Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert

Chapter 85

Neo Seoul is situated within high walls.

Built a hundred years ago, these walls were made of rocks that are hard to come by in today’s world.

Giant rocks were carved into squares, fitted together flawlessly, and reinforced using special methods to construct the walls.

Because of this, ordinary monsters couldn’t dare to breach the walls.

Thanks to these walls, people inside Neo Seoul could focus on research and livelihood without worrying about monster attacks.

With magical abilities of the Awakened combined with the pre-apocalyptic scientific heritage, Neo Seoul progressed significantly.

Although limited to Neo Seoul, they could construct a superior new world compared to the old civilization.

The central building serving as the control tower of Neo Seoul, the City Hall, extends well over fifty floors.

Fifty floors might not seem like much, but in this age where building materials are scarce, constructing fifty floors requires a tremendous investment.

In fact, even if there were enough materials, they wouldn’t have built higher. Going too high might attract the attention of flying monsters.

Though not visible to the human eye, various flying monsters were soaring high in the sky.

Due to the anti-magic field formed in Neo Seoul, they hesitated to approach, but nobody knew if they would be curious enough to approach if the City Hall were taller than this.

The area allowed to humanity on Earth was extremely limited. Despite many advancements since the great cataclysm, caution against monsters was still necessary.

A man of short stature was gazing at the City Hall from beyond the window.

“Damn! That’s impressive.”

The City Hall, a fusion of magic and science, was stunning, overshadowing other buildings in Neo Seoul.

Just looking at it from a distance made one’s heart swell with grandeur.

“I need to hurry up and get that magnificent building into my hands. I have no idea what that old man is up to, lingering on like this.”

The short-built man turned around, sticking out his tongue. With this, his face became clearer.

His face, filled with deep-set wrinkles and surrounded by a white beard, spoke of the many storms he had weathered and survived.

The old man was wearing a hat with a colorful pattern embroidered with golden thread. It was a hat commonly used by his ancestors in the homeland in the days when the world was intact.

The hat represented the old man’s identity.

Although he had never visited his homeland, he never forgot his roots. That’s why he always wore this hat, which had now become a symbol for him.

The old man’s name was Xiao Lun.

He was the ruler of the southern part of Neo Seoul.

Behind Xiao Lun stood a young man who seemed to be in his early twenties.

With a slender physique and a cold demeanor resembling ice sculpted into human form, he was quite impressive.

Xiao Lun spoke gently to the young man.

“So, what did you say earlier? My memory isn’t what it used to be. I often forget things after hearing them just once.”

“The contact with the crocodiles has been lost.”

“Have you figured out the cause?”

“It seems there’s an issue with the ecosystem in the slums.”

“Is that so?”

Xiao Lun raised his white eyebrows.

It was rare for him to show interest like this.

That’s because he had almost achieved everything he wanted.

It was regrettable not to have become the owner of that magnificent City Hall, but the one occupying the throne was a monster that couldn’t be easily dealt with.

If he were to seize that building, everything he had built in Neo Seoul might collapse like a house of cards.

He didn’t want to take such risks.

Although he had ambitions, he couldn’t muster the courage to challenge the most coveted position.

So, he could only live a decadent life.

With that, he showed a rare expression of interest after a long time.

“Where exactly is the problem?”

“It’s in Sinchon.”

“Sinchon? That’s…”

“Goran is in control there.”

“Ah, Goran. He has close ties with the crocodiles, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“But?”

“It’s suspected that both Goran and the crocodiles are dead.”

“Suspected?”

“Their deaths haven’t been confirmed. But since they can’t be found anywhere, it’s suspected that they’re dead.”

The young man’s words were highly plausible.

Xiao Lun asked.

“Have you figured out who did it?”

“We’re going to find out now.”

“All right. I trust you’ll handle it well.”

“Additionally, I plan to create a new passage.”

“Are you doing it yourself?”

Xiao Lun’s expression turned surprised.

The young man’s name was Tajik.

Tajik was one of Xiao Lun’s most trusted subordinates.

“Understood. I’ll leave everything to you.”

“I will repay your trust.”

“Go then.”

As Xiao Lun waved his hand, Tajik bowed respectfully and left.

Left alone, Xiao Lun turned his gaze back to the City Hall.

“I wonder what troublemaker is stirring up trouble this time?”

It seemed entertaining to keep an eye on the slums.

—

Zeon wrinkled his nose.

The pungent smell of medicine filled the house.

“Hmm, hmm, hmm!”

On one side, Brielle hummed a tune while tending to a pot over the fire.

Inside the small pot she acquired from the Goblin Market, an unknown liquid was boiling.

Brielle was mixing various ingredients she obtained from the Goblin Market with her own secret blend.

As the unknown ingredients boiled, a foul odor emanated from the pot.

The smell was so unbearable that even Zeon, who rarely showed any expression, wrinkled his nose. But Brielle seemed excited, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Brielle had been adjusting the fire and looking at the pot for almost half a day.

Most of the liquid filling the pot had simmered down, leaving only a small amount.

At one point, Brielle muttered something over the pot with both hands placed on it. Then, a bright light emitted from her hands.

Her alchemy ability had been activated.

After a moment, the light disappeared from her hands, leaving a dozen or so small pills in the pot.

“It’s done.”

Brielle exclaimed triumphantly.

Zeon looked at the pills with a curious expression.

“Do these alleviate withdrawal symptoms?”

“For about ten days with one pill…”

“So, with ten pills, it’d be about a hundred days?”

“After that, we’ll need to find better ingredients to make more.”

When one takes medicine for a long time, the body develops tolerance.

The more potent the medicine, the stronger the tolerance.

Currently, this level of alleviation could suffice, but eventually, stronger medicine would be needed.

Brielle was satisfied with this level for now.

A hundred days would be enough time to find an alternative.

After taking one of the pills, Brielle’s complexion noticeably improved. The painstakingly crafted medicine immediately showed its effects.

As the effects took hold, her eyes lost focus.

“Ugh! Damn… shit!”

Even her voice became slurred.

The medicine’s effects were too strong, causing her body to react as if intoxicated.

It was only after a long time that Brielle regained her senses. Her vision still unfocused, but her mind clear.

Recognizing this fact, she pulled her hat down further to cover her face.

A strong surge of mana emanated from her entire body.

The sudden rise in mana was a temporary phenomenon.

Zeon noticed the increase in her mana at a glance.

“Can alchemy increase mana as well?”

“To some extent, yes. But it’s impossible for me to produce a dramatic change with just one or two doses.”

Brielle had awakened as an alchemist.

But during her prime growth period, she was caught by humans for making drugs and her growth was stunted.

It would take time for her to grow properly as an alchemist. And once she did, she would be able to create potions that could dramatically increase mana.

Of course, to grow to that point, she needed to first fully restore her damaged body to its optimal state.

It wasn’t an easy task.

But it didn’t seem impossible either.

Now that she had overcome one high hurdle, she believed she could overcome others eventually.

“Hehe! Just wait and see. The moment I become S-rank, I’ll destroy Neo Seoul.”

Brielle burst out laughing, her arms resting on her waist.

It sounded like the ramblings of a drunkard.

Zeon silenced Brielle with a flick.

Thud!

“Enough nonsense, brat!”

“Ugh!”

Brielle grabbed her flushed forehead and groaned.

“How dare you strike a noble High Elf like that.”

“And what? You’re just a little brat addicted to drugs.”

“Just wait! Once I reach S-rank, I won’t let you off easy.”

“But you’re not even close to S-rank.”

“Don’t make me laugh!”

Brielle shouted loudly.

Elves, like humans, awaken, and a rank badge appears on their wrists.

There are seven lines that distinguish from F-rank to S-rank.

She had also awakened, and a rank badge appeared on her hand.

Her badge was shining with two lines.

It meant she was an E-rank Awakened.

She was only a lower-rank Awakened for now, but with experience, she would surely grow.

She thought she might be able to break the oath of the High Elves once she became S-rank.

Then, she could easily destroy cities like Neo Seoul with her alchemist abilities.

Zeon chuckled as he looked at the young High Elf.

Her self-esteem was clearly exaggerated due to her young age.

The alchemist she awakened as was not suitable for combat. Of course, she could create dangerous items with alchemy, but it was impossible to destroy Neo Seoul to that extent.

Above all, reaching S-rank as an awakened wasn’t the pinnacle.

As evident by Dyoden.

There were individuals who possessed strength that couldn’t be explained by rank badges alone.

As long as such individuals existed in Neo Seoul, the possibility of Brielle’s ambition coming true was close to zero.

Zeon suddenly looked at Neo Seoul.

He could see the City Hall building far away.

‘I should visit there sometime.’

Although he had obtained the access to enter through Mandy, he still didn’t feel like going.

Then it happened.

“Woah! Inspiration strikes!”

Brielle suddenly gleamed.

She jumped around like a madwoman, cheering.

Zeon frowned.

Whether or not it was there, Brielle moved busily on her own.

“All right, that should do it. Ironclad Ant’s fang, Sandworm’s tentacle, and also…”

She took out various items from the Goblin Market in no time and placed them on the table. Then she laid out various tools.

Zeon clicked his tongue at the sight of the interior of his house becoming a mess in an instant.

“Tsk! I picked up a crazy Elf for no reason…”

If only it weren’t for the damn oath of the High Elves, he would have kicked her out immediately. But it was truly a shame.

Brielle’s madness filled the house.

Even Zeon found it hard to breathe in the overflowing madness.

Zeon shook his head and went outside.

Outside, Zeon climbed to the rooftop.

Although he lived on the eighteenth floor of this building, it was his first time on the rooftop.

Fortunately, no one lived on the rooftop.

Zeon sat on the rooftop railing and looked at Neo Seoul.

The City Hall standing tall in the distance came into view distinctly.

Zeon thought it resembled a lighthouse he had only heard of in stories.

A lighthouse guiding ships through the sea.

But he wasn’t sure if that giant lighthouse was guiding the current era in the right direction.

Zeon had traveled to far more areas than Dyoden.

There was no one in the current era who had visited more places than him.

Naturally, he had experienced more colonies and people.

However, none of those colonies had progressed as much as Neo Seoul.

Most colonies were merely busy protecting people from the attacks of monsters.

They lacked the will and ability to lead the current era in the right direction.

The only place with that possibility was Neo Seoul.

And the one leading Neo Seoul was Mayor Jin Geumho.

Zeon asked as if Jin Geumho were right in front of him.

“What kind of a world do you dream of?”