Return of the Frozen Player

There was a square table in a huge room that was a tad bit colder than outside. For some reason, there was a war of nerves between the two men and the woman sitting in front of the table.

"A few rats recently came into my Farm," said a tall man with two giant horns that made him resemble a mountain goat.

A woman with purple skin and weird tattoos all over her body snorted and said, "Idiot. Are you bragging about being robbed because you can't take care of those below you?"

The tall man's heavy gaze landed on her.

"What are you looking at? Avert your gaze."

"No matter how much I think about it, you're the only one who has such gall."

"Shit. Quit talking shit and look away. You know I don't say things three times, right?”

Even though the air was tense as if it were going to explode, a man with an emotionless face remained still with his eyes closed.

"So what if you don't like it? What are you going to do?”

"Heh. I like how you’re simple and straightforward.”

The smiling tattooed woman was about to stand up…

Boom!

However, the door was flung open by a grumbling thin man.

"Sigh, I’m extremely busy, so hurry up and tell me why you called me. If it’s a lame reason—Oh? What is this?” The thin man instantly deduced what was going on. he smiled brightly and clapped his hands. "You guys are finally fighting, aren't you? I thought I was going to die of old age waiting for that!"

“…”

The tall man closed his eyes without saying a word, and the tattoo girl also slumped back in her seat.

"The excitement is all gone. There’s no way I’m going to fight this punk for someone else to enjoy.”

"What, you guys aren't going to fight?” The thin man sat with a disappointed look. "That's too bad. If you two fought and died, I was going to take all of your lands.”

"If I fight, I’ll definitely fight a bastard like you first."

"Why are you directing your anger on me?”

"You’re making fun of us, so you deserve it."

"Ah… Anyway…” The thin man dismissively waved his hand. He stared at the three and asked, "So why did you call me here?"

The tall man spoke, "Mellis is dead."

"Oh, really?" The thin man scratched his head, seemingly confused. "Mellis? Who is that?"

"The High demon we sent to manage the 5.5th Floor."

“Is that so? Why did you send garbage to become the manager of the 5.5th Floor?"

"We wanted to gauge the Players’ levels."

"Hoh." It had already been discussed the other day, but the thin man seemed to have completely forgotten about it as he nodded and said, "Since they can deal with a High demon. I guess Players’ levels are higher than I thought.”

"It wasn’t the Players."

"Hmm? What are you talking about?"

"Only one Player got rid of Mellis, and he’s the one named Specter."

The tall man knocked on the table, and a video playback appeared in the air.

- Red Thorns.

Crackle!

Dozens of crimson thorns pierced Mellis as the blood in his chest froze. The video playback ended right there and then.

"What’s this?"

"It’s the footage of Mellis’ death."

"I know. I’m saying that since you’re going to show me anyway, why not show me the whole thing rather than just two seconds of it?”

"The data in the installed cameras on the 5.5th Floor were wiped out, and the familiars were vanquished as well."

"What? How?"

"How do you think? Think about it for once. Is the head between your shoulders nothing but an accessory?" the tattooed woman muttered with her arms crossed in front of her chest.

"The Administrators intervened. I guess we took too long."

"Wait. Isn't it theoretically impossible for Administrators to intervene on the 5.5th Floor?"

“Yes, but the big shot clung to me longer than I expected, so they eventually broke through,” said the tattooed woman.

"Who's the big shot?"

The tattooed woman glanced at the sunlight shining on the table without saying anything.

"Ah…" At the sight, the thin man nodded without complaining. "It can't be helped if it’s the Sun God."

"Of course, but this is not why I called you."

"Then, why did you call me?"

"The plan has begun..."

The seemingly emotionless man finally opened his eyes upon hearing that. The 5.5th Floor was designed to tie the Players’ ankles up and carry out the ‘plan’ they had prepared for a long time. Once the plan began, they would be one step closer to achieving the grand ambition of demons.

"Does the Archduke know about this?"

"I did not tell him separately, but I think he knows."

"I see..."

If the Archduke wanted, he could even eavesdrop on their conversation right now.

The tall man spoke, "This Specter guy is really bothering me. We have to do something about him in advance.”

"Hmm? Do we need to? He only killed a High demon."

"I have a bad feeling about him."

"I admit that your feelings are often correct, but…”

The thin man got up and shook his head before saying, "I'm out. It doesn't sound cool to me."

"Same," said the tattooed woman before leaving.

The seemingly emotionless man also disappeared like smoke.

“…”

Now alone, the tall man closed his eyes quietly.

"Those idiots."

Would the Sun God delete the records of a particular individual for no reason? The tall man really found it uncomfortable to be a part of the Four Counts with those three. He mulled over the matter for a while before standing up with a determined look.

***

[Breaking news! The 5.5th Floor was a huge trap set up by the demons.]

[Bottom 10% Players, 10% drop in all stats for a year. A dark future for the newbies?]

[The cloudy skies after the rain. After the fiends, demons are targeting humans.]

[The 5 Heroes (pictured) defeated Common demons and a High demon. Their legend continues.]

…

The world was in turmoil. They had been subjected to all kinds of terrorist attacks, but they had never seen such a terrorist attack on such a large scale. They couldn’t have expected that the 5.5th Floor was actually a trap. The media and player associations of many countries couldn’t hide their embarrassment.

Of course, they were worried about the demons as well.

"It’s still a relief. I thought something big happened on Earth."

"I know, right?”

The demons said that they achieved one of their primary goals, but nothing really happened on Earth in the following days since the Players’ return. At last, Seo Jun-Ho could finally take a breather. It seemed that there was a low chance that he would have to fight demons once again in the near future.

"The treatment is over."

"…Thank you."

The last few days went by like a ray of light as Seo Jun-Ho received intensive treatment from Cha Si-Eun.

"Phew. I'm sorry. My skill still isn’t good enough...”

"No, it’s great."

Tremble.

Cha Si-Eun and Seo Jun-Ho were staring at the latter’s hands, and they were trembling.

Seo Jun-Ho forcibly clenched his hands into fists and said, "How can this be your fault, Ms. Si-Eun? This is my problem."

Cha Si-Eun's treatment skills were so excellent that she became widely acclaimed as a healer. In addition, his Hero's Mind was EX, so his trembling was unlikely to be a mental illness.

Then, there was only one answer.

‘It's a matter of the heart.’

The hornless lethargic man he had seen in that video playback greatly disturbed Seo Jun-Ho’s heart. He felt like he had no energy to do anything because he didn’t want to fight that man. Seo Jun-Ho was convinced that the lethargic man was the reason his hands were incessantly trembling.

"Honestly, I'm sorry for showing you such a pathetic side," Seo Jun-Ho apologized before hiding his hands behind him.

"No…!" Cha Si-Eun exclaimed, seemingly furious. However, she hurriedly averted her gaze and muttered, "…I have never thought that Jun-Ho-nim is pathetic. Not even once did I think that you’re pathetic…"

"That's great to hear. Thank you." Seo Jun-Ho got up with a smile. "Then, I'll ask you for a favor once more in the afternoon."

"Oh, Jun-Ho-nim." Cha Si-Eun assumed a businesslike expression as usual as she got up and said, "I talked to the association president about your condition. How about getting treatment from someone else?"

"Someone else?”

"Yes. I don't think my treatment is very helpful to you right now."

"Are they a Player who specializes in treating the heart?"

She nodded.

‘Treatment from another Player, huh.’

Seo Jun-Ho thought about it for a while before asking, "Are they tight-lipped?"

The public would definitely be terrified if they were to hear about his condition. In addition, the people were still stewing in their shock when they heard about how demons were far stronger than they initially thought. Naturally, they had extremely high expectations for Seo Jun-Ho, the only one who managed to defeat a High demon so far.

"You don't have to worry about that. And you know them as well..."

"I know them?”

Who were they? Seo Jun-Ho thought about it before giving up and asking, "Who are they?"

***

"Haaa…" The Frost Queen sighed as she paced around the room. "Haaa…"

She sighed with a face full of worries. It was all because her one and only contractor was broken once again.

"Why is my contractor so weak?"

Men in Niflheim used to take off their tops and chop firewood even in the middle of winter. What kind of man would get broken every time something a bit shocking happened?

"Hmm." The Frost Queen thought about how to help her contractor before revealing a look of determination.

‘I saw it in a drama. Koreans say it's helpful to take restorative elixirs at times like this.’

The Frost Queen rummaged through her pocket. She searched meticulously in both pockets.

"Ah, dust...” muttered the Frost Queen. She blinked and decided to open her pocket money pouch hidden between a few compartments in the closet.

"5,700 won?"

Could she buy restorative elixirs with this amount of money? She thought about it hard and recalled that restorative elixirs were like potions of this world. In that case, it would definitely be more expensive than cake rather than cheaper.

"Ha… It cannot be helped,” said the Frost Queen. She made up her mind and took her piggy bank named ‘Pigster’ with her before making her way toward the elevator. The elevator quietly headed to the top floor. When the elevator door opened, the secretaries at the front desk smiled kindly at her.

"Frost-nim! Do you want cake?"

"No, I am getting a bit tired of eating cake. I think I have been eating too much cake nowadays. Is this what they call a burnout?”

"Really? It’s a shame because I bought an ice cream cake to give you along with tea upon your next visit..."

"…Ice cream cake?” The Frost Queen’s long ears twitched. She didn’t know just what exactly was an ice cream cake, but she knew that both ice cream and cake were delicious.

‘That delicious food and that delicious food combined…!’

Oh my! If it wasn’t something that was really, really tasty, then what else could it be?

The Frost Queen quickly nodded and said, "Give me that so-called ice cream cake, then. I want to try it."

"Oh, really?”

"Yes."

"Well, you know? Today, I also want—”

"Mmmm." The Frost Queen revealed a sulking look and pouted. However, her hesitation only lasted for a moment as she closed her eyes and said, "Just ten seconds..."

"Kyaack!"

"So cute…!"

"Your hair is very soft. What shampoo do you use?"

"I use what the contractor bought."

"What about conditioner?"

"I use what the contractor bought."

The secretaries gathered around the Frost Queen. They took turns patting her head as they kicked up a fuss, saying that she was cute.

"Ahem! Ten seconds are up. Stop touching me."

"Ah! A bit more~"

"I think I'm getting addicted because your hair is so soft…!"

"When are you coming back?"

"I don't want to come back. You lot are weird."

The Frost Queen entered the Office of the Association President as if she was running away.

"Oh, you’re here, Frost Queen-nim?"

Shim Deok-Gu was in the middle of organizing a few documents, but he got up and smiled when he saw the Frost Queen. Naturally, he quickly offered her a seat.

"Phew, Baldy. Your secretaries, aren't they a bit weird?"

"Why do you think so?”

"They keep touching my hair. And they’re saying that I am cute."

"Well, how is that weird?"

"No… In Niflheim, no one dares to talk to me in fear of my majesty..."

Shim Deok-Gu couldn’t help but think that the Frost Queen’s assumptions were incorrect, but he didn't bother correcting her.

"What brings you here today, Frost Queen-nim?"

"I came here to kill… Pigster…" The Frost Queen answered in a sullen voice as she held Pigster out to Shim Deok-Gu.

"A piggy bank?"

"Pigster."

"Ah, yes. So why are you suddenly killing Pigster?”

"I want to save money and give Contractor an elixir."

"… An elixir?"

Shim Deok-Gu seemed overjoyed, as if he were a proud parent witnessing his daughter’s love for him. Right now, Shim Deok-Gu felt like he could finally understand the feelings of that son-loving fool, Gilberto.

"You will not be able to buy expensive elixirs with that amount. Anyway, I will order one for you."

"No." The Frost Queen shook her head resolutely. "This time, I want to help Contractor with my power alone."

"Mmm."

Shim Deok-Gu looked sideways at Pigster. He was sure that the amount of money in Pigster was less than a hundred thousand won.

"I think you will have to work part-time."

"What is that?"

"It means that you will have to become an employee working on an hourly wage."

"Oh~ You are talking about a part-time job!"[1]

The Frost Queen seemed excited upon hearing something new, and she nodded before saying, "That sounds fun. Honestly, I have never had a job."

"Well, you were a queen."

"I know, but my status was decided from birth, so I couldn’t have done anything about it, right?" The Frost Queen clenched her tiny fists and vowed, "I will take a part-time job, but where do you think is a great place for me to work at?"

“Hmm." Shim Deok-Gu thought about it for a moment before smiling. "There is no need for you to go far away. How about you try working for our association?"

1. Doesn’t make sense in english, but two different slang terms for part time job used here. ☜