Chapter 160

Chapter 160

Elder Go looked as kind as a grandfather from next door. But he was an Awakened.

And not just any Awakened, but a high-ranking Awakened belonging to the execution unit directly under the mayor.

Because his ability was so exceptional, the danger level of the missions he was deployed on surpassed imagination.

He always carried out missions with his life on the line.

Because of that, the Awakened of the execution unit were given many benefits.

One of them was that even if they killed someone in Neo Seoul, they were not held guilty.

In other words, they possessed something like a license to kill.

Elder Go was kinder than anyone to those he knew, but he never left alone anyone he judged to be an enemy.

The same was true of the twin sisters.

When Elder Go moved, the twin sisters moved as well, and like Elder Go, the twin sisters also cruelly punished anyone they considered an enemy.

Unfortunately, the one caught this time was the Dark Brotherhood.

Even though they were criminals, this was still a path to kill people, yet the twin sisters smiled as if they were having fun, and Elder Go neither blamed nor stopped them.

To them, this was natural.

Zeon shook his head slightly.

‘Their humanity has worn away.’

Perhaps it was only natural.

This was a world where humanity and morality no longer worked.

The strong ruled, and the logic of power governed every rule.

Elder Go and the twin sisters were those with power, and unfortunately, the Dark Brotherhood were the weak.

Elder Go asked Zeon,

“What do you say? Would you like to come watch?”

“No, thank you.”

“Why? Come with us.”

Even the twin sisters whined for him to come along, but Zeon’s mind did not change.

He had no twisted hobby of watching and enjoying someone else kill people right in front of him.

“I have something to do.”

“What kind of thing?”

“Can’t you do it tomorrow? Sweeping away criminals is so much fun.”

“That’s right! Killing criminals isn’t a sin.”

The twin sisters talked excitedly, practically spraying spit.

Seeing children who were still young speak of killing people as easily as breaking toys made Zeon feel a deep sense of dissonance.

He did not know whether they had been born as monsters from the beginning or had grown into monsters, but they did not look normal.

Noticing Zeon’s discomfort, Elder Go raised a hand and stopped the two.

“Enough. No matter what you say, he will not listen.”

“Tch!”

“Hmph!”

The sulking twins pouted.

Elder Go rose from his seat and said farewell.

“It cannot be helped. Then we will meet again next time.”

“Yes!”

In that way, Zeon parted from the three of them.

After leaving the restaurant, Zeon did not return straight to the slums.

He still had something to do.

Once he entered an alley with few people, Zeon touched his earring and said,

“Ah, can you hear my voice?”

—Huh! Is that you, Master?

A startled voice came from the earring.

“Is this Kim Kyung-su?”

—That’s right, Master.

The owner of the voice coming from the earring was Kim Kyung-su.

He was the leader of the party that had attacked Zeon when Zeon had stopped by the Vampire Bat dungeon to help Levin grow.

Kim Kyung-su, who had sworn loyalty through the Oath Scroll, answered in fright at Zeon’s voice.

“Where are you now?”

—I-I’m at home.

“Central District Block 13, correct?”

—Yes, that is correct.

“Come out now. I’m nearby.”

—Huh! Are you saying you’re inside Neo Seoul?

“Yes!”

—I’ll come out right away. Should I bring the others too?

“Just come alone, Kim Kyung-su.”

—Understood.

The connection cut off, and a short while later, someone came running toward where Zeon stood in a fluster.

It was Kim Kyung-su.

He was dressed comfortably, as though he had come straight out of his home.

“Master!”

“You came quickly.”

“Of course I had to come quickly when Master called.”

Kim Kyung-su’s eyes as he looked at Zeon were filled with fear.

It was not simply because of the Oath Scroll binding him.

It was because of the rumors about Zeon that he had heard recently.

The moment he heard the unbelievable rumor that a Sandmancer had appeared and defeated the Balrog, Kim Kyung-su had been certain.

The protagonist of the rumor was Zeon.

Zeon, the man they had recklessly attacked in order to steal a buggy, was an immense powerhouse capable of taking down a monster called the Balrog alone.

The fact that he had survived after provoking such a person felt like nothing short of a miracle.

Zeon asked after him.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes! Thanks to you, Master...... But what brings you to Neo Seoul?”

“The mayor summoned me.”

“Huh! You mean Lord Jin Geum-ho?”

Kim Kyung-su was surprised.

That was because he knew Mayor Jin Geum-ho did not meet just anyone.

‘Does the mayor acknowledge Master too? Well, he’s a rare Awakened called a Sandmancer, so it would be stranger not to acknowledge him.’

Kim Kyung-su once again realized just how remarkable an Awakened Zeon was.

“But why did you call me?”

“I have a favor to ask.”

“What kind of......?”

“From now on, you and your companions will monitor South District’s movements.”

“What?”

“If there is any abnormal movement in South District, report it to me.”

“May I ask why......?”

“You don’t need to know the reason.”

“Understood.”

Kim Kyung-su answered with an expression that said he had no choice.

In any case, he had no choice.

As long as he was bound by the oath, it was impossible for him to defy Zeon’s orders.

During that time, he had searched for a way to undo the oath, but it had been useless.

He had realized that unless Zeon released him, there was no way to escape.

The reason Zeon gave him this order was simple.

‘I made Pan Cheng-tian like that, so there will definitely be some kind of reaction.’

Like all rulers, Xiao Lun too could not endure having his pride wounded.

He had already lost Tajik because of Zeon, and now even Pan Cheng-tian had been ruined, so he would surely show some kind of movement.

That was why Zeon ordered Kim Kyung-su to monitor South District.

“Then I’ll see you again next time.”

“Are you leaving already?”

“Yes! I will not be entering Neo Seoul for a while. So if there is anything to report, come to the slums.”

He said that because the earrings they wore did not work if they were too far apart.

“Understood.”

Kim Kyung-su answered with a stiff expression.

Zeon looked at him for a moment, then left.

Kim Kyung-su stood there blankly, watching Zeon’s back as he grew distant.

“I’m bound to someone like that, so I have no idea what will happen to my future.”

At the very least, he was certain it would not be smooth.

---

“Whew!”

After leaving Neo Seoul, Zeon looked up at the sky.

He had merely passed through the main gate, but the air was different.

The hot, thick air mixed with sand irritated his skin.

People accustomed to Neo Seoul’s clean air, protected by magic circles and barriers, felt as though they would choke the moment they breathed the outside air.

But to Zeon, the outside air felt cleaner instead.

“Ah! It’s Zeon.”

At that moment, someone’s voice rang out.

“Briel!”

Zeon recognized the owner just by hearing the voice.

When he turned his head, Briel was there with Levin, waiting to greet him.

“When did you come out?”

“Just a little while ago. Briel kept pestering me to come meet you, saying you’d be coming out soon.”

“Really?”

Zeon looked at Briel.

Briel smiled with her usual hazy eyes.

“How did you know?”

“I just knew.”

“Instinct?”

“I just felt like Zeon would come out around this time.”

“I see.”

Zeon nodded.

Briel was a High Elf.

It would not be strange if her instincts were abnormally developed.

Zeon smiled and said,

“Let’s go home.”

“Mm!”

“Let’s go, Brother!”

The three walked down the street shoulder to shoulder.

Levin asked,

“What was Neo Seoul like?”

“It was impressive.”

“Are the streets clean?”

“They’re maintained without even a speck of dust.”

“Wow! Then the people must dress well too, right?”

“Their clothes were luxurious.”

“What was the food like?”

“It was delicious.”

“What did you eat?”

“Veal steak.”

“Veal? Cultured meat?”

“No, real veal.”

“That’s insane.”

Levin let out an exclamation.

Because Levin had been born and raised in the slums, he had always admired Neo Seoul.

He had always wondered what lay beyond that massive wall and what kind of lives the people there lived.

Now he too had awakened and could enter Neo Seoul anytime.

An Awakened with that level of ability would be welcomed with open arms by any district.

Even so, the reason he did not enter Neo Seoul was because if he belonged somewhere, revenge would become distant.

City Hall and each district never let Awakened sit idle.

They mobilized Awakened to clear dungeons or expand their territory.

Because of that, once one belonged to a force, having personal time became almost impossible.

Levin was still chasing the murderer.

Until he found and killed the murderer, he had no intention of belonging to any force.

“What does veal steak taste like?”

“It is very rich in juices, and the meat is tender.”

“Does it melt in your mouth?”

“It does.”

“Ahh!”

Levin wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve.

Briel looked at Levin as if he were pathetic.

“Idiot!”

“What did you say?”

“I said you look like an idiot.”

“You’re saying that to your older brother......?”

“If you’re my older brother, act like one.”

“Isn’t this enough? What more......?”

“Ugh, what are you saying? You’re noisy.”

“Hey!”

“What?”

“Ah, seriously......”

Watching the two bicker all the way home, Zeon smiled.

Although they were loud and chaotic, his heart felt at ease when he was with them.

Eating with them at Old Man Kleksi’s restaurant would be far more delicious than eating with those murderous brats in Neo Seoul’s splendid restaurant.

Zeon placed his hands on the shoulders of the two, who were still arguing busily, and said,

“I’m hungry. Stop fighting, and let’s go to Old Man Kleksi’s shop.”

“Yes!”

“Mm!”