Something Keeps Appearing in My Subspace - Chapter 323
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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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323. Pan Crete Ruins (1)
I’d coordinated with Shin Chang, Choin, and Fist King. I’d fully disclosed the Conspiracy Ring to Choin as well.
—Understood.
—Contact me again if the color changes. I’ll be on standby.
—I’m happy to help.
The coordinates they’d specified were near the Hunter Association, so it shouldn’t take long for us to regroup.
Besides, Shin Chang already lived in this area anyway.
When an attack actually came, there was a high probability we’d know right away where it erupted, so there was no real problem.
I’d also informed the Hunter Association and Seo-ung.
—Once the color changes again, I’ll contact you once every hour.
It might be a bit annoying, but it was the right call. The Association itself might not even catch wind of an attack.
On my end, I’d done everything I could.
An attack at my current level, now that I was approaching Level 90.
The last one wasn’t routine either, but it wasn’t at Übermenschen’s full strength. This time, wouldn’t they come for real?
[The Previous-Previous Princess died at Level 89, and the Previous Princess at Level 78.]
I heard a minor detail from Chun-bae—the highest levels of the Previous-Previous and Previous masters.
I hadn’t surpassed the Previous-Previous yet, but I had surpassed the Previous.
[It seems there aren’t many times when my advice could be of help.]
“What are you saying? If we’re counting 100 as the limit, then at Level 90, ninety percent of it was because of your help.”
I owed Chun-bae so much. Even without him, I likely would’ve managed, but I could’ve done better thanks to him.
Without Chun-bae, I couldn’t have gotten here like this. The help I received from his advice and Hidden Dungeon-related knowledge was absurd.
The Dragon Heart, Lee Shin-hee’s Ring, the Flame Talisman—all the same.
‘Come to think of it, I’ve received help from plenty of people besides Chun-bae.’
Going further up, there was my connection with Shin Chang. Not quite as much as Chun-bae, but I’d definitely been shown consideration.
If Saebyeokbit and Shin Chang had been anything like Daeup, I might not have made it this far with all the interference I would’ve faced.
And going even further back, there was Chul-gi. That’s an even greater debt. If it weren’t for him, I’d have died on the streets.
Before that, there was my parents’ sacrifice trying to save me.
‘I need to observe their anniversary properly this year.’
Since my parents passed, I’d never properly observed their death anniversary. It wasn’t that I was struggling to eat—there was literally nothing to eat back then.
Because of that habit, I hadn’t managed it this year either, but I was thinking I’d do it next year.
It’s a day I can’t forget. The day the Gate Crisis happened. In a way, I’m an unfilial child.
This time, I should’ve done it, but my body just wouldn’t move. Still, if I succeed and get my revenge, isn’t now the right time to do it?
‘By then, I’ll definitely have reached Level 100.’
After I got past Übermenschen’s plot, I might face Mana Erosion. Could I actually overcome it?
Maybe I could only properly observe their anniversary after everything was said and done.
Right.
I had to win no matter what.
.
.
.
“Everyone ready?”
Übermenschen’s plot was their plot, and the coming Mana Erosion was coming, but for now we had to do our job.
Naturally, our job meant entering a Gate.
Getting stronger, even by a little, would expand the options we had to respond.
The spear technique tournament was over and the team members had finished adapting to their new equipment, so we’d prepared the Gate Public Notice.
‘Is Chun-bae ready too?’
—Of course.
The Previous-Previous master’s highest level was 89. Now Chun-bae didn’t have much time left to show his mettle during Gate Public Notices.
I was hoping that a Gate Chun-bae knew would show up this time.
“Well, is there any need to rush it now?”
That was what Chul-gi said, and it was true to some extent. We were the only ones who’d reached Level 86.
In the world rankings, our guild members ranked below Shin Chang, Choin, and Fist King, but…
Our actual levels were still higher than theirs. In other words, we were the only ones in Korea right now who could apply for Level 86 or higher Gates.
No competition. But we couldn’t just take it easy.
“What if some Level 81–90 Ruins Gate shows up then?”
“Ah, right.”
At my words, Chul-gi snapped back to attention.
And shortly after.
“It’s up!”
That was the moment we were checking the Gate Public Notice list.
“Are there really Ruins Gates, Levels 81 to 90, down there?”
“Should we use the Priority Right?”
I was about to say yes when Chun-bae spoke up.
[Han Hye.]
‘Hm?’
[…… Never mind. I’d recommend using the Priority Right on the Ruins Gate first.]
Following Chun-bae’s advice, I handled the urgent matter first.
“Let’s use it, then.”
I activated the Priority Right immediately.
[Pan Crete Ruins]
-Level Restriction: 81–90
-Entry Limit: 10 persons
The Gate we’d registered for was as follows. Once I’d confirmed the application, I asked Chun-bae why he’d called out to me.
‘Why did you say something? Do you know another Gate?’
[No.]
I wondered if maybe Chun-bae had really discovered a Gate he knew about, so I asked—but it didn’t seem to be that.
[Though perhaps I should say I do know of it.]
‘What do you mean?’
[I’m not certain, but the Pan Crete Ruins seem familiar to me.]
‘What are you saying?’
[There was a place called Pan Crete in the world where I traveled with the Previous-Previous Princess.]
Then I understood what he meant.
‘So you’re saying you’re not sure if it’s the exact place you knew.’
[Affirmative. It’s possible it’s merely a place with the same name, and besides, other Gates often displayed landscapes from after Mana Erosion had already passed through them.]
‘Still, knowing something beats knowing nothing. If it’s the same place, you’d know the layout, wouldn’t you?’
It was certainly better than going into a Ruins Gate for the first time. At least Chun-bae would know the area.
‘Since it’s a Ruin, let’s search for a Hidden Dungeon too.’
At my words, Chun-bae hesitated for a moment, then continued.
[Truth be told, I don’t know much about it.]
‘Hm?’
[I’ve never actually been there.]
That was rather startling. Was that why Chun-bae had hesitated to speak earlier?
‘What kind of place was it?’
Still, I needed at least minimal information.
[After Level 50, it was an enemy fortress we couldn’t even reach because of the Expulsion-Type Gates.]
‘I see.’
[I heard that before we fell, a final stand was waged at Pan Crete, but…… I cannot say for certain what the truth is.]
Well, there’s nothing for it now.
‘I’ll have to go see for myself.’
* * *
Everything is progressing smoothly. Dragon 2nd Team’s teamwork is improving steadily, and they’re raising the difficulty of the Gates they enter accordingly.
Their pace is quite fast. Faster than expected. Initially they drew attention as our guild’s 2nd Team, but that’s changed now.
[Dragon 2nd Team to join the Vanguard soon?]
They’re currently classified as super-rookies just below the Vanguard, and at this pace, joining the Vanguard was only a matter of time.
In fact, there was already talk that our emergence meant the Vanguard’s criteria needed to be revised.
[The Vanguard qualification standards need updating now!]
When the nation initially controlled the Vanguard’s pace, everyone maintained roughly similar level ranges.
Top 10 hunters like Shin Chang, Fist King, and Choin certainly stood out, but the differences were within ten levels.
However, as I climbed and Shin Chang, Fist King, Choin, and others accelerated as well, a considerable level gap began to open between them and those who’d been part of the original Vanguard.
Whatever name they give it, I don’t particularly mind—but it was an interesting development.
‘I always thought I’d reach the Vanguard eventually.’
I never imagined I’d climb this fast, or that talk of revising the Vanguard’s standards would come because of me.
Besides that, Min-seok was also absorbed in refining his Crafting level. He’d recently reached Level 6.
Last time he was Level 5, and his pace has been incredible. According to what the old man said, he seems to have been given quite a boost of motivation.
-You’re working hard at it, I tell you. Pouring care into every single piece of crafting work.
The quality of the crafting itself was improving with each attempt as well—more major successes and successful pieces emerging as the trend, so to speak.
All this growth was greatly helped by the fact that A-Rank Crafting became possible.
We were already providing A-Rank Crafting to Chulbyeok and Saebyeokbit, as well as to the American Vanguard with whom we had information exchange.
Of course, all the Gate metals came from their side.
For now, we weren’t receiving enormous compensation from them—just Spirit Medicine to help Min-seok’s Mana growth, more or less.
The reason was simple: Min-seok needed work to grow.
‘A-Rank Crafting isn’t easy, either.’
According to the Hunter Association, crafting A-Rank Gate metals onto weapons below that tier didn’t provide much benefit.
A-Rank equipment needed A-Rank Crafting. That meant acquiring A-Rank gear, which wasn’t exactly something you could pick up off the street.
For now, it was a matter of mutual aid, I suppose? The security concerns meant we couldn’t publicize it widely, and that created its own problems.
If it weren’t for the Übermenschen, I’d have revealed everything long ago and gathered A-Rank equipment from across the world to craft.
‘Then couldn’t I have done S-Rank Crafting by now?’
Everything came down to the Übermenschen.
Lately, I’d been thinking about having a conversation with the Fist King’s side. A team like his seemed likely to keep the secret.
Well, those benefits would all vanish once Min-seok became capable of S-Rank Crafting anyway.
There was no way to accept Spirit Medicine when doing S-Rank Crafting on S-Rank equipment.
‘First, I’ll watch a few hunters from other countries get S-Rank on S-Rank Crafting to build up proficiency…….’
Then afterward, we can have our guild equipment crafted. Just thinking about it, the plan seemed flawless.
Hunters from other countries might complain about being guinea pigs, but they should simply be grateful to receive crafting at all.
It’s only the first time with S-Rank; by then, Min-seok will be someone trained through A-Rank work. And the world’s only craftsperson at that level.
Amid all this smooth progress, there was one obstacle: the Übermenschen.
‘Once I deal with these bastards…….’
Perhaps there won’t be any impediments until Mana Erosion arrives. For that, I need to enter the Gate today as well.
“Woooo!”
“Dinosaur Guild, fighting!”
As usual, we entered the Gate amid the passionate cheers of our supporters.
* * *
[Pan Crete Ruins]
-Explore the Ruins. Remaining time: 71 hours 59 minutes.
We were given three days to explore the Ruins. That wasn’t an inadequate timeframe—assuming the layout wasn’t as complex as last time.
“Hmm. This should give us enough time, shouldn’t it?”
The moment we stepped inside, one worry lifted. We’d appeared in a place where we could see the entire Ruins at a glance.
“Yes. It’s smaller than expected.”
It was a modest fortress, not quite a city. So they’d held out to the end—perhaps a small garrison had defended from that very fort.
“The problem seems to be that…….”
But the true issue was the monstrosity beside the fortress—a creature the size of a small fortress itself.
Should I say it was far larger than Ja-tan?
‘Chun-bae, what the hell is that thing?’
[I’m not entirely certain. But if this is the place I’d heard of……the creature came from a Gate of the highest tier or above.]
‘Could it be the one he mentioned before?’
Chun-bae had said something like that once. Earth’s highest-tier, colossal Gates were only mid-tier by Chun-bae’s world standards.
[That creature caused the fall of the Creteian Empire.]
This didn’t look like an easy fight.
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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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