Chapter 31

Unlike Wendigo’s forces with their clear hierarchy, the Blue Mane tribe’s power structure was quite precarious.

The reason wasn’t as sophisticated as complex blood relations or factional conflicts. It was due to the absence of a leader with supreme authority.

‘I am the chief of the Blue Mane tribe. So… shouldn’t that spirit clinging to us listen to me too?’

‘They beg me for magic and blessings, so isn’t it natural for them to follow my orders?’

If either Oneton or Lektar had yielded, they might have been a somewhat normal force, but both were full of desire for power and..

“Hahaha! Finally, that spirit bastard understands my words! Yes, leadership should naturally be done by the chief!”

So it’s not strange that Lektar, who had obtained control over the beasts from Oneton, was greatly delighted.

Lektar burst into laughter looking at the beasts obediently following orders, unlike their usual behavior.

He was extremely satisfied seeing the beasts, who always caused problems, following orders with deeply furrowed brows.

Moreover, he was riding on top of a large wolf, so he felt like his shoulders were soaring to the sky.

“Hehehe. In the end, even that spirit bastard knelt before the chief’s dignity. I truly congratulate you!”

“Haha. Your flattery is excessive! But since it’s not entirely wrong, I’ll specially forgive you!”

When a rat beastkin approached and flattered him, Lektar bared his teeth in satisfaction.

However, he wasn’t careless. Lektar knew well how cunning and crafty a spirit Oneton was.

He may have handed over control of the beasts now due to responsibility for his own mistake and personal grudge, but it was obvious he would find fault if Lektar made a mistake.

‘I absolutely can’t let that happen!’

Although he couldn’t completely dominate the tribe because of Oneton, Lektar was quite excellent as a warrior.

The proof was that he was still alive after fighting dozens of battles since childhood, following his brothers and father.

From Lektar’s perspective, the wendigo had at least one weakness.

“Surround the forest as widely as possible. Deploy the beasts first to find the villages and attack simultaneously. For some reason, the forest spirit is protecting humans.”

“Is… is that true? Honestly, it’s hard to believe.”

“… I find it hard to believe too, but that’s what actually happened.”

Even the warriors who trusted and followed him looked doubtful, but Lektar was certain.

In the first place, if that wasn’t the case, what reason would he have had to try so hard to save people?

Whether it was an ancient covenant or a contract binding an astonishingly skilled shaman, there must be a reason to protect humans.

‘Even a spirit can’t stop an army alone.’

If they spread out as widely as possible and strike multiple villages simultaneously, even that spirit bastard would be thrown into confusion.

Of course, Lektar expected the forest people to resist, but he didn’t care.

How could they possibly face warriors who had lived their whole lives on battlefields and packs of bloodthirsty beasts?

“Chief. We’ve positioned the warriors as widely as possible.”

“Good. Deploy the prepared units first!”

Lektar was confident. Though a bit improvised, he had a plan of sorts.

Lektar watched the warriors enter the forest and thought.

From now on, what’s important is courage to face problems without fear and quick-witted improvisation.

However…

“Chief! We have a big problem! The paths are blocked by trees and rocks!”

“… What?”

Facing a problem from the start was something that didn’t exist in Lektar’s expectations.

Lektar’s face contorted ridiculously.

---

A ghost village where no one lives.

Wendigo was using this place as an advance base to prepare for battle.

As warriors moved busily, Geron approached Wendigo and reported.

“I have a report. The tribes that accepted our proposal are blocking the routes and moving.”

“Excellent. Those bastards must have been quite flustered.”

“Yes. If they don’t know the forest people’s strategy, they would have been greatly confused.”

Befitting its nickname as the end of the world, most of those living in this forest were literally pushed to the edge.

Of course, being losers and their descendants was reason enough for people to despise them, but that was a misconception of those who didn’t know the reality.

In the first place, such weak individuals couldn’t have survived in this harsh, extreme forest.

These were sufficiently strong and wise people. Even now, that was the case.

Even in a situation where they had to retreat, they toppled trees and embedded rocks to frustrate their enemies.

In a forest that was already difficult to move through, the relatively easier paths had been ruined, so the enemies would have to struggle to find their way.

Moreover, they had burned or taken everything in the villages, so even if the enemies reached the villages, there would be nothing to gain.

‘Even I think they really wouldn’t want to fight. Having to go through all that trouble with nothing to gain.’

Warriors in this era were literally those who lived by the sword.

In the first place, warriors weren’t obsessed with fighting because they were battle maniacs. Most wanted to earn big with a single sword stroke.

But what if there’s nothing to gain? Naturally, dissatisfaction would build up. Even Buddha would be dissatisfied if he risked his life fighting and got nothing in return.

Of course, for now they’re one tribe, so they’ll endure their complaints and hope for later, but…

“They won’t get their hands on what they want. Geron, start moving the warriors.”

“What about Skadi?”

“You assist her. Although Skadi is quite the valiant woman, it’s unavoidable to worry.”

“Haha. How can you say Skadi is valiant? Such a gentle person couldn’t be like that.”

“……”

Geron snickered as if it was a mischievous joke.

Although she sometimes showed signs of madness, Skadi was basically a kind woman who liked people.

For such a woman to be called valiant. Geron was certain she had never even killed a single beast.

‘I should tell him about when I first met Skadi… No. It’s better to consider Skadi’s image.’

Wendigo was a bit curious about what expression Geron would make if he learned that Skadi had killed two people, but he barely managed to hold back.

“Caw~!”

A large crow flew over and perched on Geron’s shoulder. It was one raised like a messenger bird among the forest people.

Geron skillfully untied the leather bound to the crow’s leg and checked the contents.

“It’s a good start. They’ve given up on breaking through the routes and started moving along the guided path.”

“Good. Then I’ll see you later. Wait for my signal at the promised location.”

With those words, Wendigo’s figure disappeared into the forest.

Geron stared for a moment in the direction Wendigo had vanished and thought.

‘Whoever has to face the spirit must be damn pitiful.’

If it were him, he would have just surrendered or run away, Geron thought as he moved to carry out Wendigo’s orders.

… Skadi whining about not being able to see Wendigo off was a bonus.

---

“Woof! Woof woof!”

“Grooowl!”

“Qui-quiet down and move, you damn beasts!”

It was good that they had entered the forest with beasts in the lead, but the Blue Mane tribe warriors couldn’t laugh.

The first problem was the absence of proper roads. Of course, rough paths weren’t such a big issue for the Blue Mane tribe who used to gallop across plains.

The problem was that forest paths weren’t just rough, but in such a mess that it made one wonder, “Can this even be called a path?”

No, it would have been fortunate if they could at least use the paths.

The places that could be called paths had been ruined with care by the forest people, so they couldn’t even use them.

Naturally, in this situation, even nomads renowned for their horsemanship had no choice but to walk on two feet.

It was unavoidable, as even a small mistake could send both horse and rider to the next world.

Although they could ride the beasts Oneton had provided if they wanted to…

‘Who knows what misfortune we’d suffer if we rode those things.’

‘If they bite off a leg, we’d go straight to the gods’ side.’

There were no warriors here foolish enough to entrust their lower bodies to a spirit’s underlings.

Who knows what the beasts might do if someone carelessly climbed on?

“Damn bastards. How the hell do they live in a place like this?”

“It’s so cold and gloomy, it’s creepy as hell. The plains aren’t that great to live in either, but compared to here it’s practically heaven.”

“Is that the problem right now? There’s absolutely nothing to plunder here, damn it. What the hell was the chief thinking, attacking a place like this…”

The warriors nodded with faces full of discontent.

The second problem was that this forest really… had absolutely nothing to plunder.

The villages they did find were full of broken houses with not a single useful item.

They didn’t even expect iron, but the fact that not even food was left behind was a viciousness that shocked even warriors who had lived their whole lives by plunder.

“Befitting descendants of losers. How can they be so quick to run away?”

“I want to go back to the plains…”

“Hey, quiet down and keep moving!”

As the warriors’ grumbling grew worse, the great warrior, Bokun, shouted. It was clear that if this continued, the warriors’ dissatisfaction would keep growing.

However, shouting wasn’t a good method. The looks in the warriors’ eyes as they stared at Bokun weren’t very kind. Understandably, as Bokun was a case of benefiting from the attack on the forest.

Oneton had bestowed blessings on some warriors in exchange for sacrifices, and while some were Lektar’s close associates, there were other cases as well.

They were those who had curried favor with Oneton to receive blessings. To Oneton, who wanted to grasp the tribe in his hands, these were quite useful tools.

Bokun was one of them. As proof, although Bokun was a bear beastkin, the bear’s characteristics were even more pronounced.

Naturally, the warriors wouldn’t like someone who had betrayed the tribe and clung to a spirit.

‘Damn bastard. Making such a fuss with the scraps he got from sucking up to the spirit.’

‘Won’t someone rip that bastard’s throat out?’

As the discord between factions grew worse and worse, it was natural for the relationship between the two to become strained.

As Bokun and the warriors glared at each other, engaging in a battle of nerves, the atmosphere became increasingly hostile.

What drove the final wedge in this situation was the last problem…

“Bokun. Fog is starting to set in.”

“Call me Great Warrior. And I know that! Do you think my eyes are just for show!”

Bokun yelled angrily at a warrior’s remark. Should they stop just because they’re afraid of some fog?

Bokun was thinking of beating that warrior as an example, but he hesitated when something glinted beyond the fog.

Swish!

The glint flew towards Bokun, emitting a vicious sound.

When the glint had traveled about halfway towards him, Bokun realized what it was.

A huge, transparent spear made of ice!

‘Can’t dodge it!’

Bokun instinctively realized he couldn’t avoid it and raised his right arm. He moved to defend as soon as he realized it was too late.

His right arm was protected by a sturdy wooden shield, bear hide, and solid muscle, so it should be able to block the spear…

Crack!

The ice spear shattered the shield and pierced through Bokun’s arm in an instant.

The bear hide and solid muscle were of no use. The sharp spear tip penetrated his arm and dug straight into Bokun’s chest.

As the extreme cold dug into his heart, Bokun’s lips turned blue in an instant and he breathed his last.

Bokun’s massive body fell with a thud, and a piercingly cold fog swept past the warriors.

The warriors instinctively drew their weapons and glared in the direction the spear had come from.

Beyond the swirling fog.

Something was watching them.