Home/The Ice Age Came? And I Just Got Married?!/ch 78

Chapter 78.

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Clare suddenly came to her senses.

Where was she?

It was a dark space, crowded with people standing shoulder to shoulder—like a queue.

As expected, Leon Faulkner stood beside her.

A stage was lit by a dim spotlight, and a small monkey sat there.

What is all this?

The people's eyes were unfocused, while the monkey on stage played a trumpet. A trained monkey, perhaps—but there was no trainer in sight.

What is that monkey?

Clare thought it must be a dream—this absurd situation couldn't be real.

But no matter how long she waited, she didn't wake up.

That damn monkey was now bouncing around the stage, gleefully playing the trumpet.

Looking around, everyone in line held something in their hands.

Frozen bananas, frozen meat—but most common were mana stones.

Winterstones—she'd seen them before with Eve.

A considerable number of Winterstones were clutched in people's hands.

They were lining up to offer them to the monkey.

Clare found a Winterstone in her own hand—a Goldstone.

And then the monkey began devouring the people who had offered tribute.

That was exactly why Clare thought this was a dream—the sheer grotesque absurdity.

"Sergeant Faulkner—snap out of it."

Clare whispered, shaking Leon's shoulder. But he stared blankly ahead.

Ha.

A dry laugh escaped her.

"It's a dream."

She wiped her clammy forehead and muttered.

"It has to be a dream..."

But the feeling that it wasn't grew stronger.

She wanted to deny reality—but she couldn't.

SCRREEEE—!

The insane monkey didn't stop. It checked each tribute—and if displeased, opened its massive maw and devoured the person.

How could such a small creature open its mouth that wide? How could a human fit inside? She didn't understand—but now wasn't the time for comprehension.

What should I do...?

Panic set in. The line was shrinking.

About thirty people stood ahead of her—but Leon had nothing in his hands.

Clare tore off a uniform button.

Military buttons were mostly made of brass—and its size and weight were perfect for her idea.

She immediately absorbed the Goldstone's power into the button.

She wasn't sure if it would work—but Eve had said Goldstones strengthened objects.

"Lieutenant—if you ever find a Goldstone, try absorbing it into a weapon or object. It enhances durability and maximizes its properties."

Eve was exceptional. Clare admired her—the kind of woman she'd want as a superior.

She had quick judgment and response—better than most soldiers.

She knew how to place people in the right roles and use them effectively, and her own abilities were outstanding.

I really want to serve under her.

Clare examined the brass button, but sensed no change.

She tossed it in her hand, thinking.

Well—the Duchess said it would work.

It would be fine.

She gauged the distance to the stage, where the ugly man-eating monkey was noisily tooting its trumpet and taking tributes.

I can do it.

Clenching the button in her palm, she threw it like a throwing star.

SWOOSH—!

A sharp whistling sound cut through the air. Clare followed it with her eyes.

The brass button, glowing with a golden trail, flew faster than expected.

A thunderous explosion shook the parade waiting room.

CRASH—!!

The Goldstone-enhanced metal struck with bizarre force, shattering the monkey's trumpet.

Metal fragments and ice shards scattered everywhere.

The insane monkey's grotesque performance stopped.

And one by one, the people's unfocused eyes began to regain clarity—as if waking from hypnosis.

"Lieutenant Wayne?"

Leon was the same—his senses returned.

Clare wiped her sweaty neck with the back of her hand and sighed.

"Thank goodness, Sergeant."

"What in the world is happening?"

Leon looked around in bewilderment—but Clare just sighed in relief.

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The path to the parade waiting room was treacherous—though the distance was short.

Bang— Bang!

We were constantly attacked by unknown groups along the way.

What was going on?

There was an old saying in the East: "When whales fight, the shrimp's back gets broken."

That was exactly what was happening to Acorn Village's residents.

I unfolded the park map again.

We were past the carousel square, hiding in the outdoor theater seats.

To the west were the artificial lake and walking paths—gunfire came from that direction.

It wasn't Tony's group—they were still with us.

Tony's people whispered.

"Did you see that?"

"That's definitely Haywood and Orange Market."

I interjected.

"What are those?"

"Ah—faction names. Haywood is from Westfield, and Orange Market came down from Norton. Both are small towns near Avrid..."

"Oh—I know them."

The leader had orange hair and their base was a market—hence Orange Market.

Tony's Faction, Orange Market, Acorn Village—everyone's naming sense was about the same.

It actually gave me some confidence.

Acorn Village was the best.

More importantly, Orange Market appeared in Survival Strategies for the Ice Age as one of the villainous groups—not on the same level as the final villain Logan, but still.

But why were they all gathered here?

A whale fight usually involved two whales—now there were three.

Tony's Faction, Haywood, and Orange Market.

It was painfully obvious that Acorn Village was the shrimp. We had only three adults.

"Let's avoid them as much as possible and move."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Gunfire from Haywood and Orange Market echoed wildly—we tried to ignore it.

We crept along, crouching behind theater seats like pathetic fugitives.

Then—

CRASH—!

A massive explosion erupted from the parade waiting room.

Haywood and Orange Market stopped fighting and turned their attention toward it.

Wait!

The Winterstones were gathered there...!

And their goal was clearly to seize them.

Damn it.

"We have to run—now!"

We couldn't just sit back and let the whales trample us. Even a shrimp can jump when stepped on.

This was war.

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