.
However, I couldn’t afford to let my guard down.
‘The God of Play. There’s no way this bastard doesn’t know I have this.’
I didn’t expect him to simply hand me an easy victory. That much was clear from everything I’d seen so far.
I was certain I’d return, but succeeding wouldn’t be easy at all.
In that sense, I could say with absolute certainty that something awaited me in this Poison Trial—enough to stake my life on it.
But I had no idea what form it would take.
‘Could poison with divine properties appear?’
Given that it was the Poison Trial, that possibility was certainly high. If not that, there could be complications elsewhere.
Just as I’d navigated the Sea during the Stamina Trial. So I didn’t rush in blindly.
“There’s definitely going to be a monster that uses S-rank poison.”
“Like the Stamina Trial from before, it could be structured so you endure poison for an extended period.”
This was cooperation between Russia and us. Our side and the Russian Hunter Association had engaged in detailed discussions to map out anticipated scenarios.
Both I and Fist King had proposed multiple contingencies based on our Gate experiences thus far.
Though only a few possibilities seemed likely, we were discussing how to respond if something completely unprecedented emerged.
Of course, such preparations were only possible because I was there.
“Man, this is ridiculously convenient.”
Fist King expressed genuine admiration as he watched me stock my Subspace with supplies prepared for every conceivable scenario.
“So I just need to bring water and dry rations?”
“Typically, yes. It’s for enduring unexpected accidents if you happen to fall.”
“This is insane. I feel so light.”
Such reactions had become quite familiar by now, so they weren’t particularly novel. What required attention was fine-tuning the details.
If the entire Gate interior was a toxic zone, my Subspace could potentially become contaminated as well.
The ability to adjust my Subspace’s interior as I pleased became an enormous advantage in situations like this.
I needed to carefully calibrate the process of retrieving water, provisions, and equipment without allowing the interior to become polluted.
“I’m ready.”
It didn’t take long. Once they confirmed it was possible, the Russian side simply pre-sorted their supplies and I placed them inside.
Fist King nodded.
“Good. I’m all set too.”
“Then let’s enter.”
One piece of information leaked because of this operation—that I had come to Russia. It was publicized extensively.
[Korea-Russia Hunter Cooperation! The Space Mage and Fist King unite before the Trial Gate!]
I wasn’t concerned since we’d coordinated everything with the Hunter Association. I’d stated that I would focus on maintaining security within Korea during my absence.
Besides, I had Secretary with coordinates. It meant I could return if problems arose. Ultimately, what mattered was swiftly conquering the Poison Trial.
* * *
[Poison Trial]
-Survive as long as possible. The Awakened who endures longest will conquer the Gate.
Upon entering the Gate, a message materialized in the darkness. I could see nothing.
What’s this? This can’t all be poison.
I breathed, but my breath didn’t catch and my body didn’t burn. Had it not started yet? My attention fixed on the message.
Survive as long as possible? Was such a thing possible?
-The Gate begins once all Awakened have entered the Poison Trial Gate.
As an additional message appeared, I understood. The Gate hadn’t started yet.
The structure differed slightly from the Stamina Trial last time.
‘Are we together once we enter?’
-That cannot be confirmed. In Gates where everyone starts simultaneously, the interiors sometimes aren’t shared.
So it seemed the Gate interiors were identical, but we’d start together. That wasn’t bad.
Honestly, I wasn’t entirely confident I’d conquer it alone.
I had the Trial Foxes’ heart and the God of Play was assisting me, but overconfidence was dangerous.
If the Trial Foxes’ heart couldn’t withstand divine poison, there was nothing I could do.
‘The God of Play might have even failed the trials given thus far.’
From that perspective, this trial favored those who could endure the longest. There was no real danger of a Gate Break.
However, there was one aspect that concerned me slightly.
‘How long am I supposed to wait here?’
-It shouldn’t take too long. The time ratio can be adjusted.
‘That’s not what I meant.’
The problem was that even if time passed here, the flow of time outside wouldn’t differ significantly.
It would take several days for Awakeners to enter through the Gates spread across Earth.
‘And there’s a chance no one enters at all.’
That meant I’d have to wait here indefinitely. It wasn’t ideal to leave Korea unattended for too long while I was absent.
-You needn’t worry about that. Gates of this type have a one-day limit from the start.
‘Really? What about people who come after that?’
-They either enter with a penalty, or the entrance Gate itself disappears.
Ah, that’s acceptable then.
-Furthermore, Gates of this type consume much time internally while requiring minimal time externally, so there will be some compensation.
I’d already anticipated spending a few days here anyway. The Endurance Trial had consumed quite a bit of time, after all.
With this structure, I didn’t think I needed to worry too much.
-The Poison Trial Gate is beginning.
-Survive as long as possible.
And just as Chun-bae had said, less than five minutes had passed subjectively when the message appeared and the Gate began.
“Cough!”
“Hack!”
The moment the environment changed, rough coughing seized both me and Fist King.
-A gas mask? I don’t use those things.
This bare-handed entry had been Fist King’s suggestion, but the moment it started, I felt something was off.
“I told you to wear one, didn’t I?”
“Cough. It’s bearable enough.”
Fist King spoke calmly between coughs. Well, it wasn’t lethal. I had the heart of the Thousand-Poison Fox anyway.
Regardless, I couldn’t see what was around me clearly.
“Damn, is this outdoors or indoors?”
White smoke filled everything in all directions, as if I’d entered a gas chamber. The poison mist was unmistakable.
It was just slightly different from usual. It wasn’t the strong purple or green I was accustomed to, but my nose and throat stung.
[The Trial Foxes have caught the scent of the ‘Thousand-Poison Fox’s Heart’!]
That’s when the message appeared.
“Huh?”
[The Trial Foxes are pursuing you.]
That bastard, the God of Play.
I’d wondered why he’d given me the Poison Trial, but it seemed there was a reason for everything.

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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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