Chapter 79 – Early Snowstorm (4)

“Now, only one section is left to build the defensive wall, so let’s eat and drink today. Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

Even in the middle of the night, the Ember was bustling with blazing firewood and brightly shining lights.

Not only was the wall construction, which was no different from hard labor, nearing its end, but it was also the day Aylen, who had rapidly risen as the hero of the Ember, woke up.

Therefore, the tavern, which had been temporarily closed to prepare for mutants and snowstorms, opened for a limited time today.

It was the leadership’s decision to revive the desolate atmosphere of the Ember.

But that was not the only reason.

“I heard Archer Fordham was completely drunk and out of it at the leadership headquarters this time?”

“Not just Archer. The people in the leadership were also so wasted that they couldn’t even pull themselves together.”

“Still, well, no one knew the mutants would raid us, so setting that aside, the leadership, who kept saying we should conserve resources because of the snowstorm, threw a drinking party… The sense of betrayal is no joke.”

This raid incident brought about the citizens’ distrust toward the leadership.

It was natural since all the responsible officers who were supposed to give orders in an emergency were found drunk in the leadership office.

But leaving aside the absence of the responsible authorities, the real problem was that they had thrown a drinking party.

In this small Ember, where it was difficult to be self-sufficient with resources, food was an element that could not help but be received very sensitively.

Unlike other resources, it was essential for survival, just like the magic stones that served as fuel for the Eternal Embers.

That was why the tavern, which had not opened even once since the snowstorm warning, opened its doors to win back the public’s favor.

Of course, because support for Yan Casellos was solid, his reign would not collapse immediately, but…

“Honestly, I think it’s right for a few of those in charge to step down. How can not a single person be punished after making such a grave mistake?”

“Yeah. Even so, we can’t change the leader over something like this, so there must be a scapegoat to serve as an example.”

The citizens, whose mouths had become loose from alcohol, were venting their complaints.

Saying that they should weed out the incompetent and irresponsible officials through this incident.

This was unwelcome news for Yan, who had filled the leadership with his own hands and feet.

Even though the leadership was seated in the tavern, the citizens’ resentment grew louder as if they wanted them to hear it.

“Lord Yan, do not pay it any mind.”

Nikolai, who was sitting opposite Yan, whose face had crumpled, said.

Unlike Yan, he was sipping water with a peaceful face as if he had nothing to worry about.

Even when the mutant attack occurred, he had been drinking water instead of beer, which was his thoroughness to ensure at least one person remained sane in case of an unexpected situation.

“How can I not? You should know better than anyone that the public sentiment can turn in an instant.”

Yan, who was cooling his burning throat with water like Nikolai, said.

However, the reason he drank water was simply because the citizens were watching him.

“In a few days, the citizens will not even remember what happened. To be precise, that will happen in three weeks.”

Looking at Yan, Nikolai said.

“Three weeks. Why are you so sure?”

Yan asked back at his words, which were confident even down to the specific timeframe.

This incident was a serious matter, to the point that they had to force the replacement of some leadership figures and the hunting squad captain, so he was asking how it could be forgotten in such a short period.

Leaning his upper body forward naturally, Nikolai continued.

“When the situation they are in reaches the extreme, humans cannot look outward and think only of themselves. And three weeks later is the day the snowstorm begins. Even then, will they really remember today’s events?”

“……!”

Having said that, Nikolai picked up his chopsticks and began to eat, as if he truly regarded this matter as nothing.

Indeed, his words were not wrong.

Random plundering, murder, cannibalism, and various other inhumane crimes committed in the name of survival in the ice age.

Did not the entire history of this ice age prove his words?

In this world where even heinous crimes were easily forgotten and rationalized, the leadership’s mistake was not even a mistake, and it was something that would soon disappear from people’s minds with the arrival of a greater crisis.

“Right, let’s prepare the countermeasure for the snowstorm thoroughly. Since it’s something that will be forgotten anyway, there won’t be any need to respond to this.”

“A wise decision, Lord Yan.”

It was just when Yan and Nikolai were smiling at each other.

“Sigh… It would be so nice if Lord Demian were also out here.”

The name of an unwelcome person reached their ears.

That grumbling, which began with someone’s regret, quickly started to spread here and there.

“Did they say the magic engineering department is currently developing a mana gun?”

“That’s right. Because that’s the only way to hunt mutants. I heard they’ve been working day and night for a week.”

“Gosh… I feel ashamed of myself for complaining about just building a wall.”

“Was it only you? It’s human nature that everyone feels their own work is the hardest until they experience others’.”

The heated atmosphere of the tavern cooled down in an instant.

As they said, the magic engineering department was the one suffering the most day and night.

Even on this exceptional day, not a single one of them showed their face at the tavern.

This was because they were holed up in the magic engineering department building, researching military magic engineering and developing mana guns.

While that meant their work was more critical than anything else, it was also proof that they were the true heroes of the Ember.

“Even if we bring them beer, they won’t drink it, so let’s at least bring them some food.”

“…We should, right? I’ll go since I need to sober up anyway.”

“Hey, there are so many of them, will that be enough? Pack a whole bunch, a whole bunch!”

With the citizens working together, the basket was quickly filled with food.

Amid the commotion of everyone wanting to go, a man snatched the basket and headed toward the magic engineering department as if running away.

The citizens, who watched him until he disappeared from sight, had warmer eyes than ever.

Their joy, happiness, sadness… all of their daily lives could not have existed if it weren’t for the dedication of the magic engineering department.

It was when the man who had gone to deliver the food returned abnormally quickly.

“Pant, puff…!”

His face was dark as he gasped for breath.

For some reason, he had brought the basket back exactly as he had carried it.

Soon, catching his breath, the man shouted urgently.

“Something, something seems to have happened to the Eternal Embers!”

“What did you say?”

At his thunderbolt-like words, all the citizens sprang up from their seats.

Since the Eternal Embers was practically the heart of the Ember, a problem arising meant the city’s survival was at stake.

It was a problem that could not even be compared to the mutant attack, which had resulted in thirty deaths.

“Explain it properly. What on earth did you see!”

Prompted by the citizens, the man began to shout exactly what he had seen.

“I-I don’t know well either. All I saw was the magic engineering department moving magic engineering equipment in front of the Eternal Embers, and Aylen and Lord Demian tearing off the outer plating of the Eternal Embers!”

“……!”

“……!”

At that moment, a silence born of shock descended upon the tavern.

The silence created by hundreds of people was so quiet that it felt as if time had stopped for a moment.

There was someone who moved first through that silence.

“Leader, you must move.”

It was Nikolai.

Unlike his previous easygoing appearance, his face was seriously stiff.

To him, who designed the future of the leadership, such a variable was unwelcome.

Nikolai growled in a voice only he could hear and mumbled a person’s name.

“Aylen Vale…!”

Aylen Vale, who had appeared after becoming a magic engineer and had now become a hero, was constantly disrupting his perfect plans, whether intentionally or not.

Above all, because the magic engineering department had been quiet until now, seeing them suddenly cause a stir without consultation made it clear that this commotion was also his doing.

Nikolai knew about the conversation between Yan and Demian regarding the defect of the Eternal Embers.

He was the very one who had advised him to use Aylen as a hostage to subdue Demian.

“Let’s go immediately.”

With Yan Casellos in the lead, Archer Fordham and dozens of leadership figures followed on his left and right.

The citizens also walked with them with anxious hearts.

Seeing the startled reaction of the leadership, they instinctively knew it was no ordinary serious problem.

It was when the entire Ember had gathered once again.

“Did you bring everything, including what we received this time?”

“Yes, Lord Aylen. What should we do now?”

“Take off all the outer plating.”

“All of it? Is there a reason we have to…”

“The core is the summation of magic engineering. Since a problem occurred in such a component, the magic circuit board won’t be safe either. We must inspect everything this time.”

Aylen giving orders and the magic engineers following him came into the citizens’ view.

“W-What are they doing right now…?”

“Are they… dismantling the Eternal Embers?”

The citizens were horrified by their appearance as they dismantled the outer plating of the Eternal Embers without hesitation.

Although it was just for an inspection, it was a scene too shocking for citizens who did not know much about magic engineering to accept.

However, despite the citizens’ commotion, the magic engineering department focused on their work as if they could not even see them.

“Department Head, what is this sudden commotion without a single word of consultation…”

As the citizens became agitated, Yan stepped forward.

The only one who could and had to step forward now was him, the leader.

However, the one welcoming him was Aylen, not Demian.

“Yan, you came at the right time. I had something to urgently announce to the Ember anyway, and you brought all the citizens.”

“…….”

Yan hesitated at Aylen’s seemingly rude attitude.

Since even his father Demian, the head of the magic engineering department, spoke formally to Yan, he thought his authority had been damaged.

Of course, since they had already spoken casually in the office before, the informal speech itself was not what bothered him.

The only difference was that back then, it was just the two of them, and now, everyone was watching.

“Aylen, I think I need an explanation of what is going on.”

Yet, Yan spoke with an unwavering expression.

He was an experienced man who had lived as a politician for over twenty years, and he knew that acting this way was actually good for showing his generosity.

At that, Aylen responded in a still casual tone.

“Explanation? What explanation?”

“I mean what the magic engineering department is doing right now. Touching the heart of the Ember without warning like this only creates anxiety.”

“…….”

Seeing Aylen shut his mouth, Yan smiled faintly.

Naturally, he guessed that a problem had occurred with the Eternal Embers.

And also that the cause was because the leadership did not provide support in time.

However, the citizens did not know the inside story, and on the surface, the magic engineering department was responsible for the Eternal Embers, so it was good for him.

“A sufficient explanation will be needed. A convincing explanation, that is.”

That was the very reason he could act so confidently.

But Aylen passed by him as if to mock him and began to shout to the citizens, chewing and spitting out each word.

“Our Ember’s heart, the Eternal Embers, is reaching the end of its lifespan! This is because even though the magic engineering department requested support immediately upon discovering the problem, it could not be repaired in time due to the leadership’s deliberate neglect stemming from power struggles!”

“Aylen, what on earth are you saying right now…!”

At Aylen’s remark, which was no different from a declaration of war, Yan, whose eyes were bloodshot, glared at him fiercely.

However, his mouth, having started to move once, could not be stopped.

“For this reason, the Eternal Embers is entering a long-term inspection. You will lose the warmth you naturally enjoyed under the dedication of the magic engineering department.”

“Does that mean…”

“Yes, as of this moment, we are shutting down the Eternal Embers. So prepare yourselves. For the snowstorm that will blow in from now on.”

“……!”

Ending with those words, Aylen walked over with long strides and pulled down all the operating levers of the Eternal Embers.

Simultaneously, the operating sound of the Eternal Embers disappeared, and the heat that had been gushing out like an endless spring also vanished without a trace.

Now, the snow falling from the sky did not melt but began to pile up on the streets, on the buildings, on their heads, and on the Eternal Embers.

Like that, the snowstorm of this Nameless Ember was starting from now.