Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert
Chapter 356

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]

Chapter 356

Late at night, Levin returned.

He was surprised to see Zeon and Brielle packing.

“Huh? Where are you going? Why are you packing?”

“We’re going to hunt Armored Ants.”

“What, all of a sudden?”

Levin blinked at Brielle’s lively tone.

“To make sand hardener, we need Armored Ant fluid. So we’re going to hunt them.”

“Wait—what? The sand hardener’s finished?”

“Uncle Bryce completed it and even built a house.”

“How is it? Does it seem livable?”

“It was great. Clean, cool—more than enough space for a family.”

“Seriously that good?”

“Yup. I think it’d be great if more houses like that were built on the outskirts of the slum.”

Levin looked surprised at her response.

He knew how rare it was for Brielle to praise something like this.

If even she was saying this much, then the house made with sand hardener had to be something special.

That explained why Zeon and Brielle were heading out to hunt Armored Ants—the key ingredient.

Levin turned to Zeon.

“Can I come too?”

“Of course. But don’t you need to go check on the Den?”

“I already brought them everything they need. I probably won’t need to go for a while.”

“Is that so?”

“Zetoya’s leadership is incredible. I don’t think I need to worry for the time being.”

“He’s that good?”

“That little guy is unbelievably meticulous. Even Bakum and the other Awakened don’t dare go against his word.”

Zetoya was rapidly expanding his influence.

He knew how to make use of what he had—mana generator, the healer Remura, and Awakened like Bakum.

He used all of it to absorb other factions or draw them in voluntarily.

As a result, he’d formed the largest force in the Den in no time. And yet, Zetoya didn’t stop there.

He wanted to unify all the groups in the Den and build a prosperous society like that aboveground.

Fortunately, Remura and Bakum supported his ideals and actively helped.

At this rate, the entire Den would soon fall under his control.

“That little brat has that much charisma? I’m really surprised.”

“He’s impressive.”

“I’m telling you—he’s amazing. The next time you visit the Den, it’ll be so different, you won’t even recognize it.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Let’s go together next time.”

“Sure.”

At Zeon’s reply, Levin smiled.

Then Brielle turned to Levin.

“Quit grinning like a fool and start packing. We don’t know how long we’ll be gone, so stuff your subspace pack full.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve done this so much, I’ll be done in no time.”

“Don’t get cocky—pack it carefully.”

“Got it!”

Despite her scolding, Levin smiled.

Brielle pouted at his reaction, clearly displeased—but she didn’t push it any further.

* * *

Zeon, Brielle, and Levin left the house early the next morning.

Levin, carrying a large backpack by himself, grumbled.

“Can’t I get a smaller subspace bag too? I’m the only one who always carries the huge one.”

“Do you know how hard it is to make a subspace bag?”

“I do. But still, both you and Zeon have those undetectable ones.”

“Aww, jealous much?”

“Yup.”

At Levin’s honest answer, Brielle let out a baffled laugh.

“Fine, fine. When we get back, I’ll try to make you a smaller one. No guarantees it’ll work though…”

“Okay! I’m counting on you.”

Levin grinned and waved at Brielle.

“Geez…”

“If you can, make it like a gauntlet or a necklace.”

“Now you’re getting demanding.”

“But you can do it, right?”

“Tch! I’ll try.”

“Yes!”

Levin shouted in delight when his request was accepted.

As they laughed and chatted, they arrived at the open lot on the outskirts of the slum.

There, the forces prepared by the Goblin Market were already waiting.

“Lord Zeon!”

A heavily armed man in his early thirties approached Zeon.

With a sword at his waist and a large bow on his back, this was Kim Jinsoo, the leader of the Goblin Market’s First Escort Squad.

Kim Jinsoo was a B-rank combat-type Awakened known for his versatility with weapons—sword, bow, axe, spear—there was nothing he couldn’t wield.

In the tactical pack slung across his back were disassembled weapons. When battle broke out, he could quickly assemble and use any of them.

Kim Jinsoo bowed to Zeon.

“Kim Jinsoo, captain of the First Escort Squad. It’s an honor to travel with you.”

“The honor is mine. I’ll be counting on you.”

“No need to worry. Just give the word, and we’ll take care of everything.”

Kim Jinsoo’s attitude toward Zeon was nothing short of reverent.

Being from the Goblin Market, he was well aware of Zeon’s abilities and everything he’d accomplished.

It was impossible not to respect—and fear—him.

“You’ve been briefed on the mission?”

“Yes, we’re to secure Armored Ant corpses.”

“That’s right. But first, we need to find their habitat.”

“Where is that?”

“We’ll need to head southwest of Neo Seoul first.”

“Southwest?”

“Yes.”

“Understood. Please board the armored bus—we’ll head southwest.”

“Sounds good.”

Zeon, Levin, and Brielle boarded the armored bus that Kim Jinsoo indicated.

Kim Jinsoo climbed into a buggy and gave the command.

“Move out.”

“Yes, sir!”

Two buggies, one armored bus, and ten transport vehicles rolled out of the slum and into the desert.

Brielle whispered to Zeon from her seat.

“There’s an Armored Ant colony in the southwest of Neo Seoul?”

“I saw one there a while ago.”

“Is there a chance they moved their nest?”

“Creatures like Armored Ants that dig and build tunnels rarely move once settled. Their nests aren’t disposable.”

“So they put a lot of effort into making them?”

“Exactly.”

“Okay! Got it.”

Brielle looked satisfied with the new knowledge.

She was a High Elf and knew quite a lot about monsters, but her knowledge didn’t even come close to Zeon’s.

Same for everyone else. Across the slum and all of Neo Seoul, no one had more firsthand experience with monsters than Zeon.

He hadn’t learned it from someone—he’d walked the desert himself and gathered it.

It was priceless information that no one else could offer.

“I hope we get to the nest soon. How long do you think it’ll take?”

“If the terrain hasn’t changed much, about a week. If it has, maybe more.”

“So about a week to ten days?”

“That’s a safe estimate. Try not to get too bored.”

“Bored? With Gaia here?”

“Gaia? Don’t tell me you’re going to play with Gaia in the bus? The driver might see.”

“Hehe! I’ve got that covered.”

Brielle grinned and pulled a large jewel out from under her pointed hat.

The transparent gem was engraved with strange, indecipherable symbols.

Levin, who’d been silent, asked curiously,

“What’s that?”

“A crystal enchanted with an illusion-masking spell.”

“What? Illusion-masking?”

“When you inject mana…”

As Brielle channeled mana into the gem, a burst of light erupted, forming a magic circle within the bus.

There were four people in the vehicle: the driver, Zeon, Brielle, and Levin.

But the driver, despite being so close, had no idea the light had flashed behind him.

Brielle pointed at the driver.

“To him, we’re just chatting about nonsense. Even if he turns around, he’ll only see us resting.”

“Wow! That’s possible?”

“If it weren’t, I wouldn’t have made it. So Gaia can come out now without worrying. Come on out, Gaia!”

No sooner had she spoken than Gaia poked its round head out of the subspace.

—Beep?

“It’s okay. You can come out.”

—Beep beep!

“Feeling cooped up, huh?”

—Beeeeep! Beep!

“I know, I know! That’s why I made this. You can stay out all you want in here.”

Brielle hugged Gaia’s head.

Seeing Gaia patting Brielle with its flippers made Levin chuckle.

“Pfft! You two are ridiculous. It hasn’t even been that long since you last saw each other.”

Before boarding the bus, Gaia and Brielle had chattered endlessly.

Not that anyone else could understand what Gaia was saying—but clearly the two could.

Then Zeon spoke up.

“Brielle’s really improved.”

“I know, right? To enchant an illusion spell onto a crystal—that’s insane progress.”

“At this rate, she might rank up faster than you.”

“Seriously?”

Levin widened his eyes in surprise.

Brielle was currently B-rank—and had only recently reached it.

Yet now it seemed she might rise again.

An insane level of talent and growth.

Sure, she couldn’t have done it without Zeon’s help, but without her own effort and gifts, it still wouldn’t have been possible.

When nothing else was happening, Brielle obsessed over alchemy.

Even while chatting with Gaia, part of her mind was always thinking about alchemy.

Alchemy was a vast field.

It could be applied to nearly every aspect of daily life.

It involved the fusion of countless disciplines.

Metallurgy, magic, enchantments, scientific engineering.

Only by mastering all of these could one become a true alchemist.

Creating this illusion-crystal had been the result of that dedication.

Not even the bus driver realized a spell had been cast.

Let alone those in the other vehicles—they had no idea.

All they saw through the window was Zeon’s group relaxing.

From his seat in the buggy, Kim Jinsoo glanced toward the armored bus.

He could see Zeon, Brielle, and Levin chatting pleasantly.

Whatever they were talking about, Brielle and Levin were laughing non-stop while Zeon occasionally nodded in response.

“They don’t even look tense about heading into the desert. You’d think they were on a picnic.”

“Why would a Sand Mage fear the desert? He’s probably excited.”

At his subordinate’s words, Kim Jinsoo nodded.

“Yeah, I guess so. With all that sand at his disposal, most monsters won’t even register as threats.”

“Life really is unfair. Some of us have to work ourselves to the bone just to eat, while someone like him just waves a finger and lets the sand do all the killing.”

“Be grateful, you brat! At least you’re Awakened. You know how hard life is for those who aren’t—so quit whining…”

“I was just saying. It’s not like I don’t know. Tch.”

“Still… I envy them. Laughing and chatting like that.”

Kim Jinsoo looked at the bus again.

He had no idea—

What he was seeing was actually an illusion crafted by Brielle.

Inside that bus, the only one happily chattering was Brielle—and a whale.

Zeon and Levin had long since fallen into a deep sleep.

[Translator - Peptobismol]

[Proofreader - Demon God]