Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert

The man's voice carried a powerful resonance.

Even though it wasn't loud, his will rang clearly in everyone's ears.

"That bastard…"

"Fuck!"

A few Awakeners snapped, raising their voices, but none dared to charge in.

From just his voice, his eyes, and his aura, one could tell his strength.

And to their eyes, the man was strong.

Without using a Skill or a weapon, he had toyed with that massive man as if he were a scarecrow and then knocked him down.

That kind of physical might was not something easily obtained.

Though he was smaller than the bear-like giant, he too had a body packed with muscle.

More than anything, his body bore countless scars, etched across him like tattoos. Among them were several so deep it was a wonder he'd survived them at all. Just being alive with wounds like that was proof of his strength.

Everyone's gaze went to his wrist.

They wanted to check his rank insignia. But the man wore a leather bracer there, hiding it from view.

After briefly scanning the surroundings, and finding no one else willing to stir up trouble, the man bent down, picked up the shirt and armor he'd tossed aside, and put them back on.

What caught Zeon's eye was the man's armor.

The leather armor, made from the hide of a beast, had a rough, raw texture. Clearly it had been crafted to preserve as much of the original hide as possible.

It was different from the armor made in Neo Seoul.

Most Neo Seoul gear, mass-produced in workshops, combined beast hide with new materials. Each workshop had its own style, but they were all sleek and refined.

Armor that kept such a crude, rough-hewn texture—this was not something one could find in Neo Seoul.

Nor did it feel like a dungeon-made Item.

There was no trace of that distinct, refined energy Items gave off.

No matter how far back he searched his memory, no group from Neo Seoul or the surrounding colonies came to mind that wore such armor.

In the meantime, the man picked up the sword that had been lying beside the armor and slung it across his back.

It was the size of a full-grown man—a greatsword in name, but more like a giant club.

It looked heavy enough to crush stone, yet he handled it as lightly as if it were chopsticks.

The greatsword on his back was also engraved with strange markings, intricate and archaic in design.

Sensing Zeon's burning gaze, the man turned his head to look at him.

"What, you thinking of taking me on too?"

"No, I have no intention of fighting."

Zeon raised both hands to show he meant no harm. Even so, the man didn't take his eyes off him.

"You seem different from the others."

"You seem different yourself."

"Hmph."

The man's eyes stayed fixed on Zeon with interest.

Zeon didn't shy away from the stare.

"Have you eaten yet?"

"Not yet."

"Care to join me?"

"Sure."

Zeon accepted the offer without hesitation.

The two walked into a nearby eatery.

It was a shabby place, mostly serving miners, but the man smiled as if the humble interior appealed to him.

"Good."

"Yes, it does look good."

Zeon agreed and took a seat.

The man sat across from him and spoke.

"Since fate's brought us together, let's exchange names. Mine is Uslann."

"I'm Zeon."

"Zeon? Do you live here as well?"

"I live in Neo Seoul."

"Neo Seoul? You mean that great city?"

"You've never been?"

"Never had the chance."

"Go when you can. It's worth the trip."

"I will. If I find the time."

"Sounds like you're busy?"

"There's something I have to find."

"Something important?"

"Everything's important in times like these. Isn't every object precious?"

Zeon nodded at Uslann's words.

While they spoke, the owner came over.

"What will you have to eat?"

Glancing at the menu, Zeon answered.

"I'll have stir-fried meat and rice."

"I'll take the same. And bring me a decent bottle of liquor."

Uslann didn't even bother looking at the menu.

The owner hesitated.

"Uh, we're pay first here. You'll need to settle before we serve."

Because dine-and-dash wasn't uncommon around the mana stone mines, most eateries here demanded payment upfront.

Understanding, Zeon pulled out the required amount without protest.

"I've got no money on me, so take this instead."

Uslann placed a coin on the table. It was engraved with the same ornate markings as his sword.

"Gold?"

The owner's eyes lit up.

Gold had always been precious, even in this ruined world.

But there was a problem.

The owner grimaced.

"I don't have change for that…"

The coin was too valuable; the small shop couldn't make change for it.

Both the owner and Uslann looked troubled.

Zeon slid Uslann's hand aside.

"Since it's fate, I'll cover the meal."

"But still…"

"It's fine. The cost is nothing. Don't worry about it."

Zeon paid the bill on the spot.

Uslann looked apologetic.

"Forgive me! I rushed here and didn't prepare money. I'd like to repay this favor."

"It's nothing. Don't trouble yourself."

"No, I must. A warrior must always repay a debt. Take this."

Uslann held out the gold coin to Zeon.

Zeon studied it for a moment, then said,

"Then let's do this. I'll give you money equal to its value. That way you can use it for a meal another time."

"You would?"

"It's no trouble. Let's see… one gold coin should be worth about fifty Sol."

Zeon immediately handed over fifty Sol.

Uslann stared at the bills in his palm.

"So this is what people here use to buy things."

"Strange to you?"

"Yes. Isn't it just worthless paper? And yet it replaces gold…"

"It's currency valid in Neo Seoul and here. As you said, outside these places it has no value."

"Still, I'll make good use of it."

"Think nothing of it."

Zeon dipped his head slightly.

Uslann regarded him in silence for a long moment.

Zeon didn't speak either.

Their silence stretched even after the food arrived.

The two ate without words.

When the meal was finished, Uslann wiped his mouth.

"Good food."

"Yes, it was."

The shop might've been shabby, but the owner's cooking was exceptional.

The meat was high quality, and the preparation even better.

The liquor, too, was to Uslann's taste, and he smiled.

"Would've been better if it were stronger."

"Is that so?"

"You don't drink at all, do you?"

"No."

"Not even a little? A man ought to have at least a glass or two."

"Not at all."

"Hmm. I see."

Uslann didn't press the issue. Maybe he simply wanted the whole bottle to himself.

"I'll buy a few more bottles before I leave. The men will enjoy them."

"You have comrades?"

"My subordinates. They couldn't come in with me due to circumstances."

"I see."

Zeon nodded.

With the meal finished and no more to talk about, there was no reason to linger.

"I'll take my leave. Perhaps we'll meet again."

"I'll stay for another drink."

"As you wish. Then…"

Zeon gave him a polite nod and headed for the door.

He could feel Uslann's gaze on his back.

Thud!

It vanished only after Zeon closed the door.

Alone outside, Zeon looked at his palm.

The gold coin gleamed there.

"Hm."

His gaze sank.

Currency is the mark of civilization.

Only humans trade goods with money.

Worthless paper bills had value because Neo Seoul guaranteed it.

Gold coins, however, weren't used in Neo Seoul.

Too bulky, too inconvenient.

Nor did any other colony, not even Iron Fortress, use gold—most relied on mana stones as currency.

No matter how he searched his memory, Zeon couldn't recall a single colony that used gold.

Yet Uslann had tried to use it as naturally as breathing. Meaning, he came from a place where gold was still in circulation.

Zeon rubbed the coin with his thumb.

The finely engraved markings pressed against his skin.

"El… Harun?"

The city built on Earth by other races.

There, elves, dwarves, beastkin—and humans—lived side by side.

Humans who had once lived in El Harun crossed over to Earth and continued living with the other races.

If Uslann truly came from El Harun, then his use of gold made sense.

As did his old-fashioned armor and weapon.

Zeon glanced back at the eatery where Uslann sat.

"Has El Harun finally begun moving in earnest?"

Until now, El Harun had kept its gates tightly shut, clinging to isolationism.

Its inhabitants rarely acted outside, except in exceptional cases—and even then, they moved in secrecy.

Most people didn't even know El Harun existed.

"Hm."

Zeon furrowed his brow.

That he happened to meet a man from El Harun here, of all places, while investigating the Red Locust incident—he didn't like it one bit.

As he walked, he muttered,

"I hope this has nothing to do with it…"

＊＊＊

Left alone, Uslann tipped back his drink and muttered,

"Zeon…"

The mild liquor tasted bitter.

It was the strange aftertaste of that name.

The moment their eyes first met, his heart had sunk.

It was a feeling he'd never had since coming into the world.

His hair stood on end, and his palms had gone slick with sweat.

Never before had a man given him such a sense of danger.

That was why he had invited him to eat together—just to learn something about him. Yet he had gleaned nothing.

Zeon had hidden himself completely.

"There can't be many like him in Neo Seoul, right?"

Uslann shook his head. Impossible.

Even in El Harun, there were only a handful of beings who held such overwhelming power in check within themselves.

"Rare indeed."

From Zeon, he had seen humanity's true potential.

Of all the humans he had encountered on his way to the mana stone mines, Zeon was the strongest.

Meeting such a man here was fortunate. Otherwise, he might have dismissed humanity's potential entirely.

And he too was human.

"I must finish my mission quickly. El Harun needs to be told of this man…"