Ch.55Chapter 55

Shir’s prediction was exactly right.

The summoners who had gone to the forest did not give up easily. How could they, when they had just missed a golden opportunity right before their eyes?

If they had been decent summoners, they would have atoned for their sins and sought another chance from the Wendigo, but those who were driven away did not.

They were the kind of villains who would draw their swords and give chase when an opportunity slipped through their fingers.

Gelmir, a summoner from the Thurs tribe, showed the most radical course of action among them.

He decided to raise an army to march on the forest by persuading the chieftains together with like-minded summoners.

…And Gelmir regretted it.

‘I underestimated human greed.’

“I brought the most warriors here! Obviously, I should claim the largest portion of the forest land!”

“You talk like you have a dog among your ancestors. What use is quantity when the quality is rock bottom!”

“Ahem. As the most experienced one here, I…”

“If you’ve lived that long, learn to let go of your greed!”

Inside the ornate tent.

The aged chieftains glared at each other, already fighting over land they hadn’t even acquired yet.

Gelmir inwardly sighed at the pathetic sight. When he first saw the gathering forces, he had been quite pleased.

After all, in the upcoming direct confrontation with the Djin of the forest, the more meat shields, the better.

But his pleasure was short-lived.

Convincing the chieftains to gather warriors was good, but…

…The plan had gone awry when more chieftains than originally intended joined the expedition.

Gelmir glared at the summoners. They avoided his gaze, having failed to anticipate this situation themselves.

Gelmir ground his teeth while giving the summoners a contemptuous look.

‘Fools. Chess pieces you cannot control are nothing but variables that will ruin the plan!’

Gelmir could predict the summoners’ intentions. What shallow calculation could it be but to bring more troops to claim more spoils from the forest?

If only one or two had done so, he could have overlooked it. That much could have been dismissed as a pleasant margin of error.

But true to their cunning nature, they had all pulled the same trick, and yet failed to coordinate the chieftains.

‘No. A more accurate assessment would be that they’re encouraging this chaos. As long as they can secure spoils in the end, they don’t care if the alliance falls apart.’

It takes a villain to understand another villain’s thoughts.

Gelmir barely suppressed his rising anger and tapped the ground with his staff.

The bell attached to the staff made a clear sound, creating a wave that swept over the chieftains, cooling their heated emotions.

But using magic without permission was disrespectful. One chieftain confronted Gelmir with a sour expression.

“You. No matter what, using magic so carelessly…”

“Silence. I planned this expedition and am both chieftain and summoner of the Thurs tribe. While I appreciate you bringing your forces, you cannot disregard my authority.”

Gelmir was by no means a young man, but no one could dismiss him.

Being born with the qualities of a summoner was rare enough, but who would dare disrespect someone who had also claimed the position of chieftain?

Especially considering the northern custom where warriors succeeded to the chieftain’s position.

The chieftain who had spoken rudely stepped back slightly upon seeing the scarred muscles rippling beneath Gelmir’s clothes.

“I don’t blame you for discussing the spoils. I understand better than anyone that a chieftain’s duty is to secure shares for their warriors.”

“Ahem. I’m glad you understand.”

“Of course. After all, even the summoners who persuaded you joined forces beyond the plan for their own spoils.”

Gelmir’s arrow of angry criticism flew toward the summoners. They showed discomfort and avoided his gaze.

Gelmir glared at the summoners for a moment before turning away. This was enough to establish his authority.

Gelmir maintained a dignified attitude as he received the gazes of the chieftains and summoners. He needed time to revise his original plan.

‘Initially, I planned to assert my authority as both summoner and chieftain leading the forces… but that seems difficult now.’

They acknowledged his authority now because of their own disgraceful behavior, but Gelmir wasn’t foolish enough to think this attitude would continue.

They were all power-wielders accustomed to their own importance, and would surely fight to become the alliance’s leader given the chance.

‘It would be better to reduce their numbers.’

Having revised his plan mentally, Gelmir dispersed his cold demeanor and spoke like a benevolent sage.

“All your opinions are valid. Everyone gathered here must have at least one outstanding quality.”

“But we can’t divide the spoils equally.”

“That’s right. However, if each has their own excellence, there is one good standard for dividing the spoils.”

Entranced by Gelmir’s mesmerizing voice, one chieftain asked as if spellbound.

“A good standard? What is it?”

“Simple. If each has their own excellence, why not divide the spoils based on the merits each chieftain achieves?”

Some chieftains’ faces crumpled while others brightened. Naturally, the former were those who lacked confidence in achieving merit.

The problem was that they couldn’t express dissatisfaction after just boasting about why they deserved more spoils.

‘Damn it. If I complain now, I’ll be admitting my own inadequacy.’

‘Cunning snake. So this is why he was watching our argument.’

“I don’t think there will be any objections. From what I’ve heard, each of you has at least one area of expertise.”

“Hahaha! How could there be?”

“Hmm. With such a fair standard, there’s no need for ugly fighting.”

The chieftains confident in their abilities naturally became Gelmir’s supporters.

Of course, this support would surely turn into daggers in his back the moment Gelmir showed weakness.

But Gelmir didn’t care at all. He himself wasn’t trustworthy enough to trust others.

Encouraged by the atmosphere, Gelmir revealed his plan.

“Our plan is to advance by gradually taking control of the forest. Winter is still far away, so there’s no need to rush.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to spread out widely?”

When someone voiced this opinion, the chieftains nodded. Their eyes were already burning with the desire to achieve merit.

How could they gain merit and claim spoils by moving slowly and steadily!

Gelmir swallowed a sardonic smile. Their reaction was exactly as he had anticipated.

‘Northerners are born raiders. How long can such men restrain themselves with prey right before their eyes!’

Pretending to be resolute, Gelmir shook his head.

“No matter how primitive the forest people may be, we cannot be careless as long as they have the Djin’s help. I understand your feelings, but I cannot accept that suggestion.”

The chieftains tried to hide their discomfort, but they couldn’t fool Gelmir’s eyes.

These wolf-like men would definitely act independently.

* * *

The allied forces entered the forest at a slow pace according to Gelmir’s plan.

Naturally, with multiple tribes moving as one group, their speed was as slow as a snail…

Todel, the summoner of the Leir tribe, disliked this sluggish movement. It was largely because this had never been discussed.

‘If the Djin escapes, what’s the point of being so leisurely!’

Shouldn’t battles be like storms, swift and decisive?

Born with his tribe’s characteristic temperament, Todel couldn’t tolerate such dull action. Naturally, the Leir chieftain felt the same…

“Lord Todel. All members of the detachment have assembled.”

“Good. Everyone move as quietly and quickly as possible.”

Todel, in agreement with the chieftain, had formed a detachment of skilled and brave warriors.

The detachment’s objective was straightforward.

To quickly locate the forest people’s village and inform the main force!

“Lord Todel. What if we occupy the village ourselves? The forest people are few in number, so we should have enough men to take it.”

“That wouldn’t be bad if possible, but being too hasty can ruin everything.”

Todel placated the warriors, though his thoughts weren’t much different. The forest people he had seen during his visit seemed utterly peaceful.

However, there was something Todel overlooked…

This forest hadn’t been peaceful for very long.

“Arrows!”

Arrows flew from the undergrowth, targeting the warriors. Dozens of arrows struck the warriors, and the unfortunate ones died with arrows piercing their necks or hearts.

The warriors, who hadn’t sensed the ambush, panicked and hid behind trees and shields.

Todel clicked his tongue and pulled out a bronze mirror from his chest.

“Mirror, mirror. Show me the location of our enemies!”

The mirror, catching the sunlight, emitted a brilliant light that illuminated the forest.

The forest warriors were perfectly hidden among the undergrowth and trees, but their shadows were revealed in all directions as if facing the sun on an open plain.

“Follow the shadows!”

“Their magic reveals our position. Attack!”

In response to Todel’s magic, the forest warriors abandoned their hiding and charged out.

Todel broke into a cold sweat at the unexpectedly large number of enemies. This was more like they had known their position and set an ambush in advance.

‘Has the Djin’s eye been watching us? No choice then. Now we must defeat them and…’

“O Djin! Look upon us with favor!!!”

Todel paused as a shout spread like lightning. A sturdy warrior with eyes gleaming with fanaticism was wearing a bone helmet on his head.

As the warrior clad in leather and wearing a bone helmet charged forward, the Leir tribe warriors looked at him as if he were insane.

“Madman. Rushing into battle without even wearing armor!”

The warriors’ spears and swords swung toward the warrior’s body. The warrior leaped toward the weapons without showing the slightest fear, and…

Clang!

“What the hell!?”

“Hahaha! With the Djin at my side, did you think your feeble weapons could pierce my body?”

The warrior who had blocked the weapons with his bare body let out a maniacal laugh and swung his axe. The warriors’ bodies were split and cleaved, armor and all.

Seeing that the magic on the bone helmet was stronger than expected, Todel hastily drew his weapon.

“Everyone stand back. I’ll handle him!”

What Todel pulled out was a small dagger. It looked insignificant compared to the axe, but naturally, a weapon drawn by a summoner was no ordinary weapon.

Reaching near the warrior, Todel swung the dagger through the air. The dagger created a loud gust, forming a blade of wind…

At that moment, a wolf rider of the Blue Mane tribe silently emerged from the forest and lunged at Todel.

“Warriors of Blue Mane! Now is our chance to prove our worth to the Djin!!”

“Tear them apart! Today we fill our bellies with the flesh of our enemies!”

“Grrrrrr!”

As a large wolf lunged for his throat, Todel hurriedly released a gust of wind to propel himself backward.

But unlike him, a summoner, the warriors couldn’t perform such mystical movements. The sudden attack by the wolf riders began to overwhelm the warriors helplessly.

Todel surveyed the battle with trembling eyes.

The warrior with the bone helmet was single-handedly facing ten warriors, while the wolf riders were savagely stabbing, slashing, and ravaging the warriors.

It was a scene that made it impossible to think of them as weak people who had lived under the Djin’s protection.

‘Were they not people dulled by peace under the Djin’s protection after all!’

Todel sensed that something had gone terribly wrong.