I Just Subscribed and It’s the Best Hunter of All Time - Chapter 67

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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 67.
Jung Han-sung’s eyes narrowed at Maria’s words.
“You want to work in my Territory?”
“Yes.”
“So you’re saying you want to come under my command?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what I mean.”
Maria spoke while looking directly at Jung Han-sung without the slightest wavering.
“I want to offer my Core and enter your Territory as one of your subordinates.”
“What’s your reason?”
Which was precisely why Jung Han-sung found himself even more bewildered.
If Cho Cheon-woong had knelt before him and said ‘Please accept me as your subordinate!’, he wouldn’t have found it particularly strange.
In fact, he’d already been considering extending the invitation to him soon.
But Maria was different.
Cho Cheon-woong may be establishing his position through the Association now, but his footing wasn’t entirely secure.
Maria, on the other hand, was the successor to the Aegis Guild itself.
Of course, the Guild Master of Aegis hadn’t directly designated her as his successor. But everyone believed it to be true.
Maria was among the most prominent Awakeners and a climber ascending The Tower at a frightening pace.
In short, she had a background that lacked for nothing.
“Because I believe it would be more beneficial for me.”
To Jung Han-sung’s question, Maria answered without hesitation this time as well.
“The Guild’s support is already sufficient. But if I were to join that Territory now, there wouldn’t be much I could actually accomplish there.”
“Because the Territory is already too large?”
“Yes. There, I would simply continue receiving support and be treated as a promising prospect.”
“But not in my Territory.”
“Right. No matter how capable you are, you’ve only just created your Territory.”
In other words, rather than playing the tail of a dragon in a megacorporation, she wanted to join a promising startup early and aim for the head of the serpent.
Yet there remained an unresolved question.
“But you’re the successor to Aegis, aren’t you?”
Specifically, the fact that she herself could eventually rise to the position of the dragon’s head given time.
But Maria smiled at Jung Han-sung’s question and spoke.
“My father is a remarkable Awakener.”
“Yes. That’s what I understand.”
The Guild Master of a world-class Guild couldn’t possibly be unremarkable.
In fact, as a first-generation Awakener, he was a legendary figure who had set numerous records in The Tower.
But Maria spoke bluntly.
“Yet even my father ultimately failed to break through the wall of Floor 130.”
“Hasn’t he not retired yet?”
“He simply hasn’t retired. But I don’t believe he’ll break through Floor 130 now, something he couldn’t break through during his prime.”
Her assessment seemed far too cold for someone evaluating her own family.
Yet Maria appeared entirely natural in saying such things.
As if she herself had received such evaluations countless times before.
While I was thinking such thoughts, Maria continued without pause.
“Meanwhile, you broke through Floor 40 in just a few months. And you’re still climbing The Tower without stopping.”
“Joining the Territory doesn’t mean we’d climb The Tower together.”
“I know. The skill gap would be significant from the start, and by now it’s probably grown much wider.”
Maria smiled again as she spoke.
“But if I work under your command, I could at least observe and learn something from your side.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes. For now.”
Maria emphasized the words “for now” and added a few more remarks.
“If I prove myself sufficiently useful, couldn’t I receive more in return?”
Her voice carried strong confidence—the kind of confidence that suggested she would inevitably earn my recognition.
I remained silent for a moment, studying her before speaking.
“Did you bring a contract separately?”
“Yes. I have it here.”
Maria produced another document as if she’d been waiting for this moment and handed it to me.
“I’ve organized the matters we just discussed. Of course, the actual contract will need to be sealed with a document guaranteed by The Tower.”
I nodded.
Contracts guaranteed by The Tower were quite commonly used.
‘For Awakeners, such contracts are nearly impossible to break.’
The penalties varied depending on which contract was used, but the most commonly employed contracts carried two specific penalties.
‘One prevented further entry into The Tower, and the other completely sealed one’s mana.’
The former was a penalty all climbers would dread, and the latter was equally severe.
It essentially meant ceasing to be an Awakener altogether.
Of course, higher-tier contracts existed as well.
The kind where breaking the contract meant immediate death. Though such contracts were rarely used.
“I understand. By when would you like my response?”
“If possible, I’d appreciate an answer within a week. You have my contact information, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll wait for your call. Now, could you share those clues you mentioned?”
I nodded and immediately relayed all the Hidden Floor clues I knew.
Maria produced a recorder and captured everything, then spoke.
“Thank you. I’ll provide your compensation right here and now.”
She snapped her fingers, and the barrier that had been blocking sound disappeared.
A suited man who had been waiting on the side then brought forward a large box.
Inside were top-grade mana stones and artifacts.
“All of these mana stones and artifacts have been verified by the Association. Certificates of authenticity are included.”
Baek Jin-woo added from beside me.
Upon hearing that, I could indeed see the Association’s official seal stamped on the certificates inside.
“Then our transaction is complete.”
“Yes. It was a beneficial transaction.”
Since we’d already covered everything worth discussing, I rose from my seat, and Maria stood as well to see me off.
Naturally, an Association staff member followed along carrying a box containing the Magic Stone and artifacts.
Of course, Baek Jin-woo was with them as well.
“I hope the transaction was satisfactory.”
“It was quite satisfactory.”
I answered Baek Jin-woo without hesitation. As I glanced at him, I noticed he seemed to be debating whether to ask something.
There was only one thing worth being curious about in this situation.
“Don’t worry. There wasn’t a single word about scouting or anything like that.”
“Ah… Yes. Of course, I was already expecting that.”
Despite his words, relief was plainly written across his face.
Though the Association had made sufficient preparations, hearing it directly from someone’s mouth was different from simply assuming nothing had happened.
“Are you planning to return home immediately?”
“Yes.”
Since I had no further business outside, I rode back to my home in the Association’s car.
“Then, please let me know if you need anything at any time.”
Baek Jin-woo came all the way to my front door, offered a respectful bow, and withdrew.
The moment I arrived home, I pulled out my phone and made a call to someone.
After a few rings, a familiar voice answered.
―Yes, hyung.
It was Cho Cheon-woong.
It seemed he’d naturally settled on calling me hyung.
“Are you resting?”
―Yes. I just finished clearing Floor 33 and have been resting.
Floor 33.
Faster progress than I’d expected.
I asked Cho Cheon-woong again.
“Do you have any plans to join another Guild or anything like that?”
―Huh? No. I’m not really thinking about joining any other Guild.
“Then, what about joining my Territory?”
―I’ll join.
That was a decisively swift answer.
I let out a dry laugh and asked.
“You’re not even going to think about it?”
―If I’m going to serve under someone, I should serve under the best. Among all the Awakeners I’ve seen so far, there’s no one like you, hyung.
It was blatant flattery, yet there was genuine sincerity evident in his voice.
Well, considering what we’d discussed before, I’d already assumed he’d naturally end up under me anyway.
“Good. Then climb to Floor 40 as quickly as possible. And don’t die before you get there.”
―Understood! I’ll arrive by the end of this month at the latest!
Though it was early in the month, considering the typical climbing speed of ordinary Awakeners, it was quite a tight schedule.
“Understood.”
Well, Cho Cheon-woong wasn’t an ordinary Awakener either, so as long as nothing went wrong, he should be more than capable of handling it.
Jung Han-sung hung up after hearing Cho Cheon-woong’s confirmation.
“I’ve been out quite a while.”
I’d originally planned to rest and return, but I ended up staying outside longer than expected.
Jung Han-sung opened the subscription window to check his remaining subscription time.
‘I should go in right away.’
Even though I hadn’t eaten yet, considering my usual training schedule, entering immediately was the right call.
Otherwise, my subscription time would run out before I finished receiving instruction.
Of course, I could use another ticket, but it was better to learn everything I could in this session.
‘Enter.’
Jung Han-sung entered The Tower while still wearing his outdoor clothes.
Whoooosh―!
Soon, I opened my eyes in the Unique Space. Then I immediately sat down on the ground and activated the subscription channel.
Whoooosh―.
The surrounding landscape shifted in succession.
I expected to see the familiar appearance of the Cave.
“Huh?”
But the changing landscape was unfamiliar.
Instead of a dark cave with walls on all sides, a wide-open Grassland appeared.
Puzzled, I stood up from my seat and looked around the area.
Right then.
Waaaaaaaa―!
A roar echoed from far away. But that wasn’t the end of it.
Boom boom boom boom boom―.
The ground trembled.
I immediately drew my sword and looked toward the direction of the sound.
There was a high hill in that direction.
And not long after, the source of the commotion revealed itself.
Hundreds of people appeared over the hill.
‘Wait, are those actually people?’
I narrowed my eyes.
At first glance, I thought they were just armored soldiers, but looking closer, their appearance was quite strange.
Their arms, legs, and even their heads were all black. As if painted with ink. Or perhaps they looked like shadows.
And they didn’t stop—they continued rushing toward me. I had no choice but to raise my sword and prepare for battle.
But when the distance between us narrowed to just a few steps.
“…?”
Suddenly, they came to a complete halt.
I looked at them with a bewildered expression, trying to understand what was happening.
But the answer came not from ahead, but from behind me.
―How does it feel?
A familiar voice.
When I turned my head, I could see the Heavenly Demon standing there.
At that, I voiced the question that had occurred to me the moment I set foot in this place.
“Is this an illusion?”
―Yes. This vast grassland, those creatures—all of it is nothing but illusion.
“So this training will proceed differently than before.”
―You catch on quickly.
The Heavenly Demon spoke with the corners of his mouth raised.
―Today I’ll teach you the third technique. And you’ll practice it in an environment identical to actual combat.
After saying that much, the Heavenly Demon gazed at empty space as if confirming something, then opened his mouth.
―You have exactly five hours remaining.
“Understood.”
He was referring to the remaining subscription time.
The Heavenly Demon swept his gaze across the strange soldiers standing motionless on the plain and spoke.
―If you master the third technique within that time and defeat all of them, I’ll give you a reward.

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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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