Subscriber of the Gods Episode 225
Episode 225. Break the Limits
“Hahaha- our second child is here.”
Count Wickers welcomed his second son, Nathan Wickers.
“Oh, Father. What on earth is going on?”
“Haven’t you heard the story? Hmm, I thought it had spread to Freya too.”
Lord Wickus said with a proud smile.
“So much has changed in such a short period of time? It’s only natural to be surprised.”
“I’m not dreaming, am I? I don’t understand anything right now. Is this really our territory? Did I study too hard at the academy and go crazy?”
He wasn’t the type of kid who used such harsh language.
To his surprise, Nathan Wickers was using some pretty harsh language in front of his father.
But Lord Wickus understood.
If I were in Nathan’s position, I would have reacted the same way.
This change happened in a very short period of time.
It seems like only yesterday that Nathan entered the academy, but it was surprising to see how much his hometown had changed when he returned for the first vacation.
“Let’s talk slowly first.”
Lord Wickus first took Nathan to the market.
Originally, the market in the Wickus Estate was a very narrow and uninspiring place.
The only places with any human presence were the shops that received support from the nearby junta territory.
“What on earth is this? Why are there so many people? W-Wouldn’t it be from the Junta territory… …”
“Nathan, the Junta territory now belongs to our Wickus.”
“yes!?”
Nathan blinked his eyes.
“Then these people… … .”
“They are people who came to use the market of our Wickus territory. Some came from far away, and others from nearby territories.”
Freya Academy is located within a large territory classified as a Great Estate. Therefore, Nathan was well aware of how many people gathered at the Great Estate’s market.
“With this number… … it’s more than the market of Daeyoungji!”
“Yes. In terms of scale, it’s about that much, and in terms of profit, it’s probably even bigger.”
“So, what’s the profit? Are you taking that much in taxes?”
“Taxes? No. They reduced taxes a lot.”
“Then where on earth does the profit come from… … Are we really doing this?”
“That’s right, it’s a business that our family runs directly.”
Lord Wickus explained the business. It included weight reduction, attribute granting, and even dyeing magic.
He explained that this entire massive undertaking was run directly by the Wickes family.
“Then, with all these guests… … .”
“Yes, they are all sources of income for our territory.”
As Lord Wickus spoke, he showed Nathan around the expanded market.
“We are continuously increasing the size of the territory. There are so many people coming that the previous size is no longer enough to handle it.”
“… … .”
Nathan just blinked as he listened to his father’s words.
I couldn’t tell if this was reality or a dream.
The Wickers Estate that Nathan remembers was a poor rural estate that could not escape its past glory.
A territory that was waiting for collapse without any hope, let alone any possibility of development.
They barely managed to survive by receiving support from the nearby junta territory and being economically dependent on it.
Even if there was any income during that time, it went to my sick eldest brother.
My father was worried a lot because of that kind of brother.
My father had told me not to worry, that I would definitely get better, and to just trust in myself.
As he said that, his father laughed and his face looked like he was crying to anyone who saw him. How could he cry while laughing? After seeing that, Nathan became obsessed with his studies.
“Father, what about my brother? Where is he now?”
“Nathan, you really didn’t hear? What happened to your brother now?”
Lord Wickus asked with a truly puzzled look on his face.
“The story must have spread to Freya. How strange.”
Of course, it’s not that I didn’t hear the story.
The story about his brother must have reached Nathan’s ears as well.
When he heard that his older brother, Ethan, had been hired as the top student in the Ibeka Academy teacher recruitment exam, he was puzzled.
Besides, I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard that his brother had beaten Ibekah’s famous teacher, Claudia Hyde.
But I thought it was all just rumors.
The last time Nathan saw his brother, he was coughing and looked like he was going to die.
It’s hard to believe that someone who had difficulty walking was hired as a head teacher at Ibeca, so how did he beat Mr. Claude Hyde?
I wanted to go around asking where such a ridiculous rumor came from.
But Nathan Wickers was an elite student who excelled even within Freya.
Since no one asked me openly about my brother, I couldn’t get any clues, let alone the truth about the rumors.
“Was that really true? Surely, surely not? If so, then my brother… … .”
“Your brother is all better. Well, not exactly all better, but he’s really much better.”
Lord Wickus said.
“These businesses, as well as the development of the estate, were all done by Ethan, Nathan.”
“Is that true?”
I couldn’t believe it.
First of all, I was really happy. I thought my brother would get better enough to move normally.
Regardless of how it got better or how much it got better, I was just so happy that my brother was healthy.
“Yes, do you remember the old days? Your brother, the swordsman genius, and you, the magic genius. You were the pride of our family.”
Lord Wickus said happily.
“Your brother is back.”
“Father… … Please hit me once… … Ugh.”
Pfft-!
Before he could finish his words, Lord Wickus’ fist struck him.
“Huh, huh… …? Father, what power… …!”
Nathan felt embarrassed and touched his cheek. It wasn’t the father he remembered. He looked at him with surprised eyes and saw that his complexion had improved significantly and his body had grown bigger than before.
Above all, that blow just now. It was so strong that if you weren’t careful, you could pass out.
“I’ve been training a bit lately. I feel the need to get stronger.”
“Whew… …Father, I heard everything, but I still can’t believe a single thing.”
Nathan’s joy was short-lived. The words Lord Wickus had just said about being a magical genius struck Nathan.
Nathan, who was called the magical genius of the Wickus Estate since childhood, was brimming with confidence.
After his brother became ill, the burden of being Youngji’s last hope had been weighing heavily on Nathan, but he actually enjoyed that burden.
Because I thought I could change everything with my talent.
But since entering Freya Academy, that confidence has been considerably diminished.
Of course, he was treated as an elite student with high grades within the academy and was quite famous.
“And, Father, I don’t think I should be called a magical genius anymore.”
“… … What happened?”
“No… … I’m sorry.”
Lord Wickus looked worried as he looked at Nathan with a darkened expression.
* * *
Ethan returned to Wickus Estate before heading to the palace.
Since I registered with Poongun, my arrival was a snap.
“It’s improving day by day.”
It seemed that the abilities of his father, Lord Wickus, were also developing.
Ethan went straight to the market and checked out the business.
“There is nothing abnormal.”
After that, I went straight to find Schudlen.
Ethan planned to enter the palace with his two escorts.
The palace is a den of demons. To settle down in the palace alone without any particular connection is no different from risking your life in the middle of a battlefield.
‘I need someone to be my two eyes.’
And in preparation for the future, I was thinking of asking Legia to educate these two. If it was Ethan’s request, Legia would listen to it personally.
“huh?”
Ethan, who was looking for Shudlen, found a man with a rather familiar face.
Next to the man was Lord Wickus.
“brother?”
And on that side, they recognized Ethan right away and came straight to him.
“Nathan.”
Medium length hair that reaches down to the nape of the neck and sharp eyes.
It was Nathan Wickers, Ethan’s younger brother.
“Brother! Are you really okay?”
“Yes, it’s all thanks to Dad. And it’s thanks to you giving in so much. Nathan, thank you so much.”
Although it was our first meeting in this world, the conversation was easy because I knew Nathan well in Mephant.
“Let’s talk over a cup of tea instead of doing this here.”
* * *
The Wickus Castle.
Nathan Wickes heard in detail about Ethan’s accomplishments in a short period of time.
They were all shocking stories, but the most surprising of all was my brother’s ability.
“The illness was obscuring all of my brother’s abilities.”
I knew very well that he had talent in swordsmanship, but I had no idea about his talent in business.
Moreover, the huge vessel that I felt every time I heard the story was something that even my brother Nathan had no idea about.
“I wonder if it’s because it was suppressed until now that it all burst out like this. Anyway, I’m really glad, hyung.”
Nathan also felt something rising up when he saw Ethan in good health. It seemed to be because he had only seen him in pain for so long.
“Nathan, I’d like to hear more about that story from earlier. What happened at the Academy?”
“… … .”
Nathan was silent.
‘I think something’s wrong.’
Ethan studied Nathan’s expression closely.
‘I think I have a rough idea of what the problem is.’
Nathan Wickers has only one concern within the Freya Academy.
background.
Nathan is known as one of Freya’s five stars, but he was given this name because he overcame numerous difficulties on his own.
His family name and background were, in turn, factors that held him back. Even now, he was not even able to receive any significant human support.
‘Shudlen should have gone to Nathan originally.’
Ethan took the talented Shudlen with him.
‘I guess it’s a bit much to call it a substitute, though.’
“Tell me, Nathan. The current me, no, the current Wickus.”
Ethan smiled and said, “Don’t worry.”
“I can solve all your problems. That’s why.”
Nathan lifted his head at Ethan’s words. For some reason, he felt a sense of security, as if everything would be resolved just as Ethan had said.
“Tell me. What’s going on?”
“that is…….”
Nathan explained his current situation.
The Freya Academy had a much wider class divide than the Iveca Academy.
The upper class nobles who had received elite education since childhood were all in the top ranks, but the level of education they received from birth was different.
In addition, since I had good mentors, even if I reached my limit or had shortcomings, I was able to quickly improve the problems.
Nathan, who first reached the top ranks, didn’t know that.
It seems like if I just take one more step I could be at the top.
I thought it would work if I just did a little more, but it didn’t work.
He felt the limits of his talent. But Nathan had no one to help him like the other top students.
Since it was a family that could easily fall into ruin at any moment, it was burdensome for Nathan to even ask for support.
As Ethan listened to the story, he remembered the stories Nathan had told him at Mephant.
‘I remember hearing your story. You said there was a time when you were at your limit and couldn’t overcome it. Fortunately, you were able to overcome it thanks to one of Freya’s teachers who cared about Nathan.’
To be exact, he said that he received extreme training from a magician introduced to him by that teacher, and that was the opportunity for him to overcome his limitations and be where he is today.
‘You might say you were lucky back then, but the journey to catch that luck probably wasn’t easy.’
The gap in skill becomes bigger as you go up the ranks. Even if it seems like a small difference, there are many who fail to make the leap to the top ranks because they are unable to bridge the gap.
‘It’s hanging there right now.’
So, you can’t help but doubt your own talent. And at the same time, you start to resent your family.
‘I get it now.’
If things were as they were, this would be the time when you would be struggling with resentment toward your family and the limitations of your talents.
And Ethan probably died at this time.
‘That’s why I was able to calm my mind. More poisonously. But now I’m alive and well.’
In that case, you just need to create a new opportunity to calm your mind.
“So, you’re saying that you feel the limits of your talents, Nathan?”
“… … It’s embarrassing to say, but it’s true.”
“Then I will break that limit.”
fantasy,
