Ch.47Chapter 47

Walking through the forest path, Isaac reminisced about his experiences.

Chasing a wolf into the forest and encountering a Djin… or at least what he believed was a Djin.

Misjudging his opponent, acting rashly, and being subdued.

Speaking carelessly and feeling his life threatened by Skadi…

‘I really could have lost my life at the beginning.’

Still, Skadi’s misunderstanding was eventually cleared up, and thanks to that, he learned profound summoning techniques, so he had no grudges or complaints.

After all, wandering summoners were the type to risk their lives for the chance to learn new techniques.

Besides, his growth wasn’t limited to just his summoning skills.

Isaac fingered the ice crystal in his pocket and snickered.

‘Wendigo is truly generous. How wonderful would the world be if all Djin were like that.’

The refreshing mystical energy transmitted through his fingertips made Isaac shiver.

Though the ice crystal was split in half, even that partial piece was extraordinary to Isaac. It was far too valuable an item for a wandering summoner to possess.

Summoners contracted with Djin to access greater mystical powers. There were limits to what one could achieve by merely collecting and seeking out natural mysteries to perform higher-level summoning.

But with this ice crystal, he could transcend those limitations.

Of course, once he used up all the mystical energy stored in the crystal, he would have to seek out Djin again…

‘If I can’t grow enough to form a contract with a Djin after such a fortunate encounter, that would be my own failure.’

Isaac didn’t deny that this ice crystal was a lucky opportunity. If he couldn’t become a great summoner with such an opportunity, then he simply wasn’t cut out for it.

He pondered as he fingered another ice crystal in his opposite pocket.

Should he use this crystal… completely?

‘…No matter how I think about it, that would be excessive.’

Though he had never contracted with a Djin, Isaac was quite capable among wandering summoners. Otherwise, how could he have noticed Skadi’s concerns and had the ability to solve her problems?

Thanks to his competence, Isaac had assisted summoners who had contracted with Djin several times.

Because of this, he had observed how they handled the mystical energy received from Djin…

He was certain that the mystical energy contained in this ice crystal was greater than what they used when performing their summoning techniques.

‘It would be better to use one of them to gather materials for summoning.’

Sometimes one must accept a small loss to aim higher.

Isaac decided on the first tribe he would visit outside the forest. There was a tribe particularly suitable for this purpose.

* * *

After walking for three days and nights, Isaac arrived at the city of the Freyr tribe.

Northern people generally didn’t form communities large enough to be called cities, but the Freyr tribe was an exception.

They were something of a legendary tribe among the northern people.

‘Every northern summoner passes through this place at least once.’

Isaac thought as he looked up at the statue located in the center of the city.

A statue of a woman wearing a hood and raising a staff.

The subject of the statue was Fraya, the founder and hero of the Freyr tribe, a great summoner.

In her lifetime, she was said to be a heroine with exceptional eloquence and skill who contracted with four Djin…

‘But unsatisfied with that, she tried to increase her Djin contracts even more, and due to her arrogance, was betrayed by the Djin.’

Like most heroes, Fraya met a tragic end.

Still, the fact that she was an exceptional summoner who contracted with four Djin remained unchanged.

Many who heard Fraya’s story aspired to become “the second Fraya,” but Isaac was different.

‘I should absolutely avoid doing something so dangerous.’

In Isaac’s opinion, Fraya was skilled but foolish.

Frankly speaking, contracting with just two Djin would have guaranteed wealth and glory, yet she ruined herself by not controlling her greed.

Isaac had no intention of becoming such a crazy woman—no, such an arrogant summoner. Especially after meeting Skadi and Wendigo, who lived modestly despite possessing extraordinary abilities.

He passed the statue and entered the summoner’s street, the city’s landmark, pride, and lifeline.

The street was filled with wild-looking people who appeared as if they belonged in forests or mountains, displaying their trophies and calling out to potential customers.

“Rare herbs and insects brought from the End of the World!”

“This hide is from a wolf notorious for its ferocity in the mountains where I live…”

The city of the Freyr tribe was literally a city for summoners.

The founder’s reputation was so great that anything remotely related to summoning from the surrounding areas gathered here.

Of course, most items were largely useless. Hunters and herbalists lacked the spiritual sight to see mystical energy.

They just brought anything that looked strange, hoping it might be valuable, or anything with a strong and peculiar smell…

‘Some are quite decent… but the rest are all nonsense.’

Deciding there was nothing worth salvaging, Isaac passed them by and headed to the innermost part of the street. There stood a massive mansion.

At the entrance, warriors with mystical tattoos on their bodies exuded a menacing aura as they guarded the entrance.

When Isaac stood before the door, the warriors glared at him with fierce eyes.

“This is the hut where Sir Shir, descendant of Lady Fraya and summoner of the Freyr tribe, resides. What business do you have here?”

“I am Isaac, a wandering summoner. I’ve come to auction an item that any summoner would covet.”

The warriors didn’t move aside. After all, even con artists could claim to be summoners.

Isaac sighed and activated the spell on his cloak. As the agility of a wolf enveloped his body, Isaac pulled out his staff and thrust it toward a warrior’s neck.

“!”

The warrior only noticed the staff when it was already aimed at his neck.

Despite his natural abilities and the enhanced vision granted by Shir’s tattoos, which he prided himself on being far superior to ordinary people…

‘This is no ordinary summoner!’

“My apologies! There have been too many con artists pretending to be summoners in the city lately…”

“When has this city ever been free of con artists? I understand, so step aside.”

“Yes!”

As the warriors moved aside, Isaac put his staff back into his robe and opened the door of the hut.

Inside the hut, thick smoke made visibility poor due to the dim lighting. However, Isaac didn’t panic.

With his spiritual sight, he could see mystical energy shimmering through the fog, guiding his way.

Following the guidance of the mystical energy, Isaac moved forward and opened the door at the end of the path.

“This is a branch from a lacquer tree struck by lightning. It can be used in summoning related to lightning, poison, and plants…”

“This is a black chicken perfect as an offering to Djin! With one of these, it becomes much easier to appease a Djin’s anger!”

The marketplace, which occupied most of the first floor of the mansion, was filled with dozens of summoners trading items for summoning.

Some traded with silver or gold, others through barter, and if not that, then with knowledge.

Isaac smiled at this extraordinary scene. Normally, he too would be among them, desperately trying to learn even one more summoning technique, but…

‘Today is different.’

Isaac confidently headed inward. At the center of the mansion, he took out the ice crystal and…

He was attacked by a summoner who appeared out of nowhere. Isaac, having anticipated this, didn’t panic and swung his staff.

The blade of cold energy that burst from the staff sliced through the attacker’s body. The blade didn’t leave a wound but froze every part it cut.

As the summoner with a frozen heart rolled on the floor, Isaac warned the other summoners with a fierce expression.

“Anyone else who wants to end up like this idiot, come at me.”

The summoners who had been waiting for an opportunity clicked their tongues and withdrew their killing intent. However, they couldn’t hide the greed dripping from their eyes.

Their eager gazes were fixed on the ice crystal in Isaac’s hand.

Regardless of their level, summoners instinctively recognized that the mystical energy contained in the ice crystal was extraordinary.

“If you hand over that item, I’ll teach you all the summoning techniques I’ve learned in my lifetime!”

“What good would such trash techniques be? I’ll give you all the materials and treasures I’ve collected, so hand that ice crystal over to me!”

The impatient summoners began fighting among themselves, trying to negotiate with Isaac before he could even state his conditions.

Isaac wasn’t flustered. Such scenes were common in this hut.

True to their nature as people who had staked their lives on summoning, they didn’t hesitate to show their ugly sides if it meant ascending to a higher level.

The people Isaac wanted to deal with weren’t such hasty individuals.

Clap!

When someone’s clap echoed through the first floor, something strange happened.

Those who had been filled with anger just moments ago apologized to each other and stepped back, creating a path as the summoners parted to either side.

Walking along that path was a beautiful blonde woman.

Isaac looked at her and swallowed hard. Not because he was captivated by her beauty, but because he was tense.

Her name was Shir.

She was the summoner of the Freyr tribe, its de facto ruler, and a heroine who inherited Fraya’s bloodline.

She approached Isaac and smiled. A seductive rose scent tickled Isaac’s mind, but he wasn’t bewitched.

The cold energy imbued in his staff awakened his senses.

“Lady Shir. I’m sorry, but I’d appreciate it if you stepped back a bit.”

“My, Isaac. To resist my charm… you’ve improved quite a bit since we last met, haven’t you?”

Shir looked at Isaac with interest and took a step back.

Isaac briefly looked at her and then raised the ice crystal.

“I’ll start the auction. As always, I’ll trade this ice crystal to whoever makes the most attractive offer.”

“What do you want?” asked an old summoner.

Isaac nodded.

“What I need most are materials for researching summoning techniques and silver. Summoning techniques are good too, but I’m not interested in techniques below my current level.”

Summoners who had known Isaac before recognized his change and clicked their tongues in regret.

To think he’d only obtained such an item after his level had increased!

As the unremarkable summoners withdrew in disappointment, summoners renowned in the north began raising their hands one by one to make offers.

Most wanted to pay with silver or summoning techniques. After all, materials were always in short supply for summoners.

However, there was one among them who had no shortage of materials.

Shir, with a relaxed expression, made her offer to Isaac.

“I’ll let you take as much as you want from my storehouse. Whether it’s silver or materials, it doesn’t matter.”

“Damn it! Shir, even if this is your hut, this is too much!”

“Of all days for such an item to appear when that woman is here!”

Jeers and curses erupted from around them, but Shir didn’t care at all.

If they were upset, they could hold such markets in their own huts!

Isaac, who had been waiting for Shir’s offer from the beginning, smiled and asked:

“Will you swear by your summoning?”

“Of course. I swear by all the mysteries of the world and my summoning.”

For a summoner, an oath sworn on their summoning carried an irresistible force. Breaking such an oath would cause a summoner to lose their spirituality and forever be unable to perform summoning.

Naturally, for summoners who wielded powers beyond human limits, this was a calamity more fearsome than death.

After Shir made her oath, Isaac carefully handed over the ice crystal. Shir took it and mocked the other summoners.

“No matter how jealously you look at it, I won’t give you the ice crystal~ Oh, Isaac.”

“What is it?”

Perhaps because the transaction had been completed without major issues, Isaac responded lightly to her call, his tension somewhat relieved.

And Isaac immediately regretted it.

Shir, with a mischievous smile, asked Isaac:

“By the way, where did you get such a treasure? And it seems your level has improved considerably in just a few months… Did you perhaps discover the hut of a dead summoner somewhere?”

‘This damned woman…’

Isaac frowned and glared at Shir. She responded with an innocent expression, but she couldn’t fool Isaac.

With just one question from her, the summoners’ eyes were now gleaming, staring at him!

‘There’s probably at least one summoner here who can discern the truth. But if I keep quiet, that’s also a problem…’

Summoners were by no means peaceful creatures. It wouldn’t be strange for them to kidnap an innocent summoner if necessary.

‘The Djin didn’t particularly warn me against it… and honestly, it wouldn’t take long for the truth to be revealed even if I tried to hide it.’

If they just found out where he had walked from, these unnecessarily skilled summoners could track his starting point in an instant.

‘If I reveal it here, no one will pay attention to me. They’ll be too busy heading to the forest.’

Isaac decided to willingly share his experiences.

He spilled everything he had gone through to the summoners. Of course, he only told the truth, as summoners could detect lies…

“A kind Djin? Is that a joke that wasn’t detected as a lie?”

“Maybe it’s due to a spell cast by the Djin. If that’s the case, even summoning can’t determine the truth.”

“Even so, a Djin that rewards generously… that’s no ordinary arrogant Djin.”

“……”

Isaac transformed the outburst he was about to make into a sigh. Honestly, even he found his own story hard to believe.

A Djin that rationally assigns tasks and even tries to properly reward them…

‘But that’s the truth, what can I do?’

“So such things were happening at the End of the World…”

“Ahem. I’ll leave first. I suddenly remembered something I forgot.”

“Oh my. This friend really… I’ll go with you!”

The summoners began leaving the hut one after another, realizing this was no time for trading or anything else.

They needed to gather what they could and head to the forest immediately!

Isaac sighed as he watched the summoners drain out like an ebbing tide.

‘I hope none of those guys try to deceive the Djin.’

Isaac discreetly turned his head to look at Shir. Though she was the instigator of this commotion, she wasn’t moving frantically like the other summoners.

Perhaps a skilled summoner like Shir wouldn’t fall into vain desires…

“If it’s about favoring and cherishing a beautiful woman…”

‘This woman is hopeless too.’

Having roughly guessed what Shir was thinking, Isaac shook his head.

* * *

Wendigo’s prediction aligned with Isaac’s.

About a month after Isaac left the forest, Geron came to Wendigo with a message, wearing a disgruntled expression.

“Djin. A message has arrived. But something seems strange.”

“Has someone from outside come looking for us?”

Wendigo, who was savoring pork ribs grilled with Skadi’s secret sauce, asked, and Geron nodded.

Wendigo was puzzled.

He had warned Geron that outsiders might come soon, so why did he look so troubled?

“We were expecting this around now, weren’t we?”

“Well, about that…”

Geron showed a troubled expression and took out the “messages” he had brought.

Yes.

The messages had come from not just one place.

“Messages have come from villages all around the outskirts saying that summoners from outside have settled in, wanting to meet you…”

“……”

Wendigo was so dumbfounded that he froze with a rib halfway to his mouth.