Subscriber of the Gods Chapter 430 - Skypia

“This is incredible! I know it’s not a dream, but why are you so calm?”

“I tend to be calm.”

“Then why aren’t you smiling? This is truly amazing…”

“I’m not one to smile much.”

“I can’t believe this!”

On the way to the sky city.

Although he almost got cut by Ethan, still unable to believe it, Wigen kept repeating the story of how Ethan had defeated Duke Yon Strickland.

‘It’s understandable that it’s hard to believe.’

Duke Strickland’s position in the Demon Empire was overwhelming.

‘In terms of the Holy Empire, it would be like Wigen, who came from the Demon Empire, defeating the Sword Saint of the Ramsdale family.’

If someone said Wigen had defeated a Sword Saint, no one would believe it.

Moreover, this is the Demon Empire.

In this place where strength is revered, the impact could only be greater.

“You defeated Duke Strickland… the Golden Duke leading the Strickland family…!”

“You’ve mentioned it about twelve times now, Sir Wigen.”

“I can say it more. This is incredible. I’ll be honest with you. You’re so impressive right now! The way you act so nonchalant after accomplishing such an amazing feat!”

‘His impression is completely different from the exchange festival?’

The image of Wigen during the exchange festival was solidity itself.

‘He must have had a really big realization. He’s changed so much.’

“You’ve done something truly remarkable.”

The moment kept replaying in Wigen’s mind.

He never thought that the Duke Strickland would be defeated by sheer strength.

Although it wasn’t a fight to the death, it still held immense significance.

“Now no one will dare to touch Teacher Ethan. All those nobles gathered there, they were all the core of the Demon Empire.”

‘My reputation has certainly risen significantly.’

After all, he had demonstrated defeating Duke Yon Strickland in front of the core members of the Demon Empire. Now, Ethan’s reputation would spread widely even in the Demon Empire.

“Perhaps the reclusive strong ones of the Demon Empire will come seeking me out.”

“But they won’t be able to treat Teacher Ethan carelessly like before. You’ve already proven your strength.”

“That’s a relief.”

‘This is the good thing about the Demon Empire.’

The stronger you are, the freer you are.

The Demon Empire was much more so than the Holy Empire.

‘Conversely, if a weak person comes to the Demon Empire, they’re treated like the bottom of the barrel.’

That’s why the Holy Empire was the best for the weak.

Even Ethan hadn’t considered moving to the Demon Empire until he became this strong.

“By the way, Teacher Ethan, what business do you have in the sky city?”

“There’s someone I’m looking for there. They might be able to cure my illness.”

The entrance to the sky city.

It was at the edge of a cliff.

“What? No mini wyverns?”

“Forget mini wyverns, there aren’t even any thunder birds. Even if there were, we couldn’t go now. The weather is terrible.”

“The weather is bad? But it’s so clear!”

“I can tell by the smell. Anyway, for various reasons, there’s nothing today. Come back tomorrow, and we’ll let you know the situation then.”

The sky city was literally a city in the sky.

Therefore, one needed a means of transportation to get there.

But now, it seemed the sky road was closed.

“Sir Wigen, thank you for guiding me this far. This is enough.”

“I wanted to arrange transportation for you as well, but it seems that’s not possible now. I hear the weather should be somewhat better tomorrow, so let me at least book you a lodging nearby.”

“No need.”

Ethan shook his head.

There was no need for that. Ethan already had a means of transportation.

“Call Ditrinir.”

Ethan had made a contract with Ditrinir.

To help twice when needed.

Swoosh-.

Ditrinir rose up over the instantly drawn hexagram magic circle.

“!”

Wigen looked at Ditrinir with surprised eyes.

“A-a dragon…? You made a contract with a dragon!?”

“Yes, I made a contract, but this is the last time.”

Summoned Ditrinir, unlike last time, seemed quite relieved to see the beautiful sky. It seemed it had been quite shocked when summoned in the subterranean world.

Ditrinir, showing off its jet-black scales, slowly descended and looked at Ethan.

“Tell me what you want me to do.”

“I want to go to the sky city, could you give me a ride?”

“How strong is the enemy?”

“Enemy? There isn’t one.”

“…You say there’s no enemy?”

Ditrinir looked at Ethan with a puzzled expression.

Then why had he summoned it?

“Then for what reason did you summon me? You know this is the last summoning, right, contractor?”

“I needed transportation.”

“…”

He wasted the last summoning opportunity just because he needed transportation?

Ditrinir’s eyes widened.

“Now you can no longer summon me.”

“Thank you, Ditrinir. Both times were a great help.”

“…You didn’t summon me by mistake, did you?”

It really seemed like Ethan had summoned it just to use as transportation.

“I’ll give you one more chance. Isn’t it a shame to waste an opportunity just to use me as transportation?”

“It’s fine.”

“No, I insist on giving you one.”

“Well, if you insist.”

Ditrinir was quite curious about what this human was thinking and how far he would go.

“I’m changing the contract. From 2 summons to unlimited!”

“Unlimited?”

“It’s fine, later I just won’t respond even if you call.”

The contract with Ditrinir was changed accordingly.

‘It must have been quite interesting during the Primordial Evil incident.’

Even Ditrinir probably experienced such a sight for the first time.

‘It must have been fun.’

“Then climb on, contractor.”

Ethan mounted Ditrinir’s back.

“Thank you for your guidance, Sir Wigen. I’ll see you next time in the Holy Empire.”

“Yes, yes! Teacher Ethan! See you again!”

The sight of Ethan disappearing while riding a dragon made Wigen’s heart race.

“I wonder what kind of place the Holy Empire is, where Teacher Ethan resides…”

A mere academy teacher had achieved victory against Duke Yon Strickland, who was considered the strongest in the Demon Empire after the Demon Emperor.

And he even rides around on a dragon.

At this point, Wigen wondered if the place he was in wasn’t really the Demon Empire, and if the Holy Empire was actually the real Demon Empire.

“The world isn’t… deceiving me, right?”

Wigen made a decision on the spot.

“I need to change jobs.”

His destination was the academy in the Holy Empire.

***

Swoosh-!

Ditrinir’s speed was incredible.

As if wanting to prove something to Ethan, it was flying a bit recklessly, which actually suited Ethan just fine.

“Ditrinir! Do you see that huge floating rock? There’s a signpost at a 45-degree angle from the center of that floating rock. It’s made of mana, but you should be able to find it easily, right?”

“Leave it to me. The sky is my domain.”

‘As expected of a dragon.’

The sky city, like other cities of different races, is a hidden city.

‘Its accessibility is as poor as an underwater city. Because humans can’t fly.’

The inhabitants are the bird-folk. A race with human bodies and bird heads.

Of course, those with human-like appearances but with wings are the majority.

‘It’s an interesting city in many ways.’

Because it’s a city in the sky and all residents can fly, this vast sky could be said to be their entire domain.

‘Two apostles of the Dawn Council and a Saintess are here.’

There are apostles trying to resurrect the Moon Mother and a Saintess trying to prevent it.

‘This is the final step.’

He would surely escape the crisis of death.

***

“The path gets rough from here.”

The path to the sky city is quite treacherous.

This place called the sky road is nothing but blue sky as far as the eye can see. Moreover, strong gusts of wind make it difficult to keep your eyes open, making it hard to find the way.

“We’ve already entered the domain of the sky city. Once in the domain, outside intruders are affected by the magic circle.”

“Ethan Whiskers.”

Ditrinir growled lowly.

“Magic created by humans means nothing before me.”

“They’re bird-folk, though.”

“Humans or bird-folk, they’re all the same to me.”

Swoosh-!

A gust of wind hit Ditrinir as it charged at full speed.

It was such a strong gust that even Ethan, riding on its back, staggered.

While wings would normally be shaken by such strong winds, Ditrinir’s wings remained steady even in the fierce gust.

“Oh.”

Ethan was impressed. Dragons really are different.

“Last time, it was just that the opponent was too strong.”

Ethan was the one who came to Ditrinir, who had long reigned in the mountains.

And the next fight was with Primordial Evil Kethrun, who had been eyeing the surface world from the subterranean world.

The opponents were just too strong. Ditrinir was also strong enough to show off its wings anywhere else.

“Ethan Whiskers, my contractor. Remember that no one before you has ever bound me in a contract relationship.”

Boom-!

As Ditrinir passed through the gust of wind, this time dark clouds appeared.

Huge dark clouds gathered from both sides, bringing heavy rain and lightning.

Crack-!

“Where do you think you’re going?”

As Ditrinir roared, the dark clouds disappeared.

“Wow.”

Ethan clapped in admiration.

“Ahem!”

For some reason, if someone else had clapped, Ditrinir would have been angry, thinking it was mockery.

But it felt quite good.

No, it felt really good.

“Hold on tight, contractor!”

***

After breaking through numerous artifacts and magic guarding the sky road, Ethan saw a huge land floating in the distant sky.

“There’s a floating rock hundreds of times larger than the one we just passed attached to the bottom.”

Ethan said in admiration.

“Every time I see it, I can’t help but be amazed.”

It looked exactly like the sky city in a movie he had seen once.

No, this one was much larger in scale.

“The bird-folk have better aesthetic sense than I thought. They’re different from the bird-folk I knew?”

“When did you know bird-folk?”

“About 200 years ago.”

“This city was probably built only 100 years ago.”

“Hmm.”

The city of the bird-folk, Skypia.

Ditrinir approached Skypia.

From here on, bird-folk warriors were guarding the entrance.

They had wings on their backs, some were white, and some were different colors.

“They say the whiter the color, the stronger they are.”

“Is it a bloodline issue?”

“Probably. They say the whitest ones are the royal family of Skypia.”

Even from a distance, it was clear that the bird-folk warriors were tense, apparently surprised to see Ethan coming riding on the massive Ditrinir.

“Actually, I’ve missed this reaction.”

A being of terror.

King of the skies.

The progenitor of all magic.

These were the words that described Ditrinir, the dragon among dragons. Everyone who saw it was afraid and couldn’t treat it carelessly.

“Enjoy it, Ditrinir.”

Ethan laughed as he patted Ditrinir’s back.

“W-who are you!?”

“Why is a dragon at Skypia…?”

“W-what brings you here?”

Ethan said to them.

“I’ve come to survive.”