Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert-Chapter 533

Chapter 533

Zeon, who had woken up early at dawn, put on his robe.

The robe made of Balrog leather fit his body perfectly, as if it had been tailored just for him. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Not only did it have basic cold-resistance and flame-resistance enchantments, it also possessed strong physical and magical resistance.

It was much softer than most snake leather, giving it an excellent feel to the touch.

It was so good that he didn’t even think about the robe he had lost in the battle with Daltan.

“Nice.”

Zeon muttered as he straightened his clothes.

After staring at the mirror for a moment, Zeon went outside.

Outside, Mandy was waiting for him.

“You came out quickly.”

“Were you waiting? You didn’t have to.”

“You’re my invited guest. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

The two walked shoulder to shoulder toward Neo Seoul.

Today, the inspection at the entrance to Neo Seoul was unusually strict.

They were checking identities far more thoroughly than usual before letting people in.

Anyone whose purpose of visit was unclear was blocked entirely.

Mandy let out a small laugh and said,

“That’s why I came. Because of the Control Tower groundbreaking ceremony, Neo Seoul’s security level has been reinforced several times over its usual level. Even you, Zeon-nim, would’ve found it a bit troublesome to enter Neo Seoul.”

“I suppose so.”

Zeon nodded.

Thanks to Mandy, the two easily passed through the inspection and entered Neo Seoul.

They headed straight for the place where the groundbreaking ceremony was being held.

Awakeners were lined up along every street.

With sharp eyes, they scrutinized the people passing through the streets.

Mandy said while looking at them,

“They’re City Hall’s people. The ones over there are from the East District, and there are also Awakeners from the South District.”

After going a little farther, they also saw Awakeners from the North District.

It was the first time so many Awakeners had gathered in a single block.

That alone showed how important today’s event was.

Zeon said to Mandy,

“Has the mayor ever held such a grand event like this?”

“This is the first time since I became a supervisor. Why?”

“It just seems unlike the mayor I know.”

“That’s how important it is. Perhaps it’s something that needs symbolism.”

“Symbolism? Then that makes sense.”

Zeon looked at City Hall.

The tallest building in Neo Seoul was City Hall.

It was also the strongest fortress in which all of Neo Seoul’s technology and magitech were concentrated.

But that was all.

Jin Geumho had built City Hall the tallest purely for symbolic meaning, and didn’t particularly decorate it lavishly or set up special defenses.

Even so, City Hall was engraved in everyone’s minds as the center of Neo Seoul.

No matter how large and imposing the central buildings in other districts were made, they couldn’t compare to City Hall.

It was because of the symbolic meaning City Hall held.

Jin Geumho was someone who understood the power of symbols better than anyone.

He himself was a symbol of hope and reconstruction.

Someone like Jin Geumho wouldn’t have held such a grand event without reason.

‘This event must be that important.’

Originally, his purpose had been to approach Kim Hyunsu and the West District Awakeners, but it was fortunate that he was able to participate in an event like this.

Thud! Thud!

At that moment, heavy footsteps were heard.

Zeon’s eyes instantly changed.

They were the distinctive footsteps of the West District’s mechanized Awakeners.

Looking toward the sound, he saw a group of heavily armed mechanized Awakeners walking toward the ceremony site.

Among them was someone Zeon knew.

It was Kim Hyunsu, the ruler of the West District.

Kim Hyunsu was heading to the ceremony site under the escort of mechanized Awakeners. His face, however, was pale.

It was because he had not been long recovered from his injuries.

‘The parts are different.’

Zeon noticed that the shapes of his arms and legs were subtly different.

Kim Hyunsu’s parts were similar to a human body, so outwardly he didn’t look obviously mechanized.

It was the same even now.

However, compared to what he had seen before, they looked much more angular and extremely imposing.

The changes were so subtle that they would be hard to notice without Zeon’s keen eye.

Perhaps sensing Zeon’s persistent gaze, Kim Hyunsu suddenly turned his head and looked over.

“So you came here too. Did you receive the mayor’s invitation?”

“Something like that.”

Zeon answered and walked toward Kim Hyunsu.

Thud! Thud!

At that moment, the mechanized Awakeners blocked Zeon’s path with heavy footsteps.

Whiiing!

From their bodies came the intimidating sound of mana engines running. It meant that if any suspicious movement appeared, they would attack immediately.

They all looked to be Kim Hyunsu’s close aides who had been implanted with auxiliary AIs.

Zeon raised both hands and said,

“I don’t intend to attack. Isn’t this a bit too threatening?”

“Try to understand. I recently went through a major danger.”

“By ‘danger,’ are you referring to Mr. Oh Jinho?”

“…….”

Kim Hyunsu’s expression stiffened instantly.

His already expressionless face looked even more frightening.

He approached Zeon.

Zeon did not step back and quietly met his gaze.

At the sudden confrontation between the two, Mandy couldn’t hide her flustered expression.

The opponent was the ruler of the West District.

An absolute being with immense authority and power who could eliminate a supervisor like Mandy anytime if he so wished.

Seeing Zeon locking eyes with such an absolute being made her tense.

With the two looking as if they might break into a fierce fight at any moment, Mandy’s palms grew damp with sweat.

The mechanized Awakeners were also in full combat stance, ready to attack Zeon at Kim Hyunsu’s command at any time.

Kim Hyunsu opened his mouth.

“How did you know?”

“I happened to meet him at the Goblin Market.”

“And then?”

“We talked. We had that level of acquaintance.”

“I didn’t know you were that sociable.”

“We did hunt an S-rank golem together.”

“A kind of comradeship?”

“You could say that.”

“Ridiculous. Such human feelings. Then was Oh Jinho influenced by you?”

“Mr. Oh Jinho… He self-destructed, didn’t he?”

Zeon went straight to the point.

Kim Hyunsu looked at Zeon with even colder eyes.

“You know too much.”

“It’s thanks to comradeship. Why did Mr. Oh Jinho self-destruct? He must have tried to warn you about the dangers of auxiliary AIs.”

“Samjoko must be perfect.”

Kim Hyunsu lowered his voice so others couldn’t hear.

Zeon unknowingly made a puzzled expression.

“For such a reason….”

“Jin Geumho planned this event for the same reason. The more perfect the symbol, the better. It must be perfect so everyone believes and follows it. Likewise, Samjoko must also be perfect. Samjoko is the only hope and symbol that will unite the Koreans of this land.”

Although the mechanized Awakeners and Mandy were right beside them, Kim Hyunsu’s voice did not reach them.

Ziiing!

A strange sound wave flowing from Kim Hyunsu’s body was blocking his voice from spreading.

The only one who could hear his voice was Zeon standing in front of him.

Zeon let out a faint sigh.

“You’re still talking like a Korean.”

“The original owners of this land were Koreans. The true owners who lived here for over thousands of years. What’s wrong with returning this land to its original owners?”

“Is that why you became one with machines?”

“Yes! Because power was needed to protect the indigenous people of this land. I happened to be highly compatible with machines, and I even obtained Samjoko, a supercomputer. If one has the will and the ability, what reason is there to hesitate? I can no longer return to being a pure human, but I will continue to fight for the pure Koreans of this land. That is the reason I exist.”

“So you trust Samjoko that much?”

“Of course. Samjoko and I are never wrong.”

Kim Hyunsu’s voice was filled with unwavering conviction.

A conviction firmer than steel was not something that could be shaken by a few words from Zeon.

“Even so, humans must be human. Even mechanized Awakeners should have independent will rather than relying on computers or auxiliary AIs.”

“Of course, my subordinates and I all possess independent will.”

“Are you certain?”

“If you doubt it, come anytime. We will show you our will. Of course, you will no longer leave the West District safely as you have until now.”

“You really….”

“It seems I’ll be late for the ceremony. The mayor greatly dislikes us being late to events he hosts, so I’ll go ahead.”

Kim Hyunsu passed by without listening to Zeon any further.

The mechanized Awakeners followed behind him toward the ceremony hall.

“Hoo.”

Zeon let out a sigh.

Talking to him felt like talking to a wall.

At that moment, Mandy said to Zeon,

“If we’re late too, we won’t be able to attend the ceremony.”

“I understand.”

Zeon headed toward the ceremony hall with Mandy.

Mandy asked cautiously,

“But what were you talking about so seriously?”

“Didn’t you hear anything?”

“No. It was mixed with ultrasonic waves, so I couldn’t hear anything at all.”

“I warned him about the dangers of Samjoko.”

“Samjoko? Why?”

“Recently, traces were found of Samjoko intervening in the bodies of mechanized Awakeners using auxiliary AIs.”

“That’s….”

Mandy’s expression hardened as she realized the gravity of the situation.

Zeon slightly shook his head.

“But he didn’t listen to a word I said. Well, is that only natural?”

Kim Hyunsu, who hadn’t even listened to Oh Jinho, had no reason to listen to Zeon.

He was a solid mass of ego so dense that not even a needle could get in.

Perhaps Samjoko could.

But no human in this world could persuade him.

Not even Jin Geumho, the ruler of this land, would be able to persuade Kim Hyunsu.

‘It’s clear that he cornered Mr. Oh Jinho and drove him to self-destruct. But even so, I can’t take revenge for Mr. Oh Jinho.’

Kim Hyunsu was a major pillar supporting Neo Seoul.

If he recklessly confronted him for revenge, Neo Seoul itself could be shaken to its core.

Above all, he didn’t have enough of a relationship with Oh Jinho to clash with Kim Hyunsu for his sake.

If he fought Kim Hyunsu for revenge, people would rather criticize Zeon.

That was how weak the justification was.

‘Hoo. This is difficult. For now, I can only watch this event and think….’

Zeon entered the ceremony hall with Mandy.

The seats Mandy had prepared were in the very back of the hall.

They were the best seats she could secure with her authority.

Mandy said to Zeon,

“I’m sorry I couldn’t get you better seats.”

“No, these are good enough.”

“I need to go check the perimeter of the hall for a bit.”

“Don’t worry about me. Do your job. I’ll stay quietly and leave.”

“I truly hope so.”

Mandy looked at Zeon with a meaningful expression and then went outside.

Zeon muttered with a bitter smile,

“I wonder if I’ve been seen as too much of a troublemaker.”

Mandy’s expression clearly showed that she was certain something would happen.

And indeed, wherever Zeon was, incidents never ceased, so he couldn’t exactly refute it.

At that moment, the entrance to the hall suddenly grew noisy.

Led by Queen Serian, the North District’s demi-humans were entering the hall.

People marveled at the beauty of Serian and the elves, who were appearing before the public after a long time.

“The demi-human queen is still beautiful.”

“Look at those elves beside her. How can they look that beautiful? Wow, damn it. Only curses come out.”

The North District was just the beginning.

Next, Xiaolun and his subordinates from the South District entered in a line.

Serian’s and Xiaolun’s gazes landed on Zeon in turn.

Serian looked at him with friendly eyes, but Xiaolun’s eyes were filled with strong hostility.

Still, perhaps because of the setting, none of them approached Zeon.

Kuuu!

At that moment, the air at the entrance of the hall ominously rippled.

Then, a man wearing a robe like Zeon’s entered the hall with his subordinates.

People began to whisper when they saw him.

“It’s Seden Price, the ruler of the East District.”

“The dark mage has appeared.”