Chapter 81 – Dead Ember (2)

After the Eternal Embers, which was like the heart of the city, lost its light, heat, and pulse.

“Everyone, please go back home now. We must assume that our snowstorm has started from this moment. Also, it would be best to refrain from going outside until the leadership issues a detailed code of conduct later.”

Having presented a solution for it, I sent the people back home as quickly as possible.

The citizens obediently followed my instructions.

However, it was not because I had any authority or power that they complied.

This was because they had nothing more to do, except for the construction of the defensive wall with only one section remaining.

From now on, it was up to the magic engineers and me.

Watching their backs as they returned powerlessly to their freezing cold shanties, a thought naturally arose.

‘We should check people’s health conditions periodically… I don’t know if the leadership will handle it well on their own.’

It was a situation where the generator that had alone performed temperature maintenance functions such as heating, cold protection, insulation, and windproofing had stopped.

That meant the probability of people falling ill had greatly increased, and we had to be on guard against infectious diseases.

‘A mana gun, a golem, a prosthetic limb, and now I even have to worry about infectious diseases. What on earth am I supposed to make first?’

An Ember whose scale and magic engineering power had reached a certain level could allow personal life in each home even if a snowstorm arrived.

This was because heat generation relays, nicknamed Little Embers, which evenly distributed the heat generated by the Eternal Embers to each house and section, were installed.

However, our Ember was a small and shabby city that could not possibly have such high-end equipment.

Therefore, when a snowstorm arrived, they would live together in the leadership building, the magic engineering department, and the tavern, which were designated as shelters.

It was inevitable, not only for the distribution of resources like food and firewood, but also for the ease of managing patients and human resources.

But what if an infectious disease started to spread in the shelters?

‘Tens… no, hundreds would easily end up dying.’

At that point, it would become impossible to cope with.

Since Mia Silas was the only physician, she could not manage nearly a thousand people by herself, and medicines were also significantly lacking.

Therefore, preventing them from getting sick was the key.

Of course, no matter how much we prevented it, patients would still emerge. However, we had to reduce the initial number of patients somehow to slow down the spread even a little and buy time to respond.

‘Right, I must try everything I can. Surviving and dying by each of those minor elements was what was about.’

It was in the midst of worrying about the new problem of infectious diseases.

“Aylen, look ahead.”

Demian, who was watching me silently from behind, said in a low voice.

Raising my lowered head at his words, I saw a few people remaining in the empty lot where the citizens had left.

Jeremy, Thomas, Willus, the Ford siblings, Natasha… and the people of the Immortal Embers staying here with her.

“You’ve gathered many of your own people before I knew it.”

Demian Vale patted my back a couple of times as if proud, and then headed toward the Eternal Embers to finish the inspection.

Just as he said, only the people I could be certain were on my side remained in the empty lot.

“…….”

I stood silently and faced them.

I felt overwhelmed with emotion that even in this world that had become reality, there were companions who recognized and believed in me.

However, that emotion vanished without a trace soon after.

This was because among those reliable people, foreign entities who could not be confirmed as allies were mixed in.

“Aylen, we will join you.”

“You will need me as well.”

It was the young man Sullivan, who had served as a squad leader during the mutant attack, a few hunters, and the blacksmith David.

When I tilted my head at their appearance, wondering why they wanted to join such a dangerous journey, Sullivan stepped forward first, as if they had prearranged it.

“You surely aren’t going out into the snowfields alone. Aren’t you planning to form an expedition? To break through the mutants, having more people will be advantageous.”

“An expedition… Yes. It’s true that more numbers are advantageous. However, that isn’t always the case. You should know that well, shouldn’t you?”

I spoke firmly to him, who was strengthening his resolve to participate in the expedition.

I told him that while I appreciated the thought, anyone without sufficient capability would only become a burden.

This was the cold reality he had to face.

Although they must have experienced it several times before, unless dozens gathered, ordinary hunters could not oppose mutants with bows and arrows.

That was also the reason Jeremy was able to show unrivaled performance when the hunting squad was attacked in the snowfield.

Therefore, for ordinary people to possess combat power, mana guns were essential, but to my knowledge, there were only three mana guns, including mine, Jeremy’s, and Natasha’s.

‘But we can’t make them either. Once preparations are complete, we must set out this very day.’

Of course, it was not that I didn’t find it regrettable either.

However, even during the week I was asleep, not even a blueprint for a mana gun had been made.

Even if it were made, there was a second problem of lacking the technology to manufacture it.

Therefore, this expedition had to go with a small elite force that could do their part no matter what situation arose.

‘Then… exactly five people, including myself, are shortlisted.’

Jeremy Scott, who was formerly the captain of the Ember of Progress.

Natasha McGrain, the top agent of Radiance, the intelligence organization directly under Herman Melville.

Jenkins and Harley, former hunters and drivers who shared her cause.

These were people with sufficient capability to trust and rely on even in the snowfield.

Of course, compared to them, I was lacking, so it was only proper that I be excluded from the list.

However, the core of this expedition was me.

Because I was the upper-intermediate magic engineer who could dismantle the core of the Eternal Embers, and the human detector who could detect mutants using mana.

“Jeremy, Natasha, Jenkins, Harley, I must ask this of you despite my lack of shame. Will you join me on this expedition?”

Not wanting to give Sullivan false hope, I spoke to the four of them.

“I’ll think about it if you give me one more bottle of Eternal Thirst.”

While Jeremy waved his hand as if it were a hassle, he accepted the proposal.

“We are people dispatched by the order of Lord Herman Melville to help Lord Aylen. As I’ve told you before, you don’t need to ask for permission every single time.”

“That is correct. And… won’t we die anyway if we don’t repair the Eternal Embers? This is not a matter of who asks whom for a favor.”

I was also able to get positive answers from Natasha and the two drivers.

It was the moment the composition of the expedition team was about to be finalized.

“As you said, we cannot fight, but we will be much more useful than you think!”

Sullivan put his hand on his chest and shouted urgently before continuing.

“We have lived as hunters of this Ember and this region for over a decade, and there is no place we haven’t gone out to. We know most land features, shortcuts, and even the habitats of beasts.”

“…….”

Whether because he could not leave his fate to others or because he was burning with a sense of justice, he seemed desperate.

When I cast a glance telling him to continue, he swallowed hard and said.

“It is only three weeks until the snowstorm comes. Your goal must be to retrieve the core and return before then. To do that, our knowledge and experience as experienced guides will definitely be needed. So please, Aylen. Take us on the expedition!”

“Please, Aylen!”

“Please, Aylen!”

When Sullivan bowed his head, the four hunters standing behind him bowed in turn.

However, rather than their desperate appearance, I changed my mind due to Sullivan’s words.

Although I didn’t know where the empty Embers around here were, if they were people who had rolled around as hunters in this vicinity for over a decade, they would be able to play the role of excellent guides no matter which direction it was.

Just when I was about to accept their joining the expedition, someone popped out abruptly.

It was the blacksmith David Vengard.

“Sullivan and those who follow him are decent hunters. At this point, accept them. And it would be best if you accepted me too.”

“Setting aside the hunters, why you? You don’t even look healthy.”

I asked without pondering what the blacksmith’s usefulness in this expedition would be, unlike before.

Just as I was persuaded by the hunter Sullivan, I thought that he, being a blacksmith, would have some insight that I could not see.

Although David had a haggard face, he looked up with firm eyes and answered.

“Since you cannot walk, you must be planning to ride the off-roader. However, the noise of the off-roader will surely attract the attention of the mutants. Have you thought about how to solve that problem?”

“It is an unavoidable problem. We have no choice but to fight and clear a path.”

“If you fight like that, will your mana bullets last? What will you do with the off-roader when it becomes a piece of rag? No, because of that, the journey will stretch out indefinitely. Will that be alright?”

Realizing at this point that David was correct, I asked.

“What can you do? Tell me the reason I should include you in the expedition.”

He began to express his usefulness as if he had been waiting.

“I will take responsibility for repairing the off-roader during the expedition. I am a blacksmith, but I am also a mechanic who has doubled in repairing basic magic engineering equipment. Naturally, my level will be low, but it will be better than nothing.”

“So what do you plan to do about the noise of the off-roader?”

“That can be solved by attaching a silencer.”

“A silencer?”

“Isn’t there a device attached to a mana gun to reduce the sound of firing? You know, the kind used to avoid revealing one’s position… Using the same principle, I will manufacture a silencer to be attached to the exhaust pipe of the off-roader. Then, although not as quiet as a Snowfield Stallion, we will be able to travel quite quietly. Well, is this enough?”

David stood looking straight at me triumphantly, as if to say this much was enough.

However.

‘…This is not just a sufficient level. Why on earth is such a person in an Ember like this?’

His unexpected ability was not just sufficient, but overflowing.

To connect the crisis that the noise of the off-roader would bring with the silencer of a mana gun to solve it.

It was not a thought that an ordinary blacksmith born in the Nameless Ember could have.

And what was with that confidence that he could manufacture a silencer and repair the off-roader on the snowfields?

Since he had no reason to tell a lie that would be caught quickly, I had no choice but to believe his skill was also real.

He was also a person who did not suit this Ember.

“Very well. Let’s go together.”

“Great! Let’s do this.”

When I held out my hand, he rejoiced.

He seemed glad to have found his usefulness again after floundering in the loss of his wife.

And it would have been even better if it was the Ember that he and his wife had been so dedicated to.

“Then, we will conclude the selection of members with this. The rest of you, please judge and act on your own.”

Like that, the core expedition team was formed.

However, since going on an expedition with only a few mana guns was clearly a suicidal act, I was about to find another way, but just at that moment.

“Excuse me…”

Will Ford, who was hesitating while watching Demian and the members of the magic engineering department, quietly called me.

“So… you’re saying the mana guns are the problem right now?”

“Right?”

“Should I solve that for you? If it’s my blueprint, I think we can mass-produce five of them within today. Actually, my major is military magic engineering.”

“……!”

It was only now, over a month after meeting Will Ford, that I found out his major was military magic engineering.