Home/The Ice Age Came? And I Just Got Married?!/ch 25

Chapter 25.

And after a long while—

"No more trains will come."

A low, hoarse voice flowed out.

"No rescue team will come either."

The cylinder continued to turn.

"If anyone is listening to this record..."

A pause, the sound of clearing a throat.

"Please—leave the city."

That was the end.

I turned the cylinder.

The recording started again from the beginning. And again, I rewound it. From the start. From the start.

Tap—

Logan took my hand.

"Stop now, Eve."

I looked up. Everyone gathered around the greenhouse table was staring at me.

The baby bird, Pipi, fluttered over and perched on the old phonograph.

A heavy silence fell for a while.

Even knowing the future through the novel, I still couldn't get used to this situation.

Maybe I just didn't want to believe it.

Just then, Charlotte spoke.

"No rescue team to hope for. Honestly, I'd given up hope after the two-month mark anyway."

Charlotte's words were met with vigorous agreement from Logan's aide, Nathan.

"Shouldn't we just try to survive in this village somehow?"

Everyone's gaze turned to me.

Of course, Logan's expression grew even more murderous as a result.

Everyone had sensed it unconsciously: Logan didn't welcome any survivors other than me in the village.

So they all leaned on me—which Logan found even more uncomfortable.

But what could we do?

Every time they went scouting, they couldn't find a suitable alternative shelter.

So we had no choice but to stay in Acorn Village and fill the required number of residents.

I wish the protagonist would find a way to end the ice age soon.

Since Logan's human extermination plan was no longer on the table, let's believe that the protagonist will safely end the ice age as planned.

"By the way, how many days until we leave for the naval base?"

"Four days."

At Logan's answer, I nodded.

Charlotte had been learning how to drive a sled from Nathan—in four days, she might become proficient.

Of course, it'd be useless without sled dogs anyway.

For this naval base reconnaissance, it was decided that I, Logan, Charlotte, and Marcus would go.

When we headed out into the city, I hoped we could find the sled dogs Nathan had lost.

---

Charlotte Murray—daughter of Admiral Murray.

Admiral Murray was a commander who personally led the Northern Fleet and was said to have gone missing shortly after the ice age began.

Charlotte was certain her father was dead. And objectively, it seemed that way.

She didn't want to admit it, so she looked away—just like my own family.

Back at the academy, Charlotte was the type of student who kept everyone at arm's length—guarded and prickly.

It was the same in Acorn Village.

She was good at everything. She'd done anything to beat me, so she really had no weaknesses.

That was why I felt drawn to her and relied on her. I wondered why I hadn't gotten close to her sooner.

Wasn't I the fool who only ever saw Logan?

With that thought, I decided to clean the small chapel in the village with Charlotte.

Ah—by the way, besides the eight houses, the village also had a chapel, a well, a grain storage barn, and a livestock barn.

"Eve, do you believe in God?"

Sweeping the nave, I scanned the chapel's interior and shook my head.

"Hmm. No."

"Why?"

"My family fell, and then the ice age hit. It's easier to believe that this happened because there's no God."

"That makes sense."

Charlotte quickly agreed.

"Then what are you going to use this chapel for?"

At Charlotte's question, I shrugged.

"Nothing for now—but it's good to keep it clean. I thought once the village is fully populated, we could use it as a communal space."

"You really plan to bring in more people?"

"Charlotte, you saw the village rules, didn't you?"

At my question, Charlotte nodded. Her expression was somewhat somber.

"I've grown afraid of people."

Ah. I remembered she'd endured a month in the ruffian's den.

Just then, the chapel door opened.

"Miss Charlotte! Why are you here?"

It was Nathan, the sled-driving aide.

"Nathan? What's wrong?"

"I promised to teach Miss Charlotte how to drive a sled."

At Nathan's answer, Charlotte's voice was gloomy.

"I told you, Eve—I'm afraid of people."

Ah—I thought she meant the ruffians?

"What's there to be afraid of! A dual-sword wielder like you, afraid of a sled?!"

Nathan barked. It seemed Charlotte was truly terrible at sledding.

Charlotte was promptly dragged off by Nathan. Since she'd volunteered to learn sledding to be helpful, she couldn't complain.

I sent Charlotte off and continued cleaning the chapel alone.

Quiet.

It was so quiet it felt almost eerie.

I finished cleaning the nave quickly and opened the priest's office at the back.

There was only a desk, a chair, and a wardrobe—nothing much.

The only notable thing was a crucifix on the desk.

I quietly reached out and picked it up.

"Ah! Hot!"

I dropped it immediately. Startled, I looked at my palm—no injury, perfectly fine.

I tried to pick up the crucifix again, but it was still as hot as if it had been heated over a fire.

Holding my hand, I stared at the fallen crucifix and decided to call Logan.

---

"It's fine, isn't it?"

Logan picked up the crucifix and looked at me, puzzled.

"Am I secretly a demon or something?"

Logan laughed, but I was dead serious.

It was strange enough that I could absorb "mana stones" mentioned in the novel into my body.

And I'd never heard of anyone who couldn't touch a crucifix.

"Keep this a secret."

At my words, Logan nodded.

"Then I, who married a demon, must be a demon too."

"That's not how it works."

Logan tilted his head slightly and stared at me. Then, in a lower voice, he asked,

"Why—did someone call you a demon?"

"No. That's not it."

"Don't worry too much, Eve."

Logan smiled, then turned serious.

"I'll kill anyone who does."

Here he goes again—this lunatic.

The truly terrifying part was that this life's Logan was actually capable of it.

BANG—

Just then, Marcus burst into the chapel.

"I've finished those 'skis' you asked for, Junior..."

He stopped when he saw me and Logan standing there.

"The Duke of Wrath... praying...?"

He seemed to misunderstand, seeing the crucifix in Logan's hand. Honestly, Logan and a crucifix did seem mismatched.

Was the Duke of Wrath not allowed to pray?

Marcus looked so shocked that it was almost embarrassing. I gave Logan a sympathetic look.

Just what kind of life had he lived?

Logan tossed the crucifix at Marcus.

"Take it."

"Such a thug."

Logan stopped and turned to look at Marcus, who flashed a wide grin and said to me,

"Let's go skiing."

Of course, Logan wouldn't back down—he came back and put his arm around my shoulder.

"Oh dear—our lady already has plans with me."

"Plans?"

I tilted my head in puzzlement, and Logan raised an eyebrow. He furrowed his brow and answered reluctantly,

"The acorn sweater. You said you'd knit me a new one with proper measurements."

Ah. Right. But I'd mentioned it and been firmly rejected, so I'd given up.

I hesitated for a moment, wondering which to choose: skiing or the sweater.

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