Subscriber of the Gods Chapter 432 - The Legendary Adventurer

Not long ago.

Strange visitors were said to have come to sky city.

The first to arrive was said to be a person filled with holy energy.

Because of her beautiful appearance and overwhelming holy aura, the bird-folk immediately admitted her to Skypia.

“I received a report that she was so holy that one might think she was what the surface dwellers call a Saintess. She asked about the land of the gods and not long after, she invaded that land. Those who saw her directly said she didn’t seem like someone who would do such a thing, but in the end, their judgment was wrong. When we learned that this holy human had intruded on our sacred land, we tried to respond immediately. However, it had been so long since something like this happened that we wasted time deciding how to deal with it.”

Before a proper course of action could be determined, other humans arrived.

They were individuals who exuded quite an ominous aura.

“Normally, we wouldn’t have accepted them, but since our sacred land had already been invaded, we couldn’t respond properly. When they said they wanted to collect ore and herbs from the sky veins, we let them in for a fee.”

However, like the person who came before, they too sneaked into the sacred land.

“In addition to the holy human, now two humans with an ominous aura. This has never happened before, so it was quite perplexing.”

And now, as time has passed.

They continue to search for them but haven’t even found a trace.

“We’ve been continuously discussing tracking methods. That place is our sacred land. It should be quiet and peaceful. We can’t make a commotion.”

But to pursue them, they needed to deploy more personnel.

“So that’s why you were arguing.”

“I’ll be honest with you. Actually, the response method isn’t that important. There’s something more crucial. We don’t know who they are. Why they invaded our sacred land. That land is sacred and traditional to us, but in reality, there’s nothing inside. No treasures, nothing hidden. The only thing there is a huge monolith standing on the land where it’s said a god descended.”

To those who aren’t bird-folk, that place has no meaning at all.

There’s nothing there that would tempt them.

Despite this, it was quite puzzling that these individuals entered that land.

They must have entered with some purpose, but Taikan wasn’t pleased with the fact that they had to just search without knowing that purpose.

“Especially that holy human woman who entered first. The two ominous ones who came later seem to have followed her in. Despite three intruders invading our sacred land, we can’t properly grasp the situation.”

Taikan looked around at his subjects.

They were well aware of the king’s dissatisfaction.

However, they too couldn’t alleviate the king’s displeasure. No matter how much they investigated, they couldn’t see any connection.

Who they were.

What purpose they had for invading that land. They couldn’t figure it out.

“Hmm.”

“That’s the end of the story. So, how do you intend to help us? We’d be grateful for any assistance.”

Even something trivial would be fine.

“Your Majesty.” 

Ethan said.

“Who they are and what their purpose is should be set aside for now. Isn’t the important thing to drive them out of the sacred land?”

“That’s right.”

“I will find them and expel them.”

“You’ll do that?”

Taikan wore a surprised expression.

“Why?”

“Although I’m not certain, there’s a high possibility that the holy human woman who entered first is the person I’ve been looking for.”

“Oh, so you know who that person is? Then who is she?”

“She’s the Saintess of the Holylight Order.”

“!”

At Ethan’s words, the subjects’ eyes widened.

“Why would the Saintess…?”

“Why would the Saintess of the Holylight Order enter our sacred land without permission? If she had requested our cooperation, she could have entered legally.”

“There must have been circumstances. Perhaps there wasn’t time to request cooperation, or maybe someone would have found out the moment she requested cooperation.”

Ethan looked at the subjects.

‘There are a few pawns of the Dawn Council here.’

“Someone shouldn’t know about entering our sacred land?”

“Yes.”

Ethan said this while moving his lips in a way only King Taikan could see. He had just told him who the pawns were.

Despite Ethan’s sudden action, King Taikan seemed to understand the situation quickly and maintained a solemn expression.

“Very well, I’ll entrust this to you. I’ll provide ample compensation, so please drive the intruders out of our sacred land.”

“Yes, I’ll do my best.”

***

Skypia city center.

Before entering the sacred land, Ethan made various preparations.

‘I need to make a decoction.’

He would likely have to fight the 1st and 2nd Apostles there. Like the Dawn Council’s lord, the nature and limits of their abilities were unknown.

‘I need to prepare as much as I can.’

There were various shops in Skypia.

‘There are herbs that only grow in Skypia.’

These Skypia herbs are only handled in Skypia. Although their effects are quite good, they aren’t sold to other territories.

‘They wither rapidly when taken outside the sky.’

Literally, they just become ordinary grass.

Many people tried various methods to preserve their effects and take them out. But it cost a considerable amount of money, and for that money, it was more beneficial to buy more expensive herbs from the ground.

Eventually, the plan to export Skypia’s herbs was scrapped.

‘At least the effect is certain.’

Money wasn’t an issue anyway. Ethan bought all the herbs he could.

“Hm?”

While heading towards the workshop to make a decoction with the purchased herbs.

Ethan encountered someone with a familiar aura.

“Oh?”

Like him, the other person also noticed Ethan and wore a surprised expression.

It was a man with a quite impressive hat.

‘I can feel the same power in that person that I have?’

The man with the hat approached Ethan and asked,

“Have you by any chance climbed the Hero’s Tower?”

Suddenly, pieces of the puzzle started to fit together in Ethan’s mind.

‘What I felt was the power of infallibility.’

He sensed it immediately because they possessed the same power.

‘There was definitely someone who cleared it.’

Officially, there was only one person who had cleared the Hero’s Tower that Ethan had cleared.

‘I’ve seen him somewhere before.’

Looking at his hat, the memory was on the tip of his tongue. The sword on his back and the small pouches on his waist. And even the iron necklace with six points.

‘It’s that person. For sure.’

The legendary adventurer, Roditon.

“I never expected to meet you like this, senior. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir Roditon.”

“You know me? More importantly, ‘senior’? So you’ve also cleared the Hero’s Tower, right?”

‘It really is Roditon.’

“Yes, that’s right. I also cleared it and received this power.”

Ethan said this and let the power of infallibility manifest in his hand.

“To think there was another fool who went to that dangerous place! Surprising, Roditon. There’s another human like you!”

A voice came from behind Roditon’s back.

Roditon thumped his back once and then drew his sword.

“Why are you hitting me! It only hurts you anyway!”

“Ah, this is my partner. It’s an ego sword, but it has a bad personality and talks a lot. I apologize for the sudden rudeness.”

“There’s an ego sword that doesn’t talk much? They’re called ego swords because they talk in the first place. If it doesn’t talk much, it’s just a sword, man.”

“Oh! Can’t you shut that mouth for once?”

“I don’t have a mouth? So I don’t know how to shut up.”

“Good grief, what nonsense is this in front of a junior, Mary?”

“But that person, isn’t he that guy?”

“Your former master?”

“What are you talking about! Not that, you know! That famous person these days! Ethan Whiskers! That teacher from Ivecar Academy!”

“Ah, that’s right. I am Ethan Whiskers.”

“See? Right? Hahaha-!”

“You’re the teacher from Ivecar Academy?”

Roditon looked at Ethan.

“You’re the famous Teacher Ethan Whiskers?”

“Teacher, please give Roditon some lessons.”

‘They’re talking playfully, but that ego sword is quite something.’

Ethan knew the identity of that sword. It was the most unique and powerful of the many treasures possessed by the legendary adventurer Roditon.

‘It’s my first time seeing it in person.’

It was Bloody Mary, said to be the only sword of its kind in MePan and cursed with blood.

‘I heard it was a sword mad for blood.’

It seemed Roditon had perfectly tamed the sword.

‘…Though I’m not sure if “tamed” is the right word.’

At the very least, it was clear that Roditon’s skills were also formidable.

‘After all, he’s someone who passed through the Hero’s Tower.’

Moreover, his title was ‘Legendary Adventurer.’

It wasn’t a title given to just anyone, and as long as Roditon didn’t die, this title could only be held by Roditon alone.

‘It’s a title that only one person can have, after all.’

“So, teacher, what brings you to this sky city? If you cleared the Hero’s Tower, you must have received another quest? A really incredible one, right?”

“Ah, I’ve already completed that quest.”

“…Completed? No way, that’s impossible.”

Before mentioning the Primordial Evil, Ethan spoke first.

“I came to find someone.”

“…Someone? As it happens, I also came to find someone.”

Roditon said.

“Surely we’re not looking for the same person. Hahaha-.”

“Roditon came to find the Saintess, but who did Teacher Ethan come to find?”

“…Pardon?”

Ethan momentarily failed to maintain his expression.

“Why are you looking for the Saintess?”

“I received a request. But… your expression is strange? Perhaps.”

Roditon was quick-witted.

“I said it as a joke, but is the person we’re looking for really the same person Teacher Ethan is looking for!? Did Teacher Ethan also come to find the Saintess?”

The ego sword spoke loudly.

“This kind of thing needs to be handled with some atmosphere. Mary, you really don’t know style.”

“I’m more stylish than you who wears polka dot underwear. Look at this blade.”

“Shut up.”

“Sir Roditon.”

Ethan said.

“As you said, I came to find the Saintess of the Holylight Order.”

Hearing those words, Roditon’s eyebrows twitched.

“Who is it?”

Ethan asked.

“The person who requested you to find her.”

He didn’t think he would be able to hear the story even if he asked.

If that was the case, he was planning to persuade him.

“It’s not difficult to tell you.”

However, Roditon spoke lightly. As if it wasn’t much of a secret.

“The Demon Emperor. The emperor of the Demon Empire.”

It was a name Ethan never expected.