Chapter 14

After Hegilson had boasted of his eloquence and left, the wendigo collected his thoughts.

‘My head is spinning. No, come to think of it, there might have been fewer times when my mind was clear.’

He had been prepared for life to become tiring to some extent since becoming a large deer-headed monster.

However, he hadn’t anticipated this kind of fatigue. He had solved the issues of food, clothing, and shelter, but who would have thought that his very existence would become a source of problems?

The wendigo found peace of mind as he chewed and swallowed a deer leg whole. The sweet and sour sauce was indeed exquisite.

‘Right, it’s all about making a living. In a world like this, it’s normal to be plagued by incidents and accidents if you want to be treated well.’

This isn’t a world where food appears when you order through a delivery app. Isn’t it a world where you might have to risk your life for a loaf of bread if you’re unlucky?

As his mind found peace, his thoughts also became more positive. Thinking about it, there might be fewer problems.

Forest people are inherently tough. Living in harsh environments, humans themselves had no choice but to become stronger.

Such people try to solve problems on their own when they arise, and rarely seek help from outside.

Moreover, the wendigo is a spirit. His abilities wouldn’t be doubted, but everyone would be suspicious of his nature.

Even in urgent situations, there would clearly be few cases of asking a spirit for help.

… Surely that would be the case.

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Although he had unknowingly become a merciful, kind, and wise spirit, the wendigo’s daily life didn’t change much.

He contemplated mysteries while conversing with Skadi, went hunting for exercise, and made major decisions for the village. That was about it.

After spending about two months peacefully, the wendigo concluded that his worries had been unfounded. The village was extremely peaceful.

“Peace is such a good thing. Don’t you think so, Geron?”

“Yes. All of this is thanks to the merciful and kind…”

“Ah, Geron. Please, I beg you, spare me those cringeworthy flowery words. It’s hard enough hearing such things at Skadi’s gatherings.”

“Hahaha. I understand.”

As the wendigo, who was chewing on offered fruit, grimaced, Geron burst into laughter. This spirit was truly different from his appearance.

‘He’s really worth serving.’

Even the chiefs of tribes living in the southern forests try to maintain their dignity by asserting their authority and power, but this spirit had none of that.

He didn’t need to. This spirit was dignified by his very existence, and his character was more than worthy of respect.

Geron smiled pleasantly and continued speaking.

“It’s good that it’s peaceful. A little while from now it’ll be winter, and normally we’d be fretting about how to manage food and deal with the cold.”

This wasn’t about the burden being gone after taking off the hat of village chief. Most problems were solved at Skadi’s level.

Cold is ultimately a type of cold energy. As long as it belonged to the wendigo’s source, there was no difficulty in driving away the cold.

“It is warm in the village with the totem Skadi made.”

“Yes. Moreover, it seems we’ll be able to harvest the crops blessed by Spirit-nim soon. Far from a bad harvest, it wouldn’t be strange to call it a bumper crop, so what is there to worry about? Hahaha!”

This luxury was possible thanks to the wendigo’s endless mystery. The wendigo felt proud, even though he hadn’t particularly done anything himself.

‘Since my mystery is imbued, it’s as good as if I did it myself.’

It wasn’t wrong, and there was no one to deny it. Even Skadi, who had directly led the work, would have nodded and agreed if she had heard those words.

At this rate, they should be able to spend the winter peacefully.

‘Wait, usually when I have thoughts like this, problems arise…’

“O Spirit. An outsider wishes to see you. May we let them into the village?”

“Only these unpleasant predictions always come true.”

“Shall we turn them away?”

The wendigo pondered while chewing on fruit.

The village had found sufficient stability, and with winter approaching, it was a time for everyone to be careful in their movements.

Even if they incurred resentment by turning away the outsider, retaliation would clearly not be easy.

In the first place, coming to a village with a spirit meant that there was no spirit where they came from, which made it even more so.

‘Still, it should be fine to at least hear what they have to say.’

It wouldn’t matter if he didn’t meet them, but the world wasn’t a place where you could isolate yourself just because you wanted to.

If they had to face each other someday anyway, wouldn’t it be better to meet as the superior party at least?

“Tell them to wait for a moment. Geron, please clear away the food.”

“Yes. I’ll call people to clear it away.”

Following Geron’s instructions, people cleared away the meal and tidied up the place. After a short time passed, the wendigo commanded in a solemn voice.

“Tell them to enter.”

The door opened and a man stepped inside.

A sturdy physique and unhealed wounds. Unkempt hair.

The man, close to being a savage, entered with a wary gaze. Then he startled and stepped back.

A body full of muscles covered with tough hide and skin, and a deer skull emitting an ominous glow.

The wendigo’s appearance had the power to intimidate people, and the energy naturally flowing made people’s spines shiver.

“Don’t be afraid. I may look like this, but I don’t eat people or anything.”

“I-I’m sorry!”

The wendigo tried to calm the man, knowing it wouldn’t work. The man was greatly startled and fell to his knees.

“Right. You must have a reason for coming here despite your fear. Speak. Why have you come to see me?”

The man couldn’t open his mouth easily. The wendigo sensed the man’s emotions.

A scent full of confusion. It seemed the man was conflicted.

He had come to solve a problem without much thought, but he clearly hadn’t decided whether this was the right choice or not.

The wendigo decided to try and ease the man’s wariness.

“Oh my, I’ve been rude when a guest has come. Let’s have a chat over a cup of tea.”

“No, how could I do such a thing to Spirit-nim!”

“It’s fine, drink. From the looks of it, your body and mind seem tired, as if you’ve been through a lot. Shouldn’t you rest a bit at times like this?”

Geron, who was waiting outside, brought in warm tea.

There was none for the wendigo, probably because he couldn’t drink from a normal cup due to his size, so he didn’t drink tea separately.

“It’s good for your body, so drink it all.”

“Th-thank you.”

The man sipped the tea, not knowing what to do.

A harmonious blend of bitter and faint sweet tastes moistened his mouth. The man exclaimed in admiration.

“My goodness, to think such tea exists.”

“Not just the taste, it should help restore your vitality.”

The man’s eyes trembled. The unexpected hospitality eased the man’s tension and naturally warmed his heart.

As the atmosphere softened, the wendigo began his formal inquiry.

“I still don’t know your name. I’m called Wendigo. You can think of me as the spirit who has settled in this village.”

“I-I’m Ivan of the Beareren tribe. I’m an herbalist and warrior.”

Although herbalist and warrior aren’t compatible professions, most forest people were like this.

In a place where attacks could happen at any time, everyone lived as part-time warriors.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know where the Beareren tribe has settled.”

“That’s only natural, isn’t it? There are countless tribes, and none are large in scale.”

The forest wasn’t a good place for many to live together. Even this Nidhorn tribe was just one village that made up the entire tribe.

As small talk went back and forth and the atmosphere became friendly, the wendigo asked the main point.

“You must have a reason for coming to the village through a harsh journey. What is it?”

“… Actually, recently, we’ve been feeling uneasy signs from deep in the forest.”

“Uneasy signs. Has an evil spirit appeared or something?”

Honestly, he thought spirits and evil spirits were equally disastrous, but it seemed evil spirits appeared worse to people, so that possibility was higher.

Ivan shook his head. If it had been evil spirits or spirits, they could have prepared.

Many evil spirits were too lowly to even be called spirits, and even people could exorcise them if they fought prepared to die.

As for spirits, well… they often lost interest if their demands were met.

“It wasn’t an evil spirit. What we saw was a horde of monsters.”

“Monsters, what kind were they? Goblins? Ghouls? Big spiders?”

The wendigo recited the monsters that came to mind. According to the knowledge Skadi had shared, they were all creatures living in this forest.

Ivan shook his head. He spoke with a rather serious expression.

“Please don’t doubt what I’m about to say.”

“Alright, go ahead and speak.”

As the wendigo answered indifferently, Ivan spoke with a grim face.

“The monsters you mentioned were forming a single horde and moving south. Perhaps even more diverse types of monsters.”

“… Was that something you needed to be so serious about? You’re a more frivolous person than I thought.”

“!?”

Ivan couldn’t help but be surprised at the unexpectedly deflating response.

Although all monsters are called monsters, strictly speaking, they were all different species. Naturally, when species differ, they viewed each other as food or enemies.

These creatures that couldn’t unite even if they wanted to were forming a single horde and moving south. He and the warriors with him had doubted their own eyes, yet this was the response.

“Did you perhaps already know?”

“It’s not that. It’s just that I thought it wouldn’t be a small matter if forest people, as sturdy as hundred-year-old trees and as steadfast as rocks, were seeking help from another tribe.”

The wendigo politely wrapped up his ‘how would I know that?’

Ivan was moved by the unexpected praise. To think a truly kind spirit existed in the world.

‘Indeed, the words of the storyteller Hegilson were true!’

While Ivan was organizing his overflowing emotions, the wendigo fell into thought. This seemed to be an unavoidable incident.

He didn’t know what the monsters’ purpose was, but it certainly wasn’t for benevolent reasons, which meant they would clash at some point.

There was the option of abandoning the village and fleeing, but he didn’t want to do that.

‘I’ve just started to adapt, I’d rather not be driven out.’

Then it meant they had to clash with the monsters…

“It is indeed a big problem. If we move on a tribal scale, many would lose their lives in vain. I’ll help.”

“Y-you’re going to help?”

The wendigo nodded. Ivan finally couldn’t hold back his overwhelming emotions and burst into tears.

‘Truly a merciful spirit!’

‘If we set a good focal point, other tribes will gather wanting to live too.’

Contrary to Ivan’s misunderstanding, the wendigo wasn’t offering help out of mercy. This was a matter of efficiency.

No matter how strong his power was, he only had one body, and even counting Skadi, it was uncertain if they could cover the entire village with just two people.

The wendigo had no intention of throwing himself into an uncertain future. How could he refuse because it was troublesome when he could secure the safety of the village by enduring a little inconvenience?

“Come with me to visit nearby tribes and form an alliance. If a spirit guarantees it, they should believe us.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

“I understand your feelings, but stop crying. There will be a lot to do from now on.”

“Yes!”

Ivan swallowed his tears and widened his eyes. With his worries gone and courage burning, his eyes were worthy of being called those of a warrior.

The wendigo nodded with satisfaction.

‘It’s a bit uncomfortable to see a grown man cry.’

Not knowing his thoughts, Ivan burned with respect. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.