Subscriber of the Gods Episode 341
Episode 341. About the Desert
Guide Lash Bed.
He was born in the desert and has lived there ever since.
He had one ability that was more special than others: the ability to follow a scent and get to where he wanted to go without getting lost, no matter where he was in the desert.
It was an ability that anyone born in the desert had, but Lashbed’s ability was even more special.
“You may have heard rumors and come to me, but other guides are limited in where they can go. Finding your way in the desert requires a very keen and excellent sense. I am born with that sense, so I can go anywhere I have been to once.”
Once you’ve been to Lash Bed, you won’t forget it.
And no matter where I was in the desert, I could instinctively head towards it.
‘You could call it human fortune.’
Of course, unlike Hong Gil-dong’s ability, it wasn’t teleportation, but it was amazing that he could go anywhere he had been before.
“Did you say the Novad Mercenaries?”
“Oh, yes. That’s right, Count.”
Novad Mercenaries.
It was a mercenary group I had never heard of, but like other mercenary groups, they were a group of mercenaries with many stories.
The leader is Hunter Novad, a veteran mercenary with over 30 years of experience.
“Most mercenaries who search the desert are like that, but why do you insist on going after the Desert King’s treasure? Do you plan on making a killing? If you fail, you’ll lose your life. Doesn’t that make sense?”
“I actually think so too, but there is a reason.”
Where is there a grave without a story?
The Novad Mercenary Corps originally consisted of about a hundred members, but due to circumstances, it has now been reduced to about fifty, half the size.
‘They all look talented.’
Even if each person stays still, the mana and aura will rise.
Judging by their unique gait and the various attitudes they displayed even while resting, they appeared to have been active as mercenaries for more than five years.
‘It’s natural for mercenaries to be rough.’
The rough appearance seen at Gaister Oasis did not match the appearance of the Hunter Novad mercenary captain now.
‘I’m not bowing down because of my fame. That’s just my natural personality.’
“Is there a reason why I must obtain the Desert King’s treasure?”
“……yes.”
Hunter sighed deeply and then began to explain the reason.
“You need something called a Shield of Purification.”
It was a name I had definitely heard before.
‘Was that the Desert King’s treasure?’
If so, it could be said that it was exactly what Ethan needed right now.
‘Growth is growth, but we need more defensive skills first.’
Ethan felt for the first time that his defensive skills were lacking while fighting the Three Apostles.
‘The Guardian Stone of the Spirit King, which reduces damage by 70%, or the Perfect Evasion, which allows you to evade with a certain probability, are practically meaningless.’
Even if the damage is reduced by 70%, if the opponent is as strong as the 3rd Apostle, you will inevitably suffer fatal damage.
When I first got it, I thought it would be quite useful, but when I actually used it in combat, I realized that it wasn’t very useful.
‘The defensive skills that work best for me are the ones that completely block or nullify damage.’
Among them, the defense series that nullifies damage was the best.
‘If I could add one more.’
Shield of Purification would be a pretty good choice.
“Why do you need a purification shield?”
In response to Ethan’s question, Hunter began to explain the situation.
One of my comrades who had been with me since the beginning of the mercenary group fell ill.
It was thought to be a simple illness, but no treatment was available, and it was eventually diagnosed as incurable.
Then, I met a therapist.
Everyone said they couldn’t believe it, but they were in no position to judge.
“There was a healer who said he would heal your companions if you brought him the Shield of Purification.”
“Everyone is risking their lives for that one person?”
“Your Majesty… … this may seem foolish. But there is not a single one of us who does not owe him his life. We are everything to him. Some of the other mercenaries, including myself, have families. Some of them are married, some have children. But we are everything to him. How can we leave him alone?”
“Who said he would cure me?”
Ethan hesitated for a moment at his question, then quickly confessed.
“He, he actually said he was from the Demon Empire… … He said he could cure any illness. I went to see him because I thought he might be able to cure an incurable disease, but he asked for the Shield of Purification in exchange for the cure. We knew about the Desert King’s treasure, but we didn’t know exactly what it was… … .”
Hunter confessed his story obediently.
‘Hmm.’
Ethan thought of several characters. A healer from the Magic Empire who had come to the Holy Empire and needed the Shield of Purification for some reason.
“What does it look like?”
“Uh… … I couldn’t see him properly because his face was completely covered. But his hat was unique. He was wearing a long-brimmed hat with a crow feather.”
Ethan smiled slightly at those words.
‘Entrosa.’
It was a person who matched the information in Ethan’s head.
Entrosa, a black magician of the Magic Empire.
‘Perhaps he came to the Holy Empire for research.’
The field that Entrosa was researching was one that Ethan was familiar with.
‘A golem that resembles a human.’
He was a warlock and also a golem summoner.
To be exact, he was interested in summoning golems using black magic, so he could be seen as a golem summoner who was continuously researching the perfect golem.
‘He’s the guy who started my special golem idea.’
He is a versatile wizard with a bit of a crazy side, but he would be quite useful if recruited as an ally.
‘He’s from the Magic Empire, but his abilities and personality are not bad.’
If recruited, he would be a talent who would be of great help to the Wickus Estate in many ways.
‘It will be of great help, especially in the commercial sector. It will be possible to further enhance the performance of special golems.’
Ethan was making a pretty good profit from his special golems. But the income was only a side thing. The important thing was his connections.
‘I guess I can build connections in other ways too.’
The decision has been made. To bring Entrosa into the Wickers Estate.
“But for what reason does Count Ethan want to find that temple… … .”
“To be exact, to confirm whether that temple is the one I am looking for.”
“I see… … I know it may be a bit awkward to ask this, but I wonder if the Desert King’s treasure is really there.”
“Of course it exists.”
Ethan said.
Hunter was about to ask a question about that, but Lashbed whistled and gave a hand signal, causing him to stop talking.
“Stop for a moment! I’m stopping!”
“what’s the matter?”
“Shh.”
Lashbed made a gesture for silence, then immediately put his ear to the ground.
He closed his eyes and seemed to be completely focused on the sound, not moving even the slightest bit.
“This is a shortcut, but, um, it won’t work. There are too many. It’s an unmanageable number.”
Lashbed said so and approached Ethan.
“Count, there are many dangerous creatures in the desert, but there are three that you must be most careful of. One of them is the Sand Hell Guardian. It is a very dangerous creature, like the Desert Shark, that you must also be careful of, and it is right here.”
“You’re saying we stopped because there were monsters? Do you know how many of us there are now? It doesn’t matter. We’ll handle it.”
“If there had been just one, I wouldn’t have even brought it up.”
Lashbed shook his head at Hunter’s words.
“There are dozens, maybe even hundreds of them in front of me right now.”
“But why are they all gathered here? Don’t they usually not invade others’ territory?”
A hunter with a little knowledge of the desert asked.
“This is called pack hunting. The Sand Hell Guardians gather one by one to create a giant sand hell big enough to swallow dozens of people at once.”
“… … .”
It was a terrible thing to even think about.
When Hunter heard that, he shook his head and suggested they go another way.
“There is no other choice.”
“It’s the same desert no matter where you look. How can you tell the way?”
The Novad Mercenaries were impressed by Lashbed’s abilities.
To be honest, I thought the guides were all there. I was hesitant when I got the recommendation.
But the rashbed I saw in person found its way incredibly well.
If it weren’t for Rashbad, I wouldn’t have noticed the Sand Hell Guardians joining the hunt right now.
And of course, he would have been hunted by the Sand Hell Guardians.
“Then I guess I’ll have to take a detour. How long will it take by other route?”
“If you take a detour, it will take another day.”
“day?”
“Yes, you should pay more.”
“… … Okay, I understand.”
It is better to go safely and surely, even if it means taking a detour, than to go quickly and take risks.
Then Ethan stepped forward.
“So if I take this shortcut, I’ll save a day?”
“Oh, no! Not just one! There are dozens of Sand Hell Guardians over there right now… …!”
Before Lashbed could finish speaking, Ethan ran forward.
Kuguguguguguung-!
In an instant, the desert began to move.
“Ah ah ah ah ah……!”
The Novad mercenary group was stirred by the tremendous sight. They were in the middle of a desert, but the sand was rippling like the waves of the sea.
gulp-.
If I get sucked into that sand.
“This… won’t work…?”
Mercenary leader Hunter shouted.
“Oh, Count! It’s okay! We’re not in such a hurry… …?”
“uh……?”
Hunter, who had been shouting loudly at Ethan who was running forward, closed his mouth without realizing it.
Ethan, standing on the sand hell, was not sucked into it. Rather, he walked lightly on it as if it were normal ground.
Kwagugugugugugu-!
But that was only for a moment.
Dozens of sand hell sentinels that Lashbed had warned about poked their heads out.
Ethan swung his sword lightly.
Ethan’s Sword 2nd Form
Moon Force
Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaah-!
As Ethan swung his sword, a tremendous cold air spread around him. In the aftermath, the mercenaries felt as cold as the desert in the middle of the night.
Lashbed also shivered greatly from the cold.
I couldn’t tell if it was because of the cold or because of Ethan’s swordsmanship.
Kuung-.
Several Sand Hell Guardians were cut down in one attack from Ethan.
Ethan swung his sword repeatedly. The Sand Hell Guardians, who realized the situation too late, tried to escape under the sand, but Ethan’s sword was faster than them.
Swish-.
Ethan stabbed the Sand Hell Guardians one by one with his Frost Sword as they tried to hide in the sand, pulling them out above the sand.
As a result, dozens of Sand Hell Guardians were killed by Ethan in less than a minute.
Ethan lightly shook the Frost Sword, put it away, and spoke to Lashbed.
“I have paved the way, guide.”
At those words, Lashbed ran to Ethan with a very nervous face.
fantasy,
