Subscriber of the Gods Chapter 361 - Entrosa

“Entrosa is nearby. Have you heard of the Ilus Swamp?”

To the north, close to Gaister, there was a place called the Ilus Swamp.

Originally, it was a place uninhabited by people and full of monsters, but some took advantage of this characteristic to hide their identities and live there.

Entrosa was one of those.

Before leaving Gaister.

Rashibed, who remained alone, greeted the mercenary group and Ethan.

“Please visit us again next time.”

“Rashibed.”

“Yes, Count.”

“This is no longer a desert. So there won’t be a need for a guide anymore.”

“So that’s what you meant when you talked about it before! I never dreamed of this. But it’s alright! I’m satisfied just to have been at the center of Count’s and Gaister’s history!”

Rashibed said with a bright smile.

‘He seems to understand roughly how the situation is unfolding.’

As expected of an excellent guide, he quickly grasps the rapidly changing circumstances.

‘It’s a shame to leave such a talented person behind.’

“Rashibed, what do you plan to do if you quit being a guide?”

“Gaister isn’t the only place that needs guides. I can continue guiding people in places where they can’t find their way properly. It won’t be easy, but guiding people is my calling.”

“How about coming to our territory?”

“…Pardon?”

“Our territory is quite large. It’s easy for first-time visitors to get lost. That’s why we could use a guide.”

Rashibed showed interest in those words.

“Is the Whiskers territory that big?”

“It is. And it’s going to get even bigger. What do you think?”

As the territory grew, Ethan had been thinking about efficiency. Most people visiting Whiskers territory always have specific destinations in mind.

But the information available to them is inadequate. As the territory continues to expand, its geography changes frequently.

Of course, it will naturally stabilize over time, but there will certainly be those who can’t find their way.

Ethan intended to make Rashibed a guide for them.

A guide for the territory. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to increase the number of guides as more visitors come to the territory in the future.

“I want to put you at the center of our Whiskers guides, Rashibed.”

“…It sounds like you really need me.”

Rashibed smiled.

“Thank you for the offer. If you’ll have me, I’ll make sure no territory visitors get lost as a guide for Whiskers territory! I’m confident!”

***

After sending Rashibed to Whiskers territory.

Ethan headed towards the Ilus Swamp with the Hanter mercenary group.

“I’m curious about something, Count Ethan. May I ask why you want to meet Entrosa…?”

“You’re quite curious, aren’t you?”

“I once dreamed of being an adventurer… I guess I asked something unnecessary. Never mind.”

“It’s not for any special reason. There are some talented individuals our territory needs.”

“So you’re trying to recruit Entrosa. Hm… that might be a bit difficult.”

“Because of his eccentric personality?”

“Yes, we almost died ourselves. Of course, you won’t be in any danger, Count…”

He wasn’t the type to be swayed by threats or persuasion through force.

“I’ve met quite a few people in my time, and I’d like to think I have a good eye for character, but the Entrosa I saw is a madman.”

The mercenary captain said.

“It’s alright.”

Ethan smiled leisurely.

“I have ways of dealing with madmen.”

***

Deep in the swamp.

“I know the way.”

Having been here once before, Mercenary Captain Hanter confidently took the lead.

“There’s a log cabin over there. Entrosa lives there.”

After walking for some time.

Ethan and the mercenary group arrived in front of Entrosa’s log cabin.

But something seemed off.

“Huh?”

There was magic set up near Entrosa’s log cabin.

“This wasn’t here when we came last time.”

As the mercenary captain walked towards the magic, it suddenly began to activate.

Ethan grabbed the surprised captain by the nape of his neck and threw him back.

Simultaneously, something shot out from where the mercenary captain had just been standing.

It was a sword.

“A, a sword from the ground…?”

“It’s not a sword.”

As Ethan spoke, the sword was pulled out of the ground.

“It’s a golem.”

Clank-. Clang-.

Starting with the sword-wielding golem emerging, dozens of golems that had been hiding nearby began to approach.

They were all clearly armed and moved differently.

‘Oh ho.’

As expected, they were different from ordinary golems.

‘These are special golems.’

The special golems that Ethan had created together with Yerica were specialized for education.

In contrast, these golems were specialized for combat against humans and killing.

‘Their movements are different. Unlike the jerky movements of regular golems, these move very naturally.’

That movement was exactly what Ethan had introduced to his special golems.

‘Impressive. The original is certainly different.’

While Yerica’s magic was excellent, Entrosa’s golem magic was also admirable.

‘But it’s still incomplete.’

When Ethan first met Entrosa in MePan, his special golems were close to perfection. But these special golems didn’t have the same brilliant movements as back then.

Ethan lightly swung his sword.

‘If you cut the power source, they stop immediately.’

Crackle-.

With a sparking sound, the golem stopped in its tracks.

After stopping the golem with just one swing, someone jumped out from between the trees.

“…Who are you? How did you accurately identify my golem’s weakness and cut its power source? No, you weren’t even surprised in the first place! That it was a golem!”

Slowly revealing himself was a young man wearing a deep blue robe and an unusual hat adorned with crow feathers.

The dark mage Entrosa.

‘He’s young.’

Not just young, but youthful.

“You’re not even surprised to see golems moving like this? Who on earth did you guys bring?”

“Sir Entrosa! Isn’t this too much? You told us to bring the Shield of Purification, and now you attack us like this!”

“You brought someone I don’t know. For all I know, you could have brought hunters. That’s what mercenary groups like you usually do.”

“…Good grief.”

Mercenary Captain Hanter couldn’t make any excuses. As Entrosa said, mercenary groups generally follow the money.

Selling out others was a common occurrence.

“We don’t do that sort of thing!”

“But you’ve done it before?”

“Anyway! We came to get our man!”

“Oh ho, so you brought the Shield of Purification?”

“Well… we couldn’t find the Desert King’s treasure.”

“What nonsense is that? Then why did you come? Your comrade is on the brink of death. Well, I suppose finding the Desert King’s treasure wouldn’t have been easy. I guess it can’t be helped.”

“On, on the brink of death? What’s his condition?!”

“Take him. You’ll see when you look at him yourself.”

After Entrosa spoke bluntly, he looked at Ethan and asked.

“Then who’s this guy?”

“Entrosa, originally from the Demon Empire, skilled in golem creation, received sponsorship from nobles who recognized his talent, but all sponsorship was cut off when he didn’t create what they wanted. But unable to accept this fact, you ran away. Am I right?”

At Ethan’s words, Entrosa’s eyes narrowed, and golems began to spring up from the surroundings.

At a glance, there were over a hundred of them.

Moreover, their movements were different from the golems he had initially brought out.

‘He was hiding the real ones.’

Entrosa’s voice lowered at Ethan’s question, which seemed to know too much.

“Who are you?”

“A businessman.”

Ethan answered briefly.

At the same time, Entrosa moved his hand as if conducting. The special golems moved in perfect unison.

“Never mind. I don’t need to know more about who you are. Become a sacrifice for my golem research.”

Entrosa’s golems were quite fast. In an instant, they surrounded Ethan, preventing any escape by covering all directions.

The panicked mercenary captain shouted.

“It’s dangerous…!”

“It’s already too late!”

Entrosa grinned as he spread his hands.

But Entrosa didn’t know.

The mercenary captain wasn’t warning Ethan.

“Entrosa, you’re the one in danger!”

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, Ethan was right in front of Entrosa’s eyes.

He had definitely been surrounded by numerous golems, but…

When did he get here…

Bam-!

Ethan didn’t even need to draw his sword; he simply swung his fist.

Ethan’s fist, accurately planted on Entrosa’s chin, instantly knocked him out.

Thud.

Situation over.

However, even though Entrosa had fallen, the golems continued to move.

Ethan drew his Frost Sword and activated the Eye of Horus.

‘He’s set it up quite intricately. As expected of Entrosa.’

His skills were certainly worthy of being called the father of golems in the future.

Even Ethan had to concentrate to find the power source, so well-crafted were the golems and their magic.

Moving as if dancing, Ethan cut the power sources of hundreds of golems.

Whoom-.

As the golems lost power and fell forward, the mercenary group members finally let out sighs of relief.

“Phew.”

“I didn’t expect him to attack as soon as he saw us.”

“And what are these golems? They weren’t here until recently.”

“More importantly, shouldn’t we hurry inside? Jerome is dying right now…!”

Ethan grabbed the unconscious Entrosa by the waist and lifted him.

This was the log cabin of Entrosa, who would be called the father of golems.

Of course, he wouldn’t have left it accessible to just anyone.

“He’s installed quite a lot of defenses.”

However, while numerous, these were magics that would only work on others. To Ethan’s eyes, that log cabin might as well have had its door wide open.

The Eye of Horus, pushed to its limits through daily use, was gradually growing to match Ethan’s knowledge.

‘Come to think of it, they’re really grateful gods.’

Ethan thought it might not be a bad idea to visit the channels of the gods he had subscribed to and express his gratitude to them.

‘I should also check the messages that have piled up, while I’m at it.’

Ethan easily disabled the numerous defensive magics Entrosa had set up and entered the log cabin.

“Ugh…”

Inside the log cabin was a man lying on a bed, groaning.

“!”

“Jerome!”

The mercenary group members urgently approached the groaning man.

The man lying on the bed looked to be in quite poor condition.

He was drenched in cold sweat and constantly convulsing.

“C-Count Ethan!”

“Damn it! He’s in a state where it wouldn’t be strange if he died right now!”

“Entrosa, that bastard. If we had come even a little later, Jerome would have already been dead!”

“Jerome! Jerome! Can you hear my voice?! We’re here! Don’t worry, we’re here!”

Ethan briefly checked Jerome’s condition.

“Did you go anywhere before coming here?”

“Well… We bought some information a while back. We heard there was a hidden dungeon, so we went to look for it, but there was nothing there.”

“It seems he was cursed then?”

“What?! A curse?”

“You said you’ve been to healers? It’s understandable that they couldn’t figure it out. Unless it’s a healer versed in curses, they wouldn’t be able to identify the cause. Entrosa probably knew this was a curse.”

“If, if it’s a curse…”

“I can lift it.”

Ethan spoke with certainty.

“You’ve already paid the price, so don’t worry. Thanks to that, I met Entrosa.”

Throwing Entrosa to the floor, Ethan immediately used True Heo’s Acupuncture. In this case, True Heo’s Acupuncture was more suitable.

Shak-. Shak-.

After inserting needles focused on the head and abdomen, he used Hua Tuo’s Abdominal Surgery.

Shaaaak-!

Ethan precisely located where the curse was, opened it, and then inserted his hand to remove the curse.

-Extinction swallows the curse!

Originally, carelessly removing a curse could cause problems. But for Ethan, curses were a very simple issue that could be resolved by grabbing and removing them.

With Extinction, all curses were inevitably under Ethan’s feet.

“Ugh!”

Jerome groaned as the curse was removed.

“His complexion…”

Just a moment ago, his face had been deathly pale. But now, color was beginning to return to Jerome’s face.

“Sob.”

“This guy, making us worry.”

“Is, is he all better now? Has the curse been resolved?”

“Yes.”

As Ethan calmly replied, the entire mercenary group knelt on the spot.

“We will never forget this debt!”

“Thank you, Count Ethan!”

“Good, make sure you don’t forget. If something comes up where you can help me later, be sure to do so.”

The mercenary group left, carrying Jerome who had been freed from the curse.

Even as they were leaving, they continued to pay their respects to Ethan.

“Now it’s just the two of us.”

Ethan laid the collapsed Entrosa on the bed.

Then he immediately slapped his cheek.

Slap-!

“Ugh!?”

Startled awake, Entrosa stared at Ethan.

Ethan raised one corner of his mouth.

“Shall we have a little chat?”