As soon as Shim Deok-Gu received the message, he hurried to his office from the conference room. He shoved the door open. 

Slam! 

“You, you…” He fumbled upon seeing the man sitting on the sofa. 

“Yo, what’s up?” Seo Jun-Ho was in the middle of eating jjajangmyeon[1]. He looked up and waved his chopsticks. 

“What happened? You didn’t even contact me,” Shim Deok-Gu said, slowly approaching him. 

“Something urgent came up. I came down to meet a friend.”

“...You rascal.” Shim Deok-Gu rubbed his nose as he sniffled and took a seat on the opposite side of the sofa. He reached for the sauce-covered tangsooyook[2]. “You missed me, didn’t you?”

“Huh? I didn’t say it was you.”

“...What? But you don’t have any other friends besides me, do you?”

Slurp. 

Seo Jun-Ho’s mouth was full of noodles. He chewed and swallowed before he spoke, “I do. I came down to break those icicles.”

“...!”

Shim Deok-Gu’s eyes widened at the mention of the icicles. He double-checked that the door was closed 

“Icicles… Are you talking about the other Heroes? Are you finally ready?” he asked carefully. 

“Probably. I get the feeling that it’ll work.”

“Then it will...” Shim Deok-Gu’s hands curled into fists. Whenever Seo Jun-Ho got a ‘feeling,’ he would always be right about it. Shim Deok-Gu looked up at the ceiling, his face emotional. “Finally… The old age of Heroes is over, but you guys will reunite,” he whispered. 

“Well, let’s see...” Seo Jun-Ho grinned and patted his stomach. “I’m full. Also, there’s something else I need to tell you.”

“Hmmm?”

“I gathered some information while living in Frontier.” He told Shim Deok-Gu about the demon jade and about the monsters that had been forced to absorb it, and then about Baron Vashti’s son. 

Shim Deok-Gu’s eyebrows knitted as Seo Jun-Ho finished. “Demon jade… Those fiend bastards must be planning something again.”

“It’s already in progress. I was able to stop them this time, but if it gets bigger...”[1]

“So you’re saying that we can’t let them start training stronger monsters…” Shim Deok-Gu concluded. 

“That’s why you should leak some information to the Guilds. I won’t be able to stop the fiends alone anyway, and I want to know if the Guilds already knew what’s happening.” Seo Jun-Ho explained.

“I got it. But if Gilleon’s city lord’s son was caught up in it… Does that mean the demon jade thing can be given to normal citizens in Frontier?” Shim Deok-Gu asked. 

“I don’t know yet.” Seo Jun-Ho shook his head. “There were no signs of a demon jade being pushed into Simus’s chest. It’s not like he became a fiend either. So… I think he ingested a smaller version of the demon jade or something like a fragment.”

“A demon jade fragment… My head hurts. If something like that happens to the nobles or the royal family of the Ruben Empire…”

“It’ll be a disaster. A total catastrophe.” Seo Jun-Ho finished. Worst-case scenario, the Fiend Association might be able to rule Frontier. 

Shim Deok-Gu’s face was pale as he nodded. “I’ll bring this up at the upcoming global conference.”

“I’m counting on you.”

“Phew, I really wish we could live in a world without fiends…”

“I’ll make your dream come true. Someday.” 

Shim Deok-Gu squinted at those heavy words. “What do you mean?”

“If those guys really wake up… I plan to announce that Specter will go up to the 2nd floor.”

“How about the other Heroes?” Shim Deok-Gu asked. 

“I can’t tell you if the others will choose to stay Players or not. At the very least, I’ll be the first to go.”

“...I see.”

Just the thought of the 5 Heroes going up to the 2nd floor together made Shim Deok-Gu’s heart race. But neither of them knew what the Heroes themselves would want. Some of them might want to retire. 

“By the way, didn’t the Frost Queen…I mean, didn’t Her Majesty come down with you?”

“I did.” A thin hand popped up from behind the sofa and waved. 

Shim Deok-Gu lowered his voice as he spoke, “...What is she doing over there?”

“She’s watching the dramas and movies she missed with earphones,” Seo Jun-Ho answered. 

“...”

“Don’t look at me like that. She’s doing all that for me.”

“For you? What do you mean?”

Seo Jun-Ho spent 15 seconds explaining her great potential as a director. 

“Damn, she has that sort of talent?” Shim Deok-Gu asked. 

“Isn’t it cool? Actually, she even evolved yesterday…”

It had been a long time since the two friends had seen each other, and they continued to talk for three hours. After a while, Shim Deok-Gu started to pull at his necktie as if he was getting hot. 

“I probably shouldn’t be asking this now, but is it okay for you to take your time? What about Simus?”

“It’s fine. I absorbed all the demonic energy for now. The problem is his tangled-up magic, but it won’t have a huge impact on his life. For about a month, that is…” Seo Jun-Ho explained. 

“I see...”

Seo Jun-Ho started getting ready to leave. “I’m going now.”

“Are you gonna come back here? Or…”

“Yeah. It’s not like I can take them to a hotel or something. My place is still empty, right?”

“Of course…”

“I can just let them stay there for a while.”

Frost stood up and pulled out the earphones. “Are we moving?”

“Yeah. Oh right, Deok-Gu.” Seo Jun-Ho waved the tablet. “Can you download some dramas and movies on a tablet like this? So I can bring it with me when I go back up.”

“That shouldn’t be hard. Are classics okay?”

“That’s…” Seo Jun-Ho turned to the Frost Queen, and she nodded. 

“Classic is forever. Keep that in mind.”

“Oh… Yes, I shall prepare them for you.” 

Shim Deok-Gu waved goodbye, and Seo Jun-Ho quietly left the Player Association, avoiding the eyes of others. 

***

Seo Jun-Ho was back at the Seoul History Museum for the third time. He deftly made his way to the morgue. 

“...” 

He stared silently at the four frozen figures before he approached them. 

His mind was racing with different thoughts. As his chest swelled with emotions, the storm in his eyes didn’t calm down until ten minutes had passed. 

“Contractor…”

“...Yeah.”

The Frost Queen hesitated before she pushed his legs forward. She was trying to tell him to awaken his friend. 

Seo Jun-Ho swallowed. He didn’t know why he was so nervous. His legs trembled as he took one, two steps forward. 

“...It sure took a long time,” he whispered. 

It was already 9 months since he opened his eyes in this museum. Depending on how you looked at it, other people might consider this a short time, but to Seo Jun-Ho, it felt like an eternity. 

He had killed countless monsters and cleared numerous Gates. He had witnessed the peaceful city life he had dreamed of, experienced new things, and met new people. 

“I’m sorry I did all that alone. It wasn’t fair to you guys.”

That was why he wanted to show them the same things he had seen. He wanted them to feel the same things he felt—no matter the price.

‘That’s the reason why I’ve been working so hard this whole time…’ 

Seo Jun-Ho’s trembling hand reached out in front of him. When he touched Rahmadat, a number of System messages streamed out before him. 

[Effect of the skill ‘Frost (EX)’ has been checked.]

[Seal of Frost (EX) can be removed.]

[Your base magic stat is high enough to remove the ice seal.]

[However, your understanding of the Frost skill is extremely low, so there will be a penalty.]

[Upon removing a seal, 70 magic stats will be permanently consumed.]

[Upon removal, you will suffer from the effects of Curse of Bitter Cold for one month and all stats will be lowered by 50%.]

[Upon removal, you will be unable to remove another ice seal for another 90 days.]

[Are you sure you wish to remove the ice seal?]

“Dammit...”

No wonder things had been going too well lately. Seo Jun-Ho let out a frustrated sigh and turned to the Frost Queen. “Why are there so many penalties? What the hell is the Curse of Bitter Cold?”

“...The Curse of Bitter Cold? Hmmm, you would probably receive a penalty because your understanding of the Frost skill is lower than my own understanding when we fought.”

“...”

Seo Jun-Ho slouched as he felt a sense of dread weighing on his shoulders. The Frost Queen’s curse still couldn’t be undone, even after 26 years. 

‘...I feel like an idiot. I don’t know if she had been too strong or if I’m just too weak right now.’ 

He let out a short sigh and gently removed his hand from the ice statue. 

Even if there were penalties attached, he was still set on removing the seals. He would even be willing to give up all his stats if it meant that he could free his friends. 

‘I’ll lose 70 magic, and all my stats will drop by 50% for a month…’ 

But the most unexpected penalty was also the heaviest. He would have to choose carefully when he removed a seal. 

‘I also have to consider my own growth.’ 

He was able to remove an ice seal once his magic stat reached 200, but the reason there were such heavy penalties was that his understanding of the Frost skill was too low. 

‘I think that the penalties will lessen if I improve my abilities…’ 

But who should he awaken first? 

Seo Jun-Ho scratched his head with a frustrated expression on his face. He sat on the ground. 

“This is so annoying.”

Frankly speaking, whomever out of the four he chose would end up being a great asset in battle. Of course, they would have to start at level 1 again, but their old abilities would still be present, albeit latent. 

‘But as Deok-Gu said, there might be some that might want to retire.’ 

He quickly did the calculations. 

‘Gilberto… If he hears that Arthur’s in a dangerous region, he’ll do whatever it takes to level up and reach the 2nd floor. As for Mio, if her mindset is still the same, she’ll take the orders of that rich family of hers first and foremost. Rahmadat, I don’t even have to think about it. If he hears that there are stronger monsters and fiends out there, he won’t even listen to me and run off to level up. Skaya? If that magic geek hears that there’s a fantasy world… Ugh, but I don’t think I’ll be able to control her.’ 

The fact that Seo Jun-Ho had to evaluate his friends like this at all was frustrating, but it couldn’t be helped. His original plans had already been thrown into the mud. The more helpful someone would be, the faster he would be able to wake the other Heroes, magic be damned. 

“Alright!” 

After pondering for a long time, Seo Jun-Ho finally made his decision. He stood up and wiped the ice from his butt. 

“...Contractor, have you made up your mind?” the Frost Queen asked. 

“Yeah.” He had thought it over several times, but there was only one answer. “I feel bad for the others, but…” 

He looked at each figure before his eyes settled on one. “Her utility is out of everyone else’s league.”

Skaya Killiland. She was the Hero born in England. The formidable magic genius, whom even the heavens feared. 

“I don’t think anyone other than Skaya or Rahmadat would be able to cure Simus.” But thinking about the journey ahead, her impossibly great firepower would be a big help. 

‘And most of all…’ 

She was convenient to have around. She could do things such as teleport, teleport, and teleport… 

‘Whenever I need hot water or ice, or when the weather is too hot or cold…’ 

If he just asked Skaya for help, everything would be solved. Almost like she was D*raemon… 

“I choose you.” Seo Jun-Ho decided. His hand shot out. 

[Effect of the skill ‘Frost (EX)’ has been checked.]

[Seal of Frost (EX) can be removed.]

…

[Upon removal, you will be unable to remove another ice seal for another 90 days.]

[Are you sure you wish to remove the ice seal?]

He was trembling all over. His heart pounded as if it was about to explode. Seo Jun-Ho forcefully suppressed his excitement. 

“Hand over my friend, you bastard.” He called out. 

[Ice seal has been removed.]

[70 magic stats have been permanently consumed.]

[You have been afflicted with Curse of Bitter Cold (30 days).]

“Ugh.” He felt like all the energy had left his body. 

Crackle. 

Skaya’s cold prison shattered, and shards of ice shot out. Seo Jun-Ho caught her body and gently placed her on the ground. 

Then, the Archmage opened her eyes for the first time in 26 years. 

1. The second part of the sentence was added for clarification ☜

1. It's noodles in black bean sauce. It's pretty good ☜

2. sweet and sour beef, but it can be pork too ☜