Chapter 99

Wendigo lured suitable individuals and called them to the conference room.

Geron looked around the conference room with a sour expression while chewing on fruit.

He could understand the presence of Osa and the shamans, as well as some warriors from outside.

They were followers of their lord, so when called, they had to come regardless of the reason.

But why on earth were merchants being met in the conference room, not the audience hall?

“Spirit Lord, how about explaining why you’ve gathered people? Judging by their expressions, they seem curious about the reason too.”

“Hmm. I forgot to tell them the reason.”

Usually, it was natural to state the reason before bringing people, but Geron just accepted it.

If it was something important, he would have said so earlier, so forgetting meant it probably wasn’t a very significant reason.

‘At least it probably won’t greatly increase the workload.’

Although the number of servants to be his arms and legs and talents to share the work was increasing, no one likes an increase in work.

At least knowing it wasn’t a big deal, Geron waited nonchalantly for Wendigo to reveal the reason.

Wendigo pointed at people with his claw, confirming the numbers.

Except for those who needed to be called from outside, almost all the necessary personnel were gathered.

As Wendigo raised his hand, people put aside their conversations and looked up at Wendigo with serious expressions.

When sufficient attention was focused, Wendigo nodded with satisfaction and opened his mouth.

“First, I thank you all for sharing your time. I didn’t expect everyone to participate without exception when I called so suddenly.”

“If the Spirit Lord calls, we should come even with sick bodies.”

“You’ve accepted us with a generous heart, so we must repay that grace.”

As the shamans who joined early and Osa greeted on behalf of others, the rest nodded in agreement.

If the one who gifted peace and abundance beyond lifelong dreams calls, shouldn’t they break through even if the path is ominous?

As they sent gazes full of sincere devotion, Wendigo chuckled and waved his hand.

“The flattery is excessive. I express gratitude to the merchants and mercenaries as well. Seeing that I didn’t tell them the reason, I probably didn’t tell you either?”

When Wendigo mentioned them, the merchants and mercenaries bowed their heads, not knowing what to do.

If they hadn’t been seated, they would have prostrated themselves and showered Wendigo with praises.

Noticing their feelings, Rodomell opened his mouth on behalf of them.

“Hoho, how many fools among northern merchants could refuse the Spirit Lord’s request?”

At those words, those serving Wendigo nodded with satisfied smiles.

Merchants generally lacked loyalty and tended to weigh profits and losses, but Rodomell’s statement showed how highly they regarded Wendigo’s authority.

‘Hmm, it doesn’t seem like they’ll refuse my proposal.’

Wendigo felt relieved as the merchants took a more subservient attitude than expected.

While it was true that his authority in the forest was sky-high, forcing it on outsiders was more burdensome than expected.

Of course, if forced, they would obey to save their lives, but…

‘It would be a big problem if merchants start spreading rumors.’

What if they were forced and spread rumors like ‘The Forest King has shown his true nature. Spirits are indeed spirits, oppressing and extorting people!’?

The flow of merchants coming to the forest would be cut off, and it was obvious that the current abundance would be difficult to maintain.

Without the goods brought by merchants, the forest would be nothing more than a land without worry of starvation.

It was unacceptable to part with sugar-filled pastries and spice-sprinkled food just to obtain a god’s treasure.

“Geron, the conversation might get long, so I’d like wine and some light snacks to be brought out.”

At Wendigo’s instruction, Geron took out a bell from his breast and rang it.

As clear bell sounds rang out, servants wearing simple white dresses entered through the conference room door.

Geron ordered them to prepare wine, snacks, and tea.

Wendigo muttered while nodding his head.

“Hmm, there might be those who can’t drink alcohol, so…”

“… I didn’t think of that. I asked for tea for myself.”

Geron seemed to realize his mistake and called the servant again to prepare two types of tea.

The tea he usually enjoyed had the effect of making people languid, which could negatively affect others…

‘I’ve worked him too hard.’

Recalling the effects of the tea, Wendigo felt a pang of conscience.

Honestly, Geron had too much work to do.

Managing the palace, coordinating and sharing information among chieftains, handling administration…

No matter how many people increased and how many noble or merchant fugitives were employed, the final approval was Geron’s responsibility.

The fact that he hadn’t complained until now was enough to guess Geron’s loyalty.

… So please work hard just this one more time.

Shortly after, servants brought out suitable snacks like cheese and bacon along with alcohol and tea.

Wendigo raised a huge ice cup, and when he gave permission, others brought their drinks to their mouths.

When good snacks and alcohol enter, people’s moods naturally soften.

Wendigo slowly revealed the reason he called them.

“The reason I called you is to establish a kind of… educational institution.”

“Huh? What do you mean…”

“Are you perhaps talking about the old empire’s university?”

While mercenaries and warriors, far from the word education, were puzzled, those with various knowledge like merchants were surprised, their eyes sparkling.

In the past, when it was called not the old empire but the only empire, it was said that the old empire established universities and produced talents every year through massive support.

It wasn’t like that now. With frequent civil wars and the imperial authority hitting rock bottom, universities naturally took a back seat.

Education naturally became the exclusive domain of nobles and the wealthy…

“I don’t want anything that grand. How many years has it been since I started ruling this forest?”

Wendigo inwardly grimaced and shook his head.

There’s a limit to dreaming big. No matter what, how could one dream of a university established by a great empire that ruled the continent?

“I plan to establish an educational institution only at a level I can manage. And I’d like you to teach people there.”

“Gulp, does that mean roughly to what extent…?”

Osa, who had been stuffing snacks into her mouth, swallowed the food in her mouth and cautiously asked.

Wendigo tapped his ice cup with his claw and roughly estimated.

‘It started with wanting to teach Jermy to obtain the treasure, but… thinking about it, it seems too wasteful.’

It was a waste to mobilize manpower just to teach one person.

If manpower was gathered to teach people, wouldn’t it be best to educate many people and increase the lacking workforce?

Warriors were needed to protect the forest, witches and shamans were needed to handle mystery-related matters…

Above all, administrators were needed to assist Geron so he could just glance over and stamp documents.

As Wendigo’s thoughts were expressed through his mouth, people looked at each other with awkward expressions.

“Uh…”

“Is it too modest?”

Wendigo asked them when the reaction was strange.

After all, it wasn’t teaching something grand like philosophy, astronomy, medicine, and rhetoric…

“Spirit Lord. That level of education is unimaginable in the north.”

“Huh?”

When Geron, unable to bear the dumbfounded expressions, spoke frankly, those in the conference room nodded as if by agreement.

The merchants and mercenaries whispered among themselves centered around Rodomell, then cautiously opened their mouths.

“Spirit Lord. As far as we know, there are educational institutions in the Empire too. Of course, they’re not comparable to universities, but…”

“At most, they’re mostly self-proclaimed swordsmanship guilds or alchemy guilds teaching in a closed manner.”

“… Then how does the Empire’s emperor nurture talents?”

“Just… pick those with good relationships among the nobles?”

When Wendigo asked in disbelief, the merchants answered cautiously as if they had committed a crime.

While the old empire had no choice but to give up on education after losing its original power, the case of the Empire was a bit different.

The Empire’s emperor was decided through votes by the prince-electors, and naturally, the power wasn’t transferred to his children when the emperor died.

Because of this, past emperors didn’t establish separate educational institutions.

Why do something good for others when no one knows who will be the next emperor after they die anyway?

Even the emergence of guilds was just supply following demand, far from proper educational institutions.

The conference room was enveloped in a solemn atmosphere that was hard to imagine had been filled with drinking and chattering just moments ago.

Rodomell asked Wendigo, barely suppressing his overwhelming emotions:

“Do you really… really intend to establish a university in the north?”

“It’s not quite a university… No, let’s call it a university. I want to establish a university.”

As Wendigo tried to deny it was a university until the end, Geron carefully stabbed Wendigo’s leg with his sword.

It was an unavoidable rudeness as poking with a finger wouldn’t even register.

… Though the corners of his mouth seemed to curl up strangely, anyway.

As Wendigo finally conceded(?), the conference room was filled with surging emotions.

Considering they had been called barbarians by southerners until now, tears clouded their vision!

Rodomell wiped away his tears. Then, raising his clenched fist as if his heart was in his hand, he resolved:

“Since the Spirit Lord has made a difficult choice for the north, I, Rodomell, will join in! Let’s support everything we can from the merchant group!”

“We’ll also look for merchants and intellectuals who will share this purpose!”

“No…”

“Let’s show the southern weaklings the spirit of northern men!!!”

Rodomell’s resolution spread instantly to the merchants and mercenaries.

Naturally, Wendigo, who had no intention of making such a big deal, was utterly dumbfounded.

The problem was that everyone except him regarded this moment as a moving historical scene.

Even Geron, who had wanted to avoid increasing work!

‘… I guess I need to think of a new justification to persuade Jermy.’

It was clearly a gathering arranged to efficiently use valuable manpower, but now the tail was wagging the dog.

However, realizing there was no way to back down, Wendigo could only down his wine, using sighs as a snack.