Ch.4Chapter 4

“… Is that really enough? Really?”

“Yes.”

“Not delicious food or rare herbs, or even a statue carved in Wendigo’s likeness, but just that is enough?”

“If you’re the one paying the price, you should be happy with a light request. I’m telling you, it’s enough.”

Wendigo answered as if annoyed. His demand for information as payment wasn’t because he undervalued what he had done. Taking a person’s life couldn’t possibly be lighter than a few words.

Of course, he would have liked to receive something useful…

‘Honestly, it doesn’t feel right to extract things from a woman who has nothing.’

In his eyes, Skadi was penniless. Although she had become a monster, he wasn’t petty enough to extort something from a pitiful(?) person.

Wendigo had requested payment with consideration for her situation, but the problem lay with Skadi.

‘Is this really okay?? Even though he’s a Djin, paying such a small price seems… but Wendigo said it’s enough…’

Another Summoner might have rejoiced and devised evil plans to take advantage of Wendigo, but Skadi was different from those dim-witted Summoners.

The reason her mother had become a famous Summoner was because she always offered generous sacrifices to Djin and never played tricks with offerings.

Skadi’s mother never negotiated with Djin. Djin were narrow-minded, arrogant, and willful, so once they became upset, they would never offer help again.

That’s why Skadi also wanted to pay a fair price to Djin.

Especially to a strong and kind(?) Djin like Wendigo!

“My mother said that favors received from Djin must always be repaid. I’ll do as you asked, of course, and if I get the chance, I’ll definitely repay your kindness.”

“Yeah, yeah. Do as you please.”

Wendigo considered trying to dissuade her again but gave up. The resolve he sensed from Skadi was too strong.

Wendigo thought it better to change the subject. At this rate, Skadi might do something drastic.

“I’ll listen to what I asked about while we move. Where is the village you lived in?”

“My village? Why are you asking about that…?”

Skadi expressed her doubt. Though she hadn’t known Wendigo long, from what she could tell, he didn’t seem to want to face people.

Yet he mentioned a village. What place could be more crowded with people than a village?

Skadi’s doubt was reasonable, but Wendigo had no choice.

Of course, he didn’t want to face people. Even if he could talk to them, most people would obviously flee at the sight of him.

The reason he was looking for the village was purely for Skadi’s sake. Unlike him, Skadi was human, and humans needed more things than one might think.

Food was important, drinks of course, and without proper tools, it was difficult to do anything. Plus, clothing…

‘Come to think of it, I need clothes too.’

He had forgotten because of his fur and hide, but Wendigo himself was naked. Even now, his thing dangling below bothered him.

At least he wasn’t embarrassed since he was a monster, not a human, but it still felt empty.

This would be a good opportunity to get clothes.

“You said you didn’t have time to gather your belongings, so go to the village and collect them. I’ll escort you there. You can say I’m an evil spirit or Djin you control… And I’d appreciate if you could get me something I can wear.”

“!”

Skadi was greatly surprised, not expecting him to be so considerate.

Indeed, this Djin was different, very different. He was a kind being unlike any Djin she had known!

‘If I look around the cabin, I’m sure I’ll find something Wendigo would like!’

‘I just hope I can get a few large pieces of leather.’

The opinions of the one who wanted to give payment and the one who wanted to receive it casually were thus misaligned. Such is the way of the world.

* * *

The path to the village was quite long. Wendigo newly realized how hard Skadi must have run to survive. She must have felt a serious threat to her life.

Yes, surely that was the case…

‘For someone who went through that, she doesn’t look depressed at all.’

“There’s not really much difference between Djin and evil spirits. People just call them Djin if they can communicate with humans, and evil spirits if they can’t. In fact, some beings called evil spirits can actually communicate. And…”

The person in question, Skadi, was busy chattering and sharing knowledge with Wendigo. Anyone who saw them might think they were just out for a stroll in the forest.

A person whose life was threatened couldn’t possibly be so lighthearted. There were several reasons why Skadi was able to regain her composure so quickly.

First, this wasn’t the first time Skadi’s life had been threatened. Her mother had tried her best to protect her, but she couldn’t block all malice alone.

Skadi had faced various death threats in her childhood.

Releasing venomous snakes while she slept.

Offering poisoned fruit under the guise of kindness.

Driving a horse into her to make it look like an accident…

Human malice was truly terrible. People would casually try to kill someone just for being different.

However… surprisingly, she had survived all threats. It was great luck, and terrible misfortune.

Thanks to this, she didn’t easily lose her will when faced with threats.

When she encountered the bear, she gave up because enemies surrounded her with nowhere to run, but her will was as tough as a rope made of cow tendons.

Besides… she had faith. She glanced at Wendigo while chattering. Looking at Wendigo gave her an inexplicable sense of comfort.

Yes, Skadi’s faith was in Wendigo.

The belief that Wendigo would protect her no matter what enemy appeared.

‘Since Wendigo said he’ll protect me, I’ll be safe no matter what happens!’

It was a misunderstanding.

If a danger beyond his control approached, Wendigo planned to grab Skadi and flee. He wasn’t the type to enjoy adventures that involved risk, so this was natural.

What Skadi had seen was transcendent power, but he still valued survival and comfort above all.

Going to the village was only possible because he thought there wouldn’t be strong enemies there.

Since the warriors had been cut in half with a single blow, he judged there wouldn’t be stronger enemies in the village.

That’s why he made this choice. Skadi, unaware of this, continued sharing her knowledge as she walked.

“People believe Summoners can call thunder and breathe fire, but the truth is they can do these things because of contracts with Djin. Djin help Summoners draw upon nature’s power in exchange for a bit of mystery.”

“So you could use power through me too?”

“What? We haven’t made a contract, so… if we did, it would be possible?”

“Aren’t we already contracted? I’m helping you in exchange for information and materials for clothes.”

Wendigo looked at Skadi, and Skadi looked at Wendigo. The sight of the huge monster and the beauty staring at each other was quite strange.

Skadi understood Wendigo’s words and was shocked. She had thought something was odd when he asked about evil spirits and Djin!

“Could it be… you really don’t know anything about Djin? About contracts?”

“I wouldn’t ask if I knew. I’ve only been conscious for barely a day.”

“I-I’m sorry! All this time I thought you were testing my qualifications… So, um, that means?!”

Skadi was bewildered. As far as she knew, Djin were complete beings from birth.

Being complete meant more than just being born as adults.

How to handle their power. How to bestow mysteries upon others. How to move between mystery and matter, and so on.

Djin were born not only knowing how to use their abilities but also with a firm sense of self—knowing who they were and how they came into being.

In fact, names like “Snake that Drinks Stone” or “Eagle that Eats Lightning” weren’t given by people but were names the Djin called themselves.

Djin wouldn’t allow humans to name them. They considered being called by an incorrect name a great insult.

Skadi calmed her confused mind and decided to examine things point by point.

“… Do you know exactly what your abilities are, Wendigo?”

“I can control cold, I’m strong and fast. Being able to move without making a sound is also an ability, I suppose. Ah, I can also sense others’ emotions and sins. Beyond that, I’m not sure.”

“Did you know your name from birth? I was told that Djin are named by Mother Nature from the moment they’re born…”

“No. Even the name Wendigo is one I gave myself.”

“Can you withdraw your body and return to mystery?”

“If I knew how to do that, I wouldn’t have encountered you in the first place. I had no intention of meeting humans at that time.”

As they conversed, Skadi’s expression grew increasingly perplexed.

He knew how to use his abilities but didn’t know their full extent.

He wielded Djin-like powers but wasn’t named by Mother Nature, the mother of all Djin.

Not knowing how to return to mystery was also strange.

Djin were beings made of mystery to begin with.

From a Djin’s perspective, walking around in physical form was the unusual state. It was like a human walking around wearing heavy, uncomfortable clothes.

Finally, she asked the most important question.

“What is your source, Wendigo? The Eagle that Eats Lightning has lightning as its source, and the Snake that Drinks Stone has earth and rock. You must have a natural source too…”

Wendigo pondered her question. After thinking for a moment, he spoke.

“I don’t know.”

“Ah…”

Skadi gasped and held her head in her hands. It was the moment when all her knowledge fell apart.