Chapter 92

Chapter 92

‘This isn’t exactly a welcoming atmosphere.’

Zeon sensed the chilly atmosphere flowing through the vacant lot.

Even so, he did not feel offended.

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 not a single person had welcomed him from the beginning.

They were wary of him and doubted him.

There was no such thing as easily opening the locked door of one’s heart.

Everything that existed around them was a dangerous element that threatened survival, and people knew that fact well.

That was why they regarded strangers they met for the first time as enemies first and treated them with hostility.

Zeon was the same, so he did not feel hurt by it at all.

Jack approached Zeon.

“Zeon?”

“And you are?”

“I’m Jack. I’m the raid captain from the Goblin Market. From now on, you follow my orders.”

“Understood.”

“I know you possess a remarkable ability. But that does not mean independent action will be tolerated. At least while we are clearing the dungeon, I want you to follow my orders.”

“Understood.”

Zeon answered immediately, without adding a single unnecessary word.

At that, Jack instead looked surprised.

Usually, the stronger an Awakened was, the stronger their tendency to act as they pleased.

That was why Jack had spoken a little forcefully at the beginning to establish discipline, but Zeon accepted it obediently, leaving him rather flustered.

Jack closely studied Zeon’s expression. But because Zeon had pulled the hood of his robe low, he could not read him.

‘This type is harder to deal with, if anything. He won’t be easy to control.’

Hiding his thoughts, he said to Inazuma,

“Everyone is here, so we can depart.”

“Then let’s depart.”

Koji, the captain of Inazuma, answered indifferently and started walking.

The place he headed toward had buggy cars waiting.

The buggy cars, modified specifically for the desert, were loaded with all kinds of luggage.

The buggy cars carrying the Inazuma raid team, Jack’s raid team, and the other Awakened departed.

A line of buggy cars crossed the desert in formation.

Do Su-yeol, who was riding in Jack’s buggy car, opened his mouth.

“Damn, it’s hot as hell. Aren’t you hot, hyungssi?”

His question was directed at Zeon.

Zeon looked at the desert and answered,

“It’s bearable.”

“Is it an item, by any chance?”

Do Su-yeol’s gaze turned toward Zeon’s robe.

The coat-shaped robe Zeon was wearing looked extremely precious at a glance.

There was not a single sign of wear, and it had a smooth sheen.

Despite being hit by quite a bit of sandstorm, not even a speck of dust had settled on its surface, which was why he guessed that.

Zeon nodded.

“That’s right.”

“Does it have Clean Magic and a temperature regulation function? Which workshop made it?”

There were quite a few workshops inside Neo Seoul.

Each workshop had its own characteristics, so if one knew the name of the workshop that made an item, one could infer its performance.

These small pieces of information would later combine into great strength.

Because he was responsible for the vanguard of Jack’s raid team, Do Su-yeol habitually gathered information like this.

“Someone I know made it for me.”

“Oh! A private workshop?”

“You could say that.”

“Which workshop is it? Are they good? If they’re decent, I might use them too.”

“They’re useful enough. But it would be difficult to introduce you. They’re not from here.”

“Outside?”

“I’ve talked too much, so my throat feels dry.”

Instead of answering, Zeon drank some water.

The meaning of his action was simple.

He did not want to answer.

Do Su-yeol noticed that too.

‘So he knows how to dodge questions? Even so, you’ll end up spilling all your information to me.’

He might be wary now, but once they entered the dungeon, he would come to rely on their side. The one who relied on another would feel psychological pressure, and when that happened, they would unconsciously reveal a great deal of information.

In fact, Do Su-yeol had obtained quite a lot of information by using that psychological advantage.

He was confident it would be the same this time too.

Zeon paid no attention to Do Su-yeol and looked at the desert.

This was the first time he had come this far out since entering Neo Seoul.

Perhaps that was why the hot sandstorm blowing against him felt rather refreshing.

The sand carried in the wind would only torment other people, but it did not harm Zeon at all.

Rather, it pleasantly caressed him.

Suddenly, Zeon felt a sharp gaze.

The gaze came from the buggy car carrying the Inazuma raid team.

Among them, the old man named Shu Han was staring intently at Zeon.

The way he sniffed with his nose made it seem as though he were trying to gather information from Zeon.

Snap!

Zeon lightly flicked his finger.

At that instant, an intense flash burst around Zeon’s body.

“Ouch!”

Shu Han suddenly clutched his nose and screamed.

The intense heat contained within the flash had momentarily paralyzed his sense of smell.

Koji asked Shu Han,

“What is it?”

“I was trying to gather information on that man by smell......”

“And?”

“He paralyzed my sense of smell with heat.”

“Is it permanent damage?”

“It’s temporary.”

“Then it’s fine.”

“But......”

“He is someone Lord Tajik has taken notice of. That means he has at least that much ability.”

Koji’s gaze as he looked at Zeon was cold.

Behind that cold gaze, a strong killing intent was hidden.

‘Lord Tajik told me to assess him. If he has the capacity, recruit him. If he falls short, eliminate him.’

A cold smile appeared on his lips.

The number of people he had dealt with under Tajik’s orders exceeded dozens.

Every one of them had obediently offered up their lives to the katana held in his arms.

Koji thought this time would be the same.

The buggy car procession crossed the desert at very high speed.

Rattle, rattle!

They had only traveled twenty kilometers, yet the engine sound was already ominous.

Because of the sand, the engine was already under strain.

Magic and science had harmonized and technology had developed, but they still could not overcome desert sand.

To travel a long distance by vehicle, a mechanic had to be with them.

Otherwise, it was impossible to handle vehicles as they broke down.

Especially the smaller the vehicle, the more easily it broke down.

Because of that, their range of activity was fixed near Neo Seoul.

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

Because the sand limited the range of activity for Awakened, they had mainly cleared dungeons that appeared around Neo Seoul.

As a result, dungeons around Neo Seoul had long since dried up.

Koji asked Yuri beside him,

“What type of dungeon is it?”

“For now, it has been confirmed to be a cave-type dungeon.”

“Cave-type? Then there’s a possibility it’s a maze.”

“We expect that with a high probability.”

“If it really is maze-type, it will be quite troublesome.”

“Lord Shu Han’s role will be important. In a maze-type dungeon, the guide’s ability is absolute.”

At Yuri’s answer, Koji’s gaze turned toward Shu Han.

“Can I trust you?”

“Leave it to me, captain!”

Shu Han, whose sense of smell had fully recovered, boasted confidently.

They spoke very quietly, but every one of their voices reached Zeon without omission.

‘A maze-type dungeon, huh? I happen to know a thing or two about finding my way through mazes.’

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

After Deioden’s death, Zeon had entered countless dungeons.

Sometimes he had entered by choice, but at other times he had been forced to enter.

The experience he had gained while clearing so many dungeons had become Zeon’s asset.

Zeon was confident that no matter what dungeon he faced, he would not panic.

At that moment, he felt the buggy car slowly reduce its speed.

When he looked ahead, he saw a group of people gathered beneath a large sand dune.

They were the Awakened guarding the discovered dungeon.

Koji got out of the buggy car and approached them.

“What is the dungeon’s status?”

“There are no particularly strange signs. It’s the same as when it was discovered.”

“Is that so? That is fortunate, at least.”

There were occasionally dungeons whose nature changed.

Such dungeons showed signs even at the entrance, so it was easy to detect the change.

The Awakened currently guarding the dungeon entrance had been dispatched from Neo Seoul, and they were quite experienced.

Since this was their judgment, it could be trusted.

Koji gave an order.

“Good! We will enter the dungeon in ten minutes, so everyone, inspect your equipment one more time.”

“Yes!”

The Inazuma raid team answered and inspected their equipment.

Jack’s raid team and the Awakened selected from the slums also sat down and checked their equipment once more.

This was not anywhere else, but a dungeon they were about to enter.

They did not know what dangers might be lurking inside.

Checking and confirming two or three times was never excessive.

While everyone was busily checking their equipment like that, only Zeon was wandering near the dungeon entrance.

“Cave-type, huh......”

For some reason, a deep furrow had formed between his brows.

He asked the Awakened guarding the dungeon entrance,

“Has anyone gone inside?”

“You are the first. But why do you ask?”

“Just personal curiosity.”

That was when it happened.

“Hey, pale friend.”

A rough voice called Zeon.

The owner of the voice was Bai Lun, one of Inazuma’s members.

Bai Lun had an axe resting on his shoulder and was glaring at Zeon.

“Are you talking to me?”

“Who else here is pale except you?”

“So what do you need?”

“Why aren’t you checking your equipment? Don’t tell me you plan to enter the dungeon looking like that.”

“What’s wrong with this?”

Zeon raised both arms as he answered.

At that, Bai Lun’s gaze became even fiercer.

“You’re going in like that without any armor?”

“You’re only wearing a piece of cloth yourself.”

“I am a Barbarian. I do not need armor. This one axe is enough for me.”

“I don’t need any other armor either.”

“Are you a Mage?”

“Why are you so curious about that? Once we go inside the dungeon, you’ll find out soon enough.”

“Khh! Arrogant bastard.”

Bai Lun’s face immediately twisted.

The overwhelming pressure unique to a Barbarian flowed out and pressed down on Zeon. But Zeon’s face, meeting that pressure head-on, showed no wavering at all.

At that moment, Koji grabbed Bai Lun’s shoulder.

“Enough.”

“But captain......”

“Use your strength inside the dungeon.”

“Ugh! Understood.”

Bai Lun stepped back with a frown.

Koji looked at Zeon.

“My subordinate was rude.”

“It’s fine.”

“But what he said was not entirely wrong. Dungeons are extremely dangerous, so even full preparation may not be enough.”

“I know.”

“Even so, the fact that you’re not preparing means I can take it that you have that much confidence, correct?”

“Yes!”

At Zeon’s answer, Koji’s gaze sharpened.

“You’re remarkably confident. But listen.”

“Yes?”

“Once we enter the dungeon, don’t disappoint me. The moment you disappoint me, you’ll die by my hand.”

At Koji’s cold words, the expressions of the people nearby hardened.

It felt as if the temperature around them had dropped by three or four degrees because of the bitter chill.

Jack felt the same.

‘So this is the aura of Inazuma’s captain? It certainly is chilling.’

He thought Zeon would feel the same way he did. But when he saw Zeon’s face directly, there was a faint smile on it.

“That won’t happen.”