Alchemists.

They were people who made special blends with ores, herbs, and monster cores to create potions. Most Players called them ‘miracle-makers.’

‘The history of alchemy in Frontier runs deep. Earth can’t even compare to it.’ 

For that very reason, their potions were known to be expensive and high-quality. The only two downsides were that ingredients for potions were very expensive and that alchemists themselves were very rare. All things considered, Seo Jun-Ho was lucky. 

‘To think that Shasha Alkheni was right here.’ 

It had been pure coincidence that he found out about this. Her name had been written in the directory that Ply, the bald-headed moneylender had made for him. 

Seo Jun-Ho recalled the information from the directory. 

‘I think it said that she came to Gilleon about a year ago...’ 

Not even Ply knew why she decided to settle here. But considering that she had to borrow money from him, it was safe to assume that her financial situation wasn’t that great. 

‘This is an opportunity for me.’ 

He knew her through Sky Soul’s report on, ‘Most Important Families and Nobles.’ 

“...The fallen noble, Charlotte Khemyst.”

Despite having fallen from her status, Sky Soul had put her in the report because her alchemy skills were considerable enough that she caught the attention of the Big 6. 

‘They say that people never see what’s right under their noses…’

The report had said that there was no trace of her and that her whereabouts were unknown.

Not even Sky Soul had been able to find the alchemist, yet she happened to be a mere 500 meters away from the inn where Seo Jun-Ho was staying.

“Is this the place?” Seo Jun-Ho blinked as he approached a shabby house. Past the fence was a two-story estate. It looked like it had been abandoned for quite some time now. As if to prove this, the yard was full of weed, the fences were rusty, and ivy had covered the walls. “I didn’t know that there was a place like this in Gilleon.”

One might think that it was a haunted house and a very old one at that. Seo Jun-Ho rang a worn bell attached to the gate. 

Ting! Ting! Ting!

Instead of a bell, it sounded more like a pair of chopsticks hitting a bowl. 

“The bell’s broken too? How poor is this woman?” It couldn’t be helped. He cupped his hands and yelled. “Miss Shasha Alkheni! Are you home?!”

There was no reply. However, a curtain on the 2nd floor opened ever so slightly. A woman met his eyes through the window. He smiled brightly, but she wrinkled her nose in disgust and pulled the curtain close. 

A moment later, the front door opened. She leaned against the doorframe, holding a bottle of alcohol. 

“And who might you be?” she asked.

“I’m here in regards to Ply,” Seo Jun-Ho replied.

“Dammit, the fucking debt.” Shasha scratched her greasy head and gestured toward him. “Come in. That door’s broken anyway.”

Creak. 

Just as he said, the gate opened with a simple push. 

She led him inside and lay down on the sofa, gulping down her booze. 

“Mm… What shall we do? I don’t have any money to pay the interest.”

“That’s not what I came here for,” Seo Jun-Ho said, looking around the house. There were cobwebs and dust everywhere. “Actually, I could have your entire debt paid off if you’d like.”

“What?” Shasha narrowed her eyes as she sat up. She instinctively realized that he wasn’t a debt collector. Seo Jun-Ho looked at her squarely.

“Alchemist Charlotte Khemyst, I’ve come with a request.”

“...You know who I am?” Even though he knew her identity, she didn’t seem to care that much. 

“Somewhat. I know that you’re an expert in alchemy.”

“Indeed. Unfortunately, I’ll have to refuse your request. I’m kinda tired, you see.” She emptied the bottle and smacked her lips when she realized that she had emptied it. 

“Even though you haven’t heard me out yet?”

“It’s pretty obvious. You’re going to ask me to make some kind of potion, aren’t you?”

She was smart… 

Seo Jun-Ho sat down on the dusty sofa on the opposite side of her. “Alright. Let’s hear why you’re tired, then.”

“...You’re pretty funny. Why should I tell that to someone I just met?” She scoffed.

“I can help you take care of your problems, can't I?” He said slyly, shrugging. 

Shasha snorted. “Judging by the watch on your wrist…You’re a Player?”

“That’s right.”

“If you’re going around Gilleon, you’re probably only around level 70 at most.”

“Lower than that...”

“What the heck, you’re just a baby.” She shook her head. “You probably came here to ask for a couple of potions… But I’m tired of making that kind of stuff.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You Players and Guildies all ask for the same thing. The potions you ask for are all similar too.” Her face was full of hatred as her shoulders started to tremble. “I really hate that. What do you think we alchemists are? We’re not potion-making machines. What makes us happy is researching syntheses and making new medicines.”

“Good.” Seo Jun-Ho’s eyes brightened. “The potion I want will be very different from what most Players ask for. Actually…It’s possible that not even you will be able to make it.”

“...I’m too old to fall for cheap tactics like that,” she muttered, crossing her arms defiantly.

But Seo Jun-Ho’s confidence didn’t waver. 

‘She’s a true alchemist. It’s a good thing I came to her.’

Like Kwon Noya, she was an artist who had pride in her work. Of course, Seo Jun-Ho knew very well how to handle people like her. 

“Inventory open.” He pulled out an item from the inventory, and Shasha froze. She slowly unfolded her arms and sat up straighter. 

“...What is that?” she asked.

“It’s the core of a mystical beast called a Cinder Fox. It’s a tricky ingredient to work with. Not just anyone can use it.” He explained.

He had originally planned to use the core to cure President Choi Pil-Ho’s daughter, but the yin energy in her body had been absorbed by his Frost skill. Thus, the core ended up in his possession. 

“I want you to make a potion for me using this core.”

“...” 

Shasha couldn’t hear him. Her eyes were sparkling, fixed on the Cinder Fox’s core. She turned toward him, but she didn’t pull her gaze away. “Huh? What did you say?”

“I said I want you to make a potion for me using this core. But… If it’s impossible, it can’t be helped.”

“...Did you just say that it’s impossible?” She finally turned away from the core and looked straight at him. She scowled with her pretty face. “I don’t usually fall for such cheap tactics, but…”

Seo Jun-Ho shrugged silently. Shasha glared at him and then sighed. “Haaa, fine. I lose this time. Goddammit. I can’t just sit still and do nothing when you show me something like that.”

The Cinder Fox’s core was already a rare and renowned item on Earth, and this one had belonged to none other than a nine-tailed Cinder Fox that had almost become a Millenium Fox. As such, its intrinsic energy was great. Obviously, as an artist and as an alchemist, Shasha couldn’t let such a material slip from her grasp. 

She held up her hands in surrender. “Alright. What do you want me to make you?” she asked.

“This.” 

Tap tap.

Seo Jun-Ho tapped his temple with his finger. “I need a potion that will improve my mentality.”

“...That won’t be easy,” she muttered.

“You can’t do it?”

She grinned at the question. “That’s not what I said...” 

She got up from her seat and came back with a thick pair of gloves. She took the core. “You better pay me good money.”

“I’ll repay all the money you owe to Ply, and I’ll add another 50 gold on top of that,” he replied.

“Not bad.” She opened the door to the basement and called over her shoulder as she stepped down the stairs. “Come back in five days!”

Five days were more than enough time for him to hit level 50. 

***

Seo Jun-Ho let out a big sigh as he returned to the inn and saw the Frost Queen. 

“Zzzz…zzzzzz…” 

She was done with her cake and tea and had fallen into a deep sleep.

“You said Spirits don’t have worldly needs…” And yet, she loved to sleep. Seo Jun-Ho pulled on her tissue blanket. “Get up.”

“Mm…” She grabbed tightly onto the tissue as if she was cold. But Seo Jun-Ho gave another pull, and she gave in. 

“Why are you like this… I’m cold…” She muttered. 

“You’re going to be the fattest Spirit in the world if you do nothing but eat and sleep.”

“Haa… Enough with the nagging,” she complained. The Frost Queen scratched her head as she sat up and looked at Seo Jun-Ho. “So why did you wake me up? Depending on your answer, I may not forgive this transgression.”

“It’s time to go hunting.”

“Hunting?” She looked out the window. The sun was about to set. Not only that, but they had already gone hunting for swamp slimes early in the morning. The revelation seemed to have removed her drowsiness, though.

“Contractor, pull yourself together. It is time to sleep when the sun sets,” she said seriously. 

“You already slept a lot, so it doesn’t matter.” He started grabbing water bottles and prepared for the hunt.

‘Gilleon is full of Players.’ 

If possible, he wanted to avoid them. This was the reason why he was leaving the city at night when most of them would return home. He didn’t want them to know that he left to go hunting. 

“Phew… It can’t be helped.” The Frost Queen stood up and spoke while stretching, “So what time will we return?”

“Wrong question.” He smiled. “We’ll be away for four days. Not just for a few hours...”

“Wow…” Her voice became soft. She seemed like she wanted to ask something, but she didn’t do so in order to preserve her dignity. 

“Don’t worry, I have already packed your tea and cakes. It’s in my inventory.”

“How ridiculous… I was not concerned with such trivial things.” Despite saying this, she seemed to have perked up when she heard what Seo Jun-Ho had said. “So what will we be hunting?”

“Bears.” Seo Jun-Ho finished tying his shoes. “We’ll be hunting thunder bears.”