Ch.65Chapter 65

As one’s position rises, it naturally brings people who assist from the side.

Just as Wendigo had excellent arms in Skadi and Geron, Skadi and Geron also had such figures.

In Skadi’s case, Osa served as a kind of secretary and aide.

In Skadi’s cabin, Osa brewed and served tea for Skadi.

“You worked hard today as well.”

“Osa, you also worked hard today helping to treat the warriors.”

As Skadi sipped her tea with a clear smile, Osa waved her hands bashfully.

“Rather, wasn’t it a precious time where I could learn so much by your side? I’ve learned more under you than all my years of wandering alone.”

“Hehe. Thank you for the kind words.”

“I mean it!”

As Skadi humbly replied and sipped her tea, Osa gazed at her with eyes full of respect.

Skilled Summoners were easy to find, but those who possessed both skill and character were as rare as they come.

As if to prove this point, Osa brought over gifts left by the warriors to show Skadi.

“Among all the Summoners I’ve seen, you’re the only one who receives things like these. No matter how skilled someone is, why would people give such gifts if they didn’t like them?”

Despite fine clothing, accessories, and luxuries like fragrance pouches being difficult to obtain in the forest, people willingly gave them to Skadi.

Even though she wasn’t the recipient, Osa took pride in this fact. To her, Skadi was a kind of role model.

“I think you should boast about yourself more to people.”

“Hmm… I’m not so sure.”

Skadi traced her finger around the teacup, feeling embarrassed.

Though she had matured compared to before, she too had many clumsy aspects in the past.

“Actually, if I hadn’t met Wendigo, I might not have been much different from other Summoners.”

“The Djin is certainly benevolent.”

“No, that’s not what I…”

Skadi smiled awkwardly as she recalled the past.

Honestly, inciting people to fanatically follow Wendigo was a kind of dark history for her.

‘If I had gone wrong, I might have created a cult of fanatics following Wendigo…’

She sipped her tea while imagining herself making fanatical gestures and giving speeches in front of people.

And when her eyes met Osa’s, she felt embarrassed even though she hadn’t actually done it.

“Skadi, what’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing! Um, would you like some apple pie I made? I have some left over from what I made for Wendigo.”

“Yes!!!”

At the mention of Skadi’s apple pie, Osa threw their previous conversation far away.

Due to the influence of a childhood plagued by hunger, she had developed an obsession with delicious food.

As Osa drooled and fidgeted, Skadi brought a plate of apple pie with a motherly smile.

Apple pie with finely chopped tart apples, filled with honey, cinnamon, and cream, topped with maple syrup on crispy bread.

“Ahhh…”

“Osa, you’re drooling!”

“Slurp. S-sorry. It’s just that I’ve never seen such a delicious-looking apple pie… Can I really eat it?”

Osa grabbed the utensils while asking for permission. She looked at Skadi pitifully, like a dog with a snack in front of it.

Skadi nodded and cut the apple pie herself. Osa watched the scene reverently.

The rich apple aroma and the sight of the pie crisping like autumn leaves naturally made her mouth water…

“Skadi! Osa! The Djin urgently requests your presence.”

“……”

Skadi paused while cutting the pie.

For Wendigo, who usually accommodated his subordinates, to urgently call for them meant quite an important matter…

Skadi looked at Osa with sympathetic eyes. She carefully asked her:

“Osa. Should we… eat when we come back?”

Osa’s expression was as if the sky had fallen. Her mouth trembled.

She knew they had to go, of course, but she couldn’t accept the fact that they had to leave the apple pie right in front of her.

‘If I say I’ll eat it on the way… I’d lose face as a Summoner.’

Such an act would embarrass not only herself but also Skadi and other Summoners.

Osa hung her head and answered.

“…Yes. We should go. No matter how delicious the apple pie looks, Wendigo is calling for us.”

“I-I’ll keep it warm, so we can eat it deliciously when we return. Let’s eat together after we finish our business.”

Skadi comforted Osa as if soothing a child, seeing her most dejected expression yet.

Osa nodded and cut a small piece of apple pie, thinking she should at least taste it before leaving.

Crunch.

‘…There are days that are sad because something is too delicious.’

Skadi’s apple pie was the best she had ever tasted.

Osa couldn’t help but feel sad about that fact.

* * *

Skadi and Osa, having been granted an audience with Wendigo, received an explanation about the delegation.

Skadi thought it was indeed an important matter since a delegation had arrived…

“S-so that’s why my apple pie…”

Osa staggered when she realized she had been called because of Shir.

If that was the issue, they could have called another Summoner!

‘…And she said she’d help me later!’

Osa cursed the unhelpful other Summoners. Of course, she knew they were all helping people around the forest, but she couldn’t help feeling resentful.

For Osa, who had lost her apple pie right before her eyes, such trivial facts didn’t matter.

Skadi patted Osa’s pitifully trembling shoulders.

“Osa. Cheer up.”

“Yes…”

Osa nodded weakly and explained about Shir.

What kind of tribe the Freyr tribe was, who their ancestor was, and how strongly Shir inherited that bloodline…

“Shir is also an excellent merchant. Among Summoners, there’s even a joke that her warehouse has endless catalysts and reagents rolling around.”

“A merchant, huh. Then we can assume that her participation in this delegation was a calculated move.”

Osa nodded. Shir was certainly capable of such calculation.

She was a woman who never moved rashly, always calmly assessing situations before acting, so this time would be no different.

With nothing more to add, Osa bowed politely and stepped back.

Wendigo tapped the armrest of his throne with his nails, a habit when organizing his thoughts.

‘Merchant. A merchant…’

While the word merchant implied that deals could be made, Wendigo remained cautious.

Just thinking about the human-faced beast, he knew that merchants in this world could be quite extraordinary.

‘They’d dig up and sell human corpses if they could.’

Of course, not all merchants were like that, but Shir was both an excellent merchant and a Summoner.

With these two suspicious elements combined, it was hard to find a more dubious character.

‘The problem is that it would be a shame to turn her away without meeting her.’

It would be good to meet a woman who was essentially the owner of one of the few cities in the north.

Having organized his thoughts, Wendigo gestured to Geron.

“Tell the riders to guide the delegation. It would be good to meet this unexpected woman.”

“I will tell them to watch for any suspicious behavior.”

“Yes. Tell them they may attack if she tries anything strange.”

Geron nodded and left the shrine.

Naturally, only Wendigo, Skadi, and Osa remained.

“Wendigo, if it’s alright, may we withdraw now?”

“It’s rare for Skadi to ask to leave first… Do you have something urgent?”

Wendigo was puzzled. Usually, Skadi wanted to stay with him as long as possible.

Whenever she had the chance to talk, she would stay and bring up trivial stories like Oneton’s picky eating habits…

“Ahaha. Well…”

Skadi glanced at Osa. Osa’s face was losing its light and gradually growing cold.

“W-we were researching a new spell at the cabin!”

“Oh my, I picked a bad time. Go ahead then. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Thank you! Come on, Osa! Let’s go!”

Skadi, feeling guilty about deceiving Wendigo, hurriedly reached out to Osa.

Osa, seeing this benevolent hand of salvation(?), brightened her eyes and grabbed it eagerly.

Wendigo noticed Osa’s change and wondered.

‘Has Osa been given too many tasks recently? I don’t think that was the case…’

But Wendigo couldn’t ask them. Their footsteps were too solemn, like those of heroes.

There must be something important that he didn’t know about!

* * *

Wendigo’s orders were always delivered by the fastest ravens in the forest.

Jacken, the leader of the Blue Mane tribe and the de facto chief of the wolf riders, checked the message.

[Escort the delegation, including the Summoner called Shir, to the Djin’s shrine. However, you may kill them if they act suspiciously.]

“Hmm… If the Djin has permitted it, we have no choice.”

“Is this really okay? Bringing an outside Summoner into the forest…”

A warrior showed his dislike and questioned Jacken. Other warriors didn’t show it, but their thoughts weren’t much different.

In their minds, except for the forest’s Summoners, the rest were selfish people who only looked after their own interests.

“Honestly, besides our Summoners, they all seem like bad people.”

“The ones who passed the Djin’s test must be different from those guys. I heard the ones who invaded the forest this time were those who failed the test.”

“Quiet! This is ultimately the Djin’s will. We just need to follow the Djin’s orders.”

When Jacken spoke firmly, the warriors set aside their personal feelings. His words were certainly right.

After all, since the Djin had permitted it, there was no need for them to make personal judgments…

At that moment, with a wolf’s howl, a shadow darted past Jacken.

“Woof! Woof woof!”

“Who is that! Who ran out without orders!”

Jacken frowned and looked around. Whether out of ambition or loyalty, he couldn’t forgive a warrior who disobeyed orders.

But… the warriors were steadfastly holding their positions, waiting for his orders. They pointed ahead with surprised expressions.

“It’s Oneton! Oneton ran out!”

“What!?”

Jacken was startled and looked ahead. Why was the name of the cursed spirit whose life the Djin had ended being mentioned here?

Of course, it wasn’t that Oneton. How could a spirit whose source had been torn out by Wendigo return alive?

What the warriors pointed to was a massive wolf favored by Wendigo.

Jacken realized the identity of the shadow and sighed.

‘Why did both the Djin and Skadi name the wolf Oneton of all things…’

“Um, Chief? Are you alright?”

A warrior approached Jacken and carefully asked.

Jacken looked at the warrior as if to say, “What are you talking about?” It wasn’t the spirit he wanted to chew up, just a wolf, so what was the problem?

The warrior looked around cautiously and said:

“Oneton, I mean the wolf, ran toward where the delegation is.”

“……”

Jacken’s face hardened in dismay. If Oneton killed the delegation, it would be their fault.

“Damn it! Everyone, mount up quickly! We need to reach the delegation before that beast does!”

“I knew there was something wrong with that wolf from the moment it was named Oneton!”

“Oh, come on!”

The warriors, realizing the situation, cursed Oneton as they rode their wolves.

Indeed, the name Oneton was clearly a mistake.