I Just Subscribed and It’s the Best Hunter of All Time - Chapter 101
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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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#Chapter 101.
Receiving the Core.
I had done this once before.
When Cheon-ung came under my command, he had offered me his Core.
However, this situation was far more complicated than it had been back then.
“First, we need to go to the opponent’s Territory and properly recover the Core. And during that process, we’ll need to decide how to manage the Territory itself.”
“Hmm. That makes sense.”
Jung Han-sung discussed the matter with Baek-seol.
“Even if we account for the people, it would be impossible to relocate the buildings as well.”
“Exactly. And we also can’t take the resources surrounding that Territory.”
Even if I obtained complete rights to the Territory, it was naturally impossible to transfer all its facilities and resources here like in a game.
What I could bring over were only the already-harvested resources, stored Mana Stones, and the people who had already signed contracts and were residing there.
“If it’s a place with enough potential to serve as a Territory, someone else might establish themselves there later.”
“That’s true.”
Once I recovered the Core, that place would become empty land again. So it wasn’t impossible for a new person to establish themselves there.
“Hmm….”
“To completely take over everything from the opponent, it would be best to use it as a secondary base.”
Baek-seol, noticing my contemplation, presented another option.
“A secondary base? That sounds like the option I considered when I absorbed Cheon-ung’s Core.”
“Exactly. While some functions are limited, you can think of it as having a new Territory outside.”
“Does the Territory’s range remain intact?”
“Yes.”
Baek-seol went on to explain the limited functions in greater detail.
First, a secondary base cannot appoint a new subordinate ruler. And it’s impossible to create another secondary base from within a secondary base itself.
There are also several facilities that cannot be constructed.
But considering all these limitations, there was nothing particularly disadvantageous about it.
‘Since I can continue using the existing facilities and resources as they are.’
However, there was one thing that bothered me.
“The problem is how to manage that place.”
Since it would be a legitimate base, someone would need to take responsibility for its management. Currently, I only have Baek-seol and Cheon-ung under my command.
And both of them are already overwhelmed just managing the current Territory.
It wasn’t because their abilities were lacking, but because my Territory was developing at such a rapid pace.
Baek-seol asked me a question as I contemplated further.
“Would using a prisoner be out of the question?”
She was suggesting whether I might use Bargenthor, the former owner of the existing Territory.
To that, I shook my head.
“That’s not an option. I have no intention of accepting just anyone into my ranks.”
If I were willing to accept anyone to solve the manpower issue, I would have already done so.
I could simply mention it to the Association, and they would introduce me to plenty of high-caliber talents.
Cheon-ung had performed missions alongside me, and in many ways, I could trust him with sensitive matters.
I recruited Maria after determining she was trustworthy in several respects.
But Bargenthor accepted the Evil God’s proposal and attacked the Territory, and he’s from an entirely different dimension on top of that.
There’s no element of trust whatsoever.
“Still, there is someone who will be joining us soon.”
“Someone who will be joining?”
“Yes. Maria.”
Originally, I had planned to assign Maria to help manage this Territory’s affairs as soon as she was recruited, but…
I thought it might not be a bad idea to have her manage a new outpost instead.
Of course, there aren’t zero problems with this.
‘The issue is that I don’t know what floor she’s reached now.’
She hasn’t reached Floor 40 yet. I suspect she’ll reach it soon, but it’s awkward to leave the auxiliary outpost empty until then.
“Wouldn’t that be fine?”
At that moment, Baek-seol, having heard my thoughts, spoke up.
“Why not just send Cheon-ung to manage it for now, and then switch over once this Maria person arrives?”
“Ah, that could work?”
“Yes! I was managing the Territory alone anyway. From what you’ve said, she’s coming soon regardless, right?”
“That’s true.”
I thought Maria could easily reach Floor 40 within two weeks at the latest.
She might even reach it faster.
Baek-seol nodded upon hearing this.
“That’s no problem at all!”
“Then it’s decided.”
“Yes!”
Thus, instead of reclaiming Bargenthor’s Territory entirely, we decided to use it as an auxiliary outpost.
“How do we establish it as an auxiliary outpost?”
“First, you’ll need to go there directly and seize the core!”
“Seize it?”
“Yes. You just go and touch it directly with your hand.”
“Do I need to bring the prisoner along?”
“Hmm, no! I’ve already prepared the contract, so you can just show it to them when you go.”
“Then I’ll go alone and come back quickly.”
I felt more comfortable going alone and returning swiftly rather than bringing someone else along unnecessarily.
Baek-seol was worried for a moment, but trusting my abilities, she soon nodded and sent me off.
“Then, I’ll go and return right away.”
“Yes! Safe travels!”
As the saying goes, I left the Village immediately while the iron was hot.
As I crossed the Territory after leaving the Village, Onyx suddenly poked his head out and spoke.
―Truly swift and decisive.
“Hmm?”
―Subduing an enemy and absorbing the Territory. All finished in just a few hours, wasn’t it?
“Hmm. I suppose the early stages would naturally feel like this?”
―Is that so?
“Yeah. In the beginning, a Territory is basically just a Village at best. It’s far removed from what a real war would feel like.”
Both Jung Han-sung and Bargenthor had undead forces, so their numbers were quite substantial, but realistically, other Territories would struggle to field more than thirty troops.
“That’s why they say there are two paths in the early stages. Either hunker down and build strength, or aggressively conquer other Territories.”
―Since troop numbers are roughly equivalent in the early stages anyway?
“Right.”
―Then shouldn’t the Master be conquering other Territories as well? Honestly, I’d say you could take down most Territories single-handedly without much trouble.
Jung Han-sung answered Onyx’s comment simply.
“That’s one approach, but… personally, I’m not ready to become obsessed with Territory expansion yet.”
―Obsessed with Territory expansion?
“Yeah. If I keep focusing on the Territory, I’m afraid I’ll start treating it as more important than climbing The Tower.”
I’d grown more attached to the Territory than I initially expected, but my ultimate goal remained unchanged from before.
To grow stronger, to climb higher. And to see with my own eyes what awaits at the summit of The Tower.
―I see.
Onyx flicked his tongue—*slick, slick*—before speaking.
―That does sound like the Master, though.
Jung Han-sung smirked at those words.
“Exactly. So let’s finish this quickly and head back.”
With that, Jung Han-sung accelerated his pace.
Bargenthor’s Territory lay approximately four hours away on foot for an ordinary person.
But it took Jung Han-sung only fifteen minutes to arrive.
“Phew. That’s not too far at all.”
―Isn’t that just by the Master’s standards?
“Even by normal standards, four hours on foot isn’t that far. You could make the round trip in a day with time to spare.”
―Hmm, I suppose you have a point.
As Jung Han-sung conversed with Onyx, I observed the Village ahead.
Compared to the Village in my Territory, it was quite small. Even the palisade looked shabby.
That wasn’t unusual.
My Territory was simply growing at an abnormally rapid pace.
Bargenthor’s Village wasn’t significantly behind other Territories that had started around the same time.
“Well then, shall we take a look inside?”
Jung Han-sung drew up mana and lightly kicked off the ground.
His body shot upward, and the entire Village spread out beneath his feet.
Buildings were scattered sparsely throughout, and people moved about in reasonable numbers.
*Whoooosh!*
Soon Jung Han-sung’s body descended, landing directly in the center of the Village.
*Boom!*
The impact of the landing immediately drew everyone’s attention.
“W-who are you?!”
One of them cried out in astonishment—a remarkably brave individual.
Seeing Jung Han-sung vault over the fence with his bare hands was no small feat.
He faced the brave man and spoke.
“I’ve come to take over this Territory.”
Confusion deepened across the faces of the gathered people.
But when he displayed the contract, they offered no resistance and withdrew.
After that, everything proceeded without a hitch.
All I needed to do was place my hand on the Core, just as Baek-seol had instructed.
I examined a few details and returned promptly.
“Master! I’ve verified it—it’s even better than expected!”
Upon my return, Baek-seol greeted me with those words.
“Hmm? What are you basing that on?”
“Ah, the moment you merged it, information appeared here as well! So I looked it over right away!”
“Is that so? Interesting. I did a cursory inspection myself, but did you notice anything remarkable?”
“Yes! There’s quite fertile farmland on one side of the Territory, and it borders a River, which is excellent. But most notably, there’s a unique terrain formation!”
“A rare terrain? Are you referring to the Mana Spring?”
“Exactly!”
Baek-seol nodded and continued.
“A Mana Spring is a spring with exceptionally dense mana concentration. They typically generate many unique resources and facilitate easy contact with the spirit realm!”
From what I heard, a Mana Spring, while not quite as valuable as a mana stone mine, was indeed a rare and highly valuable terrain feature.
“Beyond that, the facilities and residents appear to have been managed quite well.”
“That’s what it looked like to me too. Should I send Cheon-ung right away?”
“Before you do, there are a few matters I need to brief you on, so I’ll send him after that!”
“Understood. Do it that way then.”
I nodded and spoke.
“Then I’ll conduct a bit more interrogation. Is there anything else you need help with?”
“No, nothing urgent!”
“Then I’ll finish the interrogation and head to The Tower.”
“Yes, sir!”
Though the Territory war had only recently concluded, there was no need to linger much longer.
Combat casualties were minimal, and all urgent matters had been resolved.
I headed back to where the prisoners were held to wrap up the remaining tasks.
The interrogation proved straightforward.
Bargenthor, the prisoner, cooperated fully.
Having already suffered complete defeat and signed a contract, with everything already agreed upon, there was no reason for him to refuse cooperation during questioning.
And truthfully, I didn’t have that many questions for him either.
Regarding the most critical matter—the Evil God—what I’d learned during my initial inquiry was essentially all there was to know.
“So on that continent, there are two kingdoms and one empire.”
“And two duchies as well.”
The interrogation devoted the most time to learning about Bargenthor’s world.
Initially, Jung Han-sung had wondered if Bargenthor might hail from the same dimension as Elion or Hank.
But after interrogating him, that proved not to be the case.
It wasn’t simply a matter of unfamiliarity with that terrain—there was a fundamental difference.
“Our world has no races like elves or dwarves.”
“So you’re saying only humans exist there?”
“That is correct. I encountered these other races for the first time after entering The Tower.”
Bargenthor’s world, much like Earth, was inhabited solely by humans as the only sentient species.
Whether the humans of that world were an identical race to those of Earth remained uncertain, but one thing was clear—it was not the dimension of Hank or Elion.
Yet as the interrogation continued, Jung Han-sung discovered something unexpected.
“I confess, I did not anticipate facing one favored by the gods.”
“Hmm? Favored by the gods?”
“Yes. It is the title attached to you.”
My reputation had spread across dimensions.
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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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