Chapter 85
[Translator – Peptobismol]
Chapter 85
Neo Seoul is situated within high walls.
Built a hundred years ago, these walls were made of rocks that are hard to come by in today’s world.
Giant rocks were carved into squares, fitted together flawlessly, and reinforced using special methods to construct the walls.
Because of this, ordinary monsters couldn’t dare to breach the walls.
Thanks to these walls, people inside Neo Seoul could focus on research and livelihood without worrying about monster attacks.
With magical abilities of the Awakened combined with the pre-apocalyptic scientific heritage, Neo Seoul progressed significantly.
Although limited to Neo Seoul, they could construct a superior new world compared to the old civilization.
The central building serving as the control tower of Neo Seoul, the City Hall, extends well over fifty floors.
Fifty floors might not seem like much, but in this age where building materials are scarce, constructing fifty floors requires a tremendous investment.
In fact, even if there were enough materials, they wouldn’t have built higher. Going too high might attract the attention of flying monsters.
Though not visible to the human eye, various flying monsters were soaring high in the sky.
Due to the anti-magic field formed in Neo Seoul, they hesitated to approach, but nobody knew if they would be curious enough to approach if the City Hall were taller than this.Th/e most uptodate novels are published on n0velbj)n(.)co/m
The area allowed to humanity on Earth was extremely limited. Despite many advancements since the great cataclysm, caution against monsters was still necessary.
A man of short stature was gazing at the City Hall from beyond the window.
“Damn! That’s impressive.”
The City Hall, a fusion of magic and science, was stunning, overshadowing other buildings in Neo Seoul.
Just looking at it from a distance made one’s heart swell with grandeur.
“I need to hurry up and get that magnificent building into my hands. I have no idea what that old man is up to, lingering on like this.”
The short-built man turned around, sticking out his tongue. With this, his face became clearer.
His face, filled with deep-set wrinkles and surrounded by a white beard, spoke of the many storms he had weathered and survived.
The old man was wearing a hat with a colorful pattern embroidered with golden thread. It was a hat commonly used by his ancestors in the homeland in the days when the world was intact.
The hat represented the old man’s identity.
Although he had never visited his homeland, he never forgot his roots. That’s why he always wore this hat, which had now become a symbol for him.
The old man’s name was Xiao Lun.
He was the ruler of the southern part of Neo Seoul.
Behind Xiao Lun stood a young man who seemed to be in his early twenties.
With a slender physique and a cold demeanor resembling ice sculpted into human form, he was quite impressive.
Xiao Lun spoke gently to the young man.
“So, what did you say earlier? My memory isn’t what it used to be. I often forget things after hearing them just once.”
“The contact with the crocodiles has been lost.”
“Have you figured out the cause?”
“It seems there’s an issue with the ecosystem in the slums.”
“Is that so?”
Xiao Lun raised his white eyebrows.
It was rare for him to show interest like this.
That’s because he had almost achieved everything he wanted.
It was regrettable not to have become the owner of that magnificent City Hall, but the one occupying the throne was a monster that couldn’t be easily dealt with.
If he were to seize that building, everything he had built in Neo Seoul might collapse like a house of cards.
He didn’t want to take such risks.
Although he had ambitions, he couldn’t muster the courage to challenge the most coveted position.
So, he could only live a decadent life.
With that, he showed a rare expression of interest after a long time.
“Where exactly is the problem?”
“It’s in Sinchon.”
“Sinchon? That’s...”
“Goran is in control there.”
“Ah, Goran. He has close ties with the crocodiles, right?”
“That’s correct.”
“But?”
“It’s suspected that both Goran and the crocodiles are dead.”
“Suspected?”
“Their deaths haven’t been confirmed. But since they can’t be found anywhere, it’s suspected that they’re dead.”
The young man’s words were highly plausible.
Xiao Lun asked.
“Have you figured out who did it?”
“We’re going to find out now.”
“All right. I trust you’ll handle it well.”
“Additionally, I plan to create a new passage.”
“Are you doing it yourself?”
“Enough nonsense, brat!”
“Ugh!”
Brielle grabbed her flushed forehead and groaned.
“How dare you strike a noble High Elf like that.”
“And what? You’re just a little brat addicted to drugs.”
“Just wait! Once I reach S-rank, I won’t let you off easy.”
“But you’re not even close to S-rank.”
“Don’t make me laugh!”
Brielle shouted loudly.
Elves, like humans, awaken, and a rank badge appears on their wrists.
There are seven lines that distinguish from F-rank to S-rank.
She had also awakened, and a rank badge appeared on her hand.
Her badge was shining with two lines.
It meant she was an E-rank Awakened.
She was only a lower-rank Awakened for now, but with experience, she would surely grow.
She thought she might be able to break the oath of the High Elves once she became S-rank.
Then, she could easily destroy cities like Neo Seoul with her alchemist abilities.
Zeon chuckled as he looked at the young High Elf.
Her self-esteem was clearly exaggerated due to her young age.
The alchemist she awakened as was not suitable for combat. Of course, she could create dangerous items with alchemy, but it was impossible to destroy Neo Seoul to that extent.
Above all, reaching S-rank as an awakened wasn’t the pinnacle.
As evident by Dyoden.
There were individuals who possessed strength that couldn’t be explained by rank badges alone.
As long as such individuals existed in Neo Seoul, the possibility of Brielle’s ambition coming true was close to zero.
Zeon suddenly looked at Neo Seoul.
He could see the City Hall building far away.
‘I should visit there sometime.’
Although he had obtained the access to enter through Mandy, he still didn’t feel like going.
Then it happened.
“Woah! Inspiration strikes!”
Brielle suddenly gleamed.
She jumped around like a madwoman, cheering.
Zeon frowned.
Whether or not it was there, Brielle moved busily on her own.
“All right, that should do it. Ironclad Ant’s fang, Sandworm’s tentacle, and also...”
She took out various items from the Goblin Market in no time and placed them on the table. Then she laid out various tools.
Zeon clicked his tongue at the sight of the interior of his house becoming a mess in an instant.
“Tsk! I picked up a crazy Elf for no reason...”
If only it weren’t for the damn oath of the High Elves, he would have kicked her out immediately. But it was truly a shame.
Brielle’s madness filled the house.
Even Zeon found it hard to breathe in the overflowing madness.
Zeon shook his head and went outside.
Outside, Zeon climbed to the rooftop.
Although he lived on the eighteenth floor of this building, it was his first time on the rooftop.
Fortunately, no one lived on the rooftop.
Zeon sat on the rooftop railing and looked at Neo Seoul.
The City Hall standing tall in the distance came into view distinctly.
Zeon thought it resembled a lighthouse he had only heard of in stories.
A lighthouse guiding ships through the sea.
But he wasn’t sure if that giant lighthouse was guiding the current era in the right direction.
Zeon had traveled to far more areas than Dyoden.
There was no one in the current era who had visited more places than him.
Naturally, he had experienced more colonies and people.
However, none of those colonies had progressed as much as Neo Seoul.
Most colonies were merely busy protecting people from the attacks of monsters.
They lacked the will and ability to lead the current era in the right direction.
The only place with that possibility was Neo Seoul.
And the one leading Neo Seoul was Mayor Jin Geumho.
Zeon asked as if Jin Geumho were right in front of him.
“What kind of a world do you dream of?”
[Translator – Peptobismol]