Chapter 163

The journey to the Magic Stone Mine was incredibly peaceful.

Over a dozen buggies and more than twenty transport vehicles raced across the desert together.

Most magical beasts didn’t even dare approach—they were intimidated just by the sight.

Awooo!

From afar, the howl of a Flame Wolf alpha echoed.

It sounded like a massive pack—easily numbering in the hundreds.

Flame Wolves were aggressive and relentless by nature. They were also extremely territorial, never letting intruders go unchallenged.

And yet, even such a pack didn’t dare approach the procession heading toward the Magic Stone Mine.

They knew.

If they provoked the Pegasus Raid Team, it would mean total annihilation.

Even beasts driven more by instinct than intelligence could feel fear—the Pegasus Raid Team’s presence was that overwhelming.

At least among the creatures inhabiting the route to the Magic Stone Mine, none were foolish enough to attack them.

Thanks to that, the Pegasus Raid Team reached the Magic Stone Mine without incident.

“Is this my third time here?”

Zeon muttered as he stepped down from the buggy.

Having come here three times already, the place now felt almost familiar.

“So this is the Magic Stone Mine?”

“It’s intense.”

In contrast, Brielle and Levin were overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the place.

The same went for the other Awakened who had joined as mercenaries.

Unless one was as experienced as the Pegasus Raid Team, anyone would be awed by the grandeur of the Magic Stone Mine.

The gates opened, and around thirty vehicles entered one after another.

Dungeon raid teams visiting the Magic Stone Mine weren’t uncommon.

But a force of this size was anything but ordinary.

Even the Awakened stationed at the mine couldn’t hide their surprise.

At that moment, someone stepped out from the mine to greet Lee Jiryung.

“Welcome. I’ve been waiting.”

It was Cha Jincheol from the West District.

At his appearance, Lee Jiryung frowned slightly.

“The troops?”

“All seventy are at the lodgings.”

“Seventy?”

“What, too few? Don’t worry. They’re all elite—at least C-rank or higher. They won’t hold the Pegasus Raid Team back.”

“Make sure you keep that promise.”

“Don’t worry. More importantly…”

Cha Jincheol trailed off and looked around.

His eyes suddenly lit up.

They landed on Zeon.

He already knew Zeon’s face.

They had crossed paths at the White Bear Caravan’s auction.

But at the time, he hadn’t realized Zeon’s true value and hadn’t paid much attention.

Now, things were different.

Cha Jincheol strode toward Zeon.

“It’s been a while.”

“It has.”

“I have high expectations for this dungeon raid.”

“Do you?”

“You didn’t officially join the Pegasus Raid Team, did you?”

“I’m participating as a mercenary for now.”

“A wise decision. Let’s talk later.”

Cha Jincheol smiled.

The real reason he had joined this raid was Zeon.

If Zeon had officially joined the Pegasus Raid Team, things would have become troublesome. But since that wasn’t the case, recruiting him to the West District was still possible.

At that moment, Zeon suddenly said something unexpected.

“By the way, that item at your waist… is it from the White Bear Caravan auction?”

“That’s right. It’s called the Warden’s Binding Rope.”

Cha Jincheol had won several items at the White Bear Caravan auction.

Most of them had been sent to the West District’s storage, leaving only the Warden’s Binding Rope.

KIM Kyungsoo, the ruler of the West District, had given it to Cha Jincheol as a reward for his efforts.

“I carry it around in case of emergencies.”

“I see.”

“If you like it, I could give it to you.”

“…No, that’s alright.”

“If you change your mind, let me know anytime. For someone of your caliber, the West District would gladly open its item vault.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t wish to belong anywhere just yet.”

“You’re still young—you don’t understand how the world works. Alone, there are limits. Someone with rare abilities like yours needs protection from a faction like ours to truly grow. If you join the West District, we’ll support you with everything we have.”

Cha Jincheol spoke rapidly, like a machine gun.

His true goal was clear—recruit Zeon.

If he could bring Zeon in, the dungeon raid itself didn’t matter.

Just as he was about to press harder—

“That’s enough.”

A woman’s voice suddenly cut in like static.

“What?”

Cha Jincheol glared at the one who had interrupted him.

She was a beautiful woman with long, wavy blonde hair.

Her sapphire-like blue eyes and fresh smile stood out.

“Who are you to interrupt our conversation?”

“My name is Mandy Sistein. I’m the supervisor dispatched from City Hall.”

“A supervisor? Someone like you—just a brat—”

“Regardless, I hold the position. So I’d appreciate it if you chose your words more carefully.”

Mandy spoke firmly, her eyes wide.

Cha Jincheol was left momentarily speechless.

If it were up to him, he would have crushed this insolent brat on the spot—but her position stopped him.

Supervisors sent by City Hall were not to be trifled with.

More importantly, if anything happened to one, City Hall would hold someone accountable.

The consequences would be severe, so under normal circumstances, no one dared treat a supervisor carelessly.

“Tch… We’ll continue this later.”

In the end, Cha Jincheol backed down.

“So you’re the supervisor who was supposed to join us here?”

“Looks like it turned out that way. Anyway, I look forward to working with you.”

Mandy gave Zeon a polite bow.

If it had been her other personality, Eloi, she would never have acted like that.

“I should be the one saying that. I look forward to working with you.”

“I’ve already arranged accommodations. Let’s go together.”

“Alright.”

Just then, Brielle approached with a displeased expression.

“Long time no see, half-elf.”

“So you’re here too, drug-addict elf.”

“You half-breed…”

“And you’re just a junkie…”

The two elves started growling at each other the moment they met.

“Hey, hey—both of you, calm down…”

Levin tried to mediate between them, sweating nervously.

Watching the scene, Zeon let out a small chuckle.

They spoke harshly, but he knew they would never actually fight.

Both of them were elves who had fully adapted to the human world.

They understood well that clashing directly would only lead to losses.

That aside… the Warden’s Binding Rope…

Zeon recalled the rope hanging from Cha Jincheol’s waist.

It had been one of the items Damian had put up for auction.

For some reason, it had especially bothered Zeon.

There was an eerie, unsettling aura emanating from it.

He couldn’t pinpoint exactly why, but just being in the same space made his chest feel tight.

And now, Cha Jincheol possessed it.

Zeon briefly considered warning him—but decided against it.

Judging by Cha Jincheol’s personality, he wouldn’t listen anyway.

Still, it seems tightly sealed… nothing should happen.

As if to shatter any notion of quiet, the night at the Magic Stone Mine was extremely noisy.

With such a large number of people gathered, it became even more chaotic.

“Hey, handsome—come over here.”

“Mister, let’s have some fun tonight.”

“Hehehe!”

All the prostitutes stationed at the mine came out to entice the Awakened.

Dressed in revealing outfits that barely covered their bodies, they beckoned seductively.

The Awakened’s eyes lit up at the sight.

“Fuck it! Let’s enjoy ourselves.”

“We’re gonna be eating sand for a while anyway—might as well have a good time today.”

“Oh my, what beasts.”

“Kya-ha-ha!”

Those who fell for the temptation grabbed the women and headed inside.

The taverns screamed with joy at the sudden boom in business, and drunken people roamed the streets.

Lee Jiryung and Cha Jincheol allowed their subordinates this indulgence.

Once the dungeon raid began in earnest, there would be no chance to release their desires.

When it was time to tighten discipline, they would do so strictly—but when it was time to loosen it, they did so completely.

That was why they tolerated this behavior.

“Was the Magic Stone Mine always this noisy? I can’t sleep.”

Brielle grumbled.

Mandy, sitting beside her, replied,

“It’s just for today. You should try to bear with it and sleep.”

“You seem used to this kind of situation.”

“I was born and raised in the human world. You’d better get used to it too.”

“Why would I? I’m leaving Neo Seoul someday, so I don’t need to.”

“Like that’s going to be easy.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you think your people would take you back? With that drug scent soaked into you?”

“…That…”

“Even if you overcome the addiction, the scent embedded in your body will never completely disappear.”

At Mandy’s words, Brielle bit her lip.

Elves had senses several times sharper than humans. Their sense of smell was no exception.

Naturally, they could detect even the faint trace of drugs lingering in someone’s body.

Ordinary elves might still accept one of their own.

But High Elves were different.

Believing themselves to be noble beings, they did not accept those who had been tainted.

They only acknowledged those who remained pure.

And Brielle had once been addicted to drugs.

There was no way the proud High Elves would ever accept her again.

In the past, she had thought that was only natural.

Purity was the very identity of High Elves.

But after living in the human world, she began to understand something—

why humans, even in the same harsh conditions, had managed to build such an overwhelming civilization.

Purity was not an essential factor for survival.

What truly mattered was the will to survive and move forward, no matter what.

In that sense, High Elves were lacking.

And for them to accept Brielle again—it was nearly impossible.

“…Ha.”

Brielle let out an unconscious sigh.

Watching her, Mandy thought,

Maybe I shouldn’t have said that…

But someone had to say it.

As a half-elf herself, she understood better than anyone—

what it meant to live as an outsider, belonging fully to neither side.

But one couldn’t live like that forever.

Eventually, the moment of decision would come.

Whether to live as a human—or as an elf.

Mandy had chosen to live as a human.

That was why she usually existed as Mandy rather than Eloi.

It made adapting to the human world easier.

Just like I did… she’ll have to make a choice someday too.

Brielle suddenly stood up.

“I’m going out to get some air.”

Without waiting for a response, she walked out.

Mandy glanced awkwardly at Zeon and Levin.

At that moment, Levin stood up.

“I’ll go after her.”

He quickly followed Brielle outside.

Left alone with Zeon, Mandy spoke cautiously,

“Did I say something I shouldn’t have?”

“It might have been a bit early.”

“But I had to say it. I don’t want her to go through the same trial and error I did.”

“Sounds like you’ve had a hard time.”

“They call it being a half-elf, but to humans, you’re still an outsider—and to elves, you’re treated like a mutt. I’ve lived my whole life in Neo Seoul, yet I’m nothing. I don’t belong anywhere.”

There was a quiet loneliness in her voice.