I Became a Wendigo in a Fantasy World

50 – Encounter with the towering Wendigo.

They calmed their trembling hearts and inspected Wendigo with their eyes. They couldn’t believe the presence before them, probably due to their recent encounter with Wendigo.

It was certainly a body filled with mystery, but could it be a divine spirit!

“This is insane…”

The shamans shivered at the mystery that was incomparable to what they had just encountered.

It was a harmonious blend of various mysteries that couldn’t be attributed to a single attribute.

“How can a spirit alone possess such diverse mysteries!”

“This might not be the end… This, this is an opportunity that may never come again.”

The shamans knelt without giving the wendigo a chance to say anything. A powerful temptation that shamans could not resist was controlling their bodies.

The temptation that any shaman would have, that the mystery descending from the spirit in front of them could lead them to a higher level!

While the shamans trembled on their knees, the wendigo, with bowed head, looked at them with an expression of disbelief. They hadn’t even said anything, yet they knelt down abruptly.

The wendigo turned its head slightly to look at Geron. Geron seemed uncomfortable under the wendigo’s gaze and spoke up.

“Please say something. Judging by the attitude, it seems like you would sincerely pledge allegiance to the spirit.”

“I would say something if I had something to say…”

As Geron turned his head as if it was someone else’s business, the wendigo let out a sigh.

The shamans, who had been bowing their heads, were taken aback by the sound. It was natural, as they didn’t know why the wendigo had let out such a deep sigh.

“Do you not like us?”

“Is it because the number of passersby is too small?”

The shamans were worried for no reason, as the wendigo had no intention of harming them. If that had been the case, they would have all been slaughtered in the cave.

The wendigo glanced at the shamans for a moment and then spoke.

“Shamans, raise your heads and introduce yourselves. Let’s start from the left.”

“Yes! I am Os, a shaman of the Knorr tribe. Through tattoos…”

Starting with the female sorcerer, the sorcerers each began their best self-introductions to highlight their individual usefulness.

Wendigo silently listened to their stories. The weighty presence of the sorcerers made it impossible for them to remain relaxed for a long time.

Because there was no response or reaction, it was impossible to know what Wendigo was thinking as he listened to their introductions…

“Well… I don’t even know what use there is in hearing them.”

Wendigo had no particular thoughts. To him, the sorcerers’ magic was still an area too difficult and incomprehensible.

Wendigo absentmindedly let their stories flow while focusing on the ice necklace of Skadi.

[Skadi, pay close attention to their stories. I plan to entrust their management to you in the future.]

[Yes. I will grasp everything they can do without missing a single detail.]

Skadi nodded with a sly smile, keeping the sorcerers from seeing.

The reason Wendigo went through so much trouble to recruit these sorcerers who didn’t seem to care at all.

It was a somewhat trivial reason…

“It seems Skadi has been through a lot as my domain expands. If I pay these guys a reasonable reward and have them work, Skadi will also have some free time.”

Except for the fact that they were outsiders, the sorcerers were replacements for Skadi.

“After all, there’s nothing good about making people suffer too much.”

Skadi, despite being an excellent sorcerer who researched magic while doing his job, wouldn’t he appreciate having more free time?

There was no such thing. Even if it was just a beast, there was no being that disliked having free time.

“So, if the spirits permit, let’s make a fair and satisfactory deal…”

“I heard you. While it may not be a ‘contract’ with all of you, I’ll agree to a deal.”

Sorcerers looked at Wendigo with surprised expressions. Thinking he was an extraordinary spirit, could it be that he intended to contract with five sorcerers at once?

When Wendy gave a sign, Geront bowed his head and brought out the prepared contract.

As Geront handed over the contracts one by one, the sorcerers politely accepted them and began reading slowly.

“The contractor shall obey the commands of the spirits and Skadi for the designated period… Is it not about offering or planning something?”

“Shouldn’t the Forest People refrain from causing harm unless they are attacked first? Is this a condition?”

“Do not spread rumors about what you have seen and obtained in the forest. Only answer to the demands of the other party if your life is in danger…?”

As the sorcerers read the contract, doubts gradually appeared on their faces. It was so different from the contracts they usually made with the spirits.

The spirits usually did not make big contracts with the sorcerers. In most cases, they demanded sacrifices or rituals.

It was common for the spirits to demand something magical that they couldn’t do, but there had never been such strange contents before…

Seeing the confusion of the sorcerers, Wendy stretched out her head and glared at them.

“Why are you like this? Are you planning to harm the Forest People?”

“Oh, no! Why would we do such a thing!”

The sorcerers hurriedly replied and focused on the contract again.

After reading the contract for a while, the sorcerers realized what kind of contract it was. It was a kind of employment contract.

“Um, what does it mean that it guarantees rest here?”

“Don’t you all need time for personal research?”

“Well, yes, but…”

As Wendy answered as if it was obvious, the sorcerers were speechless.

What kind of work could they possibly have in mind to present such a contract?

The sorcerers were not close enough to ask Wendy. They turned their heads slightly to look at Skadi.

Skadi sought permission from Wendy with her gaze, and when Wendy nodded, she opened her mouth.

“There’s nothing particularly remarkable. I wander through the forest, checking if anything strange is happening, and if the forest people are suffering from illnesses, I select herbs to help them…”

“Are you asking us to do such things because of the contract?”

“Wendigo genuinely cares for people.”

When Scadi responded as if it were obvious, the shamans looked disgusted.

A spirit who cares for humans. What an incredibly awkward and mismatched sentence!

… The problem, if one were to judge solely based on the contract, was that Wendigo really did care for humans.

As the shamans grumbled about the cognitive dissonance, Wendigo complained in frustration.

“I treat you all without a trace of falsehood or trickery, yet you continue to doubt me.”

“We, we apologize. This is our first time dealing with such a contract.”

“Then let’s discuss the rest. First, we need to negotiate compensation… Considering the reason why you came to this forest, I will pay you compensation equivalent to the frozen goods Isaac took.”

“Really!?”

In response to Wendigo’s shocking statement, the shamans shouted without considering their dignity. Wendigo nodded calmly.

After all, he could create frozen goods at any time.

Wendigo was about to discuss the break time when…

“If that’s really the case, we’ll sign the contract right away!”

“Should we write it in blood?”

“……”

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When the shamans took out their daggers with determined expressions and asked, Wendigo was taken aback.

It felt like he was deceiving innocent people by entering into a fraudulent contract when they innocently accepted the compensation terms.

And what’s with trying to draw blood with a dagger? It was just a ridiculous act.

Wendigo, with a disgusted expression, pacified them.

“What does ‘blood oath’ even mean? Handle the body with care. Geron, prepare to give them a taste of our hostility.”

Following Wendigo’s orders, Geron also headed outside with a grimace. Meanwhile, the sorcerers were whispering among themselves…

“To offer such a generous reward through such a contract.”

“It might really be a spirit that values humans.”

To receive such praise for a multitude of reasons, primarily for the good reward, Wendigo sighed inwardly in disappointment.

* * *

After the sorcerer signed the contract (notably without reluctance), Wendigo, following Skadi, complained while chewing on a snack that had come up as a treat.

“I thought about it based on Skadi, but the sorcerers outside are even stranger than you described, Geron.”

“Hmm… I hesitate to say this, but the contract proposed by the spirit wasn’t entirely normal either.”

“Huh? Was there something unfair in my contract?”

…”

Geron stared at Wendigo with an intensity that could pierce through. Was he really asking because he didn’t know?

When Wendigo remained silent, Geron spoke up.

“Actually, there’s nothing unfair in it; it’s just peculiar.”

“I see… Geron, have you too succumbed to the allure of power while working by my side? Contracts should be fair by law.”

“Well, although I’m living better now than before, I can assure you that I haven’t succumbed to power. If anyone outside the forest is devoid of both power and love, it’s clear.”

Geron seemed quite indignant, chewing on the herbs Skadi had provided.

In a world with many powerful figures, it was rare to find a powerful person who didn’t resort to schemes to exploit others from a position of absolute dominance.

The times were such that laws and morals were not considered important values, but rather tools used for governance.

In such times, how many would consider such things when making contracts?

Considering all this, entering into contracts was the way of this era.

“Honestly, even if it had been added to the contract that I must reveal all the magic I know to Lord Skadi, it wouldn’t have mattered.”

“It seems like you’re too invested in this… But still, try not to overdo it. If it’s Skadi, they will figure out the magic those people possess on their own.”

“But isn’t it beneficial to gain something, even if they leave? It’s too wasteful to miss this opportunity.”

“Would it be a waste? It was a contract I made to make all those magic users mine.”

“Really?”

Geron was surprised by the unexpected revelation. He had anticipated using the magic users, but had not known that he would be recruiting them.

“What I realized while sorting through the magic users is that there are few good ones among them.”

“Well, isn’t that natural? They are people who wield a power that others admire and fear, so it’s not surprising.”

“Right. So, how wonderful would it be if those good ones worked under me? Especially since the things they desire are in my hands.”

When gaining people, one must not only sway their hearts, but also provide appropriate rewards and treat them according to their abilities in order to truly obtain them.

Understanding Wendigo’s intention, Geron finally felt at ease. He had been worried that Wendigo’s excessive kindness (?) had caused some loss.

“So, that was the intention behind Lord Wendigo’s merciful contract. I worried for nothing.”

“I’m not particularly merciful. I just act with common sense.”

“…Sometimes I wonder where your common sense comes from. Anyway… those who received Wendigo’s mercy are emerging.”

“I wonder who they might be. Magic users driven out of the forest, perhaps?”

Geron nodded. They were not frightening, but it was undeniable that they were as bothersome as rotten teeth.

If a sorcerer decided to wreak havoc, it would undoubtedly be quite troublesome.

Wendigo agreed with Geron’s thoughts. So, he had already taken action.

“Don’t worry. I’ve already selected those who will serve as a preview through the eyes of the forest.”

“When you say ‘preview’?”

“Asking the obvious, huh.”

Wendigo chuckled and clenched his fist.

“We have to kill them and turn them into fertilizer for the forest, don’t we? I may be a pacifist, but I don’t forgive easily.”

‘I definitely can’t die in a graceful manner.’

Geron lowered his head, facing Wendigo’s lively gaze.

Indeed, he wasn’t sure how many sorcerers would become previews, but Geron was confident that they would undoubtedly be despicable individuals.