The Spatial Ability User Who Puts Safety Above All Chapter 36

Change (1)

 

The person who benefited the most from the invasion event was, of course, Seon Yul.

He leveled up tremendously and monopolized nearly all the loot… It was such a one-man sweep that you could practically call it not an invasion event, but a ‘Seon Yul event’.

Then who gained the second-most benefit?

That would naturally be Cheon Li Yu.

Because she had helped Seon Yul, who had practically monopolized the event, the most from his side, she was able to receive considerable rewards.

Her level jumped all the way from 4 to 10, and she obtained a substantial amount of magic stones.

Of course, she was the most popular singer in the Republic of Korea, so she lacked nothing materially. The large quantity of magic stones didn’t move her much… but leveling up was different.

With her level rising sharply, her physical abilities naturally improved as well, and she also gained two additional Stigmata Points.

After looking up online how to use them, she even raised her Divine Eye ability to level 3.

 

[Divine Eye <SSS> (Level 3)]

[You, who can pierce through all things in the world. Not only can you see distant things as if they were near, but you can also see what others cannot, and even show it to them. Possessing eyes infinitely close to the truth, what is it that you wish to see?]

[Piercing Sight] You may view any location you desire through your own vision. There is no limit to distance, but the farther it is, the more mana is required to maintain the sight.

[Shared Vision] You may share your vision with another person. However, to share it, you must maintain physical contact with the target and sustain intense mental concentration. When sharing, the mana required to maintain the vision triples.

[Future Foresight <Random>] Regardless of your intentions, glimpses of the future sometimes appear randomly like ‘photographs.’ You currently lack the capability to fully control this ability.

[One Who Looks at the Same Place] You may designate one person to look at the same place as you. The designated individual can share your vision without the need for physical contact. At that time, the mana required to maintain your sight does not increase. However, you cannot change the designated individual. You may, however, remove the designation itself.

 

There was one change that came with leveling up.

A new menu option had appeared, ‘One Who Looks at the Same Place,’ which hadn’t existed before.

In addition, upon reaching level 10, she received a level bonus called ‘Target Designation.’

Cheon Li Yu, still unfamiliar with such abilities, chose to do nothing for now and simply stay still. She wasn’t yet accustomed to living as a mana user… so it was inevitable.

But that didn’t mean she was the same as before.

Though small, she made efforts toward change. And one proof of that change was the live televised debate she appeared on today.

Ordinarily, she would have declined the guest invitation to LBC’s ‘100-Minute Debate’ without hesitation. But this time, Cheon Li Yu told her company she wanted to appear…no, that she had to.

And so now, Cheon Li Yu was sitting in the studio of LBC’s ‘100-Minute Debate’, which was being broadcast live.

 

***

 

“If the government and the Management Bureau had developed weapons capable of penetrating mana barriers earlier, we wouldn’t have suffered this kind of damage. What exactly does the Bureau even do? I understand it spends more tax money than any other government agency in the Republic of Korea… are they not completely incompetent?”

The one speaking passionately wasn’t quite an extremist terrorist, but he was the chairman of the True Humanity Human Rights Committee, an organization that represented the so-called ‘Old Blood.’

“Currently, there is no nation in the world that has developed a weapon capable of penetrating a mana barrier.”

The man refuting the chairman was Cha Seong Hyeon, a professor who taught magi-engineering at the Republic of Korea’s top university and a high-ranking official in the Gate Management Bureau.

The hemispherical mana barrier that exists at the site where a gate forms.

Though each varies in width and height, they share one common trait: no existing weapon can penetrate them.

Even nuclear bombs… the last weapon of humanity, failed to break through.

In fact, the reason the Republic of Korea could not completely devastate the northern dungeon region using their stockpiled field artillery was precisely that most of that northern region was covered in mana barriers.

At least for now, there was no method of attacking the inside from the outside by breaching a mana barrier.

“I’ve heard the Bureau is conducting a secret project. When will that finally be disclosed?”

“I don’t know what you’re referring to.”

Cha Seong Hyeon played ignorantly. It was best not to give any attention to bait regarding Project R.

“Then let me change the question. What do you think caused this invasion event?”

“There is no cause. Since the very first gate formed, there have been numerous studies, but no clear standard or reason for gate creation has ever been identified.”

“What are you talking about? There is a reason. Mana’s gravitational pull! Mana attracts mana, and that’s what causes gates to form.”

“That is not a reason but merely a hypothesis. And even if that hypothesis were true, it still does not constitute a reason for gate formation.”

“The academic community already acknowledges mana attraction. It’s been proven multiple times that large concentrations of mana draw in larger ones. Therefore, the reason this invasion event occurred is because of that.”

The chairman’s voice steadily grew louder.

He seemed determined to imprint upon the public how terrifying mana was, raising the intensity of his rhetoric as he went.

“So what are you suggesting? That because mana attraction is frightening we should exile all mana users from the country? Attraction or not, this world has already entered the age of mana civilization. And now you’re dreaming of a world without mana? Even a passing orc would laugh at that.”

Seong Hyeon found the chairman pathetic for repeating such generalities.

Humanity was already in a position where it could not abandon mana, yet foolish Old Blood followers insisted that if mana disappeared, gates would too.

By that logic, it was already contradictory that gates had appeared on Earth when there had been no mana at all… but they refused to acknowledge that.

“What did you say? Would an orc laugh? Are you joking? You’re a mana user, aren’t you? That’s why you’re talking like this. And someone like you… No, AbsoluteSafetyFirst? Why aren’t you saying that this invasion event was caused by that mana user?!”

The chairman suddenly lost control.

He said something on air that absolutely shouldn’t have been said.

“Chairman, please calm down. And do not mention specific individuals.”

The host attempted to intervene, but the chairman, as if resolved to charge ahead recklessly, continued.

“You think we don’t have information networks? We know everything. Why are you hiding the fact that the mana user you’re promoting as a super rookie, a new candidate for the Twelve Heavens, could very well be the true culprit behind this disaster?”

“You’re presenting unproven speculation as though it were fact. Do you truly believe that this could happen because of a single mana user? And even if that were so, would that make it the fault of that mana user? On the contrary, that mana user prevented tremendous casualties. Yet you’re portraying that hero like an ancient villain… Be careful. You’re crossing the line.”

Cha Seong Hyeon warned him with a hardened expression.

Only then did the chairman realize he had become too heated.

“Ahem. I apologize for mentioning a specific individual. However, the first raid event that occurred in New York seven years ago was already proven to have been triggered by the proper emergence of ‘Captain A,’ currently ranked number one among American mana users…”

“That has never been proven. Please stop presenting unverified claims as proven facts.”

“I believe it has been sufficiently proven. That’s why I think a similar inference can be made regarding this invasion event. I’m not spouting baseless delusions or slander!”

“The logical foundation itself is flawed…”

Cha Seong Hyeon began to speak in frustration…

But suddenly, another voice cut in.

“Did you see it?”

The one who spoke was someone who had been sitting quietly among the guest seats.

Cheon Li Yu.

“Did you see what happened inside during the invasion event?”

Looking straight at the chairman, she spoke clearly and deliberately.

At her sudden intervention, not only the PD but even the host wore stunned expressions.

Cheon Li Yu had essentially been invited as a figurehead.

Her role had merely been to lighten the mood occasionally with mild comments.

Yet she had slammed the gear straight into full acceleration.

“What? Because mana attracts mana, a specific mana user caused this chaos? Then what were you doing when this chaos broke out?”

“M-Ms. Cheon Li Yu…”

The chairman faltered.

“When buildings were collapsing, people were dying, and monsters were rampaging… what were you people doing?! Regardless of the cause, the ones who risked their lives to clean up that chaos were mana users, especially the one you just mentioned!!!”

Anyone could see that Cheon Li Yu was furious.

And she showed no intention of hitting the brakes.

“Cut it out! Even if you can’t say thank you, at least don’t behave like rabid dogs tearing someone apart. Damn it, shi…!”

She forcibly swallowed the curse that nearly slipped out and stood up, walking out of the studio.

No one stopped her.

If they had, it might have caused a true broadcast disaster.

Thus, Cheon Li Yu shattered the carefully fabricated image she had built over the years and showed viewers live nationwide what the real, human Cheon Li Yu was like.

 

***

 

“Wow~ She really went straight for it.”

Seon Yul was watching the live broadcast in real time.

He laughed loudly as Cheon Li Yu floored the accelerator and walked out of the studio.

‘But she has a broadcast image to maintain… Is that really okay?’

Though grateful that she had said everything he wanted to say, he also worried about the celebrity Cheon Li Yu.

Naturally, her outburst became a huge topic online.

Public reaction was sharply divided.

Some were disappointed to see a different side of Cheon Li Yu, while others liked seeing her human side. The two sides were currently battling all over the internet.

But Cheon Li Yu herself paid no attention to the reactions. She even stopped her agency from responding to the press.

She intended to change her life now.

And she judged that showing her fans her true self was the right way.

Cheon Li Yu had begun her change.

But she wasn’t the only one.

Seon Yul, too… was attempting another change.

 

***

 

Seon Yul originally planned to expand by only 10 pyeong, but changed his mind and expanded by 20 pyeong instead.

It cost a full 20 kg of intermediate magic stones, but he didn’t regret it, thinking of it as an investment.

The reason he expanded Absolute Space to 70 pyeong was for the sake of change.

More precisely, a structural change.

After experiencing numerous battles, he felt the combat zone of Absolute Space needed modifications. Once he increased the size, he immediately began restructuring.

Since he had already decided how to redesign it in his head, he simply imagined the new structure… and Absolute Space transformed accordingly.

First, he left the residential area as it was, a 12-pyeong layout.

What he intended to change was the remaining 58 pyeong.

He divided the 58 pyeong into three sections.

12 pyeong. 12 pyeong. 34 pyeong.

He then shaped the two 12-pyeong spaces into narrow but elongated layouts similar to the previous combat space. In one, he placed sniper rifles such as the Barrett and M82A1 Griffin; in the other, he installed Gatling guns such as the Minigun and GAU-19.

Thus, he created two shooting zones.

The remaining 34 pyeong was shaped into a slightly wider rectangular structure.

This was the common combat area.

The reason Seon Yul separated the combat zones like this was to use his subspace abilities more easily in battle. Additionally, since he didn’t know what creative combat methods he might come up with in the future, he created a common combat area for experimentation.

Since he could now open three entrances anyway, he could assign one to each.

He named them Combat Zone A, Combat Zone B, and Combat Zone C.

Zone A was the common area.

Zone B, the sniper rifle area.

Zone C: the Gatling gun area.

“Perfect.”

He paid 5 kg of intermediate magic stones for the restructuring, but he didn’t mind. He liked the result.

Though he didn’t own a house in Seoul, he possessed a far better private 70-pyeong space than anything in Seoul.

He was truly… the owner of a single, perfectly efficient home.

No…

the owner of a space.