Subscriber of the Gods Episode 297
Episode 297. The start of the second semester
“I can’t believe it.”
The Wickus Castle.
Count Wickus looked pleased after receiving the nameplate sent by Princess Evangeline.
“A new pillar.”
I heard that Ethan’s goal was the Twelve Stars.
When Marquis Dren died and Willas Dren came looking for me, I thought things were going wrong.
I figured I’d go back a bit, but it would take time.
Because Count Wickus himself knew best how strong Willas Dren was.
Even when he was running his estates with great hope, Marquis Willas Dren was a formidable figure.
The stories I heard were so outrageous that my mouth would drop open. He was a cruel and ruthless man who I absolutely could not collide with and who I would be better off getting away from if I got involved even a little bit.
But Ethan eventually defeated even Willas.
I don’t know what methods Ethan used or how he fought.
But the important thing was that we won. And no one got hurt.
“It’s just the beginning, Father. I have to go back to the Academy now. You and the General Manager will definitely have to work harder to manage the overall operation.”
“Eeeeeeeeeee.”
Count Wickers groaned.
“And there’s a good chance you’ll be promoted in the near future. I think it would be a good idea to prepare a celebration party in advance.”
“A victory… … I become a marquis? What my ancestors couldn’t do… … I’ve achieved? It’s thanks to my son. It’s thanks to my son!”
“My father played a significant role in my astonishingly fast growth. It’s not all my fault.”
Despite Ethan’s words, Count Wickers simply smiled.
“I guess we’re finally at the starting line? Becoming a Twelve Star isn’t the goal, it’s just a process.”
The smiling Count Wickus spoke to Ethan.
This is enough. The title of Marquis and the position of Twelve Stars recognized by Princess Evangeline.
I thought that at this level, I would be able to proudly show off even if I died and saw my ancestors’ faces.
But it wasn’t.
‘If you are satisfied, I tried to make you feel satisfied and give you new motivation.’
There is no need for that. Count Wickers is already looking higher.
We are looking at the same place Ethan is looking at.
“Still, we should celebrate it. It’s something we achieved.”
“I guess so? Can’t you just play around for about five years, Ethan?”
“… … .”
Ethan was silent.
“It was a joke.”
Count Wickers quickly left.
* * *
Ibeca Academy.
First day of school.
A lot of students were going to school. Despite the short vacation, there were quite a few changes.
“long time no see?”
“long time no see.”
The first ones we met were Yuna Garnet and Mason Yellowd.
Mason looked completely different. He had completely surrendered himself to the training he had received from Ethan Wickers over the course of a semester during the vacation.
A confident gait testified to Mason’s current condition.
“What, why is this kid so big? He’s gotten bigger.”
Ron Bears, who creates a huge shadow just by standing there, greeted the two briefly.
Ethan’s three favorite students gathered together. All three looked noticeably different from the first semester.
“Who is that person?”
“It’s him, it’s him.”
“Oh, that’s the problem?”
At those words, Mason turned around. The nickname “Troublemaker” was Mason’s nickname, but since meeting Ethan, Mason hadn’t heard it for quite some time.
So I wondered who was calling me that. It wasn’t me.
“Are you back?”
Mason narrowed his eyes at him. It seemed like the troublemaker who had been on leave had returned to school this semester.
“There the teachers are going!”
“I definitely have to take Mr. Ethan’s class this time.”
The student who had been called a problem child stared at Ethan for a moment, then smiled, as if he had found a new toy.
* * *
“How you doing?”
“Teacher Ethan, you’ve been no joke since your training. I’ve listened to your story.”
“I was really surprised.”
Ethan’s classmates spoke to him with sparkling eyes about what had happened since the retreat.
“I did something amazing, but I was lucky.”
“Can I become a Twelve Star through luck? That’s really amazing!”
Siron Ramsdale said excitedly.
“Even Professor Shiron has changed completely since the training session.”
“Oh, you noticed, haha.”
Siron smiled awkwardly.
“Professor Iris, you’ve also gained quite a bit of mana in a short period of time. Moreover, your mana feels much more refined than it did during the training session.”
“It was hard work. Now that Mr. Ethan has noticed, it was worth it.”
Iris smiled cheerfully. Ethan then looked at Nadia.
“Teacher Nadia… … .”
“Oh, I’m really busy. Um… … I don’t think there will be much of a difference, haha.”
Looking at Nadia’s awkward smile, it seemed that the Chernkastel family was definitely in an uproar.
‘It’s time for Prime Minister Chernkastel’s condition to worsen.’
There will also be a major change in the Chernkastel family, one of the twelve families that produced prime ministers.
If the prime minister’s condition deteriorates for some reason, a vacuum will be created, which will further intensify the factional strife within the family.
As with the Marquis of Dren, the issue of succession was ultimately the most vexing problem within the noble families.
‘There’s no benefit to leaving the Chernkastel family alone. There’s a high possibility that it will have negative repercussions on the newly-formed Wickus family. So, it would be better to help Nadia and definitely bring Chernkastel to our side.’
The various powers they possessed would certainly be of help to the Wickus family.
‘Especially something like a magic fortress.’
“Let’s talk about this later. I have something important to tell you.”
Ethan spoke quietly so that only Nadia could hear. Nadia looked surprised at his words, but then nodded.
A teacher passed by behind Ethan as he greeted his fellow teachers.
“Mr. Cloudy.”
When Ethan greeted her, Cloudy stared at him intently. After thinking about what to say for a moment, she opened her mouth.
“We should celebrate. Mr. Ethan, congratulations on the good news that has come to the Wickus family.”
Cloudy said so and sat down.
“I think Mr. Cloudy has become sharper.”
“You’ve become more like a sculpture.”
He was originally a handsome man with a rather thin impression. Now, his appearance had become as if he had been sculpted by a great artist, and it was difficult for anyone but a blacksmith of the level of Gold Hand to even touch him.
“I guess you must have received a lot of stimulation during the first semester.”
“I’m really looking forward to this semester. There’s also the biggest event at the end of the second semester.”
“This year is different, this year!”
An academy exchange program was scheduled to take place at the end of the second semester.
Last year, apart from Cloudy, there were no teachers who stood out in Ibeca, but this year is different.
His fellow teachers, including Ethan Wickers, were also showing quite an impressive performance, and Duty, the magic teacher who had been competing with Ethan, was also working hard in various ways for this year’s Academy Exchange.
“All teachers, please gather in the auditorium.
At the words of the Dean of the College of Engineering, all the teachers gathered in twos and threes in the auditorium.
‘It’s not just the students who have changed.’
When I gathered everything together like this, I could clearly see that all the teachers had changed.
‘I’m saying this because everyone saw it.’
What new teacher Ethan has been up to during his semester.
Above all, I saw with my own eyes how Cloudy changed Mason Yellowd, whom I had given up on.
‘I can’t help but feel motivated.’
Students change depending on what the teacher does.
Everyone was motivated by the changes that Ethan personally demonstrated.
“Ahem.”
The principal of Ibeka Academy appeared. He walked slowly to the podium, looked around at the teachers, and made eye contact with each one.
Then he smiled as if he was satisfied.
“I don’t think our Ibeka teachers have ever been as high-level as they have been this semester. They’ve all been inspired and motivated. They’ve all been great.”
Principal, Ghost Sword smiled broadly.
“There’s no need to ask if you had a good vacation. You guys are showing it now.”
The Ghost Sword said.
“There are various events planned for the second semester. The most important event is the Academy Exchange Festival, where academies can interact with each other. Depending on the progress of the classes in the second semester, we will select teachers who will represent the academy and participate in the exchange festival. This time, the principals of each academy discussed something new. This time, we decided to increase the number of participating academies by one.”
‘You’re adding new ones?’
Currently, a total of four academies are participating in the Academy Exchange. They are all renowned academies from across the continent.
“The new academy we’re participating in is called the Vogue Academy. With the participation of the Vogue Academy, this will be an academy exchange on an unprecedented scale. So everyone, please work hard in the second semester. If you win this time, you’ll gain a lot.”
“principal.”
As soon as Ghost Sword finished speaking, Teacher Iris raised her hand.
“That place called Borg Academy… isn’t it an academy in the Magic Empire?”
Everyone had a puzzled look on their face. They clearly knew the name of the Vogue Academy.
There are also famous schools in the Magic Empire.
The Twelve Stars do not simply refer to the nobles of the Holy Empire. They are names that refer to the twelve stars that support the entire continent.
In the Magic Empire, there were the Twelve Star Clans, known as the Four Magic Clans, and other prestigious noble families below them.
“It was the school where one of the three gods appeared, right?”
The three gods above the twelve constellations.
The academy where Mashinchang, one of the three gods and the master of Geomtapju, studied was Borg Academy.
“Is the Magic Empire Academy participating in this exchange?”
A teacher asked with a surprised expression. It has been ten years since I started working at Ibeca. In that time, I have never once interacted with the Magic Empire.
It was obvious. The Magic Empire was basically an enemy country.
A strong country represented by the law of the jungle and the rule of the strong.
Beyond that, the Magic Empire and the Sacred Empire had been constantly at war.
Although it has now reached a state of peace, it is literally a state of ceasefire. Due to this situation, exchanges with the Magic Empire itself have been blocked.
So, I couldn’t help but be curious about the sudden news of participation in the exchange program with Vogue Academy.
This is something the emperor would not permit.
How did it come to be?
“That’s a good question.”
Ghost Sword, who had expected such a question, took out a piece of parchment from his bosom.
That was a map.
“The Borg Academy is an academy of the Magic Empire, but geographically, it is located across the Holy Empire. Therefore, people from the Magic Empire and the Holy Empire can go there. In principle, that is. However, geographically, the Magic Empire is much more accessible, so the nobles of the Holy Empire did not send their students there.”
“Then why all of a sudden… … ?”
“Your principal came to see me in person. He attended the meeting and spoke to me in person. He complained that Borg Academy has long been known as a prestigious school in the Magic Empire, but that is why it is regressing.”
As it continued to maintain its prestigious position, it became lax.
As the water began to stagnate, a putrid smell began to appear, and the headmaster of Borg Academy, who saw that competitiveness was gradually declining, drew his sword.
“I heard that you received permission from the Emperor of the Demon Empire. Likewise, you received permission from our Emperor.”
Thanks to this, Vogue Academy was able to participate in this exchange program.
“This is the Borg Academy, which has maintained the top spot in the Magic Empire for a long time. This Academy Exchange is going to be really fun.”
Ghostsword laughed heartily, but the teachers couldn’t help but laugh.
‘The event happened faster than I thought.’
It was quite some time later that the Vogue Academy participated in the Academy Exchange Festival.
‘This would be better.’
Now I understand what Emperor Cairodias meant when he told me to become a Master. This exchange will be attended by many teachers and students from Borg Academy, and they are all members of families that have a strong presence in the Magic Empire.
It is the perfect opportunity to show off your skills.
‘This will be the most reliable entry ticket to the Magic Empire.’
“Don’t worry too much. The safety issue has definitely been resolved.”
‘There’s a reason why the principal keeps smiling. This exchange event is bigger than ever.’
In an exchange of this scale, Ibeka is definitely equipped with a strong hand.
‘Because we’re in the championship bracket. It can’t help but be fun.’
You’ll be able to show the world the grandeur of the Ibeka Academy, and you’ll find yourself smiling.
‘The teachers are going to have a hard time.’
“Whew… … This thing has gotten too big.”
“If something goes wrong there, it won’t just be a problem within the Holy Empire. It’ll be an embarrassment to the Magic Empire as well… … .”
It must have been quite a burdensome position.
“But at the same time, if you do it right… … .”
“It’s a chance to become famous within both empires. Certainly a reputation… … .”
Siron Ramsdale said, and chuckled, as if he was picturing a rosy future in his head.
“Everyone, please do your best for our Ibekah! And Mr. Ethan. Mr. Ethan, come out and talk to me for a bit after you’re done.”
fantasy,
