Home/The Ice Age Came? And I Just Got Married?!/ch 18

Chapter 18.

Not anymore.

I couldn't say I had become strong yet, but I had certainly enhanced my body significantly.

I could now produce flames freely, and my physical strength had increased to the point where I could bend a large shovel.

I'd even reached the level where I wouldn't lose immediately in an arm-wrestling match with Marcus—and of course, I beat Jack easily.

Every time I absorbed a Winterstone, a voice echoed in my head, urging me to reclaim them.

I didn't know who was speaking to me, but the voice seemed to want me to gather all the Winterstones on this land and absorb them into my body.

At this rate, was I going mad too, just like the world?

But an ungrounded certainty kept creeping in.

Is it really okay to do that? What I'm most curious about is whether it will affect my health.

I still got nosebleeds frequently.

Especially after using the Winterstone's power—I bled more than usual.

Still, aside from the nosebleeds, there were no other symptoms so far.

Just then, Logan, who had been walking and talking with me outside Eve House, shook his head.

"Even if you don't feel any abnormalities, you should be careful about using that power."

Naturally, Logan remained wary of the Winterstone's power—because every time I overused it, I got a nosebleed.

"But strangely, after I get a nosebleed, I feel like my mind becomes clearer."

"That only makes it more suspicious."

I had no comeback for that.

"Could it be that my childhood nosebleeds are connected to my constitution for absorbing Winterstones?"

"If there were a connection, it would have stopped the nosebleeds, not made them worse."

"You're too honest, you know."

"At least say something plausible so I can retort. Step it up, Eve."

"Your evaluation is harsh, husband."

At the word "husband," which slipped out unconsciously, Logan paused.

But soon, he smiled calmly.

"Ah. My evaluation as a husband is a bit different, though. Want to hear it?"

"That sounds even scarier."

Bantering like that, we headed to the greenhouse.

I needed to tell them that the ruffians were likely coming soon.

But when we arrived, I found the two men already gathered with serious expressions—and tilted my head.

"Why are you all like this?"

"Eve, you need to see this."

I confirmed the paper on the table and sat down beside Logan.

[Village Safety Rules]

1. This village boasts a long history of having safely survived the First Ice Age.

2. There are a total of 8 houses in the village. If left empty for a long time, the village's barrier will collapse.

※ Note: Expanding the village by adding new structures is perfectly fine. The area up to where the village wall is built will be considered "this village's land."

3. Protect and preserve the greenhouse. If you keep the temperamental squirrel happy, you can enjoy a wonderful village life.

I turned to Logan.

"Logan, did you know about these rules?"

Logan stroked his chin, staring at the safety rules with a composed expression.

"I'm seeing this for the first time too. In all my previous lives, I never actually stayed in this village."

"Previous lives?"

Ignoring Marcus's question, I held up the paper.

"Where did this come from?"

"The cranky squirrel brought it. He didn't say where he got it."

"Chippy did?"

Just then, the cranky squirrel appeared.

Carrying an acorn in his arms, Chippy perked up his ears at the sound of his name and came running over.

"Chippy."

At my call, Chippy obediently clasped his paws together and snapped to attention.

"Where did you get this?"

At my question, Chippy fidgeted nervously, then scurried off somewhere.

I got up and followed him. The squirrel started digging in a corner of the greenhouse.

He'd dug up a Goldstone from the greenhouse floor before too—just how much was hidden under this ground?

Was it even safe to garden on top of all this? What if we got heavy metal poisoning or something?

Just then, Chippy unearthed a jewelry box. I took it and opened the lid.

Inside was a black-and-white photograph.

It looked very old...

"He's wearing strange clothes."

Logan remarked.

Indeed, the man in the photo appeared to be in his thirties, wearing a floppy cloak, a tall hat, and carrying an ornate staff.

"He looks like a wizard from a fairy tale, doesn't he?"

Jack was right—he was dressed exactly like a wizard. On the back of the photo, a name was written: "First Village Chief of Acorn Village."

Ah?

So it was called Acorn Village back then too?

Not Devil's Village?

Aside from the photo of the first village chief, there was nothing else in the box.

"Chippy, be honest with me—is there anything else hidden under the greenhouse floor?"

Even at my question, Chippy stood politely and only tilted his head—as if he knew nothing.

Sigh. What was the point of talking to someone I couldn't communicate with? I shook my head.

Then I met the eyes of the men watching me.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Eve, did you see this village's name beforehand—with your clairvoyance?"

"How could I? No, I didn't."

"Then how did you happen to name it Acorn Village? It's exactly the same."

The suspicious stares continued, but I was innocent. After arguing, with Chippy as my witness, the matter of the naming and the first village chief's photo was tentatively settled.

We gathered around the table again and stared at the rules.

The issue was the safety rules we'd just found.

There are a total of 8 houses in the village. Maintain one house per household. If left empty for a long time, the village's barrier will collapse.

"So right now we have three households—which means we need five more..."

"Simple."

Marcus raised the corner of his mouth, as if he'd been waiting.

"If our junior and the Duke each lived separately, that would take care of one house right away—"

"That's not worth answering."

"I haven't finished yet—"

"There's no need to hear the rest."

Logan didn't even look at Marcus as he took a sip of tea.

"If you keep insisting, I'll banish you from this village."

In the end, Marcus raised both hands in surrender. I had no intention of living separately from Logan either—since he didn't want it.

We were married, after all.

"Hmm. Then where should we recruit people from? If we say it's the 'Devil's Village,' everyone will refuse."

Jack agreed and added,

"Right. And we can't exactly kidnap anyone either."

As we were discussing this, Logan's expression didn't look good, so I asked him.

"Logan, what's wrong?"

At my question, he sighed.

"I'm against it."

"Against what?"

"Bringing people here."

Logan answered firmly, arms crossed.

"I'd rather we leave. Honestly, I think I've already been generous enough. I want to be alone with you."

Hearing that, Marcus and Jack fell silent, looking awkward.

"Go where? If you have an alternative, I'll follow."

Expecting me to refuse, Logan's eyes widened in surprise.

Whatever happened, I was on Logan's side.

I had to be.

If by taking his side and following him, I could prevent him from losing his humanity and turning dark, then that was fine.

As long as he didn't lose his humanity, I was willing to change my stance at any time.

Logan nodded.

"I'll look into it. Until then, let's stay here."

"Alright."

Marcus and Jack glanced at each other, then asked us,

"Junior, are we allowed to stay here?"

"If Your Grace permits, we'd like to remain."

"The landlord is this one."

I pointed at Logan, who nodded reluctantly.

"Do what you want."

Had Logan left the village in the novel too?

I didn't know. But one thing was certain—I remembered that even after I died, Logan had continued to stay in Acorn Village.

I'd go along with what Logan wanted this once.

And then we'd come back.

For now, the urgent matter was greeting the ruffian gang.

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