An Oath in the Queen's Name
The Ice Queen was the last hope and guardian of the heteromorphs lurking within Neo Seoul.
Thanks to her existence, the heteromorphs could tenaciously keep their lifeline going in Neo Seoul despite the brutal persecution.
As such, the heteromorphs' loyalty toward her was almost blind.
Borlin was no exception.
She had become the captain of the Blue Leaf Special Forces because of Ice Queen Serion Olia.
She had accepted the grueling position of special forces captain because she wanted to be of any help to her.
While leading the Blue Leaf Special Forces, she had faced countless dangers and met innumerable people, but none had given her as chilling a sensation as the Zeon standing before her now.
Zeon was smiling.
That seemingly benevolent smile felt as threatening as a blade's edge.
Borlin felt as if she were standing alone, stark naked, before the sharpest sword in the world.
Zeon asked with a smiling face.
"I get wanting to take Levin. His abilities are worth it. But why take that murderer? What value does he even have?"
"……."
Borlin clamped her lips shut.
Even though the mission had failed, she couldn't just blurt out secrets recklessly.
At her reaction, Zeon put on a sad expression.
"Borlin! Let's keep this simple. Please don't make me do something bad. You'd end up really miserable if you do."
"Ugh!"
Borlin's face twisted in an instant.
Her elf senses told her Zeon's words were true.
She had no idea what "bad thing" he meant, but if he lifted a finger, something utterly disastrous would befall her and the Blue Leaf Special Forces.
"Whew!"
Zeon let out a sigh.
After staring at Borlin for a moment, he turned to the other elves.
"Looks like you still haven't decided. Guess I need to give you a little push."
"What are you planning to do?"
"I've got some fun toys. One's a bug called the horned worm. Hilarious little bastard—it chews through the bones of living creatures. You gotta die if your bones get gnawed away, right? But this thing injects paralyzing venom from its mouth to keep the host alive. And that venom? Pure hallucinogen. So victims ride the ultimate high right up until every bone's devoured, then croak."
"Lies. No such freak exists."
"For real? Word is, it came over from Kurayan too."
"That's……."
Borlin's pupils trembled.
She watched Zeon slip a hand into his bosom.
No telling if he actually had a horned worm in there. But she'd heard the legend from Ice Queen Serion herself.
Fragmentary info, so it took a second to recall.
If that bastard really has a horned worm?
Just the thought sent chills racing down her spine.
In the end, Borlin surrendered.
"Fine. I'll talk. He's a byproduct of some experiment."
"Byproduct?"
"Yeah! Literal byproduct. Human trash. Personality's shattered—only slaughter instinct left."
"What experiment?"
"That's why we're taking him—to figure it out."
"Hmm!"
"Central District around City Hall's always had shady rumors swirling. Ice Queen was worried too."
"So the experiment happened in Central District?"
"Our guess. Taking the murderer to dig into the details."
"Hmm!"
Zeon furrowed his brow.
If Borlin was telling the truth, North District's moves suddenly made sense.
Even as part of Neo Seoul, Central District and the other four districts each had their own rulers.
Their territories were strictly controlled—other factions meddling wasn't easy.
Meddling meant war, so everyone stayed cautious.
"I've told you everything I know. Now let us go."
"Fine. But one condition: stay away from Levin. Forever."
"That's……."
"No promise, no release."
"Understood……."
That's when Briel cut in.
"Swear on Serion's name."
Borlin's face twisted in bewilderment at the sudden interruption.
Swearing on their leader Serion's name was tantamount to staking her own honor.
Break it, and Serion's name gets dragged through the mud too.
Something only an elf would grasp.
Borlin eyed Briel.
"You…… an elf? Then why side with a human?"
"Not siding with humans. Siding with Zeon."
"Isn't that the same?"
"Different!"
"Hmm!"
"What now?"
Briel demanded curtly.
Borlin sighed, face troubled.
"No choice, then. I swear on the name of North District's ruler, Ice Queen Serion Olia. Neither I nor anyone from North District will approach Levin first."
"Hmph!"
Briel crossed her arms and snorted.
She looked just like a kid fishing for praise from Zeon.
Zeon chuckled.
"Good girl."
"Yeah!"
Then Borlin turned to Briel.
"You look near-pureblood. Which tribe's bloodline?"
"Tell you, you won't know."
"Huh?"
"So fuck off."
With that, Briel sealed her lips.
Her stubborn attitude told Borlin further questions were pointless.
That's when it happened.
"Check this out."
Zeon's sudden voice snapped her from her thoughts.
"What?"
"He bolted."
"Huh?"
"That murderer? He's gone."
Zeon pointed to where the murderer had been. Empty now.
The bastard had come to and fled.
"Impossible. I confirmed the fatal wound."
"Tsk! Levin'll be bummed when he wakes."
Zeon said it, but his face showed zero regret.
The murderer's fate was Levin's to decide.
Levin probably didn't want him dragged off to North District either. Would make revenge a pipe dream.
Zeon shouldered Levin and left with Briel.
Briel whispered low to Zeon.
"You really gonna use the horned worm?"
"Like I'd have that shit."
"Bluff?"
"Yup!"
"For real?"
"Told ya."
"Whoa! You con artist! Fooled me too."
Briel shook her head.
Borlin muttered, watching Zeon's receding back.
A monstrous freak was hiding in the slums…….
Zeon brought Levin back to his house.
Levin came to the next day.
Aftereffects from the elves left him dazed the whole day.
Zeon and Briel didn't prod or stimulate him.
They gave him time to sort his thoughts alone.
Zeon sat by the window, gazing at the street. Briel buried herself in experiments off to the side.
Bang!
A flask of mystery liquid exploded.
"Wah! Fail again."
"You good?"
Levin spoke warmly to the pouting Briel.
"Finally back to your senses?"
"Yeah! You okay?"
"Fine! Used to it."
"Briel's so brave. No fear of failure."
"They'd beat me if I didn't."
"Ah! Sorry."
"Wasn't you. Why apologize?"
"Just……."
"Levin's the best. So kind."
Levin gave a wry smile.
He wasn't kind at all.
If he were, he'd have listened to his mom and stayed with family that day.
That's why he survived alone.
Levin glanced at Zeon by the window.
"That dog bastard?"
"Dog bastard?"
"We're calling the murderer that."
"Escaped."
"Good. Was stressing if those bitches took him."
Levin beamed.
Handing his revenge to others wasn't his style.
He'd handle it himself.
He remembered the murderer's face, eyes, scent—everything.
No matter the disguise or new identity, he'd track him down.
Of course, he needed full recovery first.
Levin asked Zeon.
"Think North District'll still come after me?"
"North can't touch you now. No worries."
"Huh?"
Zeon explained yesterday's events to the puzzled Levin.
About Briel forcing the oath on Serion's name.
Once he knew everything, Levin thanked Briel.
"Thanks, Briel."
"Hmph! No biggie."
Briel stuck her nose up.
"But watch out for other districts."
"That Borlin spill the beans?"
"Plenty saw your fight yesterday. Word'll spread."
Levin was a brand-new type of Awakener.
Utility beyond measure, combat aside.
Ghostification alone was busted.
Infiltrate anywhere if he wanted, neutralize any defense.
Perfect for intel and assassination.
Any group would covet him.
"Hmm!"
Levin groaned.
Finally grasping his situation fully.
He asked Zeon.
"What should I do?"
"Raise your rank so no one dares touch you. Or hide where no one finds you. Pick one."
"No more hiding."
"Then level up your rank."
"How?"
"Fight as much as possible. Push your talents past the limit."
"Hyung! Please. Help me."
"……."
"You can do it. Right?"
"Possible."
"Please. Make me strong. I'll pledge loyalty to you."
Levin dropped to his knees before Zeon.
"You know how heavy that is?"
"Hyung! I'm not a kid. I get the weight of words. Even without this, I wanted to stick with you."
Levin knew.
Zeon looked ordinary, but he was a terrifying Awakener.
Crushed Shinchon's ruler Goran in a flash, brushed off North's special forces like nothing.
Estimated B-rank at minimum.
Maybe A-rank…… or higher.
Levin needed an umbrella against the world's storms.
A big, wide one.
The man he saw as that answered.
"House'll be cramped with you too. Gotta buy next door and expand."