“Association President!”
“Ghk!”
The Association President choked when his secretary burst through the office door just as he was about to swallow some water.
His neck and dress shirt became damp, but he was too busy coughing.
“Seo-ung, how many times have I told you to knock……?”
“That is not important! A report has come in. The instability of Atmospheric Mana Density is worsening!”
“What?”
The Association President was so startled that he forgot he had choked.
Atmospheric Mana Density instability was not a situation that could be easily overlooked.
As could be seen from the fact that Earth’s Mana Density had been steadily rising since the Gate Crisis, rising density meant more difficult Gates would appear.
But when Atmospheric Mana Density became unstable, the likelihood of Outbreak Gates appearing increased.
“We confirmed it with allied countries, and they all received the same results.”
“Could it be a situation similar to the one five years ago?”
“It is not merely similar. It is an exact match.”
Park Seo-ung spoke gravely. It had happened five years after the Gate Crisis.
As Mana Density instability worsened, irregular Outbreak Gates had opened sporadically around the world.
The unrest had not lasted long, but because it had been unexpected, the damage had been severe.
It had also shattered the illusion that society had stabilized to some degree five years after the Gate Crisis.
Afterward, Mana Density rose by a stage and Gates became more difficult, which had caused people great concern.
“In the United States, a phenomenon has been witnessed where small Outbreak Gates appear and then vanish.”
“They have a problem on their hands.”
Just as small earthquakes occur before a major earthquake, if small Outbreak Gates appeared and vanished, something big was coming.
Still, it was too early for Korea to feel safe. Perhaps its turn simply had not come yet.
“Bring me the Advance Teams’ Gate schedules. If any of them are entering today or tomorrow, cancel everything first.”
“Yes!”
The Association President groaned as he watched Park Seo-ung run out.
He had already realized that Mana Density had recently been rising. Yet something like this had happened again.
‘After this fallout passes, how much more difficult will the Gates become……?’
It was a moment when his worries deepened.
“Y, you, what are you?”
I instinctively took a step back and guarded myself, but the crystal ball spoke in a calm tone.
-I am an Intelligent Magical Life-Form created through magic by the Princess Two Generations Before.
An Intelligent Magical Life-Form created by the Princess Two Generations Before? Was it like an AI? A magical AI?
I could not hide my bewilderment at the unexpected answer.
“Wait, then were the items in here left by the Princess Two Generations Before?”
-A partial affirmation.
“A partial affirmation?”
-Not all of the items. There are items from before that, as well as items left by the Previous Princess.
Although it was clearly not Korean, the meaning was conveyed precisely. Like the message before, I suspected it was some kind of translation magic.
-However, the things left by the Princess Two Generations Before make up more than 90%.
It seemed that the Princess Two Generations Before had been the first to prepare something in Subspace for future generations.
“If there are items from before that, am I the fourth Princess?”
-You are at least the fourth. You may be the fifth or later.
Hmm. The message before had clearly said that the Princess class was the world’s hope…….
Yet at least four Princesses had failed to overcome Mana Erosion.
Furthermore, the Princess before me would have made all these preparations as well. Was Mana Erosion that dangerous?
The Princess Two Generations Before had even been skilled enough to create a magical AI.
As anxiety about the future rose, a question suddenly came to mind.
“Wait, then the Previous Princess used Subspace too. How did items for me remain?”
-Question. Why can you not understand that? Did you not hear the message left by the Princess Two Generations Before…….
Chutun stopped speaking. Then blue light briefly examined Subspace before it spoke in a flustered voice.
-Judging from the items currently in this space, I estimate this is the Second Space. Is the current Princess’s Subspace at level 2?
“Yeah. Why?”
-That is astonishing. How did you obtain an item containing divinity with Subspace at level 2?
“Uh, was that difficult?”
I scratched the back of my head, but it made sense.
Come to think of it, even while working as an Unawakened Hunter, I had never heard of items related to ‘gods.’
-Affirmative. It is not merely difficult. Itemized Divinity is required to awaken me.
“What is Itemized Divinity?”
-It means an item containing divinity obtained inside a Gate, rather than the divinity of that world. I was designed to awaken through it.
Was that different?
After thinking about it, I roughly understood. Just as I had encountered an Ancient Evil God, there must have been worlds where gods existed.
-The prevailing theory is that Itemized Divinity can usually be obtained in Gates of level 50 or higher.
“Level 50? I got it in a Gate that transformed because I am a Princess.”
-You have undergone a Fortuitous Encounter. Princesses do transform Gates from time to time, but it is not easy to obtain divinity in such a place.
In short, I had been lucky.
-To continue answering your earlier question, many items for novice Princesses have been prepared in the Fifth Space.
As I heard more, it seemed the Princess Two Generations Before had left various items in the Fifth Space for future generations.
The reason for the Fifth Space was concern that those who were unqualified would abuse them.
When a Princess judged that they would have difficulty overcoming Mana Erosion, they relocated the items for the next generation.
In other words, the secret manuals I had obtained were the result of the Previous Princess relocating what the Princess Two Generations Before had left behind.
‘So Subspace is a vault, an inheritance that links worlds experiencing Gate Crises?’
I had felt it from the first time I entered Subspace after Awakening, but this was the moment it became certain that I had hit the jackpot.
It meant that more valuable things would pour out as Subspace’s level rose.
“Then were you also created for the next Princess—for me?”
-Affirmative. The Princess Two Generations Before judged that overcoming it would be difficult through the inheritance of items alone and left me behind.
Setting aside the Previous Princess’s failure, this was an endlessly positive situation for me.
Even without this help, I would have faced Mana Erosion.
It was a hundred times better to receive help from the items left by the Princess Two Generations Before and from an Intelligent Magical Life-Form like Chutun.
Chutun said that Itemized Divinity could be obtained from Gates over level 50.
‘That means it has experienced something beyond that.’
Earth’s current Advance Team had not reached level 60.
It meant I could obtain higher-quality information than the Advance Team.
Chutun had been an unexpected encounter, but what I needed to do now was obvious.
“Then tell me. What Mana Erosion is. What will happen in the future. What I need to do.”
The world had turned into something like a game overnight. Through the Princess Two Generations Before, I had learned that this was Mana Erosion.
It was only natural that I was curious about what it was.
-Negative. That is not possible.
However, Chutun’s answer was different from what I had expected.
“Why?”
-The Princess is still not qualified.
Even when I asked further about the reason I could not accept, Chutun only repeated that I was not qualified.
I wondered why I needed qualifications when I was already a Princess, then soon nodded.
“Is it because Mana Erosion is that dangerous?”
-Question. Why do you think so?
“Because a Princess might give up if they learn the details?”
I had felt it from before. Seeing that the Princess Two Generations Before had created this, and that the Previous Princess who received the inheritance had also failed, Mana Erosion could not be an ordinary problem.
The fact that the items had been left in the Fifth Space was the same.
“You do not explain it easily because a Princess might give up and sell all the items inside for the pleasures of their remaining time, right?”
-……I cannot answer that.
Even if there had been no answer, I would have thought so, but the slightly delayed response gave me certainty.
I was still curious about Erosion, but it did not matter. I would learn someday.
“So there is nothing you can tell me?”
-Negative. A direct explanation of Erosion is impossible for now, but that is not true of everything else. My purpose is the Princess’s growth. I can offer advice for that.
“Good. Then what should I do?”
-Before I advise you, could you show me the current Princess’s Status Window? I need to confirm your exact level.
Without hesitation, I opened my Status Window.
[Lv. 18 Princess (Void Lord), Han Hye]
Strength : 25
Agility : 25
Stamina : 25
Mental : 20
Mana : 35(+10)
Spare Points : 10
Skills : Subspace (S-Grade) Lv. 2, Leap (A-Grade) Lv. 1, Fire Resistance (A-Grade) Lv. 2, Fighting Rooster (C-Grade) Lv. 2, Basic Swordsmanship of the Svinhood Empire (E-Grade) Lv. 4, Cold Resistance (E-Grade) Lv. 1, *Wind Cleave (Lv. 1)
And when Chutun checked my Status Window…….
-What is this…….
It could not hide its astonishment.
-I cannot believe this is a level 18 Status Window. What Gates has the current Princess been clearing?
“Hmm. Is it that remarkable?”
-This is not a time to be so indifferent. Your stat-equivalent level is close to the early thirties.
Neither the Previous Princess nor the Princess Two Generations Before showed such growth.
The fact that I could sense surprise in a mechanical voice showed just how exceptional my growth rate was.
-Of course, the Princess Two Generations Before created me at level 70, and the Previous Princess met me at level 50, but their Strength and Agility then were…….
I had realized something earlier.
This Intelligent Magical Life-Form named Chutun had a tendency to speak at great length.
“Wait. That is enough.”
I did not particularly want to know the detailed stats of the Princess Two Generations Before or the Previous Princess. Nor did I need to know.
It was enough to know that I was better.
“So, what do I need to do to grow?”
-Judging by your current growth trend, I think it might be better if I do not advise you…….
Because I could feel Chutun’s sincerity in its words, I hurriedly waved both hands.
“No, you should still tell me.”
After a brief silence, Chutun continued.
-First, before I speak, I must tell you that my method may cause the current Princess more harm. The reason is that the current Princess’s growth is greater than that of the Princesses I served…….
“Wait.”
-Why?
It seemed I would be with this bastard for a long time, and if it stayed like this, the frustration would drive me crazy.
“First, there are a few things to correct. Change the way you speak, and let us sort out how we address each other.”
-Question. Is there a reason to change my manner of speaking and forms of address? First, it does not help the Princess’s growth, and changing forms of address is completely meaningless…….
Listening to it, I felt another sigh coming on.
“No. It has meaning.”
-Yes?
“You need to speak concisely. I have a disease that makes me weak when I listen to long speeches.”
-Really?
“It is not that you cannot change your speaking style or forms of address, right?”
-That is not the case. The Princess Two Generations Before only required qualifications regarding Mana Erosion; in other matters, I was designed to assist the Princess…….
“Please.”
-Ah, concisely. I apologize.
I let out a small sigh. Perhaps because it was an intelligent life-form, it seemed it would take time to correct.
“Right. So please speak as concisely as possible. And call me Han Hye instead of Princess.”
-Yes, Han Hye.
After thinking for a moment, I continued.
“And your name is Chunbae from now on.”
-……?
Chutun. It could not help having a name from another world, but it did not quite sound right when called.
On the other hand, Chunbae. What a warm, familiar name.
“Chunbae. Say it again, short and concise. What should I do, and how, to become stronger faster?”
I waited for an answer eagerly. Chunbae had already spent time with two Princesses before me.
It said that the Princess Two Generations Before had created it at level 70. That meant Chunbae had experienced something beyond that.
Earth’s current highest level had not reached 60.
In other words, it would not be wrong to call Chunbae a living Gate guidebook.