Ch.198Chapter 198 – Finale

# Wendigo’s Return and Wedding

While Wendigo was in a deep sleep, the North was like a house of mourning.

Of course, no one dared speak irreverently about the king’s death. Such people had already been beaten to death for the sin of speaking carelessly.

But it was impossible to silence everyone who had participated in the battle.

When news of the king falling into a deep sleep in his battered state spread far and wide through the buttery tongues of bards, the people of Manheimr were filled with sorrow.

At least until Wendigo returned to the capital in good health.

Breaking through the wall of people welcoming the king’s return, Wendigo arrived at the palace and took his seat on the throne in the audience chamber.

“It feels quite nice that everyone is worried… There won’t be such dangerous incidents in the future, so stop glaring at me like that.”

“……”

Geron and Dario Kaffustin quietly glared at Wendigo as he spoke so nonchalantly. They had clearly suffered greatly, with dark circles under their eyes making their gazes particularly fierce.

It was good that the king had returned, but they hadn’t expected him to come back in such healthy condition…

Feeling both joy and irritation rising in their chests, Geron and Dario, as if by prior agreement, each took out a pill from their pockets and put it in their mouths.

A subtle mint fragrance spread, giving them the feeling that their stiff necks were relaxing somewhat.

“Huff… I’m glad you returned safely. Though I’d like to give you a smack on the back, to be honest.”

Geron sighed deeply and grumbled with a relieved expression.

Though they had suffered greatly, it wasn’t because the king had done something wrong—how could they blame him when he had done it to protect his people?

As Geron forgave Wendigo, Dario scratched his head with an awkward expression.

Honestly, considering their hardships, he wanted to grumble a bit more, but if the person who suffered the most was letting it go, how could he do otherwise?

Though he had run until his shoes wore out meeting with elves, dwarves, and nobles from all over Manheimr, Dario shared Geron’s opinion.

The king had returned safely, and that’s what mattered.

“Skadi Brynhild told me you two worked very hard. There won’t be any more incidents like this, so don’t worry.”

“Are you certain? Of all the things I’ve experienced in my life, I hope dealing with corpses was a one-time occurrence.”

“Well, there’s no law saying something that happened once can’t happen twice, so I can’t promise that… But there won’t be any more problems because of my head.”

Recalling his connections from the afterlife, Wendigo spoke to Dario. Dario seemed not to have expected more than that and nodded readily.

“If there’s nothing else, you may withdraw.”

“Work, you say…”

“Hmm?”

At the mention of work, Geron and Dario smiled ominously and gestured to the attendants.

When the attendants knocked on the audience chamber doors, waiting attendants entered from outside.

Attendants carrying incredibly thick stacks of documents approached the throne, while larger attendants brought in a suitably sized desk from outside.

After quickly setting up the chair and desk, Geron and Dario looked at Wendigo and said:

“We have quite a backlog of work. Given the situation, we handled many matters at our discretion, but Your Majesty needs to confirm—”

“Wait, wait just a moment.”

Wendigo, who hadn’t anticipated this situation, reached out his hand in confusion. He massaged his forehead with his other hand and asked:

“Are you saying I have to work immediately upon my return?”

“Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

“No, that’s not it, but…”

When Geron and Dario stared at him with wide eyes and asked in monotone voices, Wendigo couldn’t lie and answered honestly.

Truthfully, he hadn’t suffered much—he had just been asleep for a long time.

Even the injuries from battle had completely disappeared thanks to Skadi’s attentive care, leaving no pain.

Still, wasn’t it too much to ask him to work right away?

“Couldn’t I rest just for today?”

“For your information, some of today’s matters concern Your Majesty’s wedding with Lady Skadi.”

“……”

Was it his imagination that this sounded strangely like “shut up and get to work”?

Wendigo stared at Geron with a blank expression. Geron met his gaze steadily, as if determined not to yield to mere looks.

Finally, Wendigo sighed and waved his hand as if to say “get on with it.”

If nothing else, he felt too guilty toward Skadi to postpone matters related to their wedding.

Deliberately ignoring the slightly upturned corners of his two loyal subjects’ mouths, Wendigo began to tackle the backlog of work.

He missed Skadi.

* * *

The atmosphere in Manheimr changed from a house of mourning to a celebration in an instant.

The king, who was rumored to be in mortal danger, had returned in perfect health, ensuring the North’s peace would continue.

And as the people expected, the North was quickly regaining its peace.

The farmers who had tearfully evacuated received, as promised, the right to live at the End of the World.

Yet even with fertile land, how could they not lament leaving their homeland behind?

The people who entered the new village shed tears.

“Those aren’t tears of sorrow, they’re tears of joy.”

“Well… but it’s so far from their homeland, they must be a little sad.”

“They were given houses, fertile land, and even seeds, cows, and bulls to help with farming—what’s there to be sad about…”

Of course, the officials who had witnessed these scenes countless times were convinced the farmers’ tears were tears of joy.

Manheimr’s bureaucratic system demonstrated its capabilities even after the war.

From calculating and delivering compensation to warriors who participated in the battle, to calculating the cost of requisitioned oil, weapons, and food consumed by the warriors.

Manheimr’s peace and stability were maintained today, as always, through the blood, screams, and anger of its officials.

And among them, the busiest officials were…

“What madman planned a wedding where all the capital’s residents would participate—”

“His Majesty and the Great Witch requested it that way…”

“—I’m the madman for not understanding their generous hearts!”

These were the officials assigned to prepare the wedding in the capital.

The king’s wedding needed to be grand enough, but it was also the wedding of the Great Witch, the chancellor of Manheimr’s prestigious university and idol of witches.

Naturally, the officials had to prepare everything possible.

“The merchants—what about the flowers and ingredients we requested from them? Will they arrive on time?”

“Well, goblins appeared on their route, so they might be delayed…”

“How can Northern merchants be delayed by goblins! Send a messenger bird to the nearby village for help!”

“The street vendors are complaining that their spaces are too cramped!”

“Th-that’s it! Just buy all the drinks and beverages from those selling them. That should free up some space!”

“Is that allowed?”

“We may be short on people, but we’re not short on money. Lord Geron, who’s in charge of the kingdom’s administration, has approved it. Buy everything!”

Joyful festivals always grow by feeding on the sweat, overwork, and stress of their organizers.

Thanks to the secret mind-calming remedy—or rather, tea—from the palace being distributed to officials, none collapsed from overwork or stress.

“I’d rather collapse…”

Though that might not be a good thing for the officials. But their sacrifices were certainly not in vain.

On a spring day when flowers bloomed most beautifully.

Wendigo and Skadi’s wedding was held.

* * *

In the massive wedding hall, with its framework built by elves and details refined by dwarves.

Wendigo stood on the terrace attached to the wedding hall, staring blankly at the sky.

“… It’s warm.”

Even in the cold North, spring sunlight was warm. He enjoyed the warmth of the sunlight while lost in thought.

Marriage, marriage… Though he had made up his mind, now that it was right before him, he felt a new sense of emotion.

It would be strange not to worry. Even people of the same kind have friction, so with differences as great as those between him and Skadi, it would be strange if problems didn’t arise.

‘She could marry anyone she wanted.’

He was grateful she had chosen him, and because of that, he wanted to make her happy.

But he had already made Skadi cry before they were even married, so did he deserve—

“Why are you standing here being melancholy? You’ve got a pretty wife now, so you should be flirting… Ack!?”

“It, was, nice, watching, why, did, you, speak!!!”

“… Alfodur and Frigg, is it?”

Wendigo looked at Alfodur, who was being hit, and Frigg, who was smacking his back.

He didn’t remember inviting them, but when had gods ever visited by invitation?

Wendigo took their visit in stride.

‘… At least we’ll live better than that couple.’

If a couple like that could stay together for 4,000 years, surely he and Skadi could do better.

Gaining confidence from this strange thought, Wendigo suggested to Frigg:

“Since you’re here, I’d appreciate if you’d grace the wedding. You are gods, after all.”

“Hmm… That’s actually why we came. I thought you might need someone to stand in for you.”

Frigg’s hand must have been quite painful, as Alfodur rubbed his back while answering. Wendigo asked him curiously:

“Stand in?”

“Yes. Both you and Skadi have lost your parents.”

“That’s…”

Strictly speaking, Wendigo was born alone, so he had no parents, but the sentiment wasn’t wrong.

Frigg, who had composed herself, pushed Alfodur aside and leaned toward Wendigo, saying:

“Geron agreed to stand in for Skadi’s father, but you don’t have anyone. In the North, when someone doesn’t have parents for their wedding, a close elder or someone of high status takes that role.”

Geron, who could have filled the role of a close elder, was excluded since he was already standing in for Skadi’s parents.

Naturally, they needed to find someone of high status… but there was no one of higher status than the king in Manheimr.

“I don’t want you to treat me as someone high and mighty. Just consider it a token of friendship.”

“… Thank you.”

Wendigo appreciated Alfodur’s sincere words.

Shortly after, an attendant rushed to the terrace and addressed Wendigo:

“Your Majesty! I apologize, but the ceremony is about to begin, so please proceed to the waiting—”

“You’re about to lose your breath. Calm down. I’ll head to the waiting room, so you may go.”

“Yes!”

After dismissing the attendant, Wendigo headed to the waiting room with the two gods. The ceremony seemed to have started, as cheers and exclamations could be heard through the door leading to the wedding hall.

Wendigo stood in front of that door, waiting for it to open…

“The King of Manheimr, Guardian of the End of the World! And the Conqueror who subdued even Death! His Majesty Wendigo is entering!!!”

“… I’ll have to flick Dario’s forehead when this is over.”

Who would have thought he’d take such petty yet embarrassing revenge just because work had been a bit excessive?

Still, it helped ease his tension. Smiling slightly, Wendigo knocked on the door. The attendants waiting outside opened it.

What he saw through the open door was…

“Lord Wendigo!”

Skadi, wearing a pure white dress with gold embroidery, smiling as brightly as the sun in the sky.

Seeing that beautiful smile, all his worries and anxieties seemed trivial.

If she was his happiness, he simply needed to walk the path of happiness that lay before his eyes.

-The End-