Ch.76Chapter 76

The Wendigo’s deep sigh contained a weariness that anyone could sympathize with.

Gulmarg approached the Wendigo, patting his shoulder in consolation.

“Wendigo, with bad things come good things too.”

“That’s true. But the bad things last longer while the good things are quickly forgotten.”

Still, Gulmarg’s comfort wasn’t unwelcome. After all, a talking Ogre must have experienced just as many incidents as a strange Djin.

Geron looked at Gulmarg with complex emotions in his eyes. Though he tried not to be surprised, it was difficult not to be startled by a talking Ogre.

Geron carefully asked the Wendigo, “Who is this person beside you? Could this be the Ogre mentioned in the scripture?”

“That’s right. But don’t be too surprised. He can communicate and is more rational than you might expect.”

Gulmarg was grateful to the Wendigo for introducing him favorably. However, he didn’t have high expectations.

It wouldn’t be strange for others to fear him simply because he was an Ogre.

After all, an Ogre could kill a person with a single punch—how many people wouldn’t be wary?

But contrary to Gulmarg’s thoughts, Geron nodded calmly in acceptance.

“If the Djin says so, then it must be true.”

“!”

Gulmarg widened his eyes in shock. He hadn’t expected anyone to trust the Wendigo’s assurance without any doubt.

“Warrior, are you not afraid of me?”

Geron smiled at Gulmarg’s question.

Honestly, if asked whether he was afraid, he couldn’t help but be scared. This wasn’t just a common goblin or wolf, but an actual Ogre.

However, Geron wasn’t overly afraid of Gulmarg.

“Honestly, I am scared. But if the Wendigo himself vouches for you, how could he be mistaken?”

“Everyone makes mistakes. Even gods make mistakes. Wendigo, making mistakes isn’t strange.”

Gulmarg spoke to Geron with puzzlement. Hadn’t he just fought a bloody battle with the Wendigo because of such a mistake?

But at Gulmarg’s words, Geron burst into hearty laughter, firmly cementing his judgment.

“Actually, as we talk, my fear seems to be disappearing. Isn’t the very fact that we can have this conversation proof that Gulmarg isn’t violent?”

“…Geron, you’re as capable as Skadi.”

Meeting a human who wasn’t afraid of him after so long, Gulmarg acknowledged Geron with a warm smile.

The Wendigo nodded, adding to Gulmarg’s assessment.

“Geron is indeed capable.”

Though he started as the chief of a small village, Geron had steadfastly supported the Wendigo even as his influence grew.

He regularly held meetings with village chiefs to maintain balance, managed tributes from various places, and assisted the Wendigo by his side.

For the Wendigo, who was nearly clueless about such matters, Geron was an indispensable presence.

“Thank you for the praise. But the current problem is…”

“The gods are watching me! Alfodur himself is watching me! What disrespect is this to his messenger and chosen warrior!!!”

“Seems like a proper madman. Behind the shrine?”

The Wendigo grimaced as he asked about the lunatic’s voice coming from beyond the shrine.

“Yes. We’ve restrained him behind the shrine. Shir and Freya are probably waiting there.”

“Hmm…”

The Wendigo looked at Gulmarg. Honestly, meeting Shir wouldn’t be a problem.

Shir was a woman with quite an open mind, so she was unlikely to make a fuss about Gulmarg being an Ogre.

The problem was that Freya was with Shir, and…

‘That one will probably throw a fit as soon as she sees Gulmarg.’

…honestly, Freya wasn’t a Djin with a particularly good personality either.

Wasn’t she the one who called the Wendigo strange or crazy right to his face?

With someone like that, it wouldn’t be surprising if she hurled insults at Gulmarg on sight.

“Gulmarg. Shir is a decent Summoner, so there’s no need to worry. However, Freya is a Djin, and she might throw a fit as soon as she sees your face. Are you okay with meeting her?”

“Wendigo, your worry is excessive. And there’s one thing you haven’t considered.”

“What haven’t I considered?”

At the Wendigo’s question, Gulmarg answered with a slight smile.

“Djin, naturally temperamental. I, don’t get angry at obvious things.”

“…That’s certainly true.”

The Wendigo couldn’t help but acknowledge Gulmarg’s perfect logic.

* * *

In the backyard of the shrine, Shir and Freya were watching over a man while waiting for the Wendigo.

The Wendigo spotted the man from a distance.

His sturdy body and the scars etched on it proved that the man was a warrior…

“Oh gods! I will overcome this trial! Watch over me!!!”

‘Did he eat some bad mushrooms?’

With bloodshot eyes glaring at the sky and shouting at the top of his lungs, he looked every bit the madman.

The Wendigo slowly approached Shir.

“Shir. What’s going on here?”

“Djin. And…???”

Noticing the Wendigo’s presence, Shir turned her head, only to be filled with confusion at the sight of Gulmarg.

Why on earth would an Ogre appear in a place like this?

As Shir stammered in bewilderment, Freya stepped forward to speak for her.

[Wendigo! What’s with that ugly fellow?]

“Freya!”

Shir exclaimed in shock at Freya.

There was nothing good about provoking an Ogre. Moreover, anyone with a bit of sense could tell that the Ogre was somehow related to the Wendigo.

Of course, Freya had enough sense to realize this. But Freya acted according to her principles.

Calling something ugly when it was ugly was only natural for a Djin of beauty!

[Honey. There’s nothing shameful about calling something ugly when it is.]

“It’s not about shame, it’s about being impolite. You crazy Djin.”

The Wendigo inwardly sighed at Freya’s attitude, which was exactly as expected.

The Wendigo glanced discreetly at Gulmarg. Gulmarg seemed completely unperturbed, remaining calm.

“I apologize.”

“Wendigo, no need to apologize. Ogres, most people fear them. And…”

“Yes?”

Gulmarg scratched his head and expressed his honest opinion.

“Beauty that Djin speaks of, I don’t understand.”

[…What?]

Freya, who always wore a smile, asked with rare seriousness.

The mystical energy around Freya surged, representing her anger, but Gulmarg wasn’t intimidated at all.

“I, think Ogres are the most beautiful beings.”

“Well, Mr. Gulmarg is an Ogre, so his aesthetic sense would naturally be that of an Ogre.”

Gulmarg nodded at Skadi’s words. The Wendigo couldn’t help but agree with her statement.

After all, beauty could only be relative.

To put it bluntly, Gulmarg might find the strong arms of a female Ogre beautiful…

[You’re all crazy! Beauty is defined by me as the standard!]

Freya exclaimed in shock as even the Wendigo and Skadi seemed persuaded by Gulmarg’s words.

As a Djin born from beauty, this was an absurdity she couldn’t let slide.

The Wendigo gave her a disparaging look and chided her.

“Freya. Beauty is always relative.”

While he didn’t deny universal standards of beauty, sometimes people disregarded those standards and established their own.

Just thinking about his previous life, there were those who liked non-existent beast-people, even those closer to animals. In that context, Gulmarg wasn’t that strange.

In fact, loving one’s own kind might make Gulmarg more normal.

But Freya couldn’t accept this. It was a matter of pride.

[Let’s see if you can say the same after seeing my true form!]

“Oh. I’m really looking forward to it.”

The Wendigo clapped his hands out of courtesy while uttering soulless words.

Freya trembled with a sense of betrayal.

To betray the bond(?) they had built until now!

[Show a bit more enthusiasm!!!]

“But… even if Freya does that, it won’t change Mr. Gulmarg’s aesthetic sense, will it?”

“Correct. Female Ogres are the best.”

Realizing she had no allies, Freya’s eyes reddened as she gritted her teeth.

Freya turned her head sharply to look at Shir.

She believed that the beautiful Shir would sympathize with her…

‘This is the first time I’ve felt sorry for Freya.’

[Honey!!!]

Freya wailed as she met Shir’s pitying gaze.

By now, even the Wendigo felt sorry for Freya.

How shocking must it be for a Djin of beauty to be told she wasn’t beautiful?

“Freya. I acknowledge that you’re beautiful. So please calm down and…”

Sometimes, consolation can make a person, or rather a Djin, feel even more miserable.

Especially the consolation of a Djin like the Wendigo, who was unskilled in pretense, was like a sharp dagger.

Freya, wounded in her pride, let out a shriek and summoned her mystical energy.

[I can’t let this slide! I’ll definitely show that Ogre what true beauty is!]

‘She’s annoyingly fussy.’

The Wendigo inwardly grumbled, folding his arms. At this point, he just wanted to see what Freya would do.

Freya began to dismantle her fairy form and craft her true self.

Colorful petals appeared from thin air, swirling around, and luminous butterflies fluttered about.

Freya slowly revealed herself amidst the petals that formed the shape of a woman.

Long legs, a slender waist, a voluptuous chest, and platinum blonde hair that gently rested on top.

Freya didn’t stop there and snapped her fingers. The butterflies clustered together, turning into gold, and the petals settled, becoming jewels.

Adorned with splendid ornaments, Freya asked with a seductive smile that could melt a man’s heart:

“How about now? Can you still say female Ogres are beautiful?”

“Hmm…”

“!?”

When the Wendigo rested his chin on his hand and gave a flat response, Freya let out a silent scream.

The Ogre might have lost his mind like a monster, but the Wendigo surely had a normal aesthetic sense, yet he gave such a reaction!

‘She is certainly pretty, but…’

The Wendigo was indeed quite impressed. The beauty of Freya, as a Djin of beauty, couldn’t be denied.

However…

“To be honest, I prefer Skadi’s style.”

“W-what?!”

“…Eh?”

With the Wendigo’s perfect surprise attack, Skadi blushed and froze, while Freya was shocked by her defeat.

It wasn’t that she denied Skadi was pretty. She was a beautiful girl, so much so that Freya herself had proposed a contract!

But as a Djin of beauty…

Freya pointed at the Wendigo, objecting to his assessment.

“This is biased!”

“No… I honestly find subtlety more attractive than flamboyance.”

The Wendigo answered with a disgruntled expression. It wasn’t that Freya was ‘less attractive than a human despite being a Djin of beauty.’

He simply found the naturalness that flowed from Skadi’s modest ornaments and neat attire more appealing than Freya’s splendor.

As Freya glared at him, the Wendigo cleared his throat and pointed at Gulmarg.

“Besides, wasn’t your goal to change Gulmarg’s sexual… I mean, aesthetic preferences?”

“…Hmph. I’ll challenge you again next time, so be prepared.”

‘What a nuisance.’

The Wendigo swallowed his words and looked at Gulmarg.

Gulmarg observed Freya with a frown and gave his assessment.

“Djin, big breasts.”

“Yes! Now you’re starting to understand beauty…”

“That’s all. Djin, no muscles. No scars. A body that hasn’t overcome hardship isn’t beautiful.”

“!@#!%!@$#!#@!!!”

Freya finally couldn’t contain her anger and spewed indescribable curses.

These fools with decorative eyes!

* * *

Freya’s anger quickly cooled. She realized it was foolish to argue common sense with someone like Gulmarg who had such a firm aesthetic sense.

“Hmph. I expected too much from a monster who doesn’t understand common sense.”

“I’m sorry. But female Ogres are still prett…”

“Gulmarg. I’m sorry, but please be quiet.”

At the Wendigo’s restraint, Gulmarg nodded and stepped back.

Freya glared at Gulmarg before sharply turning her head and tightly embracing Shir in her arms.

Shir sighed deeply and accepted the situation. This was a cheap price to pay to calm her down.

“So… what’s that guy doing?”

The Wendigo asked, pointing at the man. The man was staring blankly at Freya, seemingly properly enchanted by her.

Freya stared intently at the Wendigo for a moment and grumbled.

“It was something important, but I’m in a bad mood now and don’t want to talk about it.”

“Would you prefer to get a forehead flick before speaking?”

The Wendigo genuinely wanted to give her a forehead flick.

Flick!

“Ouch!”

“Ah, I meant to just think about it.”

The Wendigo flicked her forehead, pretending it was a mistake.

He wasn’t particularly sorry. Honestly, she deserved it.

It felt quite satisfying.