Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert Chapter 602

Brielle stretched languidly as she awoke from her slumber.

She rubbed her eyes, still heavy with sleep, and drew back the curtains.

Sunlight, brilliant and intense, cascaded into the room like a waterfall, a stark contrast to the perpetual twilight of the World Tree village.

There, the colossal World Tree cast a wide, cool shade, making such potent sunlight a rarity, encountered only by those who intentionally ventured beyond its embrace.

Though a slight sting pricked her skin, Brielle found she did not mind the unfamiliar warmth.

This very spot, bathed in the strong morning sun, was the humble abode of Zeon in the slums, a place that had become a sanctuary of sorts since her involuntary arrival in the human realm.

Returning to Zeon’s house after an extended absence, she found it retained its familiar, comforting atmosphere.

Her belongings remained precisely where she had left them.

This familiarity allowed Brielle to drift into a deep, undisturbed sleep, free from any sense of displacement.

“Perfect!”

After a few moments of soaking in the sunlight, she dressed and ventured into the living area.

Zeon, seated on the sofa with a cup of tea, offered a warm smile.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes! Exceptionally well. And you?”

“I too enjoyed a good night's rest, for the first time in quite a while.”

“Home truly is the best, isn’t it?”

“Indeed.”

“Hehe!”

Brielle’s smile revealed her pearly white teeth.

“Shall we pay Old Man Klexi a visit after all this time?”

“An excellent idea.”

The duo promptly exited the house and made their way toward Klexi’s establishment.

As they strolled through the streets, Brielle remarked,

“It’s changed so much.”

“It certainly has.”

Zeon concurred.

While he had been away, establishing portals in the Primordial Forest and the World Tree village, the slums had undergone a dramatic metamorphosis.

The vacant lot where the portal was eventually set up, in particular, had transformed into a vibrant spectacle.

What was once a desolate patch of land now boasted towering structures, with throngs of people eagerly awaiting their turn to use the portal.

Priority access was granted to City Hall personnel and Awakeners from various districts.

Those outside these privileged groups faced considerable waiting times.

Consequently, many individuals had taken up residence in the vicinity of the portal.

Catering to this new population, a multitude of shops and eateries had sprung up around the area.

In a span of mere months, the barren ground had blossomed into a thriving commercial hub.

This revitalization had injected a surge of commerce and energy into the previously neglected slums.

Brielle appeared captivated by the transformations, her gaze sweeping across the surroundings.

“At this rate, your neck might just snap off.”

“This is nothing.”

At that moment, a shimmering, translucent figure materialized silently above Brielle’s shoulder.

It was her spirit companion, Lili.

—This is incredible!

Lili’s eyes widened as she took in the bustling scene.

Having known only the tranquil existence of the World Tree village, this was her very first encounter with a city of such grand scale.

Every new sight captivated her imagination.

The towering edifices, the roaring vehicles navigating the thoroughfares, and the endless sea of people filling the streets.

All the vibrant activity absent from the World Tree village held Lili utterly spellbound.

Brielle gently stroked Lili’s head, whispering,

“You must not reveal yourself, Lili!”

—Why not?

“Spirits are unheard of in this place.”

—Really?

“Yes! They might try to capture you.”

—Capture me? For what purpose?

“Perhaps for research experiments, or they might imprison you and keep you as their own.”

—Ew! I certainly wouldn’t like that.

“Then stay hidden and observe quietly.”

—Understood! I will.

Lili nodded and vanished from sight.

After a considerable walk, the pair reached the street housing Old Man Klexi’s shop.

This particular street, usually tranquil, now bustled with a noticeable number of people.

The influx of individuals into the slums had gradually extended to this area as well.

As a result, numerous eateries were experiencing an unprecedented surge in business.

Yet, curiously, Old Man Klexi’s establishment remained conspicuously empty of customers.

Klexi, puffing on a cigarette, appeared visibly annoyed. Two men stood before his shop.

“Hey, old timer! Why are you refusing to serve us?”

“It is my prerogative, you scoundrels!”

“Damn it! We’re offering payment, so why the refusal?”

“I told you, your money is not needed, you hoodlums!”

“This geezer is really something…”

The two irate men raised their fists, prepared to strike Klexi. He, however, simply regarded them with a detached air.

Just then, a nearby restaurant owner approached the agitated pair.

His imposing physique made it difficult to believe he was merely a restaurateur. The two men visibly faltered at his proximity.

“What is it?”

“Yes, what is it?”

Attempting to mask their intimidation, they amplified their voices.

The restaurant owner let out a grin.

“Our friend here is a bit too old to be cooking these days. Perhaps you’d care to dine at our establishment instead?”

“What in the blazes? His shop is clearly open, yet he’s not cooking? Does that even make sense?”

The men looked utterly bewildered.

They were Awakeners from Neo Seoul, drawn by rumors of Klexi’s legendary culinary skills, and were now infuriated by his refusal to cook despite his shop being operational.

The restaurant owner casually slung his substantial arms over their shoulders, remarking,

“As I said, our old friend only cooks when the mood strikes him.”

“Ugh!”

“Ghk!”

In that very instant, the expressions of the two men transformed dramatically.

An overwhelming pressure seemed to descend upon their shoulders.

‘An Awakener.’

‘Certainly of a higher caliber than us. Why would someone like that be present here…’

They attempted to break free from his grasp, but their efforts were futile.

Despite their struggles, his arm remained unyielding.

The proprietor of the eatery quietly advised them,

“Let’s depart peacefully. Unless you desire to be dismembered and simmered in a cauldron.”

“Eek!”

“Gasp!”

His menacing words caused their countenances to drain of color.

Only then did their awareness extend to their immediate surroundings.

Every shopkeeper lining the street was fixing them with hostile glares.

Sensing the palpable malice emanating from them, their hearts sank.

‘What kind of place is this?’

‘Chopping people up and putting them in a pot? Is this some sort of establishment that serves human flesh?’

The men quivered at the ghastly notion.

The restaurant owner smirked at their reaction.

Naturally, there was no genuine intent to kill and prepare them for consumption.

It was merely a coercive tactic.

The men, now thoroughly subdued, were escorted away by the proprietor. They sat in silence, awaiting the meal he would prepare.

At that juncture, Brielle approached Old Man Klexi.

“Grandpa!”

“Oh? Well, it is you. Brielle, isn’t it?”

Klexi’s demeanor underwent a complete transformation from his earlier dealings with the men.

He sprang to his feet and extended a warm greeting.

“It has been too long, Grandpa!”

“When did you make your return?”

“Hehe! I arrived just last night.”

“Then you came directly here upon waking?”

“Yes!”

“You must be famished. Please, have a seat.”

Klexi offered her a seat with a smile.

The disparity in his treatment of her compared to the two men was striking.

Zeon took a seat next to Brielle and remarked,

“I am present as well, you know?”

“I am aware. Simply sit calmly and partake in the meal.”

“Is this not a somewhat inequitable form of treatment?”

“Are you comparable to Brielle?”

“Tch!”

Zeon sulked, yet he harbored no genuine resentment.

Klexi engaged Brielle in conversation as if she were his own granddaughter.

Perhaps news of Brielle’s return had circulated, as elders from neighboring establishments approached.

“How have you been? Why did you refrain from visiting for so long?”

“I paid a visit to my hometown for a brief period.”

“Your hometown? You mentioned it was quite distant, correct? Ah! Did you utilize the portal?”

“Yes!”

“That is splendid news. With the portal now operational, you can visit at any time, can you not?”

“Indeed!”

“Your appearance has become even more lovely after your visit to your hometown.”

“Truly?”

“Without a doubt!”

“Hehe!”

Brielle beamed with delight at their commendations.

She was the sole recipient of such warm affection from the street’s elderly residents.

Brielle, who had returned to the slums after an extended absence, found herself inundated with attention, akin to a sudden downpour.

Consequently, Zeon found himself in a similar predicament to the two men who had been earlier dismissed—utterly overlooked.

While Klexi was occupied with preparing Brielle’s meal, he suddenly inquired,

“Come to think of it, where is Levin?”

“He went to his office.”

“That fixer’s office?”

“Yes! He expressed concern about being away for so long, so he proceeded there directly last night.”

“Is that rascal unharmed?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

“Why did you not serve sustenance to those individuals earlier?”

Zeon’s gaze drifted towards the two men who had been rebuffed.

Klexi emitted a snort.

“Do you imagine there are only one or two of that ilk? The rumors have clearly spread, as more of them continue to arrive. It’s quite vexing. All of this stems from your installation of the portal within the slums.”

“So, you disapprove?”

“It is not a matter of disapproval. It is merely an inconvenience. Ever since the portal’s establishment, an increasing number of individuals have been venturing this far.”

“If it proves so troublesome, when will you focus on accumulating wealth?”

“Do you believe I venture out here for financial gain? I have already amassed sufficient riches to sustain myself for a lifetime.”

“Nevertheless.”

“If you persist in your nagging, you too can join them over there.”

“No, I shall remain silent.”

“Tsk!”

Klexi clicked his tongue and directed a sharp glance at Zeon.

Receiving his gaze, Zeon feigned a whistle and averted his eyes toward the distant horizon.

Klexi found neither his action nor his demeanor irritating or unpleasant.

Despite his gruff exterior, Klexi harbored a profound sense of gratitude towards Zeon.

Following Zeon’s installation of the portal in the slums’ vacant lot, a sense of renewed vigor began to permeate the area.

It had been well over a century since the slums were first established in Neo Seoul.

Throughout this extended period, the slums remained shrouded in gloom, as if ensnared by a petrifying enchantment.

While more structures had been erected, the atmosphere and the collective mindset of the inhabitants had seen virtually no alteration.

A pervasive feeling of defeat and helplessness – the conviction that no matter their efforts, entry into Neo Seoul remained an impossibility – had gripped the slums for a hundred years.

Regardless of Klexi and the Awakeners of the Goblin Market’s endeavors, they could not alter this deep-seated inertia.

Yet, the mere presence of the installed portal drastically reshaped the environment in a remarkably short span.

A transformation that had eluded attainment for a century was achieved due to a single portal.

Numerous inhabitants of the slums utilized the portal to journey to the mana stone mines for the purpose of earning a livelihood, and Awakened individuals from Neo Seoul – who had never set foot in the slums – commenced utilizing it.

Vitality surged through the entirety of the slums.

Klexi embraced this positive shift.

With that sentiment fueling him, he presented the meticulously prepared food to Zeon.

Clack!

“Here! Please, dine.”

“Thank you.”

Zeon offered a smile and picked up his chopsticks.

“You utterly infuriating brat.”

“Yes! May I live a long and prosperous life.”

“Indeed! Live long enough to smear excrement upon the walls.”

Klexi genuinely offered this peculiar benediction.‘May your life be long, and may you bring transformation to this entire land, just as you have revolutionized the slums.’