Subscriber of the Gods Episode 254
Episode 254. Scenario (1)
Ethan was first surprised by the Pope’s movements.
‘So much so that you didn’t even notice it until it came later?’
Ethan had just met the Pope for the first time today. As such, he only had a few rumors and no detailed information about the Pope.
Still, since he was a priest of the Holy Light Church, I thought he wouldn’t be that great in terms of strength.
But that wasn’t the case at all. As befitting the great name of the Pope, his skills were also great.
‘There’s a huge gap in skill between you and the Cardinals. But what on earth are you talking about? Is it really Ethan Wickers?’
“What do you mean? I don’t understand what you mean.”
“That’s right. Are you really Ethan Wickers? Ethan is definitely a promising talent. I’ve heard a lot about him. But this situation is so sudden. How did you end up here? And the timing was so coincidental.”
The Pope’s suspicions were justified.
Ethan took the Emperor’s letter out of his subspace pocket and handed it to the Pope.
“You can check the seal. His Majesty the Emperor himself stamped the seal.”
The Pope carefully reviewed the letter from the Emperor that Ethan had handed him.
The letter clearly bore the emperor’s seal.
The Emperor’s seal that no one dares to imitate. The Pope, who had been looking at that seal for a long time, was able to quickly dispel his suspicions toward Ethan.
“His Majesty the Emperor sent Ethan to me. That means he didn’t come here to help Waterpia.”
Ethan didn’t know the details of the letter since he hadn’t checked it himself. But judging from the Pope’s reaction, it seemed like it contained a reason why Ethan needed to meet the Pope.
“Yes, in fact, I heard that Your Majesty was here and came to see you in person. On the way here, I met some people who said that something had happened at Waterpia and heard their story, but my original purpose was to see Your Majesty.”
The Pope looked relieved at Ethan’s words, as if he was finally starting to feel a little better.
But that was only for a moment. The Pope looked Ethan up and down his body and sighed.
“Huh… How did you manage to survive with such a body? The realm that Ethan has achieved now is a realm that was never originally attainable.”
The Pope took some holy water from his bosom and sprinkled it on Ethan.
Shaaaaak-.
It was an incredible blessing, on a different level from the blessings I had received before.
Ethan has always felt a strange sense of alienation while living with extinction syndrome. Perhaps due to this alien feeling, he felt a slight weight whenever he moved his body.
After reaching a certain level, the burden is reduced, but it is clear that it has a negative effect on movement, even if it is subtle.
It was a feeling I couldn’t get used to at all, but I tried every day with the thought that I had to get used to it.
But the moment I received the Pope’s blessing, that foreign feeling completely disappeared.
“It will relieve your suffering, even if only for a little while.”
The Pope said this and checked Ethan’s condition again.
“Hmm, this is… … not a typical extinction. It’s quite deep. Deep enough that it’s hard to tell what it is.”
The Pope also had a clear understanding of the extinction disease within Ethan’s body.
“hmm…….”
The Pope poked Ethan’s shoulder, pubic area, and waist with his index finger, then closed his eyes.
“If it were possible for me to treat it, I would have done something to help, but unfortunately, this is not a typical case of extinction.”
The Pope also had powerful healing powers, though not as powerful as the saints.
He is the one who holds the highest position in the Holy Light Church. If the saint is the reincarnation of the Goddess of Holy Light, then the Pope can be said to be the representative of the Goddess of Holy Light.
He is the one who hears and practices the words of the Goddess from the closest place.
Because of this, the Pope’s power was also quite strong.
“This is… … well, I don’t think even I can easily handle it.”
The Pope said with a serious expression.
“Ethan, this extinction inside you is not normal. Have you been feeling it?”
“Yes, I have already heard from His Majesty the Emperor. He said the same thing as His Holiness the Pope. The extinction inside me is not an ordinary extinction, but the original extinction of all extinctions that have spread across the continent.”
“… … That’s a perfect expression. The original of the extinction. Yes, I think so too. The extinction inside Ethan’s body is the original, and there are elements that can tell us that.”
At this point, Ethan was curious. What on earth did the Emperor and the Pope think was the original form of the extinction?
Is this significantly different from the general extinction?
“I sense a deep, deep resentment. The aura emanating from Ethan’s body. There is an endless malice engraved there.”
Ethan nodded at the words, “deep, deep resentment.”
‘Because it was created by those who broke away from the Dawn Society in an attempt to turn the tables.’
Since endless malice continues to pour out from the aura, it is only natural that the powerful would sense it.
‘The strong are especially sensitive to such things.’
Ethan sighed.
This even received the Pope’s approval.
In fact, Ethan’s extinction could be considered the original.
So, those who found out about Ethan’s extinction couldn’t help but be surprised.
How did we get to this level with such a big penalty?
‘I’m surprised too.’
The powers he learned in the New World had a big impact, but what absolutely influenced his survival up until now was Ethan’s caution.
Ethan had never played Mephant so earnestly before.
I have been playing as safely as possible, avoiding risks as much as possible and eliminating all risk factors if there is a possibility of death.
The result of meticulously checking and carefully reviewing every branch point that appeared before was the current Ethan Wickers.
‘I struggled too. I used everything I had.’
I felt really good because I felt like my achievements were recognized.
Even the Emperor and the Pope, the two highest of the Holy Empire, acknowledged this. They were amazed by Ethan’s accomplishments and wondered how he could have come to this point.
‘The effort paid off.’
I didn’t think the Pope could cure this extinction disease anyway.
There is another reason why I came to see the Pope.
“Is it possible that even a saint could cure this?”
Ethan asked the most important thing.
We need to confirm the possibility, even if indirectly.
If the Pope answers that it is impossible.
‘We need to turn around quickly in another way.’
The Pope seemed perplexed by this question and thought about it for quite some time.
Finally, the Pope opened his mouth at the end of the long speech.
“This is a problem I cannot discuss in detail.”
The Pope answered carefully, choosing each word.
“If it were a common case of extinction, I would say it could be cured, but Ethan’s extinction is not common, so it is difficult to give a definitive answer. However, it is not impossible to say it is impossible. The only one who can answer this question is the saintess. I know that the power of the goddess that resides in the saintess is limitless.”
Ethan’s question was quite embarrassing for the Pope.
The saint is the person who has received the greatest power from the Goddess Holy Light.
Saying that even a saint would be unable to do something was no different than admitting that the Goddess of Holy Light had limitations.
Of course, the Pope cannot say that.
Ethan clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘It’ll be hard to get a definitive answer.’
In the end, I had no choice but to meet the saint in person.
“I can’t talk about the saint at length.”
Then the Pope said:
“If it’s about me, I can answer with certainty. I cannot cure that extinction disease. However, I can make it better than it is now.”
Ethan’s expression changed slightly at the Pope’s words.
Can you make it better?
‘Is it possible to cure it, even if only partially?’
At those words, Ethan’s eyes opened wide.
“I have tried many methods so far, but I can’t do anything right now. That’s why I am forcibly raising my physical condition in various ways.”
The Pope nodded at those words.
“That’s right. That disease can’t be treated with normal methods.”
The Pope said this and raised his palm.
Shaaaaak-.
A pale yellow sphere formed from his hand.
“You can use Life Transfer. This will slightly weaken Ethan’s extinction. Even if you cut off the source of the disease, he will regenerate anyway, so you just need to weaken it to a level that his body can handle.”
“… … A life transition?”
Ethan unconsciously frowned at the Pope’s words.
Life Transformation was literally a technique to amplify power by collateralizing life force.
The power that was amplified was enormous because it was secured with the great price of life.
Especially, the life force of a strong person like the Pope is much stronger than that of an ordinary person, so the effect will be enormous.
If Ethan does as the Pope says, he will be able to alleviate some of the symptoms of this extinction disorder.
Instead, the Pope permanently loses that amount of life.
‘He’s using his life to cure me.’
“Why that… … .”
This cannot be considered a normal treatment method. It is literally a matter of sacrificing one’s life.
He would sacrifice his life to cure himself.
Ethan was embarrassed.
No, it was confusing.
“Ethan, you have many gods in your life. I can see their shadows behind you. It’s funny. They all have your back. They lend you strength.”
Pope Frederick, who leads the followers of the Holy Light Church, has the important mission of spreading the word of the Holy Light Goddess.
At the same time, we must evangelize so that more people will believe in the Goddess Holy Light.
There is no reason to sacrifice one’s life for Ethan, who believes in another god.
But it’s not like he’s willing to sacrifice his life to cure Ethan and have him convert to the embrace of the Goddess of Holy Light.
‘I don’t understand.’
The Pope smiled kindly as Ethan looked at him with a mixture of bewilderment and wonder.
“You look like you don’t know why I’m doing this.”
“… … To be honest, yes.”
“It’s a very simple reason. I am an agent of God.”
The Pope said.
“Since the Goddess would have done this, I, as her servant, will also do this.”
Pope Frederick is the representative of the Goddess. He aims to practice goodness himself and to spread goodness.
“And I do it because I can.”
Ethan remained silent at the Pope’s words.
“But I know. There are people who feel burdened by unconditional goodness. Judging from your expression, Ethan is one of those people. In that case, I will put a condition on it.”
The Pope patted Ethan on the shoulder comfortingly.
“Please do good.”
Do good.
The Pope’s conditions were simple.
“That is the condition. Do good deeds while you live. It doesn’t matter if you don’t do it in the name of the goddess. How important is it to believe in a god when it comes to doing good deeds?”
A strange light came into Ethan’s eyes. He couldn’t help but look at the Pope in a completely different way.
“……All right.”
Ethan and the Pope met for the first time today.
Could Ethan do the same?
‘Is this what it feels like to be the head of a religion?’
It was completely different from how I felt when I first met the Emperor.
“Okay, let’s get started right away. But before that.”
The Pope said.
“Let me tell you why I asked Ethan if he was the real Ethan. Ethan Wickers, have you ever heard of perfect mimicry?”
fantasy,
