Subscriber of the Gods Chapter 378 - Preparation Complete

New World.

-Oh?

-Videos are being uploaded one after another?

New World’s ranking system is rigorously managed and operated. 

As a result, it’s possible to immediately check the channels and videos of gods that are suddenly attracting subscribers.

Subscribers usually check newly emerging gods through the trending video rankings. 

However, familiar names of gods started appearing on these trending video rankings.

-Lord Zeus has uploaded a new video!

The top-tier gods rarely created new videos as their existing ones were sufficient to maintain their rankings. 

There might be additions to merchandise, but rarely new videos. 

They didn’t need to challenge, nor were they in a position to do so.

-Lord Odin has uploaded too?

-The Jade Emperor has uploaded as well.

Among the current top four of New World – Zeus, Odin, the Jade Emperor, and Buddha – three of them had uploaded new videos. 

Their videos quickly claimed the top three positions in the trending video rankings.

-They’ve suddenly overtaken the videos made by the [Only subscribed to the right gods] subscriber.

-Why are they suddenly uploading? They haven’t done so in a really long time.

-Even their last videos were uploaded decades ago.

-This is strange.

Subscribers were surprised by the sudden movement of the top four gods. 

Of course, from the subscribers’ perspective, it was nice to have new videos. 

But the movement of the top-tier gods didn’t end there.

Odin, who had just uploaded a video and started selling merchandise, uploaded another new video. These unprecedented events kept happening.

People recalled a post that had recently heated up the community bulletin board. 

It was a post that talked about the future of the [Only subscribed to the right gods] subscriber.

According to that post, the [Only subscribed to the right gods] subscriber was going to make a big splash, and New World would soon explode to an unprecedented level.

-Could it be that the gods are moving in response to that prediction?

-No matter how I think about it, that seems to be the case.

-Then this shouldn’t be taken lightly. Is this really when the victor of New World will be decided?

New World had been in a stagnant state for a long time. 

Neither the subscribers nor the gods participating in New World knew when it would end.

The gods were just continuing to grow their channels to become the victor of New World. 

Of course, not all gods aimed to be the victor. Many gods sought to showcase their abilities and achieve their goals.

New World, which was thought to be an eternal game of the gods without any significant changes. 

As that game seemed to be nearing its end, subscribers began to think that the inevitable had come.

-I’ve been indebted to New World for quite a long time. I thought there would be an end, but seeing the top four gods move like this, it really feels like the end is approaching.

-But how is this end determined? Will they settle the rankings when the time comes?

Everyone was unsure about how the outcome of New World would be decided.

-Do the gods know?

-It doesn’t seem like they do either.

-Whatever happens… shouldn’t we just enjoy it? I saw Zeus’ new video, and both the style and content are no joke.

-It’s quite expensive, but I’ve been saving my likes for times like this anyway!

Subscribers didn’t think too deeply about it. 

Whatever the result of New World, they were purely subscribers, and all they had to do was enjoy the services provided by the gods!

-Thanks to the [Only subscribed to the right gods] subscriber, I’m watching Lord Zeus’ new video for the first time since New World started.

-Oh? Lord Zeus has merchandise too!

This was essentially a festival.

-I’m going to collect likes from now on.

-Everyone, collect likes and watch!

The community was filled with stories of people going to collect more likes, saying they couldn’t watch the videos even if they used all the likes they had saved up.

But amidst the heated atmosphere, the fire was stoked once more.

-Oh!?

-Another video made by the [Only subscribed to the right gods] subscriber has been uploaded?

While the videos of the top-tier gods occupied the top of the trending video rankings, a new video made by Ethan started climbing the trending video rankings.

-It’s Lord Heo Jun!

The first one to be uploaded was Heo Jun’s video.

-Lord Hercules’ video is up too! Oh? A subscription review is up as well?

-Wow, it looks like the [Only subscribed to the right gods] subscriber is determined.

-This is going to be a proper face-off.

-I wonder how it will turn out… I’m excited!

The battle between the top-tier gods and Ethan had officially begun.

***

Ethan put quite a lot of effort into New World, alongside his studies. 

He put into action the thoughts he had after watching Heo Im’s video collaborating with Heo Jun and learning Heo Im’s Acupuncture.

‘From Lord Heo Jun, who I subscribed to at the very beginning and who helped me greatly, all the way to Fenrir.’

Ethan created new videos once again as a gift to the numerous gods who had helped him so far.

‘Originally, to give credibility through subscription reviews, it’s much better to upload them periodically like this.’

One month review, half-year review, one-year review. 

He created videos focusing on how he used these abilities and how he applied them, leaving reviews for each period.

Among these, he paid particular attention to the review of Heo Jun’s acupuncture. 

From when he first learned it until now, he had lived as if he were one with Heo Jun’s acupuncture. 

Thanks to this, he was also the first to awaken Heo Jun’s acupuncture.

‘Moreover, the technique of making decoctions is essentially no different from potion crafting.’

These two skills had the most merit when it came to treatment.

‘Plus, it’s easy to get the ingredients.’

Once you get used to it, acupuncture can be considered tier 1 when it comes to quickly treating diseases and injuries.

-It’s been a long time, subscriber! I’ve been hearing about you constantly. How remarkable you’ve been. It reminds me of when we first met. You were on the brink of death, and I was a humble god with few subscribers and likes.

Ethan, talking to Heo Jun after a long time, recalled that moment.

“If it weren’t for you, Lord Heo Jun, I wouldn’t be here right now.”

He would have died right then and there.

“I’ve been using Lord Heo Jun’s acupuncture and decoction techniques almost every day since then until now. I’d like to leave a review about that.”

-Hohoho! I’m the one who should be grateful! I want to repay you too. I’ve recently created something called merchandise. I’d like you to be the first to use it. I’d like to gift you special merchandise in particular.

Heo Jun held out a piece of merchandise to Ethan.

-These are needles with even stronger effects. I’ve made them in more diverse shapes and types.

-You have received the merchandise [Heo Jun’s True Acupuncture Set]!

Ethan checked the merchandise he received. The shape had indeed changed slightly from before.

-It’s not just the shape that’s changed. Its power has greatly increased too. The feeling when you pierce with it is different too. It might be a bit tricky to adapt to, but once you do, the effects of the acupuncture will be much better than before.

“Thank you, Lord Heo Jun.”

-I’m the one who should be thanking you. I’m truly grateful.

Starting with Heo Jun, Ethan went around to the channels of the gods he had subscribed to, including Hercules, Hong Gildong, Horus, Hang Woo, and others. 

Except for Fenrir, whom he had subscribed to most recently, he had used all the abilities usefully, and since he had been subscribed for quite a while, he could produce results that felt different from the subscription reviews or shorts videos he had first written.

-Hahaha! You remembered to visit! How was my ability? I had a dream-like time thanks to you.

-Oh, I see. Now that’s not just merchandise. It has become your eyes. To be honest, I didn’t know things would turn out like this.

Many of the gods didn’t know how their abilities or merchandise could be developed.

Ethan focused on this point.

‘To make the most of the opportunity cost of likes spent on subscribing, it shouldn’t end with simply gaining an ability.’

Subscribers would be hoping for that too. 

Moving beyond simply gaining and using an ability, the ability develops as it’s consistently used.

Getting returns equal to the likes invested. But no god had explained about that.

They just distribute abilities as if they’re already complete.

‘Because even the gods don’t know.’

They just shared their abilities, but they had never heard detailed feedback on how those abilities could be used.

Given these circumstances, Ethan’s subscription reviews, which detailed the use of abilities categorized by time periods, caused an enormous response.

-Wow, I didn’t know Lord Horus’ merchandise could develop like this!

-So, if you keep using it, the merchandise evolves! I didn’t know that. This is something you can only know by actually using it.

-I also bought merchandise just trusting the [Only subscribed to the right gods] subscriber. Before, I thought that even if I bought merchandise, I wouldn’t be able to use it properly or would only use it in a limited way, but to think it evolves the more you use it!

-The subscribers who were badmouthing the [Only subscribed to the right gods] subscriber will all disappear now. They insisted it was just advertising without actually using it.

-That’s right. Those guys, talking without knowing anything. Looking at this subscription review video, I get it now. It’s no joke. As the [Only subscribed to the right gods] subscriber said, the proficiency increases the more you use it. This feels more like a strategy guide than a subscription review!

-With this, we can subscribe with peace of mind! It’s not something you use once and forget, but something you can keep using continuously!

At one point, there were many people in the community who cursed at Ethan. They claimed that Ethan was posting artificial subscription reviews and receiving enormous rewards from the gods in return.

-From what I see, it seems they’re receiving some kind of advertising requests from the gods. They’re just posting reviews without properly using the abilities. It’s like an advertisement, you know.”

-You mean like false advertising? Then this is deception, isn’t it?

-The [Only subscribed to the right gods] subscriber probably doesn’t even use the abilities of the gods he subscribed to properly. He’s just received advertising from the beginning.

-Do you have any evidence?

-You can just see it. I subscribed to the prophecy ability. I can see everything, I tell you.

They were claiming that [Only subscribed to the right gods] was advertising for the gods in exchange for compensation. 

In other words, they were of the opinion that he wasn’t subscribing because the ability was actually good, but was posting subscription reviews after promising separate compensation.

Of course, their guess was somewhat correct. He had indeed received a lot in practical terms.

But they missed the crucial point. 

Their strongest claim, that Ethan wasn’t using the abilities of the gods he posted subscription reviews for, was completely debunked.

-Where did all the subscribers who were badmouthing the [Only subscribed to the right gods] subscriber go?

-They bought it with their own money and likes? Moreover, the subscription review video for Lord Heo Jun’s acupuncture, which they first uploaded, is the longest. Look, it’s a half-year review.

-They really bought it with his own money and likes. Should we call it ‘my likes, my subscription’?”

-The pronunciation is a bit awkward…

As people realized that Ethan had truly subscribed with his own likes, they began to trust the name [Only subscribed to the right gods] even more.

-Tsk.

“I didn’t intend for this to happen.”

The top four gods had uploaded videos side by side, occupying the top of the rankings, and right below them, the new shorts videos that Ethan had made this time were chasing closely.

“Buddha is staying quiet.”

Buddha, Shakyamuni. 

He was the only one among the top four gods who showed no reaction.

“It would be strange if there was a reaction too.”

Everyone thought that the four gods and Ethan were about to clash in earnest, but Ethan didn’t think so.

“Why would I fight?”

This New World is not a place where subscribers fight against the gods. Only the gods fight.

“I’m just waiting. While appealing.”

They may be called the top four gods, but in the end, isn’t there only one victor of New World?

“To win, they shouldn’t be satisfied with being in the top four, they need to firmly secure the first place.”

The current first place is Zeus, but the other three gods are following closely behind. To overturn this situation, an innovative move is needed.

Ethan thought he could be that innovation.

“And I’m always benefiting in between.”

Not siding with anyone and not making anyone an enemy. It can be seen as a kind of neutral diplomacy.

‘A lot will depend on how well I walk this tightrope.’

“Public opinion seems to think that New World will end soon.”

Everyone seemed to think that New World, which had been maintained for a long time, had reached its final stages.

“The reason is that the top four gods have moved. And those top four gods were stimulated to move because of me.”

But Ethan didn’t know yet.

“What are the conditions for victory? It seems no one knows this. Maybe the gods who have maintained the top ranks of New World for a long time might know.”

If so, what Ethan needed to do now was clear.

“I should do as I please. Without getting involved in complicated fights.”

Grin-.

Ethan smiled as he opened his mailbox.

“While organizing the gods I’ll subscribe to next.”

There are countless gods in New World. And Ethan had the ability to pull them up.

Ethan didn’t think of himself as a kingmaker and didn’t even care about it. But currently, the kingmaker of New World was none other than Ethan.