Ch.9Chapter 9

Wendigo spent a night at the mansion and headed toward Hegilson’s village. They couldn’t depart immediately because Hegilson’s physical condition was too poor.

After receiving Skadi’s attentive care (though Skadi didn’t seem particularly eager to provide it), Hegilson became worried as they traveled to the village. He never expected to receive nursing care from a Summoner.

‘It’s hard enough to imagine the price for summoning a Djin, but what about the herbs used to treat me?’

Hegilson recalled a story he had heard from an elder in the past. The memory of a Summoner who appeared under the guise of kindness and then forced sales upon people came vividly to mind…

“Hegilson. I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry. I’m not poor enough to do such things.”

“Huh!? Great Djin, I wasn’t thinking that way, I was just remembering something from the past…”

Hegilson earnestly offered excuses, but Wendigo wasn’t particularly interested in what he was thinking. Honestly, it wouldn’t be strange for him to be suspicious.

Nursing Hegilson wasn’t about extracting compensation. What Wendigo wanted was to create a good impression on Hegilson.

‘At first I planned to live in hiding, but thinking about it now, that doesn’t seem necessary.’

In a world unfamiliar with Djin, hiding would have been the right choice. Humans hunt even wild beasts when they deem them dangerous, so they would certainly organize an extermination rather than a hunt if a monster were wandering around.

But… after talking with Skadi and interacting with people, Wendigo’s thoughts changed.

Unlike Earth, this was a world where summoning magic actually existed and Djin were fairly well-known.

From what he’d heard, there were definitely monsters too. The leather he wore even contained troll hide.

At this point, Wendigo concluded that approaching people would be more beneficial than hiding in the forest.

It seemed that if he traveled around the forest with Skadi and made a name for himself, living among humans wouldn’t be difficult.

‘Once misunderstandings are cleared up, he’ll naturally spread good stories about me. Honestly, the herbs I used for Hegilson weren’t even rare.’

“Hegilson. I’m curious about those beasts that attacked you. Was there anything special about them?”

“Special? Of course there was. To be honest, they were very special.”

Hegilson recalled the horrific things he wished he could erase from his memory.

“The bloody roots protruding from every hole in their heads made them look like monsters straight from hell. Even when their heads were cut off, they kept moving as long as the roots remained connected, just like…”

“Do you mean they looked like that?”

“Yes, they looked like those… wait, what!?”

Wendigo pointed at wolves running toward them from beyond the forest. Hegilson’s description couldn’t have been more accurate.

“Khehehek!”

“What a strange howl. Skadi, take Hegilson and step back.”

Skadi nodded without argument. As Hegilson retreated with her, he asked:

“Will you be alright? Even for a Djin, facing that pack of beasts alone won’t be easy.”

“Don’t worry. Mere beasts can’t even touch a hair on Lord Wendigo.”

Though Skadi told him not to worry, Hegilson couldn’t help it. There were quite a few wolves.

If even a few wolves got past Wendigo, they would surely come for them. If something happened to Skadi, could they solve the village’s problem?

‘No. The Djin is helping us only because the Summoner is with him. If the contractor disappears, the Djin would have no reason to help.’

Hegilson resolved to protect Skadi no matter what. He stepped in front of her and raised his sword.

“Summoner, please step back as it could be dangerous…”

In the middle of his sentence, Hegilson turned his gaze toward the front, feeling a chill.

Wendigo hadn’t moved. He simply opened his mouth toward the approaching wolves.

That was enough.

Thick fog poured from Wendigo’s mouth. Hegilson felt an inexplicable uneasiness from the fog.

While Hegilson instinctively stepped back, the wolves threw themselves into the fog. Their instincts had malfunctioned due to the strange plants controlling their brains.

The fog spread, engulfing grass, trees, and wolves, and wherever it passed, everything froze into a pure white landscape.

Naturally, the wolves had become part of that white world.

“I tried to imitate a dragon’s breath, but it’s not great. Hard to control.”

Wendigo withdrew the fog and approached a wolf, manipulating the cold to extract the wolf’s head from the ice.

Wendigo split the wolf’s head with his claw and tore out the strange plant.

Though the strange plant was blackened and dead, it emitted a faint mystical energy. This mystical energy was more similar to a Djin’s than a Summoner’s.

‘It seems a Djin was indeed involved.’

“Great Djin, be careful!!”

Hegilson was shocked. A bear that burst out from the bushes was almost as large as Wendigo.

Wendigo turned his head to look at the bear. The roots protruding from its eyes and writhing were incredibly grotesque.

Wendigo caught the bear’s arm as it flew toward his face. He could probably take the hit without harm, but there was no reason to.

“Kweoeoeoek!?”

“I think I’ll have to tear you apart while you’re still alive.”

With a cracking sound, the bear’s arm broke. Wendigo swung his fists wildly at the bear’s upper body.

With the sound of tearing leather, the bear collapsed, spitting blood, but pitifully, it continued to twitch without dying.

Wendigo split the bear’s head to examine its brain. Inside the brain, roots were writhing around something that looked like a seed.

When he grabbed the seed with his claw, the roots controlling the bear’s brain wrapped around Wendigo’s arm.

“Disgustingly noisy.”

The roots tightened around Wendigo’s arm with enough force to crush it, but they couldn’t even scratch his hide. Wendigo irritably tore off the roots and extracted the seed.

The living seed emitted strong mystical energy. Despite the strange behavior it caused, the mystical energy contained in the seed held the pure energy of nature.

“Skadi. This seed was definitely planted by some Djin. Can you track them through this seed?”

“Hmm… It seems the seed doesn’t control directly but has embedded commands, so tracking would be difficult. But since it’s mystical energy planted by a Djin, I could recognize it if we encounter it.”

That meant the seed wasn’t particularly necessary.

Wendigo crushed the seed. The mystical energy, having lost its vessel, dispersed into the air.

Hegilson watched blankly and swallowed a hollow laugh.

Protect the Summoner? A Summoner protected by such a Djin?

‘If there’s something the Great Djin can’t handle, it would be better to just accept death.’

Hegilson felt something melting away inside his heart. Whether it was fear or worry, he couldn’t tell…

* * *

‘His expression seems more relaxed now?’

“There’s our village of Nidhorn. The entrance is a bit of a mess, but I’d appreciate your understanding.”

Hegilson guided Wendigo with the peaceful expression of an enlightened monk. He had realized that if Wendigo decided to do something, there would be no way to stop him.

Wendigo read the change in Hegilson’s emotions but let it pass. If his heart had turned in a bad direction, that would be concerning, but since he seemed more at ease, all the better.

Wendigo examined the village. The entrance was indeed a mess, confirming Hegilson’s claim about being attacked when he left.

Animal blood, broken roots, and a palisade on the verge of collapse.

If not for the signs of life inside, it could easily have been mistaken for ruins. As they approached the entrance, men with fierce eyes came forward, weapons raised.

‘They’re thin from lack of food, but their eyes are stronger than those in Skadi’s village.’

“Friends, calm down! It’s me, Hegilson!”

“Oh, it’s Hegilson. Who is… that person behind you?”

At one man’s question, all eyes turned to Wendigo. Wendigo realized he was becoming accustomed to the fear in people’s eyes.

At first, he had been at a loss for how to explain himself without frightening people, but now it was different. He had people who could explain for him.

“This is Lord Wendigo whom I serve. He’s a merciful Djin, so don’t be afraid.”

“He looks scary, but he really is a benevolent Djin. So please, put down your weapons.”

Skadi spoke matter-of-factly, while Hegilson spoke almost pleadingly.

At the words “merciful Djin,” the man’s face contorted strangely. The words “merciful” and “Djin” didn’t connect in his mind.

‘How much havoc must Djin have wreaked for him to react like that to those words… No, come to think of it, this current situation is also caused by a Djin.’

Wendigo felt a little wronged but understood. People who were currently suffering because of some unknown Djin would naturally be suspicious.

After a moment’s hesitation, the men lowered their weapons. Though scary-looking and a Djin, they decided to trust Hegilson’s word.

“You seem to have quite a reputation?”

“Hahaha. Well, I am a man of substance, aren’t I?”

It wasn’t great for someone to call themselves substantial, but it wasn’t entirely wrong. After all, why had Hegilson risked his life to leave the village? Wasn’t it to save the villagers?

It would be stranger if someone who risked their life to save the village wasn’t considered substantial.

The men were still afraid, but they didn’t stop Wendigo from entering the village. Honestly, they probably couldn’t have stopped him anyway.

As they entered, all eyes focused on Wendigo. Naturally, a giant wearing a deer skull would attract attention.

Wendigo read the people’s emotions.

Worry, anxiety, anger… and hope.

‘Hope in this situation… Has someone arrived before us?’

“Lord Wendigo. I sense strong mystical energy from inside.”

At Skadi’s words, Wendigo focused on the mystical energy. As she said, strong mystical energy could be felt from inside the village.

It wasn’t concentrated but divided into several pieces, suggesting a Summoner.

“It seems a Summoner arrived before us. What’s that place over there?”

“Oh, that’s the village’s food storage. If only that storehouse had remained safe, we could have held out longer… But suddenly all the grain and fruit rotted, causing a disaster.”

“Let’s go there.”

Wendigo headed toward the food storage. In the building, which reeked of rot, two middle-aged men were engaged in serious conversation.

“It seems the Djin dwelling in this land has sent punishment because you didn’t worship it. Look, under the storehouse, do you see those rotting roots? Through these roots, the malevolent energy…”

“Chief Geron, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’ve brought a Summoner. You should greet them.”

When Hegilson spoke, a stern-faced middle-aged man turned his head. Geron showed delight upon seeing Hegilson, then shock upon seeing Wendigo.

“W-who on earth have you brought here!”

“Well, it’s a long story…”

“I’ll explain. I am Wendigo. And this is Skadi, a Summoner contracted with me. Consider me… something like a Djin.”

At the word “Djin,” Geron’s expression changed. He had just been hearing that the village was in this state because of a Djin, and now a Djin appeared before him.

Geron hastily bowed his head in respect. He had no intention of offending the Djin.

“This insignificant old man greets the natural incarnation and great Djin.”

“The fact that you manage a village in this harsh forest already shows you are capable enough, so there’s no need to lower yourself like that.”

“!”

Geron, surprised to receive praise from a Djin, couldn’t hide his emotion. His gaze turned to Hegilson, but Hegilson didn’t have much to say.

“Well, compared to ordinary Djin, this Great Djin is more generous and merciful…”

“Just be honest. Unlike those bastard Djin, I’m decent.”

Flinch.

The middle-aged man beside Geron trembled at Wendigo’s blunt words. He was a middle-aged Summoner with a benevolent face.

The Summoner composed himself and greeted respectfully.

“I, Lyurik, a Summoner who studies mystical arts, greet the merciful Djin.”

“Ah, Great Djin, this is a Summoner who came to help our village.”

Geron introduced Lyurik with reverence.

He helped the young man who left the village, came to the village to share herbs and food, and was working tirelessly to solve their problems…

Hegilson was amazed as Geron, who was usually stingy with praise, lavished compliments on Lyurik.

‘He must truly be a good Summoner!’

Hegilson thought that heaven hadn’t abandoned them after all. Though they would have to pay a price, the Summoner and Djin helping the village were full of goodness!

Wendigo stared at Lyurik intently and approached him.

“You’ve been dedicated to helping the village?”

“Yes, that’s right! How perceptive you are, immediately identifying the cause of the problem…”

“I see.”

Without listening further to Geron’s words, Wendigo swung his claw. The talon, imbued with cold energy, flew toward Lyurik’s neck with a savage sound.

“Huh?”