Chapter 92
“Doesn’t seem like a very welcoming atmosphere.”
Zeon sensed the cold tension hanging over the clearing.
Still, he didn’t find it unpleasant.
To them, he was nothing more than an outsider.
Come to think of it, he had always been an outsider everywhere.
He had visited quite a few colonies and met countless people, but no one had ever welcomed him from the start.
They watched, and they doubted.
No one ever opened the doors of their guarded hearts so easily.
Everything around them was a threat to survival, and people were well aware of that.
That was why strangers were first treated as enemies and met with hostility.
Zeon was no different in that regard, so he never felt hurt by it.
Jack approached Zeon.
“Zeon?”
“And you are?”
“My name’s Jack. I’m the raid leader for the Goblin Market. From now on, you’ll follow my orders.”
“Understood.”
“I know you’ve got exceptional abilities. But that doesn’t mean independent action will be tolerated. While we’re clearing the dungeon, I expect you to follow my commands.”
“Understood.”
Zeon answered immediately, without adding anything unnecessary.
That, in turn, made Jack look slightly surprised.
The stronger an Awakened individual was, the more likely they were to act on their own. That was why Jack had spoken a bit more firmly—to establish discipline early on—but Zeon accepted it so readily that it threw him off instead.
Jack studied Zeon’s expression carefully, but he couldn’t read anything. The hood of the robe was pulled down too deeply.
This type is even trickier… not easy to control.
Suppressing his thoughts, Jack spoke to Inazuma.
“Everyone’s here. We can depart.”
“Then let’s move.”
Koji, the leader of Inazuma, replied indifferently and started walking.
Ahead of him, buggy cars were waiting.
Modified for desert travel, the vehicles were loaded with all kinds of supplies.
The Inazuma raid team, Jack’s raid team, and other Awakened all boarded the buggies and set off.
A convoy of vehicles stretched in a line across the desert.
Inside Jack’s buggy, Do Suyeol spoke up.
“Man, it’s damn hot. Aren’t you hot, brother?”
The question was directed at Zeon.
Zeon looked out over the desert as he answered.
“It’s bearable.”
“Got some kind of item?”
Do Suyeol’s gaze shifted to Zeon’s robe.
The coat-like robe Zeon wore looked incredibly valuable at a glance.
There wasn’t a single sign of wear, and it shimmered with a smooth sheen.
Despite being hit by plenty of sandstorms, not a speck of dust clung to its surface—that alone was enough to make him guess.
Zeon nodded.
“That’s right.”
“Got a cleaning enchantment and temperature control too? Which workshop made it?”
There were quite a few workshops inside Neo Seoul.
Each had its own specialty, so if you knew the maker, you could roughly guess the item’s performance.
Bits of information like this could add up to something valuable later.
As the frontline fighter of Jack’s raid team, Do Suyeol made a habit of gathering such details.
“A friend of mine made it.”
“Oh! A private workshop?”
“You could say that.”
“Which one? Are they any good? If they are, I might use them myself.”
“It’s decent enough. But I can’t introduce you. They’re not from here.”
“From outside?”
“I’ve talked a bit too much—my throat’s getting dry.”
Instead of answering, Zeon took a drink of water.
The meaning of his action was simple.
He didn’t want to answer.
Do Suyeol caught on immediately.
So he knows how to deflect, huh? Doesn’t matter. I’ll get everything out of him eventually.
He might be guarded now, but once they entered the dungeon, he would end up relying on them. The one who relies on others feels psychological pressure—and under that pressure, people tend to reveal more than they intend.
Do Suyeol had used that psychological advantage to extract quite a lot of information before.
He was confident it would be the same this time.
Zeon ignored him and continued gazing out at the desert.
Since entering Neo Seoul, this was the first time he had come this far out.
Perhaps that was why the hot, sand-laden wind felt strangely refreshing.
The sand carried by the wind might bring nothing but discomfort to others, but it caused Zeon no harm.
If anything, it brushed against him pleasantly.
Then suddenly, Zeon felt a piercing gaze.
It came from one of the buggies carrying the Inazuma team.
Among them, an old man named Shuhan was staring at Zeon intently.
He sniffed repeatedly, as if trying to gather information from Zeon.
Snap!
Zeon lightly flicked his finger.
In an instant, a sharp flash burst around his body.
“Ugh!”
Shuhan suddenly clutched his nose and cried out.
The intense heat within the flash had momentarily paralyzed his sense of smell.
Koji looked at him.
“What happened?”
“I tried to gather information about him through his scent…”
“And?”
“He numbed my sense of smell with heat.”
“Permanent damage?”
“Just temporary.”
“Then it’s fine.”
“But…”
“He’s someone Tajik took interest in. That means he’s got the ability to back it up.”
Koji’s gaze toward Zeon turned cold.
Behind that cold stare lurked a strong killing intent.
“Master Tajik told me to gauge him. If he’s capable, recruit him. If he falls short, eliminate him.”
A cold smile crept onto his lips.
He had already dealt with dozens under Tajik’s orders.
Every one of them had calmly offered up their lives to the katana resting at his side.
Koji believed this time would be no different.
The buggy convoy sped rapidly across the desert.
Rattle! Rattle!
They had barely traveled twenty kilometers, yet the engine noise was already sounding off.
The sand was putting strain on the engines.
Even though magic and science had merged to advance technology, they still hadn’t overcome the desert sand.
To travel long distances by vehicle, a mechanic was absolutely necessary. Otherwise, it would be impossible to deal with constant breakdowns.
Especially with small vehicles like these, malfunctions were frequent.
Because of that, their range of movement was limited to the vicinity of Neo Seoul.
Still, a new dungeon… It’s been quite a while since one was discovered near Neo Seoul, hasn’t it?
Due to the sand restricting Awakened individuals’ movement, they mainly focused on dungeons that appeared near Neo Seoul.
As a result, the surrounding area had long since been cleared out of dungeons.
Koji turned to Yuri beside him.
“What type of dungeon?”
“For now, it’s confirmed to be a cave-type dungeon.”
“A cave-type? It could be a labyrinth.”
“That’s highly likely.”
“If it really is a labyrinth, that’ll be quite troublesome.”
“Shuhan’s role will be crucial. In a labyrinth, a guide’s ability is everything.”
At Yuri’s words, Koji’s gaze shifted to Shuhan.
“Can we rely on you?”
“Leave it to me, Leader!”
Shuhan, whose sense of smell had fully recovered, answered confidently.
They spoke very quietly, but not a single word escaped Zeon.
A labyrinth-type dungeon… I happen to be quite skilled at navigating mazes.
There were probably very few in Neo Seoul who had cleared more dungeons than Zeon.
After Deioden’s death, Zeon had entered countless dungeons.
Sometimes by choice, sometimes by necessity.
The experience he gained from clearing so many had become his greatest asset.
No matter what kind of dungeon he encountered, he was confident he wouldn’t panic.
Just then, he felt the buggy gradually slowing down.
Looking ahead, he saw a group of people gathered beneath a large sand dune.
They were Awakened guarding the newly discovered dungeon.
Koji got off the buggy and approached them.
“What’s the situation?”
“No unusual signs. It’s exactly as it was when discovered.”
“I see. That’s a relief.”
There were times when dungeons suddenly changed in nature.
Such dungeons usually showed clear signs at the entrance, making the changes easy to detect.
The Awakened guarding the entrance were dispatched from Neo Seoul and had plenty of experience.
Their judgment could be trusted.
Koji gave the order.
“Alright! We enter the dungeon in ten minutes. Everyone, check your equipment one more time.”
“Yes!”
The Inazuma raid team responded and began inspecting their gear.
Jack’s raid team and the Awakened conscripted from the slums also sat down and double-checked their equipment.
This wasn’t just any place—they were entering a dungeon.
There was no telling what dangers lurked inside.
No matter how many times they checked, it was never excessive.
While everyone busily inspected their gear, only Zeon lingered near the dungeon entrance.
“A cave-type, huh…”
For some reason, a deep furrow formed between his brows.
He turned to one of the Awakened guarding the entrance.
“Has anyone gone inside?”
“You’re the first. Why do you ask?”
“Just personal curiosity.”
At that moment—
“Hey, pale-faced guy.”
A rough voice called out to Zeon.
The speaker was one of Inazuma’s members, a man named Bairun.
With an axe resting casually on his shoulder, Bairun glared at Zeon.
“You talking to me?”
“Who else here looks that pale?”
“So what do you want?”
“Why aren’t you checking your gear? Don’t tell me you’re going in dressed like that.”
“What’s wrong with this?”
Zeon raised both arms slightly as he replied.
Bairun’s expression darkened even further.
“You’re going in without any armor?”
“You’re barely wearing more than a piece of cloth yourself.”
“I’m a barbarian. I don’t need armor. This one axe is all I need.”
“I don’t need any additional armor either.”
“A mage?”
“Why are you so curious? You’ll find out soon enough once we’re inside.”
“Tch! Arrogant brat.”
Bairun’s face twisted immediately.
A powerful aura unique to barbarians surged out, pressing down on Zeon.
Yet Zeon, facing it head-on, showed not the slightest sign of disturbance.
At that moment, Koji placed a hand on Bairun’s shoulder.
“That’s enough.”
“But, Leader—”
“Save your strength for inside the dungeon.”
“…Tch. Understood.”
Bairun stepped back with a scowl.
Koji looked at Zeon.
“My subordinate was rude.”
“It’s fine.”
“But he wasn’t entirely wrong. Dungeons are extremely dangerous. No amount of preparation is ever too much.”
“I’m aware.”
“And yet you’re not preparing. Should I take that as confidence?”
“Yes.”
At Zeon’s answer, Koji’s eyes sharpened.
“That’s quite the confidence. But listen carefully.”
“Yes?”
“Once we’re inside the dungeon, don’t disappoint me. The moment you do, you’ll die by my hand.”
At Koji’s cold words, the expressions of those nearby stiffened.
It felt as if the temperature had dropped several degrees from the chilling aura alone.
Jack felt it too.
So this is the presence of Inazuma’s leader… truly terrifying.
He assumed Zeon must feel the same.
But when he looked at him directly, Zeon had a faint smile on his face.
“That won’t happen.”