I Became a Wendigo in a Fantasy World

40 – Episode 40

Having neatly finished his prepared meal, Wendigo headed towards the village where the letter had arrived.

The village was located to the north, and it seemed not entirely coincidental that the village appeared quite cold and close to the mountains, perhaps due to the appearance of the musk ox.

Wendigo slowly surveyed the village near him. He suspected that the cause might be the origin he absorbed, but he considered the possibility of external intervention by outsiders.

‘There were no normal ones among the outsiders I met in this forest.’

Starting with the boar and the shaman following him, to parasites and Oneton.

Oneton claimed there was nothing to eat in this forest, but why were there so many problems occurring?

‘Still, it seems like there’s no manipulation from outsiders this time.’

Wendigo headed towards the bushes around the village. There, a herd of musk oxen was peacefully grazing.

Wendigo approached the warrior who was watching over the musk oxen.

“Ugh. Can’t even catch and eat those cows, what’s the point of this…”

“You’ve been through a lot.”

“Huh? Who…”

Pause.

The warrior, upon hearing the unfamiliar voice, turned his head and froze when he saw the massive deer skull.

He immediately recognized who the presence was, with the large antlers coming into view.

The warrior stared at Wendigo with a vacant expression for quite some time. Wendigo waited patiently until the warrior regained his senses.

It seemed that such incidents happened frequently, allowing for some leisure.

“Uh… no. This isn’t right!”

Thunk!

Finally coming to his senses, the warrior forcefully slapped his own cheek and knelt down.

“I apologize! To show such an ugly sight without even recognizing the spirit!”

“No, it’s fine. If anything, it was my fault for approaching without a sound. By the way, are those the musk oxen that came to the village?”

“Yes! They suddenly rushed in and, without leaving the vicinity, just sat down.”

Leaving the warrior, who shouted loudly like a new recruit, behind, Wendigo approached the musk oxen.

The musk oxen didn’t avoid Wendigo’s approach. Instead, they looked at him with bright, shining eyes, almost seeming burdensome.

“… Wildness isn’t limited to predators, it seems.”

Indeed, most wild animals inherently possessed a sense of wildness. Then why only predators for Oneton…

‘Knowing his personality, he probably mocked these animals as weak.’

If Oneton pursued a deal rather than deceit, he wouldn’t have brought only predators along.

While powerful predators might be helpful in a fight, they were generally useless in everyday life. If you judged objectively, predators were just baggage that emitted the stench of meat when there was no fighting.

On the other hand, what about cattle, horses, and pigs?

‘Cattle and horses can be used for farming, and pigs probably thrived well in this harsh world.’

Leaving behind everything that had no use from one to ten, he collected animals that suited his personality.

As Wendigo stroked the musk ox’s head, the musk ox emitted a pleasant sound, leaning its head against him.

Wendigo decided to give a small gift to this admirable musk ox. The mystery woven into his palm seeped into the musk ox’s body, causing a transformation.

The size of the musk ox in the Sa Hyang So has grown, and its fur has become both soft and sturdy. Not forgetting to tame it gently to prevent any reckless behavior.

“It seems to have turned out quite well.”

Wendigo removed his hand, nodding satisfactorily. This should make an excellent livestock.

Wendigo gave instructions to the warrior.

“Tell the village chief to take good care of this musk ox. Help it to spread its seed without devouring the big fellow.”

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“Yes! I will make every effort, even risking my life, to ensure the prosperity of the musk ox!”

“… No. I didn’t mean for you to take care of the musk ox to that extent.”

Wendigo tried to dissuade the warrior, but the warrior’s eyes were ablaze with determination.

Watching the musk ox receive Wendigo’s blessing before his eyes, Wendigo’s advice to the warrior seemed like a divine revelation.

“I must make these creatures prosper!”

“Whatever you say, he seems unwilling to listen.”

Wendigo looked at the enthusiastic warrior with a bitter smile. He hadn’t expected to determine the future of a warrior like this.

Wendigo looked at the running warrior, or rather, the man who would become the shepherd in the future, and thought,

“This musk ox herd is probably not the first and the last.”

It was hard to imagine how many beasts were living in this forest.

Certainly, it wasn’t because this village was special that the beasts came here. If that were the case, then beasts would visit other villages as well.

“I hope some useful creatures come, if possible.”

With expectations, Wendigo returned to the temple.

* * *

Wendigo’s expectations were not wrong. The musk ox began to receive offerings every day as if it were just the beginning.

Unfortunately, there were no creatures as convenient for utilizing as laborers, like cows or horses. However, animals suitable for raising as livestock, such as pigs, chickens, and goats, began to appear one by one.

Even in the sanctuary of Wendigo, beasts revealed themselves…

“Did you say wolves appeared?”

“Yes. A pack of wolves with fur as white as snow has appeared. They’re quite sizable too.”

“Wolves…”

At Geron’s response, Wendigo fell into thought.

While wolves weren’t suitable as livestock, they did have their uses. At least they had voluntarily joined, so they could be raised like dogs.

If things went well, they might even become good companions in scarcity…

“Of all things, it had to be wolves. And to think of Oneton at a time like this is unsettling.”

Wendigo recalled the sneering face of Oneton. The problem wasn’t just that he took the form of a wolf; the bigger issue was that the most formidable beast he controlled wasn’t a wolf.

Even though he lost his origin, and his existence itself disappeared, Wendigo couldn’t let his guard down.

If the wolves appearing at the sanctuary were the ones controlled by Oneton, there wouldn’t be anything strange no matter what problems arose.

“What are the wolves doing now?”

“They are playing near the spirit’s incarnation.”

“… Come to think of it, the incarnation is still intact.”

Wendigo remembered the fact he had forgotten. He hadn’t destroyed the incarnation yet.

Geron, who thought Wendigo had set it up to display his authority, looked at Wendigo with a cold gaze.

However, Wendigo had his own justification. After all, he had been busy traveling around the village recently.

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s not like the world is in chaos just because the incarnation is still standing.”

“… Please refrain from saying such things in front of others. It’s worrisome that people might lose their awe.”

“Of course, you’re in front of me, so you’re saying this. You wouldn’t say such things in front of others.”

Wendigo’s words were meant to express trust in Geron, but Geron felt a knot in his stomach.

Geron, who always accompanied Wendigo, was respected by many people… The problem was that people asked him about anything related to Wendigo.

“What kind of work does the spirit do at the temple? Do you still protect people from danger by wandering through the forest?”

“Lately, the crops have been bearing abundant fruit. Is this also the blessing of the spirit?”

“When a cold breeze passed through me during dawn training, is that a sign that the spirit is watching over me?”

People who rarely encountered Wendigo believed that he was doing mysterious and incomprehensible things at the temple.

Perhaps the displays Wendigo showed were too amazing!

Of course, people’s questions stemmed from reverence… but every time Geron received such questions, it was so difficult to answer.

Wendigo’s usual appearance was so modest!

“Sometimes it’s hard to believe he’s a spirit. How can I tell people that?”

It would have been easier if he had shown a solemn and mysterious appearance even in front of Geron himself. Then there would have been no need to come up with answers!

It is not strange for Geron, who had to come up with nonexistent talents to satisfy people’s expectations, to resent Wendigo, who was no different from a culprit.

When Geron looked at Wendigo with a gaze filled with various meanings, Wendigo turned his head. Of course, Wendigo knew very well what emotions Geron had.

How can you not know when there is a strong scent of reverence and anger right next to you?

“If I say the wrong thing here, Geron might collapse.”

Wendigo didn’t want Geron to collapse. There weren’t many people who could treat Geron as comfortably as Wendigo.

“Go find Skadi and have a cup of tea to refresh your mind. I’ll check on the wolves with my astral projection.”

“…Understood.”

Geron obediently nodded his head and replied. He also thought that he needed some rest.

Certainly, if it’s a tea that is good for the mind and body, it can also tame this anger…

Pause.

Geron, who was about to open the door, stopped upon realizing something strange.

“Spirit. When you mentioned a tea good for the mind and body, were you perhaps aware of my thoughts…”

Wendigo, without waiting to hear Geron’s question in full, transferred consciousness to his duplicate.

* * *

“… Having a keen sense is an advantage. Next time, I should be more careful with my words.”

“Wendigo-nim!”

Wendigo, regaining consciousness through the duplicate’s body, turned his head at the familiar voice. There was Skadi, surrounded by wolves.

Skadi, whom Wendigo did not expect to meet, expressed joy with flapping arms at the sudden reunion.

“Skadi. How did you know I had possessed a duplicate?”

“hehehehe. I saw mysterious energy gathering around! Did Wendigo-nim come to check on the wolves too?”

“Well, yes… It seems there was no particular need for that.”

Wendigo looked at the wolves showing affection to Skadi with confusion.

While beasts sometimes showed favor to Wendigo, they had never shown such kindness to a human.

It was just because they knew he followed Wendigo and didn’t rebel…

‘Anyone would think they’re the queens of the wolves.’

The wolves, as if Skadi could be Wendigo, were not just wagging their tails, but even the largest wolf had Skadi on its back, chuckling. Wendigo was sure it was a male.

‘At least they’re not the wolves left by that Oner-ton.’

(Note: “Oner-ton” is a fictional term used in the original text.)

If that were the case, Skadi wouldn’t be playing with the wolves right now.

Maybe half of them would have frozen to death, and the other half would have turned into icicles on the ground?

Wendigo let down her guard and approached Skadi, petting the wolves. The wolves were so happy to see Wendigo that they ran around her in a frenzy.

“Is that big wolf the leader of these guys?”

“Yes. I think so. When he first entered the village, he led the wolves from the front.”

Wendigo looked at the wolves and Skadi. Come to think of it, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a few beings to accompany and protect Skadi.

Having a doppelganger to watch over her wasn’t a bad idea, but if Wendigo didn’t control it, it would move too simply and lack agility.

She needed someone who could move while thinking for themselves…

“This guy should be pretty good. He has decent mystical power and, above all, seems to follow Skadi quite well.”

Wendigo put her hand on the head of the alpha wolf and stirred up the mystic power.

Did the wolf also understand what Wendigo was doing?

The wolf erased its playful behavior and looked up at Wendigo with a solemn attitude befitting an alpha.

The surging mystic power transformed the body of the alpha wolf, like a wave crashing.

Its size grew to reach Wendigo’s waist, its bones and teeth became strong enough to tear through steel, and its eyes became sharp and bright.

After pouring a considerable amount of mystic power, Wendigo removed her hand and the alpha wolf let out a clear howl.

When Skadi saw that, her eyes sparkled, and Wendigo pointed at the wolf and urged her.

“Skadi, take care of this guy.”

“Are you serious!?”

Skadi asked with excitement in her eyes, and Wendigo nodded with satisfaction. If she knew Skadi would be so happy, she would have given her a pet a long time ago…

The wolf, also happy, nuzzled its head against Skadi’s leg. Skadi stroked the wolf’s neck, making a growling sound.

“Good that you like it. What do you think about the name?”

“The name…”

As Scadi pondered, Wendygo looked at her with a pleased expression.

Since the wolf, too, was imbued with mystery, it would spend quite a long time with Scadi.

Scadi was choosing the name for a companion who might be with her for a lifetime in the future, so it was natural for her to hesitate.

“I’ve decided!”

“You decided rather quickly. What’s the name?”

“It’s Oneton!”

“……”

Wendygo looked at Scadi as if bewildered by her ominous naming sense.

It was a bit foolish as usual, but Scadi, who was usually sharp, came up with a name that happened to be the name of the wolf she encountered not long ago.

However, the reason she chose the wolf’s name as Oneton was because, as always, she thought around Wendygo.

“Without knowing the theme, there’s no way I can allow a dumped wolf to leave a mark on Wendygo. So, even that name should be used to illuminate Wendygo!”

‘I never thought the wolf guy would feel sorry for me.’

Wendygo sighed at the unexpected reason. Seriously, stealing the name of a dead guy!

When Scadi looked at her with an expression that seemed to say, ‘I did well, right?’ Wendygo couldn’t bring herself to suggest changing the name.

“Well, that’s… a good idea.”

“Yes! From now on, your name is Oneton!”

“Woof!”

Unaware of Wendygo’s mixed feelings, Oneton, or rather the wolf, happily barked.

That carefree demeanor, devoid of any concern, made Wendygo burst into a sardonic laughter.

“Yeah, what does a name matter anyway? As long as we avoid trouble, it’s all good.”

Wendygo gently stroked Oneton’s head.

* * *

A few days later.

“Spirit Lord, a sorcerer who chased a white wolf into the village has arrived…”

“Damn. I wasn’t asking for that cursed spirit’s name.”

Wendygo resented his past self reflected in Skadi’s pupils.