Ch.85Chapter 85

“Stab! Stab until they die!!!”

“There, there’s a small group. Kill those ones first!”

“Y-you bastards!”

Wendigo silently watched the deathmatch unfolding below the cliff. Most were trash who made their living through thievery, but some were even more vicious.

Mercenaries who had come after hearing rumors when work dried up, duelists who had studied at sword guilds, and the most prominent among them…

“Are those the ones called knights?”

Wendigo asked Skadi, pointing to a group showing exceptional performance among the followers.

Skadi stared at those Wendigo had pointed out and was puzzled. Their clothes were in tatters, and they were covered in ash, making their faces and hair a complete mess.

“For knights… they look too disheveled? Besides, knights are arrogant and obsessed with honor, so they’d have no reason to bow to a witch…”

Her observation seemed reasonable. Knights were practically kings in their own lands, and if they had sufficient ability, they could sell their strength to nobles for gold and treasures.

Even though the northern lands had become fertile, there was no reason for knights to come looking like that.

But Wendigo’s eyes could see more clearly and further than Skadi’s.

“They’re wearing armor under those rags. And the man at the center of the group is killing people with surprising calmness and efficiency.”

At Wendigo’s observation, Skadi focused her mystical energy on her eyes. Wendigo was right.

Though they wore roughly tanned animal hides, underneath were blackened chain mail protecting them.

With faces dirtied by ash, they were attacking—no, slaughtering—those around them, centered on one man.

“That one doesn’t seem to be trying to hide.”

The man at the center of the group freely wielded a greatsword as tall as himself, sweeping through everyone around him.

It didn’t matter whether he faced three or five opponents. The man’s greatsword was powerful enough to cut through shields and armor completely.

“I don’t know about the others, but that person seems to be a knight. The style of his armor and sword isn’t from the north.”

“At that level, he might as well be advertising himself. The rest are just unfortunate trash.”

With the suspicious one confirmed, there was no reason to keep watching this boring spectacle.

Wendigo gently set Skadi down and pulled an ice sword from the ground, then gave her instructions.

“Tell the warriors to attack the enemies. But warn them not to approach those ash-covered ones.”

“You don’t need to deal with the small fry, Wendigo. I’ll handle everyone except the man suspected to be a knight.”

Wendigo looked at Skadi with a worried expression.

It wasn’t that Skadi was weak, but he questioned whether she needed to throw herself into a dangerous situation.

Skadi skillfully understood the meaning behind Wendigo’s gaze.

Even without facial expressions, she could understand the heart of her fa—no, her lord whom she served sincerely.

“Don’t worry. I have a way to deal with the enemies without going down the cliff.”

“!”

Wendigo was startled as mystical energy surged from her body.

Skadi began drawing out her mystical energy through a ring as a medium, creating ice dolls that resembled herself.

‘I knew Skadi’s talent was exceptional, but I didn’t realize it was to this extent.’

The ice dolls, with joints made of branches and roots, looked no different from people.

Each ice doll created its own sword and spear, then moved toward Wendigo according to Skadi’s will.

Skadi examined the completed ice dolls and smiled.

“I was a bit worried, but they turned out quite well, thankfully.”

“I’d say they’re more than just ‘quite well.'”

With just two entities, the dolls were essentially extensions of Skadi’s will, moving like her avatars.

She had created two such avatars at once, and their movements were even smoother than Wendigo’s own.

Wendigo felt a strange jealousy at Skadi’s talent.

‘I’m envious. I can still barely use my avatar as a tool.’

Honestly, at this level, it seemed like Wendigo’s avatar was the doll and Skadi’s dolls were the avatars.

… Wendigo dismissed such foolish thoughts. Even with overflowing mystical energy, complaining about magical talent was too greedy.

“But… can these guys go down there?”

Wendigo asked Skadi, pointing to the bottom of the cliff. The height wasn’t extremely tall, but it certainly wasn’t low either.

It was definitely high enough that a fall could kill a person.

At least the slope wasn’t extremely steep…

“Meeeh~”

“Mountain goats?”

Wendigo turned around at the bleating sound. There were two sturdy mountain goats walking toward Skadi.

Surely she wasn’t planning to ride down on mountain goats?

“Meeeh!”

“Yes. I’d like you to help me.”

Skadi stroked the mountain goats that approached her and infused them with mystical energy.

The goats didn’t resist and absorbed her power. Then they began to transform.

Their bodies grew twice as large, their horns protruded aggressively, threatening to gore anyone, and their fangs grew sharp.

They could no longer be called mountain goats. They were closer to man-eating beasts.

The goats proudly displayed their majestic forms as they carried the ice dolls on their backs.

“These children will easily descend the cliff.”

“……”

Can I do something like that too?

Wendigo stared at the goats, pondering.

He had tried making livestock healthier and beasts fiercer before, but he had never tried making a docile creature suitable for battle.

‘…I should be able to.’

Thinking he could do it, Wendigo jumped off the cliff.

…If he couldn’t, it would be quite demoralizing.

* * *

“Huh?”

“My apologies.”

Affected by gravity, Wendigo struck the ground like a boulder launched from a catapult, and some unfortunate individuals were crushed to death under his solid feet.

The followers who had been fiercely fighting around them looked at Wendigo with surprised eyes.

Had this grueling bloodbath ended now that the Djin who served the Witch of the Forest had descended?

“I-is it finally over…!?”

“Kill them all!!!”

Of course not.

The followers approaching Wendigo were greatly confused when they saw wolf riders coming over the forest wall.

The ones who had been guiding them began shooting arrows and throwing spears, slaughtering them.

Weren’t we supposed to take a test and join under the Witch of the Forest?

Eyes seeking explanation turned toward Wendigo.

Wendigo had no intention of hiding and clearly stated the facts.

“Unfortunately, you’ve all failed.”

“What… what’s the reason?!”

One of the followers who had been killing each other until just now shouted at Wendigo, filled with resentment.

His question represented the feelings of most people there.

Wendigo stared at them and explained the reason briefly and concisely.

“What use would there be in accepting people with wicked hearts? Whether in low or high positions, it’s obvious they’d cause problems, so there’s no reason to accept them.”

“……”

The followers stared blankly at Wendigo, dumbfounded.

So the witch decided to kill all the followers because their hearts were dirty?

The followers didn’t believe Wendigo’s truthful explanation.

If those words were true, the Witch of the Forest would need to be able to discern people’s hearts without knowing their past or present, and they thought that would be impossible even for a witch.

Surely she had intended to kill them from the beginning!

“Damn it, everyone stop fighting! Right now, dealing with this Djin is more important… Aaargh!”

“What do you mean ‘deal with’? Get out of my way. You’re not who I’m after.”

As Wendigo swung his ice sword widely, the followers either split apart and died or froze to death.

When five or six died instantly, the followers screamed and retreated.

Wendigo pushed past them and ran toward the man he had targeted.

As if he had been expecting Wendigo to come, the man threw off his rags, donned his helmet, and waited for him.

Wendigo swung his sword with restrained power, intending to subdue him.

Since he was wearing armor, he should be able to withstand this much…

BOOM!

“Huh?”

The man’s subordinates, seemingly unconcerned about their lives, threw themselves at Wendigo’s ice sword.

The ice sword shattered their shields and butchered the man’s subordinates.

The torn bodies instantly turned the surroundings into a scene from hell, but the man’s subordinates didn’t even flinch.

“Even decent warriors would tremble at such a sight… Your subordinates are either fearless or mindless.”

“You’ve already noticed that fact—as expected of a Djin.”

The ash-covered knight calmly acknowledged the truth, stabbing his greatsword into the ground as he faced Wendigo.

Wendigo carefully examined the ash-covered knight. Perhaps this knight was also being controlled mentally, like his subordinates.

However…

“The others have lost their souls, but you seem normal. Or are you the one controlling them?”

“I am indeed the one controlling them. However, it would be more accurate to say that the power was lent to me by the one I serve.”

The knight proved his sanity by answering Wendigo in fluent pronunciation.

The knight nodded slightly and revealed his identity.

“I am Demian of House Plant. Though I look a mess, I was a knight of some renown.”

“I find that hard to believe. What would make a knight cover himself in ash like a charcoal maker?”

“Haha, I had no choice. The one I serve wanted to confirm something.”

Snap!

Demian burst into laughter and snapped his fingers. His subordinates immediately rushed toward Skadi’s ice dolls, which had somehow reached nearby.

Wendigo glanced sideways to check the skill of the ice dolls.

With dazzling skill that belied their goat mounts, they wielded spears and swords, poised to slaughter their enemies in an instant.

“It seems that battle will end quite quickly.”

“Haha, you think so?”

“Of course.”

Wendigo slowly approached Demian. He tensed, ready to lunge if Demian tried to escape.

But Demian didn’t retreat. Instead, he pulled out his greatsword and shouted loudly.

“My love, my master, my whip!”

“!?”

Along with Demian’s strange incantation, flames engulfed his greatsword.

Of course, that wasn’t what surprised Wendigo. He had faced flaming swords before.

What surprised Wendigo was that as the greatsword burst into flames, Demian’s subordinates also began to burn intensely.

“Aaaaargh!!!”

The subordinates rushed toward the ice dolls with terrible screams, as if the burning flames would subside if they reached the ice dolls.

Wendigo was so bewildered that he asked Demian.

“Have you lost your mind?”

“My, do I look that insane? Don’t worry. Those flames are flashy but not as painful as they seem. It’s just that the suggestion implanted in their heads becomes stronger with the burning sensation.”

As if to prove his words, Demian’s subordinates clung tenaciously to the ice dolls while howling.

They paid no attention to the blades wielded by the ice dolls.

Unless it was a fatal wound like decapitation, the hot flames cauterized their wounds, healing them instantly.

Demian watched the scene with satisfaction and provoked Wendigo in a cheerful voice.

“Now, as a dog serving his master, shall we roll around together?”

“Among all the creatures I’ve seen recently, none have made my skin crawl like you. You really are a pervert.”

“Hahaha! A pervert? That’s too harsh. Despite appearances, I’ve never forced my preferences on innocent people.”

Wendigo leaped toward Demian in disgust.

He couldn’t kill him if he wanted to find out who was behind him, so he had to control his strength…

“Come to think of it, I could blow off one limb.”

Wendigo swung his ice sword, aiming for Demian’s leg.

The ice sword, boasting overwhelming length and power, was wielded like a whip, targeting Demian’s leg.

Demian ignored the pressure and calmly took another step forward.

It was like offering his neck to the guillotine, but…

“This reminds me of a giant I faced long ago!”

Wendigo realized that Demian hadn’t made a mistake.

Demian instantly dove forward and blocked the ice sword with his sword hilt.

Clang!

“Hm!”

Lowering his body sharply, he used the force to deflect the ice sword in the opposite direction.

Wendigo’s ice sword cut through the air, and his body naturally slowed down.

‘An opening!’

Demian, like the experienced knight he was, didn’t miss the opening.

Determined to cut off his leg in one stroke, Demian brought his greatsword down toward Wendigo’s leg.

Wendigo instinctively realized he couldn’t block it… so he just let it happen.

Whoosh!

The greatsword spewed hot flames and cut through Wendigo’s hide.

It definitely cut, but…

“Hmm, your body is like rock.”

“If nothing else, my body is disgustingly sturdy.”

Crack!

Demian’s all-out strike succeeded in cutting about one-fifth of Wendigo’s leg, but that was it.

The flames that seemed about to burn Wendigo instantly lost their intensity as they cut into his body. The cold energy residing in his body flowed out and enveloped the greatsword.

Frowning at the unexpected hardness, Demian pulled at his greatsword, but it was useless.

Wendigo’s strength was holding onto the greatsword, not letting go.

Demian realized this too late, but…

“Oh dear.”

Demian clicked his tongue as he saw Wendigo’s foot striking his stomach.

Bang!

Wendigo’s kick aimed deep into Demian’s stomach.

‘It landed perfectly.’

Wendigo was certain as he pulled the greatsword out of his leg. The heavy sensation at his foot was definitely Demian’s.

Demian flew backward, bounced off the ground, and crashed into a tree.

Wendigo approached Demian with heightened vigilance.

Those who had left scars on him so far…

‘Come to think of it, there seem to be quite a few.’

…Anyway, those who had left scars on him weren’t just anyone.

Sure enough, Demian spat blood and staggered to his feet.

He removed his helmet and moved his mouth.

“Ugh… this tangy taste of blood is something I can never quit.”

“Your bravado is excessive. Can you even tell if what you just spat out is blood or pieces of your internal organs?”

“Ah, looking at it now, it’s internal organs. No wonder it felt thick.”

Having thrown off his helmet, Demian pushed back his shaggy hair with his own blood. Then he fingered the pieces of his internal organs on the ground and burst into maniacal laughter.

Wendigo was so bewildered that he snapped at Demian.

“It’s not bravado—you’re truly insane. Or an extreme pervert.”

“Hahaha! A pervert? That’s too harsh. Despite appearances, I’ve never forced my preferences on innocent people.”

“Instead of wasting time with nonsense, surrender. Then I’ll at least kill you without pain.”

Wendigo made an offer to Demian. If he was destined to die anyway, it would be better to die as cleanly and painlessly as possible.

However, Demian glared at Wendigo as if he had heard an absurd proposal.

“Death without pain? What a terrible thing to say!”

“?”

Wendigo stared at Demian in disbelief, but he was answering sincerely.

What kind of nonsense was this?

“And don’t talk as if this enjoyable time is already over. I can still fight more.”

“With that body?”

“Obviously not with this body. But my master has given me power that’s just right for me.”

There was no need to ask what it was. Suddenly, Demian’s armor began to spew fire.

Demian accepted the flames with a terrible scream… no, a scream filled with ecstasy.

Wendigo watched the scene in amazement. The blazing flames were burning Demian while simultaneously healing him.

A moment later, Demian stood up, looking so perfectly fine it was hard to believe he had been on the verge of death.

He shuddered with lingering sensation.

“Whew… Thanks to you, I tasted valuable pain.”

“Is that a curse?”

To Wendigo’s eyes, the flames just now were a curse.

What else could it be but a curse that both heals and burns a person?

Familiar with the question, Demian smiled and answered.

“Others call it a curse, but to me, it’s a blessing. It lets me continuously taste pain that’s hard to experience even once in a lifetime.”

“You’re completely insane.”

Wendigo raised his ice sword in disgust.

Regardless of Demian’s insanity, he had to admit the man was no ordinary opponent.

Perhaps it would be better to kill him rather than subdue him…

“Ah.”

“What is it?”

When Demian, who seemed about to start fighting again, hesitated, Wendigo asked out of curiosity.

Perhaps Demian’s body wasn’t completely healed?

“Remembering the pain of being hit by you made me a little exci—”

Unable to tolerate the insult, Wendigo threw his sword at Demian.