Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert

Chapter 92

‘The atmosphere isn’t exactly welcoming.’

Zeon sensed the chilly atmosphere flowing through the vacant lot.

Still, he didn’t feel bad about it.

After all, he was just a stranger to them.

Come to think of it, he was a stranger everywhere he went.

Having visited quite a few colonies and met countless people, no one had ever welcomed him from the start.

They were wary and suspicious.

No one readily opened the door to their guarded hearts.

Everything around was perceived as a threat to survival, and people were well aware of that fact.

So, encountering strangers for the first time was always met with initial hostility.

Zeon didn’t mind, considering he was the same way.

Jack approached Zeon.

“Zeon?”

“Yes?”

“You are?”

“I’m Jack. I’m the leader of the Goblin Market raid team. Just follow my orders from now on.”

“Understood.”

“I know you possess remarkable abilities. However, individual actions won’t be tolerated. I expect you to follow my orders during the dungeon raid.”

“Understood.”

Zeon responded without any hesitation.

His compliance actually surprised Jack.

Usually, individuals with strong abilities tended to be more inclined to act on their own. So, Jack had been a bit forceful in establishing discipline early on, but Zeon’s obedient acceptance left him somewhat bewildered.

Jack scrutinized Zeon’s expression closely. However, Zeon had his robe’s hood pulled down low, making it impossible to read his expression.

‘He’s unexpectedly difficult to handle. Not easy to control.’

Jack concealed his thoughts and addressed Inazuma.

“Now that everyone’s here, we can set off.”

“Then let’s depart.”

Inazuma’s leader, Kouji, responded casually as he started walking.

Waiting ahead were buggy cars.

These buggies were modified for desert use and loaded with various supplies.

The Inazuma raid team, Jack’s raid team, and other Awakeneds boarded the buggies, and the convoy set off across the desert.

A procession of buggies traversing the desert sands.

Dosuyul, riding in Jack’s buggy, spoke up.

“Damn, it’s hot. Aren’t you feeling hot, bro?”

His question was directed at Zeon.

Zeon replied, gazing out at the desert.

“It’s bearable.”

“Do you have some kind of item?”

Dosuyul’s gaze shifted to Zeon’s robe.

The coat-like robe Zeon wore looked exceptionally valuable at first glance.

It showed no signs of wear and tear, and despite enduring a sandstorm, not a single speck of dust had accumulated on the surface.

Zeon nodded.

“Yes.”

“Does it have a clean spell and temperature regulation function? Which workshop?”

Neo Seoul housed quite a few workshops. Knowing the workshop’s name often hinted at the item’s performance.

Such bits of information accumulated and proved useful later on.

Dosuyul, responsible for scouting ahead in Jack’s raid team, habitually gathered information like this.

“It was made by an acquaintance of mine.”

“Oh! A private workshop?”

“You could say that.”

“Which workshop is it? Is their craftsmanship good? If they are, I might want to use them too.”

“It’s decent. But I’d rather not introduce you. They’re not from around here.”

“Outsiders?”

“I’ve talked so much, it’s making my throat dry.”

Instead of answering, Zeon took a sip of water.

His action clearly conveyed his reluctance to answer.

Dosuyul also noticed this fact.

‘He knows how to deflect questions, huh? Well, if I push further, he’ll eventually spill all the information to me.’

He thought Zeon might be guarded now, but once they entered the dungeon, he would rely on their side. Relying on them would create psychological pressure, and inadvertently, Zeon would divulge a lot of information.

Indeed, Dosuyul had gained quite a bit of information by utilizing this psychological advantage.

Dosuyul believed it would be the same this time too.

Zeon ignored Dosuyul and continued gazing at the desert.

This was the furthest he had ventured since entering Neo Seoul.

The hot sandstorms might have been torturous for others, but they didn’t affect Zeon at all.

Instead, they oddly invigorated him.

Suddenly, he felt a stinging gaze on him.

The gaze came from the buggy of the Inazuma raid team.

Among them, an old man named Shuhan was glaring intensely at Zeon.

The way he was sniffing seemed like he was trying to gather information about Zeon.

Snap!

Zeon lightly flicked his finger.

Instantly, a bright flash emanated from around Zeon’s body.

“Ugh!”

Shuhan suddenly grabbed his nose and screamed.

The intense heat contained in the flash temporarily paralyzed his sense of smell.

Kouji asked Shuhan.

“What’s wrong?”

“I… I tried to gather information about that kid through smell, but…”

“And?”

“The heat from him has paralyzed my sense of smell.”

“Is it a permanent disability?”

“It seems temporary.”

“Alright then.”

“But…”

“He’s the target of Tajik’s attention. He must possess quite the ability.”

Kouji’s gaze towards Zeon was chilling.

Behind his cold gaze lay a strong sense of ambition.

“Tajik instructed to assess him. If he proves capable, we’ll recruit him. Otherwise, we’ll eliminate him.”

A cold smile crept onto Kouji’s lips.

Following Tajik’s orders, dozens of individuals had sacrificed their lives to the katana in his embrace.

Kouji believed this time would be no different

The convoy of buggies swiftly crossed the desert.

Rattle!

The engine sounded unusual after covering only twenty kilometers.

The sand was already taking its toll on the engine.

Despite the advancement of technology through the harmony of magic and science, overcoming the sands of the desert remained a challenge.

Long distances required the presence of mechanics. Otherwise, dealing with a malfunctioning vehicle became impossible.

Especially with smaller vehicles, breakdowns were frequent.

That’s why their operational range was confined to the vicinity of Neo Seoul.

‘By the way, it’s a new dungeon. Hasn’t it been quite a while since a dungeon was discovered near Neo Seoul?’

Since the activities of the Awakeneds were limited due to the sand, they mainly focused on dungeons around Neo Seoul.

As a result, it had been a long time since all dungeons around Neo Seoul had all dried up.

Kouji asked Yuri, who was nearby,

“What type of dungeon is it?”

“We’ve confirmed that it’s a cave-type dungeon for now.”

“Cave-type? It could be a maze.”

“There is a high probability of that being the case.”

“If it’s really a maze, it could be quite the headache.”

“Shuhan’s role is crucial. In maze-type dungeons, the ability to navigate is essential.”

Kouji’s gaze shifted to Shuhan upon Yuri’s response.

“Can I trust you?”

“Please leave it to me. Captain!”

Shuhan, having fully regained his sense of smell, assured confidently.

Though they spoke quietly, their voices reached Zeon clearly.

‘A maze-type dungeon. I’m also quite skilled in navigating mazes.’

There were probably very few people who had conquered more dungeons in Neo Seoul than Zeon.

Since Dyoden’s death, Zeon had entered numerous dungeons.

Sometimes it was voluntary, other times inevitable.

The experiences gained from raiding countless dungeons became an asset to Zeon.

Zeon was confident that he would not panic no matter what type of dungeon he encountered.

At that moment, he felt the convoy gradually slowing down.

Looking ahead, he saw people gathered beneath a large sand dune.

They were Awakened individuals guarding the discovered dungeon.

Kouji got off the convoy and approached them.

“What’s the situation with the dungeon?”

“There doesn’t seem to be any unusual signs. It’s the same as when we found it.”

“Really? That’s fortunate.”

Sometimes, dungeons had changing tendencies. In such cases, signs of change could be detected from the entrance.

The Awakeneds guarding the current dungeon entrance were sent from Neo Seoul, with considerable experience. Their judgment could be trusted.

Kouji issued a command.

“Alright! We’ll enter the dungeon in ten minutes, so everyone double-check your equipment.”

“Yes!”

The Inazuma raid team responded and checked their gear once again.

Jack’s party and the Awakened individuals from the slums also settled in their seats and rechecked their equipment.

Entering a dungeon was no trivial matter.

They didn’t know what dangers lurked inside.

Checking their gear two or three times over was never excessive.

While everyone diligently checked their equipment, only Zeon stood still at the entrance of the dungeon.

“It’s a cave-type…”

For some reason, a deep pit formed between his brows.

He asked the Awakeneds guarding the entrance of the dungeon:

“Has anyone entered yet?”

“You’re the first ones here. Why do you ask?”

“Just personal curiosity.”

At that moment, a loud voice called out to Zeon.

“Hey, my friend!”

It was Byrun, one of Inazuma’s members.

Byrun glared at Zeon with an axe slung over his shoulder.

“Are you talking to me?”

“Are there any others here besides you?”

“What’s the matter?”

“Why aren’t you checking your gear? You’re not planning to enter the dungeon looking like that, are you?”

“What’s wrong with this?”

Zeon replied, raising his arms.

Byrun’s gaze became even more menacing.

“You’re going in without any armor?”

“Aren’t you barely wearing a single piece of cloth?”

“I’m a barbarian. I don’t need armor. Just this axe is enough for me.”

“I don’t need other armor either.”

“Are you a mage?”

“Why are you so curious about that? You’ll find out soon enough once we’re inside the dungeon.”

“Tch! Arrogant.”

Byrun’s face twisted in anger.

He exerted the typical intimidating presence of a barbarian towards Zeon. However, Zeon’s face remained unaffected by his force.

At that moment, Kouji grabbed Byrun’s shoulder.

“That’s enough.”

“But, Captain…”

“Save your strength for inside the dungeon.”

“Fine! Understood.”

Byrun withdrew with a sullen expression.

Kouji looked at Zeon.

“My subordinate was rude.”

“It’s alright.”

“But he wasn’t entirely wrong. Dungeons are extremely dangerous, so no amount of preparation is excessive.”

“I understand.”

“Yet, not preparing at all shows your confidence, doesn’t it?”

“Yes!”

Zeon’s confident reply caused Kouji’s gaze to sharpen.

“You’re quite confident. However…”

“Yes?”

“Don’t disappoint me once we’re inside the dungeon. The moment you disappoint me, you’ll die by my hand.”

Kouji’s cold words caused nearby individuals’ expressions to stiffen.

A chilling atmosphere seemed to lower the temperature by several degrees.

Even Jack felt it.

‘So this is the aura of Inazuma’s Captain? Quite intimidating.’

He thought Zeon might be feeling the same way. However, behind the hood, Zeon’s face bore a subtle smile.

“That won’t happen.”