Chapter 100
Zeon was a powerhouse of the desert.
There was nothing in the desert that could frighten him.
Neither the magical beasts roaming across the sand nor the unknown creatures lurking underground could instill fear in him.
But this megacity—his first time experiencing one—gave Zeon a vague sense of unease.
The massive wall surrounding Neo Seoul felt like an insurmountable barrier of despair to him.
He knew that beyond that wall lay an entirely different world.
But he had never been granted the right to pass through that great gate.
That was why Neo Seoul had always felt like a mirage.
Even now, standing inside it, it didn’t feel real.
It was like that hazy moment just before waking from a dream.
But Zeon quickly gathered himself.
“Looks like I’ve gotten sentimental.”
He let out a faint chuckle and began walking.
Seeing Neo Seoul in person, it was enormous.
Far bigger and more magnificent than anything he had imagined from outside.
The streets stretched straight like a grid, and towering buildings filled each block.
Vehicles of all sizes moved along the roads, while colorful signs and dazzling displays overwhelmed the senses.
For a newcomer, it was the perfect place to get lost.
But Zeon walked without hesitation.
He had already learned the layout of Neo Seoul through Mandy and Kim Sang-sik.
Neo Seoul was divided into five main districts.
The central district, where City Hall was located, and the four outer districts—east, west, south, and north.
The central district was the true heart of Neo Seoul.
All roads led to it, and from it, roads spread outward like a web into the other districts.
There were no strict boundaries between districts.
People simply recognized them implicitly—this area was the north, that one the south, and so on.
Zeon headed toward the border between the central and eastern districts.
This area was filled with apartment complexes, mostly inhabited by common citizens.
Apartments, both in the past and now, were ideal housing for the middle class.
They were designed to accommodate the maximum number of people within limited space.
At a glance, they didn’t seem much different from the buildings in the slums.
But in terms of convenience, security, and comfort, they were incomparable.
“This must be the place.”
Zeon approached one of the tall apartment buildings.
“Hey, stop right there.”
Before he could even pass through the main entrance, someone blocked his path.
It was a guard.
The guard was armed with a personal firearm.
It wouldn’t do much against magical beasts or Awakeners, but it was more than enough to intimidate ordinary people.
Every apartment and public facility had guards like this stationed.
They strictly controlled entry.
The guard looked Zeon up and down before speaking,
“Never seen you before. What’s your business here?”
“I came to meet someone.”
“Who?”
“Mandy Cystein. She lives in this building.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No.”
“Then you can’t enter.”
“Can you contact her for me?”
At Zeon’s request, the guard frowned.
“Unless someone inside contacts us directly, we don’t let anyone in.”
“I’m an acquaintance of hers. If you contact her, she’ll definitely let me in.”
“Hmph! There are no exceptions.”
The guard snorted.
It was clear from his attitude that he was looking down on Zeon.
Within apartment complexes, guards held considerable authority.
Without their permission, no one could enter.
Zeon made an awkward expression.
He hadn’t expected to run into trouble right at the entrance.
He could force his way in if he wanted.
But that would draw unnecessary attention.
“Tch.”
As Zeon clicked his tongue and glanced around—
BOOM!
A massive explosion erupted nearby, followed by flames shooting into the sky.
The guard’s expression changed instantly.
“Shit! Again?”
“What do you mean, again?”
“You don’t know? It’s a district war.”
The guard snapped in irritation.
“A district war? The districts are fighting each other?”
“The hell, are you serious? This happens every day here.”
“…I see.”
Zeon’s gaze sank slightly.
From the slums, Neo Seoul had always looked peaceful.
Like a place where no conflict could exist.
But this was still a place where people lived.
Just like in the slums, conflicts between humans existed here too.
The difference was—such conflicts were only allowed in the four outer districts.
No faction or individual was allowed to cause trouble in the central district where City Hall stood.
If conflict broke out there, Awakeners directly under City Hall would be deployed immediately to suppress it.
And if the situation was deemed serious—
an execution squad under the mayor would be mobilized.
The moment the execution squad moved, blood would flow through Neo Seoul.
Even the rulers of each district could not ignore them.
The execution squad consisted of A-rank to S-rank Awakeners, each possessing overwhelming abilities.
That was why even district rulers were wary of them.
BOOM!
Another explosion rang out.
Flames shot high into the sky, painting it red.
This time, it was much closer than before.
The guard stared toward the explosion with tension.
“Damn it… what if this spreads here?”
Though guards were meant to defend against external threats, they had no power to stop a battle between Awakeners.
Then—
BOOM!
Another explosion erupted.
“Gah!”
“Ghk! That crazy bitch… Run!”
Panicked screams followed.
Moments later, the chaos died down as if nothing had happened.
“…Is it over?”
The guard muttered, loosening his grip on the gun.
His whole body was drenched in sweat.
That was how tense he had been.
Just then—
“Damn it! What a mess because of those bastards.”
Grumbling, someone walked toward them.
A woman approached, wiping the blood from her head and shoulders. In her hand was a large spear.
As she pressed something on the handle, the spear blade folded inward, turning it into a short baton.
She hooked it behind her waist and brushed the remaining blood off her body.
“Ugh, this feels disgusting. I need a bath.”
Still muttering, she walked toward the apartment entrance where Zeon and the guard were standing.
A faint smile appeared on Zeon’s lips.
“It’s been a while.”
“Who—? Huh? Why are you here?”
The woman’s eyes widened as she looked at him.
Zeon stepped closer.
“Mandy! Or should I say… Eloi?”
“Wow, shit. It’s really you. I’m not seeing things.”
“So it is Eloi. That fight just now—was that you?”
“Yeah. Had a clash with some elf bastards. But more importantly, how did you get in here?”
“I came to see you.”
“Yeah? Then let’s go inside first.”
Eloi led Zeon toward the apartment entrance.
Gulp.
The guard watching them swallowed dryly.
If Eloi found out he had stopped Zeon, there was no telling what kind of trouble he’d face.
At a glance, Eloi looked incredibly strong.
Her fierce eyes, overwhelming presence, and the blood covering her entire body—it was far too intimidating for an ordinary guard to handle.
At that moment, Zeon lightly tapped the guard’s shoulder.
“Relax. Nothing’s going to happen.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
“Can I go in now?”
“Of course!”
The guard answered loudly.
Zeon smiled slightly and walked past him.
Eloi asked,
“Did something happen here?”
“No.”
“Hmph. Really?”
“More importantly, you said you fought elves?”
“Yeah. Those bastards have been causing trouble lately.”
“Is it a problem in the northern district?”
“Who knows? Whether the Ice Queen is letting it slide, or they’re acting outside her control—I don’t know. But it’s true they’ve been stirring things up a lot recently.”
Eloi’s eyes gleamed sharply at the mention of elves.
Her hatred for them was still as strong as ever.
Click.
“This is my place.”
She opened the door and spoke.
Eloi’s home was about the same size as Zeon’s.
Inside, it was sparse—there were no decorative items, only the bare essentials of furniture and appliances.
It felt somewhat cold and empty.
“Not much to look at, right?”
At that moment, her tone changed.
A different personality had surfaced.
But Zeon wasn’t surprised.
“Mandy?”
“Yes.”
“Sorry for dropping by unannounced.”
“It’s fine. But what brings you all the way here?”
“I came because I have a favor to ask.”
At Zeon’s polite words, Mandy showed a hint of interest.
From what she knew of him, he wasn’t someone who asked others for help easily.
“What kind of favor?”
“I need you to look into someone named Tajik.”
“Tajik? Is that a person’s name?”
“Yes.”
“Anything else?”
“That’s all I know for now.”
“…Hmm.”
Mandy frowned.
There were over twenty million residents in Neo Seoul.
Finding one person named Tajik among them would be nearly impossible.
For an ordinary person, at least.
But Mandy wasn’t ordinary.
Recognized for her abilities even in Neo Seoul, she worked as a supervisor.
If she wanted, she could access the central district’s database.
Of course, that came with certain risks.
After organizing her thoughts, she replied cautiously,
“Alright. I’ll look into it.”
“Really? Thank you.”
“I owe you, after all.”
If not for Zeon, she wouldn’t have survived in the desert.
Repaying that debt now made her feel more at ease.
“How long will it take?”
“Not too long. If he’s an important or dangerous figure, there should be records at City Hall.”
“I see.”
“At the latest, I should have something by tomorrow afternoon. Stay here until then.”
“I can’t impose that much. Is there somewhere nearby I can stay?”
“Two blocks north, there’s a fairly large hotel. As long as you avoid the casino in the basement, it’s a decent place to stay.”
“A casino? There’s something like that here?”
“People with money to burn go there. And then they ruin themselves. So it’s best not to go in at all.”
“Got it. I’ll stay at the hotel. Contact me once you find something.”
“Alright.”
Zeon gave Mandy a slight bow and stepped outside.
He headed toward the hotel she had mentioned.
After walking two blocks north, he found a beautiful building made entirely of reinforced glass.
It was the hotel Mandy had talked about.
Zeon entered.
The lobby was bustling with people.
With a casino in the basement, it was no surprise the place had many visitors.
As Zeon made his way through the crowd toward the front desk—
“Hmm?”
A flicker of interest appeared in his eyes.
A group of Awakeners walking straight toward him had caught his attention.
A middle-aged man carrying a massive claymore on his back, followed by a man with a cynical expression, a blue-haired woman, and a giant of a man.
Zeon recognized them instantly.
‘What a small world.’