I Became a Wendigo in a Fantasy World

5 – Episode 5

It was no wonder that Skadi was flustered.

Anyone would be off-kilter if the facts they knew were negated.

The important thing was to regain composure and have the mindset to solve the problem. Skadi quickly regained her poise.

Looking at it one by one, the issues weren’t that big.

So what if she didn’t know her limits, so what if she didn’t know her name.

From Skadi’s perspective, Wendigo wasn’t a being that would be troubled by such issues. The slight problem was that she didn’t know her origin…

“You may have a source related to ice, frost, or snow, since you can control the cold, Mr. Wendigo. Considering your head and body, a beast may also be the origin…”

“Calm down and take your time to find out my origin. Let’s first solve the problem that needs immediate resolution.”

“Ah, yes!”

Wendigo calmed Skadi, who was starting to lose control. From hanging out together, Wendigo felt that Skadi, despite her calm exterior… was quite easily flustered.

‘Maybe it’s because she had to grow up tough in her youth. She seems to have a desire for approval.’

This is why deprivation is scary. How much must she want acknowledgment to make such an effort to prove her worth to a monster(?).

Wendigo and Skadi could only reach the outskirts of the village after much walking. Wendigo confirmed the distant dark, forest-surrounded village.

The village looked quite chaotic, men that looked like vigilantes were seen conversing with serious faces.

“It seems like they’re worried because the ones who chased you didn’t return.”

“The bastards who were after me… they weren’t well-liked in the village, but I suppose the village must be worried. If they’re so worried, they should have stopped them from chasing me. So stupid.”

Wendigo realized that she was sugar-coating her words because he was there. Her expression made it seem like she could curse at any moment.

Feeling sorry, Wendigo gently placed a hand on her head. Surprised, Skadi looked up at Wendigo.

“The only differences seemed to be the color of hair and pupils. Must have been quite a hassle.”

“Ah, no, not at all. I was able to meet Mr. Wendigo after all.”

Skadi replied in a small, blush-filled voice. She quickly moved away towards the edge of the forest, shamefaced, and called out awkwardly.

“Please, Mr. Wendigo! Let’s go. Surely, you’ll find things you’d like at my mother’s cottage!”

“Understood. But just in case, I better get my weapon…”

As Wendigo attempted to stride out of the forest, he experienced a strange sensation.

That feeling… Yes, it was as if unbreakable chains tied his body, pulling him back into the forest.

He was unnerved by the strong sense of refusal he felt for the first time.

“…Skadi, is there a spirit that can’t leave a particular place?”

“I’m not sure about places, but there are spirits that cannot be summoned without certain mediums. You wouldn’t be able to summon a fire-related spirit in a place with no fire, for instance, or an earth-related spirit in the sea…”

Skadi’s eyes widened as she replied to Wendigo’s question. It couldn’t be mere coincidence that he would ask such a question without reason. So…

Skadi glanced at Wendigo standing still at the boundary of the forest and the grassland as if encountering an invisible wall.

Wendigo stated flatly,

“Apparently, I am unable to leave the forest.”

“!”

Skadi’s eyes widened in shock, and Wendigo exhaled a sigh of frustration.

So it is. Even the ultimate fantasy weapon, a dragon, has its own restrictions, weaknesses, and flaws. Of course, he would have his own constraints, too.

Wendigo, he was bound to the forest.

* * *

“I’m sorry. I said I would escort you but I didn’t know I couldn’t leave the forest.”

“Don’t be. In fact, this might be a good thing. We can at least guess what your origin might be, Mr. Wendigo!”

Wendigo gave a bitter smile and nodded his head. It was something anyone with half a brain could guess.

Putting aside whether he’s a spirit or not, anyone could guess that his origin must be the forest if he is unable to leave it.

Despite the fact the they now knew his origins, they were unsure of the practical use of this knowledge. Nevertheless, it was better off knowing it than staying in the dark.

The issue was that they couldn’t leave the forest due to the circumstances. It was too dangerous to send Skadi back alone to the village. What if a family member or friend had followed the witch but only the witch had returned? It was clear they wouldn’t witness a good outcome in that situation.

‘But how will we return if Skadi has left something valuable behind? There must be another way…’

In that moment, a thought crossed Wendigo’s mind. If he couldn’t help directly, he could indirectly.

“Skadi. I think the only way you can return to the village and retrieve your stuff is to enter into a contract with me.”

“A c-contract? Really?”

“Do you dislike that idea? If you do, we can…”

“No, I like it! No, it’s more than that. It’s an honor!”

When asked, as Skadi seemed hesitant, she firmly denied it with a twinkle in her eyes. Who wouldn’t want to enter into a contract with Wendigo?

She was hesitating because if she were Wendigo, she could have contracted with a more accomplished shaman.

The reason for a shaman to contract with foul-tempered, arrogant, and exacting spirits was ultimately simple: the fascinating ability to handle the mystical through spirits!

If one could handle even a little bit of Wendigo’s cold, there would be an abundance of shamans in the village willing to dedicate the most beautiful maiden to him.

Consequently, Skadi, who was shunned by the spirits, didn’t dare muster the courage to request a contract…

“But…Are you sure I’m okay for this? I mean, I’m an unattractive being despised by spirits.”

“Honestly, I’m not even sure if I’m a spirit. And does making a contract really cause any significant problems?”

“Well, no, but a contract is something sacred and serious…”

“If that’s not a problem, just do it. As far as I can see, you’re completely qualified for this.”

To Wendigo, Skadi seemed like a perfectly fine candidate.

She lacked a bit of confidence due to being tormented by people for a long time. However, just the way she recited the knowledge handed down from her mother was a clear indicator of her intelligence.

There, he had quite a firm will and wasn’t easily shaken in unfamiliar situations. Above all…

“Honestly, I’m just curious because it’s a shaman’s thing.”

His suggestion clearly reflected his personal curiosity. Not realizing this, Skadi was deeply moved by Wendigo, who showed faith in her.

“Who would have known that Wendigo would trust me so much!”

‘I’m feeling a little guilty.’

Guilt stirred for deceiving an innocent girl, but Wendigo made an effort to ignore it.

* * *

Rolo, a village militiaman, was displeased with the fact he had to stand guard late at night. While it was common for the militia to maintain vigilance at night in case of beast attacks, this case was a bit different.

Rolo puffed on a tobacco roll, staring out into the dark forest beyond.

“Damn, all this trouble because I couldn’t catch a girl. I shouldn’t have chased her in the first place.”

“I know right. I mean, we could’ve gotten so much just by raiding the shaman’s cabin instead”

As Rolo muttered, his companion Maxim agreed. Rolo didn’t appreciate Maxim’s words either.

It couldn’t be talked about given the atmosphere in the village, but to be honest, he couldn’t understand why they were hunting the shaman so ruthlessly on the basis of claims of wrongdoing.

“Listen. You should remember what the shaman has done for us. Thanks to her, my mother overcame her illness. She lived out her natural lifespan in peace. Even when I was bitten by a wolf, she helped me.”

“I know. I get it, but honestly, we need to pay the price for saving that accursed girl. To be frank, the reason your mother was sick could’ve been because of that girl too, right?”

“No, why the hell… Nevermind. I should just shut up.”

Rolo intended to refute Maxim’s nonsense, but he held his tongue. He realized he was no better.

He had ignored the benefactor’s daughter, simply afraid of people’s gaze despite receiving help. He was indeed an ungrateful person.

Rolo sucked on his tobacco roll, exhaling smoke and looked back into the forest. He still couldn’t see the guys who had chased after the witch.

Instead, he saw something else. A woman was walking out of the forest, headed in his direction.

Rolo was taken aback when he realized the woman’s identity.

“Hold on, isn’t that Skadi? Why the hell is she here?”

“Oh wait, it is!”

In his surprise, Rolo dropped his tobacco roll. Just as he was about to pick it back up, a cold wind swept it away.

The ember from the tobacco roll extinguished, and Rolo shook from the cold that swept over him. He looked at Skadi, sensing an ominous feeling.

Skadi was approaching the village with a frighteningly calm expression. She didn’t look like a woman who had just fled the village.

Rolo instinctively realized something was amiss.

“Hey, something is odd. Call the boss right now…”

“Hey, witch’s spawn! What backbone gave you courage to return? Did the witch’s ugly daughter return to mourn her mother’s body?”

Rollo tried to warn Makhsim as he slowly retreated, but Makhsim was filthier than he thought.

A dark gleam spread through Makhsim’s eyes. Since childhood, he’d held an interest in Skadi. Naturally, his interest wasn’t of a wholesome kind.

Despite her bizarre appearance, Skadi held a distinct beauty… and most men were smitten with beautiful women. Makhsim was no exception.

Makhsim approached Skadi and held out his spear, his tongue flickering as he spoke.

“I don’t know how you managed to escape and return, but if you sleep with me for just one night, I’ll fetch not only your mother’s corpse, but also her funeral expenses…”

“You talk eloquently for one with blockish intellect and senses as dull as livestock.”

“…What?”

These stupefied words would be Makhsim’s last.

When Skadi grabbed his spear, a chill erupted from her fingertips.

Frost covered the spear as Makhsim tried to release it, but it was too late. Her chill froze his hand to the spear in seconds.

The frostbite spread from his hand to his heart, her frost taking a death grip on his body, turning it an ashen color as frost took hold.

Skadi, with an unfeeling gaze, released the spear and watched Makhsim’s frozen corpse. As her eyes met Rollo’s, he gasped.

“Since you respected my mother, you shall live. However, deliver a message to the village.”

“W-what message should I relay?”

Rollo asked hastily, fearing she might change her mind.

“Tell them to bring everything from my mother’s house. If they hide anything, they will suffer the same fate as this trash.”

“But, they might not believe… that a man froze to death, not in the tundra, but in the village… Gah!?”

When Skadi built a sword of ice and lopped off Makhsim’s arm, it fell in pieces to the ground.

Rollo shut his mouth at the horrifying spectacle. When Skadi gestured, he picked up Makhsim’s arm; it was eerily cold.

“Take this as proof. They will believe, whether they want to or not. I repeat: Bring everything from my mother’s home. If they miss even a grain of wheat, they die.”

“Y-yes, of course! I’ll relay your words!”

As if reflecting Skadi’s mood, a chill wind whipped around her. Rollo nodded S vehemently, his eyebrows frozen.

With her signal, Rollo dropped the spear and headed towards the village. Skadi watched him go, her Wendigo pendant watching him through her ice necklace.