I Became a Wendigo in a Fantasy World

53 – Episode 53

The Wendigo ordered her clones to move her human figures to the temple.

She is a wendi and she is not as good as herself, but considering that her clones are also ugly looking, she does not look very good.

If someone with a weak heart saw the sight of a large monster wearing a deer skull moving a tree in the shape of a human, it would not be surprising if they fainted.

The Wendigo felt a little regret as she looked at the number of people brought to the entrance of the temple.

‘I made it as a warning, but honestly, it’s a bit scary.’

The faces of those who died peacefully can also be creepy depending on the person. So how creepy would a face distorted by pain and despair be?

The Wendigo looked at Skadi and the five shamans who had come to check her face count.

‘… I don’t know about Skadi, but it would have been better not to let the rest of the shamans see it.’

Perhaps they had met each other, but the shamans all turned blue and trembled.

The Wendigo pretended not to see them and asked Skadi for her opinion.

“It was meant to be a warning, but was it too much?”

“If you ask me, I think there is a reason for everything Wendigo does…”

Skadi shrugged her shoulders with a troubled expression. She knew very well that she was quite lenient when it came to matters related to wendigos.

Since the Wendigo knew Skadi’s personality, she decided to change the subject of her questions. His gaze naturally turned to the nearest shaman…

“If the spirit wants it, wouldn’t it be the right thing to do?”

“We always believe in and follow the spirits!”

“… It would be a bad idea to even ask you.”

When her gaze reflexively flattered as if it were a blade, the Wendigo shook her head.

The Wendigo ordered someone to call Geron. Geron was greatly surprised when he looked at the human face tree decorated(?) At the entrance of the temple.

“It’s surprising to see a tree in the shape of a human.”

“Is it really that bad?”

“Huh? I think it’s a good idea if it’s for warning purposes?”

“… What did you say just now?”

The Wendigo looked at Geron with her bewildered eyes. She had no idea that Geron, the most normal and rational person in the village, would make such an outrageous statement.

I wondered if it was a joke, but Geron answered with a rather serious expression.

“I think it’s a pretty good method. A light warning makes people feel bad, but a heavy warning makes people not act rashly.”

“You forgot you were a warrior too. You should have asked this question to an ordinary person.”

“I think that among warriors, the blood is quite cold… Above all, for forest people, this level is enough to be considered a warning.”

“What does that mean?”

As the Wendigo looked puzzled, Geron was taken aback. She thought that if she was a wendigo, she would naturally know the savagery of the forest people.

Now they are being integrated into a single group centered around the Wendigo, but not long ago, the forest people had a strong tendency to be exclusive and not easily trust each other.

Isn’t it crazy to expect neighbors to be friendly when food is scarce and the environment is harsh?

Because of this environment, the forest people were basically wild and strong. Of course, because they were so fearless, their warnings were never taken lightly.

It was natural for the forest people to give cruel and impressive warnings to prevent the opponent from even thinking about approaching them.

“Honestly, this tree…”

“Call it Inmyeonsu.”

“Yes. This human face number can be seen as a pretty neat warning. Even though a corpse was used, the limbs are still intact and the face is recognizable.”

“That’s strange. If this kind of warning is a normal axis, then why have I never seen it before?”

“Using a corpse to leave a warning requires consideration of corruption, and there is usually no need to do something like this if there are no threats around. Besides, if you don’t want to die, what kind of person would send a warning like this to the spirit?”

“That’s true too.”

There was no way they would use a corpse belonging to the same tribe, and animals that smelled blood might gather there.

If you look at it that way, the number of people was definitely a good warning. Because it didn’t smell like blood and was impressive.

“Then at least the forest people won’t be afraid of me because of the number of people.”

“Uh…”

“Shh. In times like this, let’s just move on.”

When Geron tried to say something, Skadi quickly covered his mouth.

She didn’t think people would change their attitude toward the Wendigo, whether it made a tree out of her corpse or tore people to death.

… In the first place, the forest people feared the Wendigo as much as they respected him.

“Geron. You two are giving this human face to people outside the forest. What are you two doing?”

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“Oh, no.”

“I was just telling you because I have something to ask Mr. Geron.”

Geron and Skadi looked at him with pitiful eyes, but the Wendigo did not notice.

Sometimes not knowing is beneficial.

* · * *

Apart from being afraid of the Wendigo, Geron and the forest people diligently carried out his orders.

I cut off the branches and leaves of the Inmyeon tree to make them more recognizable and painted them to make their expressions more vivid.

Perhaps because it was the first time in a long time that a warning(?) Was left, people carefully planned the number of people.

“No. Wouldn’t it be more scary if I carve some scars on my face?”

“Are you going to be scared if I carve a scar on your distorted face? It would be better to dig out your heart.”

“Can’t you move your arms a little? I think it will look more lively if you bend it well.”

… In some ways, it may be that I am enjoying it rather than being cautious.

Still, the forest people’s workmanship was excellent. The person whose face had been refurbished was certainly miserable, but it was easy to recognize who he was when he was alive.

It would be strange to think of the completed face painting as a single work of art.

“Isn’t this just a statue?”

“Hmm. I guess everyone was excited because they had never dealt with something like this before.”

Geron cleared his throat and made an excuse.

If it were a real corpse, it would have been made a little more ghastly and scary, but isn’t the human face tree just a tree?

Even the forest people were skilled at leaving cruel warnings, but leaving warnings in wood was not easy, so they simply focused on preserving the natural atmosphere of the materials.

As a result, the six human-faced trees became statues depicting a scene from a tragedy.

The Wendigo admired the artistry, or rather the barbarism, of the forest people and looked at the human-faced tree sculpture.

“Still, it was made quite vividly. What are the bloody tears in the eyes made of? It’s really vivid…”

“Real blood was used.”

“… I heard it smelled like blood.”

The wendigo looked away from her statue in disgust. Surely this would be a pretty good warning.

‘Is this enough?’

It was then.

Skadi opened the door and came in, bowing to the Wendigo and offering her greeting. In her hand was a rather large piece of leather.

“Wendigo. I brought you a statue, or rather, an inscription on its leather to help leave a warning. Could you take a look at it?”

“It’s written. I’m sure you won’t be able to understand the meaning just by looking at it.”

‘It would be a warning if humans turned into trees, unless they were idiots.’

Geron gave her a cold look in response to the Wendigo’s reaction, but she did not say what she was thinking.

Isn’t the Wendigo’s face also a face, and above all, isn’t it a phrase that Skadi worked hard to create? She had no reason to interfere.

The wendigo looked at the skin she handed over.

[ A person who tells lies. A person who commits a sin and does not know how to atone. A person who harms others through deception. These three will incur the wrath of the forest. I will atone for my sins through suffering. ]

“What do you think? It’s something I wrote with a lot of thought.”

“… Everything else is fine, but isn’t it a bit wrong to atone through pain? I don’t have the ability to turn souls or the living into trees, much less the ability to torment the dead.”

When the Wendigo spoke tremblingly, she shook her head at Skadi.

Strong warnings do not always have to contain the truth.

“Surely Lady Wendigo would not turn the living into trees even if she could.”

“No. You won’t have that ability.”

Wendigo, who tried to refute Skadi’s words, could not easily give a definite answer. She’d never done it before, so she wasn’t sure if she really couldn’t do it.

Skadi smiled and nodded her head.

“I know you’re not the kind of person who would say it’s possible, but wouldn’t it be an excellent warning?”

“Hmm. I guess I can’t refute that.”

The warning that one would not be able to rest even after death was quite threatening. Because everyone wants to be peaceful after death.

When the Wendigo responded positively, Skadi wrapped her hide around the shoulders of her Gunlord statue.

It was quite eerie to see her despairing face, shedding bloody tears, and even writing words suggesting eternal pain.

The Wendigo nodded her head in satisfaction with the result.

‘At this rate, scumbags won’t even come into the forest.’

* · * *

Inmyeonsu was erected at the border of the forest as a warning.

The forest people felt proud of this proud(?) Work. The ingredients were special, but they were also threatening enough to look at.

“I guess this was enough of a warning to them, right?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I left such a cruel warning, but I wonder if there is someone who ignores the warning. Unless I want to become a tree and suffer forever…”

“Just in case, let’s add this place to the patrol route. What if something from outside damages the aircraft?”

Warriors patrolling the forest added warning signs to their patrol routes to prevent this warning from being damaged.

For the forest people, this warning was also a source of pride that they were protected by the spirits. You can’t let something like that get damaged.

One day passed, two days passed, and a week passed.

There was no damage to the seal. It was definitely like that…

“Huh? Statues. Where are the statues!?”

“Look. Isn’t there something sparkling on the ground over there?”

A week and a few days later, the human face statues disappeared like a lie. The warriors were indignant and tried to find the culprit, but could not find him.

Instead, silver coins and several treasures were discovered in the land where the Inmyeonsu had been located, and this news was also spread to the Wendigo who was enjoying a meal at the temple.

The Wendigo brought in those who were best suited for this task.

“I’m sorry for calling you all out after all your hard work.”

“No. The grace given by the Spirit is like heaven, so how could I not respond to the call?”

The shamans, led by Skadi, bowed and responded. Only a week had passed, but the shamans were completely fascinated by this forest.

Although it was a little difficult to obtain the materials, shamans could freely discuss magic among themselves, and the forest people did not regard them as suspicious or reluctant, but showed respect for them.

There was no need to make a fuss to save Sinbi. Because if she went to the Wendigo and revealed the reason, she would be able to receive enough mystery.

Isn’t paradise a place like this for a shaman?

“Why did you call us? Is there anything you need or a ceremony you want?”

“No. That’s not the reason… Myeonsu disappeared and I couldn’t figure out why, so I called you.”

“?”

The shamans were puzzled by the story that Inmyeonsu had disappeared.

Not even destroying or damaging it, but who even took that hideous thing?

“Was there anything unusual?”

“They say there were gold and silver treasures buried in the ground.”

“……”

The shamans looked at each other in silence as if they had made a promise. Skadi even shook her head and sighed.

From their strange reaction, the Wendigo felt that they had noticed something.

“Do you understand what’s going on?”

“Yes… That’s it.”

The shamans blushed and lowered their heads. The Wendigo’s curiosity grew at their strange reaction.

What on earth is the reason?

As the Wendigo stared, the shamans whispered among themselves and sent Osa forward.

She was the only female among the shamans who came from outside and the one who was closest to Skadi, so she was appointed as the representative.

She blushed and quietly revealed their guesses as if they were going to go down her rat hole.

“It looks like the shamans took it…”

“……”

The Wendigo was dumbfounded and stared at Osa. She lowered her head in shame.