I Just Subscribed and It’s the Best Hunter of All Time - Chapter 63

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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 63.
“What is that?”
“Who knows.”
A steady stream of people gathered around a single stall.
Seated there was a man with a mysterious air about him—Jung Han-sung.
“Please, feel free to browse.”
Jung Han-sung didn’t employ any aggressive sales tactics.
He merely offered a soft word to each passerby who approached.
Yet despite this restraint, people continued to stop before his stall as if entranced by some invisible force.
Even the merchants seated nearby found themselves drawn over, wondering why his stall attracted such crowds, only to fall under the same spell.
Moreover, every customer who came had one thing in common.
“I found something wonderful.”
“Exactly. This is why I can’t stay away from the Street Stall District.”
They all held one of Jung Han-sung’s items in hand.
And they wore satisfied smiles, as if they’d grasped great fortune itself.
Though by market standards, the goods were neither particularly cheap nor especially rare.
Perhaps that was why.
“My apologies. I’m afraid everything has sold out.”
The stall was completely empty.
Even the damaged ghost orchids had vanished without a trace—some necromancer had swept them all up and departed with a blissful smile, clutching them to their chest.
As a result, the entire transaction concluded in less than thirty minutes.
Far faster than I’d anticipated.
‘Indeed, this technique truly deserves to be called a secret art.’
I wore a satisfied expression. This channel was far more effective than the one I’d subscribed to previously.
Of course, this didn’t mean this channel surpassed Mephistopheles’ eloquence.
‘That’s a universal skill, while this is commerce—specifically tailored for customer attraction.’
I began methodically packing up the stall and rose to my feet.
Ultimately, how powerful a channel’s ability is matters, but applying it in the right place at the right time is equally important.
Reflecting on this newfound understanding, I returned the stall and slowly made my way out of the Street Stall District.
Or rather, I intended to.
“You there! Might we have a word?”
Until a rotund middle-aged man called out to me.
At first glance, he was draped in expensive garments, yet he didn’t appear to be a mere nouveau riche.
Rather….
‘A kindred spirit.’
A kindred spirit—in other words, a seasoned merchant.
I halted and opened my mouth.
“What can I do for you?”
“Ah, well, I am Ahel Beltorn, proprietor of the Beltorn Trading Company.”
The moment the name Beltorn left the middle-aged man’s lips, I felt nearby passersby turn toward us with startled expressions.
No, merely observing was not the end of it.
“The Beltorn Trading Company?”
“The head of the Beltorn Trading Company appeared in a place like this?”
“You’re not lying, are you?”
“No, it really seems to be true?! I saw him once before, and it’s definitely the same person!”
It appeared this was no ordinary trading company.
Though I felt bewilderment internally, I revealed nothing on my face as I spoke.
“I see. What brings you here?”
Maintaining a poker face was hardly difficult for me anymore.
After all, I had subscribed to the channel of North, the legendary merchant.
Ahel Beltorn, the middle-aged man, regarded my reaction with interest as he spoke rapidly.
“In truth, I’ve been watching you for some time now.”
“Watching me, you say?”
“Yes. Didn’t you come here a few weeks ago and sell goods as well?”
That was true. Even then, though not quite as successfully as this time, I had sold quite a bit.
“I’ll get straight to the point. I want to employ you.”
“…Me?”
“Yes. You have the makings of a merchant. Exceptional makings at that. That’s why I covet you. Rather than simply hiring you as staff, what do you say to working together and growing the trading company together?”
At those words, exclamations of “Ooh” erupted from the surrounding crowd.
It was understandable.
After all, the Beltorn Trading Company was undoubtedly the finest establishment in this Neutral Zone.
Even compared to other major trading houses in different neutral zones, it clearly ranked among the elite.
Yet here was the head of such a company offering a street peddler nothing less than a partnership!
The onlookers naturally assumed the other party would accept the proposal.
“I appreciate the offer.”
But what emerged from my lips was a gentle refusal.
“I have no wish to be bound to anything at present. I believe this is still a time for me to accumulate experience.”
“Hmm, I see.”
At my response, Ahel Beltorn nodded while wearing an expression of regret.
“I suppose so. I was the same when I was young. A truly exceptional merchant always wishes to forge their own path.”
Rather than showing displeasure at having his proposal rejected, he smiled as he spoke.
“But whenever you decide to settle down, do visit our trading company. Someone of your caliber would always be welcome. Or come by for a drink instead.”
“Thank you for understanding. If the opportunity arises, I shall certainly visit.”
“Very well. I’ll be waiting.”
Thus Ahel Beltorn departed, blessing the future of this young and talented merchant.
Those who had been watching showered the trading company head with praise for his benevolence, and showed great interest in the mysterious young merchant.
As I slipped through the crowd, I pondered.
‘I’ll need to change my face.’
The mask I currently wore could be adjusted incrementally to drastically alter my appearance.
‘An employment offer from a trading company, no less.’
It seemed he had drawn far too much attention.
Jung Han-sung quickly slipped out of the Street Stall District and ducked into a nearby Alley before emerging again.
When he reappeared, his face had transformed into an entirely different visage.
―So, changing your face means you’re planning to stay longer here, Master.
“Yeah. I overheard something interesting back there.”
―Something interesting?
“That’s right.”
While the primary purpose of those visiting the Street Stall District was buying and selling goods, conversations of various sorts naturally flowed between transactions.
What Jung Han-sung had heard came from a conversation between a vendor and customer at the stall right beside him.
Well, to be precise, their voices had simply been loud enough that he naturally overheard them.
“Apparently, some famous Rankers are currently in this Neutral Zone.”
―Famous Rankers?
“Yeah. First. One of the top three teams in Korea.”
I didn’t have any particular business with them—I simply wanted to see them once.
To gauge the caliber of those currently considered the elite in Korea.
With that, Jung Han-sung left the Street Stall District and headed toward the Craftsmen’s District. Shortly after.
He arrived in front of a tavern called the Drunken Giant.
Crash―!
And the moment he arrived, a man came flying out through the door.
“Here you are, you bastard—drowning yourself in drink?”
A woman emerged from the tavern, rolling up her sleeves.
Jung Han-sung stepped back a few paces to observe the situation.
The woman possessed a remarkably striking appearance.
Her hair rippled like living flames, and upon closer inspection, her body bore a faint translucent luminescence.
By appearance alone, she seemed less human than some other race entirely.
This woman strode toward the man sprawled on the ground and shouted.
“Do you intend to conquer The Tower or not? Huh? If you’re going to quit, then quit for real!”
“…I will.”
“What?”
“I’m quitting.”
The woman’s face, contorted with rage, hardened like stone.
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah. I can’t do this anymore.”
The man slowly pushed himself to his feet.
“Haven’t I done enough? I’ve earned enough to last a lifetime—so when exactly am I supposed to stop risking my life?”
He brushed the dirt from his clothes.
“I’m satisfied with where I am now. I can’t take it anymore. Let The Tower find someone else.”
Before the woman could say anything further, the man turned and walked away.
The woman watched him leave in a daze, then clenched her fists, twisted her face in anguish, and departed in the opposite direction.
The moment both had left, the onlookers nearby began murmuring among themselves.
“Man, even First is done for now.”
“Right? There’s only one member left, isn’t there?”
First?
Han-sung’s ears perked up at the familiar name.
“Still, they were Korea’s pride in The Tower.”
“If First disbands, Korea will definitely lose momentum. The gap between First and the next-ranked guild is pretty massive, you know?”
“Absolutely massive. First is in the late 80s, but the Hero just barely reached Floor 80.”
“What about Mythic Construction?”
“Pfft. Everyone below that is stuck in the 70s.”
As I listened to their conversation, it became clear.
‘Those people must have been First members.’
And it seemed they were on the verge of disbanding.
‘Well, if only one member is left, it’s basically already dissolved.’
I didn’t know the exact circumstances, but what that man said wasn’t entirely wrong.
Climbing The Tower truly demands risking your life. Even though I’m ascending with overwhelming performance, I’ve faced mortal danger more than once.
That’s why many people retire once they reach a reasonably high floor.
If you die attempting a high-floor challenge, everything becomes meaningless.
But not everyone knows when to stop. If they all did, every nation’s progress records would have stagnated.
‘Someone always wants to keep pushing forward.’
It seemed that woman was probably one of those types.
Well, if all her fellow members had already dropped out, it would be difficult to keep climbing alone.
Han-sung scratched his chin and started to leave.
I’d come to see what First was all about, but they’d already left. My business here was done.
But then.
“Still, don’t you think Anonymous is worth keeping an eye on?”
“Nah. They’re still only in the 40s, right?”
“Floor 44, I think. But they’ve only been Awakened for a month. Current rankers have been Awakened for at least three years minimum.”
“They’re incredibly fast, that’s for sure. But won’t they hit a wall eventually?”
“People have been saying that since Floor 20.”
Hearing something oddly familiar, Han-sung paused before quietly slipping away.
‘It’s a different feeling than what I see online.’
I knew there were quite a few posts about me on TowerNet, but this was the first time I’d actually heard people nearby talking about me like this.
Well, it wasn’t a bad feeling.
As Han-sung walked, I pondered for a moment.
‘Should I look around a bit more?’
Both selling items and seeing First had ended much sooner than expected, so it felt like a waste to just head back.
‘Yeah. Let me take this chance to check out some of the famous places I saw on TowerNet.’
Han-sung decided to visit a few of the famous locations I’d seen on TowerNet.
With that thought, the first place I headed toward was a landmark right next to the Tavern District.
“Is it Lightning Axe and Elemental today?”
“Yeah. That’s the main event. But there’s also a battle royale underneath that looks worth watching.”
“Battle royale is just small-time stuff anyway, isn’t it?”
“Those kinds of fights are actually more entertaining.”
People chattered excitedly, and beyond the bustling crowd loomed an enormous structure.
Jung Han-sung gazed up at the drab, gray edifice.
―Where is this?
“It’s called the Colosseum.”
―The Colosseum? Ha, mankind’s appetite for spectacle never changes, no matter the era.
Jung Han-sung nodded at that observation.
That circular structure was known as the Colosseum—or sometimes the Arena.
Awakeners battled one another there, or fought monsters in various matches.
―So you came to watch the fights?
“No. I’m not planning to look around today. And if I come back, I’d be participating, not watching.”
―Participating? Isn’t the Colosseum where slaves fight?
“They don’t hold that kind of match here.”
To be precise, all combat in this place—except for monster fights—required voluntary participation.
―Why risk your life fighting at all?
“Because there’s money in it. Or sometimes the prize is something money can’t buy.”
Naturally, I was interested in the latter.
Very occasionally, truly precious items appeared as championship prizes.
Well, but right now there wasn’t anything particularly worth coveting. Such things didn’t appear that often anyway.
“If something useful comes up later, I’ll have to give it a try.”
Jung Han-sung said this and moved on.
The second place I arrived at was the Craftsmen’s District.
Clang, clang, clang―!
Whoooosh!
Loud noise and heat radiated from every direction.
―Are you thinking of buying weapons?
Onyx spoke with an almost covetous tone as he observed the district.
Jung Han-sung shook his head.
“No, I’m thinking about renting a workshop here later.”
―A workshop?
“Yeah. I don’t really need to use equipment made by others.”
My subscription window contained not only combat-related abilities—among them were channels related to blacksmithing.
―I see. That makes sense. If you could craft equipment tailored specifically to yourself, that would be quite advantageous.
“Exactly. I’d be able to create equipment perfectly suited to me.”
I walked through the Craftsmen’s District while conversing with Onyx.
Several of the workshops had signs openly displayed reading “Available for Rent.”
I committed their locations to memory.
Thus I continued exploring various parts of the Neutral Zone.
And just as I was thinking it was time to head back after seeing everything worth seeing,
“Hm?”
I came to a halt, catching sight of something.
There stood a station.
[First Station]
A fully equipped transit hub connecting the various Neutral Zones.

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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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