Chapter 84

Robert’s subordinates felt like they were on cloud nine after eating quality food for the first time in a long while.

The uneasiness about becoming a witch’s follower had long been suppressed by their satisfaction.

What did it matter, as long as they could fill their bellies with someone else’s food?

Robert was equally satisfied. Having developed a refined palate while being a witch’s lover, the watery porridge or hard bread that wanderers ate was utterly dreadful to him.

And when the belly is full, foolish thoughts arise.

One of Robert’s subordinates looked at the village and approached Robert.

“Boss. Judging by how those village folks handed over the food, it seems they’re properly scared of you, eh?”

“Hehehe. It’s thanks to my eloquence. How could these country bumpkins match my negotiation skills honed in imperial cities?”

It was blatant flattery, but Robert was greatly pleased and bragged about himself.

All he had done was threaten naive merchants using the witch’s authority, yet he spoke as if he were a silver-tongued orator.

Of course, his subordinates didn’t believe Robert’s bluster. Aside from his handsome face and manly voice, Robert didn’t have much going for him.

However, the fact that Robert was currently at the center of the group remained unchanged.

The subordinate who had been flattering like a sycophant flashed cunning eyes and threw bait to Robert.

“Now that we’ve filled our bellies, shouldn’t we relieve ourselves too?”

“That… sounds quite good.”

Robert immediately understood what the guy wanted through his lecherous gaze.

As it happened, Robert hadn’t been able to enjoy himself since becoming a fugitive…

‘It might be good to threaten them when the villagers come out.’

Robert and his subordinates’ thoughts were truly simple.

They mistakenly believed that if merely revealing themselves as followers was enough to make these cowards give them food, they could extort women too with proper threats.

Robert pretended to ponder for a moment, then said to the sycophant:

“Hmm, but as I’m the leader, it seems too unsightly for me to say such things.”

“Oh my. Of course! I’ll take care of it so that it doesn’t cause you any trouble, boss!”

As the sycophant beat his small chest and promised, Robert nodded.

Soon after, someone appeared from the village along with the warrior they had seen before, but…

“Is, is that a wolf? It’s too big for a wolf.”

“Hmph. What’s so great about a wolf? A wolf can be caught with just a club.”

“Damn it. Is the wolf important? What’s important is the one riding it.”

Robert’s subordinates muttered as they looked at the wolf rider who appeared with the warrior.

The wolf growled at them, bothered by their terrible stench.

“Grrrr.”

“Now, now, calm down. Calm down. We don’t know if they’re worth killing yet.”

Robert trembled as he looked at the wolf rider.

Although the rider calmed the wolf by stroking its neck, his eyes were not calm at all.

His eyes, reeking of blood, looked like they would behead him at any moment.

‘Shit. Why are these horse-loving bastards here?’

Why were these beastkin, who raise horses in the unpopular eastern plains rather than the North, here?

Tanned leather armor, two swords and a bow at the waist, and even a spear slung over the shoulder.

Moreover, looking down from atop a giant wolf, he couldn’t be more intimidating.

Robert felt his previously heated body turn cold.

His instincts warned that he shouldn’t offend the guy in front of him, lust be damned.

… But not everyone was so perceptive.

“You, you bastards… Don’t you know who we are! We are followers of the Forest Witch-“

‘This idiot!’

Whether it was because of lust or what, the sycophant who had been stimulating Robert’s lecherous thoughts pointed and shouted at the warriors, spittle flying.

The warrior belonging to the village looked at the sycophant as if he were pathetic.

It was understandable that they had eaten the food without suspicion since they lacked awareness, but to think they would be this oblivious.

When the warriors didn’t move, dumbfounded, the sycophant seemed to think he had gained the upper hand and shouted proudly.

“If you understand, get rid of that damn dog right now!”

“I was watching to see how far they’d go, but I never imagined they’d go all the way.”

“What?”

The wolf rider admired the other’s lack of awareness as he adjusted his grip on the spear and stabbed it into the chest.

With a clean strike without any waste, the sycophant collapsed with his heart pierced before he could even react.

Robert watched the scene without making a peep.

What could he do when that spear might target his neck next if he dared to protest, let alone rush in?

The wolf rider retrieved his spear and looked around.

Even though their comrade had died, not a single person was angry or rushing in.

‘To think the Spirit-nim has to deal with such scum.’

As killing intent filled the rider’s eyes, the self-proclaimed followers stared intently at the ground.

If their eyes met by chance, they might be the next to be skewered by the spear.

The wolf rider patted the wolf’s neck. It was a signal that it was okay to eat the corpse.

While the wolf was tearing into the corpse, the wolf rider warned Robert.

“You lot haven’t been officially recognized by the Spir-, no, the Forest Witch yet. How dare such bastards cause trouble using her name?”

“… It seems my subordinate got too excited after having a plentiful meal for the first time in a while.”

Robert deflected the blame onto the dead sycophant while trying to calm his pounding heart.

There was no loyalty to protest for someone who had acted out unable to control his own greed.

After glaring at Robert for a while, the wolf rider snorted and withdrew when the wolf finished eating the corpse.

“Anyway, don’t even think about causing trouble while following my guidance. If I sense anything strange, I’ll turn you into wolf food right away.”

As the wolf glared at them, drooling with blood mixed in, Robert unconsciously stepped back.

The rider sneered at this sight and turned his back. Robert trembled with his fist clenched, unable to contain his humiliation.

To think that those who couldn’t even raise their heads to him until recently would dare!

‘Just wait a little. Once I secure a place by the witch’s side, I’ll certainly have you flayed.’

Did he never think of taking revenge with his own power until the very end?

Robert dreamed of a non-existent future as he followed the rider towards the forest.

---

Robert’s resolve weakened as they headed deeper into the forest.

He realized that there were quite a few others besides themselves who had come after hearing rumors of the witch.

Wolf riders who started joining one by one, and the followers trailing behind them.

The followers, who were more numerous than expected at first, now numbered well over a hundred.

“Boss. Isn’t this bigger than we thought?”

“At this rate, it’ll be impossible to even approach the witch, let alone become her lover.”

The subordinates’ doubts were quite accurate.

As the group grew larger, naturally, there would be no great opportunities for the riffraff that had flowed in.

If the witch had any sense, wouldn’t she give positions to capable individuals rather than incompetent ones?

Naturally, the question “Does Robert have such ability?” couldn’t help but arise in the subordinates’ minds…

“……”

Of course, Robert had no confidence in this.

From the beginning, he had become the witch’s lover not because of his abilities, but thanks to his glib tongue and looks. Without that, Robert was nothing more than a thief who had killed a few people.

Robert hurried his steps to avoid the piercing gazes of his subordinates. The only fortunate thing was that their destination wasn’t far off.

“We’ve arrived. Wait below that cliff over there.”

“!”

Robert couldn’t help but be shocked at the number of followers gathered below the cliff.

He had thought those who came with him were already quite numerous, but he hadn’t expected there to be so many others who harbored the same thoughts.

‘Where, where is the witch?’

Robert moved his eyeballs around frantically, searching for the woman who would become his lifeline. He needed to build familiarity with the witch to gain her favor.

While there were quite a few women among the followers, of course, the witch was not present.

Robert’s eyes naturally turned towards the top of the cliff, and.

“Ha, to think that having a spirit companion… was real?”

Would a beast in human form look like this?

A giant with a huge body and sharp claws, wearing a deer skull, was looking down at them from atop the cliff.

Robert’s eyes slowly turned to the woman riding on the giant’s shoulder, and he couldn’t help but let out a gasp.

Her snow-white skin and hair naturally evoked a desire to defile them.

Her empty gaze, as if looking down on lesser beings, combined with her red eyes to stimulate a desire for conquest.

Even if it wasn’t Robert, the followers here instinctively realized her identity.

That she was the Forest Witch they had been seeking.

---

While the followers were glimpsing the qualities of a ruler in the Forest Witch’s beautiful appearance and lofty gaze…

“… Can’t we just go down?”

Skadi pleaded with Wendigo while maintaining a cold expression.

Wendigo asked her, puzzled:

“Why, I think it’s quite a good performance?”

To Wendigo’s eyes, Skadi’s acting was perfect.

If you excluded the lewd talk from the murmuring voices below the cliff, they were all describing Skadi as cold-natured, prickly, warm to her man…

‘When did these bastards stop being afraid of witches and start talking like this?’

… Anyway, except for such appearance-related talk, they were perceiving Skadi as a heroine with a mysterious aura.

However, Skadi seemed to think differently as she let out a deep sigh.

“I’m worried that rumors might spread saying I dominate or subjugated Wendigo-nim.”

While she had become somewhat more comfortable with Wendigo than before, it didn’t mean Skadi’s loyalty had dimmed.

Rather, thanks to the time spent together by his side, her feelings towards Wendigo were growing stronger day by day.

For such a Skadi, becoming the subject of rumors slandering Wendigo was truly something she wanted to avoid.

In a way, even this current situation was her fault!

“Haha, and here you were even faking illness because you wanted to stay together a little longer…”

“Kyaaaah!!! Y-You said you’d forget about that!”

When Wendigo playfully teased her, Skadi screamed, forgetting she was in the middle of acting.

Apparently, giving in to a moment’s desire and faking illness was quite shameful for a grown woman.

Skadi tried to make excuses, but…

“Shh, they might get suspicious below. You need to focus on your acting.”

“… You’re too much.”

When Wendigo pointed to the bottom of the cliff, Skadi pouted her lips and refocused on her acting.

“Spirit-nim! Skadi-nim! It seems all the guys have gathered!”

The last rider to arrive climbed the cliff and reported the situation.

Wendigo nodded. The area below the cliff was already packed with people.

Some were even hidden by trees, so surely this must be all of them?

‘… If not, I guess Skadi will have to act a bit more.’

Naturally passing over a thought that would have made Skadi scream if she had heard it, Wendigo lightly shook his shoulder to signal Skadi.

Receiving the signal, Skadi looked down at the bottom of the cliff and turned her head widely.

People trembled in fear at her cold gaze, as if looking down on useless lesser beings.

She frowned as if disappointed and whispered to Wendigo.

“It seems like enough, doesn’t it?”

“Then we can begin.”

Wendigo stood at the edge of the cliff, raised his hand, and moved the mystery. With a huge tremor of the earth, the trees of the forest began to move.

“Wh-What’s going on! What’s happening!”

“The forest is moving!”

The followers, terrified by this phenomenon they had never encountered before, headed towards the cliff.

Those with slow steps, those who fell from the tremors or being pushed by others, or those who just stood dazed.

Such people were swept up by the trees and became a handful of bloody water, becoming part of the forest.

The followers blankly stared at the wall of trees that had enclosed them.

“Wh-What is that?”

“The Forest Witch is disappointed in your incompetence.”

“!”

The followers looked up at the top of the cliff at Wendigo’s voice that pounded their ears like thunder.

Wendigo looked down at them and mocked:

“The Forest Witch has already completely dominated this forest. Even the tribes at the northern edge bow their heads and swear loyalty. Why on earth would she need trash like you?”

The followers trembled with anger but not one of them opened their mouth. Even a fool could understand that if they spoke wrongly here, they would die.

The pressure of their lives hanging by a thread weighed down their heads.

“Still, it seems you know your place since no one is objecting. As much as I’d like to turn you all into forest fertilizer right now…”

Wendigo turned his head to look at Skadi, then glared back at the followers.

“The Forest Witch has decided to take in those among you who are useful.”

“Th-That means… Kuack!?”

“?”

Wendigo was startled when the questioner died with a sword in his back before he could even answer the question.

He had been planning to tell them to ‘kill each other’ from this point on, but…

“You idiot. Can’t you read the mood? He’s saying only those who survive fighting to the death from now on will be taken!”

“Damn it, everyone gather together! The Coldwind Brotherhood will be the ones chosen by the witch!”

“Uh… right, fight and kill each other.”

Wendigo was dumbfounded as he watched the guys who started fighting before he could even finish speaking.

He had been planning to find particularly strong or suspicious individuals among them to check if they had any backing, but they started fighting on their own.

‘I’m not sure if their situational judgment is good or bad.’

“O Forest Witch!!!”

“Huh?”

Just as he was about to carefully examine the fighting guys to point out suspicious ones, a red-haired man desperately called out to Skadi.

Judging by his voice alone, it sounded as if he were searching for a lost lover.

Even Skadi, who had no interest in the followers, couldn’t resist her curiosity and looked down the cliff. There, the leader of the Red Tree Brotherhood, Robert, was looking up at the cliff.

“He’s quite handsome. Though his smell is terrible.”

“Is that so? I don’t really…”

At the comment about him being handsome, Skadi tilted her head.

His frame was decent, but he had no muscle in his limbs, and he didn’t give off any sense of weight, which felt off.

“He’s probably just begging for his life…”

“I fell in love with you from the moment I first saw you! Though my abilities may be lacking and I’m not strong, please watch over me. And if I die, please remember that there was a man who loved you…”

Robert used the same method he had used to capture the witch’s love.

A blatant love confession along with a desperate willingness to sacrifice his life, and cheesy lines that women go crazy for…

If combined with his handsome face and well-modulated voice, surely it would catch the witch’s eye!

“That crazy bastard!”

Robert’s greasy love confession succeeded in catching Skadi’s eye.

However, it wasn’t the curious and loving gaze Robert had hoped for… but a gaze glistening with shame and murderous intent.

Unable to contain her anger, Skadi manipulated the mystery to create an ice spear.

She threw the ice spear like lightning.

The spear, flying so fiercely that even a skilled warrior would find it hard to dodge, pierced through Robert’s mouth. It was a pathetic end for a thief infamous as a witch’s lover.

Even after killing Robert, Skadi’s anger hadn’t cooled as she glared at the corpse, grinding her teeth.

“@#$@^%#^#$%!!!”

‘Hm, I didn’t know Skadi knew such curses.’

Wendigo could understand her anger.

How shameful must it be for a piece of trash to confess to her in front of dozens of people?

‘Why did this humiliation have to happen in front of Wendigo-nim of all people!’

The reality was a bit different, but still.

Nevertheless, Robert’s death was a great stimulus to the followers.

The fear that if they didn’t show a good performance here, they might be killed by the Forest Witch.

As that fear seeped in, even the followers who had been watching cautiously began to participate actively in the battle.

… Of course, this wasn’t the situation Skadi would have wanted.