Ch.33Chapter 33

In the homeland of the Blue Mane tribe, a land they must someday return to in the eastern plains, there was a saying:

‘A warrior may choose to march to battle, but cannot choose to return.’

This might sound like nonsense, but seasoned warriors understood its meaning well.

It meant that while humans could choose to begin something, they could never know how it would end.

Rektar found this saying circling in his mind lately. His current situation embodied it perfectly.

“Chief. Today more warriors were attacked by the Djin…”

“…I already know.”

Rektar gritted his teeth to suppress his anger.

He bit down so hard that the warrior reporting to him stepped back nervously.

It seemed like he might fail to contain his rage and swing his sword at any moment.

‘Damn it! We haven’t even properly fought them yet, and this is what happens!’

Rektar pushed aside the tent flap roughly and stepped outside, swallowing his anger.

His gaze fell upon the warriors who had survived the Djin’s attack. No, could this even be called survival?

‘More dead ones have decreased. This damned Djin is clearly toying with me!’

The survivors, once countable on one hand, had now grown to more than ten.

As tribal leader, he should have been pleased, but Rektar couldn’t bring himself to feel joy.

A warrior, leaning on his comrade’s shoulder as he walked, stared blankly at Rektar and spoke.

“The fog… the fog…”

“Damn it. Stop that cursed fog talk already!”

When the warrior who had barely escaped with his life muttered those words, Rektar couldn’t contain his anger and grabbed him by the collar, shouting.

Whenever that word “fog” came up, the warriors would whisper among themselves and glance at him.

Jacken, who had been quietly observing, approached Rektar and grabbed his arm.

“Chief. I understand your anger, but please let go. Treating a warrior who has returned from death’s door like this goes against our code…”

“What death’s door, you fools. Don’t you understand yet! You’re all falling for the Djin’s petty tricks!”

Rektar shook off Jacken’s hand and pointed at the warriors, unleashing his fury.

He knew all too well why the warriors were whispering while looking at him.

The problem was that the returning warriors had spread the warning they’d heard to others.

‘Enter the fog, and you die.’

What he had initially dismissed as nonsense from defeatist fools had gradually spread, beginning to shake the warriors’ resolve.

“You idiots. No matter how strong the Djin is, it’s still just a Djin. When its mystical power is depleted, it won’t be able to rampage like this. It’s trying to turn you into cowards so you’ll leave on your own!”

Though his argument had some logic, the warriors’ gazes were far from sympathetic.

Even if what he said was true, they couldn’t understand why they should continue this battle with no benefits.

Frankly speaking, all they could gain here were trees, grass, and berries.

‘Wouldn’t it be better to return to the plains now?’

‘He’s just talking big without ever facing a Djin himself.’

‘Has he actually been enchanted by the Djin?’

Sometimes thoughts can be conveyed without words.

Rektar felt sick to his stomach from the warriors’ disrespectful gazes.

‘If only I had complete authority!’

The power that had passed to Rektar was only half-complete because his father Galrer, a respected warrior and chief, had died suddenly before Rektar could prove himself.

A leader’s authority is proven through achievements, but he hadn’t had the chance to accomplish anything.

In this ambiguous position, he had led warriors into a forest where the only gain would be human sacrifices, so their distrust was understandable.

Understandable… but Rektar wasn’t broad-minded enough to accept it.

‘These fools don’t understand my noble cause of strengthening the tribe!’

“Chief. I apologize for saying this, but perhaps we should turn back now…”

“Silence! Has receiving the warriors’ respect made you lose your mind?”

When Jacken attempted to persuade him, Rektar’s burning eyes glared at him.

His sharp teeth, like those of a beast, gnashed as if he might bite at any moment.

But Jacken’s eyes remained calm as a peaceful lake… and cold.

They were not the eyes one would use to look at a chief.

“Jacken. I know you’re respected by the warriors. You risked your life to save them, so that respect is warranted. However…”

Click.

“If you express dissatisfaction with my orders again, I’ll kill you in the most painful way possible.”

As Rektar partially drew the sword at his waist, crimson flames flickered from the blade like a tongue.

Rektar revealed his killing intent, warning Jacken as if he might swing his sword at any moment.

After glaring at each other for a long time, the tension between Rektar and Jacken ended with Jacken bowing his head.

“Forgive me. I merely offered my personal opinion out of concern for the tribe’s future.”

Rektar barely suppressed the urge to strike Jacken’s neck, aware of the warriors watching them.

“…For a mere warrior to discuss the tribe’s future. I’ll specially forgive you this time, so go back and comfort the warriors.”

As Rektar pushed Jacken aside and turned away, some warriors approached Jacken and whispered.

Though he couldn’t hear what they said, it surely wasn’t anything good.

‘When this is over, I will take Jacken’s head.’

Beyond personal feelings, as chief of the Blue Mane tribe, he couldn’t tolerate a competitor.

Rektar vowed to behead Jacken once this expedition was over.

As Rektar was returning to his tent, a warrior approached him.

“What is it?”

“Oneton requests your presence, Chief.”

Flinch.

The veins in Rektar’s neck twitched.

It was bad enough that they showed respect to the Djin, but the idea that it was summoning him was intolerable.

Rektar kicked the warrior’s shin so hard that even with the Djin’s blessing, the warrior staggered.

“Am I supposed to come running whenever it calls?”

“Ugh… that’s not what I—”

“Silence!”

While he couldn’t touch Jacken who had the warriors’ support, this warrior was different.

Rektar’s blind rage lashed out at the warrior, who endured the violence without resistance, begging forgiveness.

After venting his anger until the warrior passed out, Rektar finally moved on. Arrogance aside, he needed to hear what Oneton had to say.

When he arrived at Oneton’s tent, two warriors were strictly guarding the entrance.

Their clearly beast-like appearance showed they had received Oneton’s blessing. Rektar frowned as he glared at them.

“Why are you guarding this tent?”

“Out of respect for the Djin, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to guard the tent.”

Rektar let out a mocking laugh.

Who in the world would respect a Djin? If such a person existed, they were either insane or a con artist.

And if not, what better teachers of deception than Djin, who exploit all beings?

Obviously, the warriors had no reason to respect the Djin, so they were clearly lying to Rektar.

“Sure. You can respect a Djin that takes humans as sacrifices and considers itself the wisest and most intelligent being in the world.”

“……”

“But your respect is none of my concern. Stop talking nonsense and move aside. I need to meet it.”

The warriors exchanged glances and carefully opened the tent flap.

“Ah, you’ve come. Took longer than I expected.”

“…Do I look like a servant who comes running when called?”

Oneton, who had been devouring a human, licked his lips and cackled.

Rektar glared at Oneton with displeasure, not understanding why he was laughing.

“The humans guarding the tent became servants on their own when I gave them power, yet you remain disrespectful despite receiving my power.”

“If you think I’m the same as those trash, you’re dreaming. Don’t forget that you and I have a business relationship.”

“Ah, of course.”

As Oneton bared his teeth and laughed, Rektar gripped the sword at his waist.

Oneton found Rektar’s angry appearance quite amusing. Recently, nothing had gone his way, but this foolish warrior before him moved exactly as expected.

‘If only the Forest Djin were this manageable.’

“Get to the point. Why did you call me?”

“My beasts have gathered information you’ll like.”

Realizing Rektar’s anger was reaching its limit, Oneton decided to get straight to the point.

Oneton’s tail swayed, drawing a map of the forest. Having observed the forest through his beasts’ eyes, his map was quite detailed.

It showed their advance route, obstacles, and the warriors’ positions. As the map expanded, Rektar’s eyes lit up.

A large clearing appeared in the center of the map.

“Could such a wide clearing exist in this forest?”

“My beasts confirmed it was once a village. The land wasn’t very fertile, so the tribe probably left… but you’d find this land useful.”

Rektar nodded. With enough space secured, establishing a base wouldn’t be difficult, especially with all the trees around.

With a base, he could provide proper rest for his warriors. No matter how frightened they were, with enough time, he could restore discipline.

Moreover, if this became a prolonged battle, the Djin, whose power was depleted through combat, might be forced to retreat.

However… there was a problem.

“What if this clearing is a trap?”

“It might be. That’s why I’m going to help you specially this time.”

Rektar barely swallowed the curse that was about to escape. All of this had happened because of Oneton’s greed, yet he spoke as if it were someone else’s problem.

Rektar had always known Djin were shameless creatures, but he was still amazed every time.

Oneton raised his massive body and approached Rektar, circling around him as he spoke.

“My beasts will charge as the vanguard. Unlike your warriors, when I start controlling them directly, they won’t spare their lives. Even if it’s a trap, we can break through immediately.”

“…But facing a Djin won’t be easy.”

“It has already used much of its power fighting your subordinates. Unless it’s gathering mystical power by devouring humans like me, accumulating power in the forest is difficult.”

When Rektar still seemed unconvinced, Oneton looked him in the eyes. He could see the desire lurking in Rektar’s gaze.

“Finally… as payment for the sacrifices so far, I’ll share my power with you.”

“!”

Before Rektar could react, Oneton’s teeth lightly bit into his arm.

After the initial surprise, Rektar gasped as mystical power flowed through his blood from the bite. As the power coursed through his veins, his body began to change.

His eyes gleamed like a beast’s, his teeth grew sharp, and his muscles began to resemble those of a beast.

Rektar panted from the thrill running through his body. This was why, despite hating Djin, he couldn’t drive them away.

Power beyond human limits was like a drug in itself.

“Now, are you ready?”

“…Of course.”

In the overwhelming wave of power that clouded his mind, Rektar was convinced.

With this power, he could face the Djin.

…Not realizing how much he was underestimating Wendigo.