The Returned Hunter Has Awakened to a Hidden Class - Chapter 83
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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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83
Chapter 83
Sanctuary of the Abyss (1)
After passing through the portal to the 30th Floor, the scenery before his eyes changed.
It was a wasteland.
Even worse than before. An endlessly sprawling black earth.
A barren and rough land where no life could be found stretched to the horizon, and the sky hung heavy with a deep gray hue.
No wind blew.
No sound could be heard.
Just a quiet, desolate, seemingly dead space.
‘Still the same.’
Kim Jun thought.
Even before his regression, this place had been like this.
A wasteland with nothing, a floor where you simply had to walk forward.
However.
‘I’ve arrived.’
Kim Jun’s gaze stopped.
Far in the distance, in the middle of the wasteland.
A building stood there.
No, rather than a building, it was a manor.
A magnificent, splendid structure that didn’t match this wasteland at all.
A three-story stone building.
Gothic spires and arched windows.
An exterior made of red brick and black tiles.
And even a garden.
Though it contained only dead trees and withered flowers, there were clear traces that someone had tried to tend to it.
‘Sanctuary of the Abyss.’
A place he had briefly visited even before his regression.
‘Why on earth would it be in a place like this?’
Why would such a manor exist in this hellish place, why would someone manage it, what was the purpose.
Step-
Kim Jun began walking.
Though it had looked distant, it was closer than expected, and after walking for about 5 minutes, he arrived in front of the manor.
Thud-thud-
He knocked on the front door.
A moment of silence.
And then.
Creak-
The door opened.
“Please, come in.”
A man was standing there.
A man who appeared to be in his mid-60s.
Neatly combed gray hair, a wrinkled face, and wearing a perfectly pressed black suit.
A butler.
No, a manager.
He gave off the feeling of a luxury hotel manager.
“You are a guest.”
The man politely bowed his head.
“It has been a long time. Since a guest has come to this place.”
“…”
Kim Jun looked at the man.
‘As expected.’
Exactly the same as before his regression.
Same face.
Same voice.
Same attitude.
“Please come in.”
The man opened the door wide.
Kim Jun stepped inside.
The interior was even more splendid than the exterior.
Marble floors.
Black marble with white patterns carved into it, and with each step, a clear clicking sound could be heard.
A massive crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, emitting red light that illuminated the hall.
And on both sides.
Curved spiral staircases led to the 2nd Floor on both sides, with railings decorated in gold.
Frames hung on every wall, but what was painted inside them… was unknowable.
It was darkness.
Paintings filled with nothing but black darkness.
“Do you find it to your liking?”
The man asked.
“…It’s decent enough.”
Kim Jun replied.
“I’d like a room, and some food as well.”
“I’ll prepare it right away.”
The man bowed his head and disappeared toward the interior.
Kim Jun was left alone in the hall.
‘Still a strange place.’
Kim Jun looked around.
Underground 30th Floor.
In other words, Hell’s 30th Floor.
Why would such a manor exist in a place like this.
It had been a mystery before his regression, and it was still a mystery now.
Though he had wondered about it, he hadn’t delved deeply into it.
Because it hadn’t been dangerous.
But now it was different.
‘When I think about it, there’s more than one or two strange things.’
Kim Jun organized his thoughts.
First, guests.
Even before his regression, Kim Jun had been the first, and this time Kim Jun would be the first as well.
So across both cycles, Kim Jun was the first and last guest.
Since reaching the 25th Floor was already difficult, reaching the 30th Floor was nearly impossible.
That meant this manor had almost no guests, or rather, none at all.
Second, maintenance costs.
Managing such a large manor would cost money.
Even setting aside electricity bills, the costs for food, cleaning, repairs, and so on wouldn’t be insignificant.
How could it be maintained without any guests.
Third, purpose.
Why would they build a manor in a place like this.
In the heart of Hell, in a place where no one comes.
‘And most of all.’
Kim Jun’s gaze turned inward.
‘That man.’
The servant-like man.
‘Why on earth is he playing this game?’
“The food is ready.”
The man returned.
He was holding a silver tray with a single bowl placed on top.
“Please sit here.”
The man pointed to a table.
A dining table placed on one side of the hall.
There was a long table with chairs, and candles were lit.
Kim Jun sat down.
The man set down the bowl.
“Please enjoy your meal.”
“…No improvement.”
Kim Jun looked down at the bowl.
It was soup.
But it wasn’t ordinary soup.
Black.
Thick black broth filled the bowl, with something floating inside.
Things that looked like eyeballs, thin thread-like objects, and unidentifiable chunks.
It was disgusting.
Just looking at it made him want to vomit.
However.
‘I have to eat it.’
Kim Jun picked up the spoon.
He had eaten it before his regression too.
The taste was truly awful, but the effects were certain.
His stamina recovered, fatigue was relieved, and his mana stabilized.
Despite its appearance, it was sufficiently nutritious.
‘Especially now.’
Kim Jun thought.
The aftereffects of using 「Flame Emperor」 were severe.
His whole body ached, his muscles felt torn, and his bones creaked.
His mana continued to recharge thanks to 「Lion’s Talisman」, 「Blue Abyss Talisman」, and 「Infinite Mana」, but stamina and mana were separate matters.
Physical fatigue was unavoidable.
‘It would be nice to get a trait or skill like 「Indestructible Body」.’
Kim Jun sighed.
He had searched for it before his regression but couldn’t find it.
Whether it was fate or it simply didn’t exist.
‘I should ask the information broker.’
After quickly clearing Hell.
If he climbed just a little more, an information shop would appear.
There he could buy information, and might even meet that mysterious information broker he had encountered before his regression.
Kim Jun scooped up the soup and put it in his mouth.
“Ugh…”
Disgusting.
It wasn’t just tasteless, but had a bitter taste that stung his tongue, a fishy smell, and an indescribable staleness.
But he swallowed it.
And continued eating.
One spoonful.
Two spoonfuls.
Ten spoonfuls.
The bowl was emptied.
“Have you finished?”
The man approached.
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll guide you to your room.”
As the man cleared the bowl and walked toward the stairs, Kim Jun followed.
Following the spiral staircase to the 2nd floor, a long, dark corridor appeared with doors endlessly lined up on both sides.
“This way.”
The man opened a door at the end of the corridor.
A spacious bedroom, large bed, wardrobe, desk, and window.
“Please rest comfortably.”
“Wait.”
Kim Jun called out to the man.
“Yes?”
He hadn’t intended to speak, but he couldn’t bear it any longer.
Why would such a being, who had nothing to gain from this place, be playing the role of master here?
“What exactly are you doing here?”
“What do you mean…?”
The one who fell from heaven.
God’s most beautiful creation, who fell to the very bottom of the abyss due to pride.
The one whose name meant light-bringer, but who had now become the ruler of darkness.
The highest among angels, who fell to the deepest part of hell.
The first fallen angel.
The king of hell.
The being who commanded ten thousand legions, ruled over the seven sins, and stood at the pinnacle of all demons.
The boss of the 100th Floor of Hell.
Lucifer.
“Lucifer. What are you doing here?”
“….”
In an instant, the air froze.
*
Before his regression.
When he first visited this place, he naturally had no idea that the master was Lucifer.
He had simply thought it was a strange place.
A resting place in The Heart of Hell, a mysterious master, disgusting food.
But eventually, after reaching the 100th Floor of Hell, the deepest part of the Tower, Kim Jun realized.
That the master of the 「Sanctuary of the Abyss」 was Lucifer.
That the master he met on the 30th Floor and the king of hell he met on the 100th Floor were the same being.
“Why exactly are you doing this here, Lucifer?”
Kim Jun asked again.
Silence flowed.
The man still looked at Kim Jun without changing his expression.
Maintaining the attitude of a polite, calm, and perfect servant.
But the air had changed.
Heavy, cold, and oppressive.
“…How did you figure out my identity?”
The man slowly opened his mouth.
His voice had changed.
It was lower, deeper, and resonant.
“That’s none of your business.”
Kim Jun answered.
Of course, at his current level, there was no skill or trait that could discern Lucifer’s identity.
The only reason Kim Jun knew was because he was a regressor.
But he couldn’t say that.
“None of your business.”
Kim Jun could only repeat the same words.
The man stared at Kim Jun for a long while.
As if peering into his soul, trying to see through everything.
And then.
“Hehe…”
A low laugh flowed out.
“Good. So you know my identity.”
In that instant.
Wooooong-!
The air trembled.
No, space itself shook.
“…!”
Kim Jun’s eyes widened.
The man’s appearance began to change.
Slowly, but surely.
The black suit disappeared.
Instead, a white robe appeared.
A corrupted white with black stains spreading throughout.
His gray hair grew longer.
Silver hair cascading down to his waist.
Soft, beautiful, and shining.
His face changed too.
A young man in his mid-twenties, or perhaps even younger.
A perfect face that was both beautiful and handsome, making it difficult to distinguish whether he was male or female.
And from behind his back.
Rustle-!
Six wings spread out.
Half were white, and half were black.
Wings of a fallen angel where light and darkness coexisted.
「Nice to meet you, Kim Jun.」
A voice resonated.
Though his lips didn’t move, the voice could be heard.
It wasn’t heard directly through the ears, but seemed to echo directly in his mind.
“…”
Kim Jun held his breath.
His heart trembled.
Every muscle in his body stiffened.
‘This is.’
He was being overwhelmed.
By the very existence itself.
As if spirit words were being invoked with every word Lucifer spoke.
The air grew heavy, breathing became difficult, and his knees felt like they would buckle.
‘Damn. Should I not have pretended to know?’
Kim Jun began to regret his actions.
Lucifer’s presence was far beyond his imagination.
Kim Jun’s current level was 69.
In terms of speed, he had grown twice as fast as before his regression, but before regression, he had come here after entering the 50th Floor Caldion, so his level was actually lower now.
Of course, he had been confident after completing his Hidden Class 2nd awakening.
‘But.’
The being before his eyes now.
「I have long awaited one who possesses the qualifications.」
Was on a different dimension.
‘Ugh…!’
Kim Jun’s knees began to bend little by little.
He resisted, but Lucifer’s presence was so overwhelming that it was hard to endure.
「Ah.」
Lucifer tilted his head.
「In this form, you cannot handle it.」
As if considering Kim Jun, Lucifer began to change his appearance again.
His silver hair shortened, the white robe changed back to a black suit, and his wings disappeared.
Woooong-
The weight of the air lightened.
He could breathe again.
“Hah…”
Kim Jun exhaled roughly.
His back was drenched in sweat.
“This should be fine, right?”
Lucifer looked at Kim Jun with a gentle smile.
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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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