I Became a Wendigo in a Fantasy World

25 – Episode 25

Winter was both the most treacherous and the quietest time.

Unless it was a truly urgent situation, there was no reason to endure the trembling cold.

Especially in this forest where snowstorms raged, wandering around in winter was practically a choice close to suicide.

Wendygo recalled a few rare memories from the winter, standing in front of the snow-covered tombstone.

Or could these even be called memories?

“… I guess finding a frozen bear isn’t exactly a memory to cherish. I would prefer something more fitting for a ghost story.”

A living forest that dies because a bear fails at hibernation. At this point, the forest people were nothing short of extraordinary.

How did they manage to survive in a forest like this?

“Well, even so, now that spring has arrived, it feels warm and nice!”

“But isn’t it too early to think that the snow will melt?”

“What? The blizzard has stopped, so isn’t it spring?”

As Gerone asked for the obvious, Wendy seemed to know the reason why these people were able to survive in the forest.

It was evident that those who could only die from such a small thing were long gone.

“Everyone, hurry up and clear the snow! If you mess up, your toes will fly off!”

“Here, the snow is frozen. Someone get a hammer!”

As spring arrived, people began to move energetically, clearing the snow.

Breaking the frozen ice with hammers and picks, shoveling the snow to a suitable place with shovels, cautiously sprinkling hot water if necessary…

Wendy licked her lips upon seeing the hot water she had just sprinkled freeze upon contact with the snow.

“If boiling water freezes instantly, then this is definitely not normal cold.”

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“Even so, the people of the forest are incredibly fast. I was worried about how I would clear this snow.”

Skadi, wearing a soft fur cloak, looked at the people next to Wendy as if they were fascinating.

She grew up in a cold land herself, but compared to the forest people, she was more susceptible to the cold. From the start, the forest people… had an almost terrifying level of robustness.

“hahahahaha! Thanks to Skadi’s totem, the snow is soft!”

“Wooohooo! Let’s clear all the snow before the sun sets today!”

“What enthusiasm! Onward!”

—

Thanks to the totem, the cold was somewhat lessened. It truly couldn’t be anything but a daunting forest.

As the bustling warriors began to forget the cold and clear the piles of snow, the area around the totem quickly revealed the ground.

The wendigo scratched the frozen ground with its nails. Sharp black soil clung to its nails.

“It seems the black soil has spread all the way here already.”

“Hmm… It might continue spreading. Honestly, it’s expanding faster and wider than expected.”

Indeed, it was a three-hundred-year-old compost, or rather, a heart-like performance. It hadn’t been years, yet the land around the village was already turning into black soil.

Glancing contentedly at the ground, the wendigo raised its head at the sensation emanating from the forest.

The snow-covered forest was a perfect place for creatures to hide, but it couldn’t deceive the wendigo’s senses. Someone was surely wandering through the forest.

But it wasn’t an attack. The wendigo called out with its familiar presence. It was time to welcome a guest.

“Ivan and others from a different village seem to have arrived. Geron, relay the message to prepare a feast for the people.”

“Yes. I’ll inform them to prepare with warm clothes and food.”

The wendigo nodded.

These arrivals might be hungry from their journey, but how they longed for warmth.

It was certain that kindness would spring forth with warm food and fur cloaks.

“Small kindness like this naturally returns as staunch loyalty.”

Deciding to personally greet the kindness shown, the wendigo chose to go out to meet them. It wasn’t too far.

“Scadi. I’ll go to greet them, so prepare the feast with Geron.”

“Yes. I’ll ensure people can feel your benevolence and compassion perfectly!”

“No. There’s no need to make it grand. Prepare it moderately.”

Scadi’s eyes, which were burning with enthusiasm, dimmed. It was pitiful, but it couldn’t be helped.

When she was genuinely preparing for something, there was no telling where she’d stop, so blocking in advance like this was the best way.

Wendigo barely managed to shut her mouth, which seemed eager to blurt out permission, and headed towards the forest.

* * *

Entering the forest, Wendigo felt her senses sharpen more than usual. The forest itself suited her better than the village within it.

Thanks to that, Wendigo sensed that something was off.

‘This energy is not human.’

Wendigo raised her head and sniffed the scent flowing in the forest.

The smell of beasts coming from Ivan’s direction.

It was different from livestock; there was a wild energy distinct from pigs or chickens.

If that’s the case, wild animals must be following them…

‘Over three hundred humans moving in a group, not monsters, and not likely to attract predators.’

It might be a coincidence that their paths crossed, but Wendigo didn’t believe in coincidences.

Having experienced too many incidents in this world, she created an axe made of ice in preparation for a fight.

‘Their movement speed has increased!’

Sure enough.

They started behaving strangely, relentlessly chasing Ivan’s group at a furious pace.

Wendigo ran through the forest, gathering mystique.

‘If I sense anything, I’ll strike them down immediately.’

In the blink of an eye, Wendigo closed the distance with Ivan’s group, convinced that she could run as fast as the earth.

She shouted towards the distant Ivan.

“Ivan!!!”

“Master Spirit!”

Ivan, who was making his way through the snow, flinched when he heard Wendygo’s voice.

He had been worried about what would happen if Wendygo left the forest during the winter, but here she was, coming to greet him.

If he could hear her voice, she must be nearby!

“The Master Spirit is nearby. Find the Master Spirit!”

“Ivan, I, I see the Master Spirit over there…”

“If you see her, then you see her. Why are you stuttering…!?”

As Ivan pointed with trembling hands, he looked over with a wide smile on his face.

And he was astonished.

Wendygo was running towards them, carrying a large ice axe and emitting an ominous aura.

Frozen with fear, Ivan quickly turned his head.

“What did I do wrong!?”

Nothing in particular came to mind.

The only thing he could think of was that he had acted without waiting for the Master Spirit’s instructions…

But even after much thought, he couldn’t see how that would warrant losing his life.

He had gathered all the valuable items from each village and brought everyone to safety, so it wouldn’t be strange to receive praise instead.

“Could it be that I came too late? If you think I broke my oath and tried to escape…”

No matter how rational and compassionate Wendygo was, she was still a spirit… At least that’s what Ivan knew.

Even if she had a great understanding of humans, she was still a spirit.

If a human crosses the forest in winter, did Wendigo overlook the possibility of freezing to death?

It was a plausible story. There was no rule against mistaking it for a spirit.

At times like this, explaining the situation calmly could dispel misunderstandings. However…

‘Surely, being rational, compassionate, and kind, you will listen to the explanation, right?’

Or it could be a big problem. The image of that massive axe chopping his own throat flashed through Ivan’s mind.

“Ivan!!!”

As Wendigo’s voice resonated even louder, Ivan tensed, swallowing dry saliva.

Facing her, explain quickly!?

《 Kneel!!! 》

Wendigo shouted loudly, emerging from the forest. There was no time to explain as enraged beasts had already reached them.

However, the issue was that Wendigo was in a state of heightened mystery.

As a chilling scream struck their ears, Ivan felt his heart shrink.

When he met Wendigo’s eyes emitting a sinister light, an impulse to faint immediately arose.

Forgetting his original plan, he surrendered to instinct.

“I made a mistake!!!”

Without any choice, he immediately knelt, regardless of explanations.

Others were not much different. Without anyone saying anything, they screamed and fell to their knees when faced with the wrath of someone of higher rank.

“Well done!”

Wendigo praised their prompt actions.

In a hurry, I shouted, and as expected, sincerity always found a way to connect.

Without hesitation, they realized there was a reason and didn’t lower their posture!

“I don’t know what it means to admit I was wrong!”

As the obstacle disappeared, Wendygo let out a roar and swung the axe forcefully.

When the mysterious power embedded in the axe was unleashed, a blizzard wrapped around it.

“Crreeek!!!”

The wolves that had just arrived howled and bared their teeth, disrupting the silence.

As Wendygo drew a crescent shape with the axe, the blizzard turned into a massive attack and flew towards the wolves.

The attack swiftly cut down more than ten wolves. Naturally, the wolves that were chasing after stopped in their tracks.

Wendygo leaped into the center of the wolf pack and commanded Ivan.

“Ivan! Snap out of it and grab your weapon! It’s a surprise attack!”

“I was wrong! Wrong… a surprise attack?”

Ivan, who was begging for forgiveness with tears in his eyes, turned his head and stared at the wolves in astonishment.

Was it really not a surprise attack!

Lost in thought, Ivan looked at the wolves and silently rejoiced. He realized that Wendygo wasn’t targeting him.

“They didn’t come to kill me!”

“Ivan!”

“Yes! Everyone, snap out of it and grab your weapons! Predators have appeared!”

When Wendygo called Ivan once again, he finally took command.

The warriors also sensed that Wendygo wasn’t targeting them. They let out a sigh of relief and began to defend against the surprise attack.

“Merely wolves won’t do. Shield up!”

“Torches! Create torches! Threaten them with fire!”

As the warriors dealt with the closely packed wolves, Wendigo raised her weapon without worry.

With each swing of the axe, wolves were torn apart, soaring into the sky. With a single roar, six wolves turned into ice shards without even a chance to scream.

Even with a kick or a punch, the wolves crumpled, miserably dying. Ivan watched this, making a resolution.

“I must never underestimate the spirit!”

Ivan was wise enough not to engage in such folly.

Wendigo, causing a violet storm, slaughtered the wolves for a moment.

“Scurry, scatter!”

Wolves, drooling like rabid dogs, started fleeing without tails.

Wendigo glanced at the fleeing wolves briefly before walking towards the people.

Ivan awkwardly smiled as he watched Wendigo approaching.

It was challenging to smile naturally due to the overwhelming vitality emanating from Wendigo.

Ivan greeted with utmost courtesy.

“S-Spirit. It’s an honor to meet you again.”

“Ivan, you’ve done well bringing them. Crossing a forest covered in snow is usually no easy feat… truly impressive.”

“!”

Ivan felt his chest swell with pride at Wendigo’s sincere praise.

Indeed, the spirit was truly magnificent—

“But it seems a little rat is hiding.”

Wendigo snapped his fingers, and roots sprouted from the ground, wrapping around a man. As the man twisted in pain and cursed, Wendigo approached him slowly…

Crack!

A punch echoed through the air.

Considering Wendigo’s size, even a normal punch was no different from a fistfight.

As the man, bleeding and unconscious, collapsed, Ivan couldn’t help but look away.

Compassionate and noble, yes…

But the fear was unavoidable.