Chapter 105

Wendigo looked at Dario, who couldn’t move due to shock, and thought:

‘The stench isn’t too severe. Perhaps he’s not one to be killed.’

Wendigo didn’t think his nose had the ridiculous ability to divide people into good and evil.

To be precise, his nose was closer to detecting the karma (業) accumulated by the other party in the form of smell.

In that sense, Dario wasn’t an irredeemable villain.

‘Though that doesn’t mean he doesn’t smell.’

“… I apologize. I made a mistake in my joy at meeting the only king of the north. Please forgive me.”

Dario was bewildered but didn’t lose his smile, bowing and lowering himself even more.

His attitude was so polite that even those who had been sending stern gazes softened their stance.

After all, being pointed out for smelling in front of many people was a shameful thing.

Dario stepped back and watched Wendigo’s reaction.

“Is this sufficient?”

‘Not bad. Stepping back in the most favorable direction while observing the surroundings.’

Wendigo admired Dario’s composure.

It wasn’t easy to be insulted to one’s face and then use that to gain sympathy from people.

Especially this time, since it wasn’t due to a mistake, it wouldn’t have been strange to burst out in anger from the upset feeling…

Dario glanced around and approached a middle-aged man with a gentle expression and few calluses on his hands.

Dario pointed to the scent pouch hanging at the man’s waist and asked:

“I’m sorry, but could you spare that scent pouch? I’ll compensate you later.”

“Oh… Of course. But this scent might not suit you…”

The man untied the scent pouch from his waist and held it out. A faint musk scent wafted from the pouch.

It certainly wasn’t a sweet fragrance like flowers or fruits that young people prefer, but Dario tied the pouch to his waist and smiled.

“The king will prefer the musk scent to my smell!”

It was practically saying that he himself smelled, but people showed goodwill at his frank response.

He was clearly born with a talent for drawing people’s favor.

He succeeded in creating an image of a polite and witty young man in an instant using just the keyword of smell.

“Isn’t the Kapustin family those who recently went over to the Empire?”

“There’s not much of a problem, is there? After all, their roots are the same as ours, northerners.”

“Do you know how much the Empire people look down on us? But still… that guy seems quite alright.”

Dario maintained a devout posture while smiling inwardly.

Wendigo closely observed Dario’s skill while tapping the armrest of the throne with his claw.

‘If nothing else, he has quite a talent for reading the room. The problem is his stench…’

It was rare to have both a good heart and excellent ability like Geron and Skadi.

Usually, people only had one of the two, and in severe cases, many had neither.

In that sense, Dario was very borderline… but he fell into the category of recyclable trash.

Compared to the utter trash he had met so far, if they were like milk left out for 50 days, Dario was like milk that had just gone bad?

‘Let’s examine his abilities a bit more.’

Wendigo ordered the servant to recite the message.

Dario regained his tension. He recalled the contents of the message he had written.

The message written without grasping Wendigo’s inclinations was honestly… no different from butter slathered with honey.

“Greetings to the beloved Forest King, I am at a loss for words that you would read this humble one’s message. First, for what you have achieved…”

“Huh, did he butter his tongue… No, it would be more accurate to say he wrote the message with butter.”

“Don’t be too harsh. He’s a young man, so he must have made a mistake due to excessive passion.”

“That doesn’t excuse insulting the noble purpose of the university.”

As Dario’s message was recited before their eyes, the atmosphere around greatly fluctuated.

They couldn’t believe that Dario, who had seemed like a solid young man until just now, was actually a cunning fellow who engaged in blatant flattery.

Especially in northern customs, there was a strong tendency to value honor, so those who wagged their tongues cunningly were objects of contempt.

Wendigo grimaced at the contents of the message and stared into Dario’s eyes.

His eyes were unwavering, but it seemed like one could hear the sound of his head spinning rapidly.

Shortly after, as the recitation of the message full of praise that stimulated Dario’s shame came to an end…

Thud!

“First, I beg forgiveness for failing to gauge the king’s intentions and disturbing his mood!”

As soon as the recitation ended, Dario knelt down and confessed his own fault, slamming his head on the ground.

With a dull sound, Dario’s head hit the floor, and when he raised his head, his torn forehead was revealed.

Blood flowed from the wound, but Dario didn’t stop and continued to speak.

“Next, I apologize for showing such an unsightly appearance to those who came with deep intentions in their hearts!”

Dario apologized again by slamming his head on the ground.

It was closer to self-harm than an apology, but… it couldn’t be denied that to northerners raised in harsh lands, it was an apology method overflowing with sincerity.

The feelings of betrayal and contempt towards Dario in people’s hearts gradually began to blur.

Dario, who had slammed his head on the hard floor with full force twice, flashed his eyes with a blood-covered face.

“However!”

With legs staggering from the impact, Dario struggled to stand up.

As he swayed, those watching with complex emotions in their eyes supported his body.

“It’s not a lie that I too came with my own intentions for the university. Please listen to my story!”

Wendigo was surprised beyond bewilderment.

While the words coming from his mouth were full of lies, his actions were the most passionate among those he had met so far.

‘If he didn’t have ability, I would have thought he was really killing an innocent person.’

Wendigo gestured as if to say continue speaking.

Dario, certain that his opportunity had finally come, extracted usable phrases from his message.

One was ‘Education must be far from power’, which meant excluding chieftains or firstborns from the faculty.

Two was ‘Knowledge never becomes outdated, but that doesn’t mean it’s not wrong’, which meant only verified knowledge should be taught.

Three was…

“Stop there. I’ve heard your story well.”

“I’m only grateful that you’ve given an opportunity to this foolish one who committed a stupid act.”

As Wendigo raised his hand and stopped him, Dario bowed his head without regret.

Those listening to the story around exchanged opinions while pondering Dario’s claims.

“Indeed, it would be troublesome if those holding power got involved. Especially the chieftains…”

“Would someone holding a tribe’s power willingly give it up?”

“You never know. They might temporarily entrust it to a proxy and then devour everything as soon as the university produces its first graduates.”

“Your worries seem excessive…”

Of course, there were many flaws in Dario’s logic hastily put together.

However, Dario was quite young… and youth was always a good reason for some mistakes.

Aren’t mistakes the privilege of the young?

In the north, if you made mistakes when older, you’d face the sword.

‘At least he has a talent for roasting people. Education-wise, he’s probably… not good.’

After much deliberation, Wendigo reached a conclusion.

“I’ve heard Dario of the Kapustin family’s passionate speech well. However, it’s undeniable that he’s too immature to impart teachings.”

Others nodded at Wendigo’s opinion. Indeed, Dario wasn’t at the level to teach others.

Dario hadn’t expected that much either.

Above all, he had already made a quite good impression on notable northern figures, so his journey to the northern edge wasn’t entirely fruitless.

‘This much is sufficient profit…’

“However, I judge that his passion is sufficient and he might be suitable for other work. Therefore, I’m thinking of putting you on hold… What do you think?”

“Pardon?”

Dario blinked and asked Wendigo back.

He couldn’t possibly guess what intention Wendigo had in deciding to put him on hold.

Feeling uneasy, Dario was about to politely decline.

But then…

“That’s great! A young man like you will surely be helpful!”

“The old saying goes that if an old ox leads the way and a young ox provides the strength, even an old cart can travel a thousand miles!”

“Ah, no. I appreciate the offer, but I…”

Those who viewed Dario favorably rejoiced as if it were their own affair at Wendigo’s generous offer and pushed Dario’s back.

For Dario, whose original plan had gone awry, it was maddening.

Of course, it wasn’t bad to make new plans from now on, but…

‘Working with such a dangerous-looking spirit carries too much risk!’

Dario, who noticed that Wendigo was absolutely not an easy opponent, wanted to get away from the end of the world if possible.

He kept feeling as if the expressionless deer skull was seeing right through him.

He absolutely must not accept this offer…

“Don’t tell me the passion you showed until now was a lie? If so, that’s very disappointing…”

As Wendigo muttered quietly, Dario trembled.

Sometimes being perceptive becomes a poison. Like now, when one picks up on hidden meanings in words they didn’t even want to know.

It was unknown how the spirit would retaliate if he refused the offer, but…

‘Facing retaliation from the Forest King who might become the center of the north in the future? I’d have to give up sleeping deeply forever, starting from tomorrow night.’

Such a life was naturally out of the question.

“O-Of course not. How could I refuse when the king has evaluated me so favorably?”

“Hmm, that’s good. Then let’s move on to the next.”

Wendigo nonchalantly called the next person and continued the interviews.

Naturally, Dario spent his time suffering from a strange anxiety.

The interviews proceeded even more strictly, solemnly, and seriously with the appearance of the solid young man Dario.

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After finishing the interviews with all applicants, Wendigo dismissed them and had a private audience with Dario.

Naturally, Dario felt suffocated being left alone with Wendigo.

It was tense enough with many people together, but being alone, the desire to run away kept popping up at every moment.

As he hung his head and tensed up, Wendigo tapped the throne loudly with his claw.

Dario startled and looked at Wendigo.

“I-I’m sorry. The honor of a private audience with the king was too much for me, so I made a mistake…”

“If nothing else, I acknowledge your ability to flatter. Spouting such words with a face that looks like you’re about to vomit makes even non-existent sympathy well up.”

As Wendigo calmly evaluated Dario, he refrained from speaking.

Just from the tone, he could tell that Wendigo wasn’t looking at him favorably.

Babbling here would only serve to provoke the other party, so Dario decided to maintain silence.

“You’re not the only one put on hold, so you must be wondering why only you are having a private audience with me.”

“… Yes. My dull mind cannot fathom why the king is displeased.”

Dario wasn’t the only applicant who received a hold judgment.

Wendigo put on hold those who had ability but whose character wasn’t satisfactory to become educators.

He intended to propose university establishment-related work to these people.

No matter how much a university is a place to teach people, it doesn’t run with just professors.

The problem was Dario… Dario had the worst stench here.

“Do you know why I said only you smelled?”

“I’m sorry. With my foolish words, I must have disturbed the king’s mood…”

“I told you to stop the flattery. Or should I pull out your tongue to make you stop?”

At Wendigo’s question, Dario shut his mouth and shook his head vigorously.

Wendigo honestly revealed his ability.

“I can smell the karma accumulated by others. Usually, people who have grown up doing good deeds emit a good fragrance…”

Bang!

Just hearing the words karma and smell, Dario grasped the situation. And he quickly judged how he should act.

He ran frantically towards the audience hall door.

The spirit surely didn’t say such things with good intentions, so even a slight possibility of survival…

“Damn it!”

Before Dario could reach the door, a hand-shaped ice formation that sprouted from the ground caught him.

Dario reached for the dagger at his waist, but even his hand was restrained by the ice.

As Wendigo pulled his outstretched hand towards himself, the ice hand tightly gripping Dario moved towards Wendigo.

Wendigo controlled the ice hand to face Dario.

“Judging by how you acted before hearing the full story, you’re indeed perceptive. But don’t be too scared. Honestly, if I wanted to kill you, wouldn’t I have done it after you left?”

Certainly, between dying on the way back and being killed in the palace, dying on the way back would have been a slightly better death for Wendigo.

However, Dario wasn’t reassured. In other words, it was no different from saying he could be killed on the way back at any time.

“If-If you have any demands, please tell me. As long as you spare my life, even my father’s head…”

“It’s absurd that the first sincere words you’ve spoken here are about offering your father’s head… Try to persuade me.”

As Wendigo spoke with disgust, Dario stared blankly into space for a moment.

Then, after looking at the ground and ceiling, Dario spoke to Wendigo with a stupid expression.

“Pardon?”