Chapter 55

Syr’s prediction was spot on.

The shamans who had visited the forest didn’t give up easily. How could they, when they had missed such a golden opportunity right before their eyes?

If they had been good-natured shamans, they would have atoned for their sins and sought another chance from Wendigo, but those who were driven out didn’t do so.

They were the kind of villains who would draw their swords and give chase if they missed an opportunity right in front of them.

Gelmir, a shaman of the Thurs tribe, showed the most radical move among them.

He decided to raise an army to expedition the forest by persuading the chieftains along with like-minded shamans.

… And Gelmir regretted it.

‘I underestimated human greed too much.’

“I brought the most warriors here! Of course, I should claim the largest portion of the forest land!”

“You must have a dog among your ancestors to bark so well. What use is a large number if the quality is rock bottom!”

“Ahem. Here, I, with the most experience…”

“If you’ve eaten all the years you could, you should let go of your greed!”

Inside the luxurious tent.

Chieftains who had lived long enough were glaring at each other, engaging in a war of nerves over land they hadn’t even obtained yet.

Gelmir inwardly sighed at this pathetic sight. When he first saw the gathering forces, he was quite pleased.

After all, the more meat shields, the better, in a situation where a head-on confrontation with the forest spirit was expected.

However, the joy was short-lived.

It was good that he had persuaded the chieftains to gather warriors, but…

… The plan went awry as more chieftains than originally planned participated in this expedition.

Gelmir glared at the shamans. The shamans avoided his gaze, not having anticipated this situation either.

Gelmir gritted his teeth, sending a contemptuous look at the shamans.

‘Fools. Uncontrollable chess pieces are nothing but variables that ruin the plan!’

Gelmir could predict the shamans’ intentions. Wasn’t it the shallow calculation that bringing more troops would allow them to claim more spoils from the forest?

If it had been just one or two, he could have overlooked it. That much could have been passed off as a pleasant margin of error.

However, true to their cunning nature, they all pulled this stunt, and despite that, they couldn’t even coordinate the chieftains.

‘No. It would be more accurate to say they’re encouraging it. As long as they can grab the spoils at the end, it doesn’t matter if the alliance falls apart.’

As they say, it takes one to know one.

Gelmir barely suppressed his rising anger and tapped the ground with his staff.

The bell attached to the staff rang out a clear sound, creating a wave. The wave swept over the chieftains, cooling down their excited emotions.

However, it was rude to cast shamanism without permission. One chieftain confronted Gelmir with a sour expression.

“You. No matter what, using shamanism so carelessly…”

“Shut up. I planned this expedition and am both the chieftain and shaman of the Thurs tribe. While I’m grateful that you’ve brought your forces, you cannot ignore my authority.”

Gelmir was an old man who could by no means be called young, but no one could disregard him.

Being born with the qualities of a shaman was not ordinary enough, let alone occupying the position of a chieftain.

Especially considering the northern custom that a warrior succeeds to the chieftain’s position, it was even more so.

The chieftain who had spoken rudely stepped back slightly upon seeing the scarred muscles writhing under Gelmir’s clothes.

“I won’t blame you for discussing the spoils. I understand better than anyone that the position of chieftain always requires looking after the warriors’ share.”

“Ahem. It’s fortunate that you understand.”

“Isn’t it obvious? Even the shamans who persuaded you joined forces that weren’t in the plan for their own spoils.”

Gelmir’s arrow of angry rebuke was aimed at the shamans. The shamans showed discomfort and avoided his gaze.

Gelmir glared at the shamans for a moment before turning his gaze away. This much was enough to acknowledge his authority.

Gelmir maintained a dignified attitude while receiving the gazes of the chieftains and shamans. It was to buy time to modify the original plan.

‘Initially, I planned to assert my authority as both a shaman and a chieftain leading the forces… but that seems difficult now.’

While they acknowledged his authority now due to their own disgraceful behavior, Gelmir wasn’t dull enough to think this attitude would continue.

They were all used to wielding power and living on their own merits, so given the chance, they would cause a fuss trying to become the leader of the alliance.

‘It might be better to reduce the numbers.’

Having modified the plan in his head, Gelmir dispersed the cold demeanor he had shown until now and opened his mouth like a benevolent sage.

“All of your opinions are valid. Everyone gathered here must have at least one outstanding strength.”

“But we can’t divide the spoils equally.”

“That’s right. However, if everyone has one outstanding point, there’s a good standard for dividing the spoils.”

At Gelmir’s voice filled with dignity, one chieftain asked as if entranced.

“A good standard, you say. What is it?”

“It’s simple. If everyone has their own outstanding point, shouldn’t we divide the spoils based on the merits each chieftain achieves?”

Some chieftains’ faces crumpled while others brightened. Naturally, the former were those who lacked confidence in achieving merits.

The problem was that they had just been listing reasons why they should take more spoils, making it difficult to express dissatisfaction.

‘Damn it. If I express dissatisfaction here, it’s like admitting my own inadequacy.’

‘Cunning bastard. So this was why he was watching our verbal sparring.’

“I don’t think there will be any complaints. From what I’ve heard, each of you has at least one area you’re confident in.”

“Hahaha. How could there be any objection!”

“Ahem. If we divide based on such a fair standard, there’s no need to fight shamefully.”

The chieftains who were confident in achieving merits naturally became Gelmir’s supporters.

Of course, this support would surely become a dagger in his back the moment Gelmir showed any weakness.

However, Gelmir didn’t care at all. He wasn’t a trustworthy person himself to trust others.

Encouraged by the atmosphere, Gelmir revealed the plan.

“Our plan is to advance while gradually taking over the forest. Winter is still far off, so there’s no need to rush.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to spread out widely?”

As someone voiced an opinion, the chieftains nodded. Their eyes were already burning hot with the desire to achieve merits.

How could they achieve merits and claim spoils by moving slowly!

Gelmir swallowed a sly smile. Their reaction was no different from what he had thought.

‘Northerners are born plunderers. How long can such fellows hold back in front of prey!’

Gelmir acted out a resolute expression and shook his head.

“Even if the enemies are just primitive forest people, we can’t be careless as long as they’re receiving help from a spirit. I understand your feelings, but I can’t accept that opinion.”

The chieftains tried to hide their discomfort, but they couldn’t deceive Gelmir’s eyes.

These wolf-like fellows would surely act independently.

---

The allied forces entered the forest slowly according to Gelmir’s plan.

Of course, with several tribes forming one group and moving together, their speed was as slow as a snail…

Todel, a shaman of the Reir tribe, disliked this frustrating movement. It was largely because there had been no such talk from the beginning.

‘If the spirit escapes, why are we taking it so leisurely!’

Shouldn’t battles be like a storm, sweeping through and ending in one go?

Todel, who had inherited his tribe’s unique temperament, couldn’t tolerate such dull behavior. Naturally, this was the same for the chieftain of the Reir tribe…

“Todel-nim. All members of the special unit have gathered.”

“Good. Everyone move as quietly and quickly as possible.”

Todel, in cooperation with the chieftain, had formed a special unit by selecting skilled and courageous warriors.

The goal of the special unit was simple and clear.

To quickly find a village of forest people and inform the main force!

“Todel-nim. How about we occupy the village ourselves? The forest people are few in number, so we should be able to occupy it with our current forces.”

“It wouldn’t be bad if possible, but being too hasty can ruin things.”

Todel placated the warriors, but his thoughts weren’t much different. The forest people he had seen when he visited the forest seemed utterly peaceful.

However, there was something Todel had overlooked…

It hadn’t been long since this forest had been peaceful.

“Arrows!”

Arrows flew from the bushes, targeting the warriors. Dozens of arrows struck the warriors, and the unlucky ones breathed their last with arrows piercing their necks or hearts.

The warriors, who hadn’t sensed any sign of an ambush, were flustered and hid behind trees and shields.

Todel clicked his tongue and took out a bronze mirror from his bosom.

“Mirror, mirror. Tell me the location of the enemies!”

The mirror, receiving sunlight, emitted a brilliant light illuminating the forest.

The forest warriors were perfectly hidden among the bushes and trees, but shadows appeared in all directions as if they were facing the sun in an open field.

“Chase the shadows!”

“Their shamanism is revealing our position. Attack!”

At Todel’s shamanism, the forest warriors gave up hiding and rushed out.

Todel broke out in a cold sweat at the unexpectedly large number of enemies. At this level, it seemed they had known their position and ambushed them in advance.

‘Was the spirit’s eye watching us? No choice. Now we need to take them down and…’

“O spirit! Look upon us!!!”

Todel, who was about to take out his weapon, paused at the shout that spread like lightning. A sturdy warrior was wearing a bone helmet, his eyes gleaming with fanaticism.

As the warrior wearing leather and a bone helmet charged, the warriors of the Reir tribe looked at him as if he were mad.

“Madman. Rushing into battle without a single piece of armor!”

The warriors’ spears and swords were swung towards the warrior’s body. The warrior leaped towards the spears and swords with his bare body, as if feeling no fear at all, and…

Clang clang clang!

“What the hell!?”

“Hahaha! Do you think your feeble spears and swords can pierce my body when the spirit is with me!”

The warrior who blocked the spears and swords with his bare body let out a maniacal laugh and swung his axe. The warriors’ bodies were split and cleaved along with their armor.

Todel, seeing that the shamanism cast on the bone helmet was stronger than expected, hastily took out his weapon.

“Everyone, stand back. I’ll handle this one!”

What Todel pulled out was a small dagger. Compared to the axe, it looked insignificant, but of course, being a weapon pulled out by a shaman, it wasn’t an ordinary weapon.

Todel, having reached near the warrior, swung the dagger towards the air. Then the dagger created a loud gust, about to form wind blades…

At that moment, a wolf rider of the Blue Mane tribe appeared silently from the forest and leaped towards Todel.

“Warriors of the Blue Mane! Now is our chance to prove our worth to the spirit-nim!!”

“Tear them apart! Today we fill our bellies with the flesh of our enemies!”

“Grrrrrr!”

As a large wolf charged at his neck, Todel hastily burst wind to throw himself backward.

However, unlike him, a shaman, the warriors couldn’t make such mysterious movements. At the sudden attack of the wolf riders, the warriors began to be pushed back helplessly.

Todel surveyed the battle situation with trembling eyes.

The warrior with the bone helmet was single-handedly facing ten warriors, and the wolf riders were fiercely stabbing, slashing, and ravaging the warriors.

A sight that could hardly be thought of as weak ones who had lived under the protection of a spirit.

‘Were they not ones dulled by peace under the spirit’s protection!’

Todel sensed that something had gone terribly wrong.