Ch.180Chapter 180

“This is something I shouldn’t do.”

Wendigo clicked his tongue inwardly as he received terrified stares from everyone. Did they think he wanted these kinds of looks?

Those obsessed with power might enjoy the dark sense of superiority from such stares, but Wendigo wasn’t that type.

What he pursued was peace and stability. All he wanted was a life where he could enjoy delicacies from various places while maintaining good relations with different regions.

In truth, if he wanted to, it wouldn’t be impossible to enjoy peace and stability alone without mediating between these people.

Even if hatred developed between Elves and Dwarves, there was no reason for either race to bear a grudge against him.

But would that guarantee peace and stability in Manheimr?

‘Even a king who’s bad at politics gets treated like a king, so I can’t avoid my responsibilities.’

Wendigo thought as he briefly turned his gaze toward Dario Kaffustin.

People revered him as king, but honestly, he didn’t consider himself a brilliant ruler skilled in politics.

He had never learned or even been interested in the art of kingship that nobles studied, nor had he studied politics.

Nevertheless, he became king because he was fortunate enough to gain great power and was served by good and capable people.

At least as long as there were those who believed in and followed him, he wasn’t the type who could ignore responsibilities while enjoying only privileges.

‘I suppose even a king has to do unpleasant things sometimes.’

Just as Dario was wondering if he had done something wrong to warrant such a look, Wendigo withdrew his gaze and spoke.

“Elhemina, Messina, and Trom, raise your heads.”

When Wendigo called their names, the three cautiously lifted their heads to look at him. Naturally, their gazes lacked confidence.

Strictly speaking, as representatives who should have resolved the situation and facilitated reconciliation, they had nothing to say in their defense, which was understandable.

It wasn’t that they had no excuses. They weren’t nobles who could unilaterally issue orders to those beneath them.

Trom was an executive of the Mining Guild, respected and recognized by the Dwarves.

But while he was called an executive and a superior, a guild executive was merely a middle manager caught between those above and below.

For Dwarves, recording and settling debts was a virtue, whether within families or guilds.

In a society that valued settling debts within the guild, how could a mere executive, not even a guild master, interfere in matters involving debts?

No matter how much Dwarf society respected elders, it was impossible to stand in the way of settling debts.

‘These soft iron lumps who haven’t even hardened a few fingers and toes yet… How could they not know that gratitude is more valuable than grudges!’

Trom, meeting Wendigo’s eyes, blushed with shame at his subordinates who sang the song of “Grudge! Grudge!” without understanding what was truly important.

The Elven representatives, Elhemina and Messina, were equally embarrassed.

How shameful that priests who were spiritual leaders of this Elven district couldn’t unite the Elves!

However, the priests’ authority came from the World Tree, and even though it was just a scratch on the World Tree’s nail tip, they couldn’t deny that it needed to be addressed.

This was especially true in Elven society, where it wouldn’t be strange to be called a “heretic” for putting the World Tree’s well-being second.

Despite being told to raise their heads, the three fidgeted without properly meeting Wendigo’s gaze, looking pitifully inadequate as representatives of their races.

How frustrating must it be when those below you fail to support you and instead growl like rabid dogs?

Well… that was one thing, but this was another.

“I have no intention of apologizing for my harshly critical remarks earlier. To my eyes, you all looked like madmen desperate to die, causing a commotion.”

As insults beyond mere rudeness flew from Wendigo’s mouth, the sound of grinding teeth and the acrid scent of anger erupted from all around.

Even knowing rationally that they should endure this anger, it was difficult to suppress the emotional response of feeling wronged and insulted.

This was Wendigo’s intended reaction. If his original plan was to reprimand the three, he could have summoned just them privately. Why call everyone else too?

Because cold water is most effective when poured at the hottest moment.

“Trom, I’ve heard that Dwarves are so sensitive about debts that they engrave them in steel and gild them with lead. Is that correct?”

“…Yes, it is.”

“Then why did you repay my kindness with a riot instead of gratitude?”

Showing that even cold water has its hierarchy, Wendigo thrashed the Dwarves first.

He couldn’t deny having personal feelings. After all, it was easier to discipline the Dwarves than the Elves, with whom he had established relations earlier.

As Trom stared at the floor, unable to answer, Wendigo continued his rebuke.

“Even if it wasn’t alcohol by your standards, from the Elves’ perspective, they clearly offered you drinks. And I checked—it wasn’t even low-quality alcohol, but rather quite precious.”

“……”

“From the very first meeting, there were problems due to lack of understanding, and in a situation where both sides needed to be more considerate of each other, couldn’t you acknowledge your own lack of understanding?”

“……”

“Or was a single piece of the World Tree’s root more tempting than all the trees scattered across the land?”

Trom endured Wendigo’s criticism in silence, keeping his mouth shut.

How could he possibly argue back when they should be grateful to Wendigo for mediating between two races who weren’t even his people, on his own land?

Even the most thick-skinned Dwarf felt ashamed as Trom, their representative, was one-sidedly scolded.

While they still didn’t feel sorry toward the Elves, they were ashamed of being ungrateful and causing trouble, especially as Dwarves who valued debts, as Wendigo pointed out.

A tiny minority of tactless Elves glared with satisfaction, but Wendigo’s discipline wasn’t aimed only at the Dwarves.

Flinch.

Elhemina and Messina trembled as Wendigo’s cold gaze turned toward them. Messina unconsciously straightened her posture like a soldier before a commander.

“Did you think you had no problems because I was questioning Trom about his wrongdoings? Or did you think I wouldn’t notice you secretly laughing in the back?”

Those who had been smiling tactlessly buried their heads as if looking for a mouse hole when they met the sharp glares of their companions.

Wendigo glared at the Elves for a moment before turning back to Elhemina and Messina.

‘Having to scold a woman who might become my retainer’s wife while her lover watches… how wretched.’

Wendigo, feeling his resolve weaken, looked at Dario. Naturally, Dario wouldn’t want to watch his lover being scolded by his lord.

But he couldn’t deny it was necessary. Burying his inner conflict deep within his heart and covering it with loyalty, Dario looked at Wendigo and nodded slightly.

“…When I first met the Elves, it wasn’t a good situation either. When they snuck onto my land without permission and said they would plant the World Tree, it sounded like they were begging to be killed.”

How could it make sense that they couldn’t forgive the Dwarves when they themselves had been forgiven?

The Elves who had faced Wendigo at that time shuddered as they recalled the past. Though he showed a friendly attitude now, back then, it wouldn’t have been strange if they had died.

They found themselves ridiculous and absurd. Why on earth had they thought the King of Manheimr was just a benevolent being?

“Looking at your current behavior, I regret not executing a few of you as an example back then. Perhaps then you wouldn’t act as if you were the owners of my land.”

“……”

Though his voice was calm, his meaning was terribly brutal. Those sensitive to killing intent felt like checking if their heads were still attached to their necks.

“Does the World Tree make this land feel like your homeland? Or do you think I handed this land over to you arrogant lot because I feared Elvenheim?”

Of course not. This land was still Manheimr territory, and Wendigo was the King of Manheimr.

From the beginning, even the World Tree had declared that it belonged to this land and that Wendigo was its master, so the Elves had no rights regarding this land.

Even if a frog in a well comes out of the well, how could the world belong to the frog?

Neither Dwarves nor Elves had any right to cause problems in Manheimr.

“The World Tree itself forgave them, so who are you to hold a grudge? Even the World Tree decided to resolve the issue peacefully with the Dwarves.”

“……”

Only silence filled the room despite Wendigo’s criticism. Everyone knew that if they carelessly opened their mouths, they might face not just sharp criticism but actual blades.

And those blades might be wielded not by Wendigo or their opponents, but by their own kind.

However, that alone wasn’t enough to uproot the dissatisfaction growing in their hearts.

That pitiful pride, that arrogance that only their own lives were at stake, was still stirring in their hearts.

Wendigo, sensing the emotions, expressed his discomfort by tapping his fingernails on the chair.

The tapping sound embedded itself in the minds of everyone in the room like tinnitus.

Tap.

“If you’re still not satisfied and still think the other side is wrong, do as you please. If you can guarantee you won’t regret it even when your head flies off.”

“!”

Everyone in the room was startled by the unexpected statement, their minds filled with questions.

Then what was the purpose of all the blame and pressure just now?

“Those who brightened at my words probably still believe they have justification.”

Flinch.

Some trembled at the words that pierced their hearts like a sudden dagger.

Fortunately, since everyone was trembling with fear, others didn’t notice.

“If you think you’re justified, gather your weapons and run wild the moment you leave this room. If you want your people to struggle forever in a swamp of revenge.”

“What?”

“Why, do you think it’s impossible? Do you expect nothing to happen after the first representatives of Elves and Dwarves meet and leave with only hatred for each other?”

Wendigo had learned through history that even among humans, with just a cause, they could become mortal enemies for hundreds of years.

If that could happen among the same race, how much easier would it be for Dwarves and Elves, different races, to become enemies from a single incident?

“In the future, the absurd fact that this justification arose over a mere drink will be forgotten, and only the justification to criticize and hate the other side will remain.”

But even if the reason behind the justification disappears, the hatred left by the justification will continue.

Unlike justification, hatred can continue to grow even without reason.

Whether it’s appearance, customs, or just because someone’s in a bad mood that day.

The prejudice and hatred they create will continue to grow and spread, becoming a sentiment.

It’s difficult to love without reason, but it’s easy to hate without reason.

“You can think my words are exaggerated. I too cannot predict what will happen in the future.”

Of course, Wendigo also recognized that the possibility of this conflict escalating to such a serious problem was extremely low.

If the high-ranking officials of both races had any sense, they wouldn’t seriously use such a small conflict as justification for mischief.

But there’s a clear difference between something with no possibility and something with even a slight possibility.

“The justification you leave behind might burn the World Tree in the future, or make even the wooden pieces that enter the king’s mouth disappear. No one knows whether that will be in the distant future or in two or three years.”

All of this is a disaster arising from your pitiful pride.

…He didn’t say that. But that’s how it sounded to everyone in the room.

Of course, unless they were extremely unlucky, how could such a thing be possible?

‘Historically, there have been many incidents caused by hatred alone.’

Hatred was an emotion with the power to cause anything, so it couldn’t be said to be impossible.

And those present weren’t great enough to bear that possibility.

Wendigo’s words were truly exaggerated, but imagination sometimes drives people mad.

The anger that had blazed with pride as fuel instantly lost its power when doused with the cold water of responsibility.

Pride easily loses its power when there are others one must be responsible for.

Wendigo didn’t have the ability to look into others’ minds, but he could roughly guess the imaginations of the depressed Elves and Dwarves.

Probably images of the burning World Tree, devastated homelands, and the resentful eyes of their kin?

‘Unless a truly insane person holds power, the possibility is smaller than an ant’s claw.’

How many madmen in the world would wage war risking their race’s future over mere hatred, not even for gain?

Honestly, even Wendigo, who had just recited pessimistic views to them, didn’t think war or bloody revenge would occur over such a matter.

But what did that matter?

‘The important thing is that they reconcile.’

If ultimately both sides reconcile and peace and stability are maintained in Manheimr, then everything can be considered well done.

This was the best he could do, not being well-versed in politics. He simply wanted them to reconcile and for Manheimr to remain peaceful.

Wendigo watched the depressed faces as he drank the tea from his cup.

The tea was as cold as a winter river.