Seil began to take an interest in this man. He eyed Joonbum who was working hard on another carriage that moved on its own.
‘Self-moving carriage.’
Unlike the red carriage that laid waste to the monsters, this was much smaller. But it still looked very sturdy and strong.
‘It’s smaller than the red one, but it’s still not small.’
It was smaller than the red carriage called the Marauder, but it was still big.
‘Humvee, he said.’
Seil walked closer to the carriage. It was also made of steel that looked like it would be safe from any arrows, swords, or axes. No weapon he could think of would be enough to pierce this thing.
‘No one would stand a chance against it if not ready.’
Seil let out a sigh. It had its weakness. Unlike a Galim or an animal that a human could ride on, these machines required level ground to be able to move about. It was weak against moving through rocky terrain. It also required a skilled rider to operate it and the only people that had the skill were only the countess and Joonbum himself. It was useless without them.
‘It can always be captured by a trap.’
A deep hole would easily trap these carriages. Seil thought for a moment, then shook it away.
“Fixing the carriage?”
“Oh, Captain.”
Joonbum rose up while wiping off the sweat from his forehead. Seil’s eyes followed Joonbum’s head as it rose. Seil took a step backward after he realized that Joonbum was too tall.
“Just doing maintenance. I need to keep it in check when I have time. I’m teaching the kids how to work also.”
Joonbum pointed to where many kids around the age of ten or eleven were gathered up to fiddle with the tools.
“Careful! It’s not there!”
“NO! My bolt is gone!”
“Where is the driver?”
“My bolt is gone! Find it!”
“Ugh, the smell. My hand is oily.”
“EWW! Jake! Help me!”
“Do it alone!”
“Hey, here’s your bolt.”
“How do you do this?”
Seil looked on in amazement from the distance.
‘They consider it like play time.’
The kids learned how to work on the machine by working and teaching themselves together. They were getting a lot better as they made mistakes. Of course, it was up to Joonbum to mend any mistakes they made afterward.
‘Isn’t he tired of doing all this?’
Seil looked at Joonbum who didn’t seem to be bothered.
“They’re getting better. I’m sure they can take care of the simple problems soon enough.” Joonbum commented.
‘He’s so different from that day.’
He was so different from the day he declared his intentions to the relatives and advisors of the count.
“So, are you sure that you will not be the heir to the count?” Seil asked casually as he watched the kids. Joonbum sighed and shook his head.
“No, I don’t want it.”
“Why not?”
“I am sure that the loyal advisors and relatives will not accept me as the true lord.”
“They will if you do become a lord. Are you afraid?”
Seil scoffed and taunted Joonbum. Yet he did not seem to mind.
“I’m not so sure. I know how bad people can be to become a lord. I am the one who knows this best. Do you not know who I am?”
“Oh.”
Seil moaned. He knew that Joonbum left his homeland with his mother because he did not want to fight with his brother over his father’s land. It was more like banishment.
“Do you want this?”
“Oh, thank you.”
Joonbum took out a cigar from his pocket and handed it over to Seil.
“Good taste.”
“Yes.”
He lit up one for himself and began smoking it. They both smoked the cigars silently and Seil opened up again.
“I understood it clearly. But you must also know what will happen next, then?”
Joonbum frowned.
‘Yeah, they won’t let me be even if I refused.’
“I reckon you understand what I mean.”
Joonbum nodded.
‘You literally just told me. How would I not know?’
“But there is a way if you want to get out of such trouble.”
‘What is he on to?’
Joonbum looked puzzled. Seil continued, “If you really want to get out of it, there’s a way.”
Seil smiled, “A newborn son from the count and countess will solve the problem.”
“Huh?” Joonbum gasped.
“If the countess gives a birth to a child in one or two years, the focus on you will be removed. It’s okay even if she gives birth to a girl. A woman can become a lord in Toria.”
‘That is actually a good idea.’
There was a possibility of it happening. Sunsook had found her youth as she moved into this land and with all the activities, she was much more younger than when she was back on Earth.
‘Am I getting a sibling?’
Joonbum began imagining about what might happen in the future.
‘Hmm? Will it be a boy or a girl? I would like a younger sister like Catherine… Wait, she might have more than one.’
Joonbum grinned.
“What do you think?”
“Yes, that actually is good idea.”
Joonbum nodded, smiling.
“So, they will need time then.”
“Time?”
Joonbum looked confused.
“They need time together. Having a baby isn’t a simple thing. They need to spend time together and get closer. Don’t you think so?” Seil asked as he closed in on Joonbum. Joonbum backed away as he nodded.
“Oh, uh, yes.”
“Yes, of course, but look at this. The count is so busy with the land that he has no time! Well at least the Ainos taking care of those Keroxes was a big help. But there’s more monsters lurking around! And what about those herbivores? There’s thousands of them running rampant through the farmlands!”
Seil shook his hand. There was no way to actually make out the numbers, but it seemed like the number of animals and monsters was more than what they could handle.
“Herbivores are as dangerous as the other monsters. Bodua packs running rampant is already deasly. What about those big horned deer Raimengos? Common people will be killed in instant if one of those charges at them. And, not to mention, these animals are wiping away all the grasslands and trees! It’s making our land barren!”
Seil let out a deep sigh. He sighed for a while, then continued.
“So the count will have no time…”
Seil turned to Joonbum. Joonbum knew what he was talking about.
“You should help them congratulate their marriage. Give them some time. What say you? They will just need few months! The count is still young. He should be able to pull it off.”
‘Oh, so this was what he was after.’
Joonbum finally understood the intention, but it was too late.
