Ch.87Chapter 87

Wendigo frowned.

He had thought that despite Demian’s insolent words and frivolous attitude, his loyalty and determination were beyond doubt…

‘…Still, I can’t deny he was an impressive fellow.’

Though he was born with the boundary between pain and pleasure collapsed, facing death was another matter entirely.

Death was frightening even to those who enjoyed pain or ignored it.

Wendigo decided to remember only Demian’s good points and forgot the bizarre story he had just heard.

With Demian’s death, the surroundings quickly entered a lull.

With Demian, who had been willing to face Wendigo, now dead, his followers fell into panic and gave up resistance.

A warrior approached Wendigo and saluted.

“Djin. We will take care of the rest.”

“Thank you. Handle it as usual and get some rest.”

The warriors nodded and began digging the ground.

Perhaps these sinful ones could atone by becoming nutrients for the earth.

Wendigo left the rest to the warriors and was about to climb the cliff. Now he just needed to dispel the ice sword and climb up…

“Huh?”

Wendigo realized something was strange about the ice sword. Until now, every ice sword he had created would crumble into fragments when he dispersed the mystical energy, but the one in his hand now wouldn’t respond to his control.

Perplexed, Wendigo began examining the ice sword from various angles.

It was still a crude rectangular executioner’s blade, but its appearance was definitely different from before.

The blade was surprisingly smooth, and the edge was so sharp it appeared as a mere line.

Wendigo experimentally brought his nail to the edge.

Srrk.

His nail, which could tear through people and even armor, was cleanly sliced off.

Wendigo stared at both his nail and the ice sword in astonishment.

What was this?

“Shouldn’t I at least know what it is if I made it?”

“Djin. Is there anything else you need from us?”

When Wendigo muttered in bewilderment, a warrior looked at him in surprise.

Wendigo waved his hand to indicate it was nothing.

“I was just pleased with how diligent my warriors are and was wondering what reward to give you.”

“We are already receiving sufficient rewards. The safety of this land and our families.”

“Your thinking makes me want to reward you even more. You may go now. Don’t tell anyone I’m preparing rewards.”

The warrior left with a smile, and Wendigo stared intently at the ice sword in his hand.

Should he ask Skadi?

‘…Since the world has become strange, it’s probably best to ask a strange fellow.’

Wendigo suddenly thought of a suitable person.

Though he wasn’t particularly fond of this individual, he had sufficient reason to consult him.

* * *

Late at night.

Wendigo faced a raven in the audience chamber. The one-eyed raven circled around Wendigo, cawing loudly.

“Caaaw!”

“Alfodur, I know it’s you, so please come down and show yourself.”

At Wendigo’s polite request, the raven landed near the throne. However, the raven tilted its head and was about to caw again.

“Caa… Whoa, whoa, is it appropriate for one called the King of the Forest to draw his sword over such a trivial matter?”

When Wendigo raised his ice sword, the raven hastily spoke in a human voice.

A moment later, the raven twisted and contorted, gradually taking human form, transforming into a one-eyed old man.

Wendigo watched the transformation with admiration.

“Have you descended to the middle realm?”

“If I had, would I be answering your call now? I’d be whispering power into the ears of kings.”

Alfodur flicked up the brim of his worn hat as he joked.

Naturally, Wendigo’s reaction was quite negative.

Who would appreciate someone whose first act upon descending to the world would be laying the groundwork for conflict?

“If you try such things near my land…”

“Don’t worry. I’m generous to those I acknowledge. Anyway… why did you call me?”

Alfodur shrugged and asked Wendigo.

If one of the most powerful Djin of the current era was asking a question, it surely wouldn’t be ordinary.

Perhaps he had found a powerful artifact, or was seeking advice on power from the king of gods…

“The mystical energy won’t leave this ice sword I created. How do I handle something like this?”

“……”

When Wendigo wiggled the ice sword while asking, Alfodur was so dumbfounded he couldn’t speak.

He hadn’t expected a proposal to join hands and control the world, but to think he was called for such a trivial question?

“…Sometimes I wonder if you forget that I am a god.”

“Certainly not. I would never forget you’re a god. But you didn’t properly fulfill your contract with me.”

Wendigo explained about Demian and his followers.

The deranged subordinates, the burning knight, and the black flames that knight produced at the end.

“Honestly, it wasn’t much of a threat, was it? Someone of your caliber wouldn’t find it difficult to handle.”

Alfodur stroked his single eye and made excuses after hearing the explanation. Like a skilled con artist, he hid lies among truths.

Considering Wendigo’s strength, dealing with Demian wasn’t difficult. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t dangerous.

Strictly speaking, when a Djin used their power, it was close to using their life force as a weapon.

Moreover, the truth that even the strong could lose their lives at any moment remained unchanged.

“So you’re not saying you didn’t warn me about someone empowered by a god? Especially when a god was involved.”

“You’re being harsh.”

Alfodur grumbled and admitted his mistake.

While Wendigo wasn’t particularly proud, even the least prideful gods wouldn’t tolerate disrespect toward divine power.

The pride of being directly created by the creator god was not easily shaken.

Alfodur extended his hand toward Wendigo. To understand the ice sword, he needed to examine it first.

Wendigo handed the ice sword to Alfodur while staring at him intently.

“I have no intention of stealing it, so stop staring. Northern gods might take things by force, but we don’t steal.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

When Alfodur looked at him as if genuinely wronged, Wendigo averted his gaze and spoke.

Alfodur glared at him and focused on the ice sword. Though initially bewildered, as he carefully examined the ice sword, his attitude changed.

Though an unfamiliar style, the ice sword was certainly a beautiful masterpiece.

“What an interesting form. Is it designed solely for cutting?”

“It’s modeled after a type of sword called an executioner’s blade.”

“I can’t ignore the passage of 4000 years. To think styles I’m unfamiliar with have emerged.”

Alfodur observed the ice sword with great interest. How interesting must it have been for him to continue examining it even after slicing off his own finger on the blade?

Wendigo advised Alfodur with a look of disdain.

“You should break the habit of being careless with bodies that aren’t yours. You might do the same after descending to the mortal realm.”

“I’m glad to see you’re concerned about me. It seems we’ve become quite close.”

Alfodur brazenly handed the ice sword back to Wendigo.

He now had a rough idea about the nature of this object.

“The reason this ice sword doesn’t disappear is simple. It’s… essentially a spell inscribed into the world.”

“I may have mentioned this before, but I’m ignorant about spells. I’d appreciate a simpler explanation.”

“Tsk, tsk, the young ones are just as hopeless now as they were in the old days.”

Alfodur looked at Wendigo with a displeased expression.

He had worked hard enough to be scolded by the creator god to acquire all knowledge and wisdom, yet these youngsters!

“Are you familiar with mythology?”

“I’ve heard some from Skadi.”

“At least you have the attitude to learn history. Have you heard of divine weapons?”

Wendigo nodded.

Divine weapons, or god-tools as they were also called.

Alfodur tapped the blade and briefly explained.

“Divine weapons are powerful artifacts containing a god’s power. Gods possess such artifacts from birth.”

“So… you’re saying this ice sword is a kind of divine weapon?”

“Well, I suppose it’s something similar. Perhaps it’s an object born somewhere between the spells of summoners and the primal spells of Djin.”

Heroes are often accompanied by magic swords befitting them.

Wendigo, having drawn out his power to the extreme, had unknowingly created an object most suited to himself…

Wendigo looked at the ice sword with a mixture of surprise and disappointment.

“It doesn’t seem that impressive.”

Though sharp enough to split rocks in one strike, harder than steel, and cold enough to freeze anything it touched…

It didn’t seem impressive enough to be called a divine weapon.

Alfodur looked at Wendigo incredulously.

“Did you expect a weapon that would freeze the world with one swing and restore it with another?”

“Not quite that much. But it’s disappointing that it only does what I can already do.”

“Divine weapons are born based on their master’s power. A being that manipulates cold wouldn’t manifest a flame sword.”

Wendigo nodded at Alfodur’s point. Indeed, Alfodur’s words made sense.

Satisfied with having acquired a personal weapon, Wendigo asked Alfodur the most important question.

“So how do I get rid of it?”

“Just think of a place you consider suitable for storage. In my case, it’s my eye.”

As Alfodur tapped his eye while speaking, Wendigo pondered.

A place suitable for storing something…

“My mouth would look too grotesque.”

“Indeed, pulling such a sword from your mouth would be strange, even if impressive.”

“Then the ground would be good.”

Wendigo positioned the ice sword vertically and imagined it melting and seeping into the ground.

The ice sword then slowly melted like a snowman under sunlight and seeped into the floor.

“It works.”

“I hope you weren’t doubting me. By the way, have you named your weapon?”

“Name?”

When Wendigo asked in confusion, Alfodur replied as if stating the obvious.

“You’ve acquired a weapon that’s practically an extension of yourself. Of course you should name it.”

“What… I’m just going to call it the ice sword. It’s the only sword I’ll be using from now on anyway.”

“Be honest. Haven’t your subordinates ever told you that you lack naming sense?”

Wendigo lightly dismissed Alfodur’s meddling.

Once an ice sword, always an ice sword.

Seeing Wendigo’s resolute attitude, Alfodur shook his head.

With Wendigo’s business concluded, Alfodur prepared to leave.

The old man who had been nagging just moments ago transformed into a raven and perched on the window.

The raven flapped its wings and looked at Wendigo, moving its beak.

“Right. You complained earlier about my failure to warn you.”

“Indeed.”

“So let me tell you something. Soon, witches will visit your forest. Be cautious of their leader, who serves the same god as the warrior you faced.”

“The same god?”

The raven shrugged, avoiding a direct answer. It judged that it had provided enough information to fulfill the contract.

The raven, Alfodur, offered one final piece of advice.

“I can tell you with certainty that she’s insane. She… enjoys things that are very destructive and chaotic.”

“I’ll be careful.”

“Well, if that one made a contract with her, that witch must not be normal either… but I trust you’ll handle it well.”

* * *

A few days later.

A sparrow flew into the audience chamber where Wendigo was preparing for a trial, circling around him.

Wendigo eyed the sparrow suspiciously. Mystical energy was flowing from the sparrow’s body in a way that didn’t suit it.

“Who are you?”

[I am Isabel, the Grand Witch of the Red Rose Dawn Society, a group of witches. I wish to speak with the Witch of the Forest.]

Wendigo looked at the sparrow with bewilderment.

He had been forewarned through Alfodur that a witch would appear, but he hadn’t expected such a bold request for a meeting.

Moreover, did they still think Skadi was the Witch of the Forest?

“I cannot easily grant permission to speak with her. Please state your reas—”

[Djin, I remember your form. Your fighting for the Witch of the Forest was impressive, but that was merely behavior befitting a servant who has submitted to her. And servants should not interfere in conversations between masters.]

“……”

When such arrogant nonsense flowed from the sparrow’s mouth, Wendigo was so dumbfounded he couldn’t speak.

He couldn’t believe someone who had witnessed that scene would still think he was subordinate to Skadi.

The sparrow looked at Wendigo with an arrogant expression and spoke.

[Your master, the Witch of the Forest, will need us. Someone who has subjugated a powerful Djin like you must have already realized that we should join forces.]

“So you’re saying you want her to join your group?”

[Yes. Our witch society is convinced that witches are the truly noble beings who should rule this world.]

‘That sounds like the talk of a discriminator. She’s definitely not normal.’

Wendigo realized he could feel contempt even for someone he had never seen.