Chapter 97

Wendigo’s visit was unexpected by anyone.

It wasn’t as if he had started off with a good relationship with the witches, and above all, why would a being with the position of forest king need to visit personally?

If they had just sent someone from the palace, the witches would have prepared their hearts and gone to see him!

“E-Everyone, calm down and return to your seats!”

The quickest to regain composure was Osa.

She glanced at Wendigo while trying to calm the witches.

It wouldn’t be good for her or the witches to be disrespectful to Wendigo.

“B-But…”

However, the witches couldn’t calm down easily.

As quite some time had passed, they knew Wendigo wasn’t an evil being.

They couldn’t help but know, hearing praises about the spirit every day from those around them.

They couldn’t help but know, but…

‘Scary!!!’

It was a different story to have an ominous deer skull with no presence watching them.

It might be less unsettling if they could at least feel his presence, but wasn’t Wendigo a being without any presence?

The witches looked at Osa with teary eyes, but Osa steeled her shaking heart and shouted sternly:

“If you keep this up, I’ll make you have an interview with the Spirit Lord!”

“Eek!!!”

Osa’s threat(?) was quite effective.

In the world, there were few people who wanted an interview with a superior, especially one who could cut off heads with just a wiggle of his finger.

As the witches returned to their seats with shrill screams, Osa glanced at the window.

Wendigo’s head was still watching them there. At this point, Osa suspected that Wendigo might be monitoring her.

Honestly, there didn’t seem to be any other reason for Wendigo to visit.

‘Could he be thinking that I’m trying to use the innocent witches?’

Most shamans were the type who could do anything for spells.

To such people, witches could be quite useful… no, very useful beings.

Unlike spirits, they communicate well, and even if they use up the mystery stored in their bodies, it recovers over time…

They can even cast spells close to primitive magic on their own.

It wouldn’t be strange for those immersed in spells to want to research every nook and cranny of their bodies.

‘I have no such intentions!’

Osa swallowed her indignation and convinced herself that her misunderstanding was the truth.

Of course, Osa had spent quite some time by Skadi’s side like a secretary, so she knew well that Wendigo strongly trusted his people.

However, there were many people following Wendigo, and if they voiced concerns, it was natural for Wendigo to take measures accordingly.

Osa burned with passion, thinking this was also a kind of trial(?) she had to endure.

She would surely show a reliable appearance and gain trust!

‘Hmm, it seems Osa enjoys teaching people.’

… In fact, Wendigo wasn’t particularly suspicious, but that’s another story.

To begin with, why would Wendigo, who can discern the malice harbored by people, bother to monitor someone?

It’s more convenient to just call them out, ask what he wants to know, and judge.

Not knowing that he was just observing out of boredom, Osa passionately engaged in the lesson.

Naturally, that enthusiasm was directed at the witches. The witches screamed inwardly while taking notes diligently.

‘Is he gone? Or not? The teacher’s eyes keep glancing at the window, does that mean he’s still here?!’

‘I can’t turn my head!’

While it wasn’t as if they would be cursed or turned to stone if they made eye contact, the witches were extremely tense.

They felt like they might scream if they turned their heads and made eye contact with Wendigo.

Wendigo watched this scene and let out a satisfied laugh.

“It’s a bit sad that they’re surprised to see my face, but I’m glad they all seem to be adapting well.”

Wendigo didn’t think much of the witches being afraid of him.

It was an undeniable fact that there were more people in the world who feared him than those who didn’t.

However, it was unexpected that they still felt fear even while listening to Osa’s lesson…

Wendigo thought that emotion was directed not at him, but at Osa.

Isn’t it an unavoidable fate for passionate educators to be resented by students, regardless of the era?

“Hmm… I wonder if Osa is teaching the students too passionately from the first day?”

“Uh… Yes. It seems so.”

Who exactly caused that passion to intensify?

Skadi knew the answer but buried the truth. Above all, there was no time to reveal such truths.

Wendigo turned his head at the familiar presence felt nearby.

There, the ogre Gulmag, boasting a huge body, was approaching with an unfamiliar woman and child on his shoulders.

Thanks to the owl quickly finding its owner, the news was delivered quickly.

Gulmag approached with thundering steps and spoke to Wendigo.

“Wendigo, I received a message from Krjoti and came…”

“Kyaaaaaah!?”

The witch who turned her head at Gulmag’s voice screamed in surprise.

It was scary enough with Wendigo behind, but with an ogre together, she couldn’t hold back her scream.

Wendigo and Gulmag were startled by that sharp scream and turned their heads.

When their eyes met, the witch fainted on the spot.

“……”

“……”

Wendigo and Gulmag quietly lowered their posture and moved away.

---

Wendigo headed to a suitable forest with Gulmag.

He wanted to enjoy refreshments and talk with Gulmag, but there was a problem to solve first.

Wendigo stared at the two figures hiding behind Gulmag.

“Eek!”

“Wow…”

The combination of a gloomy-looking woman and a bright-eyed teenager was utterly bewildering.

Wendigo’s gaze slowly turned to Gulmag. Gulmag seemed to guess Wendigo’s thoughts and cleared his throat while avoiding the subject.

“Ahem! Wendigo, I didn’t mean to get you involved in troublesome matters.”

“It’s not particularly troublesome. It’s not troublesome, but…”

Why on earth was he walking around with a child and a witch?

Wendigo examined the witch’s body out of curiosity. It wasn’t a lie that she was a witch; mystery was flowing in her body.

Then that means the one who wrote the message was the kid next to her…

“You must be the witch mentioned in the message. So, the reason you came to the forest…”

“Heek!? I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry!!!”

“No…”

The witch, terrified for some reason, prostrated herself on the ground and begged for forgiveness while talking incoherently.

Wendigo was so dumbfounded that he looked at Skadi.

Skadi let out an awkward laugh with a bewildered expression and carefully approached the witch.

She gently grabbed the gloomy witch’s arms with a bright smile that could captivate people’s hearts.

“It’s okay to be scared of Wendigo-nim. But could you calm down a little and listen?”

“Ah… that…”

Skadi was skilled at calming people.

Who wouldn’t calm down when a beautiful woman whispers in a soft voice with a gentle smile?

The witch blushed and stammered.

The overly kind attitude and the scent that put her mind at ease blocked her thoughts.

Unable to bear it any longer, Gulmag tapped the witch’s back with his finger to calm her.

“Anna, calm down. Wendigo, good spirit.”

“Y-Yes! I’ll calm down hak!?”

‘Is she… really a witch?’

As the gloomy-looking witch, Anna, bit her tongue while answering, Wendigo pondered.

Not all the witches he had met so far were overflowing with confidence, but… Anna was surprisingly timid.

At least, it was impossible to imagine that she had come with suspicious intentions. If everything was an act, Wendigo would feel it polite to be deceived.

As Anna, who had made a mistake, fidgeted nervously, the child Jermy standing next to her held Anna’s hand tightly and smiled brightly.

“Witch-nim. Don’t worry! The Spirit Lord is a good person!”

“J-Jermy~”

Anna seemed to rely quite heavily on Jermy, the child with well-matching blonde hair and green eyes, as she visibly calmed down when he showed a positive attitude.

Anna grinned and bent her waist, burying herself in Jermy’s shoulder, and Jermy patted her back as if used to it…

Wendigo was so dumbfounded that he approached Gulmag and whispered:

“Is Jermy perhaps not human but a different race? Like a dwarf…”

“Jermy, not dwarf. Dwarves, don’t come out of ground much.”

Gulmag assured that Jermy was human. He had a talent for discerning races by smell, and Jermy’s smell was certainly human.

“If I eat him, I could know more in detail, but Jermy might die.”

“There’s no need for that. I’m just… a bit dumbfounded.”

“Hehehehehe.”

Wendigo was bewildered as he watched Anna giggling like a simpleton and enjoying the touch.

Gulmag nodded as if agreeing with this. Honestly, she did look like a simpleton.

“By the way, the message that kid sent said he was going to be a disciple… What’s that about?”

“Spirit Lord, Gulmag teacher? May I explain that?”

Jermy, who had been arranging Anna’s hair until just now, jumped up and approached the two when his name was mentioned.

Wendigo was quite surprised by that bold attitude. It was impossible with ordinary courage to interject between a spirit and an ogre.

At that mature attitude, Wendigo nodded, and Gulmag nodded with a slightly uncomfortable look.

When permission was granted, Jermy smiled brightly and bowed deeply in greeting.

“Hello! I’m Jermy, who came to the forest to protect the Witch-nim! I happened to meet Teacher Gulmag, and thanks to the teacher’s generous heart helping us, we came to accompany him!”

“Hmm, Gulmag doesn’t harm others without reason… But what’s this about ‘teacher’?”

It was understandable that they met Gulmag by chance and received help.

Gulmag rarely committed murder unless he was hungry, and he wasn’t a bad guy who would mess with women and children.

However, it wasn’t easy to understand a human having an ogre as a teacher.

Putting everything else aside… their basic physical conditions were different to begin with.

What could a human who would be smashed against rocks learn from an ogre with monstrous strength that could split boulders?

… Gulmag had thought the same until recently.

“Yes. Five days ago, the teacher accepted me as a disciple, and I’ve been receiving teachings!”

“Is that true, Gulmag?”

“… Wendigo, don’t misunderstand. It’s not something I wanted to do.”

When Wendigo looked at him, Gulmag answered while avoiding eye contact.

Honestly, there were some excessive aspects to teaching a young human about 15 years old.

But he really had no bad intentions. The kid wanted it himself, and… he had more talent than expected.

“Jermy, talented. Devoured teachings.”

“What the…”

When Wendigo, who had the ability to discern truth, didn’t dispel his suspicions, Gulmag felt betrayed.

Gulmag pouted his lips and nodded towards Jermy.

“Wendigo, spar with Jermy. Then you’ll understand my words.”

“Hueeeeek!? Gulmag-nim! What kind of crazy talk is thaaaat!!!”

“I’m fine with it.”

At this shocking, no, murderous proposal, Anna shrieked at Gulmag in panic, while Jermy really seemed okay with it as he looked at Wendigo with sparkling eyes.

‘Seeing Gulmag go this far, there must be something… but I still don’t understand.’

Is it right to spar with a young child?

As Wendigo pondered, he quietly turned his head to look at Skadi standing beside him.

‘… Come to think of it, women aren’t necessarily weak.’

When he first met Skadi, it was just as she had become an adult.

Even then, she was a sufficiently excellent shaman, so why should the child before his eyes be any different?

In places where danger lurks, it’s natural that those who need to be careful are not strong men, but the elderly, women, and children.

“Alright. Let’s exchange some light sword blows.”

“Hieeeek!?”

When Wendigo accepted the spar, Anna let out a dying sound and rolled her eyes back.

It wasn’t just pretense; she really fainted. Jermy, as if used to it, rolled Anna up in his cloak and laid her down in a sunny spot.

Watching this scene, Wendigo and Skadi looked at each other and nodded.

If nothing else, the child clearly had tough nerves.

---

Wendigo moved to a different location for the spar.

This was out of concern that Anna might faint again if she woke up and saw Jermy engaged in the spar.

Wendigo sat on a suitable rock and observed Jermy preparing for the spar.

Jermy’s body, with his upper body bare, was quite impressive. The extremely trained muscles clearly showed innate qualities like those of a beast.

“You have an impressive body at such a young age. There are some innate qualities, but your arms and shoulders show signs of training…”

“As expected! You’re amazing, just as Teacher Gulmag said!”

Jermy, seemingly having no intention to hide, sincerely answered Wendigo’s query.

Jermy, who had been proud of his healthy body since childhood, started working in the blacksmith shop following his parents from long ago.

At first, he started by charcoaling and managing the furnace, but naturally began wielding hammers and striking iron after turning ten.

Jermy’s trained arms and back muscles could be said to be the fruits of his efforts.

He continued speaking while wrapping his body in leather armor.

“Still, my body wasn’t this trained in the past. About 6 months ago, I suffered from a high fever, and when I came to my senses, my body had changed like this.”

“Hmm… I see.”

It was a strange occurrence, but not to the point of being miraculous.

Wasn’t this a world where even witches unfamiliar with spells became able to wield spells with mystery in their bodies overnight?

Suffering from a high fever and waking up with a changed body might be quite ordinary in comparison.

Jermy, holding a hammer in one hand and a poker in the other, bounced his body while preparing for the spar.

Watching this scene, Wendigo made a request to Skadi.

“If it becomes dangerous, please protect Jermy.”

“Even I might find it difficult to block Wendigo-nim’s attacks… but I’ll try my best.”

As Skadi reluctantly nodded, Wendigo steeled his heart.

Wendigo created an ice spear and grasped it with the blade pointing downwards.

Gulmag, as the referee of this sacred spar, took his place between the two and raised his club.

“The moment the club hits the ground, the spar begins. May the two warriors engage in the spar sincerely.”

Wendigo and Jermy nodded.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Gulmag threw the club high into the sky.

Thud!

The club lightly hit the ground.

Jermy, who had been bouncing his body until just now, launched himself towards Wendigo like an arrow shot at the signal.

Wendigo threw the ice spear towards Jermy without hesitation.

Of course, it wasn’t an ice spear imbued with his true intent. Wendigo wasn’t so obsessed with combat as to use such a dangerous thing in a spar.

However, it remained unchanged that it was a sufficiently dangerous attack for an ordinary warrior.

‘If Gulmag took him as a disciple, he should be able to block this much.’

If he couldn’t block it, that would be the result of Jermy’s recklessness and Gulmag’s favoritism.

Wendigo stared at Jermy, anticipating how he would respond.

And Jermy did not disappoint that expectation.

‘He’s accurately observing the spear’s trajectory!’

Jermy’s green eyes shone, and his poker extended forward.

Of course, he wasn’t trying to break the ice spear with the poker. Jermy, who skillfully caught the ice spear with the poker, didn’t resist the spear’s force.

Rather, Jermy, who naturally rotated his body by pulling his arm inward, observed the ice spear.

“Hup!”

With a short shout, Jermy struck down on the ice spear with his hammer.

Wendigo recalled the battle, no, spar he had once had with Gulmag in that sight.

Was it mere coincidence that the image of Gulmag smashing ice by swinging his club flashed through his mind?

‘That can’t be.’

Wendigo basically didn’t believe in coincidences. He had been involved in too many incidents and accidents to believe in such things.

And Wendigo’s judgment was accurate.

Clang!

The hammer, imbued with unbelievable strength for a mere 15-year-old child, shattered the ice spear.

… No, that wasn’t shattering.

It was precisely breaking the ice spear’s weak point with accurately modulated force.

It was an achievement created by a strong physique, familiar and sturdy equipment, and excellent senses.

“I see why Gulmag took him as a disciple.”

“Thank you!”

Wendigo recognized the child before him as a warrior.

Not just an ordinary warrior, but one born with the potential to become a renowned hero.

If so, he should be treated accordingly.

‘I wonder how far he can go.’

Wendigo scraped his foot against the ground. Then, cold energy surged around, freezing the earth.

With crackling sounds of air freezing, ice weapons sprouted from the frozen ground.

Spears and swords, axes and hammers, daggers and flails…

Wendigo, who had picked up weapons flashing ominous blades, grinned and glared at Jermy.

“I’m a bit excited to see how much you can destroy.”

“… Hic.”

Jermy hiccupped while maintaining his smile.

A storm of weapons rushed towards him.