Chapter 47

Walking along the forest path, Isaac reminisced about the things he had experienced.

Chasing a wolf into the forest and encountering a being… probably a spirit.

Being subdued after misjudging the other party and acting rashly.

Feeling his life threatened by Skadi for speaking carelessly…

‘At the beginning, I really almost lost my life.’

Still, later on, Skadi’s misunderstanding was cleared up, and thanks to that, he learned profound shamanism, so he had no resentment or complaints.

From the start, wandering shamans were those who would risk their lives to challenge themselves if it meant learning shamanism.

Moreover, it wasn’t just his shamanic skills that had grown.

Isaac fiddled with the ice crystal in his pocket and grinned.

‘Wendigo-nim is really generous. If only there were spirits like that in the world, how much better it would be to live.’

Isaac shivered at the refreshing mystery transmitted through his fingertips.

Even though the ice crystal was split in half, that half was still amazing enough for Isaac. It was too precious an object for a wandering shaman to possess.

Shamans contract with spirits to access more mystery. There’s a limit to casting higher-level shamanism by collecting and obtaining mystery imbued in nature.

However, with this ice crystal, he could overcome such limitations.

Of course, if he used up all the mystery contained in the ice crystal, he would have to go searching for spirits again…

‘If I can’t grow to the level of contracting with a spirit when such an opportunity has come, that would be my fault.’

Isaac didn’t deny that this ice crystal was a lucky opportunity. If he couldn’t become a great shaman with such an opportunity, it would be right to think he wasn’t cut out for it in the first place.

He pondered while fondling the other ice crystal in the opposite pocket.

This ice crystal… would it be good to use it all?

‘… No matter how I think about it, it’s too much.’

Although he had never contracted with a spirit, Isaac was quite competent among wandering shamans. Otherwise, how could he have noticed Skadi’s concerns and had the ability to solve the problem?

Thanks to that competence, Isaac had assisted shamans contracted with spirits a few times.

Therefore, he had experience observing how they handled the mystery received from spirits up close…

He was certain that the mystery contained in this ice crystal was more than what they used when casting shamanism.

‘It might be better to use one to gather materials for shamanism.’

Sometimes, one must accept a small loss to aim higher.

Isaac decided on the first tribe he would visit outside the forest. There was a tribe most suitable for this kind of thing.

---

After walking for three days and nights, Isaac arrived at the city of the Freyr tribe.

Northerners generally didn’t form communities large enough to be called cities, but the Freyr tribe was an exception.

They were a legendary tribe among the northerners.

‘Any northern shaman would pass through here at least once.’

Isaac thought as he looked up at the statue located in the center of the city.

A statue of a woman wearing a hood and raising a staff.

The protagonist of the statue was Freyja, the founder and hero of the Freyr tribe, and a great shaman.

It was said that in her lifetime, she was a heroine with excellent eloquence and skills enough to contract with four spirits…

‘But not satisfied with that, she tried to increase the number of spirits and was betrayed by the spirits due to her arrogance.’

Like most heroes, Freyja also met a tragic end.

Still, the fact that she was an excellent shaman who contracted with four spirits remained unchanged.

Many who hear Freyja’s story have the ambition to say, “I will become the second Freyja!” But… Isaac was a bit different.

‘I must absolutely never do such dangerous things.’

In Isaac’s opinion, Freyja was a hero with good abilities but dull-witted.

Bluntly speaking, contracting with just two spirits would have practically guaranteed wealth and glory, but she ruined herself unable to control her greed.

Isaac had no intention of becoming such a crazy woman, no, arrogant shaman. Especially after meeting Skadi and Wendigo, who lived modestly despite possessing outstanding abilities.

He stepped into the shaman street, which was the city’s specialty, pride, and lifeline.

On the street, wild-looking people who seemed to have been wandering around forests or mountains were displaying their trophies and touting for customers.

“Precious herbs and insects brought from the end of the world!”

“This leather is from a wolf known for its ferocity in the mountains where I live…”

The city of the Freyr tribe was literally a city for shamans.

The founder’s name value was so great that anything that seemed related to shamanism from the surrounding areas all gathered here.

Of course, most of the items were often not very useful. Hunters and herbalists had no spirit vision, so they had no way to see mystery.

If it just looked strange, they thought maybe… if it just smelled strong and weird, they thought maybe…

‘A few are quite good, but… the rest are all nonsense.’

Judging there was nothing worth picking up, Isaac passed by them and headed to the innermost part of the street. There stood a huge mansion.

Moreover, warriors with tattoos imbued with shamanism were guarding the entrance, exuding a fierce aura.

As Isaac stood in front of the door, the warriors glared at him with fierce eyes.

“This is the hut where Syr-nim, a descendant of Freyja-nim and the shaman of the Freyr tribe, resides. What business do you have here?”

“I am Isaac, a wandering shaman. I’ve come to auction an item that any shaman would covet.”

The warriors didn’t step aside. Even frauds could claim to be shamans.

Isaac sighed and awakened the shamanism cast on his cloak. As the agility of wolves enveloped his body, Isaac took out his staff from his bosom and thrust it towards the warrior’s neck.

“!”

The warrior could only confirm the staff after it was pointed at his neck.

He prided himself on having eyesight far beyond ordinary people, not just because of his innate body but also through the tattoos Syr had engraved on his body…

‘He’s no ordinary shaman!’

“My apologies! There have been too many frauds pretending to be shamans in the city recently…”

“How often has this city been without frauds? I understand, so step aside.”

“Yes!”

As the warriors stepped aside, Isaac put the staff back in his bosom and opened the door of the hut to enter.

The inside of the hut was hazy with smoke, and the dim lighting made visibility poor. However, Isaac didn’t panic.

When he checked the inside of the hut with his spirit vision, mystery sparkling in the mist was guiding the way.

Following the guidance of the mystery, Isaac moved and opened the door at the end of the mystery, stepping inside.

“This is a branch from a lacquer tree struck by lightning. It can be used in shamanism related to lightning, poison, and plants…”

“This is a black chicken perfect for offering to spirits! With just one of these, it’ll be much easier to quell a spirit’s anger!”

In the marketplace occupying most of the first floor of the mansion, dozens of shamans were trading items to be used in shamanism.

Some with silver or gold, some through barter, and if not that, then with knowledge.

Isaac smiled at this rare sight. Usually, he too would have been among them, struggling to learn even one more shamanism…

‘Today is different.’

Isaac confidently headed inwards. He took out the ice crystal in the center of the mansion and…

He was attacked by a shaman who sprang out from somewhere. Isaac, having expected this, didn’t panic and swung out his staff.

The blade of cold energy that burst from the staff sliced through the attacker’s body. The blade didn’t leave a scar, but it froze all the parts it cut.

As the shaman with a frozen heart rolled on the floor, Isaac warned the other shamans with a fierce expression.

“Only those who want to end up like this idiot should come at me.”

The shamans who had been looking for an opportunity clicked their tongues and withdrew their killing intent. However, the greed dripping from their eyes was impossible to hide.

Eyes full of desire stared intently at the ice crystal in Isaac’s hand.

Regardless of their level, shamans couldn’t help but instinctively notice that the mystery contained in the ice crystal was extraordinary.

“If you hand over that object, I’ll teach you all the shamanism I’ve learned in my lifetime!”

“What use would there be in obtaining such trash shamanism? Rather, I’ll hand over all the materials and treasures I’ve collected, so give me that ice crystal!”

The impatient shamans started fighting among themselves to trade with Isaac, not even giving him a chance to state his conditions.

Isaac didn’t panic. Such scenes were common in this hut.

As befitting those who had staked their lives on shamanism, they were people who didn’t hesitate to show unsightly appearances if it meant ascending to a higher realm.

The people Isaac wanted to deal with were not those in such a hurry.

Clap!

When someone’s clap echoed through the first floor, an unexpected event occurred.

Those who had been filled with anger to their hair tips until just now apologized to each other and stepped back, and the shamans split into two sides, creating a path.

Walking along that path was a beautiful blonde woman.

Isaac swallowed dryly as he looked at her. Not because he was entranced by her beauty, but because he was nervous.

Her name was Syr.

She was the shaman of the Freyr tribe, its de facto ruler, and a heroine who inherited Freyja’s blood.

She approached Isaac and smiled. A seductive rose scent tickled Isaac’s head, but he wasn’t bewitched.

The cold energy imbued in his staff awakened his mind.

“Syr-nim. I’m sorry, but I’d appreciate it if you could step back a bit.”

“My, Isaac-ssi. To resist my charm… Your skills have improved quite a bit since we last met, haven’t they?”

Syr looked at Isaac with interest and took a step back.

Isaac looked at Syr for a moment and then raised the ice crystal.

“I’ll start the auction. As always, I’ll trade this ice crystal to the one who makes the most attractive offer.”

“Is there anything you want?”

At an old shaman’s question, Isaac nodded.

“What I need most are materials necessary for researching shamanism and silver coins. Shamanism is good too, but I’m not interested in shamanism below my current level.”

Shamans who had known Isaac from before realized his change and smacked their lips in regret.

To think he would obtain such an artifact only after his level had risen!

As the insignificant shamans swallowed their regret and stepped back, shamans renowned in the north raised their hands one by one to make offers.

Most wanted to pay with silver coins or shamanism. After all, materials were never enough for a shaman, no matter how many they had.

However, among them, there was one person who had no shortage of materials.

Syr made an offer to Isaac with a relaxed expression.

“I’ll let you take as much as you want from my storehouse. Whether it’s silver coins or materials, it doesn’t matter.”

“Damn it! Syr, even if this is your hut, isn’t this too much!”

“Of all days for such an item to appear when that woman is here!”

Jeers and curses erupted from around, but Syr didn’t care at all.

If they’re upset, can’t they just hold such markets in their own huts!

Isaac, who had been waiting for Syr’s offer from the beginning, smiled and asked.

“Will you swear on your shamanism?”

“Of course. I swear on all the mystery in the world and my shamanism.”

For shamans, a vow sworn on shamanism had an irresistible power. If they broke the vow, shamans would lose their spiritual power and could never cast shamanism again.

Naturally, for shamans who handled power beyond human limits, this was a calamity more fearsome than death.

As Syr swore, Isaac carefully handed over the ice crystal. Syr took the ice crystal and mocked the shamans.

“No matter how much you look at it with jealous eyes, I can’t give you the ice crystal~ Ah, Isaac-ssi.”

“What is it?”

Perhaps because the deal was completed without major issues.

Isaac, whose tension had eased considerably, responded lightly to her call.

And Isaac immediately regretted it.

Syr asked Isaac a question with a mischievous smile.

“By the way, where did you obtain such a treasure? Moreover, it seems your level has risen quite a bit in just a few months… Did you perhaps discover a dead shaman’s hut somewhere?”

‘This damned woman…’

Isaac frowned and glared at Syr. Syr responded with an expression of not knowing anything, but she couldn’t fool Isaac.

With her single question, the shamans’ eyes were sparkling as they stared at him!

‘There’s probably at least one shaman among them who can discern the truth. But it’s also a problem if I keep my mouth shut…’

Shamans were never peaceful creatures. It wouldn’t be strange if they kidnapped an innocent shaman if necessary.

‘Wendigo-nim didn’t particularly caution me… Honestly, even if I try to hide it, it wouldn’t take long for the truth to be revealed.’

If they just find out where he walked from, it would be instant for these shamans with unnecessary talents to track his starting point.

‘If I reveal it here, there won’t be anyone paying attention to me. They’ll be too busy heading towards the forest in that time.’

Isaac decided to honestly tell what he had experienced.

He spilled out to the shamans what he had gone through. Of course, he only told the truth since shamans could detect lies…

“A kind spirit? Did that pass as not a lie because it was a joke?”

“Maybe it’s because of a spell cast by the spirit. If that’s the case, even shamanism can’t judge the truth.”

“Even so, a spirit that gives generous rewards… It must be no ordinary arrogant spirit.”

“……”

Isaac converted the roar that was about to burst out into a sigh. Honestly, even he thought it was an unbelievable story.

A spirit that rationally assigns tasks and even tries to properly provide compensation…

‘But that’s the truth, what can I do.’

“Such things were happening at the end of the world…”

“Ahem. I’ll leave first. Suddenly remembered something I had forgotten.”

“Oh my. This friend really… I’ll go with you!”

The shamans started leaving the hut without anyone needing to go first. They realized that now wasn’t the time for trades or anything else.

They needed to gather what they could and head to the forest right away!

Isaac sighed as he watched the shamans streaming out like the ebbing tide.

‘I hope none of those guys try to deceive Wendigo-nim.’

Isaac slightly turned his head to look at Syr. Syr was the instigator of this commotion, but unlike the other shamans, she wasn’t moving in a hurry.

Perhaps an excellent shaman like Syr wouldn’t fall into vain desires…

“If it’s about favoring and cherishing a beautiful woman…”

‘This woman is hopeless too.’

Having roughly guessed what Syr was thinking, Isaac shook his head.

---

Wendigo’s prediction and Isaac’s expectation were in line.

About a month after Isaac left the forest, Geron came to Wendigo with messages, wearing a sour expression.

“Spirit-nim. Messages have arrived. But something seems a bit strange.”

“People from outside have come?”

Wendigo, who was savoring pork ribs grilled with Skadi’s secret sauce, asked, and Geron nodded.

Wendigo was puzzled.

He had warned Geron that outsiders might come soon, so why did he look unhappy?

“We were expecting it to happen around this time, weren’t we?”

“Well, about that…”

Geron showed a troubled expression and took out the message’sss’ he had brought.

That’s right.

The messages had come from more than one place.

“Messages have come from villages located on the outskirts saying that shamans from outside have come and are sitting tight, wanting to meet spirit-nim…”

“……”

Wendigo was so dumbfounded that he froze with a rib in his mouth.