Ch.107Chapter 107

After recruiting Dario, Wendigo immediately threw him into practical work.

Honestly, he wasn’t the most trustworthy fellow, but things were too busy to be picky.

Naturally, Dario was equally bewildered.

Dragged into Geron’s office by Wendigo, Dario asked with a perplexed expression.

“Until recently you were suspicious of me, yet you’re putting me directly into such important work?”

“Why not? Geron, what do you think?”

At Wendigo’s question, Geron looked up. Still reading documents with one eye, he waved his arm as if telling them to look around.

“If he truly couldn’t be trusted, would he still be alive, Djin? As long as it reduces my workload, I don’t care who it is.”

Geron’s office had already become something like an administrative center.

The servants and outsiders who had been recognized for their abilities and become forest bureaucrats were all reviewing documents with dark circles under their eyes while sipping tea.

While noting corrections on documents, Geron asked the bureaucrats.

“If anyone objects to a new slave—I mean bureaucrat—joining us, speak up.”

“HowcouldwepossiblyobjectwhentheDjinhasgraciouslyforgiven.”

“We’redelightedtohaveanewbureaucrat—Imeanslave—joiningus.”

Burning with the determination not to die alone, they rapidly expressed their agreement.

Dario turned pale at the horrific sight and looked up at Wendigo.

As if proving he could be subservient whenever necessary, he rubbed his palms together with an awkward smile and tried to persuade Wendigo.

“M-my king. I was recruited for my talents in diplomacy and rhetoric, wasn’t I? Paperwork doesn’t really suit someone like me…”

“Don’t worry.”

Geron, who had been listening to Dario, answered on Wendigo’s behalf.

Dario slowly turned his head as if he had a sore throat.

A bureaucrat extended a cart full of documents to Dario with a bright smile.

‘I thought only those Kaffustin family bastards had such annoying smiles. Damn it.’

“The wise Djin has said it would be inefficient for me to handle all the paperwork. So take this and find Walton.”

Yes, what did it matter who it was, as long as the workload could be reduced?

Realizing there was no escape, Dario grabbed the cart with a miserable expression.

Wendigo looked at Dario in disbelief.

“How could you expect to have it easy during such a busy time?”

“…I just didn’t expect to be thrown into such important work right away.”

Dario grumbled at Wendigo’s rebuke.

He truly hadn’t expected to be immediately involved in the major project of establishing a university.

Surely it was strange for someone unplanned like himself to join what must have been a massive project prepared over years under the king’s leadership by merchants, intellectuals, and tribal chiefs…

“Where did you hear such nonsense? What are you talking about?”

Wendigo asked Dario directly, incredulous.

Since when had establishing a university become a years-long preparation?

“What? Isn’t it?”

Dario was equally confused.

Common sense dictated that such a major project couldn’t possibly be planned without thorough preparation.

‘Hmm, that would be the normal reaction.’

But absolutes didn’t exist in this world.

Wendigo told Dario the behind-the-scenes story of the university’s establishment.

Naturally, Dario’s expression grew increasingly bizarre as he listened.

It was only natural, since what he had judged to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity turned out to be the result of a few people’s impulsive actions.

Thud.

Learning the truth, Dario muttered with a dejected expression.

“I must be crazy. Coming here to start a new chapter in my life at such a chaotic place.”

“Don’t think about running away. You’re already in the same boat with us. And stop pretending your legs are weak.”

“……”

A superior who could read others’ true intentions was more terrifying than he had imagined.

Dario brushed off the dust, stood up, and pulled the cart like a cow being led to slaughter.

Shortly after, Wendigo and Dario stopped in front of a door.

“Go in.”

“Yes…”

Resigned, Dario opened the door weakly.

Inside, Walton was reviewing documents while smoking a wooden pipe.

Of course, he wasn’t using the spacious room alone. Like those in Geron’s office, people with dark-ringed eyes were reviewing documents.

When Dario entered pulling the cart full of documents, they screamed.

“Damn, were there this many intellectuals in the north?”

“Must be because skilled warriors are flocking here too. Can’t we just go raid the Empire like usual?”

“I hope there’s someone useful this time. We’re going to die first at this rate…”

Realizing these people represented his future, Dario stepped back, but it was futile.

Wendigo blocked his retreat and said to Walton.

“Walton, train this fellow under you. He should be quite useful.”

“I came here wanting to be a university educator… but I suppose we need to establish the foundation first.”

As Walton gestured while exhaling smoke, Dario stepped inside. The door closed with a thud, as if signaling there was no escape.

At the mention of a new colleague, the bureaucrats looked at Dario with gleaming eyes.

Dario swallowed hard at their wolf-like gazes, as if they’d spotted prey.

* * *

Establishing the foundation for a university was an extremely tedious task.

With only rumors and historical texts as references, they literally had to build everything from the ground up.

Thanks to many capable people working themselves to exhaustion, they managed to establish what could be called a foundation for a university, but…

“I’m not sure where to decide on the site…”

Based on the completed foundation, deciding where to build the university wasn’t easy.

Choosing the forest outskirts would waste fertile land, while placing it deep in the forest would make transportation difficult.

“This is truly perplexing. Who would have thought finding suitable land in this vast forest would be so difficult.”

“And building near the palace might negatively affect the Djin, so that’s out of the question.”

Groans continued to emerge from inside the conference room.

Who would have thought the forest, which had only provided benefits until now, would become an obstacle?

“What about building near the palace?”

“But securing the site we’ve envisioned would require cutting down many trees.”

“The forest’s order is maintained thanks to Wendigo’s presence. I don’t want to risk harming Wendigo just to build a university…”

Skadi shook her head, not wanting to push for the university’s establishment at such a cost.

Why was there a vast forest surrounding the palace in the first place?

Wasn’t it being preserved as forest land precisely because it might affect Wendigo?

So forcing Wendigo to endure negative effects for the university would be disrespectful to his authority.

Even if Wendigo himself didn’t see it that way, the forest people certainly wouldn’t approve.

“Some might suggest abandoning the university project altogether.”

“Surely not? The university is something both northerners and forest people want.”

At Geron’s assertion, Wendigo looked disgruntled, but Geron firmly shook his head.

While a university was impressive, it wasn’t something that needed to be established at all costs.

After all, people had been able to prepare for this major project thanks to the food flowing from Wendigo’s territory.

So what if it negatively affected Wendigo, who was responsible for that food?

“Many farmers are grateful for the fertility of their land thanks to the Djin’s grace. Naturally, the Djin’s well-being is of great concern.”

“If the king shows even the slightest abnormal signs, the farmers will surely become anxious.”

In the end, what mattered most to people was the food they could put in their mouths.

Having finally been liberated from hunger and living with daily gratitude for full stomachs, who would want to risk that?

‘Technically, that’s not my ability though.’

The problem was that he couldn’t reveal to everyone that Gicas’s heart was the reason.

“What if we build the university outside the forest?”

“Um… wouldn’t that be difficult?”

Someone suggested, and Dario cautiously raised an objection.

Fortunately, none of Wendigo’s close associates would scold a newcomer for expressing an opinion.

When Wendigo nodded, permitting him to speak, Dario carefully began.

“Building outside would be a good choice, of course. Honestly, most northern land is too hard for farming anyway.”

“There’s plenty of unused land.”

Walton nodded in agreement with Dario. The north was indeed so barren that proper cities were hard to find.

So there was certainly no shortage of unused land, but…

“The problem is that if we announce we’re building the university outside the forest, the tribes will surely cause an uproar. Who would want to miss such a juicy opportunity?”

“Ah…”

Considering how much investment had been received to establish the university’s foundation, and how much resources would be consumed for future operations.

Naturally, the land where the university would be located would receive the benefits.

From other tribes’ perspective, they would feel deprived after investing only to see another tribe grow.

“The forest where the king resides is fine. After all, the king is the main force behind the university’s establishment and the most powerful figure in the north.”

“So you’re saying we have no choice but to build the university in the forest…”

“That’s why I wanted to mention.”

“?”

Dario didn’t stop at raising objections.

Rather, he looked directly at Wendigo with a confident smile, as if this was why he had raised the issue in the first place.

Wendigo gestured for him to continue.

“Recently, elves have been spotted in the north.”

“Elves? Elves… Ah!”

“Skadi, do you have a good idea?”

As Skadi clapped her hands with a bright expression, everyone’s attention focused on her.

At Wendigo’s question, Skadi looked at Dario. This was Dario’s idea, so it would be proper for him to explain.

But Dario smiled and politely gestured toward Skadi, yielding the floor to her.

Wendigo inwardly clicked his tongue in admiration.

‘He clearly knows Skadi is one of the forest’s power players.’

Though his slickness was somewhat annoying, he was certainly skilled in navigating politics.

Skadi accepted Dario’s offer and continued the explanation.

“The World Tree worshipped by elves is considered a divine tree and held very sacred. Because of this, trees near the World Tree are never cut down.”

However, elves needed homes too, and the World Tree, being cared for by elves, granted a favor to its servants.

“Elves can use the World Tree’s sap as a medium to transform trees through magic. They use this to build homes, make weapons… even armor and tools.”

“Exactly. With the elves’ help, we might be able to establish a university without cutting down trees.”

Finally presented with a decent breakthrough, people’s faces brightened.

However, Walton nibbled on his wooden pipe and pointed out a problem.

“The issue is that elves rarely leave the great forest. And that’s across the sea.”

“Hehehe. Of course I’m saying this knowing that… Aaack!? Elder Walton!”

“Boy, I told you not to laugh so suspiciously!”

Walton, who had taken on Dario’s correction, hit Dario’s head with his thrown pipe when he laughed sinisterly.

Naturally, Dario rubbed his aching head and grumbled at the loss of face.

After a moment of laughter, Dario glared at Walton and revealed the reason for his confidence.

“Shortly before the king received his invitation, elves visited my family’s land. We showed great hospitality to these rare guests.”

“And?”

“They said they might live in the north in the future and promised to help us if fate brought us together. The contract is… right here.”

Dario took out a personal ledger from his breast pocket and handed it to the servant.

The servant received the ledger and approached Geron.

“The contract should be on page 23. The rest is personal information, so I’d appreciate if you’d skip it.”

“You seem to be right. The tribe name is unusual… Elhemina of the Green Leaf tribe?”

“Yes. She is definitely in the north. So if we send people to search for her, we should be able to get help.”

It was a fairly good suggestion.

Elves were visually distinctive and thus easy to find, and with most of the north involved in the university’s establishment, there was plenty of manpower available.

“Then if we can secure the elves’ cooperation, we’ll decide on the area near the palace as the site.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll surely find them nearby.”

With Wendigo’s permission granted, Dario beat his chest confidently.

* * *

In the end, Dario’s assurance that they would find the elves quickly proved correct.

After dispatches were sent throughout the north inquiring about elves and several weeks passed, news of elves being discovered was delivered to Wendigo.

However, their location was quite strange…

“According to this morning’s report, elves have been discovered inside the forest… near the western sea. They’ve even established a village and are refusing contact.”

Sitting on his throne listening to Geron’s report, Wendigo stared down at Dario, who had been dragged into the audience chamber.

Restrained by the strong hands of warriors, Dario explained with a pale face.

“I truly, truly didn’t know. I can swear on my father’s life.”

“…..”