Subscriber of the Gods Chapter 352 - Already Found

-You have received Fenrir’s Fang!

-You have learned the God-Eating skill!

-Skill added: God-Eating (S)

Ethan acquired Fenrir’s gear and learned the skill.

Thanks to successfully negotiating through the collaboration, Ethan gained a definite means to kill gods.

Ethan immediately tried using Fenrir’s Fang.

Shaaak-.

Fenrir’s Fang naturally hung around Ethan’s neck, then was engraved on his skin like a tattoo.

As Ethan drew up mana, the tattoo began to glow, and soon Fenrir’s unique power began to frost over Ethan’s hand.

‘Oh.’

It was a very sharp aura.

A powerful force that seemed able to tear everything apart.

Ethan struck the ground once.

“It has no effect on the ground. I guess it’s gear that only works on gods.”

It seemed that adding the God-Eating technique he had just learned would create a synergy effect.

“So he made this gear to draw out the maximum power.”

As expected, Fenrir hadn’t come unprepared.

‘Definitely keeping the promise.’

The more specialized a god was in certain abilities, like Fenrir, the easier it was to make shorts. On top of that, they could also make the subscription reviews more definite.

‘I don’t know how far the ripples from this will spread.’

It will at least far exceed the range Fenrir anticipated.

‘It’ll feel like causing a ruckus within the New World.’

Not long after Ethan tested the technique he learned from Fenrir, Shine One returned.

“It was truly beautiful. His Majesty should have seen this sight. This was exactly the city we were thinking of. A metropolis where numerous races live together!”

Shine One, who had returned, looked at Ethan with a quite excited expression.

“Ah, don’t worry. I didn’t just go there to play. There really were… those who hadn’t forgotten me, just as you said.”

They were white-haired elders who had retired from the frontlines and were now called great chieftains, but they all knew Shine One.

“I asked them to lend their strength.”

They should have been surprised to see Shine One return after hundreds of years.

“They didn’t find it strange that I’ve lived for hundreds of years, since they themselves have been living for over a hundred years. Besides, I’m wearing this.”

The curse to guard the tomb had disappeared, but the curse asking for help still remained.

“Have you finished your preparations?”

“Yes, it’s all done. Now all that’s left is to find the evil god.”

***

“The evil god has been resurrected?”

“That’s nonsense.”

“Let’s say that’s true. Then why is Lyubin so quiet right now? The evil god would hate not only our desert people, but all those living in the desert. As soon as the seal was broken, Lyubin should have been engulfed in flames. If not that, then the Gaister Oasis should have been in chaos.”

“That’s what I’m saying! What benefit is there in spreading anxiety in this quiet situation? It would be better to investigate thoroughly rather than stirring things up.”

The palace of Lyubin.

The gathered chieftains of the desert tribes were having a heated discussion.

And in the middle of it all was Kepha, the great shaman who had seen the Guardian Star fall and the Dark Star shine.

Kepha stroked his beard once.

He was the oldest one present.

Kepha had heard many stories from the previous generation of shamans about how terrifying the resurrection of the evil god would be.

“Young chieftains, I know well that age has little to do with leading a tribe. But this time, I have no choice but to mention age. It seems the chieftains don’t know how terrifying the evil god is.”

Kepha spoke as if in disbelief.

“Five hundred of the chieftains leading each tribe and their best warriors went to seal the evil god. On top of that, the king, who was the most intelligent of those born in the desert, was at the center of that seal.”

That’s how they had sealed the evil god.

“That evil god has now been released from the seal.”

“It hasn’t been confirmed for certain, has it, Sir Kepha?”

Kepha looked at the young chieftain who said those words.

Kepha couldn’t continue speaking.

It was meaningless.

The Desert King should be at the center, commanding these people. But the Desert King was in seclusion, and his proxy daughter was still too young to have gained trust.

That’s why Kepha, the oldest and most respected great shaman of Lyubin, had stepped forward. But the young chieftains did not submit to the established hierarchy. They had a strong tendency to submit only when they saw with their own eyes and understood for themselves.

Kepha sighed.

That would be too late.

The evil god has already been released from its seal, and the entire desert is in danger.

Yet, far from working together to solve the problem, it was difficult even to gather that strength in one place.

At that moment, the doors to the grand conference hall opened.

“I’d like to.”

The one who entered was a woman with bronze skin.

Red hair and equally red eyes.

Wearing a crown on her head proving she was the king of Lyubin.

This was Rosir, the daughter of the Desert King and currently running Lyubin as the king’s proxy.

On either side of her were large guards she had personally selected.

But Rosir’s presence was far greater than those guards.

“I feel like throwing you all in prison. An agenda important enough for all the chieftains to gather, yet you meet secretly excluding the king? What do you all think of this?”

“…Lady Rosir.”

“Especially you, Kepha. You’re my teacher. You’re ignoring me too much when I’m performing the king’s duties in place of my father.”

“You are only nineteen, Your Highness.”

“I am here representing the king. Is age important?”

Rosir plopped down in the main seat.

“I’ve heard everything about the situation. And I’ve brought a solution too.”

“…!”

“You say you’ve brought a solution?”

The desert tribe chieftains looked at Rosir with surprised eyes.

“This isn’t something that can be easily solved like homework, Lady Rosir.”

Bang-!

At that moment, Rosir snatched a guard’s spear and struck the ground hard.

“I am here as your king.”

Then she met eyes with each of the chieftains one by one. For a moment, they were reminded of the intelligence the Desert King had shown in his youth.

“Watch your words.”

“…I apologize.”

The older chieftains who knew how to keep their place bowed their heads first. But some of the younger chieftains didn’t seem to like this situation much and looked ready to jump up from their seats at any moment.

The one they had pledged loyalty to was the Desert King.

Of course, even that loyalty wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t they who had sworn loyalty, but the previous generation of chieftains.

That’s why they didn’t feel the Desert King was worth swearing loyalty to.

“It seems you’re not assessing the situation properly. This isn’t the time to be browbeating us.”

“If you don’t acknowledge the king’s authority, this Lyubin will return to being a land of barbarians like before. You’re ignoring me just because I’m young, aren’t you? What do you mean by proper situation assessment?”

Rosir said.

“The evil god has been resurrected. Even I, young as I am, know how terrifying the evil god is. It’s not that the evil god’s seal might break, or that it’s about to break. The seal has already been broken.”

Rosir pointed to the sky and then to her ears.

“I heard it with my own ears. The sound of many screams and something falling.”

At those words, for a moment the older chieftains recalled an old legend. But they soon shook their heads.

“It’s a situation where even if everyone combines their strength, it’s not enough. We need to act quickly to somehow protect everyone living in the desert.”

“So how do you intend to protect them? The Desert King is not in a state to move immediately, is he?”

“That’s for me to figure out. What I want to ask you is just one thing. What will it take for you to acknowledge me?”

“…You’ll have to show us directly. I want to see with my own eyes. Something that would make us swear loyalty.”

At those words, Rosir smirked.

This is how the desert tribe warriors are. They stick to their stubbornness even in urgent situations.

“Then if I bring back the previous Desert King’s treasure that my father couldn’t obtain? Will you acknowledge me then?”

“!”

At the provocative words, the young chieftains blinked their eyes.

“That’s not impossible. If you obtain the Desert King’s treasure and become a true Desert King, we will apologize for all our rudeness so far and swear unconditional loyalty.”

Show strength.

Then we’ll be loyal.

“Alright, let’s do that.”

Rosir clenched her fist.

After the chieftains left, the great shaman Kepha bowed his head.

“…I apologize, Your Majesty.”

“Now you call me Your Majesty. Well, it’s fine. That’s not what’s important right now. You probably thought I’m still too young to handle everything. That’s right. It’s true that I’m young and lack the capacity to control the young chieftains. So I made a gamble.”

Rosir said.

“I will obtain the Desert King’s treasure and return. And through that, I intend to unite the tribes and confront the evil god. Please help me, Kepha.”

“Of course. I’ll help you as much as I can.”

Knock knock-.

At that moment, there was a knock on the grand conference hall door.

“A guest has arrived! It’s an urgent situation!”

“…An urgent situation?”

With a thought that it might be, Rosir immediately ordered the door to be opened. Beyond the door stood a desert tribe warrior, pale-faced.

“Th-that… Shine One has also arrived.”

“…Shine One?”

Rosir made a puzzled expression.

But the great shaman was surprised at that name.

“C-Count Ethan Whiskers has come with that Shine One.”

This time Rosir made a surprised expression.

“Y-you mean the Count Ethan Whiskers I know…?”

“Yes, he says he has something urgent to tell you.”

***

The reception room of the palace.

Shine One and Ethan were seated.

“Thanks to you, we entered comfortably. I’m glad there are still many who remember me.”

“It’s because you’ve accomplished such great deeds.”

“…Looking at this place, I think it was worth sacrificing.”

Not long after, the door opened and two people entered.

A tall woman, and an elderly man about the same height as her.

‘The Desert Empress. And next to her must be the great shaman.’

Desert Empress Rosir.

Rosir, still showing signs of youth, met eyes with Ethan.

‘The Desert Empress in her youth, huh.’

The Desert Empress was very popular among MePan users. Not only for her exotic appearance, but also for her personality and heroic activities.

She was highly regarded among those with certain preferences.

“I am Ethan Whiskers. Thank you for opening the door despite our sudden visit.”

“I am Rosir Gurtengar. I am leading Lyubin on behalf of His Majesty the Desert King, who is resting due to illness.”

Rosir welcomed Ethan gladly. But at the same time, she looked at Ethan with questioning eyes.

However, there was someone even more curious right beside her.

Shine One.

The warrior most trusted by the first Desert King who protected the desert from the evil god.

The person she had only heard about in stories from her ancestors was right before her eyes.

She came to check if he was real or fake, but she could tell just by looking.

The aura he emanated was clearly the unique aura of the desert people.

While Rosir was hesitating on how to treat him, the great shaman Kepha moved first.

“C-could it be. Is it really, really you, Shine One sir?”

“It’s good to see you, descendant. I don’t know whose descendant you are, but seeing that you recognize me…”

As soon as Kepha saw Shine One, he prostrated himself.

“I am Kepha of the Marensha family, oh Shine One!”

“Ah, Marensha! The Marensha family was a family with excellent sorcery. Horn Marensha was a friend I got along with very well.”

Shine One replied with a smile.

Mentioning the story of his ancestor, Kepha had no choice but to be certain that he was Shine One.

There’s always a way to survive.

Although the evil god has been resurrected, the Desert King’s most powerful warrior has also been resurrected.

“Shine One, can you tell us what happened?”

First, they needed to confirm why Shine One was resurrected, and how the situation was unfolding.

It seemed that Ethan and Shine One knew more information than what they knew here.

“Before that.”

Shine One looked at Rosir and held out his hand.

“Thank you for developing this land we protected so well.”

“Not at all. I’m… still just the king’s proxy. This isn’t something I should hear…”

“It’s alright. You will continue Lyubin from now on. Think of it as receiving thanks in advance. You’ve worked hard. You’ve worked hard. You’ve proven that our lives were worth risking.”

It was something they did without regard for anything for the future.

“When I go to meet His Majesty and my comrades later, I’ll have a lot to say.”

Shine One smiled kindly. Then he immediately nodded to Ethan to answer Kepha’s question.

It would be easier and more concise for Ethan to explain than for him to do it himself.

Ethan explained the current situation.

“The evil god has been resurrected. You already know that, right?”

“…Yes.”

What was important was the content after that.

“The evil god is hiding here in Lyubin. And it’s plotting something different from what it has done so far. The goal will be the same, but the process is different, that’s what I mean.”

Kepha nodded at Ethan’s words.

It was certainly strange.

“As you say, that process is somewhat strange. If the evil god had been released from his seal, he would have come straight to this Lyubin and turned this place into a sea of flames. Also, the monsters would have gone berserk. If the evil god had been resurrected, surely all the monsters in the desert would have attacked the Gaister Oasis and this Lyubin, which are full of vitality. But there’s no sign of that at all.”

Not only was there no monster attack, the monsters hadn’t even gone berserk.

As if the resurrection of the evil god was an illusion.

“What method could he be trying to use…”

Kepha shuddered.

The quiet was even more frightening. Like the calm before a storm. It really felt like something big was about to happen this time.

“But you just said… that the evil god is hiding in this Lyubin?”

“Yes.”

“Huh, how did you…”

“Well…”

As Ethan was about to continue, Rosir stepped forward.

“Don’t worry. Whether it’s hiding in Lyubin or somewhere else. I plan to resolve this situation.”

Perhaps because it was in front of Shine One, Rosir’s voice had even more strength in it.

“I will find the treasure left by the previous Desert King. I will find that treasure, be recognized as the true Desert King, and confront the evil god.”

“Hmm…”

At those words, Shine One made a troubled expression. And then Ethan continued.

“Ah, I’ve already found the Desert King’s treasure.”

“…Pardon?”

Rosir made a puzzled expression.

“What I just heard…”

“That’s right. I’ve found the Desert King’s treasure.”

Of course, he had left everything there, but still.

For a moment, the reception room fell silent.

“Really…?”

The Desert Empress was so surprised that she unconsciously spoke informally.