Subscriber of the Gods Chapter 338 - A Very Good Proposal

“A very good proposal, you say?”

Duke Yellowd showed interest in Ethan’s words.

A good proposal is one thing, but a very good proposal?

Coming from none other than Ethan Whiskers, it piqued his curiosity.

‘I’m only mentioned having a proposal without even getting to the main point.’

Ethan inwardly smiled at the duke’s reaction.

‘My reputation has certainly grown.’

Now, even a duke of the Holy Empire couldn’t ignore Ethan’s words.

Of course, this was due to the various achievements and image he had built up until now.

“First of all, thank you for participating in the market construction project in our territory, Your Grace.”

Ethan expressed gratitude for Duke Yellowd’s decision before getting to the main point.

“Our chief administrator told me. He said that although it could have been monopolized alone, for some reason, the Whiskers family wanted to share. He’s sure there must be some ulterior motive.”

The duke said with a laugh.

“I thought so too. There must really be an ulterior motive. A bigger picture, you know.”

At those words, Ethan just smiled. The duke seemed to like this even more and laughed heartily.

“I like the count’s thinking. That’s why I decided to participate. The unity of the Twelve Families. What an old and rusty phrase that is.”

The unity of the Twelve Families was, in fact, a nominal concept.

“The Twelve Families have been around for a long time. Originally, there was no hierarchy among the Holy Empire’s Twelve Families, but as time passed, a natural hierarchy formed.”

When the Twelve Families were first established, there was no hierarchy, so they supported and pushed each other, demonstrating strong unity.

However, as time passed, a hierarchy emerged, and because of this hierarchy, a leader appeared among the Holy Empire’s Twelve Families.

From that point on, cracks began to form in the unity of the Twelve Families.

Everyone wanted to take more. They didn’t want to lose out.

Furthermore, they wanted to rise to a unique position within the Holy Empire.

In the end, they lost their unity.

All that remained was the name Twelve Families. They ended up checking and fighting each other with their lives at stake.

That period had been quite long.

“If someone else had made such a proposal, I would have said it was absurd.”

In that long period, there were efforts to reunite the Twelve Families.

Of course, it wasn’t unity but a kind of unification.

A unity where the top-ranked family had a strong voice and control over the lower-ranked Twelve Families.

It could be seen as a one-sided unity.

“But the direction you’re thinking of is completely different, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I have no intention of creating a hierarchy. I just want to establish cooperative relationships between us. There might be some relationships that have already become irreversible, but I plan to improve these as well. I want to make it possible for them to talk through me.”

‘Hierarchization is difficult anyway. It’s not something that can be touched right now.’

If they put in a lot of time and effort, the Whiskers family might become the top-ranked among the Twelve Families.

But not only would it cause a lot of noise, but they also wouldn’t recognize the Whiskers family, which lacks tradition.

‘Unless we kill everyone, it’s just a nominal top rank. But if we kill everyone, the original purpose of uniting the Twelve Families becomes meaningless.’

That’s how scary tradition was.

It was impossible unless the newly joined Whiskers family stayed in this position for more than 100 years.

So Ethan chose a different approach.

Unity.

Not just unity in name, but real unity as the foundation.

Instead, he designed it so that the Whiskers family would be at the center.

‘All of this is possible because I’m at the center.’

Because Ethan had set Whiskers as the center, other Twelve Families could also join this unity, looking at Ethan.

‘Then the Whiskers family, which suddenly rolled in like a stone, can be definitely recognized and be free from external attacks.’

All the Twelve Families will protect the Whiskers family, which is responsible for the unity of the Twelve Families.

‘That’s the first thing.’

There was one more reason why this unity needed to be created.

“Then is this very good proposal you’re trying to make related to this unity?”

“It’s related to unity, but it’s not about the market. It’s a bit different. While the market is for our profit, what I’m proposing now is for the continent.”

“For the continent? Quite grandiose. Let’s hear what you’re thinking.”

Ethan brought up the story of the followers of the Moon.

The activities of the followers of the Moon were just beginning. Having failed to raid Ivecar, they were said to be changing direction to attack various territories in earnest.

‘The Ivecar Academy was attacked just before. Because of that, awareness has grown tremendously. We can’t just dismiss it thinking it couldn’t possibly happen.’

“This is not just a single incident, Your Grace. It’s the beginning of a major crisis. The followers of the Moon will now start to extend their evil hands here and there in earnest. Having attacked even the academy, which was an unwritten rule, what else would they hesitate to do?”

“Hmm… Certainly, that’s true. But this isn’t the first time the followers of the Moon have been active, is it? It’s been happening continuously.”

“This time is not ordinary. And, I wasn’t there before.”

Ethan said emphatically.

“I intend to root out those followers of the Moon completely.”

Then he pulled out a trump card that would make Duke Yellowd make up his mind for sure.

“If it still doesn’t resonate with you, let me tell you one more thing. Even Chancellor Tschernkastel fell victim to them.”

“What!?”

The duke asked back with a surprised expression.

“You know that Chancellor Tschernkastel was on his deathbed until recently, right?”

It was a fact known to all the heads of the Twelve Families.

“It was the doing of the followers of the Moon. And it had been going on for quite a long time.”

But they didn’t know where the Chancellor’s illness originated from.

And now, the whole story has been revealed.

“Chancellor Tschernkastel… fell victim to those followers of the Moon?”

“Yes, the followers of the Moon have infiltrated that deep into the empire. I think you already know. They must have approached you several times as well.”

“……”

The duke had a lot to think about.

“So I made a plan. This is not someone else’s problem. It’s your problem, and it’s my problem too.”

“…But why do you have to do it?”

To that, Ethan replied with a smile.

“If not me, who else would do it?”

It was an arrogant statement in a way, but at the same time, a bitter one.

In the current continent, who else could step up and say they would deal with the followers of the Moon, who could be seen as a common enemy?

Duke Yellowd’s deliberation didn’t last long.

“So, what’s this proposal?”

“I’m thinking of building a temple. I plan to build a temple for Moonforce, the god I believe in.”

“Build a temple?”

“I plan to put more pressure on the followers of the Moon by combining with the Holylight Order and the Inquisition.”

At those words, Duke Yellowd quickly understood why he wanted to build a temple.

“You’re going to put your name on it, right? You’re going to give it definite legitimacy with that.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Of course, that was something that came along additionally.

‘Building a temple and increasing the number of believers. That’s the main purpose.’

“I will personally direct the construction of Moonforce’s temple, Count Ethan Whiskers. And… I entrust my son to you, Teacher Ethan.”

Ding-!

-Duke Yellowd begins to trust you!

-You have obtained the site for Moonforce’s temple!

-Goddess Moonforce commends your efforts!

-Goddess Moonforce is impressed by your wit!

‘You acknowledge it.’

It seemed that Moonforce also realized that all of this was for the smooth creation of the temple.

Ethan bowed his head with a smile.

“Thank you for your help.”

***

Starting with the Yellowd family, Ethan visited all the families belonging to the Twelve Families. Needless to say, Ethan received a grand welcome wherever he went.

“If you had contacted us before coming, we would have held a festival!”

“Shall we have a duel?”

Sword Saint Jed Ramsdale suggested a duel as soon as Ethan arrived, almost as a greeting.

Of course, Ethan flatly refused.

‘My physical condition hasn’t fully recovered yet.’

The fight with the 3rd Apostle left Ethan with several things, one of which was wounds.

Originally, the reason Ethan built up his defensive skills was to never take damage.

But in the fight with the 3rd Apostle, he was attacked until Moonforce’s Armor was on the verge of breaking, resulting in significant damage.

‘Even though my physical condition improved a tiny bit through awakening.’

It was still burdensome to withstand the 3rd Apostle’s attacks.

‘This needs proper recuperation and treatment. Even a small wound can be life-threatening to this body.’

Ethan didn’t overestimate his body.

‘I always have to remember. It’s a body that can die even from a sneeze.’

Now that he’s become too strong, no one would believe it, but Ethan, the person himself, remembered this fact very well.

-Goddess Moonforce feels confused by your eloquence.

“Did I speak too well?”

Ethan visited each of the Twelve Families’ houses one by one, talking about the need to build Moonforce’s temple and decisively stop the activities of the followers of the Moon.

For the sake of the continent.

Furthermore, for the complete eradication of the followers of the Moon.

Everyone said there was no need for Ethan to do this.

Ethan said the same thing he said to Duke Yellowd. He said, if not me, who else would do it?

‘If someone else had said this, they would have seen it as unreasonable heroism. This is why a good reputation is good.’

Due to his high reputation, Ethan was perceived not as a young man full of heroic desires, but as a young hero.

“It’s going to take quite a long time to restore the academy.”

They can’t conduct classes during that time.

The exchange festival is approaching, but it can’t be helped.

“I need personal training too.”

Ethan also planned to become much stronger using this vacation.

‘I’ll get everything I can get from the Holy Empire.’