Subscriber of the Gods Chapter 400 - The Reason for Victory

“Me… in second place?”

The teacher dungeon conquest exchange ended.

Wigen came out with a bright smile.

Indeed, the difficulty was considerable, as the staff had warned. It took quite a while, especially at the final gate.

That’s why he could be certain.

He had won this exchange.

He finally achieved victory.

He thought he had paid back the humiliation of the first day in full.

That’s why he came out smiling confidently.

But the result was unexpected.

Second place in the dungeon conquest exchange.

Wigen White couldn’t accept this result.

“This is absurd. Me in second place? How exactly did you evaluate this?”

Wigen protested roughly as he sought out the evaluators. He was in second place. Ethan Whiskers had once again taken first place and won this exchange as well.

He couldn’t understand it.

Clearly, Ethan was a new teacher and quite young. Dungeon conquest experience? Even if he had some, there’s no way he could have more experience than himself.

“Teacher Ethan Whiskers in first place. What on earth did he do to be given first place?”

Wigen, who approached the evaluators with tremendous momentum, emitted a considerable aura.

Even though the evaluators had trained their mana for many years, they were momentarily overwhelmed by Wigen’s aura.

Of course, Kremton, who had worked in the Demon Empire before, easily withstood Wigen’s momentum.

“It’s an evaluation based on clear criteria, Teacher Wigen White. Please calm down first.”

“How can I calm down? I conquered the dungeon perfectly. Was Teacher Ethan faster by any chance? Was this dungeon conquest exchange just about speed, just about clearing it?”

He hadn’t even considered that might be the criteria.

Kremton shook his head at Wigen’s harsh words.

The two teachers, Goode and Covington, who placed third and fourth respectively, were also looking at the evaluators as if they couldn’t understand, given Wigen’s harsh reaction.

If Wigen, a meister teacher with extensive dungeon conquest experience, had come first, they would have understood.

But Ethan Whiskers in first place again?

This could only be seen as favoritism.

“I want to hear a clear basis for the evaluation.”

“Please explain so we can understand.”

“Yes, I will do so.”

Kremton adjusted the crystal ball-shaped artifact this way and that.

Even among the students watching from outside, there were some who were uncertain.

Of course, Ethan had cleared the dungeon the fastest.

But if the criterion was simply clearing quickly, complaints were bound to arise. If speed was the standard, wouldn’t it all be solved just by having strong power?

That’s why the students also focused on Kremton’s words.

“I will explain why Teacher Ethan Whiskers won, and why you teachers in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places received those evaluations.”

Kremton played videos of all four simultaneously.

“……”

In the recorded video, the three teachers moved almost simultaneously, fast enough to be considered at the same time.

In contrast, Ethan was quite cautious.

Ethan was dawdling at the entrance until the other teachers had dealt with monsters in succession and advanced to the center.

“You three teachers probably know as much about dungeons as I do. So I think showing you is sufficient explanation, but since there are students watching, I’ll explain separately in my own words.”

The three teachers didn’t need Kremton’s explanation.

Ethan was no novice at dungeon conquest.

He was an expert, infinitely familiar with dungeons, able to conquer them in his own way.

“As you can see, Teacher Ethan is listening to sounds. He’s confirming the dungeon’s shape and where monsters are by making sounds and checking their echo effects. He started after confirming all of that at the dungeon entrance. His start was a bit late, but speed isn’t that important in conquering a dungeon.”

At Kremton’s explanation, even the students made expressions of admiration, saying “Ah.” Indeed, it was so. It’s not good just because you go fast.

Moreover, despite starting late, Ethan was able to reach the final gate faster than the other three teachers thanks to his initial caution.

“And I’ll explain the most crucial part. Teachers, please keep watching the video.”

While the three teachers were encountering and overcoming multiple monsters as they advanced,

Ethan encountered only one monster until the final gate.

Ethan repeatedly stomped his feet or stood still in between, and the students couldn’t properly understand why Ethan was doing that.

However, the teachers knew the reason exactly.

Especially Wigen frowned.

Because he knew particularly well the meaning of that action Ethan was doing.

He didn’t know that stomping feet could mix mana and spread it to have the same effect as sending out an advance party.

Ethan perfectly grasped the dungeon with sound and moved accordingly.

So it was possible for him to avoid unnecessary battles with monsters.

And as a result, he was able to maintain his physical and mental strength until the last gate with just one battle against a monster blocking the path.

Moreover, he even found and used hidden secret passages that the other teachers couldn’t find.

These three knew better how efficient Ethan’s movements were.

That’s why they could only remain silent watching Ethan’s video.

Looking at such teachers, Kremton continued speaking.

“Using the echo effect requires greatly developed senses, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to follow. If you have mana and learn the knack, anyone can make their ear senses keen and raise their spatial sense to use that echo effect. Like Teacher Ethan, you can check whether there’s a large space inside or if there are obstacles.”

Whether it’s blocked or open.

“And if you use mana together, you can easily know how many monsters there are. It’s a skill students can follow, and it’s a skill that’s considerably helpful in dungeon conquest if you learn it.”

It was a skill that the three teachers themselves didn’t use. The three teachers used only their own knowledge and mana.

“That’s how he went to the final gate, and perfectly defeated the boss monster of the final gate. That’s all.”

Kremton, having finished speaking, looked at the three teachers.

Earlier, Kremton had seen the expressions each of the three teachers made when they reached the final gate.

And he was certain the situation was over.

“I’ve told you all my evaluation criteria. If you have any objections, please speak up. If there’s something I’ve missed, it should be corrected.”

“……”

“……”

Neither Wigen nor the other two teachers spoke.

These three had already acknowledged after seeing Ethan’s video.

Ethan demonstrated a far more appropriate method in this dungeon conquest exchange than themselves.

Not showing off his own skills, but moving in a way that students could see and learn.

Kremton had evaluated based on clear criteria.

“Huh.”

Wigen sighed and looked up at the sky.

“No objections.”

Although angry, he had to acknowledge it.

It was Ethan’s victory.

***

As Ethan won the dungeon conquest exchange on the second day as well, public opinion among students and teachers began to change dramatically.

“This, it really seems like he came prepared, doesn’t it?”

“I didn’t expect Teacher Ethan to win even the dungeon conquest exchange.”

“When I heard the direct explanation, I could definitely understand. Teacher Ethan, he’s really amazing.”

The students marveled at Ethan’s skills. Everyone had thought that Ethan couldn’t possibly win the dungeon conquest exchange as well.

But hadn’t Ethan won as if to prove them wrong?

“There was so much to learn.”

“This, should I transfer to Ivecar?”

“I want to learn under Teacher Ethan.”

Many students began to dream of transferring to Ivecar.

Overhearing such talk, Ghost Sword smiled contentedly while Mad Sword just kept frowning.

Meanwhile, the teachers were marveling at Ethan’s teaching skills.

Ethan had turned this dungeon conquest exchange into a place of learning.

He showed through actions how to move in a dungeon, how to conquer a dungeon.

“To be able to teach without words. To be able to show just with gestures.”

“It was educational. Teacher Ethan is the real deal.”

“I never thought he’d win over Teacher Wigen, Teacher Spel, and Teacher Deka.”

It was clearly proven that Ethan wasn’t simply strong in force.

“They say when Teacher Ethan entered Ivecar as the top teacher, he declared he’d become a master teacher within this year.”

“Really? No way. Has there ever been a teacher who received the master title in just 1 year?”

“There hasn’t, even Teacher Draxler took decades.”

“The one expected to get the master title fastest right now is Ivecar’s Teacher Claudie, right?”

Claudie was a teacher evaluated to become a master teacher in a few years, his abilities recognized.

“…Becoming a master teacher in 1 year is an impossible thing.”

“But why does it seem possible…?”

Saying he’d become a master teacher in 1 year was of course bravado.

Because it’s an impossible thing.

There has never been a case in history of someone becoming a master teacher in 1 year.

In 1 year, you can’t even shed the new teacher label.

But for some reason, it seemed like Ethan really would become a master teacher.

“If Ivecar wins and Teacher Ethan plays the decisive role… there would be no objections to giving him the master title, right?”

“Actually, the period isn’t that important. No, Teacher Ethan has proven himself for a year.”

“At that level, it’s funnier that he’s not a master teacher!”

Rather, students from academies other than Ivecar acknowledged Ethan more. Ethan had only been rumored. It seemed the expectation might fade when seen directly. But the Ethan seen directly was more incredible than the rumors.

Rather, it seemed like the rumors might have been understated.

With Ethan’s dungeon conquest exchange victory opening the salvo, the second day’s exchange began to proceed fiercely.

Although Ethan once again showed his mettle by winning from the first exchange of the second day, the reactions of students from each academy were different from the first day.

Unlike the first day when their spirits were dampened, they received strong stimulation.

Students were filled with enthusiasm at the overwhelming appearance shown by Ethan Whiskers.

“This is an opportunity. Such a great teacher as Teacher Ethan is setting an example.”

“We just need to watch and learn regardless of academy.”

“That’s the meaning of having an exchange festival in the first place.”

Learning a lot.

Scoring points and ranking was virtually nothing more than additional. The real meaning of the exchange festival was to compete with each other and gain many experiences.

That’s also why teachers participate in the exchange.

If the teaching teachers become role models and have a good influence on students, there’s nothing better than that.

Given that students from other academies were influenced by Ethan, Ivecar’s students were in quite a high-spirited state.

“Ivecar victory!”

“Freya Academy runner-up!”

Following the teacher dungeon conquest exchange, the student dungeon conquest exchange was an overwhelming victory for Ivecar Academy.

Freya Academy’s Five Stars centered around Nathan Whiskers showed considerable skill, but there were limitations.

“…Damn it. Huff, huff.”

Nathan breathed out rough breaths. Although they came in second, this was nothing short of a defeat.

“They’re like monsters. What on earth are those guys?”

Nathan wasn’t the only one standing breathing heavily. The four stars were already collapsed on the ground.

Of course, there was a difference in difficulty between the teachers’ dungeon and the students’ dungeon.

“They say they used a method similar to your brother’s.”

“What kind of method did those guys use?”

They conquered the dungeon following the method of Ethan Whiskers who won earlier. Of course, they couldn’t follow exactly the same way, but at least they didn’t lose caution and physical strength management.

They thought this was first place when they came out.

But there was a team that came out leisurely one step ahead.

“Evaluator sir, how exactly did we lose?”

They had no intention of asking the evaluator to show the video again like the teachers did before.

They just wanted to know.

The evaluator briefly told the story.

“You guys used Teacher Ethan’s method as is, right? The disciples of Teacher Ethan who won used a different method. In their own style.”

“……”

They could only remain silent.