Ch.31Chapter 31

Unlike the Wendigo forces with their clear hierarchy, the Blue Mane tribe had a rather precarious power structure.

It wasn’t due to sophisticated reasons like complex blood relations or factional discord. The cause was the absence of a leader with supreme authority.

‘I am the chieftain of the Blue Mane tribe. So… shouldn’t the Djin who’s attached himself to us listen to me?’

‘Isn’t it natural for those who beg me for magic and protection to follow my orders?’

If either Oneton or Lectar had yielded, they might have been a somewhat normal force, but both were filled with desire for power…

“Hahaha! Finally, the Djin understands my words! Yes, command is something that should be done by the chieftain!”

So it wasn’t strange that Lectar was greatly delighted after gaining control of the beasts from Oneton.

Lectar burst into laughter as he watched the beasts obediently following his orders, unlike their usual behavior.

He was thoroughly satisfied seeing the beasts, who always caused problems, following orders with deeply furrowed brows.

Moreover, riding atop a large wolf made him feel like his shoulders were soaring to the sky.

“Hehehe. In the end, even the Djin has knelt before the chieftain’s majesty. Truly, congratulations!”

“Haha. Your flattery is excessive! But since it’s not entirely wrong, I’ll specially forgive you!”

When a rat beastkin approached and flattered him, Lectar showed his teeth in satisfaction.

But he wasn’t careless. Lectar knew well how treacherous and cunning a Djin Oneton was.

He had handed over control of the beasts now due to responsibility for his own mistake and personal grudge, but it was obvious he would find fault if Lectar made a mistake.

‘I absolutely cannot allow that!’

Although he couldn’t completely dominate the tribe because of Oneton, Lectar was quite skilled as a warrior.

The proof was that he was still alive after dozens of battles, following his brothers and father since childhood.

To such a Lectar, the Wendigo had at least one weakness.

“Surround the forest as widely as possible. Deploy the beasts first to find the villages and attack simultaneously. For some reason, the forest spirit is protecting humans.”

“Is… is that true? Honestly, it’s hard to believe.”

“…I find it hard to believe too, but that’s what actually happened.”

Even the warriors who trusted and followed him cast doubtful glances, but Lectar was certain.

If that wasn’t the case, what reason would there have been to try so hard to save people?

Whether it was an ancient covenant or a contract binding an amazingly skilled Summoner, there was clearly a reason to protect humans.

‘Even a Djin can’t stop an army alone.’

If they spread out as widely as possible and struck multiple villages simultaneously, the Djin would be thrown into confusion.

Of course, he expected the forest people to resist, but Lectar didn’t care.

How could they possibly face warriors who had lived their entire lives on battlefields and packs of blood-thirsty beasts?

“Chieftain. We’ve positioned the warriors as widely as possible.”

“Good. Deploy the ready units!”

Lectar was confident. Though somewhat improvised, he had a plan of sorts.

Watching the warriors enter the forest, Lectar thought that what mattered now was courage to face problems without fear and quick-witted improvisation.

However…

“Chieftain! We have a problem! The paths are blocked with trees and rocks!”

“…What?”

Facing a problem from the start was something that didn’t exist in Lectar’s expectations.

Lectar’s face contorted comically.

* * *

A ghost village where no one lived.

The Wendigo was using this place as an outpost to prepare for battle.

Amidst the busy movement of warriors, Geron approached the Wendigo to report.

“I have a report. The tribes that accepted our proposal are blocking the paths and moving.”

“Excellent. They must be quite bewildered.”

“Yes. They would be greatly confused if they don’t know the forest people’s strategy.”

Befitting a forest nicknamed the End of the World, those who lived here were mostly people driven to the edge.

Of course, being losers and their descendants was reason enough for people to despise them, but that was a misconception of those who didn’t know the reality.

From the beginning, such weak people couldn’t survive in this harsh, extreme forest.

They were sufficiently strong and wise people. That was evident even now.

Even in a situation where they had to retreat, they toppled trees and wedged rocks to spite their enemies.

In a forest already difficult to traverse, the relatively easy paths were now ruined, forcing enemies to struggle to find their way.

Moreover, they had burned or taken everything from the villages, so even if the enemy reached a village, there would be nothing to gain.

‘Even I think they wouldn’t want to fight. Nothing to gain but all kinds of hardship.’

Warriors in this era literally lived by the sword.

Most warriors weren’t obsessed with fighting because they were battle-crazed. Most wanted to earn big with a single stroke of the sword.

But what if there was nothing to gain? Naturally, discontent would build. Even a Buddha would be dissatisfied if risking life in battle yielded nothing.

Of course, being one tribe, they would suppress their complaints for now and hope for better later…

“They won’t get what they want. Geron, start moving the warriors.”

“What about Lady Skadi?”

“You assist her. Though Skadi is quite the tomboy, I can’t help but worry.”

“Haha. Lady Skadi, a tomboy? Such a gentle person couldn’t possibly be like that.”

“……”

Geron snickered as if making a mischievous joke.

Though she occasionally showed moments of madness, Skadi was basically a kind woman who liked people.

Such a woman being called a tomboy? Geron was convinced she had never even killed a single beast.

‘I should tell him about when I first met Skadi… No, it’s better to preserve her image.’

The Wendigo was slightly curious about what expression Geron would make if he learned Skadi had stabbed two people to death, but he barely restrained himself.

“Caw~!”

A large crow flew over and landed on Geron’s shoulder. It was one raised as a messenger among the forest people.

Geron skillfully untied the leather bound to the crow’s leg and checked the contents.

“A good start. They’ve given up clearing the paths and started moving along the guided route.”

“Good. Then I’ll see you later. Wait for my signal at the meeting point.”

With those words, the Wendigo’s figure disappeared into the forest.

Geron briefly looked in the direction the Wendigo had vanished and thought.

‘Whoever is going to face the Djin, they’re pitifully unfortunate.’

Thinking that if it were him, he would have just surrendered or fled, Geron moved to carry out the Wendigo’s orders.

… Skadi whining about not being able to see the Wendigo off was just a bonus.

* * *

“Woof! Woof woof!”

“Grooowl!”

“Just, move quietly, you damn beasts!”

It was good that they had entered the forest with beasts in the lead, but the Blue Mane tribe warriors couldn’t laugh.

The first problem was the absence of proper roads. Of course, rough paths weren’t such a big issue for the Blue Mane tribe who used to gallop across plains.

The problem was that forest paths weren’t just rough but so terrible that one might wonder, “Can this even be called a path?”

No, it would have been fortunate if they could at least use the paths.

The places that could somewhat be called paths had been meticulously ruined by the forest people, making them unusable.

Naturally, in such a situation, even nomads renowned for their horsemanship had no choice but to walk on two feet.

With even a small mistake potentially leading to bidding farewell to this world along with one’s horse, there was no alternative.

The beasts provided by Oneton could be ridden if one wanted to…

‘Who knows what misfortune would befall if I rode those creatures.’

‘If they bite off a leg, it’s straight to the gods’ side.’

There wasn’t a warrior foolish enough to entrust their lower body to a Djin’s minion.

Who knew what the beasts might do if someone unnecessarily mounted them?

“Damn them. How do they even live in a place like this?”

“Cold and gloomy, it’s disgustingly eerie. The plains aren’t that great a place to live either, but compared to here, they’re practically paradise.”

“Is that the issue right now? There’s absolutely nothing to plunder. What the hell is the chieftain thinking, attacking a place like this…”

The warriors nodded with faces full of discontent.

The second problem was that this forest truly… had absolutely nothing to plunder.

The villages they had found were all full of broken houses with not a single useful item.

They hadn’t expected iron, but the fact that not even food was left behind was a ferocity that shocked even warriors who had lived their entire lives by plunder.

“Befitting descendants of losers. How are they so quick to flee?”

“I want to go back to the plains…”

“You there, be quiet and move!”

As the warriors’ grumbling intensified, the great warrior Bokun shouted. It was clear that the warriors’ discontent would continue to grow at this rate.

But shouting wasn’t a good method. The warriors’ gazes toward Bokun weren’t very kind. If anything, Bokun was a case who had benefited from the forest raid, so it was natural.

Oneton had bestowed blessings on some warriors in exchange for sacrifices, and while some were Lectar’s close associates, there were other cases too.

They were those who had curried favor with Oneton to receive blessings. For Oneton, who wanted to grasp the tribe in his hand, they were quite good tools.

Bokun was one of them. As proof, though Bokun was a bear beastkin, the bear characteristics were more pronounced.

Naturally, the warriors wouldn’t like someone who had betrayed the tribe and clung to a Djin.

‘Damn bastard. Making such a fuss with the scraps he got by flattering the Djin.’

‘Won’t someone slit that bastard’s throat?’

As the discord between factions deepened, it was natural for the relationship between the two to become strained.

As Bokun and the warriors glared at each other in a battle of wills, the atmosphere grew increasingly hostile.

The final problem that drove the wedge here was…

“Bokun. Fog is starting to form.”

“Call me Great Warrior. And I know! Do you think my eyes are just for decoration!”

Bokun yelled in response to a warrior’s observation. Should they stop just because they’re afraid of a little fog?

Bokun, who was thinking of beating that warrior as an example, hesitated when something glinted through the fog.

Swish!

The glint flew toward Bokun with a chilling sound.

When the glint had traveled halfway toward him, Bokun recognized what it was.

A transparent, massive spear made of ice!

‘Can’t dodge it!’

Instinctively realizing he couldn’t avoid it, Bokun raised his right arm. He moved to defend himself as soon as he realized it was too late.

His right arm was protected by a sturdy wooden shield, bear hide, and solid muscle, so he could block the spear…

Crack!

The ice spear shattered the shield and pierced through Bokun’s arm in an instant.

The bear hide and solid muscle were of no use. The sharp spear tip penetrated his arm and drove straight into Bokun’s chest.

With extreme cold penetrating his heart, Bokun’s lips turned blue instantly, and he breathed his last.

Bokun’s massive body fell with a thud, and a piercingly cold fog swept over the warriors.

The warriors instinctively drew their weapons and glared in the direction the spear had come from.

Beyond the swirling fog.

Something was watching them.