Shamans' Shame
As Osaga fell silent in embarrassment, the Wendigo turned his gaze to the other shamans. Their faces flushed red as they bowed their heads low. As fellow shamans, they couldn't help but feel ashamed.
No matter how devoted they were to their craft, who would think to steal a corpse meant as a warning?
Damn bastards. Why not just negotiate a proper trade instead of stealing human-face trees and burying treasure? What the hell is that nonsense?
I knew they were ruthless, but this level? Unbelievable.
Seeing them too ashamed to lift their heads, the Wendigo turned to his last hope: Skadi. But even she seemed to share their view, letting out a deep sigh and nodding.
The Wendigo let out an exclamation of admiration. He'd known shamans were odd, but this was beyond imagination!
"So... you're saying they took the human-face trees to use in their rituals?"
"Yes..."
Osaga mumbled in a voice as faint as crawling ants. It was creepy, and setting aside the minor(?) issue of it being a human corpse, human-face trees were indeed quite desirable materials for shamans.
"Impressive. If it's usable in rituals, they'd probably dig up graves too."
The shamans flinched. The Wendigo muttered in sheer absurdity, and they twitched visibly.
He didn't need to ask to know what they were thinking.
Guess grave-robbing is just par for the course with them.
One thing the Wendigo was grateful for—no matter what else—he'd hired these shamans based on their humanity. If he'd picked solely on skill, these unethical weirdos might have been roaming his lands freely.
Thinking that way made the shamans before him seem commendable. Keeping their human decency amid such lunatics.
"All of you, raise your heads. There's no reason for you to be ashamed of what those fools did."
"We have no words..."
"No need to explain or apologize for something you didn't do. Everyone except Skadi, you're dismissed."
The shamans bowed politely and withdrew, and Geron entered. He eyed the flushed shamans curiously before turning to the Wendigo.
"Did you perhaps reprimand the shamans, my lord?"
"No, it's about the human-face trees."
The Wendigo explained the shamans' theory to Geron. With every word, Geron's face twisted in horror.
Who could imagine someone taking human-face trees—reeking of vivid despair and agony—for rituals?
"They're truly mad."
"I agree. Anyway, we've roughly figured out why they took the human-face trees, so let's move on to the next issue."
"Is there another problem?"
Geron racked his brain, wondering if he'd forgotten a report, but nothing came to mind. The forest hadn't been this peaceful lately.
The Wendigo clicked his tongue and said to Geron,
"They left payment behind, didn't they? We need to check if it's adequate."
"Aren't you angry? Even if they paid, it was set up as a warning by you, the spirit lord..."
Geron glanced at the Wendigo cautiously. No matter how generous the lord, taking something without permission should warrant anger.
As if Geron's worry was unfounded, the Wendigo replied indifferently,
"What's done is done. And besides... it's not like they took one of our own."
He wasn't soft enough to rage over some unknown human—let alone an enemy—from this harsh world.
The human-face tree part was surprising, but the warning had been delivered effectively, so he could overlook the trivial details.
Sensing the Wendigo's sincerity, Geron recalled the gold, silver, and treasures the warriors had hauled in.
"There was a good amount of silver coins and jewelry, and some ritual-related items, I believe."
"Have Skadi oversee the ritual items with the shamans and verify them. If nothing's off, discuss and divide them up."
"Probably nothing impressive, but if there's anything useful, I'll let you know."
"Good... But are silver coins and jewelry actually useful?"
The Wendigo had no memory of forest folk buying or selling with silver. Most trades were barters.
At his question, Geron smiled.
"Don't worry. We couldn't trade outside before due to weakness, but now we can."
"Excellent. Then have the village chiefs survey what everyone needs and select people for trade caravans."
"Is there nothing you desire, my lord? Technically, these are your gains."
The Wendigo shook his head at Geron's question. Sure, he'd earned them through effort, but what could he buy with silver that he needed? Clothes? Weapons? Art?
No clothes for a giant like me, no need for weapons, and I never cared for art even as a human.
With truly nothing he wanted, he declined Geron's offer, but Geron felt awe toward the Wendigo for the first time in ages.
How ascetic! He lacks dignity at times, but moments like this inspire reverence...
"Ah. How about buying food ingredients unavailable in the forest?"
"Oh, that's good. Make it happen."
"......"
As the Wendigo smacked his lips at the thought of new foods, the reverence surging in Geron's heart faltered.
...Still, no better lord existed to serve.
In the city of Gepen, home to the Freyr tribe, not all visiting shamans overflowed with talent. Most hit a wall with their gifts and compromised with reality—and the shamans who'd traded(?) with the Wendigo for the human-face trees were such cases.
The wandering shamans and merchants, Trung and Scalp, were the protagonists here. They'd displayed the human-face trees in Syr's hut and whispered among themselves.
"You sure this is fine? A spirit won't forgive us just for leaving payment..."
"Hey now, I asked Isaac—that friend of mine—and he said the forest spirit is rational and friendly to humans. As long as we pay well, it should be okay."
"Eh... even so, a rational and friendly spirit? Hard to trust."
"Then back out."
"You bastard, I was just worried. We've already paid, so no turning back."
Trung and Scalp had taken interest in the forest from the first rumors—not as shamans' curiosity, but merchants' instinct. Sensing a chance to multiply their wealth!
Naturally, they'd joined the other shamans near the forest. And upon seeing the human-face trees, they'd been shocked.
Infamous figures among shamans turned into trees? How could they not be stunned?
Most shamans had fled trembling at the spirit's cruelty, but the pair calmed their hearts and calculated profits.
Deduct points for being corpses... more for their notoriety... but otherwise, human-face trees would fetch a high price.
Even their weak Spirit Eyes clearly saw the mystery within, and the symbolism of humans becoming trees was appealing.
A true merchant sells even their underwear if it sells. So they'd taken them—paying heavily, but confident in greater returns.
And their prediction proved spot-on.
"What are you two whispering about? Sell those trees to me!"
"I'll stack silver equal to their weight! Sell to me!"
"Ahem. If it's alright, how about just one arm? I have some rare materials I just acquired..."
The fact they'd been living humans wasn't a big issue. Plenty of shamans were scum who ignored such things.
As the auction heated to near-fights among shamans, Trung and Scalp trembled in ecstasy, like money raining from the sky.
Going to the forest was the right call!
...Watching from her hut as the tribe's shaman, Syr observed with interest. She toyed with her golden hair, lost in thought.
From Isaac's tales, I expected big trouble in the forest... but this exceeds it.
Syr opened her Spirit Eye to examine the human-face trees. Compared to the mystery in the ice crystal, it was minor, but they brimmed with it undeniably.
A spirit overflowing with mystery?
Wasting such precious mystery just for a warning... Her knowledge couldn't explain it.
As she furrowed her smooth brow, a butterfly fluttered from somewhere and landed on her shoulder.
[Oh my. Why is my pretty darling frowning like that?]
"Freya. I told you not to call me 'darling'—it's creepy."
[Creepy? I'm a butterfly who praises beauty! A spirit as lovely as me calling you 'darling' is an honor.]
As beauty-praising butterfly Freya grumbled, Syr pressed her throbbing temple with her finger.
Other shamans would gape at Syr snapping at a spirit, but she had reason. Freya was bound to her bloodline, a direct descendant of Freya's contractor.
Why'd our ancestor contract with this one?
Freya was a powerful ancient spirit, but Syr didn't like her.
[You need to cherish me more. Your mother or grandmother acted just like that, and I'd be thrilled~]
"Shut up. I have no intention of fawning over you like they did."
Syr spoke sharply at Freya's chatter. Unlike Freya's hopes, Syr wasn't a fool.
Her grandmother and mother had flattered Freya, indulging in her power. With Freya's mystery, they seduced anyone to bed in ecstasy, got anything desired—even enthralled spirits.
But Syr saw through it.
Idiots. Why would a spirit give such power for free?
Her grandmother and mother died young. Drunk on mismatched power, discarded like rags by Freya when they aged.
Syr had no such plans.
[What a boring woman. Fine... Time's on my side anyway. Tell me whenever you change your mind~]
Freya, failing to sway her again, lost interest and flew off.
Syr sighed and pulled a parchment from her bosom.
"An expedition to the forest..."
The list named tribes and shamans joining, ending with a request for her participation. After deliberation, she tore it in half.
Ice crystals, turning humans to trees—it's no ordinary spirit.
She glanced at Trung and Scalp, dancing joyfully after selling high. Beyond them, shamans' eyes gleamed with greed.
No need to act on a mere chance it likes pretty women.
Greed-blinded shamans would uncover the spirit's secrets themselves. She was sure now was time to wait.