Chapter 83

Wendigo, waiting for the meal in the banquet hall, read the message sent by Anton and sighed…

‘I’m so used to it now that I don’t even sigh anymore. It’s always new and disgusting.’

Wendigo thought he’d rather let out a deep sigh and wish for fewer such incidents.

What kind of world is it where a year can’t pass quietly?

“It seems my thinking was short-sighted. If I had responded firmly from the beginning, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Skadi apologized to Wendigo with a gloomy expression. She thought she had troubled Wendigo by foolishly believing in people’s rationality.

Wendigo firmly shook his head, rejecting Skadi’s apology.

“This isn’t your fault. The ones at fault are the trash who abused the rumors.”

While good intentions don’t always lead to the right outcome, Skadi’s response was a sensible and decent approach.

In fact, merchants who had established trade with the forest soon realized that Skadi was not a witch.

She didn’t torment people, didn’t exploit them, and above all, her beautiful heart matching her face was enough to cure the merchants’ suspicions.

While Wendigo was busy comforting Skadi, a servant waiting outside knocked on the banquet hall door.

“O Spirit. The banquet is prepared. May we enter now?”

“We can’t skip a meal over something like this. Skadi, how about we think about it while dining together?”

Wendigo asked Skadi brightly, welcoming the timely arrival of a relief pitcher to break the gloomy atmosphere.

Skadi nodded willingly. Wendigo’s comfort had been quite helpful.

In a world where even gods can’t solve their own problems and cause chaos, how could a mere human control all problems?

“Come in. And call for Geron.”

“Excuse me.”

As Wendigo gave permission, the door opened and robust servants entered, each carrying trays of food.

Steaks marinated in alcohol and sauce and vegetables roasted with meat fat filled the front.

Around them were dishes of whole roasted and seasoned birds like turkey and quail, easy to eat.

In the center, a large pot full of soup stimulated the appetite with its savory aroma.

“Now, we need to eat, so come down for a moment.”

“What? But I…”

“Oh come now, did you think I wouldn’t notice? You seem to have become quite adept at controlling the mystery recently.”

Flinch.

Skadi tried to act nonchalant, but her conscience wouldn’t allow it.

She glanced around for a moment, then came down from Wendigo’s shoulder with a blushing face.

Where her feet touched froze from the cold flowing from her body, but it didn’t spread around like before.

While this was her first time having mystery dwell in her body, Skadi’s shamanic talent always shone through.

From the beginning, shamans were those who handled mystery. Just because its position changed from outside to inside didn’t mean losing that sense.

Skadi fiddled with her utensils and offered an unprompted excuse.

“Well, you see. It’s not that I wanted to be a nuisance on Wendigo-nim’s shoulder, but just in case of any accidents…”

“Why make such excuses? If Skadi wants, I can lend my shoulder anytime.”

Wendigo said while chewing a whole roasted quail with his mouth wide open. There was not a hint of jest in his words.

Weren’t Skadi and he not just any ordinary relationship, but one where they had greatly helped each other?

Moreover, despite gaining power and status that would make it unsurprising to oppress and torment others, she acted uprightly, making Skadi irreplaceable to Wendigo.

Feeling Wendigo’s sincerity, Skadi’s already red face turned even redder as she cooled herself with a cold drink.

‘Hmm, she seems a bit embarrassed, but her mood seems to have improved a lot.’

Seeing that Skadi’s mood had improved, Wendigo sank into serious thought.

Through Anton’s message, he realized there were people abusing the rumors about Skadi, but the information that could be gained from just that was limited.

Whether the Forest Witch was a fictional being created by self-proclaimed followers, or if there was a witch calling herself the Forest Witch.

He couldn’t even know how far this rumor had spread, and to how many people.

‘We can erase the rumor that Skadi is a witch. We just need to pay the merchants a suitable reward and ask them to spread good rumors.’

Any merchant wanting to maintain a good relationship with the forest would do it even without compensation.

Of course, if compensation was offered, they would step up as if it were their own business.

The problem was the brazen fellows trying to leech off Skadi…

Knock knock.

“Geron, come in.”

“Excuse me.”

Wendigo called Geron in without even checking his presence, familiar with his footsteps.

Geron opened the door and entered with a calm expression, as if used to it.

Entering the banquet hall, Geron looked at Skadi with a puzzled expression.

Wasn’t she supposed to be still having trouble controlling the mystery and need to stay close to Wendigo-nim…

‘Oh my, she was faking it.’

Skadi tried her best to maintain composure, but she couldn’t escape Geron’s sharp eyes.

Geron quickly noticed the wavering in Skadi’s eyes. It was a small fluctuation that Geron, who cherished Skadi like a daughter, could notice.

Geron put on a benevolent smile to avoid making Skadi uncomfortable and played dumb.

“It seems you’ve finally succeeded in controlling the mystery flowing in your body. That’s truly fortunate.”

“Ahem, thank you, Mr. Geron.”

“Take a seat. Let’s talk while we eat.”

Once Geron was seated too, Wendigo talked about the contents of Anton’s message, the cause of the incident, and what he had thought about it.

Naturally, Geron’s expression twisted with anger as he listened to the story.

How dare they cling to Skadi-nim, who was no less than a treasure of the forest, untouchable by anyone!

“First, I’ll put out a search for the person called the Forest Witch. Someone among the people who came from outside should know.”

“That’s a good idea. And the ruffians who were lured by the rumors are also a problem…”

There were always those who tried to latch onto the strong and live off their favor.

The problem was that most of such fellows would spread shit around even if it meant securing their own interests.

Even if the forest was Wendigo’s domain and dozens of eyes and ears were always watching, it would still be troublesome if they scurried around like rats everywhere.

We need a quick and simple way to deal with these guys…

“Ah, a good idea came to mind.”

“What kind of good idea?”

When Skadi looked at him curiously, Wendigo chuckled and said to her.

“Skadi, you’ll need to become the Forest Witch for a while.”

“… Pardon?”

---

The world was currently in a state where the existing order had collapsed and new common sense was rushing in like waves.

Naturally, this sudden flow plunged the world into chaos.

The tavern owner’s son you bullied yesterday becomes a strongman who can lift house-sized boulders and comes for revenge.

A beggar commanding beasts with just a flute turns a village that incurred his wrath into ruins.

A man mocked as a monster for having six fingers really becomes a monster and becomes the leader of a bandit group.

Among these beings no different from monsters or madmen, witches were practically gentlefolk in comparison…

“I’ve dealt with witches before, so I know well, witches aren’t that great either.”

“Is that really true?”

“I’m telling you. You know the Blood Witch who made a name for herself in the western empire? I’m Robert the Red-hair who led the followers under that witch.”

Robert, the leader of the Red-hair Brotherhood following the Blood Witch and a former thief, was trash who had adapted to the world faster than others.

Robert regaled his aspiring followers with tales of his exploits.

“When you get down to it, even witches are just women. With a handsome face, appropriate eloquence, and this big, sturdy thing, bewitching them is a matter of moments.”

Robert grabbed his crotch with a lecherous grin that didn’t match his handsome face and red hair.

It was an extremely vulgar act and speech, but it was rather appealing to those gathered to leech off even scraps.

These were people gathered to latch onto a witch and covet even scraps.

Naturally, these people had no noble beliefs or goals. To these bottom-feeders, Robert’s vulgar manner of speech was extremely familiar.

“Hehehe, certainly, a handsome fellow like you could bewitch a witch in no time.”

“We’ll follow and trust only you, big bro!”

Among the incompetent, even a dog becomes respected.

Befitting those trying to latch onto power, they bowed their heads to Robert and swore loyalty.

Of course, Robert didn’t believe in these guys’ loyalty.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Robert knew well that these were the type to abandon him and run away like old shoes if he made a mistake.

‘They’ll betray me anyway if I don’t gain the witch’s favor.’

However, Robert didn’t care much.

The reason he could rise to become the leader of the Red-hair Brotherhood was precisely because he monopolized the witch’s love with his handsome face.

Unless the witch was the type who didn’t like men, she would surely fall for his smooth talk and nighttime skills!

‘Hehehe, I hope she’s quite pretty…’

“Boss! There at the village entra… Urk!”

“You bastard, am I blind?!”

Robert, in the middle of his fantasy, hit his subordinate in irritation when he called out to him.

Robert only stopped punching after turning his subordinate into a bloody pulp.

He glared around, breathing heavily. The subordinates didn’t dare meet Robert’s eyes.

‘This should be enough to establish discipline.’

Robert wasn’t so stupid as to forget what he had said. If he were that stupid, he wouldn’t have survived as the lover of a notorious witch.

After establishing discipline with one useless subordinate, Robert checked his armor and helmet and rode his horse to the front.

“You lowly beings living off the forest’s grace! I am Robert, the leader of the Red Tree Brotherhood serving the Forest Witch and her follower! If you fear the forest’s wrath, come out quickly and show proper respect!”

Robert shouted in a booming voice.

His followers couldn’t help but admire their leader’s shamelessness.

The ruthlessness of throwing away his brotherhood’s name like trash, the tongue that spewed nonsense naturally, and even the face that added persuasiveness to such nonsense!

‘What a son of a bitch.’

‘But how fortunate that he’s our son of a bitch?’

While they whispered about their boss’s greatness(?), a small commotion arose in the village.

Robert prepared to flee at any moment. If arrows came flying, he planned to turn his horse around and retreat immediately.

After a while, a man came out from the village.

His sturdy build and fierce eyes were unmistakably those of a warrior.

The warrior shouted at them in a voice incomparably louder than Robert’s.

“The Forest Witch has ordered us to let her followers who have come seeking her into the forest! If you wait there, we will provide ample food and call a guide to lead you to the witch!”

“Uh… Boss? Is this kind of situation possible?”

“……”

A subordinate asked in confusion, but Robert couldn’t answer. This was a first for him too.

Usually, arrows would fly along with curses, or people would prostrate themselves in fear…

‘Shit, I didn’t expect this situation.’

But he couldn’t back down now.

If he had faced the warrior alone, it might have been different, but the others had already heard the proposal that was no different from surrender.

In this situation, even if he said it was suspicious and suggested retreating, these beggars wouldn’t listen.

With an opportunity to eat their fill without any hardship right before their eyes, would these idiots retreat?

“… Very well! But you must prepare enough for our brotherhood to eat to our fill! If there’s even a little shortage, our brotherhood will slaughter you like hungry wolves!”

“Don’t worry. Thanks to the forest’s grace, we don’t worry about food.”

The warrior looked at Robert with contemptuous eyes as he spoke. Fortunately, due to the sufficient distance, Robert didn’t notice the warrior’s gaze.

Soon after, packaged foods were brought out from the village on carts and delivered to Robert’s brotherhood.

When bread and fruits appeared before their eyes, the brotherhood pounced on them savagely as if they hadn’t eaten for a week.

Robert frowned and kicked the belly of the guy at the front.

He approached the guy who flew away with a thud and kept kicking his stomach.

“You idiots! What if there’s poison in the food?!”

“So-sorry.”

“Instead of wasting time with such useless words, bring a dog!”

At Robert’s shout, the subordinates hurriedly brought a dog.

The dog, as hungry as the subordinates, drooled and barked upon smelling the food.

Robert took a sausage from the cart and threw it to the dog. It was a shame, but the most delicious food was most likely to be poisoned.

The dog devoured the sausage in an instant. Having tasted meat after a long time, the dog’s eyes rolled back and it bared its teeth.

“It’s fine.”

Slash!

Robert beheaded the dog that bared its teeth at its master and nodded.

With permission granted, the subordinates began to devour the food without anyone needing to go first.

The villagers spat and returned to the village. There was not a hint of lingering attachment in their behavior.

Robert fiddled with a bright red apple and thought.

‘Even in the North, famous for its poverty, these most primitive and ragged villagers have such an abundance of food?’

Robert, who had become an unexpected fugitive when the Blood Witch killed an imperial noble against the plan.

Robert had chosen to go North reluctantly, but…

He fell into a delusion that this might be a turning point in his life.

If all this was really due to the power of the woman called the Forest Witch.

And if the witch was gathering followers to become a new ruler.

How great would the wealth and honor be that could be gained by staying as the kept man of such a witch?

As his thoughts reached that point, Robert cast away the doubts that had occupied a corner of his mind until just moments ago.

As always, what kills con artists and opportunists is unmanageable greed.