I Became a Wendigo in a Fantasy World

33 – Episode 33

In the eastern plains, the homeland of the Verdant Claw Tribe and a land they would one day return to, there existed a saying:

“A warrior may choose to face the battlefield, but returning is not a choice the warrior can make.”

It might sound like nonsense, but seasoned warriors understood the meaning behind these words quite well.

While a human could choose to start something, they couldn’t foresee how it would end.

Lektar recently found himself particularly haunted by that proverb in his mind. The current situation perfectly matched his demeanor.

“Chief. Today, warriors fell victim to attacks from the spirits…”

“… I’m aware.”

Lektar bit his teeth to restrain his anger.

The warrior reporting to him retreated nervously, seeing how fiercely he clenched his teeth.

It seemed like Lektar might unleash his fury and swing his sword if provoked.

“Damn it! We haven’t even properly engaged with them in battle yet, and what is this disgrace!”

Suppressing his anger, Lektar forcefully pushed the tent’s door open and stepped outside.

His gaze fell upon the warriors who had survived the spirit attacks. No, could this be called survival?

“The number of dead has decreased again. Those damn spirits are undoubtedly playing with me!”

What initially was a small number of survivors had now grown to fill both hands and even extended beyond.

As the leader of the tribe, Lektar should have been pleased, but he couldn’t find any joy in it.

A warrior, leaning on a comrade’s shoulder, looked at Lektar blankly and spoke up.

“Mist… there’s mist…”

“Damn it. Stop that cursed talk about mist!”

Unable to contain himself, Lektar grabbed the warrior by the collar and shouted as the warrior mumbled about the mist, a word that always made the others murmur in discomfort.

Jakken, who had quietly observed the scene, approached Lektar and grabbed his arm.

“Chief, I understand your anger, but please release him. Treating a warrior who returned from the brink like this goes against our laws…”

“Brink? You fools. You still don’t get it! Right now, you’re all being toyed with by the wretched tricks of those spirit bastards!”

Rector, who brushed off Jacen’s hand, vented his anger by pointing his finger towards the warriors.

Rector knew very well why the warriors looked at him with resentment.

The problem was that the returning warriors had spread the warning they had received to the others.

“If you step into the mist, you die.”

Initially dismissed as nonsense from defeatist fools, these words started to shake the emotions of the warriors as they increased.

“You fools. No matter how powerful the spirits are, they are still just spirits. If the mystic energy runs out, you won’t be able to fly around like now, making you cowards who will leave at my command!”

While there was a logical argument, the warriors did not view it favorably.

Even if the words were correct, they couldn’t understand why they had to continue this seemingly pointless battle.

The only things one could gain here were trees, grass, and endless fruits.

“Shouldn’t we just go back to the plains now?”

“He’s just boasting loudly without ever facing a spirit himself.”

“Did he really experience being mesmerized by a real spirit?”

Sometimes thoughts were conveyed without being spoken.

Facing the warriors’ disrespectful gazes, Rector felt a twisted sensation in his stomach.

“If only I had complete power!”

The power that had passed to Rector due to the sudden death of Galler, a respected warrior and Rector’s father, did not amount to much.

Leadership authority is usually proven through achievements, but he had no time to establish any.

Guiding the warriors to the forest, which was everything to the humans, in such a mediocre state naturally led to the warriors harboring distrust.

It was natural, but Rector was not broad-minded enough to tolerate such a situation.

“Fools who don’t understand the grand cause of making the tribe strong!”

“Chieftain. I apologize for saying this, but turning back now would be…”

“Silence. You, who once earned the respect of our warriors, have lost your senses!”

As Jacen tried to persuade, Lectar’s fiery eyes glared at Jacen.

Sharp fangs, like those of a beast, were ready to bite and tear at any moment.

But Jacen’s gaze was as calm as a serene lake… cold.

It was not a gaze that looked at the chieftain at all.

“Jacen. I know you have the respect of the warriors. It is justified since you risked your life to save them. However…”

Click.

“If you express dissatisfaction with my orders again, I will kill you in the most agonizing way.”

As Lectar slightly unsheathed the sword at his waist, a flickering flame emerged from the blade, licking the edge.

Lectar revealed his intent to swing the sword at any moment, warning Jacen for the last time.

The standoff between Lectar and Jacen, staring at each other for a while, concluded as Jacen bowed his head.

“Forgive me. I merely expressed a personal opinion, considering the future of the tribe.”

Lectar barely restrained the urge to strike Jacen’s neck. He was aware of the gazes of the warriors watching them.

“…For a mere warrior to discuss the future of the tribe. I will forgive you this time. Go back and console the warriors.”

As Lectar pushed Jacen away and turned, some warriors approached Jacen, murmuring.

The content was not audible, but it was definitely not good.

‘After this is over, Jacen’s neck will undoubtedly be taken.’

Personal feelings aside, as the chieftain of the Blue Fang tribe, he could not tolerate the emergence of a rival.

Lectar vowed that once this expedition was over, Jacen’s neck would be severed.

As Lektar was returning to his tent, a warrior approached him.

“What is it? What’s going on?”

“The Lord Onerthon is summoning the chieftain.”

A twitch.

The veins in Lektar’s neck near the collar writhed.

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Respecting an elemental was one thing, but the idea of being called by one didn’t sit well with him.

Lektar brushed aside the warrior’s thigh. The warrior, even protected by the spirit’s blessing, staggered.

“Do I have to rush over just because that creature calls me!”

“Well… no, not exactly.”

“Shut up!”

Sure, Jaken may have the support of the warriors, making it unwise to provoke him, but this warrior in front of him was different.

Lektar’s blind rage admonished the warrior. The warrior, unable to resist, begged for forgiveness enduring the violence.

After a while of unleashing violence, Lektar finally moved his steps after the warrior had fainted. Arrogance was arrogance, but he needed to hear Onerthon’s story.

Arriving at Onerthon’s tent, two warriors were guarding the entrance vigilantly.

Clearly, these were individuals who had received the blessing of the nearby creatures. Lektar squinted at them.

“Why are you guarding this tent?”

“We are protecting the tent with utmost devotion out of respect for the Elemental Lord.”

Lektar let out a bitter laugh.

Who in the world respected an elemental? If such beings existed, they were undoubtedly mad, and if not, they were surely frauds.

Elementals that devoured every existence in the world—how much could a fraud like that learn?

Of course, the warriors had no reason to admire the spirits, so it was clear that they were lying to Lecter.

“Yeah. I can respect the spirits who sacrifice humans and consider themselves the smartest and wisest beings in the world.”

“……”

“But your respect is not my concern. Stop talking nonsense and step aside. I need to meet him.”

The warriors cautiously opened the tent door they had been guarding.

“Ah, you’ve come. It took longer than I expected.”

“… Do I look like a servant who comes running when called?”

Oneton chuckled with his tongue flicking, his mouth full of the human he had been devouring.

Lecter glared at Oneton annoyed. He couldn’t understand why Oneton was laughing.

“The human scum who guards the tent became my servants because I granted them power. Don’t forget that our relationship is strictly transactional.”

“Ah, of course.”

Oneton bared his teeth and burst into laughter, so Lecter tightened his grip on the sword at his waist.

Oneton quite enjoyed Lecter’s angry appearance. Recently, things hadn’t been going his way, but this foolish warrior in front of him moved exactly as he had expected.

‘If only the forest spirits were at this level.’

“Get to the point quickly. Why did you summon me?”

“My beasts have brought me information that you will find interesting.”

Sensing that Lecter’s anger had reached its limit, Oneton immediately moved on to the main topic.

With his tail swaying, Oneton drew a map of the forest. As he had observed the forest through the eyes of his beasts, his map was quite detailed.

The path of their advance and the obstacles were drawn, and the positions of the warriors were marked. Lecter’s eyes flickered as he watched the expanding map.

In the center of the map was a vast square.

“Can such a wide square exist in this forest?”

“Checking through the beasts, it seems like it used to be a village in the past. The land wasn’t that fertile, so it looks like the inhabitants left due to shortages… But if it’s you, this land might be useful.”

Lektar nodded. Establishing a base wouldn’t be difficult if enough space was secured. After all, the surroundings were filled with trees.

With a secure base, proper rest could be provided to the warriors. Even if they were frightened, given enough time, they could grasp the warriors’ tactics.

Moreover, transitioning into a protracted war might allow them to withdraw, as battles with spirits inevitably led to the depletion of power.

However, there was a problem.

“This square could be a trap. Is it okay?”

“It’s possible. That’s why this time, I’m thinking of helping you specially.”

Lektar barely restrained the curse that was about to burst out. All of this happened because of Oneton’s greed, yet he spoke as if it were someone else’s affair.

Knowing that spirits were shameless beings, Lektar was always amazed by them.

Oneton rose his massive body and approached Lektar. He circled around Lektar, saying,

“My beasts will charge at the forefront. Unlike you, when I take control directly, the beasts won’t spare their lives. In that case, they should easily break through any traps they set.”

“…Still, facing spirits is usually a challenging task.”

“You must have already used a lot of strength dealing with your subordinates. Unless you’re like me, capturing humans and accumulating mystique, gathering mystique in the forest is a difficult task.”

Unable to fully comprehend until the end, Oneton met Lektar’s eyes. Oneton’s eyes showed a desire that even closed eyes couldn’t hide.

“Finally… as a reward for what you’ve gained so far, I’ll share my power with you.”

“!”

Without a chance for Lektar to react, Oneton’s fangs lightly bit Lektar’s arm.

For a moment, Lektar, surprised, sighed in awe as mystique permeated through the blood. As the mystique began to flow with the blood, changes occurred in his body.

The eyes flashed like those of a beast, and the teeth grew sharp, the muscles resembling that of a creature.

Rector gasped for breath as the thrill flowed through his entire body. That was why, despite hating the spirits, he couldn’t drive them away.

Power beyond human was akin to a drug in itself.

“Now, are you prepared?”

“… Of course.”

In the overwhelming waves of potent power that clouded his mind, Rector was certain.

With this power, he could confront the spirit.

… Unaware of how much he underestimated Wendigo himself.