Chapter 76

Wendigo’s deep sigh contained a fatigue that anyone could sympathize with.

Gulmag approached Wendigo, patted his shoulder, and comforted him.

“Wendigo, if bad things happen, good things happen too.”

“That’s right. But bad things last long while good things are quickly forgotten.”

Still, Gulmag’s comfort wasn’t bad. After all, a talking ogre would surely have experienced as many incidents as a strange spirit.

Geron looked at Gulmag with complex emotions in his eyes. He tried not to be surprised, but it was difficult not to be startled by a talking ogre.

Geron carefully asked Wendigo:

“Who is this person next to you? Could this be the ogre mentioned in the message?”

“That’s right. But don’t be too surprised. He can communicate and is more rational than you’d expect.”

Gulmag was grateful to Wendigo for introducing him favorably. However, he didn’t expect much.

For others, it wouldn’t be strange if the very birth of an ogre was a source of fear.

Bluntly put, how many people wouldn’t be wary of an ogre who could kill a person with one punch?

However, contrary to Gulmag’s thoughts, Geron nodded calmly and accepted it.

“If the spirit-nim says so, then it must be true.”

“!”

Gulmag was shocked and widened his eyes. He hadn’t expected Geron to believe Wendigo’s assurance without the slightest doubt.

“Warrior, are you not afraid of me?”

To Gulmag’s question, Geron smiled.

Honestly, if asked if he was scared, he couldn’t help but be. It wasn’t a common goblin or wolf, but an ogre after all.

However, Geron wasn’t greatly afraid of Gulmag.

“Honestly, I am scared. But it’s not just anyone, but someone the Wendigo-nim himself has evaluated, so how could he have misjudged?”

“Everyone makes mistakes. Even gods make mistakes. Wendigo, not strange if makes mistake.”

Gulmag spoke to Geron, puzzled. Hadn’t he just had a fierce battle with Wendigo because of such a mistake?

However, at Gulmag’s words, Geron burst into laughter and firmly solidified his judgment.

“Rather, as we talk, I feel my fear disappearing. Isn’t the very fact that we can converse like this proof that Gulmag-nim isn’t violent?”

“… Geron, capable like Skadi.”

Meeting a human who wasn’t afraid of him after a long time, Gulmag acknowledged Geron with a warm smile.

Wendigo nodded and added to Gulmag’s assessment.

“Geron is indeed capable.”

Although he started as the chief of a single village, Geron steadfastly assisted Wendigo even as the power grew.

He maintained balance by regularly meeting with village chiefs, managed tributes from various places, and even assisted Wendigo by his side.

For Wendigo, who was almost a layman in such matters, Geron was an indispensable existence.

“Thank you for the praise. More importantly, the current problem…”

“The gods are watching me. Allfather is watching me! What rudeness is this to the messenger and chosen warrior of the Lord!!!”

“It seems he’s truly mad. Behind the temple?”

Wendigo asked with a shudder at the madman’s voice coming from beyond the temple.

“Yes. We’ve bound him behind the temple. Sira-ssi and Freya-nim should be waiting.”

“Hmm…”

Wendigo looked at Gulmag. Honestly, meeting Sira wouldn’t be a problem.

Sira was a woman with quite open-minded thinking, so it was unlikely she’d make a fuss just because Gulmag was an ogre.

The problem was that Freya was by Sira’s side and…

‘That one would probably act up as soon as she sees Gulmag.’

… Honestly, Freya wasn’t a spirit with a particularly good personality either.

Wasn’t it Freya who called Wendigo strange or crazy right to his face?

For someone like that, it wouldn’t be strange if she hurled insults as soon as she saw Gulmag.

“Gulmag. Sira is a decent shaman, so there’s no need to worry. However, Freya is a spirit, so she might act up as soon as she sees your face. Are you okay with meeting her?”

“Wendigo, worry too much. And there’s one thing you haven’t thought of.”

“What haven’t I thought of?”

To Wendigo’s question, Gulmag answered with a smirk.

“Spirits, originally crazy. I, don’t get angry at obvious things.”

“… Indeed, that’s true.”

Wendigo couldn’t help but acknowledge Gulmag’s perfect logic.

---

In the back garden of the temple, Sira and Freya, who were waiting for Wendigo, were watching over a man.

Wendigo observed the man from afar.

His sturdy body and the scars carved on it proved that the man was a warrior…

“Oh gods. I will overcome this trial! Watch over me!!!”

‘Did he eat the wrong mushroom?’

Glaring at the sky with bloodshot eyes and shouting at the top of his lungs, he looked every bit the madman.

Wendigo slowly approached Sira.

“Sira. What’s going on here?”

“Spirit-nim. And…???”

Noticing Wendigo’s presence, Sira turned her head and was puzzled when she saw Gulmag.

Why on earth would an ogre appear in a place like this?

As Sira stammered, at a loss for words, Freya stepped in to speak for her.

[ Wendigo! What’s that ugly thing? ]

“Freya!”

Sira shouted at Freya in shock.

There was nothing good about provoking an ogre. Moreover, if one had any sense, they could realize that the ogre was related to Wendigo.

Of course, Freya had that much sense. However, Freya acted according to her principles.

For a spirit of beauty, calling something ugly when it is ugly is only natural!

[ Darling. It’s not shameful to call something ugly when it’s ugly. ]

“It’s not shameful, it’s rude. You crazy spirit.”

Wendigo inwardly sighed at Freya’s attitude, which was no different from what he had expected.

Wendigo glanced at Gulmag. Gulmag seemed peaceful, not showing any signs of being disturbed.

“I’m sorry.”

“Wendigo, no need to apologize. Most fear ogres. And…”

“Hm?”

Gulmag scratched his head and spoke his honest opinion.

“Beauty spirit speaks of, I don’t understand.”

[ … What? ]

Freya, who always lived with a smile, asked back with a rare serious expression.

The mystery around Freya swirled, representing her anger, but Gulmag wasn’t afraid at all.

“I, think most beautiful beings are ogres.”

“Indeed, since Gulmag-ssi is an ogre, your aesthetic sense would be that of an ogre too.”

Gulmag nodded at Skadi’s words. Wendigo couldn’t help but agree with her words as well.

After all, beauty could only be relative.

Bluntly put, Gulmag might find the strong arms of a female ogre beautiful…

[ You’re all crazy! Beauty is defined by me as the standard! ]

Freya screamed in shock when even Wendigo and Skadi seemed persuaded by Gulmag’s words.

As a spirit born from beauty, it was an absurd statement she absolutely couldn’t let slide.

Wendigo scolded Freya with a look of disdain.

“Freya. Beauty is always relative.”

While not denying universal standards of beauty, sometimes there are those who ignore standards and set their own.

Just thinking about his past life, considering those who liked non-existent beast-people, and ones closer to animals at that, Gulmag wasn’t that strange.

Rather, in loving his own kind, Gulmag might be more normal.

However, Freya couldn’t accept this. It was a matter of pride.

[ Let’s see if you can say that after seeing my true form! ]

“Oh. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Wendigo clapped out of politeness while uttering soulless words.

Freya trembled with a sense of betrayal.

To betray the bond(?) they had formed so far!

[ Expect it more sincerely!!! ]

“But… even if Freya-nim does that, it won’t change Gulmag-ssi’s aesthetic sense, right?”

“Correct. Female ogres are the best.”

Realizing she had no allies, Freya gritted her teeth with reddened eyes.

Freya turned her head sharply to look at Sira.

She believed that the beautiful Sira would sympathize with her…

‘It’s the first time I’ve felt sorry for Freya.’

[ Darling!!! ]

Freya wailed when she met Sira’s pitying gaze.

Even Wendigo felt sorry for Freya at this point.

How shocking must it be for a spirit of beauty to be told she’s not beautiful?

“Freya. I acknowledge that you’re beautiful. So please calm down and…”

Sometimes, comfort can make a person, no, a spirit, even more miserable.

Especially the comfort of a spirit unskilled in pretense like Wendigo was no different from a sharp dagger.

Freya, wounded in her pride, screamed and drew up her mystery.

[ I can’t let this slide! I’ll definitely show that ogre what true beauty is! ]

‘How annoyingly fussy.’

Wendigo grumbled inwardly and folded his arms. At this point, he intended to just watch what Freya would do.

Freya began to dismantle her fairy body and mold her true form.

Colorful petals appeared in the air, swirling, and shimmering butterflies flew about.

Freya slowly revealed herself among the petals forming the shape of a woman.

Long legs and a slender waist. Full breasts and platinum blonde hair gently resting on top.

Freya didn’t stop there and snapped her fingers. The butterflies clumped together and turned to gold, and the petals settled to become jewels.

Adorned with splendid ornaments, Freya asked confidently with a seductive smile that could melt a man’s liver:

“How about it? Can you still say female ogres are beautiful?”

“Hmm…”

“!?”

When Wendigo showed a flat reaction while resting his chin on his hand, Freya screamed silently.

The ogre might have gone crazy like a monster, but Wendigo surely had a normal aesthetic sense, yet he showed such a reaction!

‘She’s certainly pretty, but…’

Wendigo was quite impressed. Indeed, as a spirit of beauty, Freya’s beauty couldn’t be denied.

However…

“To be honest, I prefer Skadi more.”

“Wh-what did you say!?”

“… Eh?”

At Wendigo’s perfect surprise attack, Skadi blushed and broke down, while Freya was shocked by the fact that she had lost.

It wasn’t denying that Skadi was pretty. She was a beautiful girl to the extent that Freya herself had proposed a contract!

But as the spirit of beauty.

Freya pointed at Wendigo and objected to his evaluation.

“This is biased!”

“No… Honestly, I find modest charm more attractive than flashiness.”

Wendigo answered as if unimpressed. It wasn’t that Freya was ‘less attractive than a human despite being a spirit of beauty.’

It was just that the naturalness flowing from moderate accessories and neat attire like Skadi’s was more attractive than Freya’s flashiness.

As Freya glared, Wendigo cleared his throat and pointed at Gulmag.

“Besides, wasn’t your goal to change Gulmag’s sexual… no, aesthetic preferences?”

“… Hmph. I’ll compete again next time, so wait.”

‘How annoyingly troublesome.’

Wendigo swallowed his words and looked at Gulmag.

Gulmag observed Freya with a frown and gave his evaluation.

“Spirit, breasts big.”

“Yes! Now you’re finally understanding beauty…”

“That’s all. Spirit, no muscles. No scars. Body that hasn’t overcome hardship not beautiful.”

“!@#!%!@$#!#@!!!”

Freya finally couldn’t contain her anger and spat out indescribable curses.

These fools who wear eyes as decoration!

---

Freya’s anger cooled quickly. She realized it was foolish to argue common sense with someone who had such a firm aesthetic sense as Gulmag.

“Hmph. I expected too much from a monster who doesn’t know common sense.”

“Sorry. But female ogres still prettier…”

“Gulmag. I’m sorry, but please be quiet.”

At Wendigo’s restraint, Gulmag nodded and stepped back.

Freya glared at Gulmag, then turned her head sharply and tightly hugged Sira in her arms.

Sira sighed deeply and accepted the situation. This was enough to soothe her anger cheaply.

“So… what’s that guy doing?”

Wendigo asked, pointing at the man. The man was staring blankly at Freya, seemingly properly enchanted.

Freya stared at Wendigo for a moment and grumbled.

“It was an important matter, but I don’t feel like talking because I’m in a bad mood.”

“Shall I give you a forehead flick and then you talk?”

Wendigo seriously wanted to give a forehead flick.

Flick!

“Ouch!”

“Ah, I meant to just think about it.”

Wendigo flicked her forehead, pretending it was a mistake.

He wasn’t particularly sorry. Honestly, she deserved it.

It felt completely satisfying.