Seo Jun-Ho had encountered numerous spirits during his life. He had hunted violent spirits inside Gates and met spirits that were contracted to other Players. Whether he met them as an ally or an enemy, he always thought the same thing. 

‘They’re so OP.’ 

Spirits didn’t need magic from Players because they were independent beings. In other words, they could create powerful attacks or shields without consuming a Player’s magic. It was no risk with an insanely high return, and Seo Jun-Ho had always envied Players with contracted spirits.

‘But now I can contract a spirit of my own?’ 

Obviously, his heart was pounding. He recalled what he knew about spirits. 

‘Like humans, spirits are attracted to those they are similar to.’ 

Spirits didn’t make contracts with those who didn’t have the right synergy. So when Seo Jun-Ho found out that the ball he had was a Spirit Egg, he only had one thought. 

‘It’s a dark spirit.’ 

He had been using Watchguard of Darkness longer than anything else, and it was also the skill he was the most proficient in. 

“This will be useful.” Seo Jun-Ho sensed a faint trace of nature in the wooden necklace. 

‘This is...the energy of the World Tree.’

It only contained a trace of it, but it was pure and refreshing. He crushed it in his hand. 

Crack!

The necklace was destroyed, releasing the energy inside. Seo Jun-Ho didn’t miss the chance and poured his magic into the glowing ball. 

Crackle! 

There came the sound of an egg being cracked. The ball shined so brightly that it temporarily blinded him. 

“Keugh.”

But his pain soon turned into happiness. 

‘Just what kind of spirit is it? How strong will it be?’ 

Calming his pounding heart, Seo Jun-Ho slowly opened his eyes. “...What?”

His face fell. 

***

“Hm, the fight’s taking longer than I thought.”

“I’m getting nervous. We can’t even see what’s going on in there.” 

The Players muttered to themselves impatiently. They had already taken care of the other dark elves. If the tribe chief Rodomir was defeated, they would succeed in clearing the Gate. 

Suddenly, an announcement appeared before them with a ring.

~

[You have cleared the Wild Forest.]

~

They succeeded in clearing the Gate! 

The Players started to cheer and pump their fists in the air. 

“What about Jun-Ho-nim?” 

As if responding to Cha Min-Woo’s question, the dark dome dissipated like smoke, revealing a gloomy-looking Seo Jun-Ho from within.

“Jun-Ho-nim!”

“You did it!”

“Are you hurt anywhere? We should get you treated first!” 

He shook his head at the crowd of people that started to surround him. “I’m fine.”

“But why do you look so sullen?”

“Hm.” Seo Jun-Ho briefly pondered about how he should explain it. “Imagine the disappointment of a child who wanted a cool new toy for Christmas but got school supplies instead.”

“...?”

The people around him had no idea what he was saying and looked at him with confused faces.

“Hoo, nevermind.” He sighed. They wouldn’t be able to understand his feelings. 

Messages started to appear in front of him. 

~

[You have cleared the Wild Forest.]

[You have received ‘Blue Fairy Bracelet’ as a clear reward.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[All stats increased by 3.]

[You have recovered 3 magic stats.]

[You have recovered 3 strength stats.]

[The Gate will automatically collapse in one hour.]

~

‘Level 27…’ 

He had been level 23 when he entered the Gate, which meant that his level increased by 4. It was only possible because of his crucial role in the conquest, and because he had taken all the EXP from Rodomir for himself. 

‘Three more.’ 

He was three levels away from being able to go to the 2nd floor. 

He usually exited the Gates with a triumphant expression, but this time, his footsteps were heavy.

‘Why did I get that spirit…’ 

Letting out another sigh, Seo Jun-Ho was the first one to step out of the Gate. The lazy night sky of England greeted him. 

Click! Click! 

Hundreds of cameras flashed, capturing his image. 

***

[The Wild Forest Gate has been cleared, but there are empty spaces where the lost Players should be.]

[Seo Jun-Ho unanimously decided as the MVP for the 5th consecutive time! He is writing history.]

[The weakest Player showed the greatest strength. Videos from inside the Gate.]

...

It didn’t matter which country it was, Seo Jun-Ho was on the front page of the newspapers all over the world the day after the Wild Forest Gate was cleared. There had been concerns about his participation because he had the lowest level among them, but after he succeeded, his reputation started to soar. 

Meanwhile, Seo Jun-Ho himself was glum as he sat on a plane heading back to Korea. 

“...What does it matter.” 

You shouldn’t count your chickens before they hatch. He had made the mistake of doing that to his spirit. “How come my spirit...”

He let out a sigh as he wiped his face with a washcloth. At that moment, a tiny creature plastered itself onto the plane window. He glared at the tiny creature looking out the plane window. 

“The humans here are quite intriguing. They can fly without magic.” 

The little spirit was about the size of his palm, a size that made everything look adorable. It was humanoid, but there was a different reason why Seo Jun-Ho was staring at that adorable little spirit. 

“...Hey, didn’t I tell you to not talk to me until I finish sorting my thoughts?” 

“How strict. I was simply talking to myself.”[1]

She looked shockingly similar to someone he knew. More specifically, she looked like the boss monster that had threatened the world 25 years ago. 

‘…The Frost Queen.’ 

If she simply resembled her in appearance, he wouldn’t have reacted this badly. It was all because of what she had said as soon as she emerged from the egg. 

~Oya? You’re a familiar face.

“Huu...” Seo Jun-Ho let out another sigh as he pounded the poor seat with his fist. “Why me… why my spirit….”

He wanted a cool, strong, dark spirit, but he obtained a frost spirit instead. It was even the one that he had killed himself. 

“I think I’ve given you enough time to cool off.”

“I said, don’t talk to me.”

“Oh, but I was talking to myself.”

“...”

Seeing the Frost Queen smirk as she floated in the air made his anger swell. She wore a dress of white and blue with a peculiar helmet that covered her eyes, but he could tell by her smile that she was mocking him. 

“Okay, fine.” 

After making a decision, Seo Jun-Ho closed the door of his first-class seat so that no one could eavesdrop. He folded his arms and looked down at the Frost Queen. “Why are you doing this to me? Why were you the one that came out of the spirit egg?”

“What use is there to ask me? A spirit egg will contain a spirit that is the most compatible with your magic.”

“So why you? The spirit most compatible with me would be a dark spirit.”

“Fufu.” The Frost Queen covered her mouth as she laughed. She folded her legs in the air. “Is it not obvious? Your most compatible attribute is frost.”

“Don’t joke around. I’ve used Watchguard of Darkness for over 5 years. Frost, on the other hand...” It had only been a little over three months. Seo Jun-Ho didn’t believe that his most compatible attribute was frost, not darkness. 

“Regardless, the fact stands that I was the one that emerged from the spirit egg after you infused it with your magic.”

“Yeah. It’s fucking annoying, but that’s the truth.”

“Then, let me ask you. Will you make a contract with me?”

“A contract?” Seo Jun-Ho’s face hardened “You...when I think about what you did to me and my comrades… and to other people...”

“What have I done for you to say that?” The Frost Queen flew around his head, seemingly confused. 

“Ha! Don’t pretend you don’t know. You...” As he was about to scoff about her deeds, Seo Jun-Ho suddenly paused. 

‘...What did she do again?’

All he knew was that she froze the South Pacific Ocean and froze his friends. 

The Frost Queen spoke first. “I already said this, but I have not done anything in this world worthy of condemnation.”

“...You froze the South Pacific.”

“Well, I suppose I feel sorry to the fish.”

“And because of that, there was all that abnormal weather...” But it hadn’t been that serious because her Gate had been in Antarctica. 

“...More importantly, you froze me and my comrades.”

Shake, shake.

The Frost Queen raised her hands and shook her little head. She looked like a doll. 

“Are you pretending not to know? I was not the one who froze you, but the power to melt them belongs to me.”

“...”

“On the contrary, I feel most sorry for myself, whom you killed...”

He had nothing to say in the face of the facts. 

Seo Jun-Ho started to shake his head in frustration. “A-anyways...I don’t like you.”

“Hu, you’re like a child throwing a tantrum.”

“Shut up.”

Seo Jun-Ho’s thoughts became complicated as he sat in his seat. 

‘Did she really do nothing wrong?’ 

As far as he knew, she truly hadn’t done anything sinister. 

But just to be sure, he opened Vita’s messaging app. 

[What?] 

Shim Deok-Gu’s cool reply came. 

[Deok-Gu, what do you think the Frost Queen did wrong?]

[What? What are you asking all of a sudden?]

[I’m in a hurry.]

[Geez...Obviously, she made the 5 heroes into icicles.]

[Anything else?]

[I don’t know. Should there be something else?]

[...Nevermind. Thanks.]

[Why do you ask?]

[Later.]

Seo Jun-Ho closed the screen and felt the eyes of the spirit on him. The Frost Queen was smirking as if she was saying, ‘see? I was right.’

“...Fine. Let’s say that you didn’t do anything in the past. But why should I make a contract with you?”

“I shall be your teacher,” she whispered in her sweet voice. “I can teach you how to use my skill, and I can use spiritual energy to help you.”

“You, teach me? Ha!” Seo Jun-Ho scoffed. “You lost to me.”

He was stronger than her. How could someone weaker than him teach him? 

But the Frost Queen was unfazed. “Yes, you did win against my weakened form.”

“...Weakened? Who said you’re selling medicine?” [2]

“Medicine? Sorry, but I’m not some peddler. I’ve never sold medicine.” She shook her head, her voice clear and sonorous. “I am the Queen of the Ice Kingdom Niflheim, the one who controls all the cold in the world. I swear on my own existence that I am not lying.”

She made an Oath of Existence. It had originated from the mana oaths of magicians. 

‘If they breach a mana oath, magicians will lose all their magic.’ 

The powerful Frost Queen made the oath by her own choice, so she wouldn’t lie. 

“...How weakened were you?”

“I’m not sure. Perhaps by a hundred times?”

“A hundred? No way! Swear on yourself again.”

“...No. If I do it too often, it will lower my dignity as a Queen.” She glanced at him. “So will you or will you not make a contract with me?”

“...”

It made no sense that she only used a hundredth of her true power, but it was true that she had been nerfed. 

‘If she’s three times… no, if she’s only two times as strong as she was then…’ 

He didn’t even want to imagine her full strength. 

But being taught by such a being was a good enough reason to make a contract. She had also become a frost spirit, so she wouldn’t use up magic while being a powerful ally. No matter how he thought about it, it would be a huge mistake to avoid such a contract. 

“...Fine. Let’s do it.” He decided. Seo Jun-ho looked at the Frost Queen coldly. “But I have a condition.”

“A condition? Speak.”

“If you put me or the people around me in danger because of your lies or blunders, the contract will be null.”

“You speak the obvious. A contract with a spirit is a contract of the souls. I would never do that.” She laughed. 

Seo Jun-Ho scowled at her sickly sweet smile. 

‘I don’t know if this is the right choice…’ 

But for now, he contracted the Frost Queen. 

1. She uses a form of ‘I’ that means that she’s the strongest in a group. ☜

2. The word for ‘weakened’ sounds similar to ‘pharmacy’. ☜