Return of the Frozen Player

‘I can feel it.’

Seo Jun-Ho closed his eyes. He could clearly feel the countless pioneered roads in his body. They were unknown areas previously blocked.

Buzzzz!

Magic flowed coolly on the newly opened roads, and Seo Jun-Ho could feel his entire body being filled with energy.

‘It’s back.’

Open!

When Seo Jun-Ho opened his eyes, his eyes flashed, and the room with not even a single candle was illuminated. The light that filled the room quickly faded, but the energy in his eyes was still there.

‘I feel like I can do anything.’

A Squadron leader of the Fiend Association? Right now, he felt like he could confidently tear apart even two... no, even three of them.

Sniff sniff

Then, a frowning Thunder God got up and said, "Smells... Aren’t ya goin’ to wash up?"

"What?" Seo Jun-Ho asked back with a frown.

He had no idea that the room had become filled with an awful smell, as he was busy exploring the newly opened magic circuits. When he looked around, there was a pile of bright yellow and black filth next to him.

"No way... Did this all come from my body?”

"Then ya think it came from mah body?"

“…”

Seo Jun-Ho gulped. He didn\'t think there would still be any of these things in his body, as he had been consistently maintaining his magic circuit…

‘I didn’t expect that so much of these had accumulated on the roads the magic circuit couldn’t previously pass through.’

A little shocked, he got up.

"I will be right back after washing up. Before that, can I ask you something?”

"Go ahead."

"Has my Conception Governing Vessel been opened completely?"

"Yep, but don\'t be mistaken.” The Thunder God raised his hand. "I only opened the path. It’s up to yer competence to train and maintain it again."

"Of course…"

Seo Jun-Ho once again thanked by bowing 90 degrees. If he managed his new magic circuits well, his magic efficiency would become much greater.

‘It\'s not just that. Overclocking’s performance will become much better as well.’

Smiling, Seo Jun-Ho asked, "Where can I take a shower?"

"Next to the well. Ya can do the laundry over there, too."

"Yes, sir."

Seo Jun-Ho left the room with a blanket and a mattress. He then filled water in a basin big enough for an adult man to soak in.

‘It\'s lukewarm.’

It was summer, but since they were so high up in altitude, the water was cold enough that it would freeze an ordinary person’s bones even if they just dipped their finger into it. However, Seo Jun-Ho possessed Cold Tolerance (B).

"Ah, that\'s nice."

The bath overlooking the superb view of the Wailing Mountains was refreshing to the point where his worries had flown away. The winding mountain range and clouds could be seen below. The sun also looked like it was close enough that he could grasp it if he just stretched his hand out.

pαndα nᴏνê|,сòМ "It\'s nice…"

How long had it been since he could relax like this? After the pleasant bath, he washed his mattress and blanket cleanly and hung them on the drying rack next to him. When he returned to his room, he found the Thunder God sitting there, rooted like an old tree.

"Y’er here. Sit here.” When Seo Jun-Ho sat politely in front of him, the Thunder God asked, "So, are ya feelin’ better?"

"Thanks to you, I don\'t think there\'d be a problem even if I were to go hunting right now."

"That\'s just how ya feel. Ya can\'t overdo it yet.”

‘As expected…’

When he was on his journey, and even just a while ago, Seo Jun-Ho felt like dying. It had only been less than an hour since he felt a lot better, so it was natural that he still had to rest, as the Thunder God said.

"…Then I\'ll take some rest instead of playing around."

"Good. Are ya goin’ down as soon as ya get better?"

"No, I\'d like to stay and receive teachings from you.”

"Hmmm." The Thunder God scratched his chin and thought for a while. "Teachin’, teachin’... What exactly do ya want to learn from meh?”

"I don\'t know. Just please teach me everything."

"Huh." The Thunder God looked dumbfounded. "I\'m already so busy raisin’ mah one and only rascal of a disciple, but ya want me to teach ya everything… Isn’t that pure robbery?"

"Haha…”

"These days, it\'s rare, but there used to be a lot of them coming to meh.”

"I think I know why…"

Visiting the Thunder God was already overwhelmingly worth it just from the ‘vein strengthening technique’ he had performed on Seo Jun-Ho.

"But am I an idiot to do things just because they ask? If it weren\'t for the Sage of the Observatory Tower, I wouldn\'t have done it even for ya.”

"I am grateful."

"So the vein strengthenin’ technique is all I’ll do for ya. That\'s it." The Thunder God’s eyes shone. "Ya want to be taught by meh. Then ya have to prove it like everyone else."

"Prove…?”

“Yep. Mah time is like gold, so I want to see proof if y’er worth spendin’ my time on.”

It was a provocation, but Seo Jun-Ho smiled quietly.

‘He doesn\'t want to teach for free… I think he’s saying he just wants to see my skills.’

Seo Jun-Ho nodded gladly, "All right. How can I prove myself?”

"When the sun rises three days later, come out to the yard."

"I understand."

“...”

After speaking, awkwardness formed between the two grown men. Soon, the Thunder God got up, feeling awkward.

"I\'m leaving...”

"Oh, wait a moment." Seo Jun-Ho called and stopped him. "I couldn\'t thank you because I wasn\'t in a situation where I couldn\'t move, but I heard that your disciple brought me here."

"I said that?”

"Ah."

He realized that he had made a mistake. He had heard that from the Frost Queen. The Thunder God hadn’t even said a word about that to him.

Smirking, the Thunder God changed the subject. "Anyway, ya sayin’ you want to say hello to my disciple?”

"Yes, yes."

"Then, ya have to wait a little bit. He’s out doing physical trainin’.”

"Aha. How long do I have to wait?"

"How long? Well... Ya’ll have to wait about a week."

"What? A week?"

Seo Jun-Ho’s mouth opened wide. If he was the Thunder God’s student, he was likely skilled as well. So, it was strange that such an individual would spend such a long time on physical training.

"I know what y’er thinking." The Thunder God saw through the meaning of Seo Jun-Ho’s expression and shook his head. “The world is inherently unfair. Ya already know that well."

"What do you mean...”

"There are some people who have to take a thousand steps to do the same thing ya can do with just a single step.”

Tap, tap.

After tapping Seo Jun-Ho on the shoulder, the Thunder God left the room. "Well, that\'s about it. Anyway, I\'ll see ya in three days. If y\'re hungry, just make whatever ya want in the kitchen."

"Yes…"

The Thunder God whistled across the yard and slipped into his house. Seo Jun-Ho sat there for a moment and thought about what the Thunder God had said.

"When I take a step, someone has to take a thousand steps…"

Anyone would think the Thunder God was referring to talent if they heard these words. Perhaps, the Thunder God’s disciple was not a very talented Player.

"I guess I\'ll find out later when I meet him."

Seo Jun-Ho sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to observe his body.

***

Time flew like an arrow, and three days later, Seo Jun-Ho blinked as he left the room. The Thunder God was sitting on a flat rock in a large open space. Seeing Seo Jun-Ho from afar, the Thunder God tapped on the spot where he was with his palm.

"Ya just have to come all the way from the wooden floor there to here."

"…Is that it?"

"Yep!"

The distance from the wooden floor to the rock was about a hundred meters. If he used Overclocking at full strength, it was a distance he could travel in a second.

"But this is too easy... No, I understand."

It was just a test for formality’s sake, anyway. Seo Jun-Ho put on his shoes and warmed up lightly.

"I will go when you give me the signal."

“Hmm, the signal...”

The Thunder God, who had always been playful and gentle with a seemingly kind disposition, nodded slowly. All of a sudden, his eyes turned as sharp as that of a hawk, and his playfulness vanished from his expression.

"The enemy won\'t give ya that.”

Rumbling.

Before Seo Jun-Ho could even hear the faint rumbling in the clear sky—

Buzzzzzz!

A stream of lightning penetrated Seo Jun-Ho\'s body.

Bang!

Seo Jun-Ho fainted with a drop. The Thunder God walked across the yard and looked at the former; the playfulness had returned to his face.

"Ya thought it would be easy, didn\'t ya? Not a chance.”

He then picked up the new challenger that would keep him entertained for the time being and hurled him into the room.

***

"Gasp!"

Opening his eyes, Seo Jun-Ho breathed a sigh of relief.

"What kind of bullshit dream is this?"

"…Not a dream," said Frost Queen in a sullen voice, sitting next to him.

"Huh? What did you say?"

"It is not a dream that you fainted after being struck by lightning."

Upon hearing the detailed explanation from the Frost Queen, Seo Jun-Ho scratched his head.

"Wait, that was real?"

"It is a ridiculous test." Sighing lightly, she crossed her arms. "It seems that the old man named the Thunder God has no intention of teaching you."

"No, but...”

The Thunder God had definitely said so. If he wanted to be taught, he would have to prove himself like everyone else.

‘Then that means he’s been testing people like this before.’

Seo Jun-Ho gulped, jumped up, and left the room. Sitting on the same rock as he remembered, the Thunder God was drinking with a pleasant expression.

"Hey, weakling. Ya awake?"

"…How many?"

"Huh? What are you saying?"

"How many people have passed this test and have received teachings from you?"

"Ah, that\'s what yer askin’."

The Thunder God put down the gourd bottle and slowly raised his hand. He raised only his index finger.

"One guy."

"Then he...”

"My only disciple."

Seo Jun-Ho organized his thoughts briefly and asked, "Let me ask you another question. How many people have taken this test so far?"

"Hmm~ This is a bit difficult."

He scratched his unshaved rough beard as he contemplated.

"I don\'t know exactly... Maybe thousands?"

"Thousands..."

Only one had passed among the thousands of challengers.

The Thunder God added with a grin, "For yer information, those brats from the Nine Heavens also gave meh a visit."

“…!”

Seo Jun-Ho’s eyes widened as he asked, "If it\'s the Nine Heavens, do you mean Kim Woo-Joong, Shin Sung-Hyun, and Wei Chun-Hak, too?"

"Yep.”

Thunder God lightly created thunder energy and shook his hand.

Buzzz!

Three lines were drawn on the vacant lot.

"From the very front, those are the records of the Wei kid, Kim kid, and Shin kid."

“…”

Seo Jun-Ho glanced at the three lines. Wei Chun-Hak’s record was 51 meters. Kim Woo-Joong\'s record was 58 meters, and Shin Sung-Hyun\'s record was 69 meters.

"Shin-Sung Hyun is the strongest of the three...”

"That\'s not it." The Thunder God shook his head. "Ya\'ve been through this test once, so ya know, right? Compatibility is important."

Indeed. However, did that mean the Master of Space Shin Sung-Hyun had avoided lightning until he arrived at the 69-meter mark?

‘But even the Nine Heavens failed to prove themselves...’

Gulp.

Seo Jun-Ho\'s attitude toward the test changed. He became nervous when he thought that it was a test even the strongest existing Players had failed. However, he wasn’t just nervous.

‘Interesting…’

He was also looking forward to it. If he passed this test, it meant he could at least stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

"It’s interesting."

The Thunder God smirked at Seo Jun-Ho’s words and spoke, "Interesting? Ya really are a weirdo, the more I look at ya.”

Tap, tap.

He patted the spot next to him with his palm as if he was calling for his grandson.

"Come."

At the same time, the Thunder God’s aura abruptly changed. The kind old man next door had become a ruthless proctor.