Chapter 100

The suddenly started meeting ended with the grand dream of establishing a university for the north’s hundred-year plan(?).

The merchants and mercenaries agreed to request support for the university establishment from their acquaintances, starting with relatives, and left the palace…

Wendigo sat on the throne in the empty audience hall, tapping the armrest and inwardly complained.

‘Now the university is more of a problem than Jurturu’s treasure.’

Life never flows as one intends.

Before he knew it, the small school he had conceived to nurture talents needed for the forest had disappeared, and in its place stood the grand name of the north’s first university.

Of course, it would be easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm.

As the owner of the forest and the founder and sponsor of the school, if he gave up the idea, it would be over, university or whatever.

… The problem was that even he didn’t think it was a very bad situation.

‘They say silver coins flow in merchants’ bodies instead of blood.’

Merchants were those who wouldn’t give up their wealth even if their lives were in danger.

How often do such merchants come together and offer to provide financial support?

It was probably a radical investment that might never happen again in the future.

‘Right. Simply put, a university can be run somewhat crudely if there’s enough money, people, and time.’

Modern universities had too many places for money to leak out, but at least the university he was envisioning now wasn’t to that extent.

Of course, teaching shamans and witches would drain quite a lot of resources, but…

‘I should be able to manage that somehow.’

Who would have thought that being able to freely support educational materials for students who don’t even exist yet would be more joyful than risking one’s life in battle?

If they procure construction materials from the forest as much as possible, actively employ forest people, and extract maintenance costs from students…

‘… Assuming the merchants don’t suddenly stop investing, even if it fails, the loss won’t be too severe.’

Wendigo didn’t have high expectations for the university establishment, considering the worst-case scenario.

If it became difficult to operate, he could just fold it and extract only the talented individuals!

… From the perspective of the merchants who promised to invest, there couldn’t be a more vicious spirit.

---

Wendigo called Gulmag and Skadi for a banquet.

The promise made with Gulmag needed to be changed as the matter suddenly grew larger, and Skadi needed to know the reason why the witch school was about to turn into a university.

Wendigo cut a huge steak with his claw and put it in his mouth.

Wouldn’t one’s eloquence improve with some oil in the mouth?

“It’s delicious today too. I should tell them to reward the cooks later.”

As Wendigo praised the cooks, Skadi also nodded with a bright smile.

Indeed, it was noticeable that the quality of food was improving daily as various spices were introduced and the cooks continued their research.

However, while Gulmag didn’t deny it was delicious, he chewed the meat with a blank expression.

“This meat, tasty but lacks muscle. Fat, tasty but lacks strength.”

“… It’s already plenty sturdy. I think eating something delicious would be good for mental health.”

Wendigo, dumbfounded, sincerely advised Gulmag.

Born to eat all living things, yet giving up gourmet food for muscles that might not even grow anymore.

For Wendigo, who lived for the joy of eating, it was an incomprehensible behavior.

However, Gulmag firmly shook his head and smiled as he chewed eggs with their shells piled in the corner.

“Tasty things, enough occasionally. Eggs, containing one life, good for muscles.”

“What… Well. If you like it, that’s good.”

Wendigo was bewildered but quickly gave up trying to persuade Gulmag.

It wasn’t bad for his body, and if he liked it, how could one stop him?

As Wendigo shook his head as if he couldn’t understand and stuffed a whole cabbage into his mouth and chewed, Skadi covered her mouth and giggled.

It was strangely funny that beings people revered were debating over mere food.

As the meal continued in such a friendly atmosphere, Wendigo rinsed his mouth with cold water and cautiously opened his mouth.

“Skadi might have heard the story, but I have something to tell both of you.”

“A story?”

“Ah, perhaps you mean the rumor about establishing a university?”

Unlike Gulmag, who had difficulty meeting people, Skadi had many opportunities to hear people’s chatter.

Of course, even the merchants weren’t completely certain, so there was some caution in their manner…

“They were babbling with excited faces about how this forest would become a historical turning point, so I wondered what it was about…”

“… Their excitement is too much.”

After all, it wasn’t a common story, and the bait of possibly establishing the north’s first university was enough to make people’s mouths move.

‘I gave up on keeping it secret from the beginning, knowing this would happen…’

Even so, calling it a historical turning point?

If the university closes down, how could one show their face due to embarrassment?

“I’m not sure about a historical turning point, but let me first talk about the university establishment. Please listen carefully.”

Wendigo crunched on honey-glazed apples prepared for dessert while explaining what happened last night.

By the time the story ended, Skadi was pressing her cheeks with her palms, her expression a mix of excitement and responsibility.

“My goodness! So that means I’ll be the chief administrator of the university! C-Can I do well?”

“Skadi will do well.”

People tend to get excited rather than scared when things become too grand in scale.

At least assured that Skadi wasn’t opposed to establishing the university, Wendigo now looked at Gulmag.

Come to think of it, this was prepared to educate Jermy…

Somehow, it seemed they would be keeping his disciple for years, so it was unavoidable to feel awkward.

“I’m thinking of proposing to Jermy to enroll in the university, but if you find it unpleasant, I’m willing to forget about it… What do you think?”

“??? I, not unpleasant. This, good for Jermy.”

Gulmag answered Wendigo’s question, blinking his eyes as if he had heard something strange.

Wendigo was puzzled by his unexpectedly flexible attitude and asked him:

“Is it okay for your disciple to study at the university for at least 2 years, or up to 4 years?”

“Jermy, not learn under me for long. Jermy, must learn human world after teachings end.”

Gulmag smiled, showing his fangs.

It wasn’t that he had no desire to keep teaching Jermy while traveling together.

However, can one always say that an ogre teacher’s teachings are right for a human disciple?

“My teachings, taught because Jermy wanted. But Jermy, human, so teachings might not suit.”

Gulmag, who had lived alone with wisdom, always moved forward pondering if his path was right.

Naturally, the path wasn’t always right, sometimes he went back, and sometimes he changed paths.

If his own path wasn’t always right, how could he force that path on his disciple?

“I, must thank Wendigo. Disciple, can move forward receiving various learnings.”

“Jermy is really lucky. To have such a caring teacher.”

“That’s right. I can feel Gulmag-nim’s heart thinking of his disciple.”

As Wendigo and Skadi marveled, Gulmag cleared his throat, seemingly embarrassed, avoiding their gaze.

Wendigo moistened his throat with water, pondered for a while, and then proposed to Gulmag.

“How about you teach people at the university instead? I think Jermy would like it too.”

“……”

Skadi and Gulmag, who had been maintaining a warm atmosphere until just now, looked at Wendigo with incredulous expressions.

Is it even possible for an ogre to teach people in this world…

‘Come to think of it, you’re already doing that.’

Realizing that the very person was Gulmag sitting right next to her, Skadi turned to look at Gulmag with an interested expression.

When even Skadi, whom he thought was the most rational and normal in this forest, started acting strange, Gulmag blurted out in bewilderment:

“University, don’t know exactly but teach humans. Wendigo, don’t know humans get scared when ogre appears?”

Surely he couldn’t be unaware of such a thing…

Gulmag looked at Wendigo as if he was looking at a madman.

At times like this, Gulmag was reminded once again that Wendigo was a spirit.

---

Although he had dealt with issues related to Jermy, the original goal, and Skadi, who would run the school, Wendigo honestly had half withdrawn his expectations for the university establishment.

Though merchants, mercenaries, and forest people had come together and resolved under the deer skull, there was no guarantee they would keep it.

Of course, the merchants would at least pretend for the sake of continuing trade with Wendigo, but…

‘Mercenaries are often selfish, and there’s not much forest people can do.’

Excluding forest people who couldn’t leave the forest in the first place, speaking of mercenaries, they were quite untrustworthy.

Logically, there was little reason for mercenaries to be enthusiastic about establishing a university.

Mercenaries would run away even from paid battles if things went wrong, so why would they help establish a university by running errands?

Still, there was no problem. The merchants who promised to invest did so because they wanted to, not because they were forced.

If they asked for forgiveness, he could take appropriate compensation and build the school at the level he had originally planned.

Thinking this way, he was about to start his daily routine sitting on the throne in the audience hall today as well, but…

Bang!

“Spirit Lord. It seems a big thing has happened!”

“Geron. What do you mean?”

The door of the audience hall opened, and Geron ran towards Wendigo with a surprised expression.

As servants followed behind him, hurriedly gathering bundles of messages, Wendigo sensed that something unusual had happened.

“What happened! Did a spirit or magical beast appear? Or a strange god like Allfather or Jurturu? If not that, then…”

“I-It’s not to that extent, but.”

“?”

If not to that extent, isn’t it not a big deal?

Wendigo looked at Geron in puzzlement, and he was about to refute in disbelief.

He was about to refute, but…

‘Come to think of it, the things that have happened so far were indeed big deals.’

Killing spirits and magical beasts, being invaded by the Northern Alliance, meeting gods and nailing down the right to rule the forest.

From his lord’s perspective, the standard for big deals was indeed strange.

Geron momentarily thought he might have overreacted, but he quickly regained his composure.

“It’s not that, didn’t the merchants and mercenaries say they would support the university establishment not long ago!”

“They did. Did they perhaps send messages saying they couldn’t fulfill their promise? If it’s that, it doesn’t seem like a big deal.”

Wendigo, who had been assuming the worst-case scenario, spoke nonchalantly, but Geron shook his head.

If it was such a matter, he would have entered the audience hall in a state of great anger, not surprise!

“Please read this message!”

“Let’s see…”

As Geron unfolded the message, Wendigo slowly read the contents written on it.

Sending a letter through the introduction of Rodomell, a renowned merchant in the north and respected brewer, wishing to lend a hand in establishing the university…

“… It seems Rodomell succeeded in persuading. Then are all those messages the servant is holding?”

It wouldn’t be too strange for a merchant of Rodomell’s caliber to exert strong influence in the north.

If other merchants and mercenaries joined in as well…

“No.”

Geron shook his head with a hardened expression and gestured towards the door. Then servants with hands full of messages entered one after another.

Geron took out a few messages from those brought by the servants and read their contents while clearing his throat.

Those who wanted to participate in the grand project of establishing a university.

Those who boasted of their knowledge and abilities and asked for positions to be arranged.

Those who requested their children be admitted to the university, promising large investments…

After reciting various messages with such contents and more, Geron looked at Wendigo and declared:

“Messages with content like what you’ve heard have arrived numbering over a hundred. The problem is that such messages seem likely to keep coming steadily in the future.”

“……”