The Scorched Desert's Sand Mage (Novel) - Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translated by Pratt
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Old Man Go looked like the sort of kindly grandfather who lived next door. But he was an Awakened. More than that, he was a high-ranking Awakened belonging to the mayor’s direct execution unit. Because his ability was so extraordinary, the danger level of the missions he was sent on far exceeded imagination. He was always carrying out missions with his life on the line. For that reason, the Awakened of the execution unit were granted many privileges. One of them was that even if they killed someone in Neo Seoul, they would not be held guilty.
In other words, they possessed a license to kill.
Old Man Go was kinder than anyone to the people he knew, but anyone he judged to be an enemy he never left alone.
The same was true of the twin sisters.
When Old Man Go moved, the twin sisters moved too, and just like Old Man Go, anyone they considered an enemy was dealt with mercilessly.
Unfortunately, this time the ones who had been caught were the Dark Brotherhood.
Even though they were criminals, the group was on its way to kill people, and yet the twin sisters were grinning as if they were having fun, and Old Man Go neither blamed nor stopped them.
To them, this was perfectly natural.
Zeon shook his head slightly.
‘Their humanity has worn away.’
Perhaps that was only natural.
This was a world where neither humanity nor morality held sway anymore.
The strong ruled, and the logic of power dominated every rule.
Old Man Go and the twin sisters were among the strong, and unfortunately the Dark Brotherhood was weak.
Old Man Go asked Zeon, “Well? Want to come along and watch?”
“No, thank you.”
“Why not? Come with us.”
Even the twin sisters urged him to come with them, but Zeon did not change his mind.
He had no sick hobby of enjoying the sight of others killing people right in front of him.
“I have something to do.”
“What thing?”
“Can’t it wait until tomorrow? Sweeping away criminals is such a pleasant affair.”
“Right. Killing criminals isn’t a crime.”
The twin sisters chattered, spitting out their words.
Zeon felt a deep sense of revulsion at the sight of children still so young talking about killing people as casually as smashing toys.
He could not tell whether they had been born monsters to begin with or had grown up into monsters, but they certainly did not look normal.
Sensing Zeon’s discomfort, Old Man Go raised a hand and stopped the two girls.
“That’s enough. No matter how much you talk, he won’t listen.”
“Tch!”
“Hmph!”
The sulking twins puffed out their cheeks.
Old Man Go rose from his seat and bid him farewell.
“Can’t be helped, then. We’ll meet again next time.”
“All right.”
That was how Zeon parted ways with the three of them.
After leaving the restaurant, Zeon did not head straight back to the slums.
He still had something to do.
The moment he entered a deserted alley, Zeon touched his earring and spoke.
“Ah, can you hear my voice?”
“Hng! Could it possibly be Master?”
A startled voice came through the earring.
“Mr. Kim Gyeong-su, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right, Master.”
The owner of the voice coming through the earring was none other than Kim Gyeong-su.
He had been the leader of the party that attacked Zeon when Zeon entered the vampire bat dungeon to help Levin grow stronger.
Bound by a Scroll of Oath, Kim Gyeong-su, who had sworn loyalty, reacted to Zeon’s voice as if struck by lightning.
“Where are you right now?”
“A-at home.”
“Central District, Block 13, correct?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Come out now. I’m nearby.”
“Hng! Are you saying you’ve entered Neo Seoul?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll come out immediately. Should I bring the others too?”
“No. Come alone.”
“Understood.”
Not long after the connection was cut, someone came running frantically to where Zeon was.
It was Kim Gyeong-su.
He looked like he had come straight from home, dressed in casual clothes.
“Master!”
“You came quickly.”
“Since it was your summons, Master, of course I had to hurry.”
Kim Gyeong-su’s eyes were full of fear as he looked at Zeon.
It was not only because of the Scroll of Oath constraining him.
It was also because of the rumors he had heard about Zeon recently.
The moment he heard the unbelievable rumor that a sand mage had appeared and brought down Balrog, Kim Gyeong-su had been certain.
That the person at the center of the rumor was Zeon.
The Zeon they had once attacked so recklessly to steal a buggy from had been a monstrous powerhouse who could single-handedly kill a demonic beast like Balrog.
The very fact that he had touched such a man and survived felt miraculous.
Zeon asked after him.
“Have you been well?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, Master… But what brings you to Neo Seoul?”
“The mayor called for me.”
“Hng! You mean Lord Jin Geum-ho?”
Kim Gyeong-su was startled.
That was because he knew the fact that the mayor, Jin Geum-ho, did not meet just anyone.
‘Does that mean even the mayor acknowledges Master? Well, given that he’s a rare Awakened called a sand mage, it would be stranger not to acknowledge him.’
Kim Gyeong-su once more keenly realized just how remarkable an Awakened Zeon was.
“Then why did you call for me?”
“I have a favor to ask.”
“What kind of…”
“From now on, you and your companions are to monitor movements in the South District.”
“Pardon?”
“If there is any unusual activity in the South District, report it to me.”
“But why…”
“You don’t need to know the reason.”
“Understood.”
Kim Gyeong-su answered with an expression that said he had no choice.
He had no room to choose otherwise.
As long as he was bound by the oath, refusing Zeon’s order was impossible.
All this time he had searched for a way to undo the oath, but it had been useless.
He had realized there was no way to escape unless Zeon released him.
The reason Zeon gave him this order was simple.
‘After what I did to Pan Cheng-tian, there will definitely be some sort of reaction.’
Like every ruler, Shao Lun could not endure blows to his pride.
He had already lost Tajik to Zeon, and now Pan Cheng-tian had been ruined as well, so there was no doubt he would make some sort of move.
That was why Zeon had ordered Kim Gyeong-su to monitor the South District.
“Then I’ll see you again next time.”
“Are you leaving immediately?”
“Yes. I won’t be entering Neo Seoul again for the time being. So if there’s anything to report, come find me in the slums.”
That was because the earrings they wore would not function if they were too far apart.
“Understood.”
Kim Gyeong-su answered stiffly.
Zeon looked at him for a moment, then left.
Kim Gyeong-su stood there blankly, watching Zeon’s back as he walked away.
“Now that I’ve become entangled with someone like that, I have no idea what my future will look like.”
At the very least, one thing was certain.
It would not be calm.
***
“Phew!”
After leaving Neo Seoul, Zeon looked up at the sky.
He had only passed through the main gate, yet the air already felt different.
The hot air, thick and dry with sand mixed into it, stung his skin.
People who had grown used to the clean air of Neo Seoul, protected by magic circles and barriers, would feel as if they were suffocating the moment they breathed the air outside.
But to Zeon, the air outside felt fresher instead.
“Ah! It’s Zeon.”
At that moment, someone’s voice called out.
“Brielle!”
Just from the voice alone, Zeon recognized who it was.
When he turned his head, Brielle and Levin were waiting to greet him.
“When did you come out?”
“A little while ago. Brielle said hyung would be coming out soon and insisted we come wait for you.”
“Is that so?”
Zeon looked at Brielle.
Brielle stood there with her characteristic absentminded eyes and a smile on her face.
“How did you know?”
“I just knew.”
“A feeling?”
“I just had the sense that this was about when Zeon would come out.”
“I see.”
Zeon nodded.
Brielle was a high elf.
Even if her intuition had developed abnormally, it was not strange.
Zeon said with a smile, “Let’s go home.”
“Okay.”
“Let’s go, hyung!”
The three of them walked shoulder to shoulder down the street.
Levin asked, “What was Neo Seoul like?”
“It was impressive.”
“Are the streets clean?”
“They keep them spotless.”
“Wow! Then I bet the people dress stylishly too, right?”
“Their clothes were pretty luxurious.”
“What about the food?”
“It was delicious.”
“What did you eat?”
“Veal steak.”
“Veal? Cultured meat?”
“No. Real veal.”
“That’s insane.”
Levin cried out in admiration.
Born and raised in the slums, Levin had always held a longing for Neo Seoul.
He was always curious about what existed in the world beyond those enormous walls and what kind of lives the people there lived.
Now that he had awakened too, he could enter Neo Seoul whenever he wanted.
Any district would welcome an Awakened with his level of ability.
The reason he still did not enter Neo Seoul was that if he joined any faction, carrying out revenge would become troublesome.
Neither City Hall nor the districts ever left their Awakened idle.
They used the Awakened to clear dungeons or expand territory.
Because of that, once someone joined a faction, having personal time became almost impossible.
Levin was still hunting the killer.
Until he found that killer and slew him, he had no intention whatsoever of joining any force.
“What did veal steak taste like?”
“It was full of juices, and the meat was tender.”
“Did it melt in your mouth?”
“It did.”
“Agh!”
Levin wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve.
Brielle looked at him with an expression that said he was hopeless.
“Idiot!”
“What did you say?”
“I said you’re an idiot.”
“How dare you say that to your older brother…”
“If you’re an older brother, act like one.”
“This much is enough, isn’t it…”
“Ah, what are you muttering about? You’re noisy.”
“Hey!”
“What?”
“Argh, honestly…”
Watching the two bicker all the way home, Zeon smiled.
Though they were loud and chaotic, being with them put him at ease.
Eating at Grandmother Klexi’s place with these two would be far more delicious than dining in a luxurious Neo Seoul restaurant with murderous brats.
Zeon placed a hand on the shoulders of the two who were still arguing noisily and said, “I’m hungry. Stop fighting and let’s go to Grandmother Klexi’s place.”
“Okay!”
“Yeah!”