Ch.108Chapter 108

Without hesitation, Geron looked at Dario with a sour expression as he casually offered his father’s life.

Even if his father’s life was invaluable, to stake it in a situation like this…

“… I suppose the urgency of the situation made you misspeak.”

“Ah, I apologize! It’s an old habit that slipped out before I realized…”

“?!”

When Wendigo shook his head and pointed out Dario’s mistake, he came to his senses and apologized with an awkward smile.

Naturally, this was incomprehensible to Geron, who prided himself on being a person of common sense.

How common could it be for someone to habitually sell out their own father?

Unaware that his standing had dropped a level in Geron’s mind, Dario pointed with his thumb at the warriors holding his arms.

“Well, you know… so could you please ask these fellows to let go of my arms?”

“It’s a good experience, isn’t it? If you cause trouble in the future, you’ll be facing them again.”

When Wendigo snickered and refused his request, Dario looked at Geron while sweating profusely.

After being dismissed from the palace, Dario had thought Skadi and Geron were the most good-natured people there.

Surely Geron would take pity on him and ask for his release?

“I didn’t know you held your own flesh and blood’s life so lightly.”

“Ah, no! While my father is indeed my father by bloodline, mentally he’s…”

Dario, shocked to receive such judgment from Geron, tried desperately to explain himself.

Wendigo observed this and assessed the current situation.

‘Judging by his reaction, it seems he has no connection to the elves’ intrusion.’

Well, unless Dario had shared hardships with the elves for many years, all he had done was show them some kindness.

Dario wasn’t foolish enough to risk danger for such a connection.

After watching Dario and Geron’s exchange for a moment, Wendigo waved his claw, ordering the warriors to release Dario.

The warriors looked at Dario with displeasure before offering counsel to Wendigo.

“My king, trusting someone who would stake his own father’s life is…”

“Wouldn’t it be better to determine the truth through a proper interrogation?”

Dario, who hadn’t expected even the warriors to misunderstand, looked at Wendigo with great indignation.

Wendigo clicked his tongue as he looked at Dario’s crestfallen face.

How could someone usually so glib make such a mistake…

“I heard all about Dario’s family situation when recruiting him. There are understandable reasons for his discord with his father, so don’t be too suspicious.”

“If that is what the king says, we shall comply.”

At Wendigo’s personal confirmation, the warriors respectfully bowed their heads and released Dario’s arms.

After the warriors finished their duty and withdrew, Dario stretched his stiff shoulders and glared at the door through which they had left.

“I don’t know about anything else, but the warriors residing in the palace are too inflexible.”

“We call that loyal and steadfast. Virtues you can’t be expected to possess.”

When Dario grumbled, Wendigo chuckled and defended the warriors.

How could one dislike those whose loyalty ran so deep they would offer direct counsel to their king?

A single word of honest advice from a loyal subject was more valuable than a hundred sweet words from a flatterer.

Dario couldn’t deny this fact, so he just pouted while straightening his clothes.

“Djin, I still find it strange. Why would elves establish a base at the End of the World?”

“It is indeed strange. From what I know, elves rarely leave the great forest…”

Wendigo was just as perplexed.

From what he had learned from Skadi, elves were a race that lived in the great forest across the sea, not on the continent.

The few elves who appeared on the continent typically came to ports to acquire necessary items before returning to the great forest.

“I think we should ask someone who knows elves well…”

“Ah, I’ve met elves before, but I don’t know much about them.”

When Wendigo’s gaze turned to him, Dario waved his hands and avoided eye contact.

Having focused on building relationships with elves, he had restrained himself from prying for information.

Thanks to that, he had formed connections with elves… and consequently was dragged out by warriors early this morning.

“… Then there’s no choice. There’s one most suitable person, so we’ll have to ask them.”

“Djin, do you have someone in mind?”

“Strictly speaking, it’s not a person, but… Dario.”

“Yes, do you have orders for me?”

Tense at the words “not a person,” Dario awaited Wendigo’s command.

It wouldn’t be strange if Wendigo ordered him to bring some strange spirit or monster.

After all, Wendigo himself was a being whose status as a Djin was questionable, and the Ogre he treated as a friend spoke and acted like a person…

“Go and bring Freya. She mentioned she’s been sneaking out to nearby villages for fun behind Shir’s back, so she shouldn’t be hard to find.”

“What? You mean her?”

Dario questioned Wendigo, surprised by the familiar name.

It was fortunate that the task wasn’t as troublesome as he’d feared.

Fortunate, but…

“No, why me specifically when there are servants available?”

Dario pointed at himself and asked Wendigo with difficulty.

Honestly, such a task could be assigned to subordinates, so why did he have to go?

Wendigo answered as if it were obvious.

“Then should I or Geron go? Besides, if we send servants, they’ll obviously suffer at the hands of that wild one.”

Dario realized that Wendigo held his mental fortitude in high regard.

However, he wasn’t particularly pleased. He had no desire to personally meet a spirit for such a trivial reason.

What if his mental strength was weaker than expected and he became a plaything, bewitched by the spirit?

“Freya may lack sense, but she’s not foolish enough to harm my people. Don’t worry and just go.”

‘Then you could send someone else!’

Dario swallowed his complaints and heaved a deep sigh.

No matter what, it would be disrespectful to continue complaining after a direct order from the king.

As he trudged out of the audience chamber, Geron, who had been watching, asked Wendigo curiously.

“Dario’s opinion wasn’t wrong, so why did you do that? Normally, you would have just ordered the servants.”

“For one thing, that fellow usually slacks off. He has good abilities but is shrewd enough to avoid troublesome tasks.”

Can a person’s character change overnight?

At least from what Wendigo knew, such cases were rare unless one faced death or returned from it.

Naturally, Dario’s character wouldn’t easily change either. Always suspicious of others and seeking only his own benefit was almost a habit for him.

So shouldn’t he be made into a proper person through such hardships?

“Still, making him meet Lady Freya seems a bit cruel. She has a rather… difficult personality.”

Seeing that Wendigo wasn’t simply trying to torment someone, which would be unlike him, Geron smiled and joked.

Wendigo responded with a smirk.

“Well, he’ll be conversing with such beings in the future anyway. It’s fortunate if he takes his first step with Freya.”

“… Pardon?”

“There’s no need to be so surprised. Do you think things will be quiet from now on?”

At Wendigo’s question, Geron thought for a moment before shaking his head.

Gods who were banished for disturbing the world had reappeared.

New heroes or villains who had awakened to power had begun to stride across the land.

Those who had remained quiet until now were beginning to show themselves for various reasons.

It would be unreasonable to expect the world to remain peaceful under such circumstances.

“I suppose not. So Dario will be dealing with such beings in the future?”

“Well, if his character improves a bit. Right now, his old habits remain… What are you doing?”

Wendigo asked curiously as Geron took something from his pocket and began distributing it into different pouches.

After counting the exact number of berries in each pouch, Geron answered Wendigo calmly.

“Since he’s bound to suffer in the future, I thought to give him some berries that are good for body and mind. They’re quite sour, so it takes time to get used to them.”

“……”

* * *

Freya, who returned with Dario, appeared unusually cheerful.

However, Dario, who had brought her, was exhausted and looking at Wendigo resentfully.

“Judging by Dario’s condition, did you cause trouble again?”

“Trouble? No~ I just created some rather rare memories for this little one.”

Freya cackled and slapped Dario’s back with her palm.

Dario, horrified by that laughter, moved away from Freya in alarm.

“Stay away! In all my life, this is the first time I’ve been chased by people because of a spirit!”

“Did you think it would be easy to escort such a beautiful woman?”

Dario shuddered as he recalled the process of bringing Freya.

At first, she had seemed willing to come along, making him think she was a benevolent spirit like the king, but he had been greatly mistaken.

The moment they mounted the horse together, the spirit suddenly screamed!

“Thanks to you, even warriors came chasing after us, and I nearly died!”

“Come on, you don’t think I would have let it go that far, do you? From what I saw, Wendigo seems to find you quite useful… Ow!?”

Wendigo, who had been listening, sighed and approached Freya, flicking her forehead.

Freya clutched her forehead, having received such a flick after a long time, while Dario watched with satisfaction.

Knowing she was at fault, Freya grumbled but didn’t get angry.

“So why did you call me? Usually, you only call for yourself and Skadi.”

“This is a somewhat exceptional case. Do you know much about elves?”

“Of course. Do you know how many times I’ve tried to seduce them? Well… I failed most of the time, which is still regrettable.”

Freya spoke while gazing into space with melancholic eyes, as if recalling old memories.

Honestly, it was quite an outrageous story from the listeners’ perspective.

To put it bluntly, what she called “seduction” was essentially attempted abduction.

Considering that her main territory was in the north, it was an especially vicious form of kidnapping.

“… I don’t particularly like your reason for knowing, but it’s fortunate that you do know.”

However, regardless of the reason, she clearly knew about elves.

Wendigo pointed at Freya with his claw and declared.

“You’re coming with me to meet the elves.”

“… What?”

Freya looked at Wendigo with an expression of disbelief.