I Just Subscribed and It’s the Best Hunter of All Time - Chapter 34

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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 34.
The undead—with the kind of face perfectly suited to play a serial killer in a horror film—swung its blade in rapid succession.
I’d felt it before, but the undead’s physical prowess was formidable.
It possessed enough strength to shatter a solid wall with a single punch, and it was fast to boot.
Even someone well-trained would have their bones shattered and organs ruptured by a direct hit from that fist.
The blade was no different.
Though its edge wasn’t particularly sharp, swung with such force, it could easily tear through a person’s limbs.
The undead seemed to possess no special abilities.
It was simply, straightforwardly strong.
Crash—!
“Grraahhh!”
But strength and weakness are ultimately relative concepts.
After evading its attacks multiple times, the undead shrieked in fury. That was all it could manage.
Meanwhile, in the process of dodging, I had perfectly read its patterns.
Whoosh!
When the undead swung its blade-wielding arm in a wide arc, I lowered my body as if choreographed and slipped inside its guard.
Thud!
It drove its opposite foot down hard, attempting to seize me with its other arm.
But I already knew that too, tilting my body slightly to the side to evade.
It wasn’t flashy evasion.
A hair’s breadth difference—a technique visible only when reading every flow of movement and predicting the opponent’s actions.
I reached its vital point with minimal movement.
Then I drove my blade forward diagonally with all my strength.
Squelch!
The blade overcame slight resistance and pierced cleanly through the cold corpse.
Undead don’t die from having their heads severed or hearts destroyed.
Crackle-crackle-crackle-crack!
But it couldn’t ignore the electricity that erupted from within its torso.
“Ggggghhhhk!”
The undead trembled violently, arms still outstretched, then collapsed limply.
I withdrew my blade.
―It’s over.
Just as Onyx said, the undead was completely destroyed from the inside out.
―Of course. I unleashed holy lightning upon it.
“True enough. It worked well on you too.”
I spoke while wiping blood and flesh from my blade. Onyx bristled in response.
―Are you really comparing me to an undead? My weakness to holy power is for a different reason.
“Right, right. You should call me master.”
―…It’s a different reason. Master.
“Good. Anyway.”
I gazed beyond the wall through which the undead had burst.
“Is this some kind of laboratory?”
―Hmm. It does appear that way.
Given that such undead had been lying in wait, I’d expected some grotesque scene to unfold, yet the interior was surprisingly orderly.
On one side stood a bookshelf lined with volumes, and beside it sat a desk bearing what looked like experimental instruments.
I hesitated briefly before stepping deeper inside.
―Can you not take books or experimental tools like those outside?
Onyx posed the question to me.
I scanned the experimental tools and books before answering.
“I could carry them, but… my inventory has its limits.”
It would be ideal if I could sweep everything into my inventory and take it with me, but that was impossible.
I spoke while examining the experimental instruments scattered across the desk.
“Besides, nothing here looks particularly valuable.”
I possessed the ability to discern items worth money in my current state.
Yet nothing in this place appeared that way. Even if I sold it all, I’d barely scrape together a pittance.
So I decided to look around casually and turn back.
―Wait. That doesn’t look ordinary.
But Onyx stopped me in my tracks.
“What?”
―There. The black book on the second shelf of the bookcase. I sense something unusual emanating from it.
I pulled out the book Onyx had indicated.
Upon removing it, it appeared more like a notebook than a book.
The spine and cover bore no title, and many pages inside were blank.
However, the front pages definitely contained something intriguing.
“This looks like that undead, doesn’t it?”
―It appears so, Master.
The notebook contained a sketch of the undead I’d just defeated.
Beside it were detailed notes on the materials and process used in its creation.
As I scanned through the contents,
[You have obtained the hidden clue ‘Necromancer Burdkel’s Research Journal’.]
A message appeared before my eyes.
Not just one, but several.
[Additional Quest Triggered]
[Defeat all ‘Murderer’ undead and open the underground door.]
[Reward: Hidden Floor Key]
“Hmm.”
After reading through the messages, I stroked my chin thoughtfully.
“So that’s it. A hidden element.”
―A hidden element?
“Right. These sometimes appear. In the lower floors, the stages themselves are so simple that it’s difficult to find hidden elements like this, but…”
―It seems it’s time for me to make my appearance.
“Yeah. And here I am.”
I know well what the Hidden Floor key is. I’ve already used it indirectly before.
Why, I once accepted that commission and entered the Plains of Giants.
That was precisely when I entered through the key.
Of course, it’s called a key, but it’s not actually shaped like one. It’s only a “key” in the sense that it grants access to the Hidden Floor.
“I should break this.”
I didn’t deliberate long before reaching my decision.
I might miss setting a new speed record, but I couldn’t overlook a Hidden Quest like this for the sake of that.
If I cleared it quickly, I might receive a higher clear rating, but this Hidden Quest would likely have a significant impact on my rating anyway.
After all, the condition to trigger it in the first place was to avoid those absurdly powerful undead, make my way here, and discover the notebook.
“Then let me take this first.”
I picked up the notebook that contained information about the undead. Onyx spoke up quickly.
―Shall I read it and relay the information to you, Master?
“Huh? You can do that?”
―Of course. Just hold it against my body. It’ll take some time to process, though.
I did exactly as he suggested.
The armor enveloping my body deformed slightly, then swallowed the notebook whole.
The front of my body thickened a bit, but it didn’t retain the book’s shape.
―Hmm. Interesting contents. I see, I see.
Onyx seemed to have begun reading the book.
I chuckled softly, then took one final look around the room before stepping outside.
Of course, my next destination was where the golden particles pointed.
After all, I came all this way to find something valuable.
Fortunately, this time there were no significant dangers until I reached the room the golden particles indicated.
At worst, there were just some rather vicious traps.
I navigated past the traps without difficulty and opened the door to the chamber.
“Oh.”
Then I let out a final exclamation of wonder.
The room was indeed filled with valuable items.
“An Armory.”
Yes, the interior was packed with weapons and armor.
I couldn’t fathom why an Armory would be located on such a high floor, but I examined the items with keen interest.
However, disappointment soon crossed my face.
“Hmm. This is underwhelming.”
The quality wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t particularly good either.
Just mediocre, I’d say. Even if I sold them, they wouldn’t fetch much.
That said, the golden particles hadn’t deceived me.
The golden particles leading into the room weren’t pointing to the weapons or armor hanging on the walls, but to something else.
It was a small box placed at the very back.
I examined everything else first, saving this for last.
Swish—
Inside the box, which opened silently and smoothly, lay an intricately crafted gemstone.
Its appearance alone suggested considerable value, but what truly startled me was something else entirely.
[???]
[Appraisal required.]
The message appeared the moment I picked up the gemstone.
It meant two things.
First, this wasn’t merely an ordinary gemstone or piece of jewelry—it was an item. Otherwise, a separate window wouldn’t have appeared like this.
Second, it was an unappraiseditem.
To confirm its effects, I would need to have it appraised separately.
‘In other words, this isn’t an ordinary item.’
Very rarely, duds appeared, but generally, valuable items or those in an unappraisedstate dropped like this.
‘I’ll need to stop by the Neutral Zone before heading back today.’
To appraise this, I’d need to find an appraiser.
Some climbers possessed appraisal skills, but it was most convenient to simply pay for the service in the Neutral Zone.
Satisfied, I placed the item into my inventory along with the box.
Then Onyx spoke to me again.
—Master.
“What?”
—If you’re not taking that sword and armor, may I consume them?
“What?”
Confused, I looked down and saw Onyx’s serpentine head poking out slightly, gazing up at me.
—Exactly as I said. Unless you need them, of course.
“You can eat those? Why would you eat them?”
—Did I not explain this to you?
“No, you never did.”
—Ah. I must have forgotten.
Onyx flicked his tongue as he spoke.
—I can consume armor and swords. It strengthens my scales that way.
“Hmm, like the Starfish Yokai?”
—Correct. Though somewhat different.
“Wait, you know what the Starfish Yokai is?”
—Of course I do. You mean that yokai on the Upper Floors, right? The foolish one that goes mad for any metal and devours it indiscriminately. Of course, I don’t eat just any metal. I prefer swords and armor stained with human blood.
“Oh. So something like that exists.”
This was the first I’d heard of it.
No climber had yet ventured into what could be called the Upper Floors.
Even those at the vanguard remained in the Middle Floors.
Onyx flicked his tongue at my words and spoke.
—Everyone’s grown lazy.
“Well, even among the vanguard, most are more interested in expanding their own territories.”
Territory is one of The Tower’s core privileges. Naturally, it demanded the deployment of considerable manpower.
“Anyway, go ahead and eat. There’s nothing here that looks particularly useful anyway.”
―Thank you, Master! Could you come closer?
“Of course.”
I nodded and approached the section where weapons and armor were displayed.
I was considering whether I’d need to hand-feed him, but I quickly realized that wouldn’t be necessary.
Crunch!
The moment I drew near, a section of armor split open and began devouring the surrounding objects indiscriminately.
In an instant, swords and armor lost their form entirely, sucked into Onyx.
I watched the spectacle with keen interest.
As Onyx absorbed the weapons, the armor draped across him—his scales—grew progressively thicker and began to gleam with an iridescent sheen.
If Onyx’s words held true, it wasn’t merely his appearance changing; his defensive capabilities were genuinely increasing.
‘I’ll need to test exactly how much stronger he’s become later.’
For now, I fight by evading all attacks, but if the armor’s defense proves reliable, there’s no reason not to leverage it.
―I’ve consumed everything, Master.
With that, Onyx spoke in a satisfied tone after devouring everything within the Armory.
I smiled and replied.
“Good. Now let’s go earn our keep.”
―Understood!
Golden particles still linger in my vision—not as vivid as they were when connected to this Armory, but present nonetheless.
Confirming that, clearing the Hidden Quest as well. To accomplish everything, I’d need to move swiftly.
With that, I set forth to thoroughly plunder this floor.

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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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