“So there you are!”
The count approached them. He still looked tired, but his eyes were full of energy. He seemed to have regained his strength after arriving. He was a strong man.
‘But he’s way too into my mom.’
He remembered seeing the count blush as his mother scolded him for not taking care of himself. Then his mother served the count hand-cooked meals with very nutritious ingredients. Brant was in love with the woman. Everyone knew this.
“So, I am ready to accept her as my wife for eternity. What do you say?”
Joonbum’s eyes opened in shock. He wasn’t ready to hear such words yet.
“Huh?”
Joonbum blinked his eyes, not grasping what Brant had just said and grunted.
‘What is he talking about all of a sudden?’
Brant blushed as he watched Joonbum who was in a state of shock. He then changed his expression and glared at him.
“Hmph! What is that? You-you don’t think I’m not worthy enough, don’t you?”
He was now a desperate middle-aged man, trying to earn what he sought the most. It was amusing for such a man in his position to act like that and Joonbum also felt proud of his mother.
‘Well, she went through hell because of that bastard. It’s about time she finds her happiness.’
Joonbum quickly organized his thoughts and looked at Brant who was glaring at him.
“I’m good if my mother says so. I hope you two have a happy life.”
“…? Huh? OH? Erm…”
The count began to lose his words as he himself did not expect such a reaction either. Then he let out a big sigh and regained his senses.
“Thank you.”
“No need, milord. I hope for the happiness of my mother.”
Brant nodded. He did not say anything else but Joonbum found him trustworthy in his response. Then he changed the subject.
“So, what do you think about what I said yesterday?”
Brant’s face turned grim at the question. What Joonbum told him about yesterday was not a simple problem.
-There are signs of an impending disaster at the mountain range.-
-Disaster? Monsters coming down to this land is a disaster in itself. Is there another?-
-I think the reason why monsters were driven out from the mountains is because of the incoming disaster that will make the mountain range dangerous.-
-Hmm? What will that be?-
-I believe there might be a tremendous earthquake or a volcanic eruption soon.-
-WHAT!-
-All the monsters and animals are running out of the mountain range. Something big will happen.-
The count’s face turned pale as he heard Joonbum’s speculations. When Joonbum returned, Brant called up his advisors to discuss the matter. The Ainos moving into their lands because of the disaster would mean another problem. Most advisors were happy to have them as they were proven hunters and warriors who could be valuable armed forces. The meeting was held overnight and Brant summarized a simple solution to Joonbum.
“We welcome Ainos moving into our land. I will provide them with a suitable place to live.”
Joonbum nodded.
“Thank you.”
“But…”
“If the disaster does not happen, the Ainos will return to the forest.”
Brant nodded. There was no doubt that the Ainos would want to return.
“So when will they come?”
“I believe it will take us about four months.”
“It will be in the middle of summer then. August?”
“Yes, milord.”
“That will be a hard time to move.”
“We are getting ready. I will tell them the news.”
Joonbum bowed and Brant nodded.
“Thank you.”
Joonbum appreciated his short response. He also thought his mother would have a happy life with the count. He felt his eyes becoming watery.
*
An enormous amount of monsters and animals left the Khalodian Mountain Range, but many were still left on the mountain. There were a lot of living beings that could not simply change its habitat in fear of the impending disaster. As if it needed a warning, the mountain range rumbled from all possible ground areas. It continued for four straight days when the eternal snow of the mountain peak began to melt. The snow melted and vaporized into the sky, blocking the sky with clouds, making the rivers occupy the lower area. There were avalanches all over the mountain and the small rivers became huge, rapid rivers, swallowing everything nearby.
Small birds and animals that remained either died or fled the scene. Then the hot lava began to spill out from the peak of the mountain. It slowly began to flow out of the peak, covering the entire mountaintop. It burned everything in its passing, letting out thick black smoke and covering the sky in darkness. The fire that was caused by the lava heat began to spread throughout the mountain.
After a day, a loud banging sound was heard from within the ground. The great mountains shook and roared. It sounded like the sky was crashing down. Then an explosion sent thousands of particles to the sky, thrown all over the mountain range. All kinds of living beings fell dead to the rainfall of stone debris. Then there was the eruption. A pillar of fire shot up to the sky, creating a mushroom-shaped dust cloud that was visible from far away.
-Khalodian Mountain Range erupted!-
News spread quickly throughout the world. People now knew why the monsters attacked their villages.
-It is a time of urgency.-
Each country declared a state of emergency and began researching what to do by looking at old texts. There were no more wars. The disaster spread quickly throughout the mountain, taking the lives of everything in its way.
Benzen Kingdom was heavily affected by the disaster. The kingdom was covered with lava ashes that came down and defiled the water. The jungle began to wither while the people and animals suffocated from the continued rain of ashes.
However, the world in distress meant that there was a chance for some people. Bandits began pillaging unprotected villages and took women as slaves. There was no way for commoners to protect themselves, let alone survive through the ash that was raining down on the land.
It was doomsday for all.
