Something Keeps Appearing in My Subspace - Chapter 306

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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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306. D-1
“There’s no way around it.”
A Gate had appeared on the island we were meant to visit. The guild members agreed to clear it and rest—it was impossible to relax knowing something waited ahead on the schedule.
Our vacation itinerary had to be adjusted slightly. We’d lost two days.
Hunter Association staff and medical personnel were moving with us to handle the Gate clearance.
If anyone was injured during the operation, they needed immediate treatment. There were other complications to work through as well.
‘It’s unavoidably complex.’
A Hunter from one country clearing a Gate that appeared in another—it was impossible without a formal support request. But this was a Designated Gate, so there was no choice. It was the first case of its kind.
It turned out that Designated Gates existed for the first time because of us. There were no other precedents yet.
And Maldives needed our power to prevent a Gate Break.
That would have been true even if it weren’t Designated. Maldives had no Hunters capable of clearing Gates ranked 81 or higher.
“Hye, look outside!”
Two days later, we boarded our private jet headed for Maldives. The flight was roughly nine hours, and I was sleeping with my seat converted into a bed when he woke me up.
Mister made such a fuss that I naturally turned my gaze to the window.
“Wow.”
We’d arrived without realizing it. Beyond the airplane window, a transparent emerald sea stretched out to welcome us. I’d never seen a color like that before, and admiration escaped my lips without thinking.
No wonder people came here for vacation.
Landing at the airport wasn’t the end of it. We still had to take a seaplane to reach the island.
Min-jae was the one who made the suggestion.
“What about going by dragon?”
“Hm?”
It was actually a pretty good idea. We’d just spent nearly nine hours flying, after all. And riding a dragon across this emerald sea sounded a lot more novel than boarding another plane.
So the people from the Association went to catch the seaplane, while we climbed aboard the dragons.
The journey took about thirty minutes. We took in the scenery while riding on Yong-yong and the Bone Dragon.
People were waiting at the resort we arrived at. They had welcome drinks prepared, but their expressions made it clear they were startled by the dragons.
“Welcome, Dragon Guild members!”
Still, true to form for resort professionals, they quickly recovered their composure. We entered the island with a grand reception.
“I trust the long flight wasn’t too tiring?”
“Thank you!”
“A bit tired, but we’re fine.”
Unlike Mister, who kept repeating “thank you” because his English wasn’t great, I managed smooth communication using my Simultaneous Interpretation Skill.
When I first got it, I thought it would just be convenient. But every time I go abroad, I feel just how broken the skill really is.
“The Gate appeared on the island’s outskirts, and the area has been cordoned off.”
After hearing a general briefing, we all went to unpack in our rooms. The Gate clearance had been added, but it was still a vacation trip.
Mister’s family and Min-jae’s girlfriend had flown with us too.
“Han Hye, would you like to have a meal before settling in?”
It was Seo-ung’s voice. Apparently, the Association had sent a Korean chef along as well.
“We thought you might miss Korean food while abroad…….”
Hmm. The truth was, we didn’t have any food-related inconveniences. We carried freshly prepared dishes in our Subspace, after all.
They stayed preserved and unchanged in flavor, ready to enjoy whenever we wanted.
The food we kept in the Subspace was made by our Guild House chef, so the quality was quite high.
The Association probably didn’t realize I was keeping freshly made food like that in my Subspace.
“Hmm. Should we grab something?”
Still, I appreciated the thought, and the chef had come all this way. It seemed only right to eat before heading back.
“Besides, my body feels sluggish anyway. Let’s eat, have some coffee, then turn in.”
Mister said this, and the guild members all nodded in agreement.
“Is everyone a bit tired?”
It was natural—a long flight plus some jet lag meant we weren’t at full capacity. My own body felt a little heavy too.
“Should we go in tomorrow instead?”
We’d arrived during the day, but a Lottery Gate wasn’t easy. It was better to rest thoroughly and recover our condition before going in.
Of course, I needed to hear their opinions.
“If you’re comfortable with that, Han Chul.”
“To be honest, I’ve been feeling a bit heavy too.”
Han Chul smiled easily. Actually, his opinion was the most important here.
He was supposed to be in Hawaii for his original vacation; he’d only come here because of the Lottery Gate.
We’d decided he’d travel separately after the Gate was cleared, and he hadn’t objected at all.
The fact that he agreed to spend an extra day showed he was truly a magnanimous person.
‘I should get him something nice.’
* * *
“Then shall we go snorkeling right now?”
It was a conversation he brought up only after stepping away from Han Chul, as if he couldn’t quite bring himself to speak about it in front of someone who’d shown such consideration.
“Mm.”
If we were ordinary people, we’d call this nonsense—managing our condition while exerting physical energy. But we’re Hunters. Our stamina has plenty of room to spare, and I thought it wasn’t a bad way to shake off jet lag and that lingering sluggishness.
We’re Hunters. Stamina isn’t an issue. As far as dealing with jet lag and fatigue went, I figured it could work.
“Well, snorkeling is currently prohibited, I’m afraid…….”
What surprised me was that unlike when he’d first arrived, all water activities were now banned.
It was because of marine monsters—not many, but apparently there had been incidents at nearby resorts recently.
“Still, you’re Advance Team Hunters…….”
The resort had a structure with two islands connected, and they allowed activities within that enclosed area.
Even if marine monsters were supposedly tough, at our level they’d be easy to handle.
Everyone said snorkeling should be possible, but Han Chul declined and headed to the gym instead.
Coming all this way just to hit the gym—he was definitely crazy, though overshadowed by the Fist King.
“It’s not particularly difficult.”
Min-jae had gone off with his girlfriend, and I ended up taking a basic lesson with his family and Lee Shin-hee.
Usually they say it’s simple but it’s actually hard; this time it really was easy.
You don’t even need to know how to swim—just put on a Life Jacket and strap on your Snorkeling Gear. All you do is float on the surface and look down.
It was quite a novel experience. The sea was so transparent you could see everything beneath the surface.
“Mm-mm!”
I couldn’t speak with the Breathing Apparatus in my mouth, but I could spot the “Nemo” and “Dory” from the animated films.
People mentioned manta rays and nurse sharks too, but I didn’t see those.
Through my Spatial Perception I could sense the life forms buried in the sea sand below. But in another way, it was just fascinating and fun—nothing more.
If I’d already cleared Gates, it might be different, but with work still ahead, it was hard to fully let go.
“I think I should stop here.”
The uncle was already spending time with his family, so I spoke to Lee Shin-hee, who was floating a little ways off.
“Not having fun?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just—there’s the Gate tomorrow and all, so it’s on my mind.”
“That’s true. There’s the Guild Master’s sense of responsibility too.”
Lee Shin-hee removed her Snorkeling Gear and stood up.
“I’m a bit tired myself. Should we grab a drink and call it a day?”
“Sounds good.”
The cafe and bar were adjoined, so you could order alcohol, but since I wasn’t in the mood for it, I went with coffee.
Drinking an Iced Americano with wet clothes while gazing out at the turquoise sea felt surprisingly pleasant.
“I think it’ll end at level 99 or 100, but what do you think will happen once you reach level 100?”
That’s when Lee Shin-hee posed the question.
“I’m not sure.”
Honestly, I don’t know exactly. All I know is that Mana Erosion is approaching.
Chun-bae can’t give a definitive answer either. The previous Master and the one before him didn’t directly fight Erosion.
Medieval fantasy times.
A different environment from Earth. There was no cooperation between nations, and Gates only sparked more wars.
Gate Breaks erupted and Discharge-type Gates were left unchecked, strengthening the Erosion further.
Eventually Discharge-type Gates burst everywhere, and people fell victim to Mana Erosion.
So when we advance in an intact state like we are now, neither I nor Chun-bae know how things will unfold.
We’ll only know when that time comes.
‘Looking at the Spirit King’s case.’
He burned through his mana with Inferno, resisting Mana Erosion to the very end, but ultimately was consumed—that’s the conclusion.
When I reach level 100, how will it play out for me?
Will Mana Erosion suddenly grow stronger? As mana concentration rises? Or could Erosion itself—the calamity it’s become—manifest right before us?
As my thoughts deepened, Lee Shin-hee opened her mouth.
“I’m living the life of a Hunter, but I wish this would end.”
Lee Shin-hee smiled a little sadly.
I wonder how I feel. I want recognition as a Hunter, but I’m aging too, and I can’t do this forever.
And honestly, the hatred toward monsters hasn’t disappeared. My heart was similar to Lee Shin-hee’s.
But I was curious why she felt that way.
“Why’s that?”
“Well, actually I never quite understood why you were living as a Hunter in the first place.”
A grade-A healing skill.
While it’s said to be extremely rare, having such an ability doesn’t mean the heir to a conglomerate becomes a Hunter.
Both domestic and overseas, people from families of that caliber see Awakening only through the lens of “health.”
There were plenty of cases where conglomerate heirs got caught doing illegal monster hunts to fuel their Awakenings.
[B Corporation Chairman, Illegal Orc Smuggling and Hunting……]
There was a superstition that killing monsters increased the chance of Awakening, but even if someone risked danger like this to awaken, naturally they wouldn’t hunt afterward.
Lee Shin-hee’s identity being revealed and the subsequent surge in her family’s company stock stemmed from the same logic.
“She’s quite impressive, isn’t she? With A-rank healing ability, she’d be praised just working at a hospital, yet she’s putting herself on the line as a Hunter? On the front lines, no less?”
I’d heard her family business had become quite favorable. I’d actually been curious about it for some time, but since I wasn’t particularly close with Shin-hee, I’d never asked.
“I nearly died when I was young, and a Hunter saved me.”
“That happened?”
“It was a Discharge-type Gate that appeared suddenly after the First Gate Incident. Roads were paralyzed and people were fleeing when a monster came running at me…… The Hunter saved me just before I would have died.”
So that’s what happened.
“That’s when I awakened too.”
“Really?”
“The person who saved me was terribly injured. I just wanted to heal them no matter what…… and it happened.”
“Did the treatment succeed?”
“Yes.”
Shin-hee said so, but a bitter smile crossed her face.
“But less than a year later, they went missing inside a Gate.”
Going missing inside a Gate was as good as death.
“Whether it’s that person’s case or any Gate—Discharge-type or Entrance-type—so many people die. I wish they’d all just disappear.”
“I wish that too. I’ve achieved social success through being a Hunter, but that’s not really what it’s about, is it?”
“I suppose not. As for Han Hye…”
My story had become well-known enough that everyone knew it, so Shin-hee was aware of it as well.
In the slightly somber atmosphere, Shin-hee took a sip of her Iced Americano, then spoke again.
“If all of this were to end, what would you do next?”
After the Erosion. It was a realm I hadn’t yet considered. My life had been nothing but continuous struggle from the time the Gate Incident began until now.
“Hmm. Well, I have plenty of money, so perhaps I’d do whatever I wanted.”
“Do you have something you want to do?”
“Not really.”
“That’s quite something.”
Shin-hee laughed.
“I’ve lived so busily that honestly, I don’t even know what I want. I suppose I’d have to find that out when the time comes—by trying different things.”
“I’ll cheer you on.”
“Thank you.”
“And after that?”
“After that?”
“After you find what you want to do?”
“Well…… I suppose I’d build a family, wouldn’t I?”
Shin-hee nodded.
“What about you, Shin-hee? Is there something you want to do?”
“Building a family?”
“Yes?”
“Well, I’ve tried this and that, but nothing particularly stands out…… except cooking, which I found rather enjoyable.”
“I see.”
The daughter of a conglomerate’s hobby being cooking—well, I supposed that was possible.
“So you’d open a restaurant or something like that?”
Shin-hee looked directly into my eyes as she spoke.
“No. It would have to be at home. That scale would be too much.”
……?
* * *
I rested for the entire day.
I’d done some snorkeling, but there were no physical issues. Rather, I’d adjusted to the jet lag and the fatigue from the flight was gone—the situation was quite comfortable.
“Let’s go.”
Early in the morning, we prepared to enter the Gate.
A Lottery Gate.
Just how formidable would the Demon Grand Duke be?

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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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