Return of the Frozen Player

Kwon Noya (1)

Around the time Seo Jun-ho was on a flight back to Korea, one man was walking to his house in the Frontier, the 2nd floor.

“Huh?”

He picked up a box that was on his doorstep.

“A teleport delivery… from the 1st floor?” Teleport deliveries were expensive, but they arrived only in a few hours.

But who sent it? He tilted his head. Deliveries across floors, especially teleport deliveries, were expensive enough to make the average person nervous.

“I don’t remember ordering anything…” He picked up the mysterious package and wrinkled his nose. Is it a trap from those fiend bastards? 

It was likely enough. He was currently tracking fiends in secret. He slowly prepared his magic for an explosion and started to open the package. But contrary to his expectations, there was a luxurious box beneath the packaging.

“This is…” His eyes widened as he recognized the seal carved onto the box.

There was no way he wouldn’t know. News of the biggest auction had reached even the 2nd floor.

It was the mark of The Auction.

He carefully opened the box, only to find a refined necklace sitting inside.

“Item info.” He only got more confused when he saw it was a Rare-grade necklace. Stamina Regeneration Necklace… Just who sent it to me? 

He pondered for a while, but he couldn’t find the answer. No one from his family, team, or even guild would send him this sort of present.

“Huh? It’s a note.” He picked up a note in the corner of the box and quickly read over it.

– I hope you’re healthy. I’ll come up within half a year. Your uncle.

“……” He read over it several times and looked up silently at the starry night sky. His eyes were starting to sparkle like the stars.

Half a year… So he’s starting to move. He was filled with both anticipation and worry. The 2nd floor was a completely ‘different world’ than the one his uncle knew.

But he simply shrugged his shoulders and let out a chuckle.

“Geez, just who am I worrying about.”

His name was Arthur Green. He was Gilbert Green’s son and regarded as the Five Heroes’ son.

* * *

Seo Jun-ho blinked as he emerged from the Incheon Airport gate. Someone he didn’t expect was waiting for him.

“Wh-why are you staring at me like that…?” Cha Si-eun muttered as she avoided his gaze. She was wearing a clean suit as always.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t know that you’d come all the way to the airport.”

“…Escorting you when you come back to your home country is also the duty of a secretary.” She casually led him to a car.

“Do you have anywhere else you’d like to stop by? Or shall we head straight to the Association?” She asked as he took a seat.

“Go to the Association. And,” Seo Jun-ho rummaged around his bag, pulling out a well-wrapped book. “This is a gift. I didn’t know what to buy, so I just got a book… I don’t know if you’ll like it though.”

“Well, I’d be grateful for any gift at all…” Cha Si-eun smiled softly, but her expression quickly changed as she turned around. Once she saw the book that Seo Jun-ho was holding, a ripple formed in her eyes.

“W-wait. Did you buy me the fantasy novel that’s getting adapted into a movie in Hollywood, ‘The Youngest Son of the Gates’? The hardcover edition…?!”

“Oh, you know this book? It was the last copy in the bestseller section.”

“Of course I know it!” Cha Si-eun’s mouth was wide as she held out her hands politely, as if she was receiving New Year’s money. She stared at it for a second and cradled it in her arms like it was treasure, bowing her head. “I tried so hard to get a copy, but I couldn’t.”

“Really? I’m glad, then.” Seo Jun-ho looked at Cha Si-eun and her bright face. “You can read it right now, if you want.”

“Th-that’s… I’m working right now.” Her words were admirable, but her eyes betrayed her.

“Do you have any documents to finish up?”

“I finished them all on the way to the airport…”

“So what’s the problem?” Seo Jun-ho smiled and buried himself into the seat. “Have fun reading, and wake me up when we arrive.”

“……” Cha Si-eun hesitated before responding in a soft voice. “G-good night…”

A few minutes passed. Seo Jun-ho fell into a deep sleep, listening to the sound of pages turning.

“Yo~ Is that Mr. Sherlock?” As he entered the office, Deok-gu gave his warm, signature smile and waved his hand. Seo Jun-ho’s face soured.

“Sherlock? What are you talking about?”

“Wherever he goes, things happen and terror arises. Much like you.”

“The hell are you saying…” Seo Jun-ho grinned as he sat down and pulled out the liquor he bought from the Duty Free store.

“Here, Balvenie 1975. It’s a present.”

“You got me something expensive? What to do; I’m abstaining right now.”

“Just drink it later, then.” Deok-gu looked happy as he held the bottle worth millions of won.

(TN: Thousands of dollars.)

“I contacted Arthur on the way here. I told him I’m going up within half a year.”

“Good. That kid must’ve had it really hard, but he grew up nicely.”

“Has it been a while since you saw him?”

“He hasn’t come down since going up to the 2nd floor. He said the 1st floor keeps reminding him of his dad…”

“Tsk.” Seo Jun-ho’s mouth tasted bitter. He changed the topic. “Oh, and I heard from Gong Juha… She said the invitation you gave me wasn’t a normal one.”

“So you heard?” Shim Deok-gu nodded, seemingly unaffected. “It was a warning to show the world how much I care for you.”

“Ew, gross.”

“Hehe, that grossness will save you at some point.” Seo Jun-ho was a little embarrassed by the love his friend was showing him. He was all grown up.

“Anyways, I have a favor to ask you.”

“What favor?”

“I’m looking for an orphanage.”

“…Why an orphanage?” Shim Deok-gu tilted his head. He didn’t understand.

“Listen carefully to what I’m about to say. It’s pretty heavy.” Seo Jun-ho’s face was serious as he started to tell the story.

How he’d come to get the ability to see the memories of the dead. How he’d been the one to take care of the Watchdogs at the Las Vegas auction. And lastly, about the place where the fiends trained orphans into one of them.

When he finished, Shim Deok-gu’s face crumbled like plaster.

“…What you said, is that all true?”

“Yeah. But I don’t know the specific location of the orphanage. The only thing I’m sure of is that it’s not in Korea.”

“Dammit, those bastards don’t know where to draw the line!” Shim Deok-gu’s breath was rough as he banged his fist on the handle of his chair. That was how shocking the news of the orphanage was. “…Hoo, I promise. I’ll find out everything I can.”

“I’m counting on you.”

After trying to catch his breath, Deok-gu uncorked the Balvenie 1975. Seo Jun-ho looked at him blankly.

“I thought you were abstaining?”

“Shit, whatever! How could I just sit still after hearing all that?”

“Wait.” Seo Jun-ho quickly activated his Frost skill, and several ice cubes formed in his glass. The two downed their glasses.

“Keuh…” Deok-gu’s face wrinkled at the taste of the strong whiskey. He wiped his lips.

“Kwon Noya wants to see you.”

“Noya?”

(TN: ‘Noya’ also means old man, but they use it like a name/nickname.)

“Yeah. You know the sword you asked for before you went to the States? He said it’ll be finished tomorrow and that he wants to give it to you in person. It won’t be suspicious anymore if you guys meet.”

“…I see.” Seo Jun-ho placed his glass down and nodded. There was a simple reason he hadn’t been able to meet with Kwon Noya immediately after he awakened from the ice.

I didn’t have anything to my name back then. 

On the other hand, Kwon Noya was far above him like a city wall. But now, things were different.

“What do you think? Do you think I’m big enough to meet him?”

“Well, you have a lot to go compared to 2nd floor rankers… But when we look at the 1st floor, you’re doing amazing. Your progress is shocking.”

The other countries knew that he was over level 15, but there was another reason why he was so famous.

“So the Uncleared Gates are a big factor.”

“Your plan worked.” He was a rookie player that only went into Uncleared Gates and made Korea into a special safe zone. He’d accomplished things that others never dreamed of.

“You said it’s tomorrow, right?”

“Yeah, go in the morning.”

“Alright. I’m going to rest, then.” Shim Deok-gu grinned as he watched his friend leave.

“Bastard, he’s all excited to meet Noya since it’s been a while.”

He rolled his shoulders and drank another glass. He stopped smiling as he called his secretary.

“Get me a list of every Player Orphanage in the world.”

There was no way he’d do a sloppy job on this.

* * *

As soon as it was light out, Seo Jun-ho headed toward the Insa-dong Player Market. Deep within the street of workshops was Kwon Noya’s forge. Seo Jun-ho looked at the workshop with fondness. It hadn’t changed in the last 25 years.

Now that I think about it, Kwon Noya’s grandson must’ve grown a lot. He smiled as he thought of him. He was always being scolded by old man Kwon, so Seo Jun-ho always bought him ice cream. He was so cute, following him around like a puppy and calling him ‘Hero-nim’.

He was so timid. I’m curious to see how he’s grown up. From what he’d heard from Deok-gu, the crybaby had inherited the workshop from Kwon Noya and was now the owner.

As he got closer to the workshop, he heard a rhythmic sound.

Clang! Clang! Clang! 

The ringing sounds of the hammer were very sharp and clean.

That kid learned properly from the old man. As he knocked on the door, full of anticipation, the sounds stopped.

“Who is it?” As the front door opened, hot air billowed out. A 191cm muscular giant answered the door. He was dressed in work clothes and holding a hammer as if to prove that he was indeed a blacksmith.

Wait. So this is… Seo Jun-ho blinked as he looked up at him. This is Kwon Noya’s grandson? 

He’d been cute like a puppy in the past, but in 25 years, he’d transformed into a hellhound.

He recognized Seo Jun-ho and quickly welcomed him inside. “Oh, you’re player Seo Jun-ho. The Association told me. Come on in.”

The workshop was neat and tidy as he went inside. The family had been smiths for generations, and their skill was obvious.

Noya’s probably upstairs. Seo Jun-ho looked at the stairs.

“You rascal, it’s so hard to see your face.” A strong, familiar voice came from behind him. As Seo Jun-ho slowly turned around, he smiled as he saw the old man with an overgrown beard and white hair.

“It’s been a while, Noya.” It was the first time he’d seen him in 25 years.