I Just Subscribed and It’s the Best Hunter of All Time - Chapter 24

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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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#Episode 24.
Again, there was no response.
At that, I strode purposefully toward the Altar, recalling how it had reacted the moment I first touched it.
Then I raised my sword.
If there was still no response, I planned to simply smash everything around me and search for anything worth taking.
Just as I was about to swing the blade―
―Stop….
At the urgent voice that rang out, I hesitated.
Then, tilting my head, I spoke toward the empty air.
“Stop? Are you ordering me?”
―…Please, stop.
At that response, my lips curved upward without my realizing it, and I asked.
“Why the sudden change in tone? Have you run out of means to attack?”
―That is not the case….
“Then what?”
―I merely believe it would be futile against a monster such as yourself….
Roundabout as the phrasing was, it amounted to a declaration of surrender.
I thought it gave up rather quickly for something that had put up such resistance, but that was admittedly a self-centered assessment.
For the entity, it was truly like a bolt from the blue.
―How is it that a monster like yourself has descended to this abyss? You must have expended tremendous karma…. Yet there is little to be gained here.
Clearly, it did not believe for a moment that I was merely a climber who had just reached Floor 25.
Rather than correct such a misunderstanding, I posed a different question.
“Enough questions. So if I simply withdraw, what can you offer me?”
―….
It fell silent for a long while before finally speaking.
―I am an existence already fallen to ruin. There is little of value I possess….
“I see. Understood.”
I raised my sword again.
I had continued this exchange only to see if there was anything more to extract.
If there was nothing, there was no reason to prolong the conversation.
―But it is not entirely absent.
Reading the atmosphere, it hastily continued.
―If you examine the floor where this Altar stood carefully, you will find an armor. It was originally a sacred relic. Though it has lost much of its power with my decline, it should still prove quite useful.
“And?”
―And….
It desperately racked its mind.
In truth, under normal circumstances, even a fallen being would have no reason to grovel so pathetically if it had once possessed divinity.
But this situation was an exception.
The problem lay in the lightning of Indra that dwelt within my sword.
It was power directly bestowed by a transcendent being of formidable divinity, and simultaneously the very symbol of that existence’s authority.
I wielded a power that was utterly catastrophic to a being already fallen into ruin.
A situation where his very existence might be annihilated.
―…If I look carefully, there might be some offerings left behind by the old worshippers.
After deliberating for a long while, he spoke in an uncertain voice.
At that, I smiled and raised the blade once more.
“Yes. You’ve gone through the trouble of remembering. Now rest well.”
―Wait!
Instinctively sensing that I would swing the sword without hesitation, he cried out again.
But I didn’t even respond this time.
I had realized there was nothing more to extract from him.
At that, he uttered words he would never have spoken aloud in the past.
―I shall serve you as your servant for all my days!
While I had been ignoring most of what he said and preparing to swing the blade, I couldn’t simply let that pass.
“A servant?”
―Yes! I shall become your vassal!
“Even though you once held divinity itself before your fall, you would become the servant of a mortal like me?”
At my sharp question, he fell silent for a moment. Each word struck precisely at his wounds.
Yet he could not deny it.
―…Yes.
“Why?”
―If my purpose had been to preserve my pride, I would never have persisted in this fallen and withered state…. In the end, one must survive to have any hope of a future.
“I see.”
I nodded at those words.
“And?”
―You are merely mortal after all. No matter how long you live, it will be at most a few centuries. For me, that is an extraordinarily brief span of time.
“That’s persuasive.”
Had he hedged his words or offered some flimsy excuse, I truly would have swung the blade without further conversation.
But hearing it now, his answer was more honest and reasonable than I expected.
Still, accepting it was another matter entirely.
Beyond whether I could trust him, what mattered more was whether he would be useful.
I asked him directly about it.
“So what can you do?”
―For now, if I leave this space, my power weakens considerably and my abilities are limited. But I can still use a few things.
“Show me.”
The initiative had already completely shifted to me.
Without further words, he used his ability.
Then, from the black liquid still pooling on the ground, humanoid forms suddenly emerged.
They were the ones I had faced before.
“You can use this outside as well?”
―Somewhat weaker than this.
“To what extent?”
―…This much.
The humanoid form gradually shrank in size before its shape finally stabilized below Han-seong’s shin.
Han-seong gazed down at it for a moment, then lifted his head again, his eyes brimming with skepticism.
―It won’t be of great help in combat for now, but it will be useful for reconnaissance. And once I recover my strength, I could summon something even stronger than the soldiers you faced.
“Recovering strength isn’t exactly easy, is it?”
―…Once I recover even a little strength, other useful abilities will emerge as well.
“Hmm.”
Han-seong pondered while holding the sword.
At least, I already knew what a familiar contract was from the internet.
While familiar contracts themselves weren’t common, there were already Hunters who had attempted and succeeded at them.
A familiar bound by contract could not harm its contractor in any way, and the relationship was entirely one-sided.
Because of this, binding a higher existence as a familiar was impossible, and typically only creatures like rats, bats, or birds were made into familiars.
Conversely, this meant that with the target’s consent, even a higher existence could become a familiar.
After a long deliberation, Han-seong finally spoke.
“Fine. I’ll do it.”
―Really?!
“Yes. No need to drag this out—let’s proceed immediately. Draw the familiar contract magic circle. Be careful, or I’ll swing my blade at you without hesitation.”
―Ah, understood!
The moment permission was granted, the entity drew the familiar contract magic circle.
Han-seong watched while holding his sword. It wasn’t over until it was truly over.
That existence, which had been waiting until the very last moment for Han-seong to let his guard down, trembled at such thoroughness as it completed the magic circle.
And then it stepped into the magic circle.
Whoosh―!
Immediately after, brilliant light spread from the magic circle, and from its edges, it began to stain black.
Han-seong stood still, waiting for the magic circle to be completely dyed.
After a moment of waiting, when the magic circle had turned completely black.
Shhhhh―.
The magic circle crumbled to dust and was drawn into Han-seong’s body.
Only then could I sense the existence connected to me.
A message appeared at that very moment.
[‘Subjugating a being that once possessed divinity as a familiar (Gold)’ — Challenge completed!]
It was a challenge completion message.
“Oh.”
I let out a final exclamation of admiration.
This was also a challenge I had glimpsed in passing. Back then, I thought it was a challenge of a difficulty level I couldn’t even attempt.
‘I cleared this? And I got a Gold Ticket out of it?’
This was truly an unexpected gain.
Just this alone made me feel it was worth coming to this Dungeon.
Satisfied inwardly, I shifted my gaze back to empty space and asked.
“Onyx. Is that your name?”
At my question, a black form materialized in the empty air.
Its shape was… a serpent. A black serpent. Yet unlike an ordinary snake, it bore horns upon its head.
Simultaneously, the scales covering its body bore a striking resemblance to onyx, a variety of gemstone.
Onyx flicked its tongue and answered.
―To be precise, that was my name when I was an imoogi.
“When you were an imoogi?”
―Indeed. I was an imoogi once. I ascended and became a dragon. That’s when I gained divinity.
“I see.”
I nodded in acknowledgment.
“I simply thought you were a snake.”
―Who are you calling a snake?!
Onyx immediately hissed, flicking its tongue in unmistakable anger—the very picture of an enraged serpent.
“Well, that’s what I thought when I first saw you. Anyway, let’s hear the rest of your story gradually. For now, let’s gather some useful items.”
With that, I moved toward the location Onyx had mentioned earlier.
As I carefully examined the underside of the broken Altar, I discovered a small groove.
Click!
Twisting that groove revealed a small compartment beneath.
The armor Onyx had spoken of lay within that very space.
“A breastplate.”
―Indeed. Though it no longer possesses the power it held when it was a sacred relic, it was crafted from my scales and remains a formidable piece of armor in its own right.
“Your scales? From when you were a dragon?”
―Of course. See for yourself.
Onyx spoke with unmistakable confidence.
I reached toward the armor, and as always, its information materialized instantly in my mind.
[Breastplate of the Fallen Deity]
[Grade: Epic (Legendary)]
[Once a sacred relic imbued with divine power, this armor was forgotten alongside the deity’s fall. Currently, much of its power remains sealed.]
[Dragon’s Scales: Grants exceptional elasticity, fire resistance, and acid resistance.]
[Breath of Darkness: Automatically accumulates Dark-attribute energy. Simultaneously grants powerful immunity to Dark-attribute magic and curses.]
[Sealed Trait.]
[Sealed Trait.]
[Sealed Skill.]
[Sealed Skill.]
“…?”
I blinked in astonishment.
The item’s description was nothing short of extraordinary.
‘Epic grade?’
Moreover, beside it was written “Legendary” in parentheses.
In other words, it was originally Legendary grade, but its current classification had been reduced one tier because it could not manifest its full power.
Looking at the description and effects listed below, I could certainly understand why that would be the case.
‘The effects I can confirm right now are already incredible?’
On top of that, there were two sealed traits and two sealed skills each waiting to be unlocked. If all of those were released, it seemed like it would truly be an extraordinary piece of equipment.
“So you really were quite formidable in the past, weren’t you?”
―What an obvious thing to say! Were you actually doubting me?
“Ah, no. Doubt? Nothing like that.”
Han-seong waved his hand dismissively.
Of course, he had been doubting.
Sure, he’d seemed quite dignified in battle, but after seeing him begging “I’ll do anything, just let me live,” the impression had become somewhat… well.
Onyx seemed to read Han-seong’s true thoughts and bristled indignantly.
―Survival itself is strength! If you die, you can accomplish nothing!
“Right, right. I know that too.”
Han-seong gave a casual response while placing the armor into his inventory. After that, he thoroughly searched through the Dungeon.
In the process, Han-seong managed to find several mana stones and a few small gems.
After gathering everything worth taking.
Han-seong exited the Dungeon and returned directly to his Unique Space.
“Master!”
And as always, Baek-seol greeted him with a wagging tail, then spoke with unexpected news.
“We can upgrade the space now! The facilities we can install have expanded significantly!”
“Huh? All of a sudden?”
“Yes!”
Baek-seol nodded vigorously, her head bobbing up and down.
“Your rank has advanced by one level, Master!”

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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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