81 – Episode 81

The end of the world is famous as a hot potato among northerners.

As a result, the Northern Alliance’s expedition to the end of the world ended in a crushing defeat and succession, but the Northerners did not become depressed.

In the first place, it was common in the North for those in power to push unsuspecting warriors to their deaths because they could not overcome their greed…

It ended up being a boon to farmers, merchants, and even hunters.

For the northerners who always suffered from hunger, the crops that began flowing in from the end of the world were like sweet rain during a drought.

Settlers who received permission from the chiefs even established settlements outside the edge of the world and began farming, making northerners realize that they could be prosperous without plundering.

All of this is thanks to the spirit, or rather the king of the forest, who graciously allowed me to receive the forest’s blessings!

“hehehe. “There is no one better to do business with than the forest spirit, or rather the king!”

“Okay then. “You can make a cleaner transaction than the nobles or chieftains who beat up the price by making ridiculous excuses!”

“But is it really true that the spirit gave permission? “If you listen to it, no matter how much you think about it, it’s not something a spirit would do.”

Frank, who was having a drink with his fellow merchants in a carriage heading to the forest, tackled the merchants’ compliments.

For Frank, who was active in a place adjacent to the empire, the idea of a gentle spirit felt quite foreign.

After pouring his drink into his mouth, the merchants burst into laughter and hit Frank on the shoulder with their palms.

Why do hillbillies from the south always say the same thing!

“This is why those who grew up near the empire wonder what if they are spirits and what if they are witches! At least it’s better than greedy nobles!”

“And what… “The world is in such a bad state these days, it’s not a big deal for spirits to become good.”

Frank nodded, realizing that the merchants were definitely right.

There was nothing wrong with what they said.

The reason the world became strange was a fact that everyone from the emperor of the empire to the lowest slaves knew.

“You too…” Is it Milvern Company? “He said he came up there because it was attacked by a witch, right?”

“Yes, it was a total mess.”

Frank shuddered, swallowing a bitter smile along with his beer.

It has been a dangerous world to navigate since ancient times, but these days it has been especially confusing.

Don’t those called witches attack people?

Monsters such as trolls and griffons that are difficult to encounter in a lifetime will appear.

Even crazy people who hunt spirits or demonic beasts…

“Wow, the taste of the alcohol is poor. “Let’s all throw away our depressing thoughts and go have a drink.”

“That is correct. Let’s see… Ah, here it is! “This is a very precious honey wine. Let’s enjoy it together.”

“Precious honey wine?”

“That’s right! “Mead made by the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen.”

“This person! Follow me right away. “If I had such a valuable item, I should have taken it out a long time ago.”

Alcohol can make people forget their worries.

Frank and the merchants shared a glass of mead and shook off their worries.

I hope that their future will be as sweet and smooth as mead.

* · * *

The forest called the end of the world was no longer barren.

For farmers, it is a land of opportunity to own fertile land.

For merchants, it was a new market where they could obtain high-quality crops at low prices.

For hunters, it was a paradise where they could freely hunt animals running through the forest.

“I will check your luggage. “If you came to the forest with a suspicious object or intention, it would be good to be honest about it.”

“hehehe. “Is that possible?”

“We are people who think their lives are a waste. “I have no intention of offending the King of the Forest for no reason.”

Of course, entering such a place was not easy.

At least in places where human footsteps reached, the tribes that had received the favor of the Wendigo were conducting strict inspections.

Frank glanced sideways at the body hanging from the gate with a shocked expression.

A sign listing the crime was hung on the corpse with an arrow stuck in its neck.

[ Illegal trespassing, poaching, and theft ]

‘It’s not peaceful here either.’

It was common, even outside of the North, to use criminals as examples. Because people tend to become humble as the fear of death approaches.

In fact, the effect was quite good, and Frank and his merchants were naturally humbled even though they had not committed any sins.

The warriors rummaged through their luggage for a long time and used dogs to check for scents.

After confirming that there was nothing wrong, the warrior clicked his tongue with regret.

“Tsk, it’s normal this time too. “There’s nothing suspicious.”

“I heard that the guys who were checking last time caught a criminal and received an herb that is good for stamina as a reward. “Why doesn’t that happen to us?”

“There are always a lot of people caught for accidents and assaults in the forest. Come on in!”

When the warrior shouted, waving his hands, the merchants heaved a sigh of relief.

If there was even one criminal among them, it was obvious that doing business in the forest would become difficult in the future.

However, if I made it this far, I was relieved from the next time.

The merchants shouted at the mercenaries they had hired as escorts.

“The King of the Forest will protect you from here on, so don’t even think about taking out your weapon!”

“No, what does that mean? Even if it’s a spirit, it’s…”

“I know, so don’t yell. “Some of our children have come face to face with the king.”

Mercenary leader Gardam answered while touching the wound on his chin.

Rodomel, the merchant who served the mead, whispered quietly to Frank so that Gardam could not hear.

“If you plan to continue visiting the forest in the future, I recommend that friend. “He is a friend who survived despite opposing the king of the forest.”

“Rodomel, if you’re going to whisper, speak a little louder. Because I can hear everything. And what about dealing with… “

“Adventure!”

Rodomel was a merchant with a loud voice.

When Gardam glared and grumbled, Lodomel avoided his gaze and looked the other way.

Frank asked Gardam out of curiosity.

“Is the King of the Forest that strong?”

“Huh, were you really a guy who didn’t know anything?”

Gardham looked at Frank with surprised eyes.

The Northern Union being destroyed by a spirit was a famous incident that most northerners did not know about….

Gardham looked Frank up and down.

For a northerner, there were few scars on his face, and his posture did not give the impression of a warrior.

“This was a nobleman who came from near the empire.”

“Ah… Is it obvious like that?”

“Just because you wear leather clothes and have a sword on your waist doesn’t make you a warrior. What can I say about you… There is no smell of blood. “Maybe it’s ink.”

Northerners take pride in being descendants of marauders and children of warriors, but not everyone was like that.

I was worried that I might become prey due to my weak appearance, so I was living in an awkward manner….

Rodomel burst into laughter at Gardam’s direct point.

“hahahahaha! Gardam! Anyway, it’s too direct. “If you choose the wrong partner later, you could be in big trouble!”

From Noble mtl dot com

“Anyway, I live because the King of the Forest saved me. He lives his life thinking he died in that disaster, so what is there to be afraid of?”

“Hey, what do you mean you survived despite opposing the king of the forest?”

Gardarm sighed and looked at Lodomel.

For no reason are you making unnecessary remarks and revealing other people’s dark history!

Rodomel smoothed his beard and comforted Gardam.

“Hum hum hum, I’m sorry. “Please forgive me because this time I will give you a can of honey wine that I made myself.”

“… “You think I’m going to skip it because the taste of the drink is good.”

The price offered by Lodomel to the northerners, who were fascinated by honey wine, was attractive enough to reveal a dark history.

As Frank headed toward the heart of the forest, he listened to Gardam’s stories day and night.

* · * *

The story Gardam told was so great that it was hard to believe.

A spirit suddenly appears and kills an evil evil spirit (though it seemed like just a spirit).

He cut down the incarnation of evil lurking underground and saved the forest people.

By burying the earth dragon, we made the end of the world fertile….

‘I overpowered hundreds of warriors by myself…’ .’

It was full of unbelievable stories, but Frank had no choice but to believe that at least half of them were true.

The land was truly fertile, and the forest where warriors riding giant wolves roamed was by no means an ordinary place.

“Frank, you should prepare the real products as well. “It’s okay if it’s not too great, so don’t worry.”

“Ah, yes!”

Inside the forest, passing through the village, Frank arrived at the palace and nervously packed his goods.

Through the story, I started to believe that spirits might be good, but it wasn’t usually difficult to throw away the common sense that I had lived with my whole life.

Rodomel gave advice to the immature young man.

“Don’t worry too much. Because the King of the Forest is generous. “He is someone who praises you for things less than the golden cup you brought.”

“Is that so?”

“Okay. “One merchant was even happy when he offered grapes because the product he was offering was stolen.”

There is no way that a being so great as the king of the forest would be happy to receive grapes.

Frank found some peace of mind.

… But he still couldn’t shake off his anxiety. The memory of being attacked by a witch still haunts him.

‘Let’s come to our senses. I said the shaman who walks with the spirit is good, so it should be okay.’

Frank slapped his cheek to wake him up.

Isn’t it right to let the past pass by?

Frank and Rodomel, who had taken care of the prize, walked together to meet the King of the Forest.

* · * *

Arriving at the Forest Palace, Frank followed Rodomel and took a deep breath.

The servants were not scary, but the warriors guarding the palace were intimidating in their very presence.

The attendant who was guiding them cleared his voice and carefully whispered towards the throne room.

“Merchants came to praise the greatness of the spirit. Please allow me to post real products.”

There was no answer. When I knocked twice on the throne room door from inside the complex, the attendant nodded his head and stepped back.

Rodomel gave Frank advice while massaging his shoulder.

“When calling him, call him the king of the forest or the spirit. If possible, he should be called a king. “He does not call himself king, but his subjects like to call him king.”

“Is there anything else I should be careful about?”

“There is none. Oh, there is one….”

“What is that?”

“Don’t lie. And if there is a male and female preparing that I haven’t even noticed….”

Rodomel pretended to hit his neck with a serious expression.

Frank shook his head in disgust at that bloody suggestion.

He came here as a merchant, and I swear to heaven he had no intention of becoming a criminal.

“I will open the door. It’s okay, because Mr. Lodomel is used to it… “I hope you come out safely.”

“That’s a joke… “This guy’s heart is going to drop.”

After a while, the warriors opened the heavy door and Lodomel and Frank entered inside.

Waiting for them were the Wendigo sitting on the throne, Skadi riding on his shoulder, and Geron sitting next to him.

‘Why are you in a place like that? And why is his hair flowing?’

Rodomel was also puzzled by a situation he had never encountered before. But he wasn’t too embarrassed.

Because she visited the forest quite often, Rodo Mel, who had done business with Skadi before, knew very well what a warm-natured woman she was.

Thinking that there must be a profound reason that she could not understand, Rodomel smiled and greeted the Wendigo.

“King of the forest. Rodomel of Haydrn offers her gift to thank Her Merciful One for His grace. Please accept this gift with a generous heart.”

“Rodomel, it’s nice to see you again in good health. Your mead always made people happy. “I hope so this time too.”

“hehehe, is there any question?”

Mel bowed her head in great joy as the Wendigo praised her.

Unlike most people in power who think of merchants as bats watching for opportunity, the spirit in front of me always highly valued the existence of merchants.

Rodomel stepped back, bowing deeply.

Now it was Frank’s turn to attend the audience together….

“Ah, ah….”

“?”

Frank was looking somewhere with a scared expression.

Were they at all frightened by the huge giant with the skull of an animal?

‘Um, that hair!?’

Surprisingly, it wasn’t the wendigo that made Frank scared.

Skadi’s hair is flowing due to the influence of mystery.

When he laid eyes on the hair wrapped in a mysterious light, memories he wanted to forget shook Frank’s mind.

Frank recalled the witch who burned the members of the upper class alive.

‘Damn, witch!’

The red-haired witch who attacked the upper class she belonged to.

The Wendigo smelled Frank’s strong scent of fear and sighed inwardly.

‘There are still people who are afraid of me.’

It was right to blame the appearance, but it was a very wrong idea.

But what can we do?

A giant with a skull head is more scary than a beauty with a mysterious aura…

If anyone had watched this situation, they would have thought the same thing.

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