Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert

"You're late."

Jupiro frowned as he looked down at the ground.

The sand had been torn up, as if something had thrashed violently. At the center lay scattered remains that appeared to be from a beast.

Unfinished scraps of bone and unusually thick pieces of hide.

Clear traces of where the red locust swarm had passed.

"They must have left in a hurry."

Had the red locusts been given enough time, even the bones and hide would have been devoured without a trace.

"They clearly sensed our pursuit."

"Cunning bastard."

Alonso and Criden's faces twisted in anger.

They had just barely missed Derod, and it infuriated them.

The most maddening thing about Derod was his ghostlike awareness. He always slipped away, evading pursuit like a phantom.

They had already lost him more times than they could count.

Zeon gazed calmly at the place the swarm had swept through.

The scattered bones and hide weren't enough to identify the beast, but from the marks left on the ground, it had been a large one.

If the red locusts had devoured such a massive beast, then they had undoubtedly formed an army.

A calamity had been born in the desert.

Beasts of B-rank or higher, capable of raising force fields, might endure even an attack from the swarm. But for C-rank and below, the swarm was nothing short of an unstoppable disaster.

Unique variants or beasts with special skills might somehow survive—but the rest would be consumed, not even a single bone left behind.

The greater problem was humanity.

What happened to beasts mattered little. But the lives of all humans who lived in or traveled through the desert were now in peril.

Neo Seoul, with its strong barriers and anti-magic defenses, would likely remain safe. But survivor villages and travelers would surely be wiped out.

The red locusts had to be stopped before their numbers multiplied further.

Just then—

"What's this? Are we late?"

"That slippery bastard already bolted. Humans, honestly…"

Another group appeared at the scene.

A male elf clad in light armor, a massive bare-chested man, a dwarf with a beard down to his chest, and last—a girl with a mysterious air about her.

Their arrival made Jupiro, Alonso, and Criden scowl reflexively.

Jupiro spoke in a curt voice.

"This isn't your sector to search, is it?"

"What does it matter, these arbitrary sectors you humans divide? What matters is that we found his trail."

The reply came coldly from the elf.

He had the sculpted features of his kind, but the words from his mouth were shockingly crude and direct—hardly what one expected of an elf.

"Or is that it? You mean to cut us out and steal the credit for yourselves? I've always thought you humans didn't know your place… mere humans, daring to—"

"That's enough, Corin."

The mysterious girl cut him off mid-rant.

The elf, Corin, closed his mouth with a sour look.

The girl turned to Jupiro and apologized instead.

"Sorry. Corin's nerves are frayed—he's on edge. Please understand."

"It's fine. Not the first time."

Jupiro answered like it was nothing, though his expression was already rotting inside.

The girl's name was Aronia.

She belonged to the Asil, one of the rarest bloodlines in El Harun.

The Asil looked no different from humans.

But their minds and blood were not the same.

They were born of humans and fae.

Though the fae blood had thinned over many generations, their way of thinking remained closer to the fae than to man.

The bare-chested giant beside her was Shaping.

Though he looked human, he was a werewolf.

In battle or crisis, he transformed into a wolf-man, unleashing his strength.

The dwarf warrior with the heavy axe slung over his shoulder was Dempleton.

Splitting skulls with that axe was his specialty.

For whatever reason, the relationship between Jupiro's party and these four was far from friendly.

Their displeasure at even being in the same place showed plain on their faces.

Zeon quickly understood why.

'So humans and other races don't get along?'

At that moment, the elf ranger Corin's gaze fell on Zeon.

His eyes turned cold at once.

"Why is another human here?"

"It's true."

"What?"

Only then did Shaping and Dempleton notice Zeon, tensing in wariness.

Jupiro explained on his behalf.

"A human we met by chance. He won't be a threat to us, so there's no need to be on guard."

"Are you mad, Jupiro? You actually brought in another human?"

"I said, it was by chance."

"You've violated the city's rules. That cannot be forgiven."

"What rules? I've never heard of one forbidding contact with humans outside. Sounds to me like you're just picking a fight, Corin."

Jupiro's voice rose to meet his. Dempleton stepped forward, axe in hand.

"So you're taking this human's side, Jupiro?"

"Quit picking fights, you stunted runt."

"What? Runt?"

"If you don't like it, learn some sense."

"You dare, human bastard…"

Dempleton flared, gripping his axe in both hands.

Corin and Shaping stepped to either side of him.

Alonso and Criden quickly moved to Jupiro's flanks in turn.

Both sides squared off, glaring, when Aronia let out a soft sigh.

"Really… again? How many times must we go through this?"

From her reaction, it was clear this feud had dragged on for quite some time.

Though the parties divided themselves on either side, Zeon felt no real danger.

He simply watched, seeing no need to respond.

Not realizing this, Aronia assumed he was intimidated.

"What's your name?"

"Zeon."

"You have a peculiar scent, Zeon."

"…Scent?"

"Something very familiar, nostalgic even…"

Her words trailed off.

From Zeon wafted a fragrance she couldn't place.

For reasons unknown, it stirred her emotions.

"Where have you been recently?"

"The mana stone mine."

"It's not the mine's scent. Be honest. Where did you go?"

She tilted her head, looking up at him with an innocent expression.

Any ordinary man, faced with such a pure face, would have confessed the truth.

But Zeon was not one to be swayed by appearances.

"It's true. I came straight from the mana stone mine."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Strange. There's a sweeter note mixed in…"

"Maybe my natural scent is just good."

"…Maybe so."

Aronia nodded at his excuse.

Corin barked at her,

"Aronia! Don't speak to that human."

"But…"

"Think only of our mission. Speak to an outsider and you'll only soil yourself."

"He doesn't seem that filthy… but fine."

Reluctant to argue, Aronia backed down.

Then Dempleton leveled his axe at Zeon.

"What's your purpose in approaching us? Answer, or I'll cut you down."

"I didn't approach you."

"What?"

"Strictly speaking, your comrades approached me first, where I was resting."

"That's…"

"I know dwarves are quick-tempered. But shouldn't you get the facts straight before spouting off?"

"Grrr!"

At Zeon's sharp retort, Dempleton's face turned crimson.

Zeon found the change amusing.

"A mere human, daring to insult me, Dempleton…"

"Really, dwarves… always the same temper, same outbursts…"

Not all dwarves were like that, but those Zeon had met were.

Every one of them erupted over trifles, screaming of insult.

It seemed half their race had anger issues.

The thought amused him, and a smile tugged at his lips. Dempleton took it for mockery.

"You dare laugh at me? Unforgivable!"

He raised his axe high to cleave Zeon down. But he never got the chance.

"What are you doing, Dempleton?"

A cold voice stopped his strike.

As if struck by a spell, Dempleton froze in place, axe raised.

Only his head turned toward the source of the voice.

A towering man stood there, clad in ornate armor, a massive greatsword at his side, arms crossed as he glared.

"C… Captain?"

"I asked what you were doing, Dempleton."

"I—it was just words, nothing more."

Dempleton awkwardly lowered his axe.

He feared nothing in the world—except this man, who had appeared without a sound.

His name was Uslann.

Leader of this multi-race party.

At Uslann's arrival, Corin, who had been facing off against Jupiro, turned his head aside.

However little he respected humans, he dared not treat Uslann the same way.

Overwhelming strength, matched with ruthless character.

It was no accident that even Corin, Shaping, and Dempleton bowed their heads the moment he appeared.

Only Aronia greeted him with a bright smile.

"You're a bit late."

"I was gathering information. And while I was gone, this nonsense? Why didn't you stop them?"

"You know they never listen to me. Still, sorry."

"Never mind. It isn't your fault."

Uslann turned to Zeon.

"We meet again."

"So it seems."

"What happened here?"

"Last night, your men came to where I was camping. From there, we've been moving together."

At Zeon's words, Uslann looked to Jupiro. He nodded, confirming them as true.

Uslann apologized to Zeon.

"My people acted rashly. Forgive them."

"No harm done. It was entertaining, actually."

Uslann's face twisted slightly at the reply.

It felt like his party's flaws had been exposed.

Only someone of his caliber could keep such a mixed group together. Most other parties failed.

Perhaps it was the natural limit of El Harun, born of so many races bound together.

Then a thought came to Uslann.

He looked at Jupiro.

"Don't tell me… he already knows where we're from?"

"He figured it out on his own."

"You didn't tell him?"

"His perception is… sharper than you'd believe."

Jupiro looked frustrated.

Zeon spoke in his defense.

"I deduced it myself. Lord Jupiro is blameless."

"How did you know?"

Instead of answering, Zeon drew a gold coin from his pocket—the one Uslann had given him.

Uslann clicked his tongue.

"My fault, then."

"In a way, yes."

"Then why travel with my people?"

"Let's just say our interests align."

"Interests?"

"It seems the one you hunt is the same one I pursue."

"You too are after Derod?"

"More precisely, I'm tracking the red locust swarm. People I know fell victim to it."

"…I see."

"Yes."

"Then traveling together for now may not be so bad."

Uslann nodded.

Corin and the others wore dissatisfied looks, but none dared voice objection.