Subscriber of the Gods Chapter 395 - Close

“That Extinction you’re suffering from isn’t a disease. So, it can’t be solved by conventional methods. I reckon the surest solution would be to meet the Saintess. Hmm, perhaps I’ve said something you already know? At least I think even Teacher Ethan Whiskers didn’t know that Extinction is a consciousness, not a disease.”

“I didn’t know. I never imagined this wasn’t a disease. Thank you so much for telling me.”

Of course, Ethan knew, but he showed courtesy.

“Hmm, it would be truly unfortunate for a talent like you to die because of Extinction.”

‘Thanks to the Demon God Spear, I learned more than I expected.’

Particularly, he realized that the main quest was progressing faster than anticipated.

‘Everything has sped up overall.’

The scenario and quests were progressing much faster than in MePan.

‘If the Saintess is to die in the Demon Empire, that timing is also too fast.’

Considering the timeline, this isn’t the latter part of MePan. It’s barely the beginning.

“I’ll make sure to repay you for the valuable information you’ve shared. I’ll select good children and inform you about them, Lord Demon God Spear.”

“Hmm, hmm, if Teacher Ethan recommends them, I can rest assured. Thank you, I’ll look forward to it. Well then, good luck with the rest of the exchange festival.”

Ethan left Demon God Spear’s tent and returned to his quarters.

His mind was quite complex.

“The Saintess learned that Extinction is used in Moon Mother’s resurrection ritual. And while investigating that, she also found out that the 1st and 2nd Apostles crossed over to the Demon Empire.”

They failed to stop them when accompanying Demon God Spear, and subsequently went to the sky city to eliminate the root cause.

“I figured something out during this process. Something certain.”

And he realized that what he had been doing was merely scratching the surface, so he started digging into the root.

Then, what could be the fundamental solution the Saintess thought of?

“What could be the solution the Saintess thought of? A fundamental method that can interfere with the 1st and 2nd Apostles’ plans and completely turn the situation around.”

The Saintess’s current course of action was no different from walking a tightrope with her life at stake.

“Didn’t she say she destroyed the sacrifices?”

Suddenly, those words flashed in Ethan’s mind.

“But she said the situation wasn’t resolved. From the Saintess’s perspective, she must have felt limited. Even if she destroys the sacrifices, the followers of the Moon will continue to increase them. That’s how the followers of the Moon can keep using Extinction.”

If so, the fundamental solution to Extinction that the Saintess thought of might be to resurrect Moon Mother herself.

“Summon Moon Mother to this land. And annihilate her directly.”

Ethan had just gained the power to annihilate gods through New World.

Of course, this was possible because the evil god of the north didn’t have a divine status strong enough to threaten the continent.

“It’s more certain to annihilate rather than seal. But can Moon Mother be annihilated so easily?”

The Moon Mother worshipped by the followers of the Moon is the absolute god of MePan.

‘She’s the very embodiment of the omnipotent god people imagine. Her divine status isn’t as low as the evil god of the north.’

That’s why she can’t easily influence the mortal world like the evil god.

‘That’s why Extinction is at such an unbelievable level.’

Resurrecting such a powerful god on this land itself is a big problem.

Even if they manage to resurrect Moon Mother, it’s clear that she couldn’t be dealt with easily.

“But to use that method, wouldn’t you need a body that can withstand Extinction?”

Currently, only Ethan is withstanding Extinction.

“I’m the only one enduring it with a human body. No, wait a minute.”

The sky city. The city of gods within it.

When these two are connected, a different result is derived.

“If you obtain a god’s body in the city of gods… if you intertwine Extinction with that body to refine it into a perfect divine body? Would that make it possible to resurrect Moon Mother?”

If you think about it that way, the story fits.

A god’s body could withstand Extinction indefinitely.

This would lead to the success of the resurrection ritual, making Moon Mother’s resurrection possible as well.

“What if the two apostles found a god’s body through some method, and the Saintess is preventing that? No, what if the Saintess is planning to divert the god’s body and resurrect Moon Mother in a different way to annihilate her?”

If that’s the situation, it makes sense why the two apostles sent only the 3rd Apostle, leaving Ethan Whiskers behind.

Additionally, this somewhat explains the Saintess’s actions and objectives that were unknown even in MePan.

“But this is just my inference.”

Although he’s formed a hypothesis, in the end, he needs to confirm it directly.

“I have no choice but to go. If it’s the Saintess trying to solve the root of Extinction, she’ll surely be able to properly cure my Extinction too.”

Grin-.

Ethan smiled.

“We’re getting closer. To the cure for Extinction.”

Now it’s the final chapter.

***

“How on earth is the situation unfolding?”

On the evening of the first day.

The students and teachers who grasped the situation of the first day’s exchange festival were quite bewildered.

Especially Goode, Covington, and Saturn were in a state of considerable shock. This was because they had barely scored any points.

The only one to score points was Goode Academy, while Covington and Saturn literally had 0 points. They didn’t even make it into the rankings where they could score points.

Of course, they expected it would be difficult to score points.

They were the underdogs. They were those with a low chance of winning from the start.

But they didn’t expect such a disaster to occur.

Zero points in both student and teacher scores. It was truly shocking.

However, the ones with the most serious expressions were Freya Academy and Vogue Academy.

Vogue Academy had been looking down on this exchange festival quite a bit.

Except for Ivecar and Freya, they thought the rest of the academies were essentially subpar, and they believed they could easily surpass Ivecar and Freya if they put their minds to it.

Vogue Academy had achieved excellent results even among the rough academies of the Demon Empire.

That’s why they were confident, but…

The actual results were miserable.

“We’re in 3rd place now?”

“So, we haven’t won a single event yet?”

“The teachers have won some events. We students haven’t won any.”

“Senior, even you…”

“I lost.”

The regular students of Vogue Academy were no match for Ivecar at all, and only the representative students barely managed to enter the rankings where they could score points.

The first day was mostly focused on duels.

Even the exchanges that weren’t duels were mostly about showcasing swordsmanship or magic, challenging one’s own limits. That’s why it was even more shocking.

It was literally a defeat in skill.

“First place is…”

“Ivecar Academy by an overwhelming margin. They’re winning almost all the exchanges they participate in. In the finals, it’s often Ivecar versus Ivecar, and they’ve achieved quite high scores not only in student exchanges but also in teacher exchanges. If they don’t win, they come in second, or at least third. There are even some exchanges where Ivecar completely dominates.”

Ivecar was overwhelming not only in student exchanges but also in teacher exchanges.

The representative teacher, Ethan Whiskers, takes the lead, followed by Claudie Hyde and the magic department teacher Duty winning.

Even if they don’t win, they always rank within the top positions.

Even Ciron Ramsdale, the Sword Saint’s grandson who they didn’t pay much attention to, had achieved second place.

“It’s Ivecar’s party. Wherever you look, Ivecar is taking the points.”

“Freya is in second place, but there’s quite a gap between them and first-place Ivecar.”

The first day’s results were essentially dominated by Ivecar.

There was nothing to complain about because the evaluators were perfect.

Above all, since Demon God Spear himself was watching directly, there wasn’t even a shred of doubt.

While Vogue Academy at least managed to groan, Freya Academy couldn’t even do that.

The atmosphere at Freya Academy was quite gloomy.

The reason was simple.

Their representative teacher and master teacher, Draxler, had been defeated by Ethan.

“He was impressive, that Ethan Whiskers.”

The principal of Freya, Mad Sword, gathered the depressed teachers.

“But you came to this exchange festival leading the students. If so, you should set an example. Where do you have time to be so gloomy?”

The teachers nodded at Mad Sword’s rebuke. Mad Sword was right. They needed to be role models in front of the students.

“We lost in the duel. That’s all there is to it. Does the exchange festival only measure how strong one’s power is? No, we exchange abilities in various ways. We may have lost in the duel, but we can beat Ethan Whiskers in other areas.”

“You’re right, Principal.”

“We’re sorry, we were too depressed.”

Even the representative teacher, Draxler, bowed his head.

“I should have taken better responsibility. I’m sorry, Principal. As you said, the exchange festival isn’t over yet.”

Draxler quickly changed the atmosphere.

In fact, Draxler was the most upset. At first, he acknowledged Ethan Whiskers’ strength, but as time passed, his pride was considerably hurt.

But pride doesn’t matter. Because of him, the atmosphere at Freya Academy was becoming depressed.

Not only the teachers but also the students were affected by Draxler’s defeat, so this situation needed to be quickly overcome.

It’s just that one day has passed.

There are still three days left in the exchange festival.

“I’ll trust you, Teacher Draxler. Well, I can easily say these things.”

Mad Sword comforted Draxler with a smile.

“Tomorrow will be different. Don’t you think? We’ve only lost for one day.”

***

The morning of the second day of the exchange festival dawned.

Unlike the first day, the second day was a day when various types of exchanges were actively carried out.

From today, the second day, until the last day.

There aren’t many exchanges through duels anymore.

However, because Ivecar’s score obtained from the duel exchanges on the first day was so high, Freya Academy and Vogue Academy were quite tense.

Especially Vogue Academy was in a state of considerable anger right now.

They participated in the exchange festival with confidence, but… The result was third place.

They didn’t care about Goode, Covington, or Saturn Academy because they thought they would be at the bottom anyway, but they didn’t expect to be pushed back this much by Freya and Ivecar.

They didn’t think they would easily take first place, but they didn’t think they would be third.

“Today will be different.”

There was a teacher who had achieved results on the first day.

It was Wigen White, the representative teacher of Vogue Academy.

“Don’t worry. Today, Teacher Ethan Whiskers and I will participate in an exchange together.”

Wigen, who was the only one to win, was full of confidence.

“It will be a day of reversal. You don’t need to worry about anything, just show everything you’ve got. Defeat is not acceptable. Crush and crush and move forward!”

“Yes!”

“Yes, teacher!”

At Wigen’s words, the students of Vogue Academy were once again motivated.

And behind them came the students of Ivecar Academy.

The eyes of the well-rested Ivecar students were sharp.

“We’ll take it today too.”

With Ethan’s words, the second day of the exchange festival began.