The Returned Hunter Has Awakened to a Hidden Class - Chapter 137

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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137

Chapter 137

Until Intervention, Until Opening.

“What will you do?”

Pure white wings.

They are not a glory of the past.

Even now, they remain brilliant, dazzling white.

The being with those wings bowed their head toward the Throne.

Upon the Throne.

The one who built the Tower.

The one who bound all existence to the Tower.

The one who will now devour even Earth into the Tower.

The one who reigns over all worlds.

No, more precisely, the one who seeks to reign.

Called ■■.

Also called ■■■.

A being who calls himself Almighty.

He leisurely rests his chin on his hand and asks back.

“What should be done?”

The Tower is his authority.

The Tower is merely a structure built by dividing his power.

And yet.

That Tower has been shaken.

The system has cracked.

A portion of power separated from him has diminished, however slightly.

A structure where parts of him wear away as the system collapses.

It’s only natural, if you think about it.

“I will go down.”

The one with pure white wings spoke again.

“He is an irregular. Whether he’s aware of it or not, his very existence is shaking the Tower’s structure itself. He cannot be left alone. While he’s still not fully grown, you should eliminate him.”

“Hahaha! You’re going down?”

The being upon the Throne laughs.

“Ah, if I lose you, what joy would I have left to live for?”

“This is not a matter to brush off with jokes.”

Everything in the Tower is his authority.

However.

There were also things that were not his authority.

The Hunter level-up system.

The inter-floor protection structure.

The device that suppresses power when entering other floors.

He did not create those.

A being who never even dreamed of betrayal.

▲▲’s mischief.

It still remains deep within the Tower, and everywhere throughout it.

Even more.

Even he, who calls himself Almighty, is weakened on other floors.

“Tsk.”

Originally, this would have been impossible.

Even if floors were divided, even if worlds overlapped.

His status should never have been suppressed.

But now it’s different.

Authority is constrained, and power is bound to structure.

The moment omnipotence moves with conditions attached.

It is no longer complete omnipotence.

An Almighty that is not Almighty.

Unpleasant.

That’s all there is to it.

Well, anyway.

Power divided into three and scattered across the world.

I will reclaim it all anyway.

Everything.

Without leaving a single piece behind.

“Then, what about opening it? Just enough to recover the lost power.”

The gaze from atop the throne narrows.

“Tell me.”

“There have been two system collapses so far.”

Once on the 32nd floor, [Labyrinth of the Reaper].

And once on the 80th Floor underground, [Perdition].

“The life force lost from these two collapses is approximately 100,000.”

100,000.

Power converted into numbers.

A part of him.

A moment of silence.

And then.

“Prepare it.”

He smiles.

“As you said, we can’t just leave the irregular alone.”

However.

He cannot recklessly open the Tower.

That authority is also not complete.

After ▲▲’s betrayal.

Even the act of ‘opening’ became conditional.

Direct intervention is restricted.

Direct dimensional expansion is sealed.

To exercise authority, one must go through the system’s logic.

Even though it’s the Tower he built.

Now he cannot directly destroy its structure.

So.

When Kim Jun was forcibly moved from the 19th Floor to the 75th Floor.

What was used then was not ‘intervention’.

Condition fulfillment.

A trigger that exploited the system’s loopholes.

Forced relocation.

Instead of breaking the structure, a method that makes the structure move on its own.

Of course, even this would consume enormous power.

But considering the life force to be absorbed.

It’s an investment with guaranteed returns, you could say.

“I will reactivate the trigger.”

“Don’t be too obvious about it.”

The being on the throne chuckles lowly.

“If that guy notices, he’ll try to interfere again.”

The Tower will appear to move on its own.

Like a coincidence.

Like fate.

But in reality.

A designed event.

“Let’s see how far I can climb.”

His gaze turns toward the distant, invisible upper floors.

“Let’s find out.”

At that moment.

Somewhere in the depths of the Tower.

A sealed conditional formula.

Quietly, very subtly.

Ding-!

Began to be rewritten.

*

“How can I trust your words?”

“Just trust me, will you.”

Even while passing through the remaining Hell.

Satan continued to doubt Kim Jun.

“How could I trust the words of a mere human?”

“The system calls me a demon though?”

“I’m not in the mood for jokes.”

“Tsk.”

How many times has he said this now.

His mouth is getting sore.

“I told you, once I clear the Tower, I’ll free everyone.”

“Master! I don’t need it! I’m satisfied!”

“Shut up! How dare a lowly insect mongrel demon speak up.”

Though reduced to a summon, Satan was still Satan.

One of the absolute beings.

His rank had been demoted, but his essence hadn’t been diminished.

“Once the Tower is finished. I have no goals beyond that.”

“…”

Satan didn’t answer.

His red eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Kim Jun.

“If you want, we can make a contract.”

“…!”

With those words, the atmosphere changed.

Even bound as a summon.

Satan was still Satan.

One of the absolute beings.

His rank had been demoted, but his essence hadn’t been erased.

Therefore.

Satan could still use the 「Contract of the Abyss」.

A contract that binds existence with the soul as collateral.

Once concluded, a binding that even gods cannot easily twist.

“If that would make you trust me.”

Kim Jun added nonchalantly.

As if presenting just another condition.

Casually.

However.

Satan found that casualness even more irritating.

“….”

Silence.

A brief silence.

And yet another silence.

Eyes deep in calculation.

「Abyssal Contract」.

For a demon, that is not simply a means.

The act of placing one’s soul on the scales.

One wrong move and you’re bound forever.

It cannot be compared to the formal restraint of being a summon.

A contract that binds the essence.

Such a contract.

This human proposed it without hesitation.

“Because I’m that serious.”

To Satan’s suspicious gaze until the end, Kim Jun added.

“I have no intention of keeping you bound to me forever.”

The conditions are clear.

Liberation when the Tower ends.

Companionship until then.

Each goes their own way after that.

If this is a lie.

Then bind it with a contract.

He had brought up a choice disadvantageous to himself first.

Satan’s eyes wavered very slightly.

This human is quick to calculate.

And strangely, he doesn’t fear him.

He doesn’t force ‘faith’.

Instead, he offers choices.

Contract.

Or trust.

“….”

Silence, silence, silence.

Satan pondering for a long time.

‘What is he thinking so hard about.’

It would be ridiculous if he came out saying ‘Yes, let’s make a contract’.

His pride wouldn’t allow it.

Perhaps Satan is worrying about such things?

And watching such Satan, Kim Jun also fell into thought.

At this point, wouldn’t he just trust me?

We don’t necessarily need to go as far as a contract.

There’s the dignity of a Great Demon.

It’s not cool…

“Yes, let’s make a contract.”

“What?!”

…Demons really do love contracts.

*

Kim Jun, Andras, Nyong Nyong·Yongyong.

And Satan.

Grr, grrrr…

Keeee…

In the distance, demons let out low moaning cries.

It’s not the sound of trying to attack.

Wariness.

No, instinctive avoidance.

Kim Jun slowly moved his steps.

He didn’t use any skills.

He didn’t draw his sword either.

He just walks.

But then.

Swoosh-

The monsters retreat on their own.

The demonic beasts blocking the path stagger aside.

The medium-sized demons reigning over the rocks lower their gazes.

As if that’s not an opponent to fight.

Kim Jun laughed for a moment as if dumbfounded.

‘What is this.’

Before regression.

This section was hell.

81st Floor.

Legion-type monsters that swarmed without rest.

82nd Floor.

Red Lava Gorge where the terrain itself was a trap.

83rd Floor.

Swarms of flying demons covering the sky.

84th Floor.

Collective-type demonic beasts that endlessly revived.

Before regression, he truly struggled.

It took days to clear a single floor, and every time he faced a medium-sized monster, he had to prepare for death.

Even though his level was higher than now, his body was always at its limits.

One mistake meant immediate death, and he couldn’t count how many times he gritted his teeth clearing each floor.

The entire Underground Floor, or more precisely, from the 80th Floor onward.

It was an endless series of battles with no end in sight.

Hell.

Lived up to its name.

But now.

…

It’s quiet.

Too quiet.

Satan says nothing.

He merely exists within the shadows.

However.

That presence alone was enough.

Grand Demon of wrath.

Source of the seven sins.

One of Hell’s kings, and once Hell’s sole king.

From the demons’ perspective.

That’s not a target to challenge.

A king walks.

That king is bound within a human’s shadow.

At that bizarre sight.

They dare not even raise their heads.

Kim Jun muttered inwardly.

‘Is it okay to be this easy.’

His steps are light.

Too light.

No need to swing his sword.

No need to use his authority.

Hell clears the way.

Truly a free pass.

Up to the 84th floor, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say we took a stroll.

And then.

85th Floor.

The air changes.

Dense magical power settles in.

A massive pattern carved into the floor.

A black pillar rising from the center.

From atop it, something rises to its feet.

A massive demon clad in red armor.

The axes gripped in both hands scrape against the floor.

Thud-

Magical power converges all at once.

A name comes to mind.

85th Floor boss.

[Boss: Agaress of Eternity]

[Grade: A]

[Level: 100]

[Health:

100,000,000/100,000,000]

Before my regression.

I can’t count how many times I ground my teeth because of this bastard.

It wasn’t simply because he was strong.

He was tenacious to a sickening degree.

A total of 100 phases.

I thought it would be over once I defeated him.

I clearly severed his neck.

I pierced his heart.

‘Did I kill him?’

The moment I thought that—

Crash-!

The next phase began.

Health back to 100 percent.

All status ailments completely reset.

Even the patterns change slightly.

Attacks that seem the same but are different.

Area attacks that seem the same but are stronger.

He repeats this ninety-nine times.

A full ninety-nine times.

It wears a person down.

It gnaws away at your concentration.

Finally, the 100th time.

The desperation pattern.

Despite not even being one of the Seven Deadly Grand Demons.

He unfurled the Gate of Hell and poured out his legion.

I came in to catch just Agaress, but before I knew it, it became a war of attrition.

I really thought I was going to die then.

Health at rock bottom.

Mana depleted.

That’s why it’s more memorable.

This bastard wasn’t scary because he was strong, but because he was sickeningly persistent.

‘Will it be different this time?’

Kim Jun quietly stares at the creature.

Agaress’s red eyes also flash toward Kim Jun.

The axe is raised.

Phase 1 is about to begin.

“Hm?”

At that moment.

That gaze wavers subtly.

He looks at Kim Jun.

And.

His shadow.

And again, he looks at Kim Jun who has devoured that shadow.

For just a moment.

Silence.

The magic power distorts.

The axe stops.

And.

Thud-!

The axe settles on the ground.

His head bows.

“P-please… pass through…”

“…You too?”

A path opens.

The central passage of the 85th Floor.

Slowly-

It splits to the left and right.

Kim Jun stops for a moment.

He tilts his head.

“…Seriously?”

He spent two full days just to catch this one.

Ninety-nine repetitions.

The final hundredth desperate struggle pattern.

Even that legion battle.

He can’t even remember how many times he died and came back to life.

But now.

He didn’t swing even once.

“Ha.”

Kim Jun let out a hollow laugh.

“At this rate, I might just walk straight to the 100th Floor.”

To the point where he wonders if this is okay.

The Hell section after Satan, which should be the most desperate.

Is actually the most comfortable.

“Have a safe journey!”

“…”

The lesser demons lined up along the path, and even Agaress, the boss of this staircase.

They bow their heads and see Kim Jun off.

Whether it’s fear.

Or respect.

Or perhaps instinctive submission.

Of course, things won’t continue to flow like this until the end.

In the next staircases, there were a few notable beings.

Barbatos of the 90th Floor.

Berit of the 93rd Floor.

And the 95th Floor.

The Matron of Hell, Lilith.

What attitude would they take?

Would they open the path for him?

Would they clear the way?

Or would they…

Even while witnessing the immense magical power Kim Jun was radiating and Satan trapped in Kim Jun’s shadow, would they bare their fangs?

“…I really want to just pass through the 95th Floor quietly.”

That place.

The one he had obtained from Adelaine.

The second location where the「Status Ailment Immunity Potion」was needed.

“Sigh…”

It had felt like a trivial conquest.

But when he thought of the 95th Floor, that place.

This time, Kim Jun truly hoped he could pass through as quietly as this.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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