Ch.88Chapter 88

The Wendigo called for an attendant to summon Skadi.

“Tell her to wear the necklace when she comes.”

“Yes.”

The attendant didn’t concern himself with why the Wendigo was confronting a single sparrow.

Anyone foolish enough to be curious about such matters wouldn’t last long working in the forest palace.

After the attendant left, the Wendigo stared intently at the sparrow.

[I’ll listen if you have something to say. Though you’re not a witch, I can’t deny that a Djin is certainly a powerful being.]

The sparrow spoke like a superior addressing a subordinate.

The Wendigo, incredulous, rested his chin on his hand atop the throne and asked:

“While I’m not particularly knowledgeable about common sense, you people seem worse than me. Do you find Djin so amusing?”

The Wendigo’s question wasn’t strange.

Living in this world, he had heard enough about the notorious reputation of Djin and had personally experienced how cunning and unconscionable these beings were.

Moreover, their power was certainly threatening to humans…

What confidence did this creature have to look down on a Djin so casually?

[I certainly won’t deny that Djin were the most powerful beings in a previous era.]

“Previous era… Are you perhaps a centuries-old grandmother? A hook-nosed granny with mystical powers in your scalp?”

The sparrow chirped irritably at the Wendigo’s description.

From this reaction, the Wendigo could roughly guess that his opponent wasn’t elderly.

[How rude, just like a Djin! If you weren’t a servant of the Witch of the Forest, I would have come to burn you immediately.]

“You speak as if your own words are courteous and respectful. From what I hear, they seem more fitting for a common thug.”

The sparrow became easily angered and hurled insults at the Wendigo. He noticed metaphorical curses mixed in among the direct ones.

‘Those with experience are always better at what they do.’

A naturally condescending attitude from top to bottom.

Tiny fragments of intelligence detected between the insults.

And unlike the lower classes who lived day to day, this one spoke of nobility…

The owner of this sparrow might well be of knightly lineage or perhaps a fallen noble.

Bang!

“Lady Skadi has arrived.”

[Huff, finally she’s here.]

Skadi entered wearing a veil to hide her expression and adorned with jewelry she didn’t usually enjoy.

She glanced once at the sparrow and approached the Wendigo with elegant steps.

“Come up.”

The Wendigo extended his arm downward as if it were the most natural thing, helping Skadi climb up easily.

Accepting his courtesy, Skadi perched on his shoulder and asked through the necklace:

‘What is this about?’

Her question concealed bewilderment.

Thanks to the mention of the necklace, she had predicted this wouldn’t be an ordinary matter, but she hadn’t imagined confronting a strange sparrow.

The Wendigo quickly explained about the sparrow.

About the existence of the witch council, the self-proclaimed great witch Isabel’s personality, and their ideology.

After organizing the explanation in her mind, Skadi conveyed her thoughts to the Wendigo with puzzlement.

‘Aren’t they just lunatics? From a Summoner’s perspective, this seems like foolishness no matter how I look at it…’

‘Still, let’s hear what they have to say.’

* * *

The sparrow, or rather the self-proclaimed great witch Isabel, began expounding on her ideology like a fish in water when Skadi appeared.

She was convinced that Skadi, a fellow witch who had successfully established her own power base, would surely understand her ideology.

[People persecute witches for having incomprehensible powers, but that’s foolish behavior. The powers awakened in witches are the world finally bestowing appropriate strength upon its true leaders!]

‘Completely insane.’

‘Completely insane indeed.’

Though they didn’t show it, Skadi and the Wendigo had reached their conclusion about Isabel before hearing even half of her speech.

A true witch in every sense of the word, believing in extreme witch supremacy with a childishly simple yet cruel mindset.

The world hadn’t chosen witches with some grand purpose in mind.

If the world truly had a will and selected those upon whom to bestow power, then what kind of being was the Wendigo supposed to be?

‘No need to listen further.’

Representing the Wendigo’s will, Skadi raised her hand to silence the sparrow.

Skadi looked down at the sparrow and crossed her legs. Isabel trembled as she watched Skadi slowly bow her head.

‘This is what a true witch looks like!’

Skadi, wrapped in a mysterious aura like a cloak, embodied the ideal witch that the Red Rose Dawn Society dreamed of.

Skadi gazed into Isabel’s eyes and spoke:

“I’ve listened carefully to your story. It’s quite interesting.”

[I thought a wise witch like you would naturally understand.]

Isabel smiled as Skadi, whom she considered equally intelligent, showed a favorable attitude.

Indeed, kindred spirits recognize each other…

“But I don’t understand why I should join forces with you.”

[…That’s strange. Surely after hearing my explanation, you must understand what we need?]

Isabel emphasized her thoughts to Skadi with bewilderment. That witches should unite, she insisted.

But Skadi shook her head.

“One joins forces only when the other party has sufficient power. The forest has united warriors, fertile land, and friendly tribes… What do you have?”

Isabel fell silent. It wasn’t easy to refute Skadi’s words.

What help could the witch council offer when Skadi already stably controlled the forest and its surroundings?

As Isabel’s silence lengthened, the Wendigo gained more insight into her character.

‘She has strong pride. She won’t bow her head and admit her shortcomings.’

A level-headed person would have acknowledged their weaknesses and emphasized their strengths to compensate.

The Wendigo ordered Skadi to provoke the opponent’s weakness.

“I try to treat people as generously as possible, but there’s one thing I cannot tolerate.”

[…What is that?]

“Lying. And what you’re doing seems little different. Your words are flowery, but the substance…”

[That’s a harsh joke. Are you saying we’re beggars with no power trying to leech off you?]

As Isabel’s voice trembled, Skadi let out a cold laugh.

[What’s so funny?]

“Since ancient times, those without substance have always had the grandest words. Like a frightened dog barking loudly…”

The Wendigo admired Skadi’s acting skills. Knowing her kind nature made her cold performance all the more impressive.

And to Isabel, who was seeing her for the first time, it came across as completely authentic.

After a long silence, Isabel decided to reveal her hand.

[Perhaps not every witch in the world can become a ruler like you.]

“You have a loose tongue. What are you trying to say?”

[I’ll show you our power. Let me prove in person how many followers our witch council has, and how powerful our hidden strength is.]

“Very well. But it won’t be easy. The tribes strictly monitor those who visit the forest…”

At that moment, the sparrow burst into inappropriate laughter.

The Wendigo detected Isabel’s delight at having scored a point.

With a smile, Isabel chirped at Skadi:

[How did Demian, that pervert knight, pass through the forest? And what about those insignificant followers?]

“Are you saying you have accomplices?”

[A witch’s power is mighty. If our witch council desires, we can turn anyone into our slave.]

‘It seems they have a witch with the power to enchant others, like Miss Shir.’

The Wendigo agreed with Skadi’s speculation. If the warriors managing the gates had been controlled, it would explain the suspiciously large number of followers.

As Skadi and the Wendigo silently glared, Isabel seemed pleased.

[My, our conversation has gone on too long. Let’s continue our discussion face to face.]

“Fine. How do you plan to notify us when you reach the forest?”

[Watch the sky. When we reach the forest, we’ll set fire to a suitable tree as a signal. Until next time.]

Whoosh!

Isabel, apparently unwilling to continue the conversation, set the sparrow on fire.

It was to erase any possible traces, but…

“What a nasty personality.”

Before the poor sparrow could die, the Wendigo blew a cold breath that extinguished the flames.

The sparrow, having barely felt the heat before the fire was put out, made an adorable chirping sound completely different from its previous voice and climbed onto the Wendigo’s shoulder, then scurried over to Skadi.

Skadi placed the sparrow on her finger and slowly descended from the Wendigo.

Stroking the cute sparrow, she asked the Wendigo:

“I suppose we’ll have to kill her?”

“It seems so. Just from our conversation, she doesn’t sound like someone who can be reformed.”

The Wendigo was certain that an opportunity to use his new ice sword would come sooner than expected.

* * *

In a mansion somewhere in the north.

In a room reeking of blood, a woman with half her face concealed by a golden mask irritably threw aside another woman’s head.

“Aagh!”

“You fool. Did I ask for a hawk or an eagle? You should have at least controlled a crow to meet the forest witch!”

“B-but…”

The witch who had awakened the power to control animals felt wronged.

Would she have chosen to control a weak-looking sparrow if she could have controlled other, more dignified creatures?

“The crows in this land… none of them responded to my power.”

She had controlled many beasts in her village, and crows were the first creatures she had ever controlled. Naturally, she thought she could control dozens of crows in this land as well…

But the crows here only caused mental shock when she tried to control them, and not a single one could be brought under her control.

“Isabel, I’m certain the crows in this land are already under someone’s control. We’re all being watched—mmph!?”

“Not Isabel, but Lady Isabel!”

The golden-masked woman, Isabel, glared as she grabbed her colleague’s—no, her subordinate’s face.

The witch trembled and avoided Isabel’s gaze. Her bloodshot eyes burned with incomprehensible rage.

As Isabel applied more pressure, the witch screamed and struggled, blood from her torn gums flowing from her mouth.

“I-I’m sorry, Lady Isabel! I’ll be a useful witch! I-I’ll definitely be helpful to you!”

“Yes. You’d better be. I have no intention of keeping useless people alive.”

Isabel felt ecstasy watching her subordinate tremble.

That sight reminded her of her most beautiful days, when she followed the perfect natural order.

Although her foolish father had ruined their family, the world hadn’t stood by idly.

As proof, hadn’t the world given her the rightful claim to power?

Isabel released her subordinate’s mouth, and the witch bowed her head as blood dripped from her lips.

“Th-thank you. Thank you!”

“Choose.”

“Pardon?”

At the abrupt command, the witch looked up at Isabel, her face pale.

She immediately understood what Isabel meant.

Isabel, with a wicked smile, was ordering her to choose her own merciful punishment.

“F-forgive me. N-next time I’ll bring a crow, no, an eagle, even if I have to cough blood, please!”

“You speak as if doing your duty deserves praise. Choose quickly. Or shall I choose for you?”

“Eek! M-my stomach! I’ll take it on my stomach!!!”

The witch resigned herself to her fate, tears streaming down her face.

Isabel approached with an unnervingly calm expression and placed her hand on the witch’s stomach…

Whoosh!

The room filled with the woman’s desperate screams and the terrible smell of burning flesh.

Moments later, Isabel smiled as she examined the palm-shaped mark branded like a slave’s mark on the witch’s stomach.

“Remember your sin and reflect on it every time you see that scar.”

Isabel felt her burning anger subsiding as she looked at the scar.

But there was a voice echoing in her mind:

‘Since ancient times, those without substance have always had the grandest words.’

The forest witch’s mockery rekindled her rage.

Unable to contain her anger, Isabel kicked the unconscious witch’s stomach. The witch could only groan, unable to even scream properly.

“I thought we could work together because of your ability… How dare you humiliate me like this!”

Isabel’s anger exploded toward the wrong target. She knew this but didn’t stop kicking.

After all, this was the witch council she had created, and these were people who had sworn to follow her.

So wasn’t it natural that they should risk their lives for her?

After tormenting the witch for a long time, Isabel took a deep breath and swore to her god.

She would definitely burn the Witch of the Forest.