Chapter 98

Jermy swung his hammer without even time to breathe.

It was clear that if his reaction was even a little slow, the weapons thrown by Wendigo would shred his body.

‘The flaws are disappearing more and more!’

Jermy gritted his teeth as he shattered an ice dagger aimed at his neck.

Like a drizzle turning into a downpour, Wendigo’s blades grew heavier and harder, and at some point, Jermy’s steps came to a halt.

It was obvious that if he moved forward even a little, the flying weapons would pierce him.

“Even Teacher wasn’t this harsh, but Spirit Lord, you’re too much!”

Jermy made a pitiful face as he barely caught an ice spear aimed at his chest with his poker and diverted its direction.

In a way, it was natural.

How many people in the world would risk their lives during a spar?

The problem was that Jermy’s teacher and the spirit before him were eccentrics who took even spars quite seriously.

Wendigo asked Jermy, who was glaring at him:

“Didn’t you think you were risking your life from the moment you took an ogre as your teacher?”

“T-Teacher isn’t this harsh though?!”

This time, Jermy barely avoided an axe flying towards his shoulder and screamed.

Wendigo looked at Gulmag with surprised eyes at Jermy’s shout.

Honestly, he had thought Gulmag was teaching Jermy harshly.

The Gulmag who faced battles had a strong aspect of a seeker silently walking his own path and a tyrannical appearance that wouldn’t back down even if a god stood in his way…

Wendigo spun a flail around and threw it at Jermy.

While Jermy panicked and tried to cut the chain connected to the flail, Wendigo asked Gulmag:

“I knew you were kind, but this is unexpected. I thought you would raise him more strongly.”

“… Human, die if raised like ogre. Disciple, want training, not want death.”

Gulmag spoke to Wendigo with bewilderment.

If the disciple had been an ogre, Gulmag would have naturally taught as Wendigo expected.

Ogres can recover given enough time even if blades pierce their bodies and their skin is torn.

But Jermy was human, whether he liked it or not, wasn’t he? If he forced his lifelong methods on him, it was clear he would die somewhere in the forest before long.

“I, taught only what he could do. How to wield blunt weapons, how to break, how to train body.”

“……”

Gulmag, confident that he had taught within reasonable limits, stared at Wendigo with a proud expression.

Skadi, listening nearby, pondered Gulmag’s teachings with a strange expression.

The more she thought about it…

‘… Isn’t this just teaching him like an ogre?’

While it might not be teaching how to live like an ogre, it felt like teaching the ogre’s methods…

Wendigo’s feelings weren’t much different from Skadi’s.

Wasn’t this just saying he taught what an ogre would do, just leaving his life intact?

‘… So that’s why he’s not giving up despite whining.’

Jermy, who had now cut the chain, was crouching low and glaring at Wendigo.

His fierce gaze, like that of an enraged beast, clearly showed that he was observing what move his opponent was preparing.

The will to never surrender even if defeated.

“I can see why Gulmag acknowledged him as a disciple. Excellent eyes and a strong body… and stubborn determination that doesn’t give up easily. Just like Gulmag.”

“Ahem!”

Gulmag cleared his throat, seemingly embarrassed. It was a thunderous cough befitting an ogre.

Wendigo chuckled and stretched his hand towards the ground.

Jermy widened his eyes and glared at the ice sword that sprouted from the ground.

It was a sword close to perfection, literally without a single flaw to be found.

“Gulmag and I are like friends. And if he’s a friend’s disciple, I should treat him seriously.”

Jermy felt cold sweat running down his back and his throat going dry.

He realized that the blades that had been threatening his life until now were just light actions for the being before him.

If he had been an ordinary warrior, he would have fled in despair the moment he realized this fact.

However…

“Come.”

“!”

Jermy was no ordinary warrior.

He had an indomitable will that could always rise again as long as he didn’t die…

Creak!

“!?”

Jermy, who was about to respond hotly to Wendigo’s call, quickly turned around at the strange sound from behind.

It was a naive response.

He had unconsciously concluded that Wendigo would only make direct attacks.

Bang!

“Guh!?”

Roots that sprang from the ground struck Jermy’s back hard.

A shock that would have broken ribs and pierced lungs if he had been an ordinary human shook Jermy’s body.

Gulmag watched this scene and shook his head.

“Wendigo, not fair and square warrior. Wendigo, closer to cunning hunter.”

“Isn’t it because he acknowledged Jermy that much? Usually, he just swings his sword because it’s bothersome…”

“… I can hear everything, so I’d appreciate if you’d stop. Besides, doesn’t Jermy need to have this kind of experience at least once?”

Wendigo grumbled, stabbing the ground with his ice sword, having heard the two whispering.

He didn’t deny that it was a dirty trick. After all, he had acted as if he would converse with swords like a warrior, then targeted the back.

However, this was truly because he acknowledged Jermy.

It was an unavoidable… lesson to engrave in his bones never to trust the opponent absolutely.

“Being cunning isn’t an insult. It means being smart.”

“But… it’s true that you just kill people with your sword because it’s bothersome.”

Though Wendigo’s sincerity was conveyed, the two didn’t yield their opinions.

Just as Wendigo was sincere, they also revealed their true thoughts without any concealment.

Of course, it was possible to say this because Skadi and Gulmag trusted Wendigo, but… feeling hurt was unavoidable.

‘Maybe I should have just beaten him with the sword.’

Wendigo grumbled inwardly as he checked Jermy’s condition.

Though his body was still trembling, unable to escape the shock, it wasn’t to the point of death.

If it had seemed life-threatening, Gulmag would have blown away the roots with his stone club.

‘But… his eyes are still burning.’

Though he had used a somewhat dirty trick, Wendigo’s acknowledgment was sincere.

Even while gasping for breath from the shock, Jermy stared straight at Wendigo and twitched his hand.

“… I like that you don’t give up until death.”

Boom!!!

With a loud noise, a bear made of stone lunged at Wendigo, originating from Jermy’s palm.

A bone spike was embedded in the stone bear’s head.

Jermy had intended to recover his body until the spike shattered, but…

Wendigo didn’t shatter the spike, but froze the entire stone bear.

Jermy watched the stone bear instantly turn into an ice bear and muttered dejectedly:

“Just like Teacher, there are too many strong opponents in the world…”

“Isn’t your standard too bad? I don’t think there are many humans who use ogres and spirits as their standard.”

Wendigo, dumbfounded, objected to Jermy’s complaint.

How many people argue about strength based on monsters, not famous knights or warriors?

As expected of someone who chose to serve an ogre as a teacher, this guy was clearly not normal either.

---

Jermy fainted as soon as the spar ended.

It was natural, having faced a storm of blades and then being directly hit by a tree root when he let his guard down.

Of course, Wendigo hadn’t wanted Jermy to die, so his life was intact, but…

“Gyaaaaaah!?”

“What a unique scream… I’m sorry. I’ll be quiet.”

Anna, who woke up from the commotion, was horrified to see Jermy in such a miserable state.

Anna hugged Jermy and glared at Wendigo, and he, who was about to say it was okay, held his tongue at the fierce aura.

Anna’s resentful gaze reminded him of Skadi in the past.

‘Those were eyes that would cause big trouble if mishandled.’

One of Wendigo’s strengths was quickly acknowledging his mistakes.

Promising to mobilize shamans and witches for treatment, Wendigo asked Skadi to take care of the two.

Naturally, only Wendigo and Gulmag were left…

Wendigo returned to the palace with Gulmag and was enjoying a meal.

“I’ll eat well.”

“I ordered mostly meat, thinking of you.”

Since ancient times, the best hospitality for meat lovers was to serve meat from land, sea, and sky.

Gulmag picked up a whole roasted pig and stuffed its head into his mouth.

Wendigo enjoyed watching him chew it with bones and all, making crunching sounds.

“This must be how others feel watching me.”

“Crunch… Humans, cook well. I, can’t make such taste.”

“Indeed, it might be impossible with our bodies.”

After all, it was bound to be difficult to make delicate movements with a body no different from a huge rock.

Wendigo and Gulmag continued their meal while having such idle conversation.

Don’t force meat-eating on your disciple, or I wish you’d find a mate soon, how about coming deeper into the forest with me instead of the palace…

When the atmosphere had sufficiently improved, Wendigo slowly brought up his original purpose.

“Gulmag, Jermy will surely become an excellent warrior.”

“Hmm… Still lacking.”

Though he said that, Gulmag’s fierce lips twitched. Even the gruff Gulmag was pleased with praise for his disciple.

Especially since it was praise from Wendigo, whom he acknowledged…

Gulmag downed the beer in Wendigo’s special large cup and asked him:

“Wendigo, know you want something. About disciple?”

“Yes. There’s an item I’d like him to bring from outside the forest.”

“Jurturu’s treasure.”

Wendigo, who had known Gulmag would catch on, nodded frankly and admitted it.

Gulmag put down his cup and looked at Wendigo with a serious expression.

He tapped the table with his thick fingers, pondered, and then expressed a negative opinion to Wendigo.

“God’s treasure, danger more important than location.”

Though it was an item lost by a god and given as a reward to others, so it might not be a very special item.

However, there was no guarantee that something trivial to a god wouldn’t be threatening to humans.

What if it’s armor of a berserker that makes the wearer fight until death, and the armor has the power to tempt people?

Of course, Wendigo had no intention of throwing his friend’s disciple into such a dangerous situation without any preparation.

“Don’t worry. If it looks dangerous, I’ll be satisfied with just having him tell me about the item. And there’s an offer that Jermy might be tempted by.”

“Offer?”

“Honestly, um… after he learns everything he can from you, it’s obvious he’ll set out on an adventure.”

Jumping into danger to repay a debt to a witch, and bowing to an ogre to become stronger, these weren’t actions of an ordinary person.

Naturally, Jermy, who had received teachings from Gulmag, wouldn’t just return home.

Jermy’s fate was sure to be full of trials.

“My offer to Jermy is a kind of sponsorship. I’ll tell him about knowledge and experiences of the world… and give him suitable equipment when he leaves.”

“… Not bad.”

Wendigo wouldn’t give anything too grand.

Except for being Gulmag’s disciple, Jermy was ultimately an outsider who would leave the forest.

However, assuming the payment related to retrieving the treasure was paid in advance, he could at least give artifacts like those bestowed upon the forest warriors.

Gulmag, pretending not to care too much about his disciple, couldn’t let his disciple miss such a good opportunity.

“Ah, and teach Jermy to be careful of gods beforehand. Just looking at him, he has a face that gods would like.”

“… I think it might be better to make a contract with you after all.”

Recalling Allfather and Jurturu, Gulmag nodded with a hardened expression.

He couldn’t hand his disciple over to such madmen.

“Then I should start choosing suitable teachers soon.”

Wendigo tapped his chin with a satisfied expression, recalling suitable talents.

No, in fact, he had already decided.

---

Geron, Wendigo’s head servant and practically his administrator, had quite a refined hobby.

One of his few hobbies was enjoying reading while drinking tea good for mental and physical relaxation.

He read most books regardless of their type, and thanks to this, his knowledge was the most extensive among the forest people…

Knock knock.

“Who is it?”

Geron, who was enjoying reading while drinking tea good for mind and body in the library attached to the palace, asked for identification with puzzlement.

The servants didn’t knock when the light was on in the library, not wanting to disturb his reading.

If so, the identity of the visitor was likely not a servant.

Geron carefully grasped the sword placed on his desk.

He pointed the sword towards the door and slowly approached.

If it was an uninvited guest, they would likely sense something strange and make a fuss trying to open the door.

If such a sign was felt, he would stab along with the door…

“Geron, if you’re not busy, I’d like you to come out for a moment.”

“……”

Geron flinched when Wendigo’s voice was heard from outside the door.

Until now, Wendigo had never personally come when he was resting in the library.

Usually, servants who received his orders carefully delivered messages…

Geron put down his sword in frustration and pondered for a moment before letting out a deep sigh.

‘Maybe an uninvited guest would have been better.’

Unlike an uninvited guest who could be dealt with by killing, getting involved with Wendigo naturally meant more work.

But what could he do even knowing this fact?

Geron gulped down his tea and opened the door to go outside.