Ch.82Chapter 82

The Wendigo calmly waited for Frank to calm down.

He knew that doing anything to someone gripped by fear would only backfire.

‘At times like this, staying still is most effective.’

Maintaining a single emotion continuously is harder than one might think. Especially when left alone without intervention, emotions easily scatter.

After a moment, Frank bit his lip to forget the nightmare.

The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth, snapping Frank back to his senses. This was no time to be making a spectacle of himself.

If he slipped up here, it was clear that either the witch or the djin would kill him.

‘I need to finish presenting my tribute and get out of here quickly!’

Frank took out the tribute he had brought.

A golden chalice made for high nobles of the Old Empire.

The surface of the golden chalice was engraved with phrases praising nobility, and it was extremely luxurious, even decorated with rubies and emeralds.

Frank bowed deeply and carefully presented the golden chalice like a slave addressing his master.

“This… this golden chalice is from the Old Empire. Of course, considering the nobility of the Djin and the Summoner, such a thing is trivial…”

“You’ll choke if you keep talking like that. Calm down…”

Frank’s nervous speech was so rapid it was difficult to hear.

The Wendigo waved his hand, ordering his attendants to bring the golden chalice.

After checking for anything unusual, the attendants took the chalice and brought it to the Wendigo.

The Wendigo carefully picked up the golden chalice with his claws and examined it from various angles.

Rodomel couldn’t help but be surprised at this sight.

Normally, the Djin showed indifferent reactions to whatever tributes he received…

‘How extraordinary must this item be to attract such interest?’

Rodomel blinked and looked at Frank again.

He had thought Frank was just a naive merchant, but who would have guessed he had such an impressive ace up his sleeve?

‘Perhaps his trembling was also a tactic to attract attention.’

Acting peculiarly was a common method to draw attention.

Of course, not everyone could employ such common methods. Being peculiar also meant potentially offending the other party.

How many people in the world would dare try such a thing with nobles or djin?

‘Only someone truly insane or someone striving to make a name as a great merchant would do such a thing.’

Thinking about it that way, Frank’s method wasn’t bad.

Bold or arrogant behavior was likely to offend rulers, but showing fear was likely to give rulers satisfaction.

At least, frightened people were less likely to plot rebellion or treason than those who were arrogant and overconfident.

Rodomel admired Frank’s actions as he mentally reviewed them.

‘W-what about my disrespectful attitude just now? And why is he examining my item so carefully!?’

… Of course, Frank, who had lost his family before gaining experience in the merchant guild, didn’t possess such business acumen.

Frank slightly raised his head to look at the Wendigo.

The lack of expression couldn’t have been more terrifying.

What secret could possibly be hidden in that golden chalice to warrant such careful examination!

‘Is this the eastern style of the Old Empire that Skadi told me about… No. I believe she said they don’t prefer engraving phrases there.’

The Wendigo wasn’t appreciating the value of the golden chalice. The chalice was nothing more than an extravagant luxury item with nothing special about it.

Nevertheless, his effort to assess its artistic value came from a sense of necessity.

With Geron, Freya, and even Skadi emphasizing the importance of maintaining dignity, he couldn’t help but acknowledge it.

Once one attains power, one can no longer live forever citing frugality.

‘That doesn’t mean I intend to indulge in useless luxury.’

Luxury, depending on how it’s viewed and heard, can become art.

The Wendigo had no intention whatsoever of collecting meaningless items like a nouveau riche.

To do that, he would first need to study to understand the value of items, but…

Naturally, he couldn’t understand this world’s art and thought systems overnight.

“Skadi. Is this a style popular in the western part of the Empire?”

After contemplating for a while, the Wendigo handed the golden chalice to Skadi and asked.

The western region of the Empire, heavily influenced by elves, preferred engraving elegant phrases on objects.

“Hmm…”

Skadi appraised the golden chalice from atop the Wendigo’s shoulder, turning it around.

“There’s a phrase comparing nobility to the sun, which I’ve heard is popular in the southern part of the Old Empire.”

After finishing her appraisal, Skadi whispered quietly into the Wendigo’s ear.

She thought it wasn’t good to show others that she was teaching the Wendigo, but…

To Frank, who had been attacked by the witch, this action seemed extremely suspicious.

Could she be telling the djin to kill him…

“A beautiful golden chalice. You obtained it from the Old Empire?”

“Y-yes! It’s an item I took when the merchant guild I worked for collapsed. Since the north is virtually ruled by the Forest King, this item naturally belongs to the King.”

“?”

The Wendigo was puzzled as the scent of fear from Frank intensified.

He hadn’t tormented or touched him, so why was he so afraid?

‘Is he naturally timid? Well, not all northerners are fierce warriors.’

The Wendigo dismissed it as unimportant. Not all northerners became warriors or hunters.

Some people could simply be more fearful than others.

The Wendigo decided to send Frank back quickly out of consideration.

“My aesthetic sense isn’t particularly refined, so I got some help from Skadi. She says it’s a fine item, which pleases me.”

“N-no, not at all!”

“No need to be so modest. Isn’t that right, Rodomel?”

“Hahaha! Absolutely correct. This young man will surely become an excellent merchant.”

Suspicion tends to grow as it builds upon itself.

As the Wendigo and Rodomel continued their praise, Frank felt a strong urge to faint.

He wanted to escape this situation quickly!

As Frank broke out in a cold sweat and avoided the Wendigo’s gaze, Skadi whispered in the Wendigo’s ear.

“It seems this merchant is quite tired. Perhaps it would be best to send him back…”

“You’re right. Rodomel and Frank, you may withdraw now.”

With the Wendigo’s permission, Rodomel and Frank bowed respectfully and left the audience chamber.

With the tension released, Frank’s legs gave way and he collapsed.

Rodomel was startled and supported Frank.

“Are you alright! My goodness, you’re drenched in cold sweat…”

“I thought I was going to die.”

Rodomel’s concern didn’t register in Frank’s ears at all. The brief conversation from moments ago wouldn’t leave his mind.

It certainly wasn’t because he was happy to be praised by the djin.

‘What if the Summoner had criticized instead of praised me there… would I have died?’

There was no one to give him the answer, but Frank was certain.

If the Summoner had marked him, his head would have surely been severed!

‘The witch… no, she might be something even more terrifying than a witch.’

There was nothing good about staying long in a place where such a being lurked.

Frank resolved to sell off all his goods within two days and leave this forest.

Though he had no clear evidence…

He was convinced that the forest would soon fall into chaos.

* * *

The Forest Palace, the Wendigo’s dining hall.

The Wendigo, dining with Skadi, was puzzled when Geron came to visit.

“My Djin. Strange rumors have been circulating among the outsiders recently.”

Geron reported to the Wendigo with a serious expression.

“Strange rumors? Ah, Skadi. This is quite tasty too, try some.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

The Wendigo skillfully deboned a well-roasted turkey with his claws for Skadi as he asked.

If Geron, who had witnessed various incidents while serving the Wendigo, called something strange, it must be at least as bizarre as a human-faced beast…

Yet recently, the forest had been nothing but peaceful.

How peaceful it was, with no bloodshed except for those who sneaked in with suspicious intentions!

Geron spoke passionately with an indignant expression.

“There are voices in the forest now slandering Lady Skadi as a witch!”

“Hmm, what a strange rumor indeed.”

Geron nodded with blazing eyes.

The Wendigo stopped eating and fell into contemplation.

At least until recently, a witch wasn’t such a formidable entity.

It was closer to a derogatory term for those with unusual appearances like Skadi, or for evil summoners…

But at some point, the world changed, and the meaning of “witch” naturally changed with it.

“It’s true that Lady Skadi has gained special powers, but she hasn’t committed any despicable acts to deserve such rumors!”

Evil women who freely wielded powers close to sorcery—that was what witches were now.

Of course, Skadi was not a witch. How could Skadi, who had been using sorcery since long ago, suddenly be called a witch?

Especially when she didn’t use that power to dominate or torment others.

“If strange rumors have started circulating recently, there must be a cause.”

Most rumors, even if not clear, usually had at least plausible reasons.

Perhaps mercenaries or merchants who had been harmed by a witch were spreading strange rumors…

“Yes. There is a cause.”

“What is it?”

“Well… it seems the issue is that Lady Skadi sits on your shoulder, my Djin.”

“……”

The Wendigo looked at Geron with incredulous eyes.

Surely they wouldn’t call a benevolent summoner a witch over something so trivial?

But Geron was reporting the results of his analysis based on information gathered from people.

“Recently, haven’t you been granting audiences to merchants with Lady Skadi by your side?”

The Wendigo nodded.

At least until Skadi could control the mysteries flowing through her body, they needed to stay together.

So naturally, they were together when meeting merchants as well.

“Merchants who have been coming before didn’t mind much, but the recently arrived merchants seem to have become suspicious of this sight.”

“Suspicious?”

“Yes. That Lady Skadi is controlling you from behind…”

“W-what are you saying! How could I commit such a blasphemous act!”

Skadi was so shocked that she cried out in surprise.

To think they were viewing her relationship with the Wendigo, who listened to her and praised her, in such a light!

“Tsk, tsk, to think merchants would be swayed by such baseless rumors.”

“What shall we do? If you command, I will silence the merchants.”

Geron requested instructions from the Wendigo with determined eyes.

He was ready to personally deal with any merchant who had uttered such nonsense if given permission.

However, the Wendigo shook his head and stopped Geron.

“Suspicion isn’t something you can prevent by telling people not to have it. Besides, if we move to silence them, they’ll be convinced that Skadi really is controlling me.”

Above all, at times like this, the opinion of the person concerned was important.

The Wendigo asked Skadi.

“What would you like to do?”

“I think it’s best to leave it alone. It’s practically impossible to stop rumors… and above all, unless the merchants are fools, they’ll realize there’s no proper evidence.”

It was nothing more than a baseless rumor mixed with delusions about what they had seen.

Why add fuel to a rumor that would naturally disappear as merchants continued to come and go from the forest?

Besides, the issue with this rumor was Skadi sitting on the Wendigo’s shoulder…

“Once I can perfectly control the mysteries flowing through my body, there will be no reason for me to be on your shoulder, and the problem will be solved.”

Skadi said, creating an ice fragment in her palm.

Although uncontrolled cold still caused unintended spikes to form on the ice fragment, at this rate, she would soon be able to control it perfectly.

“So it’s fine.”

“If Lady Skadi says so.”

“It would be perfectly understandable for you to be angry, yet I’m proud that you’re my contractor.”

The Wendigo praised Skadi for handling the situation with composure.

Such things might sound easy, but they weren’t easy to demonstrate through actions.

Skadi, elated by the praise, smiled brightly and affirmed.

“Yes. As time passes, the problem will surely be resolved!”

* * *

[Forest King, followers claiming to serve the witch have appeared in the land of Duenor.

They caused trouble, claiming to follow the Forest Witch, referring to the summoner you favor as a witch.

Naturally thinking it nonsense, I personally beheaded them, but if they truly were her followers, I will gladly accept punishment.]

“Ah, damn it.”

Truly, nothing in this world goes as planned.