Return of the Frozen Player

- I have explained who I am, but you two have not revealed your identities just yet.

“My identity? I’m Seo Jun-Ho.”

“And I am the Frost Queen.”

- I am not asking for your names. I wish to know, um, your occupations or the like…

Wisoso started alternatingly between Seo Jun-Ho and the Frost Queen. For Wisoso, they didn’t seem like bad people on the surface.

“Hm. How should I put this.”

“First, I am the Queen of Niflheim. Currently, I am a spirit.”

- Q-queen? A spirit?

Wisoso muttered. They had no idea what a spirit was, but they knew the word ‘queen’.

- I do not know which planet Niflheim is located on, but you are royalty. I understand now.

Even though she looked youthful, the demon had noticed that she was radiating with elegance. It finally made sense.

“Look here. I have revealed my status, but you are still impolite. Try again,” she ordered.[1]

- Was I? Sorry.

The Frost Queen shook the demon and said, “Again!”

- F-forgive me. Please stop.

“Hmph.” Finally, the Frost Queen revealed a satisfied smile. She patted the Small Heavenly Demon in her arms. “You are an intelligent piece of metal. From now on, you should behave like so.”

- …

The Small Heavenly Demon sparked as if they were trying to intimidate. Wisoso bounced over to Seo Jun-Ho, who had been quiet the whole time.

- Then who are you? Are you the queen’s personal guard?

“No, I’m her master,” he said flatly.

“That is false!” The Frost Queen said insistently. “You must make it clear. Contractor, you are not my master.”

“Then are you my master?”

“...Oh, I can be your master?”

“Of course not.”

At that, she wilted, and her shoulders slumped.

“Anyway, I’m the gap, and she’s the eul, in an 8:2 ratio.”[2]

- Would that mean you are someone who is capable of standing over a queen?

Wisoso’s LED eyes trembled. If that were true, they couldn’t carelessly stay with this man.

- Then, where are we going now?[3]

Wisoso asked politely.

“A place where I can observe the fiends who massacred the Demonic Cult as well as gain the trust of the Murim Alliance,” Seo Jun-Ho said.

- Such an extraordinary place exists?

“Of course it does…”

“There is but one location.”

Seo Jun-Ho and the Frost Queen turned their heads at the same time. Despite being tens of kilometers away, the second-highest building in Neo City was still clearly visible.

“We’re going to the Murim Alliance.”

***

A person, a spirit, a robot, and an instinct entered the Murim Alliance headquarters. When they saw Seo Jun-Ho’s face, the martial artists immediately led him to Director Hyun-Baek.

“Though this is only the second time, you always seem two be two or three steps ahead of me,” the old man said.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Seo Jun-Ho sat down and started telling him what happened. He told him about the tens of trucks that poured out of the Demonic Cult’s base and all the machine parts they had dumped into a landfill. Director Hyun-Baek’s darkened in an instant as he listened. He then pulled up a few hologram photos.

“Did you see any of these people?” he asked.

“Hm. One second.” Seo Jun-Ho looked carefully at each photo. He already knew that all of them were dead, but that was only because he had read the memories of the Demonic Cult’s Heavenly Demon. If he became too confident, it was very likely that the director would find him suspicious. “I saw this person. And this one. Hm… I don’t think I saw this one.”

“A-again! Take another look. Did you truly see this man?”

“Despite what I look, I have a pretty good memory, so I’m sure of it.”

“I did not mean to seem like I doubted you. I apologize if I offended you,” Director Hyun-Baek muttered. He looked disturbed, trying to deduce what was going on. After all, Seo Jun-Ho had just told him that he had seen the corpse of the Demonic Cult’s Heavenly Demon with his own two eyes. “My apologies. I will be right back.”

Director Hyun-Baek left in a hurry and returned after an hour. His face looked grave as he said to Seo Jun-Ho. “We have searched the landfill you mentioned. It was all true.”

“I told you I have a pretty good memory,” Seo Jun-Ho remarked.

“Allow me to restate that I confirmed the matter not because I do not trust you. It is because this is a very serious matter.” Director Hyun-Baek continued. “Stand up. We have somewhere to go together.”

“Where are we going?” Seo Jun-Ho asked as he followed the old man out into the hallway.

“Young Hero Seo, listen closely. The man you saw earlier was the Heavenly Demon of the Demonic Cult.”

“Woah, really?” Seo Jun-Ho exclaimed, pretending to be shocked. “Wait, then if he was at the landfill…”

“I believe that a great storm passed over the Demonic Cult last night,” Director Hyun-Baek nodded.

“But isn’t this good news for us?” Seo Jun-Ho asked. He used the word ‘us’ on purpose, but Director Hyun-Baek didn’t notice the change and simply shook his head.

“I do not know. I do not know if this was simply the result of an insurrection from the inside or if it was the interference of a new party.”

“So neither possibility is good,” he concluded.

“Indeed. Hmm.” He absentmindedly stroked his beard. “Right now, we will be entering an Alliance conference.”

“An Alliance conference?” Seo Jun-Ho asked.

“It is a meeting that can only the Alliance Leader can convene. Only those who are ranked as an executive director or higher may participate,” Director Hyun-Baek explained.

“In that case, why am I—”

“You were the first witness, were you not? I ask that you give your testimony.”

The hallway was quiet. Not even the loud bustling of the city could penetrate this place. The door creaked as Seo Jun-Ho entered the conference room.

His eyes flashed. ‘Thirty-three. There aren’t as many as I thought.’

They all gave off mighty auras, and they all wore loose, flowing clothing, which was likely to hide their mechanical parts.

‘Hiding one’s mechanical parts should be considered important in this world…’

It was similar to the way Players hid their skills.

Out of the thirty-four martial artists, including Director Hyun-Baek, there were only eleven people who caught Seo Jun-Ho’s attention.

‘The sect leaders of the Ten Great Families.’ That was ten. And the last one was a tall man sitting at the seat of honor. He was a fragile-looking old man who seemed like a scholar.

He was the Alliance Leader.

‘He’s dangerous. That old man smells dangerous.’

On the outside, he looked like he didn’t even have the strength to lift a spoon.

Seo Jun-Ho couldn’t sense any kind of energy from him.

‘He’s at least on the same level as me.’

However, it was clear that the fragile-looking old man was on a level where he could hide his power to seem like a normal person. Seo Jun-Ho secretly flared his aura in the hopes that he would seem like an immature novice in their eyes.

“I greet the Alliance Leader,” Director Hyun-Baek said in the direction of the fragile-looking old man.

“Come hither, Director Hyun-Baek. And…” The fragile-looking old man turned to Seo Jun-Ho. “Is this child the one who fulfilled two missions in the span of several hours?”

“Indeed. This is Young Hero Seo Jun-Ho.”

“Hmm, that is surprising. You barely seem to be twenty years of age.”

Seo Jun-Ho smiled cheerfully. “I’ll be twenty-seven this year.”

“So you are older than you seem. Hohoho.” Seo Jun-Ho was actually closer to thirty. The Alliance Leader nodded and chuckled. “I am the Alliance Leader, Namgung Jincheon.”[4]

“I am Seo Jun-Ho.”

“Despite the circumstances, I apologize for summoning you on short notice. Let us continue our order of business. Would you explain what you saw?”

“Of course. I was in the eastern area…”

Seo Jun-Ho explained in as much detail as he could. Once he finished, the conference room became unsettled.

“There is no need to doubt him. His story aligns with the Black Tortoise Unit’s report.”

“I believe someone attacked the Demonic Cult. Their purpose is clear, and that is—”

“Watch yourself. You’re too loose-lipped.”

“Everyone quiet.” Namgung Jincheon silenced the room. “You said that you followed the trucks that came out of the Demonic Cult’s base. Would you explain that part in more detail?”

‘He’s sharp.’

The Alliance Leader had been listening to Seo Jun-Ho’s story like a good-humored grandfather, but his sharp wits had caught on to something.

At the Alliance Leader’s words, Seo Jun-Ho smiled. He had told the whole story in one go on purpose for this very reason. “Oh, well, they say saying is believing, so I will simply show you.”

With that, Seo Jun-Ho disappeared. He had just used Night Walking.

“Hm…!”

“Wait, where did you go?”

The conference room started to grow noisy. However, eleven of them seemed interested.

“I see. That is an impressive concealment technique.”

“I believe it would be impossible for someone to detect him unless they are about as skilled as us.”

“I suppose this is what it would be like if the legendary phantom thief existed.”

They praised him, and the Alliance Leader nodded. “That is enough.”

Seo Jun-Ho reappeared, and the Alliance Leader continued. “This is unexpected. Are all Players like you?”

“It is embarrassing to admit, but I’m actually a pretty outstanding Player.”

“Indeed, it would be impossible for all of you to be so powerful.” The Alliance Leader chuckled. “Thank you for your story. Have you found lodgings yet?”

“Oh…” Seo Jun-Ho shook his head. “I’m looking for a place.”

“Would you like to stay with the Alliance?”

The executive directors seemed startled by the Alliance Leader’s straightforward suggestion. However, considering the level of skill Seo Jun-Ho had just displayed, it wasn’t an unprecedented suggestion. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to let him stay as a guest and have him do them favors every now and then.

“If you would accept me, I would be honored.”

“Hoho. I thank you for humoring this old man.” Namgung Jincheon called for one of his men and assigned him as an escort. “Take him to our best rooms.”

“I will heed your command.”

“Young Hero Seo Jun-Ho, was it? I will contact you at a later date.”

“I will be waiting.”

Once the Player left the room, all eyes turned to the Alliance Leader. However, he paid no heed to their stares as he tapped on the table with one finger.

“Director Hyun-Baek,” he said.

“Yes, Alliance Leader.”

“I will assign you to the surveillance of the child you brought here.”

“Surveillance…?” Director Hyun-Baek looked confused. Unless Seo Jun-Ho was mad, he should have no reason to betray the Murim Alliance.

“Tsk, tsk. You are unobservant. With that ability of his, he would be able to enter classified areas without any obstacles.”

“Oh! You are worried that he will steal information.”

“There is nothing to lose from being cautious.”

“What threat level should we treat him as?”

Namgung Jincheon replied immediately without even considering it. “Sky.”

“S-sky…!”

Sky was the highest threat level.

With that order, Director Hyun-Baek had to look at Seo Jun-Ho with renewed eyes.

‘Now that I consider it, Alliance Leader is correct. Actually, this is just right.’

The Player possessed an ability that could escape the notice of anyone other than the sect leaders of the Ten Great Families and the Alliance Leader himself. If he wanted to, he could walk around the building like it was his own residence or become similar to a submarine in the vast ocean.

“We will watch him carefully at all times.”

“I will leave that to you.”

With that sorted out, the Alliance Leader scanned the room. “As you all know, the Demonic Cult has fallen.”

There was no need to explain any further. He tapped on the table.

“Bring the Fourth Chip to me. No matter what it takes.”

***

Seo Jun-Ho’s room was extravagant. It could even compete with the finest 7-star hotels in the world.

“Rest well.” With that, his escort left.

Just as Seo Jun-Ho was about to go and admire the beautiful view of Neo City, he was interrupted by a noise.

Bzzzt!

“Ow!” The Frost Queen yelped. Wisoso sparked in her arms and fumed.

- Are you crazy?!

“What do you mean?”

- Since you have such an amazing technique, you should have kept it a secret no matter what!

“Keep it a secret?” Seo Jun-Ho smirked and said, “You need to learn how to read people.” If he had lied there, the Alliance Leader would have definitely noticed it. After all, Keen Intuition had sternly warned him about it. “It’s better to gain their trust.”

Humans had a natural tendency to believe in what they saw, heard, and experienced themselves. That was why he purposely revealed Night Walking to them.

- Hoo. You really know nothing. Let me tell you this. As soon as you step out of this room, they will be watching you around the clock.

“Yeah, probably.” He had already predicted that they would be watching his every move.

Seo Jun-Ho looked at the closed door.

‘They’re more cautious than I expected. There are three hiding in the walls in the hallway and two on the roof.’

Their auras were very faint. Even most High Rankers wouldn’t be able to sense their magic power no matter how hard they concentrated.

- Hoo. Had I warned you earlier, this would not have happened…

“Frost, is she mad about something?” asked Seo Jun-Ho.

“I believe she is concerned that your movements will be limited because you will be under constant observation”

“Hey, bouncy ball. Let me tell you something.” Seo Jun-Ho held up three fingers. “Do you worry about the emperor?”

- Are you mad? The only people who would worry about him are those who have nothing else to be concerned with.

“What about the rich people?

- There is a saying that wealthy families will live for at least three more generations even if they fall into ruin. There is no reason to worry about those people.

“Then, you don’t need to worry about me.”

- Why is that the final conclusion…?

“It’s a universal rule,” he explained.

Seo Jun-Ho wasn’t sure who had defined it, but it was a universal fact. No one should worry about Specter.

“And I only showed them a small part of my skills,” he added.

- Even if that is the truth, you will be unable to use the technique you showed earlier.

“Says who?”

He slowly closed his eyes. When he did, a flood of new memories started flowing in.

Seo Jun-Ho opened his eyes and asked, “Are you ready, Sik?”

“Of course, I’m ready, Ho,” Seo Jun-Sik confidently replied with arms crossed.

1. Wisoso has been speaking down on them this whole time. ☜

2. These are terms commonly used in contracts. The ‘gap’ is the party that benefits the most, while the ‘eul’ is the opposite. These terms can also be used to signify a difference in status and/or power. ☜

3. Wisoso switched to using a respectful way of speaking. ☜

4. Namgung is the name shared by six Korean clans. Out of the six, the Hamyeol Namgung clan has roots in Chinese royalty. Several of its members were distinguished as politicians and high-ranking military officers in ancient Korea. Jincheon is the term used to mark someone’s moniker or title as an accomplished martial artist, but it is directly attached to his name. ☜