I Just Subscribed and It’s the Best Hunter of All Time - Chapter 260

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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 260
Under normal circumstances, it would have been shocking news.
Sargon was quite famous.
He was a transcendent who had attained divinity long ago, and he had earned a fearsome reputation through various exploits.
“Well, I kind of figured as much.”
Yet Jung Han-sung remained utterly composed—so much so that his conversation partner seemed taken aback.
“You’re sure about this?”
It seemed they had expected Jung Han-sung to be startled by the revelation.
At that, Jung Han-sung chuckled and replied.
“Yeah. I was actually wondering why that bastard had been so quiet lately.”
Honestly, he’d been thinking that perhaps Sargon was lying low out of embarrassment after investing so much power last time only to be defeated.
But hearing this story, it seemed the man truly intended to settle things once and for all this time.
“If it’s Floor 250, he’ll probably show up in person. Though he’ll likely come with his power restricted.”
“Right, exactly.”
“Then we can really finish this once and for all.”
The trial of Floor 250 could be witnessed by others as well.
If he lost even after appearing in his true form to fight, then Sargon would no longer be able to move against Jung Han-sung so easily.
No—Jung Han-sung had no intention of letting that man leave unscathed anyway.
‘Even if I can’t kill him, I need to make sure he never dares challenge me again.’
Jung Han-sung smiled wickedly at that thought, and the person who had brought him the news clicked their tongue at his boldness before returning to their duties.
And Jung Han-sung resumed his excavation. After all, to meet Sargon on Floor 250, he first had to clear this floor.
So Jung Han-sung continued digging away with renewed determination.
* * *
Another month passed.
By then, Cho Cheon-woong was the first to return to the Territory.
“It’s been a while!”
Baek-seol welcomed Cho Cheon-woong warmly, and he smiled as he replied.
“Yes. It took longer than I expected.”
“Did you gain some insight?”
“Hmm. Rather than gaining insight, I feel like my heart has become lighter. I’d say the path I need to walk has become clear to me.”
Cho Cheon-woong spoke carefully.
He had certainly looked troubled when he left, but now his face was radiant.
As if he had achieved some profound realization.
“I’ve come to accept that I’m simply the type who thrives through raw strength and combat. So from now on, I plan to protect the Territory while continuing to fight and train.”
He had no intention of challenging Layer 199 anytime soon. He’d never expected such a thing to be possible in merely a month anyway.
The realization he had gained was, as he’d told Baek-seol, about which path he should walk.
To continue struggling forward.
And in doing so, the path would naturally open before him.
“Then I look forward to working with you going forward!”
“Haha, yes.”
Thus, Cho Cheon-woong finished his conversation with Baek-seol.
Some time later, Seo Ryeong returned for the second time.
Upon her return, Seo Ryeong spoke with Baek-seol and Cho Cheon-woong, then naturally attended to the accumulated tasks.
Her expression was also far brighter than before, but unlike Cho Cheon-woong, she didn’t seem to have realized anything particularly special.
So Baek-seol casually asked Seo Ryeong a question, and she answered simply.
“Hmm? I just went to properly close the chapter with the people I’ve met.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes. What I needed was to put my heart in order. I’m confident I can challenge Layer 199 whenever I’m ready.”
Seo Ryeong had always possessed her own path. The discord with her teammates and the various hardships had merely caused that path to waver.
The past month was simply about steadying herself once more.
Maria’s case was different—she returned to the Territory only after more than a month and two weeks had passed. Unlike the other two, Maria’s outward appearance had changed considerably.
Whiiiiiii—
Wind swirled ceaselessly around her, and her hair was suffused with a faint emerald glow.
Conversely, the hem of her garments was dyed in shades of blue, and at first glance, the coloration was anything but natural.
“You’ve increased your contracts with the Elementals.”
“Yes, I have.”
When Baek-seol pointed out the change, Maria nodded.
“Now I understand exactly which direction the archery and Elemental magic that Jung Han-sung taught me are pointing toward. Though my training is still insufficient.”
Maria’s expression, which had always seemed anxious, now appeared serene.
Perhaps she too had discovered her own path.
Thus, Cho Cheon-woong, Seo Ryeong, and Maria each found their own way forward. While they had not yet reached the level to transcend beyond Layer 199, they would surely one day follow in Jung Han-sung’s footsteps and arrive at that place.
For they possessed Jung Han-sung as their ideal guide.
Of course, through that process, the Territory would flourish endlessly.
* * *
I ascend The Tower.
I climb, and climb again.
Much has changed since Layer 200.
For one, the missions are far more intricate and enigmatic rather than simply dangerous.
There were layers where one must ascend without using abilities, and layers where one must persuade people to harbor certain emotions—these too were exceptionally challenging.
In fact, one layer even presented a mission to create one hundred believers within a month.
Yet as I continued ascending, I discovered a common thread running through all these missions.
“From Layer 200 onward, these are missions not for a mere climber, but for one who has transcended.”
—Exactly. The missions before Layer 199 could be cleared simply by being strong enough. Their targets were climbers, after all.
“But from Layer 200 onward, the targets are transcendents.”
What The Tower demands of transcendents is not merely to become a stronger being.
It is to become one worthy of that divine station.
That is what it seeks.
Observing other transcendents makes this all the clearer.
For one, transcendents fundamentally possess combat abilities above a certain threshold.
Otherwise, they would never have surpassed Layer 200.
However, strength and divinity were not always proportional to one another.
Some gods were weaker than ordinary demigods, despite possessing far greater divinity.
Conversely, there existed demigods stronger than most gods, yet their divinity was considerably lower—barely clinging to the demigod threshold.
“Is The Tower’s purpose to create true gods?”
—It could be. Or it might not be.
Onyx flicked his tongue as he spoke.
Jung Han-sung did not reprimand Onyx for this. After all, he hadn’t asked the question expecting a concrete answer.
I don’t know what the answer is.
Perhaps I’ll only understand it once I reach the end of The Tower. And reaching that end will take an extraordinarily long time.
It may require dedicating my entire life to it.
“All right.”
Jung Han-sung concluded his thoughts and rose to his feet.
“Let’s go.”
—Wouldn’t it be better to rest a bit longer?
“I’ve rested enough.”
Currently, I was on Floor 249.
This floor’s mission was to resolve the distrust dwelling in people’s hearts.
It took a full week to clear.
Yes, I had already cleared Floor 249, then rested for approximately three hours afterward.
From Onyx’s perspective, proceeding to the next floor after only three hours of rest seemed abnormal.
However, knowing that I was not someone who would listen to dissuasion, Onyx said nothing more.
“Prepare yourself thoroughly as well.”
—You don’t need to worry about me. I barely exerted myself on this floor anyway.
To be precise, Onyx’s condition was better than ever.
He was nearly on the verge of recovering to his demigod status, and recently there had been almost no occasion to exert his strength.
“Then let’s go.”
Jung Han-sung nodded and immediately proceeded to the next floor.
Whoooosh—!
With the familiar sensation, I transitioned to the next floor.
I realized I was inside some kind of building.
“Hmm.”
Observing my surroundings, I could discern the building’s purpose.
‘It looks like some sort of arena.’
Pristine white marble stretched across the floor, with spectator seating surrounding the perimeter.
And already, quite a number of people occupied those seats.
‘Wait, are they even people?’
Sensing divinity emanating from them, I could easily discern their nature.
They were likely transcendents of considerable rank.
I had known Floor 250’s theme was combat, but this was far more elaborate than I had anticipated.
Having considered this much, I looked forward once more. My opponent had not yet arrived.
“Onyx.”
At Jung Han-sung’s command, Onyx wrapped around his entire body without hesitation.
That very moment.
Uuuuuuuuung—!
A black fissure materialized ahead, and someone stepped through it.
It was a figure clad in a black robe.
Jung Han-sung’s eyes narrowed at the sight.
‘Could he have sent another subordinate?’
Jung Han-sung had assumed Sargon himself would naturally appear as some grotesque monstrosity, so he wondered if the creature had instead dispatched a minion rather than coming personally.
“This is the first time we’ve met face to face.”
But then, his opponent spoke.
The moment their eyes met, Jung Han-sung understood.
It was Sargon.
“You look quite different from what I imagined.”
“Is that so?”
Sargon chuckled softly at Jung Han-sung’s words and continued.
“Did you envision a monster? Or perhaps something utterly grotesque?”
“Well, something roughly like that.”
“I suppose that’s reasonable.”
Sargon advanced slowly.
Of course, Jung Han-sung remained poised to engage in combat at any moment.
Yet Sargon continued approaching without drawing a weapon, speaking as he came.
“I too was once an ordinary human. Even now, seated among the divine, I don’t consider myself particularly exceptional.”
“That sounds like a lie, given how you usually speak.”
“I deliberately cultivate that impression. A chasm exists between mortals and transcendents, after all.”
“You said you don’t consider yourself exceptional?”
“With so many transcendents in existence, how could I regard myself as special?”
“Ah. So you’re just an ordinary transcendent?”
“You could say that.”
The distance between them had narrowed to merely ten paces.
At that moment, Jung Han-sung drew upon his power and spoke.
“It’s all lies.”
“What?”
“There’s no sincerity in your words.”
And simultaneously, a message materialized before him.
The mission on Floor 250 was remarkably simple: defeat your opponent. That was all.
Kwaaaaaaang—!
Immediately after confirming the message, a black pillar descended from the sky.
Jung Han-sung evaded it, diving to the side, and Sargon unleashed a barrage of pillars toward him.
“You catch on quickly.”
A disagreeable smile had settled on Sargon’s face.
Jung Han-sung let out a quiet chuckle in response.
He had known from the start that the bastard was spouting nonsense. He was simply nodding along and playing along to gauge his reaction.
‘Cunning and utterly unprincipled.’
With that thought, Jung Han-sung poured his divine essence into Arzka.
Arzka then spoke in a voice like grinding teeth.
―So it’s him.
He had been half-asleep, but now he was fully awake and grasping the situation.
Jung Han-sung whispered to Arzka.
“Prove your reason for existence.”
Arzka’s long-cherished desire was to bring down Sargon. And now, that very opportunity had been granted.
―Of course.
Arzka blazed with brilliance unlike any moment before.

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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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