Ch.51Chapter 51

The Wendigo’s eyes were lurking throughout the forest.

If there were eye-shaped patterns in the forest, they were the Wendigo’s eyes. If there were suspicious beasts watching, they too were the Wendigo’s eyes.

The Wendigo found familiar figures among dozens of images spread across the mental realm.

People walking through the forest with expressions full of discontent.

The banished Summoners came into view through an owl’s eyes.

‘I’d prefer if they just left…’

Of course, that wouldn’t happen.

The Wendigo possessed the owl’s body without the slightest expectation.

* * *

The Summoners who had failed the Wendigo’s meaningful test felt their insides twisting with irritation.

Perhaps they would have been less angry if they had known the reason, but they were driven out by a single word from the Wendigo without even hearing an explanation.

What could possibly be learned from that question that warranted their expulsion?

“This is why I can’t stand dealing with Djin.”

“Shh, keep it down. What if the Djin is listening to our conversation?”

“Do you think that makes any sense? Consider how long we’ve been walking. No matter how suspicious the Djin is, it couldn’t possibly monitor us this far.”

As one Summoner objected, the others relaxed. Logically, there couldn’t be a Djin monitoring them after they had left the village.

In times of war or grand conspiracies, Djin might swallow tears of blood and pay a great price to plant eyes and ears around, but this was not such a situation.

The Summoners who had brightened their eyes and pretended to be pitiful in front of the Wendigo now removed their masks and revealed their true colors.

Their once smooth faces were now creased with anger and curses, and their posture was as arrogant as a renowned northern chieftain, a Jarl.

“Damn it. I can’t understand on what grounds it drove us away.”

“Gunrod. Do you intend to return without any gains?”

When the one-eyed Summoner, Gunrod, grumbled while taking out a red tobacco pipe made of sandalwood from his pocket, someone with a sly appearance asked him.

Gunrod looked at the man with contempt as he lit his pipe. He savored the tobacco smoke and smiled deviously.

“What a foolish question. A Summoner wouldn’t just leave a place that makes his mouth water like this.”

“But didn’t you feel it too? That creature is quite an experienced Djin. Clearly a Djin that has lived at least 300 years—do you intend to try tricks on such a Djin?”

An elderly Summoner confronted Gunrod with an uneasy expression. It wasn’t particularly for the Wendigo’s sake, but rather out of concern that trouble might fall on himself.

Gunrod cackled at the old Summoner’s timid demeanor.

“Ha. Whether it’s 300 or 400 years old, what matters is that it’s a Djin. Djin may be smarter than stupid serfs or tribesmen, but precisely because of that, they’re easily flustered.”

As Gunrod spoke confidently, several among the Summoners began to listen attentively, seemingly intrigued.

Had a Summoner without reputation made such bold claims, they might have dismissed it as bravado, but Gunrod had quite a reputation among Summoners.

However, that reputation was closer to notoriety…

Gunrod was a Summoner known for his skill in extorting mysteries from Djin through intimidation. He was indeed quite a formidable Summoner.

After all, it took an exceptionally strong heart to torment a Djin with lies and traps until it spat out its mysteries in disgust.

But not everyone was captivated by Gunrod’s reputation. Experienced Summoners looked at him with disapproving eyes.

“A man who trades with Djin yet looks down on them. Unbelievable.”

“Have you forgotten how you lost your eye? Even after such a fate, you still haven’t learned your lesson.”

“Old men only know how to bow their heads to Djin but can’t think of acting wisely. Djin are just sons of bitches anyway. What reason is there to act honestly toward such creatures?”

Those who agreed with Gunrod’s opinion and those who found his approach unsettling.

The Summoners glared at each other, emanating killing intent. It seemed they might come to blows at any moment, but…

“No matter what we say, what’s the use? We have no intention of joining your plan, so be aware of that. We’ll act according to our own plans.”

“Fine. Then let’s part ways here. Don’t regret it later, foolish old men.”

The Summoners didn’t want to waste their magic on such a useless conflict.

Those who had not joined Gunrod’s plan glared at the others before separating from the group.

Watching the departing Summoners, Gunrod clicked his tongue in disappointment.

‘If those guys had joined us, we could have more easily taken advantage of the Djin.’

Gunrod’s methods were quite unorthodox. Acting so aggressively could easily invite retaliation from a Djin.

That’s why Gunrod always operated with multiple companions. With more people, wouldn’t the Djin’s anger naturally be dispersed?

So this time too, he had planned to increase his meat shields—no, companions, but unfortunately, there weren’t that many fools among the Summoners.

‘About six, I guess?’

Eyes full of greed—exactly the kind of people Gunrod liked. If you gently prodded their desires, such people would willingly throw themselves into danger.

Gunrod took out a piece of parchment and spread it on the ground. The parchment showed the villages he had passed through.

“Is that a map?”

“Unfortunately, there are no maps of the End of the World. So I’ve just drawn the villages I’ve passed through. Let’s add the places you all have been through as well.”

Gunrod began drawing the map while listening to the Summoners’ stories.

How many villages were in which direction, who met whom and where…

The completed map showed at least ten villages. Gunrod looked at the map with a sinister smile.

“I don’t know why, but it seems the creature has a reason to protect the forest people. You’d agree with that, right?”

“Hmm… Indeed, the forest people showed deep loyalty to it. It’s clear that the creature has some connection to the forest people.”

From the beginning, most of the questions the Wendigo asked were about whether they intended to harm the forest people and itself.

It must certainly have a reason to protect the forest and its people.

“Our job is to stage a show of force against the creature. We’ll attack villages simultaneously to annoy the Djin.”

“Wait a minute. Isn’t this plan too dangerous? This is… directly confronting the creature.”

When a particularly young Summoner expressed reluctance, the other Summoners also cast suspicious glances at Gunrod.

It was a plan that could not only cost them everything they had but potentially their lives as well.

Gunrod snickered and countered the young Summoner’s argument.

“Don’t worry. Our job isn’t to reduce villages to ruins, but just to make them suffer enough.”

Gunrod pulled out a censer from his chest. The censer emitted a murky smoke and glowed ominously.

A censer made using the mystery of a Djin called the Snake That Drinks Poison.

“For example, using the spell on this censer, one village can instantly…”

“I thought I smelled something foul. What a petty plan indeed.”

“!”

Hearing the alien voice, the Summoners quickly drew out their tools and surveyed their surroundings.

Gunrod brandished a whip made from the woven hair of a woman burned to death and shouted.

“You have a lot to say for someone hiding and watching secretly. Show yourself!”

“Look up.”

The Summoners reflexively raised their heads. There, an owl with blue glowing eyes…

Flinch.

“Dodge!”

Gunrod felt a chill down his spine and an inexplicable sense of unease, causing him to shout in panic.

Indeed, worthy of being called trash among the notorious evil Summoners?

Sensing danger, the Summoners hastily cast spells to protect themselves.

Souls contained in bear hides toughened their skin, and amulets made of diamond raised stone shields around them.

It was all futile.

Crack!

“You idiots! I said dodge, not block!”

“Shit! What roots are… Aaaaargh!!!”

Roots that shot up from the ground became spears and axes, striking down the enemies.

The bear hides were torn by spear tips, spilling blood, and the stone shields were shattered by fierce axe blows.

With their defenses gone, the Summoners were pierced by roots and breathed their last without a chance to properly resist.

“Gather behind me!”

Gunrod called the Summoners to him while fiercely swinging his whip.

The anguish of a woman subjected to burning at the stake manifested as raging flames, burning the roots and forest.

Gunrod looked around, searching for the Wendigo. To cast such a powerful spell, it must be nearby.

But the Wendigo was nowhere to be found. Enraged, Gunrod glared in all directions and ordered the Summoners.

“Fire or whatever, just damage the forest!”

“Gunrod. We didn’t know the Djin would resist this fiercely! Perhaps we should ask for forgiveness while we still… Urgh!?”

Gunrod grabbed the Summoner by the collar and growled with a ghastly look in his eyes.

“You fool. Don’t you understand yet that it never intended to let us live? Shut up and attack the surroundings!”

“Damn, I shouldn’t have gotten involved in this!”

Realizing their lives were truly in danger, the Summoners each used their magic.

A giant stone bear appeared, and a lightning-infused mace flashed…

“Nothing but futile struggles.”

“!?”

Along with the Wendigo’s voice coming from somewhere, a terrible cold wave swept through the forest.

Gunrod resisted the cold that penetrated to his bones and blocked the wind with his arm. Of course, he couldn’t block all the wind with just one arm, but at least he could gain enough leeway to keep his eyes open.

“This is insane…”

Gunrod cursed in shock. He couldn’t believe the sight before him.

Trees and ground covered in frost, and the air that had settled cold—it was hard to believe they had been burning just moments ago.

The only reason the Summoners could realize this was reality was because their skin had been torn due to the cold.

The pain from their wounds proved this was no illusion.

The owl that had been looking down from the sky landed on a tree with a loud cry.

The Summoners contorted their faces fiercely and roared.

“Damn you, Djin. Don’t hope for reconciliation with us after this. No matter what, this forest…”

“You talk too much. Are you a con artist rather than a Summoner? Your skills are meager, yet your greed exceeds that of a Djin.”

“You dog…!?”

Kwang!

A spear from somewhere pierced through the Summoner who was about to burst into curses with bloodshot eyes at the insulting criticism.

The Summoners followed the trajectory of the spear with their gaze.

There stood the Wendigo they had seen.

The Summoners glared at the Wendigo with venomous eyes. Though the distance was considerable, if they were determined to chase, they could certainly do so…

“W-wait. What’s that over there?”

“What? Now’s not the time to be distracted by… Huh?”

The Summoners blinked at the unbelievable sight. Another Wendigo had appeared beside the first one.

But that was just the beginning.

Next to the Wendigo, another Wendigo appeared, and next to that one, yet another…

When about six Wendigos revealed themselves, the blood of the Summoners, which had been boiling with anger, froze cold.

After a moment of silence.

“R-run!!!”

As the Summoners who had lost their will to fight turned their backs, the Wendigos began chasing them with blood-curdling howls.