The Ice Age Came And I Just Got Married - Chapter 69

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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 69
I didn’t have the luxury of worrying about Claire and Rion in peace—the immediate task of rebuilding Dotori Village demanded my attention.
The blizzard had passed, but its scars remained visible throughout the settlement.
Sections of fencing had collapsed under the fierce winds, and several roofs had been stripped of their boards.
Broken branches and snow drifts tangled together in places, blocking the paths, while the eaves of the storage shed sagged precariously under the weight of accumulated snow.
Fortunately, the village’s terrain had offered good shelter from the storm, and our advance preparations meant there had been no serious damage.
Eve House and the Greenhouse alone had escaped without a scratch.
We all took up shovels and cleared the roads, while Marcus and Nathan began fixing the collapsed fences and roofs with hammers and saws.
And so we returned to our daily routine.
The repairs took longer than expected, but fortunately everyone worked quickly.
Nathan and Jack grumbled as they patched up the damaged buildings, while Charlotte climbed up and down ladders tending to the roofs.
Marcus was working on the fence repairs.
As time passed after the blizzard, the outdoor temperature had risen somewhat—though the daytime high was still a bitter thirty degrees below zero.
Logan and I set out on a Hunting and Fishing expedition.
Easier said than done—stepping outside into thirty-below weather was no trivial matter.
We started by gathering cold-weather gear from the storage shed beside the Greenhouse.
Over thick wool clothing, we pulled on windproof jackets, then layered inner gloves and leather gloves to keep our fingertips from freezing.
I wrapped a Scarf around my face and pulled a Fur hat down over my ears.
Logan looked me over from top to bottom, then without a word, tightened my Scarf more firmly around my neck.
“Don’t loosen it just because you’re short of breath.”
“Okay.”
“Tell me right away if your fingertips go numb.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Logan’s eyes crinkled softly at the corners as he looked at me.
Wait—what?
Then, as if nothing had happened, his expression hardened back to its usual blankness. I’d never seen that look before.
Had he just smiled with his eyes?
What was that charming little eye-smile I’d never seen from him before?
I wanted to dwell on it, but Charlotte’s approach cut that possibility short.
“Are you two heading out now?”
Reluctantly stepping away from Logan, I nodded toward Charlotte.
“Look after the village for me. You too, Pipi.”
Charlotte nodded vigorously at my request.
“Don’t worry about us. Worry about yourself, Eve. Be careful spending nights in the Forest.”
For our risky venture outside the village to make sense, it was better to spend a night or two out there rather than rush back.
“I will. I’ve got Winterstone packed well, so don’t worry.”
Marcus, Jack, and Nathan all came out to bid us farewell.
I packed my Skis, while Logan loaded the Sled with a hunting bow, traps, Fishing line, an Axe for breaking ice, a Thermos, Dried meat, and spare Gloves.
Just in case, we also brought along a small stove and an Oil-treated cloth.
After exchanging goodbyes with the villagers of Dotori Village, Logan and I set out from the settlement.
We moved along the forest paths while hunting, both of us wearing Skis.
Logan fastened a Harness around his waist, connecting the loaded Sled to it with a long pole.
We used a pole instead of a rope to prevent the Sled from ramming into us on downhill slopes.
The Skis glided smoothly over the deep snow while the cargo Sled trailed behind, crunching through the white expanse.
The Forest was eerily silent.
Only the sound of branches swaying in the wind reached our ears; not a snow hare, not a bear, not even a single bird was visible.
The blizzard had been a calamity not only for people but for all life in the Forest.
I looked around and murmured softly.
“It’s so quiet.”
Logan seemed to share the thought, silently surveying the snowy expanse.
“Still, something’s hiding out there. Like the people downtown.”
We continued roaming the Forest for a while longer, but found little of worth.
In the end, abandoning the hunt, we headed toward the Sea.
From the Coniferous forest to the Sea required quite a long journey even on Skis.
After some distance, having pushed through towering evergreens, we finally reached the Coastline.
Fortunately, the Sea was different from the Forest.
Beneath the ice, life still moved and breathed.
“Since we’ve confirmed Fishing is possible, we should find a place to shelter for the night before the sun sets.”
I nodded at Logan’s words.
As he said, we needed to find a suitable place to spend the night before daylight faded.
We continued moving along the Coastline for quite some time.
Logan checked the wind’s direction while alternating his gaze between the snow-covered cliffs and the Forest.
“I think we should head into the Forest.”
“You’re worried about caves being dangerous?”
“If there’s any moisture, body heat drops even faster than in the open. That’s the real danger.”
“And the Sea…….”
“The Sea wind is too strong.”
“As expected—we’re thinking alike. A Coniferous forest would definitely be better than a cave.”
Logan let out a soft laugh at my answer and nodded.
Conversations with him flowed naturally, and I found it remarkably comfortable. I’d only learned what came from my studies, but Logan—his knowledge came from actual experience, hard-won and honest.
“Right. Let’s head into the Forest.”
“Come on. I know a suitable place.”
Logan turned without hesitation, and I followed him as we walked again.
Some time later, we arrived at a spot where three massive firs stood arranged in a triangle. It was a place where the wind barely penetrated.
Logan pointed to it with his hand and spoke.
“This is a fairly suitable place to spend the night.”
His tone was oddly familiar.
“You’ve been here before?”
“It was around my eighth life.”
He was speaking of before the Regression.
We first checked the surrounding area for any signs of monsters or wild animals. Of course, there wouldn’t be any.
Logan then set down the cargo Sled and immediately picked up a shovel.
There was no hesitation.
As we cleared away the snow from the area we’d chosen for camp, the hard, frozen earth was revealed beneath.
“We need to start from the bottom.”
He skipped the explanation, but I understood what he was doing.
“You’re going to lay down Branches?”
“That’s right. Thick layers.”
Logan, having answered, lifted his head to look at me—as if seeing something curious.
“This never happened before…… You’ve really changed a lot.”
“Maybe it’s because of the Winterstone? My confidence grew. But my knowledge was already there before, wasn’t it?”
“…… That does seem to be it.”
I let the matter rest and spread out the Branches we’d gathered, laying them densely across the ground.
Logan retrieved a thick Waterproof canvas from the cargo Sled—or rather, canvas cut from a retired sailing ship’s canvas. The sail cloth, having endured decades of Sea wind, wouldn’t flinch at even the strongest gales, or so I’d heard.
Thankfully, it was one of the items Brian had brought from his shop and donated to Dotori Village.
In any case, Logan spread the canvas across the ground, then secured its edges firmly with wooden stakes and rope.
Only then did it begin to resemble an actual living space.
It wasn’t a perfect shelter, but with the Redstone we had, it would be enough to survive a night when temperatures plunged to minus sixty degrees.
All we needed was one more thing.
I gathered dry pine Branches together while Logan pulled out Flint from his belt.
After several sparks, a small flame kindled, and soon red fire spread through the stack of wood.
Thanks to the firs blocking the wind, the flames didn’t waver easily.
We also made sure to place Redstone at various points inside the makeshift shelter.
Over the Branches, we laid thick Wool, and over that, a Blanket.
Only after all that could we finally lie down on the ground and rest.
It was nothing like that first night when the Ice Age began—when we’d spent a night in the tunnel.
Whoooosh—
The sound of wind howling outside the shelter reached us.
“Eve.”
At that moment, Logan called to me. He pointed to Pipi, sitting in front of the fire.
Crackle-crackle—
In front of the burning logs, the baby bird was nodding off, drowsy.
How adorable.

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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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