I Just Subscribed and It’s the Best Hunter of All Time - Chapter 73

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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 73.
Not exactly.
The only candidate I’d considered was Cho Cheon-woong.
But rather than voice this, I simply nodded. Maria then spoke again.
“So I prepared this.”
In Maria’s hand gleamed a talisman that shimmered with golden light.
A Talisman.
It was an object believed to bestow special power or fortune upon its bearer.
To be precise, that’s how it works on Earth. But here in The Tower, things are different.
It’s not merely an object one believes will have such effects—it actually does.
Yet among talismans, some are far more exceptional. Those bearing the word “Fatalis” engraved upon them are of this caliber.
The talisman in Maria’s hand bore that very inscription.
“What floor level is it?”
“59th Floor.”
Maria tilted the talisman slightly, revealing a small number etched into one corner.
There, unmistakably, was the numeral 59.
“Since I still have considerable time before reaching the 59th Floor myself.”
“I see.”
A talisman bearing the Fatalis inscription is an artifact—and simultaneously serves as a key of sorts.
Like the key to Demon Heart Pavilion or the key to hidden stages, it grants access to places normally unreachable.
But precisely where does it grant access?
‘The Fatalis Trial.’
That’s what people call the place one can enter through such a talisman.
In exchange for an extraordinarily grueling ordeal, clearing it yields magnificent treasure.
“Still, wouldn’t it feel wasteful?”
So I asked Maria this question.
But Maria shook her head and replied.
“To be honest, I’m not confident I could overcome the trial. Fewer than two people have ever cleared it.”
“I’ve heard plenty about how difficult it is.”
That’s true.
Based solely on the description of talismans, they seem extraordinarily rare and precious—yet acquiring one isn’t actually impossible.
The difficulty is simply far too extreme.
To illustrate: in the early days, the number of Tower Rankers who died attempting the talisman trials exceeded double digits.
Particularly after a top-twenty Ranker team from across the globe challenged one and was completely annihilated, the fervor cooled considerably.
Conversely, the two who succeeded obtained such tremendous rewards that they now firmly hold the 1st and 2nd positions in the global rankings.
But there’s one more crucial fact here.
“One of those who cleared the trial beforehand was on the 48th Floor, and the other was on the 36th Floor.”
“Exactly. And the higher the floor level of a talisman, the more dangerous it becomes.”
Each talisman has a designated floor level, and difficulty is determined accordingly.
Though no talisman from the 30th Floor or below has ever been discovered.
In other words, what Maria held was something far more troublesome than anything those who had passed before possessed.
“Still, with a talisman, you can enter even after bypassing the corresponding floor, so you can push your strength to its maximum before going in.”
“Yeah. I know that already. Both people who passed entered the trial after clearing the 70s or 80s floors, didn’t they?”
“That’s right.”
“But that was the same for everyone else. And they all failed.”
Maria nodded. And she spoke with confident conviction.
“Still, Fatalis’s talisman has such symbolic value that you could sell it separately and receive a substantial sum.”
“…That’s true enough.”
I also nodded and looked at the talisman in Maria’s hand. After a long moment, I spoke.
“Fine. I’ll accept it.”
From the start, I had been leaning toward accepting Maria’s proposal.
Setting aside various conditions, just looking at her abilities alone, she was an Awakener with considerable talent.
I had thoroughly prepared for any issues that might arise from her background through the contract.
Well, I was quite pleased with the talisman she had brought as well.
“Thank you. Here you go.”
Maria immediately smiled and handed over the contract along with a pen and the talisman.
I first examined the contract once more, then picked up the pen.
“Here.”
After signing, I returned it to her.
Of course, I placed the talisman in my inventory.
Maria then signed the contract as well.
Whoosh—!
Soon, the contract emitted a brilliant light, then split into two streams that burrowed into both my body and Maria’s.
[A sacred contract has been established]
I saw the message that appeared before my eyes.
Maria likely saw the same message as well.
With this, the contract was finalized.
Want to check the contract details again? Anytime you mentally recite the contract, you can confirm all contracts made thus far.
“Good. Then I’ll wait until you reach the 40th Floor.”
“Yes.”
Of course, even with the contract established, Maria couldn’t immediately join Han-sung’s Territory. She hadn’t entered the 40th Floor yet.
“Your order is ready!”
Just as we finished our business, a server emerged carrying the food.
A large platter was piled high with dishes.
“We’ll bring the rest as it’s prepared!”
And that wasn’t even everything.
But as Maria had said, Awakeners eat far more than ordinary people, so there was no real concern.
“Enjoy your meal.”
“Thanks.”
I picked up a hard taco folded to the size of my palm and took a bite.
“Mm.”
The food was indeed quite delicious, just as Maria had promised.
* * *
After consuming what easily amounted to four or five servings and finishing with coffee, I returned to my Territory.
“Master!”
“Baek-seol, anything noteworthy happened?”
As I entered the Territory, Baek-seol greeted me as always. I asked the question that had become almost habitual by now while surveying my surroundings.
I detected no significant changes or problems worth noting.
“No, sir! Nothing particularly urgent to report, though we did have several new arrivals. And we’ve unlocked new facilities we can construct.”
“Then let’s hear about it.”
Since I’d already pushed through to Floor 50, there was no urgent need to climb The Tower, and I had no abilities currently subscribed to, so I had time to spare.
My plan was to handle the accumulated Territory matters, verify the items I’d obtained as rewards, and then decide my next course of action.
“Yes, sir! First, regarding the new arrivals….”
As I walked alongside Baek-seol, I received a detailed briefing on the Territory’s current status.
People continued to flow steadily into the Territory. However, it wasn’t the massive influx we’d seen initially.
Baek-seol was independently distributing tasks among the newcomers.
‘Since I assigned personnel based on their talents early on, they should maintain a solid foundation.’
While it wouldn’t match my channel subscription classification system, Baek-seol had a discerning eye, and the existing workers would naturally evaluate the newcomers in their own way.
If someone proved unsuitable for their assigned work, we could simply reassign them elsewhere.
“And besides the merchants who visit the market stalls, we’ve also had some peddlers come by.”
“Peddlers?”
“Yes. People who sell basic provisions and such, and purchase what we produce here.”
“What do they typically buy from us?”
“Mainly mana stones and medicinal herbs. They buy in smaller quantities than the Wandering Merchant, but they offer higher prices.”
“I see.”
I listened carefully to Baek-seol’s report, then asked the most important question.
“What facilities can we construct now?”
“For starters, we can upgrade the wooden fences to wooden palisades. We can also upgrade the basic hut lodgings to wooden houses.”
“Oh, that’s important. Can we do all of them?”
“Yes, sir! We have sufficient materials and mana stones!”
“Then proceed with all of that, and what else?”
Baek-seol pointed to one side as she spoke.
“Thanks to the blacksmiths who joined us this time, we can now construct a smithy.”
“Excellent. Add that too.”
“And now that our total military force has exceeded the threshold, we can also construct a barracks.”
“Total military force?”
At my puzzled expression, Baek-seol pointed to the undead standing by.
“The undead have all been officially recognized as regular military personnel.”
“Ah, I see. So the undead would occupy the barracks?”
“That’s one option, or we could assign new recruits to the barracks and train them as soldiers.”
“Hmm. It’s true that having some ordinary soldiers around would be convenient. Fine. Let’s build a barracks too.”
“And once the Territory’s population exceeds a certain threshold, we’ll need taverns and….”
Baek-seol mentioned several more facilities.
“Good. Let’s build those as well.”
Jung Han-sung approved each suggestion without hesitation. Unlike other Territory owners, he had no shortage of magic stones to worry about.
“Then I’ll have all the mentioned facilities constructed! Oh, and once the buildings are complete, we can upgrade the core one more time!”
“Excellent. The Territory is growing rapidly.”
“A Territory developing this quickly is probably unique to you, Master!”
Jung Han-sung smiled at Baek-seol’s words.
Despite everything else, climbing The Tower remained my greatest passion and source of fulfillment, yet watching the Territory expand brought a different kind of joy.
‘The Territory will prove invaluable down the road.’
Currently, in terms of pure profit, the gains from climbing The Tower far exceeded what the Territory generated.
The climbing speed was simply too fast, and since I climbed alone, there was no need to divide the spoils with anyone.
It would be difficult to overcome that gap anytime soon.
But once the Territory reached a certain scale, that gap would gradually narrow and eventually reverse.
‘Most importantly, the Territory will continue generating steady income as it operates.’
Of course, that also meant more responsibilities would accumulate.
The protective barrier was active now, but once this initial protection ended, others might attack.
“Alright, is there anything else we need to do?”
“We need to visit the Mercenary Office and the Wandering Merchant!”
“Ah, both should have refreshed by now. Then let’s go to the Mercenary Office first.”
“Yes!”
Jung Han-sung set out again with Baek-seol to handle the remaining tasks.
About an hour passed.
“Are we done with everything now?”
“Yes! I’ll handle the rest of the details!”
“Thanks. We should probably hire someone to help lighten your workload.”
“Hehe, it’s fine for now!”
“Fine for now” implied that it might not remain fine for much longer.
From the way she said it, the Territory’s administrative work seemed quite substantial.
‘It can’t be helped.’
Managing a small Unique Space was nothing like managing a Territory.
‘Once the Reputation stat increases and the Mercenary Office upgrades further, higher-caliber personnel will become available.’
If there was anyone capable of handling administrative work there, I would hire them without hesitation.
Jung Han-sung organized his thoughts and spoke to Baek-seol.
“Then bear with it a bit longer. I’m going to the next floor and back.”
“Yes! Please be careful!”
After parting with Baek-seol, Jung Han-sung returned to his home. He checked his equipment and then gazed into empty space.
‘Enter the 51st Floor.’
The world around me darkened.
A moment later.
“Oh.”
Jung Han-sung had arrived at a familiar location.
A narrow, foul-smelling alley. And at the end of that alley, a dazzling street sprawled before him.
‘Here again.’
The Cyberpunk World.
To be precise, it was the last place I had been before.
The alley beside the tavern.
Then a message materialized before Jung Han-sung’s eyes.
[Objective: Obtain clues regarding the Atlas Frame]

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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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