“We also have to prepare for the aftermath of the war.”
“After?”
“They will not back off easily. They will not accept losing to a foreign noble.”
“What will they do then?”
“I suspect assassination. Until they succeed.”
“Hmph.”
Joonbum bit his lip while Jackson looked at him calmly.
‘Hah, so do I have to conquer the world or something?’
What Jackson was predicting was a scary thing. Joonbum shook his head.
“Jackson, it’s good that we are trying to predict what will happen, but I think you are thinking too far this time. We can never know what the future holds in store for us. We are not gods.”
Jackson blushed, he realized that he was imagining too much.
“I’m sorry.”
“Then let’s prepare for the war.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jackson finished the last sip of his coffee and stood up. Joonbum turned to the window to view the vast farmland outside. The barren lands that were once desolate with life were now filled with crops. Joonbum frowned at a foul smell that came with the wind.
“So, it’s war then?”
Joonbum turned to see Doral who had just walked into the room.
“Should we prepare too?”
“I’m sorry.”
Joonbum looked apologetic, but Doral shook his head.
“Don’t be. We were prepared to be involved in human affairs once we decided to leave the forest. The elders already knew.”
Joonbum felt his burden ease at Doral’s words. Doral smiled and continued, “I bring news.”
“News?”
Joonbum poured some coffee and offered it to Doral.
“The Magnos want to move in.”
“The Magnos?”
Joobun was surprised. They were a race that looked like dwarves from a fantasy movie he had watched before. They loved liquor and were good with metal. They were also great miners, architects, and warriors. They only averaged about five feet tall but had stout bodies and thick limbs. Their forged armor allowed them to survive any enemies as they hacked their way through with their axes. This was why they could live within the mountains even with fewer numbers.
“The earthquakes destroyed their buildings and defenses. They cannot last against the monsters.”
The Magnos were strong and well-armed. Their weaponcraft skills were exceptional and they strengthened them, but the situation in the mountains was getting worse every day. Trees and animals were wiped out due to the volcanic eruptions and those were critical to their survival.
‘So they decided to come to us.’
“The elders welcomed them.”
“I do too.”
Joonbum nodded. Doral then grinned.
“It will take a week for them to arrive.”
“Oh- so that’s why…”
He remembered the Ainos people busily working the past few days.
“Yes, we’re preparing their houses so they can live with us.”
“Is that possible?”
“Of course. They’re more on the active side than us though. I believe they will get along with humans better than us.”
The Magnos were friendly people even though they chose to live in seclusion.
“What’s needed then?”
“Hmm…”
Doral sighed. It looked like he did need something.
“Food.”
“I will have it prepared.”
“They eat a lot.”
Joonbum smiled and looked out the window.
“I can’t feed them fully, but they won’t starve. And after four months, we will harvest the corn, barley, and all the other crops. It will bring all of Khalodia out of hunger. Maybe even better.”
Joonbum answered with certainty.
“Corn…”
Doral thought of the corn he had tried before. He already knew what it was.
‘Nothing is wasted with that crop.’
Corn was valuable as every part of the crop could be used. Even the roots could be used as animal feed. Doral then thought about the various foods and fruits that they enjoyed after Joonbum’s arrival. He first thought of grapes, then the cheesecake that Sunsook made. It was a taste of wonder.
“That cheesecake would be perfect with this…”
Doral mumbled as he drank the coffee. Joonbum heard him and looked at him in confusion, then burst into laughter.
“Huh? Oh! HAHAHA!”
“Oops. My mouth…”
Doral flushed in embarrassment as he realized that he had unknowingly said his thoughts out loud.
“You should’ve asked. Mom brought it to me the other day for me to give to you.”
Joonbum opened the refrigerator door and took out a cake.
“OH! Blueberry cheesecake!”
Doral gasped as he stared at the cake. He accepted the cake, sat down at the table, and used a fork to have a taste. His face beamed with a bright smile as he tasted the sweetness of the cake and the coffee after. Then, he opened his mouth.
“Oh, and the Magnos will send a hundred warriors.”
“Warriors?”
“Yeah, in case of a war. Their Gerekstal will join.”
Joonbum looked at Doral. It was good news.
“Gerekstal?”
That was a word he didn’t understand.
“You never heard of it?”
“No. It’s the first time I’ve ever heard the word.”
“Oh, I see.”
Doral nodded and began explaining,
“The Gerekstal is a group of Magnos warriors. They choose a hundred of the most powerful warriors to form a Gerekstal. It’s their elite battle group.”
Joonbum nodded.
“But Gerekstal itself doesn’t mean the warrior group. They just call it that, but it actually means something else.”
Doral stopped there and drank his coffee. He was already done with the cake and coffee as he spoke.
“Gerekstal use Krakuls. They have five huge horns on their heads and are as big as your bulldozer. Magnos warriors ride them like we ride Galims.”
Joonbum looked out to check on the bulldozers and imagined riding on a big dinosaur. Gerekstal rode dinosaurs that looked like rhinoceros.
‘And they ride on it?’
Joonbum started to feel excited. It was his fantasy to ride on dinosaurs and roam the earth. It piqued his interest.
“So they’re coming?”
“Yeah. It’s amazing to see them charge.”
“Really?”
Doral nodded.
“They have armor on the Krakuls like you do on the Galims and Galfus. There’s nothing that can block their way when the armored Gerekstals charge.”
Joonbum was overly excited to hear such tales.
“I hear nothing is left behind after they trample through. No human defense has been able to block their advance. I heard humans hate fighting with the Gerekstals. They’re merciless too.”
Joonbum imagined barbarian warriors raining hell on the battlefield while charging through fragile humans from the top of enormous dinosaurs.
‘I want one so bad! I should ask them for a baby dinosaur when they come.’
He made up his mind.
