Something Keeps Appearing in My Subspace - Chapter 311
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
311. Liu Zhen
“Is there any chance you could help me out?”
I had to choose my words carefully. If this was about the Chinese coup, I couldn’t afford to speak rashly.
After weighing my options, what came out was a question.
“Help you with what, exactly?”
To be honest, I didn’t want to get tangled up in the Chinese coup. That was obvious. Supporting Liu Zhen was one thing—getting involved myself was something else entirely.
Could this really stay hidden? The key players would know. Somehow, word would get out. The odds were too high.
—Space Mage Han Hye Supports China’s Second Coup?
Just imagining that headline made my skin crawl. Sure, if it succeeded there’d be advantages—cooperation with China and all that—but that was shortsighted thinking.
Going deeper, I wasn’t prepared to shoulder the consequences of helping Liu Zhen.
‘China’s population isn’t small.’
Over fifteen billion people. Depending on my choice, their lives would take different paths. This wasn’t a simple decision.
Because good and evil don’t determine everything.
The Chinese leadership cooperating with the Übermenschen now? They were probably garbage. But replacing them didn’t guarantee a better world would follow.
Liu Zhen wasn’t a bad person, but I couldn’t be certain he wouldn’t become worse if he became China’s ruler.
“To be honest, I can’t help with that.”
So I told him clearly before he could say anything else. I had a feeling hearing him out would make it harder to refuse.
“Ha ha.”
Liu Zhen laughed through the phone.
“Listen, friend. I wasn’t going to ask you for something like that. That’s our business.”
“Really?”
It wasn’t that?
“Then what kind of help?”
“It’s difficult and simple at the same time. You don’t have to do it if it’s too much. I don’t want to burden a friend.”
Liu Zhen continued.
“If we fail, I wanted to ask whether Korea could take us in.”
So what Liu Zhen was asking amounted to something like asylum if China’s Second Coup fell through.
“Hmm. This seems beyond what I can handle. I can try bringing it up, but…”
I was hedging. The problems were manifold. For one, Korea was too closely tied to China.
If Liu Zhen’s coup attempt failed? China’s leadership would go berserk.
They’d already tried to kill me—so they’d definitely send assassins after the instigator.
Which meant the situation inside Korea could easily spiral into chaos too.
‘This is basically a bomb.’
Liu Zhen with problems. No matter how S-rank a hunter he was, taking him in meant burden for Korea and burden for me as the one proposing it.
If I brought this up, it could escalate—the impression being that I’d personally requested protection for Liu Zhen. I could explain in detail, but…
“So that’s how it is?”
“It’s not over yet.”
But I wasn’t outright refusing either. The truth was I had some goodwill toward Liu Zhen. A bomb like this was better thrown into someone else’s house.
Someone else’s house that could actually withstand it.
It wasn’t just about thinking of myself. This was actually better for Liu Zhen too.
As I said before, if China came after him with surveillance or assassination attempts, being in Korea would be pretty uncomfortable for him.
“You said it’s not over?”
“There’s a better place for you than Korea.”
“You don’t mean…”
“I can connect you with the United States.”
“Hmm…”
Liu Zhen thought for a moment.
“Is it not good?”
“It’s not that—it’s just unfamiliar. I was thinking about Korea because that’s where I’ve been.”
“Saudi Arabia could work too, but that’s close to Übermenschen territory. Wouldn’t the United States be better?”
“It doesn’t matter where. This is just contingency planning. Problems will arise no matter where I go.”
Liu Zhen went on.
“What I’m curious about is whether I could join your Guild.”
So that’s why he was asking me.
“Personally, I think well of you. But after a failed coup, wouldn’t that be difficult?”
An honest answer. The risk was too great. This was the kind of problem that caused trouble even without a coup.
“You’re right. Can’t be helped.”
“Should I feel out the Americans then?”
“Absolutely not.”
Liu Zhen spoke urgently.
“The Horse Demons succeeded in a coup with United States backing.”
Ah, there were rumors about that, but it seems it was true after all.
“There should still be some connections left. I’d appreciate it if you could help if problems arise later.”
“No problem there.”
He wasn’t asking me for direct support, only help establishing a connection with the United States—something I could easily provide.
“So, are you making your move soon?”
“I need to prepare.”
“Think you’ll be all right?”
“Don’t worry. I have their trust, and I’ve caught up on levels.”
Liu Zhen’s leveling speed is incredible. It’s gotten even faster since we met. He can’t surpass me, but he’s receiving every possible form of support.
Isn’t he China’s next-generation Advance Team after Lei Chuang’s death?
“I hope we can laugh about this someday.”
“I feel the same way, friend. Once we’ve dealt with those wicked Horse Demons.”
After I hung up, sleep wouldn’t come. The matter was serious enough. I pulled a beer from the refrigerator and drank it.
I couldn’t predict right now how Liu Zhen’s endeavor would unfold. All I could do was hope it went well.
* * *
I rested another ten days in the Maldives. For such a renowned resort, it was remarkably satisfying. It wouldn’t have been strange to call it paradise.
There had been some hesitation when deciding to come here. It was my first vacation and overseas trip, after all.
I’d sometimes wondered if I should have gone to more varied tourist destinations instead.
Though I hadn’t visited other attractions yet, this seemed to suit me better.
‘There’s something to be said for true rest.’
A year as a Hunter, and ten years since losing my parents. Perhaps my life had been too hard and too busy.
Simply doing nothing and relaxing felt remarkably peaceful.
I could drift on a tube, snorkel, or when bored, head to a bar for a cocktail or coffee.
Ten days stretched out leisurely.
‘Hmm. When all this is over?’
I thought of Lee Shin-hee’s words on the morning of the sixth day. While eating breakfast overlooking the sea, my perspective shifted slightly.
Did I really need to search for something I wanted to do?
‘Can’t I just rest like this?’
Resting felt good…….
A month or a year of this would grow tedious. I could search for what I wanted to do when that time comes, couldn’t I?
Well, this worry was meaningless anyway. I needed to resolve the Mana Erosion first before any future could open up.
Vague musings fit for a resort.
Since I’d only rested, there was nothing particular I’d done in the Maldives.
Rode Yong-yong across the sea, saw sea turtles and rays. I even took photos out of curiosity.
“Um, Han Hye. Could we take just one photo with the dragon…….”
Yong-yong probably seemed far more remarkable to the locals than those sights.
I’d considered training in the middle of it. The matter of the Iron Wing Throwing Sword remained unsolved.
“What training?”
But in the end, I didn’t, persuaded by Ahjussi.
“When you rest, you need to rest properly for it to be efficient.”
If only Ahjussi had said that, I might have hesitated, but Chun-bae also told me to rest.
-I agree with that point. You should rest when you rest.
Since I’d been pushing forward without stopping, looking back, it was a good choice.
Time wouldn’t solve the Iron Wing Throwing Sword matter. Clearing my mind entirely might help too.
“Ha. I wish I could stay another week.”
That was what Ahjussi said, but it wasn’t possible. Other Guilds had vacation schedules coming after us.
Time passed quickly, and we returned to Korea.
* * *
My body felt a bit stiff from only resting for a few days.
“You’ve reached the same level as Choin! What do you think about that!”
Choin’s competitive spirit was ignited, and while I was in the Maldives, he entered Gates one after another.
It seemed he’d pushed himself too hard. I heard he rested one day then entered Gates consecutively.
“I think it’s positive.”
I didn’t offer an answer designed to stir up trouble. It’s good when everyone develops.
And besides, I’ll be pulling ahead soon enough anyway.
We arrived in Korea at night, and the next morning I headed to the Training Ground.
I wasn’t planning to do anything serious right away—just intended to loosen up.
I hadn’t stopped stretching and running even there, but I hadn’t done any other exercise.
Yet when I arrived at the Training Ground, all the Guild members were already there.
“You’re all here?”
Guild training was supposed to start tomorrow, accounting for jet lag and fatigue, but everyone had shown up.
I’d expected Han Chul, but not the others.
“You’re late. Tsk, a guild master should be coming and going early.”
What caught me most off guard was Mister saying this.
It wasn’t that he was lazy. There was a conversation we’d had last night.
“But you said today was off.”
I’d asked him to come along, and he’d said he was going to rest with his family.
“Heh heh.”
“Why did you lie?”
“The guild master’s the laziest one here.”
I had a feeling that was exactly what he’d been aiming for—telling the others to come earlier instead.
I let out a hollow laugh at the absurdity of it all.
I was becoming increasingly childish, it seemed.
Still, guild training hadn’t started yet. I’d warm up first, then begin proper training tomorrow.
.
.
.
[Lv84 Space Lord, Han Hye]
Strength: 110
Agility: 120(+10, +5, +1)
Stamina: 150(+5)(+15, +1)
Spirit: 110
Mana: 160(+1)
Remaining Points: 10
Skills: Subspace (S-rank) Lv6, Blaze (S-rank) Lv8, Severance (S-rank) Lv8, Flame Resistance (S-rank) Lv6, Poison Resistance (S-rank) Lv3, Leap (A-rank) Lv7, Domain Formation (A-rank) Lv5, Iron Wing Throwing Sword (A-rank) Lv7, Simultaneous Interpretation (B-rank) Lv1, Swift Movement (C-rank) Lv8, Cold Resistance (C-rank) Lv4
This was my status window after clearing the Lottery Gate. The situation back then had been rough enough that I’d invested five points into Stamina.
Looking back now, I felt a twinge of regret. If I was going to enter the Subspace, there was no need to have invested in Stamina at all.
I could have put those points into Strength, Agility, or Spirit instead. Well, there was nothing to be done about it now.
I decided to save the remaining ten points and not use them immediately. There would be a need for them at the next Gate.
“Then we’ll all participate in this Friday’s Gate public announcement…….”
Since today was Wednesday, I had plenty of time to recover my condition. It took about three days from registering in the Gate announcement to actually entering.
After roughly coordinating future plans with the guild members, I opened the Subspace.
[Flame Horse’s Spark (A-rank)]
Individually, it was more like an auxiliary tool that boosted the efficiency of flame-related skills, and being A-rank, the efficiency itself was considerable.
But I had the Flame Talisman, which was more efficient than this.
In any case, the Flame Horse’s Spark was like the essence of flame, and I suspected its reward from the Lottery Gate was because of the God of Play.
And now it was time to use it.
‘I deliberately didn’t use it in the Maldives.’
I’d considered it, but Mister said that if he saw me with that, it would get him thinking about training and skills again, so he told me to just rest properly.
Now that I was back in Korea, it was time to upgrade the Flame Talisman. It had taken quite a while since the last upgrade.
I wondered just how much Blaze an A-rank Flame Talisman would be able to hold. The additional effects would increase too.
With my heart racing, I fed the Flame Horse’s spark into the Flame Talisman.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————