I Just Subscribed and It’s the Best Hunter of All Time - Chapter 109
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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 109.
The path to the Ruins was silent.
The surroundings lay perfectly still, devoid of even a whisper of wind, and not a single creature—bird, beast, or insect—was visible.
Only the heavy footfalls of Jung Han-sung and his undead echoed through the air.
“Stop.”
Jung Han-sung came to a halt at the entrance of the Ruins.
Well, calling it an entrance was generous—there was no proper gate or anything of the sort.
Buildings simply stretched out in a line from where I now stood.
―It doesn’t feel like an ordinary village or city.
“You’re right.”
Jung Han-sung nodded at Onyx’s observation while examining the ruins more closely.
The structures visible from the hill seemed to carry religious significance rather than having been used for habitation or practical purposes.
I first examined the nearest building.
It was composed of thick pillars and a roof, and upon closer inspection, I could see intricate patterns carved into the pillars.
‘Something about this feels familiar.’
Puzzled by the familiarity emanating from patterns that should have felt alien, I furrowed my brow before my gaze shifted to the ancient document in my hand.
Typically, the keys to Hidden Floors vanish once you enter, but this one remained intact.
Only after examining the document did I understand why the pillar’s patterns felt so familiar.
“The feeling is similar.”
The ancient document was covered in various characters and patterns, and their essence matched the carvings on the pillar precisely.
When I thought about it, it wasn’t particularly strange.
The fact that the document served as a key meant it was inherently connected to this space.
I carefully unfolded the ancient document, which looked as though it might crumble at any moment, and scanned through it again.
―That pattern there. Doesn’t it resemble the one in the center of the pillar?
At that moment, Onyx pointed with his tongue at one section of the document and asked.
Upon checking, it was indeed so—the exact same pattern was carved there.
Jung Han-sung pondered briefly before speaking.
“The fact that it didn’t disappear even after we entered, combined with everything else, suggests this document might be the key to understanding the structure and nature of the Ruins.”
―That does seem quite plausible.
“Hmm.”
After a moment of consideration, I approached the pillar I’d been studying and placed my hand upon it.
The Shadowless Divine Thief’s senses suggested there was something within this pillar.
Whooom—
The moment my hand made contact, a subtle vibration rippled through, and faint magical energy became perceptible. I closed my eyes and concentrated on that delicate aura.
For a moment.
“Hmm… This feels… strangely familiar?”
―Familiar?
“Precisely… it feels similar to when I manifest necromancy.”
Jung Han-sung’s brow furrowed.
Why would traces of necromancy emanate from a pillar in a structure that resembled a temple?
“Hmm.”
After a moment of contemplation, I examined the other pillars in sequence before moving deeper into the structure.
Meanwhile, I studied the ancient document with keen attention.
When I first saw it, the contents were utterly incomprehensible, yet strangely now I felt as though I could understand what it meant.
‘Perhaps it’s because I’ve learned about necromancy.’
After that, I continued to move between the pillars, carefully observing every distinctive pattern that caught my eye.
One thing was certain—the patterns carved into both the ancient document and the pillars were related to necromancy.
However, they weren’t perfectly identical.
‘Rather than summoning undead and such, this feels far more fundamental.’
For instance, death itself, or perhaps the method of manipulating the aura of death.
As I gained this understanding, comparing the patterns on the pillars and the ancient document revealed something else entirely.
―Are you deciphering it?
“Not yet. But… I’m beginning to see the flow.”
The unfamiliar characters and patterns gradually began to connect, forming a coherent stream of meaning.
How long had I been walking?
―We’ve arrived.
I finally reached the Altar at the center of the Ruins.
The scale of it was immense.
“I think I’ve seen something similar in a documentary once.”
―A documentary?
“Yeah. It was about Aztec civilization, I think…”
As I answered, I gazed up at the entire Altar.
The Altar had a Staircase leading upward, and at its end was an entrance of sorts leading inward.
Since there was nothing else of note in this Ruins, I began to ascend the Staircase.
The Altar appeared to have been abandoned for a long time, but it was constructed of solid stone and seemed sturdier than expected.
One step, then another.
I climbed cautiously without lowering my guard, yet nothing unusual occurred until I reached the top.
―An entrance.
Before me at the top of the Staircase lay an entrance leading into the interior of the Altar.
Though dark inside, it was still visible, and there was another Staircase descending further down.
―I climbed up following a Staircase, only to find another one leading down. Why not just place the entrance at the bottom in the first place?
“I was thinking the exact same thing.”
This felt like some kind of pointless trial.
Despite such thoughts, I carefully passed through the entrance and ventured inside.
The descent down the Staircase proceeded smoothly. There were no traps or obstacles—just a straight path downward.
However, upon reaching the bottom of the Staircase, something blocked my path.
―A door.
“Indeed. It looks quite sturdy.”
At first glance, it was an exceptionally thick and robust door.
Like the pillars I’d seen on the way here, this door too bore intricate patterns carved into its surface.
Jung Han-sung tapped the door with the sword in his hand, then placed his palm against it directly before shaking his head and speaking.
“I can’t break through by force.”
―Is it too sturdy?
“That’s not the issue.”
It was sturdy, certainly, but not so much that raw strength couldn’t breach it.
“If I force my way through, all the traps inside will activate simultaneously.”
―Traps?
“Yes. The structure is designed so that a signal spreads throughout the entire Altar from this door as the trigger point.”
I wasn’t the type to avoid an approaching battle, but I also preferred not to invite danger upon myself unnecessarily.
―Then how are we supposed to get through?
At Onyx’s words, I stroked my chin again. His questions could feel bothersome at times, but in situations like this, they helped me organize my thoughts.
As I thought to answer his question, something came to mind.
“The answer must be in the ancient document.”
The moment those words left my lips, my conviction deepened.
This ancient document wouldn’t have remained here without reason. And now was precisely the moment when I needed a hint.
I unfolded the ancient document again.
I still couldn’t interpret it perfectly, but I had already sensed a certain flow within it.
If I couldn’t find the method, I was prepared to use my Insight ability, but something told me otherwise.
The feeling that sufficient hints had already been given, and I only needed to find the answer.
“Let me see.”
I moved close to the door and alternated my gaze between the ancient document and the door itself.
About twenty minutes passed in this manner.
“Ah.”
I suddenly lifted my head and looked at a specific point on the door. Then I placed my hand there and focused my consciousness.
Uuuuuung―.
The mana within my body moved of its own accord and began to be drawn into the door.
I didn’t resist that flow.
Instead, I actively moved my mana and pushed it into the door.
The door began to respond as it accepted the mana.
The faintly glowing patterns gradually brightened, and soon that light spread across the entire door like veins following the patterns.
At the same time, I was able to decipher the first passage of the ancient document.
‘The door of the dead’s soul opens upon receiving the breath of the living.’
It was awkward, like a barely competent translation of a foreign language, but the meaning was clear.
My eyes continued to scan the ancient document.
‘Follow the death aura, yet do not consume it. Understand death, yet do not belong to it.’
Such passages repeated throughout the entire document multiple times, as if emphasizing the most crucial content.
I closed my eyes for a moment and repeated that sentence to myself several times before unconsciously beginning to unfold my Necromancy.
Then death aura flowed from the undead standing around me, traveled through my body, and began to be drawn into the door.
That process was far from pleasant.
It felt as though frozen water was flowing through my body.
It was an unpleasant, spine-chilling sensation, but I didn’t forcibly push it away.
I simply accepted it gently and pressed it toward the door.
Then, at some point.
Uuuuuuung—!
The door blazed brighter than before and vibrated, then a sharp thunk echoed from within.
It sounded like chains snapping, or perhaps an ancient seal breaking.
Grrrrng—.
Simultaneously, the pattern at the center of the door cracked, and it began opening to both sides.
“Phew.”
Only after witnessing that did I withdraw my hand from the door and pull back my mana.
Of course, I didn’t let my guard down.
I’d only just opened the entrance. The real conquest hadn’t even begun yet.
I peered inward with sharp eyes.
Beyond the door lay a thick Darkness. It was no ordinary darkness.
It felt like a viscous, dense Darkness that pooled and stagnated, unable to flow outward.
Simultaneously, I sensed a potent malevolence.
I took a short breath to steady myself, then slowly stepped inside.
The undead naturally followed in my wake and surrounded the area.
The Darkness filling the space instilled an instinctive revulsion in the living.
Yet on the other hand, there was a positive aspect for me as a Necromancer Commander and my undead.
Within that Darkness, I felt the presence of my undead become even more distinct, and my connection with them grew considerably stronger.
―This place seems designed for the dead, not the living.
“That’s right. And….”
I slowly raised my sword.
I hadn’t noticed it while beyond the door, but now that I’d stepped inside, I could sense it.
The lingering thoughts emanating from all around.
Click, click—.
And almost the moment I sensed it, sounds of something opening came from all directions.
I looked around.
Something was crawling out in abundance from the crevices in the walls on both sides.
‘Undead?’
At first, I simply thought they were undead. But something felt off.
‘There’s something fundamentally different about them.’
I’d felt this even when I first made contact with the pillar.
They felt familiar because they resembled the necromancy I’d learned, yet I sensed they weren’t quite the same.
These creatures were similar to undead yet not entirely identical.
―Grrrrr.
―Gaaaah.
Regardless, my task was clear: eliminate those displaying hostility.
Onyx spoke in a puzzled voice.
―Didn’t you say we’d be fine if we passed through the door normally?
“This is what happens when we pass through normally. If we hadn’t, dozens of times more would have swarmed us.”
―Quite the hospitable welcome they’ve prepared.
At Onyx’s remark, Jung Han-sung let out a soft chuckle, then raised his sword and issued commands to his undead minions.
“Eliminate them all. Make sure they never rise again.”
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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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