Subscriber of the Gods Chapter 341 - About the Desert

The guide, Rashibed.

He was born in the desert and had lived his entire life with the desert as his cradle.

He possessed one ability that was more exceptional than others. It was the ability to go wherever he wanted by following scents without losing direction, no matter where he was in the desert.

While this was an ability that anyone born in the desert possessed, Rashibed’s ability was even more special.

“You’ve probably heard rumors and come looking for me, but other guides are limited in where they can go. Finding your way in the desert requires a very sensitive and excellent sense. I was born with that sense, so I can go anywhere I’ve been before.”

Rashibed never forgot a place he had been once.

And no matter where he was in the desert, he could instinctively head towards that place.

‘You could call it a human Wind Cloud.’

Of course, unlike Hong Gildong’s ability, it wasn’t teleportation, but it was amazing that he could go anywhere he had been once.

“Did you say the Novad Mercenary Group?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right, Count.”

The Novad Mercenary Group.

Although it was a mercenary group he had never heard of, they too were a group of mercenaries with various stories, like any other mercenary group.

The captain was Hanter Novad standing next to him, a veteran mercenary who had been in the business for over 30 years.

“Most mercenary groups looking for the desert are probably the same, but why specifically target the Desert King’s treasure? Thinking of making a big score? If you fail, you’ll lose your lives. Doesn’t seem worth it, does it?”

“I actually think so too, but there’s a reason.”

Where is there a grave without a story?

The Novad Mercenary Group was originally about a hundred members strong, but due to circumstances, it had been reduced to about fifty members.

‘They all seem skilled.’

The mana and aura emanating from each of them even when they were still.

Judging by their unique gait and various attitudes even while resting, they appeared to be mercenaries who had been active for more than 5 years.

‘It’s natural for mercenaries to be rough.’

The rough appearance they showed in the Gaister Oasis didn’t match the appearance that Hanter Novad, the mercenary captain, was showing now.

‘He’s not bowing down because of my reputation. This is his original personality.’

“Is there a reason you absolutely need to obtain the Desert King’s treasure?”

“…Yes.”

Hanter let out a deep sigh and then began to explain the reason.

“We need an item called the Shield of Purification.”

It was certainly a name he had heard before.

‘Was that the Desert King’s treasure?’

If so, it could be said that it was exactly what Ethan needed right now.

‘More than growth, defense techniques are needed first.’

Ethan felt for the first time while fighting the 3rd Apostle that he lacked defensive techniques.

‘The Spirit King’s Guardian Stone, which reduces damage by 70 percent, or Perfect Evasion, which allows evasion with a certain probability, are practically meaningless.’

Even if damage is reduced by 70 percent, if the opponent is as strong as the 3rd Apostle, he’ll inevitably suffer fatal injuries.

When he first obtained it, he thought it would be quite useful. But after using it in actual combat, he realized its utility was low.

‘The defense technique that suits me best is one that completely blocks or nullifies damage.’

Among these, defenses that nullify damage were the best.

‘If I could add one more.’

The Shield of Purification would be quite a good choice.

“Why do you need the Shield of Purification?”

At Ethan’s question, Hanter began to explain the situation.

A comrade who had been with the mercenary group since its inception had fallen ill.

They thought it was a simple illness, but no place could treat it, and eventually, it was diagnosed as incurable.

Then they met a healer.

Everyone said it was unbelievable, but they were in no position to be picky.

“There was a healer who said he would cure our comrade if we brought the Shield of Purification.”

“So you’re all risking your lives for one person?”

“It might seem foolish to you, Count… But not one of us doesn’t owe that guy our lives. We are everything to him. Some of us, including me and a few other mercenaries, have families. Some are married, some have children. But we are everything to him. How could we just leave him be?”

“Who is the person who said they would cure him?”

At Ethan’s question, he hesitated for a moment before revealing.

“Well, actually, he said he was from the Demon Empire… He said he could cure any disease, so we thought he might be able to cure an incurable disease too. We went to him, and as payment for the treatment, he demanded the Shield of Purification. We knew about the Desert King’s treasure, but we didn’t know exactly what it was…”

Hanter candidly shared the story.

‘Hmm.’

Ethan recalled several figures in his mind. A healer from the Demon Empire. He came over to the Holy Empire and for some reason needs the Shield of Purification.

“What did he look like?”

“Uh… He had his face completely covered, so I couldn’t see properly. But his hat was peculiar. He was wearing a hat with a long brim and crow feathers attached.”

At those words, Ethan smiled slightly.

‘Entrosa.’

It was a person who matched the information in Ethan’s mind.

Entrosa, the black magician of the Demon Empire.

‘He’s probably crossed over to the Holy Empire for research.’

Ethan was well aware of the field Entrosa was researching.

‘Golems similar to humans.’

He was a black magician and also a golem summoner.

To be precise, he was interested in golem summoning infused with black magic, so he could be seen as a golem summoner who was constantly researching perfect golems.

‘He’s the origin of my special golem idea.’

He was a versatile magician in many ways, and although he had a bit of a crazy side, if recruited as an ally, he would be quite useful.

‘Although he’s from the Demon Empire, his abilities and personality aren’t bad.’

If recruited, he would be a talented individual who could help the Whiskers territory in many ways.

‘Especially in the commercial aspect, he’ll be a great help. He’ll be able to enhance the performance of special golems further.’

Ethan was making quite a tidy profit with special golems. But income was only secondary. The important thing was connections.

‘I could build connections in other directions too.’

He made a decision. To recruit Entrosa to the Whiskers territory.

“But I’m curious about why Count Ethan is trying to find that temple…”

“To be precise, to confirm if that temple is the one I’m looking for.”

“I see… It’s a bit awkward to ask this, but I’m curious if there really is the Desert King’s treasure there.”

“There is.”

Ethan said.

At those words, Hanter was about to ask a question, but Rashibed blew a whistle and made a hand signal, causing him to stop speaking.

“Stop for a moment! We’ll stop!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Shh.”

Rashibed made a gesture to be quiet and immediately put his ear to the ground.

He closed his eyes and didn’t make even the slightest movement, as if trying to concentrate completely on the sound.

“This is a shortcut, but… Hmm, it’s not good. Too many. It’s an unmanageable number.”

Rashibed said that and approached Ethan.

“Count, there are many dangerous creatures in the desert, but there are about three that you should be most careful of. One of them is the Quicksand Guardian. It’s a very dangerous creature, along with the desert shark that you should also be cautious of, and it’s right ahead of us.”

“You stopped because there are monsters? Don’t you know how many of us there are? It doesn’t matter. We can handle it.”

“If it was just one, I wouldn’t have said anything.”

At Hanter’s words, Rashibed shook his head.

“Right now, there are dozens, maybe even over a hundred of them ahead.”

“But why are they gathered? Don’t they usually avoid territory invasion?”

Hanter, who had some knowledge about the desert, asked.

“This is group hunting. The Quicksand Guardians gather one by one to create a massive quicksand large enough to swallow dozens of humans at once.”

“…”

It was a terrifying thought.

Hanter shook his head at that story and suggested taking another route.

“We have no other choice.”

“How do you tell the way when the desert looks the same everywhere?”

The Novad Mercenary Group was amazed at Rashibed’s ability.

To be honest, they thought all guides were pretty much the same. Even when they received the recommendation, they were skeptical.

However, Rashibed, whom they saw in person, was exceptionally good at finding the way.

If it wasn’t for Rashibed, they wouldn’t have noticed the Quicksand Guardians’ group hunt now.

And they would have certainly been hunted by the Quicksand Guardians.

“Then we’ll have to take a detour. How long will the other route take?”

“If we take the detour, it will take an extra day.”

“A day?”

“Yes, you’ll have to pay me more.”

“…Alright, I understand.”

It’s better to go safely and surely by taking a little detour than to go quickly while risking danger.

At that moment, Ethan stepped forward.

“So if we take this shortcut, we save a day?”

“Ah, no! It’s not just one! There are dozens of Quicksand Guardians over there right now…!”

Before Rashibed could finish speaking, Ethan ran forward.

Kuguugugung-!

Suddenly, the desert began to move.

“Ah, aaaaah…!”

The Novad Mercenary Group was in an uproar at the tremendous sight. The sand was undulating like ocean waves in the middle of the desert.

Gulp-.

If they were sucked into that sand.

“This… doesn’t look good…?”

The mercenary captain Hanter shouted.

“Co, Count! It’s okay! We’re not in that much of a hurry…?”

“Uh…?”

Hanter, who was shouting loudly towards Ethan running forward, unknowingly closed his mouth.

Ethan, standing on the quicksand, was not sucked in. Rather, he was even walking lightly on it as if it were normal ground.

Kwaguugugung-!

But that was only for a moment.

The dozens of Quicksand Guardians that Rashibed had warned about poked their heads out.

Ethan lightly swung his sword.

Ethan Swordsmanship 2nd Form

Moonforce

Shaaaaaaaaak-!

Simultaneously with Ethan swinging his sword, an intense cold spread around. The mercenaries felt a cold like the desert at midnight from the aftermath.

Rashibed also shivered greatly from the cold.

It was unclear whether he shivered because of the cold or because of Ethan’s swordsmanship.

Kuung-.

With one attack from Ethan, several Quicksand Guardians were sliced away.

Ethan swung his sword consecutively. The Quicksand Guardians, belatedly realizing the situation, tried to escape under the sand, but Ethan’s sword was faster.

Ssuk-.

Ethan stabbed each Quicksand Guardian trying to hide in the sand with his Frost Sword, pulling them out onto the sand.

As a result, in less than a minute, dozens of Quicksand Guardians died at Ethan’s hands.

Ethan lightly shook his Frost Sword to put it away and said to Rashibed.

“I’ve cleared the path, guide.”

At those words, Rashibed ran to Ethan with a very tense face.