Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert

Jupiro never once considered the possibility that Zeon might have killed or ambushed Uslann to steal that gold coin.

Anyone who knew even a little about Uslann would think the same.

Uslann was as strong as the three of them combined.

A true powerhouse, acknowledged even by other races like elves and dwarves, despite being a pure human.

Uslann had entered the mana stone mine, saying he would gather information separately. They had wanted to follow, but feared that moving in a group would attract too much attention. So the three acted apart.

Another team was also searching elsewhere.

All of them were looking for Derod, the one who had stolen El Harun's treasure and fled.

Jupiro carefully asked,

"Is Lord Uslann doing well?"

"Yes. So it seemed."

"That you actually met Lord Uslann… unexpected."

"I too never thought I'd run into Lord Uslann's companions out here."

"How did you know we were part of his party?"

"The feeling was the same. The patterns on your gauntlets, even the engravings on your scabbards—they matched."

"Sharp eyes. Most would have overlooked that."

"I tend to notice small details."

At Zeon's reply, Jupiro let out a low sigh.

He had not expected to find someone from Neo Seoul with such keen observation.

With eyes like that, surely this man had already realized they weren't from Neo Seoul.

"Then you've guessed where we come from?"

"El… Harun, perhaps?"

The instant Zeon answered, Alonso and Criden both gripped their weapons.

Their reaction confirmed to Zeon that his guess had been correct.

Jupiro glared at him, eyes sharp.

"How does a man of Neo Seoul know about El Harun?"

"I once happened to run into people from there."

"By chance?"

"Yes. By chance."

In truth, it had been El Harun's other-races who, under Hieltoon's orders, attacked him and Deioden first, intent on killing them.

Jupiro's gaze narrowed.

El Harun, the city of other races from Kurayan, clung to isolation. Contact with Earth's humans was strictly forbidden.

Of course, that didn't mean they never went outside.

El Harun could not sustain a perfect self-sufficient ecosystem. There were many goods that could only be found beyond.

The ones who usually went out to acquire such items were humans like Jupiro.

There was no visible difference between humans of Kurayan and those of Earth.

That was why they took on most of the external dealings—securing supplies, meeting with other humans.

Naturally, concealing their true origin was an iron rule.

"My curiosity about you only grows. A man of Neo Seoul who knows El Harun…"

"There are plenty in Neo Seoul who know about El Harun. There is no such thing as a perfect secret. It's been more than a hundred years since your people crossed over—did you think Earth's humans were too stupid to notice?"

"I've never thought humans were stupid. On the contrary, I find them remarkable. After all, you raised that colossal city in the heart of the desert, did you not?"

The megacity of Neo Seoul was well known in El Harun.

In some ways, Neo Seoul was their role model.

They too dreamed of a vast, brilliant city like it. Though reality was far harsher.

Zeon looked at Alonso and Criden.

"I have no intention of fighting you. So let go of your weapons."

"Can we trust that, on your honor as a warrior?"

"If I meant you harm, I wouldn't have mentioned El Harun at all."

"Then will you swear it, on a warrior's honor?"

"Yes."

Only after hearing Zeon's firm answer did the two men release their grips.

Zeon felt they were unusually fixated on that phrase—warrior's honor.

To him, such a thing meant nothing.

He saw no reason battles had to be fought honorably or fair. But there was no need to say so aloud.

Alonso asked him,

"Why are you alone in the desert? Where are your comrades?"

"I'm searching for them."

"…What?"

"They went missing. In this desert."

"I'd like to hear the details."

"Not long ago, we came here hunting beasts. Then I lost contact. The time for them to return long passed, but they didn't—so I came to find them."

Zeon intentionally left out any mention of the red locusts.

He wanted to see their reaction.

"They went missing, you say?"

"Yes. Do you know anything?"

"No. We know nothing. Forgive us."

Though Zeon could read guilt in their reply, he pretended not to notice.

"No matter."

"Then you'll wander this desert until you find them?"

"I must."

"Then what about this—we too have something to find. Until our goals are met, why not travel together?"

"Would that be all right?"

"I think we can help each other. Don't you agree?"

"It seems so. Very well."

"Excellent."

At Zeon's agreement, Jupiro smiled faintly to himself.

'A man who knows about El Harun cannot be left alone. We'll watch him as we travel.'

Zeon had spoken as if many in Neo Seoul knew about El Harun. But Jupiro didn't fully believe it.

For Zeon to know that much, he had to be either someone of high rank in Neo Seoul—or a formidable figure.

Otherwise, his solitary presence in the desert made no sense.

Such a man could not be allowed to roam free.

＊＊＊

Zeon opened his eyes to the morning sunlight and unzipped his tent. Opposite, he saw the three men curled up in their robes, using them as blankets.

Sensing him, they also stirred and looked his way.

Jupiro sat up.

"Already dawn?"

"Yes. Time we moved."

Zeon stepped outside as well.

They had slept with the remains of the campfire between them.

None of the three had truly slept deeply. They'd been keeping watch on him.

This was why people ventured into the desert only in trusted groups.

When thrown together with those they couldn't fully trust, vigilance was inevitable.

Fall into deep sleep, and if the other struck suddenly, they'd be helpless.

So the three had taken turns watching Zeon. None got proper rest.

Zeon, however, was in top condition.

He hadn't needed to keep direct watch.

As long as they slept on the sand, no matter how silently they moved, his senses would catch them.

He folded the tent.

The sizable tent compressed into something that fit in his palm. Jupiro watched with a touch of envy.

"That too is from Neo Seoul?"

"Yes."

"Convenient for sleeping in the desert."

"Yes. Quite useful."

"I see."

Jupiro's expression wasn't bright.

A tent might seem trivial, but it revealed the gap between Neo Seoul's technology and El Harun's.

El Harun had developed greatly in its hundred years, built by many races who had crossed from Kurayan, striving to survive Earth's desertification.

They had poured all their effort into recreating Kurayan's civilization.

But the process had been riddled with trial and error.

Elves, dwarves, beastkin, giants—so many races together made for tangled interests.

The elves wanted forests. The dwarves, cities of steel and forges. The giants claimed, with their brute bodies, they needed no walls or wards.

Reconciling those desires took ages. In the end, compromise yielded a city of strange patchwork.

The council of race leaders governed El Harun. But every decision dragged on endlessly. Small matters weren't even raised.

So the broad framework of a city was complete—but its finer details sorely lacked.

Items like Zeon's tent had never even been developed.

For most nonhumans, with their hardy bodies, such tools weren't needed.

Jupiro didn't truly need a tent either—but the fact that Neo Seoul had such items made him envious.

Unlike El Harun, Neo Seoul was human-led. And humans created whatever they felt was necessary.

That, Jupiro felt, was the greatest difference between Neo Seoul and El Harun.

After breaking camp, the four climbed the highest dune in the area.

Hundreds of meters tall, its peak commanded a clear view of the surroundings.

At the summit, they scanned the horizon.

Suddenly, Criden spoke urgently.

"Look there! The sky…"

The three turned toward the horizon he pointed to.

"The sky…"

"It's darker than anywhere else."

That stretch of horizon alone was black, as if night had fallen there.

Jupiro muttered without thinking,

"Surely… the red locust swarm hasn't grown that vast?"

"How many beasts must they have devoured?"

"That madman, Bug Master Derod…"

Alonso and Criden each muttered, then quickly fell silent, realizing Zeon was with them.

Fortunately, Zeon seemed intent on staring at the horizon, as if he hadn't heard.

'Careful! He's a man of Neo Seoul.'

'Understood.'

'We'll be cautious now.'

They exchanged glances.

But contrary to their belief, Zeon had heard everything.

'So it was the red locust swarm. And Bug Master—meaning one who controls insects?'

Though he had never heard of such a class before, it didn't strike him as strange.

There were countless Awakeners in the world, many with unique classes like his own Sand Sorcerer.

'They are chasing this Bug Master, Derod. His locusts devour beasts and Awakeners, multiplying rapidly.'

Why they pursued Derod, Zeon couldn't know. But for him as well, Derod was one who must be killed.

Just then, Jupiro drew a flare from his robes and fired it into the sky.

Boom!

A blue light burst high above.

It was a signal, summoning the comrades scattered across the desert, all searching for Derod.

Lowering the launcher, Jupiro spoke.

"Let's go!"

"Yes!"

Without waiting for Zeon's answer, they bounded down the dune. Of course, they assumed he would follow.

Zeon trailed them silently.

Ssshhk!

The three skimmed over the sand like skipping stones.

Their movements reminded Zeon of elven rangers.

'Makes sense. El Harun has many elves.'

For survival on Earth, they must have shared skills and techniques widely.

It was no surprise to see humans wielding elven arts.

Zeon spread his Sand Step and followed without a sound.

Hearing nothing behind, Criden glanced back—and locked eyes with Zeon.

In that instant, a chill ran down his spine.

'Not a trace of presence… He truly has the skill to roam this desert alone.'

Criden didn't realize Zeon was a Sand Sorcerer. He simply thought Zeon possessed his own unique skills, like themselves.

'Perhaps he's more dangerous than I thought…'

In Criden's eyes, as he looked at Zeon, a dark emotion flickered.

Hostility.