The Ice Age Came And I Just Got Married - Chapter 11

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 11
Thanks to Chipi, the Greenhouse guardian, and the extra hands now working the fields, the crops grew at a remarkable pace.
We’d harvest potatoes and eat them, then plant again.
Before long, a month had passed since Marcus and Jack joined our village.
Apart from the Village Chief’s Estate, there were seven houses in the settlement, and the two of them each chose one to call home.
Some of the Redstone that had poured out from beneath the Village Chief’s Estate I absorbed into myself; the rest we put to use around the village.
We placed it in each house, carried it with us—it proved remarkably versatile.
Winterstone, by contrast, was a consumable mineral.
Depending on the stone’s size and shape, each piece lasted a different length of time, but what astounded me was that once absorbed into my body, the power accumulated permanently.
I tried countless ways to get Logan to absorb it too, but nothing worked.
In any case, absorbing Redstone proved quite useful and convenient—I could conjure fire whenever I pleased, and I felt the cold far less than others.
I climbed to the roof of the estate and surveyed the village’s perimeter through the binoculars Logan had given me.
Beyond the village’s palisade, snow still lay thick, and bitter wind whipped it into furious flurries.
The snow beyond the palisade had accumulated to Logan’s waist.
‘I remember there were quite a lot of Winterstone deposits buried in the Forest Area too, apart from the Village Chief’s Estate.’
I should scout the surrounding area soon.
Logan went on regular patrols with the other two, but I suspected I’d be the most suited for scouting—having absorbed Winterstone myself.
As I swept the binoculars across the surroundings, I looked up at the Cliff that loomed behind the village like a guardian.
Thanks to that cliff, the village seemed considerably well-protected.
Moreover, there were several caves at the cliff’s base, and I became curious about exploring those someday.
I descended from the roof and headed toward the Greenhouse.
Before starting the morning work, everyone had gathered at the table inside the Greenhouse.
And I made an announcement of sorts.
“I’d like to hold a naming contest for the village.”
Some novel’s heroine had given her survival camp the cute name “Happy House.”
Wouldn’t it be nice if our village had a name like that too?
Jack asked me with a bewildered expression.
“A naming contest with only four people?”
“I’ll start.”
I answered without hesitation.
“Happy Village.”
“The Duchess would do better not to name things,” Jack Harper replied with utter seriousness and utmost politeness.

“You don’t like it? Well, since this is Chipi’s territory, how about Acorn Town?”
“I’m against our junior naming things too,” Marcus said, shaking his head.

Bang—
Logan kicked away an empty chair, his arms folded. With a posture like some common thug, he hoisted one leg onto the overturned chair and spoke.
“If our ‘wife’ wants to do something, she does it. You lot talk too much.”
But as I’ve said, Logan was the owner of the estate and thus the owner of this village, so there was nothing to say against him.
Yet all of a sudden—wife?
“Logan, just speak the way you usually do.”
“I can’t speak the usual way. We’re married.”
Is that so? Well, when you’re married, calling your wife “wife” is indeed the proper way.
The marriage certificate still sits in my room, so I couldn’t deny it either.
I deliberately shrugged and steered the conversation elsewhere.
If I didn’t, I’d feel obliged to address Logan with some embarrassing title in return.
Marcus looked at the two of us with a peculiar expression, but I chose not to mind.

A few days later.
Marcus carved a wooden sign and drove it into the ground at the village entrance with solid whacks.
[“Welcome to Acorn Village.”]
In the end, the village’s name became Acorn Village, and a wooden sign bearing “Eve House” was hung on the estate where Logan and I lived.
Logan was the one who named it.
“You’re surprisingly skilled, senior,” I remarked.
Marcus seemed quite pleased at my words.
Unlike before, his manner had grown noticeably more refined, so my praise came more easily these days.
Just then, Logan returned from hunting, dragging an enormous bear lashed to something like a sled.
Something about the sheer unreality of the scale made cognition skip.
A bear three times the size of Logan was being dragged inside.
It was a lean creature—massive in frame, but remarkably sparse of fat.
We crouched in the village square (though calling it that was generous) and spent a moment discussing the animal.
“So there are still living creatures out there,” I said.
Marcus nodded at my words.
“Even in all that chaos, there were quite a few survivors. Besides, since we arrived here, I’ve been eating nothing but potatoes and jerky for a month. I was craving fresh meat something fierce.”
“You’ve only been here a month. I’ve gone more than two.”
“My, those must have been difficult times for you, Duchess.”
At Jack’s words, I nodded and wiped at my eyes as if dabbing away tears. Difficult didn’t begin to cover it.
Then I glanced sidelong at Logan.
“Can you butcher that?”
“Don’t worry. I know how.”
Logan stepped forward. In fact, he’d been doing the cooking all along.
In the end, Logan butchered the animal and prepared the meal himself.
Because of him, dinner that night was meat for the first time in ages.
Thanks to Chipi’s foraging, we made a meat stew with potatoes and carrots, and threw together a salad of kale and cabbage.
The main course was steak.
Marcus and Jack’s hands trembled as they held their forks and knives.
Marcus seemed to recover his senses belatedly; he gave a small cough, then unfolded his napkin across his lap with practiced grace.
He straightened his back and lifted his utensils. His bearing was so dignified you’d never believe this was the same man who’d looked ready to grab his plate and devour it whole moments before.
He cut the steak into bite-sized pieces, placed each in his mouth, and never once gulped it down hastily.
Chewing slowly, swallowing, sipping water. He might have been seated at a royal banquet hall.
Yet the tip of his fork still trembled, faintly and microscopically.
I watched in silence.
Hunger was hunger, but dignity was something he would not surrender.
There was something magnificent about Marcus in that moment.
Because I, for my part, could not hide my elation.
The moment I put a piece of steak in my mouth, fireworks exploded in my head.
I was so happy I nearly wept.
Logan pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed my eyes dry.
It was just as everyone but Logan was savoring the meat and marveling at it.
Crack—boom!
A loud sound echoed from somewhere.
“What on earth was that?”
“Eve, you stay here.”
Logan quickly grabbed his Greatsword and stood. Marcus swiftly snatched up his Rifle.
Seeing my alarmed expression, Marcus raised his nose slightly and spoke.
“Don’t worry. I served in the military once, so I know how to handle a gun.”
“I’ll provide cover from the rooftop for you both. I have a talent for hunting.”
I wasn’t a sniper, but years of hunting had honed me for long-range shooting and providing cover fire.
Apparently judging that this arrangement was safe enough, Logan nodded.
“Wait—there are only four people here, and three of you can handle firearms?”
Jack Harper murmured in bewilderment.
“That really is quite the coincidence.”
I patted his shoulder and rose from my seat.
“Indeed it is. You should rest—you’re the doctor.”
“Actually, I’m not a doctor.”
“In the Collapsed World, anyone with medical knowledge is a doctor.”
I said that and left the Greenhouse. So I didn’t get to see the moved expression on Jack Harper’s face.
At any rate, Logan and Marcus headed toward the village entrance, and I climbed to the roof of Eve House and picked up my Binoculars.
Hmm?
In the distance, deep in the Forest Area, I could make out a group of people. They were armed.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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