Ch.61Chapter 61

Wendigo suspected that Osa might have obtained incorrect information, but Osa’s information was accurate.

Gelmir was greedy and violent, but he was a hero with the intelligence and composure to hide his true nature.

When everyone wanted to immediately flay the traitors’ backs and tear out their bones, Gelmir was patiently waiting for the right time to drive them out.

Had there been no unexpected incident, Gelmir would have caught the traitors, made an example of them, and proven that justice was still alive in the world, but…

“My… my eye!!!”

“Gel, Gelmir. Calm yourself!”

“You’re telling me to calm down now?! They, they have stolen the light from me!!!”

Unfortunately, unexpected incidents occur suddenly—that’s why they’re called unexpected. If it had been a foreseeable accident, why would it be called unexpected?

What kills a hero isn’t a monster’s poison or a legendary sword passed down through legends, but a blind arrow shot by an ordinary person.

A single arrow that pierced through the thick fog tore through Gelmir’s eye with precision.

Having lost half his vision in a moment of carelessness, Gelmir unleashed the anger he had been suppressing until now.

“I can no longer endure this. I can no longer be patient! It no longer matters who the traitor is! I will kill everyone who has sided with him and turn them into crow food!!!”

Reason cannot overcome emotion.

As Gelmir’s reason was swept away by terrible anger, the chieftains expressed their reluctance and began to dissuade him.

They had no intention of losing warriors because of Gelmir’s personal grudge.

“Gelmir! It was you who said we should wait until we identify the traitors.”

“Besides, they’re also leading warriors, and if we engage in battle now, our losses would be… guhk!?”

But Gelmir easily dismissed such protests. He grabbed the throat of the protesting Summoner and lifted him effortlessly.

With a monstrous strength impossible to believe came from an old man, he strangled the Summoner…

Crack!

“Go ahead and continue. If you can persuade me, I’ll listen.”

After throwing the now-dead Summoner to the ground, Gelmir growled as he scanned his surroundings with angry eyes.

Those who met Gelmir’s murderous gaze quickly averted their eyes, breaking out in cold sweat.

Who would dare to speak up after witnessing the Summoner’s neck being snapped without even a chance to resist?

“… I see no one will. Then prepare to move. Tell the warriors about the battle and whisper of honor.”

“Y-yes, sir.”

“Ahem. We will do so.”

Having subdued the chieftains and Summoners in one go, Gelmir pulled out the arrow, scraped out the fragments, and put them in his mouth.

As he savored the metallic taste, he vowed to personally pluck out the traitors’ eyes and chew them up.

… And Wendigo, possessing a crow, was watching this scene.

* * *

“Oh. Perhaps it would have been better to anger the commander from the beginning.”

“What do you mean by that all of a sudden??”

After watching Gelmir crush the throat of an allied Summoner, Wendigo expressed admiration, leaving Geron bewildered.

He had possessed a body to check on the enemy’s situation, but what was this nonsense about?

As Skadi, the Summoner, and even Osa, who had earned merit this time, looked at him, Wendigo released his possession and explained what he had seen.

“In the end, Gelmir pulled out the arrow stuck in his eye and chewed it up. Honestly, it wasn’t a pretty sight.”

“Hmm. Chewing and swallowing his injured eye… Though he’s an enemy, I can’t help but acknowledge him.”

“Indeed. He’s much rougher than amateur warriors.”

“It seems he doesn’t receive the warriors’ respect for nothing.”

“???”

When Geron, the Summoners, and even Skadi nodded in agreement, Wendigo was taken aback. This wasn’t the reaction he had expected.

Wouldn’t the normal reaction be to think someone who plucks out and chews their own eye is insane?

“Is that such a great feat?”

“He lost an eye yet didn’t lose his fighting spirit. As someone who was once a warrior, I can’t help but admire that.”

“Mother said that a warrior who overcomes pain and moves forward deserves respect. Thinking about it that way, this Gelmir seems to be no ordinary warrior.”

When even Geron and Skadi, whom he trusted, acknowledged Gelmir’s bravery, Wendigo felt disgruntled.

He thought he had adapted quite well to this world, but he still couldn’t easily accept their notions of honor and bravery.

A man who killed his own ally because he couldn’t control his temper is called a brave warrior? Isn’t he just a rampaging madman?

‘…No matter how violently I behave, I can’t be worse than the men of this world.’

Wendigo didn’t dwell long on things he couldn’t understand. Isn’t it best to simply ignore what you can’t comprehend?

Above all, thanks to Gelmir’s violence—no, bravery—the two armies would inevitably clash.

“Geron. Tell the warriors to surround them, hide quietly, and wait for the signal.”

“By signal, you mean?”

Wendigo pulled an ice sword that had emerged from the ground and handed it to Geron.

“Tell them to drive the enemy back at once when a thunderous sound echoes through the forest.”

This was as good as saying Wendigo would take action himself. Geron looked at Wendigo and nodded as if he had expected this.

“Indeed. Though Gelmir’s bravery can’t be denied, he’s no match for you, Djin.”

“……”

“What’s wrong?”

Geron’s praise was sincere, but Wendigo glared at him with a serious expression.

It was clearly meant as a compliment, but being compared to Gelmir made him feel strange.

… Perhaps Geron knew this and was doing it deliberately.

* * *

“Tear the traitors apart!”

“I knew something was wrong when supplies were delayed. They planned to weaken us by starving us from the beginning.”

“Damn it. My shoulder still aches from that arrow. I’ll definitely shatter the shoulders of those archers.”

Gelmir wasn’t the only one filled with venom. Anyone would become bitter after enduring a rain of arrows from above and going hungry due to cut-off supplies.

In such a situation, when Gelmir declared he would pluck out the traitors’ eyes, the warriors charged forward with angry roars.

Of course, the other chieftains weren’t pleased with this situation. Not only were they concerned about the warriors’ lives, but they were also displeased that the warriors’ respect was directed toward Gelmir.

To put it bluntly, if warriors enchanted by Gelmir’s brutality deserted their tribes, they might suffer losses even after the expedition ended.

Even with abundant spoils, if there was no force to protect them, it would be like grasping at illusions.

And Gelmir had realized this point as well. Despite being swept up in emotions, his intelligence hadn’t completely faded.

‘Perhaps… it would be better to punish the traitors now and negotiate with the Djin.’

The reasons Summoners immerse themselves in sorcery are as varied as their numbers.

Immortality or resurrection of the dead were common goals, while some dreamed of enlightenment or entering the hall of gods with a mortal body…

Gelmir was quite unique among them. His immersion in sorcery was purely due to his lust for power.

In that sense, the current situation was quite appealing to Gelmir.

The sight of warriors advancing at his command, risking their lives, sent shivers down his spine.

If they fought for him, even becoming a king wouldn’t be impossible!

‘…But for that, those guys need to die.’

“Gelmir? Why are you glaring like that?”

“Shut up and advance. If you show your back to the enemy or return without a drop of blood on your weapon, I’ll personally behead you!”

“… Understood.”

The anger that had been burning until just now easily subsided in the face of the sweet prey called power, but Gelmir had no intention of discarding the weapon of anger.

As he spewed out his rage, the chieftains averted their gaze and stepped forward. Though humiliating, they couldn’t help but fear Gelmir.

Gelmir glared at the backs of their heads and prayed to the gods for the first time in a long while. He prayed that the arrow that had come to him would fly to them.

… And his prayer was answered.

“Guhk!?”

“?!”

One of the chieftains who had stepped forward to command the warriors had his throat pierced by an arrow that came without a sound. Gelmir instantly knew this was no ordinary arrow.

Unlike the noisy rain of arrows earlier, the arrow that pierced the chieftain’s throat came without any warning.

It was clearly the work of a Summoner or a Djin…

‘This actually works in my favor!’

Gelmir rushed forward with a sinister smile. Of course, not to warn the chieftains.

He embraced the chieftain who was clutching his throat and gasping, and poured out his feigned grief.

“For such a brave warrior to die like this! This is unacceptable. How could such a valiant warrior breathe his last from an arrow, not a sword or an axe!”

“Gurk…”

Even as he was dying, the chieftain tried to speak, unable to bear Gelmir’s act.

Naturally, Gelmir wouldn’t allow it. Why would he provide any reason for his plan to go awry?

Gelmir put his ear to the chieftain’s mouth, waited for him to die, and then, shedding a tear, he shouted.

“Listen! Proud warriors! Even as he was dying, he was angry at the traitors’ cunning and worried about the resentment of warriors who died dishonorably!”

“Split the traitors’ backs! Tear out their spines and tie them to crosses to feed the crows!!!”

“Right. Well said! Advance without fear. Carve the price of betrayal into their bones. Honorable warriors!”

Gelmir’s false tears and the warriors’ passionate hearts transformed one chieftain’s meaningless death into a tragic one.

The warriors, forgetting even their purpose for coming to the forest, charged through the rain of arrows, shouting for revenge. Thanks to that…

“Traitors!!!”

“Kill them! I’ll kill them all and throw them to the dogs!”

“Damn it. You were the ones who betrayed first, you bastards!”

The two armies clashed beyond the veil of fog. The momentum, which initially seemed evenly matched, quickly shifted to Gelmir’s army.

Unlike Todel who hid behind his warriors, Gelmir began to slaughter warriors as he ran across the battlefield.

As Gelmir swept through the battlefield wielding an axe and a sword, a whirlwind of blood rose and pools of blood formed where he passed.

Watching this, Todel let out a silent scream.

‘How, how am I supposed to fight against someone like that!’

Even the jealousy that had been Todel’s driving force was useless in the face of Gelmir’s overwhelming force.

How could one face a monster who slaughtered humans as if they were straw?

While the chieftains might be navigating through the fog to command the warriors, the situation was different for the Summoners.

Just as Todel was hiding behind the warriors and watching the whirlwind of blood, the Summoners were also observing the scene.

They grabbed Todel’s body and shook him, their faces pale.

“Todel. Say something to the Djin! At this rate, we’ll all be killed by that monster!”

“Th-that…”

“Confronting Gelmir head-on is absolutely out of the question. How can we fight against such a monstrous old man! Quickly, quickly, ask the Djin for something. You’re the Djin’s loyal servant, aren’t you!”

Normally, they would have been cautious around Todel for future considerations, but the Summoners were desperate, knowing Gelmir’s notoriety and skill.

Power and sorcery are all well and good, but one must first survive to gain anything!

‘This cursed… If I could contact him, I would have done so already!!!’

Todel was equally panicked. While he was jealous of Gelmir, he had no intention of confronting him head-on right now.

He had planned to target Gelmir only after gaining the Djin’s favor and securing sorcery and power!

“D-don’t panic! If it’s the Djin, he would have reacted simultaneously when Gelmir’s army moved. Soon, the Djin will appear with reinforcements!”

Todel tried to calm the Summoners by shouting loudly, but it had little effect. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, he couldn’t completely conceal his panic.

Those who noticed things had gone awry began to distance themselves from Todel. It was only a matter of time before the enraged Gelmir realized who the focal point of the traitors was.

As those anticipating trouble moved away, Todel was surrounded by those who hadn’t given up yet, almost as if they were detaining him.

“What are you all doing? You should be joining the warriors, there’s no time to waste!”

“… If you die, everything ends, even if the warriors survive, right? We’re trying to keep you safe.”

“You… you bastards!”

Todel glared in anger, but there was nothing he could do. He swallowed dryly and stared beyond the fog.

Though the situation had worsened, Todel was clinging to a thin thread of hope.

‘Their momentum has decreased!’

Gelmir’s army, which had been on the verge of sweeping away Todel’s forces, had somehow lost its momentum.

It wasn’t because Todel’s forces were strong. After all, those who had caused trouble because they lacked confidence in their abilities couldn’t be skilled.

The temporary loss of momentum in Gelmir’s army was solely due to the inexplicable sudden deaths of commanders.

Arrows from somewhere kept piercing the heads or necks of commanders, a coincidence that kept occurring.

… But that alone wasn’t enough to stop Gelmir’s army.

Instead, as the chieftains and Summoners responsible for command fell one after another, Gelmir swept through the battlefield with a sense of elation.

Once this moment was over, and they escaped the forest, he planned to mold the warriors into his own by roasting and boiling them.

It was a confidence possible only because he was a Summoner, a warrior, and a chieftain.

No one could stop Gelmir, and it didn’t take long for him to cut through the army and reach Todel.

“Todel! Come out and draw your sword. Then I’ll forgive your crime by just plucking out your eyes!”

As Gelmir, covered in blood, approached with a chilling smile, the Summoners surrounding Todel retreated.

“Gel, Gelmir. We were merely deceived by Todel.”

“That’s right. We never intended to oppose you!”

“… Very well. Drop your weapons and kneel, and I’ll forgive you.”

After eyeing each other, the Summoners threw their weapons to the ground and knelt.

Todel berated them in rage, but the Summoners paid no heed. They had no loyalty to die alongside Todel.

Todel glared at Gelmir, holding a dagger with trembling hands. His eyes were filled with clear terror.

‘I, I can’t die like this…!’

“Caw!!!”

It was then. A large crow flew down from the sky and let out a loud cry.

Given the abundance of corpses around, Gelmir didn’t pay much attention, but Todel began to snicker as if the crow was a messenger of salvation.

Gelmir, thinking Todel had gone mad in the face of death, sneered.

“Todel. You should have curbed your ambitions to match your capabilities. Then you could have taken a reasonable reward and left.”

“Heh, hehehe! You know nothing. Soon, soon the Djin will…!?”

Gelmir had no intention of listening to Todel’s ravings. The red axe that had slain dozens of warriors was swung towards Todel’s neck…

“!”

At that moment, Gelmir spotted an ice spear flying through the fog. He reflexively jumped back.

Seeing this, Todel turned around. There was only one reason Gelmir would react like that.

The Djin must have appeared to save him!

… Of course, no such thing happened. The flying ice spear pierced through Todel’s body.

Todel died with his eyes wide open, as if he couldn’t believe it. Fortunately, or perhaps not, Todel had quite a few companions on his journey to hell.

Several more ice spears flew in, piercing the bodies of the Summoners. Even if they survived the initial impact, it was futile.

Intense cold burst forth, freezing their bodies. The Summoners died without even a chance to scream.

“… Damn it.”

Gelmir stared at the fog from which the spears had come and muttered with a frown.

A massive shadow with an ominous glow was approaching him.