Chapter 154: Corn, the miracle crop (4)

“It’s so cute!”

Joonbum shouted as he watched the baby Gerekstal moving about in front of him. The baby Gerekstal heard his voice and came to him before she started rubbing herself on Joonbum’s leg. Joonbum smiled.

“I should have named her Rubber.”

The baby Gerekstal was named Pippi by Sunsook. Joonbum rubbed Pippi on its back.

‘All you need is some scrubbing.’

He thought of Galfus. He began making friends with Galfus when he started scrubbing her. As he scrubbed, Pippi’s dead skin was removed, revealing the white skin underneath. Joonbum was at first disappointed at her grayish opaque color, but after the dirt was removed, her white skin was revealed. Pippi was a white Gerekstal. But after she was cleaned, she ran back into the field and rolled in the dirt.

-She doesn’t like being white colored.-

-She’s young.-

-Even Gerwin can’t help that.-

Joonbum understood. It was the same on Earth as albino animals were separated from the pack.

‘Is she doing that to survive? That’s amazing.’

That’s when Gerwin, the leader and mother of Pippi came to Joonbum. But she did not look directly at Joonbum. He then began scrubbing Gerwin’s huge legs.

Joonbum came out to the field of Gerekstals so he could get away from his work and rest. Jackson sighed and went to work on his own.

The world was changing rapidly. The damage done by the volcano and earthquakes was being taken care of and many animals and monsters were starting to return to the mountains. But the land was left barren.

-No food? No crops left to be harvested? Then hunt the damn animals! The field is littered with them!-

One dumb noble’s rants spread among the continent as an example of a fool. The animals in question were the large herbivores from the mountain that were more powerful than any human. Common farmers had no way to hunt them down. Herbivores just meant they ate plants. It did not mean that they were weak.

What was worse was that when they hunted the herbivores, the smell of blood attracted carnivores, creating more catastrophic results. But all of that was happening outside Khalodian land.

The corn attracted herbivores from the mountain as well as carnivores that followed. But the soldiers and hunters on Khalodian lands acted quickly to hunt down such animals. These people were trained to fight against the monsters coming from the Khalodian Mountain Range. With the addition of Ainos warriors roaming through the lands on Galims, the monsters were not able to attack humans.

-Refugees are not allowed to live here after winter. Unless you serve five years as a Khalodian soldier, you will not be accepted as this country’s citizen. You must serve ten years if you want your families to be accepted as well. Request if you will.-

It was middle of winter when this notice was declared among the townsfolk of the Ainos village. Refugees were usually considered like dogs or lower than slaves, but in this land, they were fed and treated like humans. Just by serving ten years, they would be welcomed into such a heavenly land. An overflowing number of refugees began applying to become soldiers. Young and old, all kinds of people were recruited. There was an abundance of jobs within the military other than just fighting.

This was Jackson’s idea as he feared the refugees might turn on them if they stopped giving them food. Joonbum then shared the idea with the count, who was reluctant at first but accepted after a calm explanation. The rumors of the land spread around the continent.

-I heard it’s like heaven there.-

-Don’t buy into such lies.-

-Hah, you stay here then. I’ll go and see heaven myself.-

-Khalodian land is full of food!-

-There’s a goddess giving everything to the people.-

Rumors of the Khalodian land spread quickly. It was even more exaggerated and fantasized as it spread further away.

-The Khalodians refuse to share food! Charge! We shall take it by force!-

-A witch has occupied Khalodia! Kill the witch! Galians, move out!-

-The witch is responsible for Benzen’s tragedy! In the name of Horun, we shall punish the witch! For the Horun Empire!-

The shadow of war was imminent.

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