Ch.12Chapter 12

Skadi stared blankly at the plant cocoon that had been the Wendigo, letting out a deep sigh.

“Su-Summoner? What should we do now?”

Geron and Hegilson watched Skadi with increasingly respectful attitudes. It was only natural after witnessing a battle that seemed not of this world.

When Skadi’s tired eyes briefly glanced at him, Geron swallowed hard. Though not as terrifying as the Wendigo, Skadi was still intimidating.

‘She won’t freeze me just because she’s in a bad mood, right?’

Contrary to Geron and Hegilson’s concerns, Skadi wasn’t particularly angry.

The Wendigo suddenly chewing the seed? That was acceptable. If that’s what he wanted, it was his right.

Skadi didn’t view her relationship with the Wendigo as that of an ordinary Summoner and Djin. Though they had a contract, their relationship was far from normal.

‘Having a contract with Wendigo-nim… no, being indebted to him, how could I have any complaints? If he desires to reclaim the mysteries he commands at any time, I simply follow Wendigo-nim’s will!’

Skadi’s passion was a form of loyalty. A pure devotion to serve the one she revered!

Skadi slapped her cheeks with a spirited shout, her eyes gleaming with determination.

“First, I’ll create a wall to replace the collapsed palisade. And then…”

“Um, Skadi-nim. I apologize, but there’s something I must say.”

“If you’re going to say you can’t afford the price, don’t worry. Wendigo-nim didn’t come seeking a great payment anyway.”

“!”

Geron’s eyes widened in shock. A Summoner who didn’t demand a high price? Was such a thing possible?

Skadi wasn’t being reckless in her enthusiasm. Though she didn’t fully understand the Wendigo, she was certain of one thing.

Wendigo-nim wants to live harmoniously with humans!

While it might be difficult for other Djin, Skadi believed the Wendigo had real potential. Not just because of his generous heart, but because of the endless mysteries he possessed.

Just as humans need food to live, Djin need mysteries to maintain their existence.

Unlike other Djin, the Wendigo had no need to cause chaos to gather mysteries, so he could certainly coexist with humans.

“Wendigo-nim is a being of endless mysteries. He has a generous heart, and his bravery rivals that of dragons…”

‘Could the Summoner be enchanted by the Djin?’

Geron had an irreverent thought as he watched Skadi begin to praise the Wendigo with an ecstatic expression. It was a plausible idea.

A Djin that enchants a young woman, turns her into a Summoner, and controls her—it wouldn’t be strange if such things existed.

‘But her eyes seem so clear…’

“Village chief. Are you listening?”

“Ah, yes! Long live Wendigo-nim. Long live!”

When Skadi’s eyes met his, Geron startled and raised his hands in celebration.

Skadi’s praise of the Wendigo finally concluded after about an hour.

* * *

How much time had passed? How long had he been asleep?

The Wendigo awoke from his deep slumber and moved his body. His mind was clear and refreshed, his body full of vigor.

‘No, can this even be called sleep?’

The Wendigo stirred his memories to awaken his consciousness. His last clear memory was of chewing the seed.

A cocoon made of roots and branches. The Wendigo realized he was inside a cocoon.

‘Being in a cocoon with this size is uncomfortable.’

No matter how much he curled up, his three-meter frame remained large.

Feeling cramped, the Wendigo cut through the cocoon with his claws. He tore through it like a beast hatching from an egg and emerged outside.

“Where am I?”

He questioned involuntarily upon facing an unfamiliar ceiling. He clearly remembered seeing the sky before, so why was there a roof now?

‘Did Skadi move me?’

It was possible. Skadi was passionate and proactive enough that it wouldn’t be strange if she did something beyond imagination…

“Who dares disturb the sacred dwelling of the noble Djin with such commotion!”

“???”

A door opened behind him and a man appeared.

As the Wendigo slowly turned his head, the warrior who had boldly entered widened his eyes. The source of the sound was the Wendigo himself.

We’re screwed!

“I-I’m so sorry! I didn’t know you had awakened, Djin-nim, and I rudely—!!”

“No, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

The Wendigo hurriedly stopped the man who looked ready to smash his head into the ground. The man shed tears of gratitude.

‘What’s wrong with this guy? Did the Boar kill his family or something?’

If that were the reason, the man’s excessive attitude would be understandable. If beasts released by the Boar Djin had killed his family, it wouldn’t be strange for him to feel goodwill toward the one who killed it.

“Where am I? Where’s Skadi?”

“This is the temple Skadi-nim built to safely protect your cocoon, Djin-nim!”

“…I’m not a god, why build a temple? A shrine or sanctuary would make more sense.”

The Wendigo grimaced at the man’s excessive expression. In a world where gods might exist, he didn’t want to risk divine punishment by being referred to as one.

The man was once again impressed by the Wendigo’s reaction. Indeed, everything the Summoner had said was correct.

That forgiving magnanimity and humble attitude unlike ordinary Djin!

‘Everything Skadi-nim said was true!’

“So where is Skadi now?”

“Ah, Skadi-nim is currently performing her duties around the village. The gracious mysteries of Wendigo-nim…”

“Stop with the embarrassing talk. Explain simply and briefly.”

“She’s going around the village fields bestowing spells.”

The Wendigo nodded when he finally received a normal answer. He had wondered what kind of work she was doing when the man mentioned duties.

‘Skadi may have her excessive tendencies, but she understands my intentions well.’

He recalled how Skadi would carefully consider his every word while deciding the evening menu during their time at the mansion.

She would have understood his desire to establish good relations with the village. She was surely approaching people kindly and creating a good impression.

“I need to see Skadi. Please guide me.”

“It would be my honor!”

“It’s not really an honor… just take me to Skadi.”

If he was happy about it, what could be done?

The Wendigo knew that sometimes surrender was better than persuasion. This was one of those moments.

The man guided the Wendigo outside.

“Wendigo-nim has awakened!!!”

What the hell is this?

If the Wendigo could have made expressions, he would have looked at the man like he was insane. The man only needed to guide him, why was he shouting?

Everyone’s attention turned to the Wendigo. The Wendigo inwardly sighed, expecting fearful gazes.

But the emotions accompanying those gazes weren’t fear.

“Oh, Spirit of the Forest, please continue to watch over us.”

“Mom, it’s the Djin-nim!”

“Hurry and greet him. The Djin-nim has finally awakened after two months—today must bring good fortune.”

Reverence, gratitude, curiosity.

The Wendigo, who had always been an object of fear, terror, hatred, or anger, was bewildered by the emotions people were showing him.

Djin weren’t supposed to receive such goodwill.

“Wait. Two months? I was unconscious for two months?”

“Yes. Skadi-nim said that after defeating the ferocious Djin and purifying the mysteries tainted with evil to return them to the forest’s embrace, you fell into a deep sleep.”

What nonsense is that?

The Wendigo swallowed his words, unable to voice them aloud. There wasn’t a trace of shame in the man’s gaze.

Moreover, he didn’t smell of deception, so it seemed he wasn’t lying.

‘If this isn’t nonsense, and assuming my abilities didn’t malfunction when I consumed the Boar’s essence, what on earth is this story about?’

He had intended to meet Skadi and catch up, but instead, more questions piled up as he approached her.

The Wendigo decided to find Skadi quickly. His mind couldn’t comprehend this situation.

‘Does the village seem larger?’

It wasn’t just his imagination. The Wendigo noticed that the village looked different from before.

There were traces of demolished buildings everywhere, and quite a few newly constructed ones. Peculiarly, each house had neatly bundled dried roots hanging outside.

“Skadi-nim is over there.”

After walking for quite some time, they arrived at a field.

In the place the man pointed to, Skadi stood holding a staff. People were watching her from a distance, clearly indicating she was doing something.

The Wendigo sensed mysteries gathering around her. The energy from these mysteries felt both familiar and different.

‘I sense my energy in the Boar’s mysteries?’

The Wendigo realized that these mysteries were his own. With this realization, he became aware of new mysteries stirring within his body.

The Boar Djin’s essence was pulsating inside him.

‘Did I absorb its essence by eating it? Can other Djin do this too?’

It didn’t seem likely. If they could, Djin would be causing all sorts of chaos fighting over each other’s essences.

Setting aside his surprise, the Wendigo watched as mysteries condensed around Skadi’s staff. She muttered a few words and thrust the staff into the ground.

As the gathered mysteries seeped into the earth, a transformation occurred in the field.

Withering crops regained vitality, and out-of-season plants bloomed and grew. People cheered in amazement.

Skadi wiped away beads of sweat and turned to the people. When she smiled, the Wendigo felt proud.

It was good that I killed that Boar!

‘Indeed, it’s no wonder people are moved when Skadi performs such spells…’

“This is the grace and love of the benevolent Wendigo-nim! Wendigo-nim is different from other Djin. He wishes to bestow the forest’s blessings upon us and embrace us! So everyone must be grateful for his grace and hold him in reverence and awe!”

“…???”

The Wendigo wondered if he had misheard. Was that really Skadi, waving her hands in the air like a skilled missionary, guiding people?

The man said with tears in his eyes:

“Look at how Skadi-nim, as a Summoner serving the Djin-nim, enlightens the people.”

The Wendigo summoned superhuman patience to avoid striking the man’s mouth. It was no ordinary feat to continue making such infuriating statements.

And there wasn’t even a trace of malice in his words. He was clearly insane.

‘Calm down. I need to calm down and hear what she has to say.’

He took a deep breath and approached Skadi.