Chapter 104

Though Wendigo didn’t point the ice sword, no one dared to move carelessly.

Even the northerners, famous for their roughness, could sense that now was a time for waiting, not protest, if they had any awareness.

And those with even better instincts had already judged that the interview for them had begun.

Otherwise, why would there be reason to take out a weapon after inviting guests?

‘As expected of a spirit, he’s not ordinary.’

‘Our ancestors said that even if you meet a troll, you can kill it if you keep your wits about you.’

Those with something to believe in looked up at Wendigo with inward admiration…

‘… He’s more docile than expected?’

Wendigo was flustered when he felt goodwill and respect in some gazes.

He felt sorry for those who truly responded to the invitation with good intentions or passion, but what Wendigo wanted was a scene of them flaring up and protesting en masse.

Then there would surely be shouting back and forth, and amid that chaos, he planned to pick out the bad ones and shame them to get compensation for the insult…

But with everyone waiting like gentle lambs for his mouth to move, that wasn’t so easy.

It was obvious that if he grabbed just anyone and shamed them in this situation, he’d just look like a crazy spirit.

‘I need to modify the plan a bit.’

However, he had no intention whatsoever of conducting a normal interview.

Isn’t it natural to provide compensation when you’ve harmed others?

Although he hadn’t intended to harm people and strictly speaking they were members of other tribes so he couldn’t behead them, he intended to make them spit something out.

As his thoughts lengthened and an awkward silence settled, Wendigo gestured and a sharp-witted servant quickly approached and asked:

“Do you have any tasks to assign?”

“Bring the messages these people wrote. Since they were chosen because the writing in their messages was impressive, it would be good to interview based on those writings.”

Those aspiring to be educators… future professors greatly empathized with Wendigo’s statement and nodded.

Since they were chosen through messages detailing their goals and educational policies, it was natural to gain the other’s approval by answering questions about those texts.

However, not everyone could calmly accept this.

Some had hastily written messages intending to prepare properly only after being selected…

‘This is crazy…’

‘Should I run away now?’

Some were even worse, literally focusing on winning the other’s favor.

Dario recalled the contents he had written and trembled nervously.

He had expected the Forest King to be an eccentric spirit, but still guessed he would like flattery like ordinary spirits and wrote the message accordingly, which really…

‘Damn, that’s just a gold-plated scrap of paper.’

Without a proper concrete plan, no clear direction, literally just phrases prepared to be selected.

Naturally, as soon as questions start, it would be immediately exposed what purpose he sent the message for.

Shortly after, the servant brought a bundle of messages tied with string, containing the messages of today’s visitors.

To Dario and some opportunists, it looked as ominous as a death list.

“It’s difficult for me to read directly, so read them aloud.”

“Yes!”

At Wendigo’s order, the servant answered loudly with shining eyes.

Wendigo’s gaze swept over the people and he picked out a suitable one among them.

“You seem to be the best example.”

“It’s an honor.”

The one Wendigo pointed out was an old man with long hair and beard. However, no one could disregard the old man.

Though he looked quite old, the aura felt from his sturdy build was not much different from a young warrior, and his clear, transparent eyes hinted at the wisdom of one with experience.

Someone who realized the old man’s identity muttered:

“Walton the Wise!”

“A nickname unsuited for an old man.”

People murmured at the unexpected appearance of a big shot.

The story of Walton the Wise was so famous it was treated like a living legend.

Losing his tribe in childhood and becoming a wanderer, he worked as a mercenary for various tribes, but at some point he began to take books and knowledge as companions, and one day he left the north and headed for the Empire.

Up to here, one might think of him as an intellectual with a somewhat unfortunate past, but… Walton was more capable than expected.

His footsteps that started in the north led to the Empire, then to the old empire in search of more knowledge, and even further to the east said to be full of deserts…

“Why is such a person here?”

Wendigo, hearing the explanation from the servant, asked curiously.

From what he heard, it seemed like he could live comfortably even in the south, not just the north…

As the servant also didn’t know that much and rolled his eyes, Walton approached Wendigo’s side and answered instead:

“There’s nothing special about the reason. I realized that no matter how long I wandered, it’s impossible to contain all the world’s knowledge, so I just wanted to be buried in my homeland when I die.”

“Then why did you send a message? You could just live out your days peacefully in your homeland.”

Wendigo saw in Walton’s transparent eyes those of one who had transcended death. It was the same look Jarken had shown when he stood in his way.

Such people tend to burn everything for their mission and wait for death without regrets…

At Wendigo’s question, Walton took out a small ornament from his breast. The ornament, weathered over considerable years, was hard to make out its shape.

However, the mystery contained within was not at all shabby.

‘It seems he carried it around for many years and repeated something… Reminiscing memories?’

Repeated actions with meaning, whatever the intention, tend to become a ritual.

The tribe must have been a more precious existence to Walton than expected.

Walton fiddled with the ornament and opened his mouth:

“It’s just an old man’s last whim. On the day I lost my tribe and became a wanderer, I surely wasn’t the only survivor… Then someone, unlike me, must have sown seeds and raised children.”

“And those children would be adults by now… and you want to teach them?”

“If I’m capable, it will be so, and even if not, if the university just performs its function, the north will become a slightly better place to live. Then the survivors of the tribe… or at least their children might benefit from it.”

Walton calmly expressed his thoughts. However…

“It was truly a heart-warming story!”

“Your Majesty. This person is qualified to teach people. If not someone like him, who would give teachings!”

“I who only valued knowledge feel ashamed!”

“……”

The professor aspirants listening to the story were greatly moved and beat their chests, then knelt before Wendigo and requested Walton’s appointment.

Wendigo, who had naturally intended to appoint Walton, found the situation quite bewildering.

Honestly, it wasn’t a pleasant sight to see burly men with reddened eyes spouting embarrassing words and making a fuss.

Walton seemed to feel the same, as he frowned and restrained them.

“There’s no one in the world without a story. I want to have fair discourse and…”

“There may be none without a story, but those who use it as a foundation to aim for a greater goal are rare!”

“Who would be more suitable than someone with such a noble purpose as you! Don’t be ashamed!”

‘No matter how wise, it seems he dislikes such excessiveness.’

Wendigo nodded as he saw Walton’s jaw muscles twitching.

It wasn’t very pleasant to have people around making a fuss when the person in question was fine.

Wendigo’s eyes met Walton’s, and Walton stared at Wendigo for a moment before nodding.

‘He wishes I would resolve the situation quickly.’

Responding to his wish, Wendigo raised his ice sword.

And instead of swinging… he thrust the sword raised with both hands back towards the ground.

Boom!!!

“……”

“Hmm, now it’s a bit quieter.”

The cold energy bursting from the ice sword instantly blew away people’s heat, and the loud noise focused their attention.

“First, I’d like to state that I too was deeply moved by Walton’s story. Your story was transparent, with not a hint of falsehood felt.”

“At an age where it’s hard to guess if I’ll wake up tomorrow, I haven’t wasted my years enough to seek profit through lies.”

“The world I know doesn’t turn everyone into a respectable elder like you just because they’re old.”

As Wendigo showed respect to Walton, people marveled.

It was rare for a spirit to acknowledge others, and considering Wendigo’s position, it wouldn’t have been strange if he had expressed admiration rather than respect to Walton.

Yet showing respect to Walton in front of many people was nothing short of proof of Wendigo’s great capacity.

“I’d like to appoint you. Will you teach students at the university?”

“Everyone tends to be devoted to what they want to do. I will never make you regret it.”

“Ah, before that, just in case, could you briefly tell me about the fields of study you’re confident in?”

“……”

Walton raised one eyebrow in bewilderment, but since appointment was already promised, there was nothing he couldn’t say.

Above all, wasn’t it a position where appointment was decided based on personal story and people’s testimonies rather than reading the message?

It wasn’t strange that the Forest King didn’t know the depth of cultivation that would have been obvious if he had read the message.

Walton stroked his beard and explained the fields of study he had acquired as concisely as possible…

‘Hmm… He knows how to do many things, how about having him work with Geron?’

Perhaps Walton sensed Wendigo’s wicked(?) plan?

Flinch.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. I was just startled by a sudden chill.”

“Oh dear, I’m sorry. It must be because you’ve been near me for a long time. I understand how great your depth of knowledge is, so you may step back.”

As Walton stepped back, Wendigo instructed the servant:

“From now on, mark those who have studied administrative or legal studies.”

“Understood.”

The servant quietly noted in the corner of Walton’s message the fields related to administration and law among those he had recited.

The servant wondered how many of these would become the king’s slaves, no, administrators.

---

With Walton as the start, the interviews continued. However, the atmosphere was considerably hotter than at the beginning…

“According to the contents written in the message, you boasted that if I appointed you, the university could be operated more efficiently.”

“W-Well, about that…”

“Answer quickly!!!”

“Don’t tell me you were planning to abuse the university that will be responsible for the north’s future for your own self-preservation! You trash!!!”

Walton’s story with deep meaning ignited the hearts of those who came with a sense of mission.

Of course, becoming a university professor was quite an honorable thing from the start.

In the north, far from academia, a foundation was being laid for the first time to research and teach scholarship, and hone knowledge and wisdom, and becoming one of those responsible for that foundation…

However, through Walton’s story, the title of professor gained a slightly, just slightly heavier responsibility.

“While some are prepared to risk their lives for descendants born in such barren land, you…!!!”

“You ignorant, vulgar bastard who knows nothing of honor. Come out! Come out and draw your sword! I’ll personally announce the end of your filthy life!”

In their minds, professors were already no different from beings who sacrifice their lives for the north’s future.

Those harboring such noble intentions in their hearts couldn’t forgive those who tried to use such positions for personal advancement.

Especially the hunters and warriors looked ready to draw their swords at any moment. No, judging by their hands on the hilts, they clearly intended to slaughter if given permission.

Indeed, the northern custom of not hesitating even murder for honor…

‘Still, it’s not bad. Thanks to this, an atmosphere has been created to extract something from these guys.’

Wendigo tapped the ground twice with his ice sword to capture the interviewee’s attention.

He was trembling as if about to collapse at any moment, looking no different from a criminal who had committed a blasphemous sin.

“Seeing that you can’t answer properly, it seems you really did blabber for your own greed… Was I that ridiculous to you?”

“N-No! Really, no!!!”

At Wendigo’s question, the interviewee prostrated himself with a corpse-like complexion.

In a situation where murderous insults were rampant from all directions, if Wendigo branded him a criminal, it might be difficult to return alive.

Wendigo spoke to him in a stern voice:

“If I wasn’t ridiculous, how could you not follow the customs of invitation and insult me with lies!”

“I-I’m sorry. I committed a mistake, blinded by brilliance!”

“Out of respect for your tribe, I’ll give you two choices. One is trial by combat…”

Glance.

The man slightly turned his head to look around at the people.

With fierce gazes shining, looking ready to behead him at any moment, it seemed they would pounce like hungry beasts the moment he requested trial by combat.

After letting the tension build sufficiently, Wendigo threw the man a lifeline.

“The other is to pay a suitable price and ask for forgiveness.”

In reality, there was only one choice the man could make.

Even if he won the trial by combat, he would be known for life as trash who tried to sell the north’s future, and how could that be called living?

“P-Please allow me to send a message to my tribe. Though it may be insignificant compared to the insult the Forest King felt, I will compensate to the best of my ability.”

As the man swore to compensate, Wendigo had the servant move him aside.

The interviews continued afterwards, and wails echoed through the audience hall.

“Next is… Dario of the Kapustin family. Step forward.”

As dozens of pairs of eyes glared at him, Dario felt cold sweat flowing.

However, Dario didn’t lose his nerve and fall into panic from the start.

‘Another name for crisis is opportunity.’

If he overcame this hurdle, the Kapustin family would surely be at the forefront among the Empire’s northern families.

Dario straightened his posture and adjusted his expression while massaging his facial muscles.

Dario’s appearance before Wendigo was close to the typical handsome type, and people’s gazes were quite favorable.

First impressions are always the most important.

At least in terms of appearance, Dario was closer to a cheerful warrior or minstrel than a con artist.

In simple terms, he could be said to be the typical human figure northerners like.

“Dario of the Kapustin family greets the Forest King!”

“Move away a bit, you smell.”

“……”

As completely unexpected words came out, Dario’s facial muscles trembled.