Ch.69Chapter 69

Wendigo sat on the throne, waiting for Shir to arrive. Of course, he wasn’t just sitting there idly waiting.

He was enjoying an unusually luxurious meal—a whole calf roasted and stuffed, offered as tribute by the forest people celebrating their victory.

“The cooks seem to be improving their skills day by day. Geron, would you like to try some?”

Wendigo offered to Geron while chewing on a leg.

The cooks must have developed a new sauce, as the flavor was more exquisite than usual, making it too good to enjoy alone.

Despite Wendigo’s offer, Geron shook his head in refusal.

“Isn’t this a calf that people offered hoping for the Djin to eat it? It doesn’t seem proper for me to taste it.”

“Anyone listening would think I ended the war all by myself. I’m always grateful for your dedication, but sometimes I worry you’re too rigid.”

Wendigo chewed on a bone, feeling disappointed. He thought Geron, who usually worked hard in his place, deserved to share this meal.

Geron looked at Wendigo with a sour face and thought.

‘Isn’t it true that the Djin ended it alone?’

The Djin was the one who sowed discord among the enemies, and the Djin was the one who beheaded the enemy commander…

But Geron had learned one thing while serving Wendigo for quite some time: not to interfere with Wendigo’s thoughts.

Why would he object when it was said out of care for his own people?

“Even if you say so, I still can’t eat it.”

“Can’t be helped. If you change your mind, let me know. I’ll save your portion.”

Wendigo cut off a large piece of the calf’s leg and continued eating.

Around the time he had devoured about half the calf, Skadi Brynhild, who had been summoned by Wendigo, opened the door and entered.

“Oh my, if I had known you were eating, I would have come a bit later. Should I tell the guest you invited as well?”

“You came earlier than expected. There’s no need to tell Shir. It’s not polite to invite a guest and then make them wait. But… why is Osa here?”

Wendigo asked, pointing at Osa standing beside Skadi.

He felt bad about bothering Osa recently, so he hadn’t called for her…

Why did she come with Skadi?

At Wendigo’s question, Osa smiled awkwardly and looked at Skadi.

“Hahaha. I’ve gotten into the habit of following Ms. Skadi lately…”

Geron nodded as if he understood. Indeed, when the person you serve moves, it’s natural for their assistant to follow.

Skadi smiled and praised Osa.

“Many others help me too, but lately I’ve been receiving the most help from Osa.”

“N-No! I’m just helping with work and trying to learn summoning magic!”

Osa waved her hands frantically. She didn’t want to be seen as a pest buzzing around Skadi.

Djin were known to be possessive, sometimes tormenting those who approached the summoners they had their eyes on.

Of course, the Djin had never shown such malicious tendencies, but it was better to be cautious.

‘My head would burst like a rotten tomato if that palm just brushed against it.’

Wendigo had no intention whatsoever of turning Osa’s head into a rotten tomato.

Wasn’t it natural to appreciate someone who was helping Skadi without it being their job?

Wendigo spoke in a gentle voice, joking:

“I admire your modesty. I could give you some mysti— Alright, don’t look at me like that. How about this calf instead? It’s quite delicious.”

When Geron grimaced and Skadi looked flustered at the mention of “mysteries,” Wendigo hastily pointed to the calf.

Of course, he had no intention of letting food alone serve as compensation…

“Gulp, gulp.”

“Hm?”

Osa looked at the roasted calf with trembling eyes. Though Wendigo had eaten quite a bit, the calf still emitted a mouthwatering aroma.

Surely a calf roast worthy of being offered to a Djin would taste beyond imagination…

‘No! No matter what, it’s practically an offering to the Djin. A summoner who covets such things is unworthy of the title!’

Osa squeezed her eyes shut, resisting the temptation.

In her childhood as a vagrant, she couldn’t overcome hunger, but now she was a proper summoner!

‘This kind of temptation!’

‘She really wants to eat it, I see.’

Wendigo noticed that Osa appreciated fine cuisine more than expected. How could he miss the joy, despair, resolve, and hesitation that flashed across her face?

Wendigo lowered his head and whispered to Geron.

“Geron. I’m sorry, but would it be alright to give one leg to Osa? I know it’s an offering from the people, but she seems to want it so badly.”

“…Are you doing this because of what I said earlier? If you wish to give it to her, please do so.”

“But you might get angry.”

“……”

Geron grimaced at Wendigo’s remark. He worried someone might think he was oppressing Wendigo.

He had said that earlier considering only himself, but the situation was different now!

“The only reason I ever get angry with you is when you do something completely unreasonable. This would actually be a good deed—why would I be angry?!”

Geron realized that sometimes Wendigo’s un-Djin-like behavior could be frustrating.

For something like this, he could just do as he pleased!

“I’m glad it’s alright. Could you ring the bell? It’s too small for me to shake.”

Geron looked at Wendigo with a blank expression, then took out a bell from his pocket and rang it. Servants entered from outside and bowed respectfully.

“Take the calf and cut it up. Package one leg so it can be taken away.”

“It might be difficult for Osa to eat a whole leg by herself, though?”

“Of course I’m giving it for Skadi to eat as well. Enjoy a cozy meal together.”

Skadi nodded with a smile at Wendigo’s kindness.

Strong servants carefully lifted the platter holding the calf and carried it away, while one servant approached Wendigo and asked:

“Should we bring the calf back once we’ve completed your instructions?”

“No. I’ll give separate instructions later. More importantly, prepare tea as our guest seems to have arrived.”

The perceptive servant instructed the others to clean up and light incense to clear the smell.

Wendigo admired the servant’s experienced response and looked at Geron. All the servants working at the temple had been personally selected by Geron.

“How did you find someone like that?”

“Hehe. Half the forest people are runaways, aren’t they? You can find people like that if you look. Besides, I didn’t even need to look.”

Scholars, illegitimate children, or even fallen nobles could become runaways. There was no need to search for them.

Such people would come to the temple on their own, showcasing their abilities and volunteering to become servants.

After all, where in this forest could be better than being near Wendigo?

All Geron had to do was weed out the wicked and malicious ones.

The servants finished cleaning efficiently, brought warm tea, and left as respectfully as they had entered.

Shortly after, a woman appeared with a beautiful fairy perched on her shoulder.

With fox-like sharp eyes and long golden hair, the beautiful woman, Shir, greeted Wendigo with a dignified expression.

“This is the first time I’m formally greeting you. I am Shir of Freya, and while it’s nothing to boast about, I consider myself a fairly decent summoner.”

“I thought it strange that you smelled of a Djin… I see you’re no longer trying to hide it.”

“…Freya has no intention of hiding, it seems.”

Shir answered while glaring at the Djin on her shoulder. Despite the burning gaze of resentment that must have been quite intense, Freya endured steadfastly.

Freya spread her wings, flew up, and approached Wendigo.

She looked at Wendigo curiously, examining him from various angles.

[Hmm… You’re more normal than I expected? From the rumors, I thought you were a mad Djin. Given what you do and all.]

“Well, like a true Djin, you’re disgustingly rude.”

Wendigo was certain the fairy before him was a Djin. That raw rudeness without malice was definitely characteristic of a Djin.

Shir sighed deeply at Freya’s impulsive behavior. Unaware that she was causing trouble, Freya returned to Shir and chattered:

[Darling, he seems to be a kind Djin, unlike what we worried about! Mutant Djin feel revulsion just sensing flowing mysteries, but this one… Eek!]

With a cold expression, Shir grabbed Freya’s wing and stuffed her into her pocket.

This ancient Djin—why would she speak aloud things that should be communicated telepathically!

Wendigo was greatly surprised by Shir’s boldness. It was natural, as all the summoners he had seen until now couldn’t stand up to their Djin.

“You seem quite close with your Djin?”

[Of course! She and I share blood… Mmph!?]

“No. There’s no way I’m close with Freya.”

‘They really do seem close.’

Though Shir denied it with a serious face, Wendigo judged they were quite close.

Otherwise, a Djin wouldn’t tolerate the humiliation of being stuffed into a pocket.

“Well, whether you’re close to your Djin or not isn’t important. The smell is quite foul, but… you seem decent enough, so I’ll let it pass.”

Though not as fragrant as Skadi, a floral scent emanated from Shir’s body.

At least it meant she wasn’t evil…

‘But she’s still a summoner from outside. I mustn’t let my guard down.’

However, Wendigo remained vigilant.

Even someone who had lived as a good person until now could become evil from today—isn’t that the nature of people?

Wendigo stared into Shir’s eyes and got straight to the point.

“Why have you come to see me?”

It was an ordinary question, but the weight behind it was anything but ordinary.

Shir felt as if a sharp sword was pointed at her neck.

She instinctively sensed that her head might fly off depending on Wendigo’s judgment.

Shir calmed her trembling heart and slowly looked over Geron, Skadi, and Osa.

‘He’s definitely different from any Djin I’ve seen before.’

Though she lacked Wendigo’s ability to see through people’s essence, Shir prided herself on her good judgment of character.

The sins accumulated by evil people would seep into their expressions, complexion, and actions.

But the Djin’s close associates showed no such traces. Rather, their clear eyes sparkled like those of good people.

Such individuals wouldn’t serve an evil Djin…

“I want to make a deal with you, Djin. Not a short-term arrangement, but a long-term deal that will make everyone happy.”

Shir cast her dice.