Chapter 163

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Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The journey to the magic stone mine was astonishingly peaceful. More than ten buggies and over twenty transport vehicles were crossing the desert all at once. Most demonic beasts lost their nerve at the sight alone and did not dare approach.

Awoooo!

From far away came the howl of a flame wolf leader. It sounded like a truly enormous pack, likely numbering well over several hundred. Flame wolves were aggressive and persistent by nature. They were also deeply attached to their territory and never left invaders alone.

Yet even that pack of flame wolves did not so much as attempt to approach the procession heading toward the magic stone mine.

They knew it too.

That if they laid a hand on the Pegasus Raid Force, all they would suffer was annihilation.

The prestige of the Pegasus Raid Force was so formidable that even demonic beasts, whose intelligence was poor and whose instincts ruled over reason, could still feel fear.

At least among the demonic beasts inhabiting the road to the magic stone mine, there was no specimen that could dare attack the Pegasus Raid Force.

Thanks to that, the Pegasus Raid Force was able to arrive at the magic stone mine with ease.

“Is this my third time now?”

Zeon muttered as he got down from the buggy.

Since this was already his third visit to the magic stone mine, it almost felt familiar now.

“This is the magic stone mine?”

“What a murderous place.”

By contrast, Brielle and Levin were overwhelmed by the grandeur of the magic stone mine, which they were seeing for the first time.

The same was true of the other Awakened participating as mercenaries.

Unless one had a great deal of experience like the Pegasus Raid Force Awakened, anyone would inevitably be overawed by the imposing scale of the magic stone mine.

The gate opened, and around thirty vehicles entered the magic stone mine one after another.

It was very common for dungeon raid forces to enter the magic stone mine.

But it was never common for such a large number of people to enter all at once like this.

It was no wonder that even the Awakened stationed at the magic stone mine stared in shock.

Then someone came out from the magic stone mine to greet Lee Ji-ryeong.

“Welcome. I’ve been waiting.”

It was none other than Cha Jin-cheol of the West District.

At Cha Jin-cheol’s appearance, Lee Ji-ryeong frowned and asked, “What about your troops?”

“All seventy are in their quarters.”

“Seventy?”

“What, are you worried that’s too few? Don’t worry. They’re elites made up of Awakened no lower than C-rank. At the very least, they won’t hold back the Pegasus Raid Force.”

“Let’s hope you keep that promise.”

“Don’t worry about that. More importantly…”

Cha Jin-cheol cut himself off and looked around.

At once, his eyes lit up.

His gaze landed on Zeon.

He already knew Zeon’s face.

They had met at the White Bear Caravan auction house. But back then he had not known Zeon’s true value, so he had not paid him much attention.

Cha Jin-cheol walked briskly toward Zeon and addressed him.

“It’s been a while.”

“It has.”

“I have high expectations for this dungeon raid.”

“Do you?”

“You haven’t formally joined the Pegasus Raid Force, have you?”

“For now, I’m only participating as a mercenary.”

“A wise decision. Let’s talk again later.”

Cha Jin-cheol smiled.

He was only participating in this dungeon raid because of Zeon.

If Zeon had already formally joined the Pegasus Raid Force, things would become troublesome. But if that was not the case, then he could recruit him into the West District as much as he liked.

It was then that Zeon unexpectedly asked, “By the way, is that hanging at your waist perhaps an item you obtained at the White Bear Caravan auction?”

“It is. An item called the Jailer’s Rope.”

Cha Jin-cheol had won several items from the White Bear Caravan.

The other items had all gone into a West District warehouse, and only the item called the Jailer’s Rope remained with him.

Kim Hyun-su, ruler of the West District, had bestowed the Jailer’s Rope on Cha Jin-cheol in recognition of his work.

“I thought it might be useful in an emergency, so I carry it around.”

“I see.”

“If it catches your eye, I could give it to you.”

“Pardon? No, that’s all right.”

“If you ever change your mind, just say so. The West District stands ready to open its item vault for someone of your capability at any time.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, but I still have no desire to belong anywhere.”

“You’re still too young to understand how the world works. There are limits to what a man can do alone. Someone with as rare an ability as yours can only truly grow when protected under a power like ours. If only you entered the West District, we’d support you with everything we have.”

Cha Jin-cheol poured out his words like a rapid-fire cannon.

His true goal was none other than recruiting Zeon.

If he could bring in Zeon alone, then the dungeon raid itself hardly mattered. That was why he was about to press even harder.

“That will be enough.”

Suddenly, a woman’s voice cut in like static.

“The nerve!”

Cha Jin-cheol glared at the one who had interrupted him.

The person was a beautiful woman with long wavy golden hair.

Her sapphire-like blue eyes and bright smile were striking.

“My name is Mandy Systein. I’m the Supervisor dispatched from City Hall.”

“A Supervisor? A brat like you…”

“Even so, I do have a rank, so please mind your words.”

At the sight of Mandy opening her round eyes and speaking briskly, Cha Jin-cheol was utterly flabbergasted.

If he were being honest, he wanted to swat this fearless little brat away on the spot, but her official position held him back.

The Supervisors dispatched by City Hall were never lightweights.

Above all, if anything happened to a Supervisor, City Hall would definitely demand accountability.

The backlash would be so enormous that, unless it was an exceptional situation, Supervisors absolutely could not be handled carelessly.

“Tch! We’ll meet again next time.”

In the end, Cha Jin-cheol backed off first.

“So you’re the Supervisor who was supposed to join us here?”

“It just happened to be me. In any case, I look forward to working with you.”

Mandy bowed her head politely to Zeon.

That was something Eloy, her other personality, never would have done.

“Likewise.”

“I’ve already secured lodgings. Shall we go together?”

“Let’s.”

At that moment, Brielle approached with a displeased expression.

“Long time no see, half-elf.”

“So you came too, runt elf.”

“You little half-breed…”

“Yeah? And you’re what, some puny little runt…”

The two elves began baring their teeth at one another the moment they met.

“Now, now, both of you, calm down…”

Levin began sweating profusely in the middle.

Watching the scene, Zeon let out a short laugh.

Because he knew very well that although they talked that viciously, there was no real chance the two of them would actually fight.

Both were elves who had adapted completely to the human world.

They knew full well that clashing directly would only hurt them both.

‘Still, the Jailer’s Rope…’

Zeon remembered the rope hanging from Cha Jin-cheol’s waist.

It was one of the items Damian had put up at auction.

That thing had particularly bothered Zeon.

For reasons he could not identify, he felt a creepy aura emanating from the Jailer’s Rope.

Being in the same space as it alone made his chest feel stifled.

And that very item was now in Cha Jin-cheol’s possession.

Zeon considered warning him, but stopped.

Judging from Cha Jin-cheol’s disposition, it did not seem like he would listen even if Zeon warned him.

‘In any case, it seems to be sealed up tightly enough, so nothing should happen.’

***

As if to shatter the prejudice that it would be quiet, the night at the magic stone mine was astonishingly noisy.

Whenever a large number of people entered like this, it grew especially chaotic.

“Hey there, handsome. Come over here.”

“Mister, come have a wild time tonight.”

“Hohoho!”

The prostitutes stationed at the magic stone mine all came out and seduced the Awakened.

At the sight of the prostitutes beckoning in revealing outfits that showed almost all their flesh, the Awakened’s eyes flipped over.

“Fuck! Let’s have some fun.”

“We’ll be eating sand for a while, so let’s enjoy ourselves free of restraint tonight.”

“Oh my, what beasts.”

“Krrr!”

The Awakened who had fallen for the temptation wrapped their arms around the prostitutes and went into the establishments.

The taverns screamed with joy at the big business after so long, and drunk people staggered through the streets.

Lee Ji-ryeong and Cha Jin-cheol allowed this moment of indulgence among their subordinates.

Once they began the actual dungeon raid, no one would be able to indulge their desires even if they wanted to.

Even if one tightened the reins harshly all day, one also had to release them properly when it was time.

That was why they allowed their men this momentary escape.

“I had no idea the magic stone mine was this noisy. There’s no way I can sleep.”

Brielle grumbled. Mandy, beside her, said, “It’s only for one day, so it would be best to endure it and sleep.”

“Are you used to situations like this?”

“I was born and raised in the human world. You’d do better to get used to it too.”

“As if I’d ever get used to something like this. I’m leaving Neo Seoul one day, so there’s no need.”

“You might be surprised.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you think your village would take you back? With the smell of drugs soaked into you that deeply?”

“That…”

“No matter how completely you break free of the addiction, that smell in your body will never vanish.”

At Mandy’s words, Brielle bit down hard on her lip.

Elves’ senses were several times sharper than those of humans.

Their sense of smell was no different. Naturally, they could distinguish the faint smell of drugs that had seeped into a body.

Ordinary elves might still accept such a companion, but high elves were different.

The high elves, who considered themselves noble beings, never acknowledged companions who had been tainted.

They acknowledged only those companions who remained pure.

And Brielle had, of all things, once been addicted to drugs.

The noble high elves would never accept her back.

Once upon a time, she had thought that was only natural.

Purity was the very identity of the high elves.

But after living in the human world, she had come to understand something.

Why humanity had been able to achieve such an overwhelming civilization in the same environment.

Purity was not that important a factor in survival.

What truly mattered was the will to survive and move forward by any means necessary.

In that regard, the high elves were severely lacking.

That was why the notion that they would ever take back Brielle, who had once been steeped in drugs, was close to impossible.

“Haa…”

Seeing Brielle let out a sigh without realizing it, Mandy thought, ‘Maybe I said it for nothing.’

But someone had to say it.

Because as a half-elf herself, she knew better than anyone.

The feelings of an outsider who had to live on without ever fully belonging to one side or the other.

But one could not live that way forever.

In the end, it was only a matter of time before the moment of decision came.

Whether one would live as a human or as an elf.

Mandy had decided to live as a human, not as an elf.

That was why she usually existed as Mandy’s personality rather than Eloy’s.

It made it easier to adapt to the human world.

‘Just as I did, someday she’ll have to choose too.’

Suddenly, Brielle rose from her seat and said, “I’m going to go get some air.”

Without waiting for a reply, she went outside.

Mandy glanced awkwardly at Zeon and Levin.

At that moment, Levin stood up.

“I’ll go after her.”

He went outside, chasing after Brielle.

Once the two were gone, only Mandy and Zeon remained.

Carefully, Mandy asked, “Did I say something I shouldn’t have?”

“It does feel a little early.”

“Even so, it had to be said. I don’t want her making the same trial-and-error mistakes I did.”

“You must have gone through a lot.”

“They call me a half-elf, but humans still treat me as an outsider, and elves of the same blood treat me as a mongrel. I’ve lived in Neo Seoul all my life, but I’m nothing at all. An outsider who belongs to neither side.”

Bitterness clung to her voice.