Return of the Frozen Player

Chapter 367. Teacher Darkness (1)

Hart's pupils scoured the dark meadow.

'Left and behind.'

The slightly wobbly sword completely blocked those two directions. At that moment, the morning dew on the meadow’s grass became sharp daggers that flew toward him.

‘Even a time lag attack? Amazing.'

Hart couldn’t afford to let his guard down even for a moment. Seo Jun-Ho’s way of fighting was vicious because it seemed to completely drain the opponent’s soul.

"Slope."

Hart’s swirling sword aura drew diagonally.

Swooosh!

His attack tore through space and found the left arm of Seo Jun-Ho’s clone.

"Ah! Fuck! My arm!"

"Endure it!"

"I won’t endure it! I can't endure it! This hurts like hell!"

The clone continued crying, but he didn’t stop swinging his sword.

‘The clone’s body is definitely worse than the main body.’

Of course, the main body was wearing an outstanding armor called Midnight Sun, and the level of the clone was definitely worse as well. But despite that, the clone gave Seo Jun-Ho an unreal tactical advantage

‘The clone can share his thoughts with the original in real-time.’

The clone was tricky and unpleasant to deal with. The clone was also attacking from directions Hart didn’t want to receive an attack from.

‘And one more…’

Craaaack!

Hart kicked off of the ground to retreat as he quickly deflected the shards of ice flying toward him.

‘This little devil keeps looking for openings to use and attack me.’

The battle lulled for a moment, and Hart laughed dryly. Since he was capable of pushing him to this extent, wasn't he stronger than a few knight divisions of the Empire?

‘I can't believe this is just one person's power. How frightening.'

Furthermore, the severed arm of the clone started regenerating as well.

Craaack!

The ground shook, and huge ice walls rising from the floor blocked Hart's back and cut off his path of retreat. Hart’s eyes narrowed.

"I think you’re making a mistake."

If one’s back was blocked, then the attacks could only come from the front.

"Oh, that's not a mistake."

"It's not a mistake, but a killer move. Be careful."

“…?!”

Thousands of thorns formed all over the ice wall like icicles, and the entire wall started to close around Hart like a venus flytrap.

"How ridiculous!"

The spirit managed to do something that even an archmage from the Magic Tower would find difficult to do.

Slice!

Hart focused and forcibly cut the wall down. Looking at the rubble, Hart withdrew his sword.

"Let’s stop here."

"No, Teacher Ha! You have only been beating me so far. I haven’t really won yet, so can't we do it a bit more? Just three more days."

“…”

The clone revealed an earnest look, and Hart looked at Seo Jun-Ho.

"Is this your real intention?"

"N-no way. You go back inside.”

"Wow! Am I the only bad guy? You have the same thoughts…”

Seo Jun-Ho recalled his clone and frowned. There was pain shooting up his left arm.

‘Ugh. But it's not something I can't endure.’

Shouldn’t that clone punk be ashamed for screaming when it was only this much? Seo Jun-Ho looked around the ruined meadow and asked, "I’m undefeated now, am I?"

"I may have heard you wrongly." Hart picked his ear. "Can you say it again?"

"I can beat anyone now, right?"

"Oh, I can hear you well now.”

Seo Jun-Ho revealed an apologetic smile.

"I’m sorry if I took too much of your vacation, Sir Hart."

"Why did you do it when you knew it?"

"Uh…”

Hart smiled as he looked at the flustered Seo Jun-Ho.

"It's a joke."

"Ah, ahahaha!"

The quickest way to get close to a knight was to clash swords. Seo Jun-Ho had a total of five battles with Hart, and it took them nine days to complete all five battles.

"In the end, I couldn’t beat you perfectly."

"If you keep working hard like you are doing right now, that day will come sooner or later."

Even after several days and nights, Sir Hart did not show any signs of exhaustion. Hart’s resilience and perseverance were similar to a model knight’s. Having packed up his gear, Hart prepared to leave.

"I'm going to go straight back to His Majesty. Want to go with me?"

"No, I don’t have a reason to stop by the capital.”

"It's goodbye here, then.”

"Thank you. For many things..."

"Me, too. I had fun."

Splitting up with Seo Jun-Ho, Sir Hart immediately returned to the capital. After filling out the return application form, he hurriedly headed to the audience room when he heard that Emperor Gauss was looking for him.

"Hart, how was your vacation?"

"I appreciate Your Majesty’s concern, I have returned safe and sound."

"Good, how was it then?"

Hart bowed his head slightly.

"I apologize, but I didn’t quite grasp Your Majesty’s question."

"You know, that Specter. Earth’s Hero, the main character of the legendary 5 Heroes. How did it feel to clash swords with him?"

“…”

Hart reflected on his short vacation and said, "He is strong. He is very strong."

"…Unexpected. How unexpected. I didn’t expect such high praise to come from your mouth.”

Emperor Gauss expected that Hart would only say something along the lines of Specter simply being useful at best, but he was surprised by Hart’s revelation.

"Your Majesty, your subject has a sin to confess."

"Tell me."

Hart slowly raised his hands. The knight’s arms, which had remained steady in front of Seo Jun-Ho until the end, were now shaking incessantly.

"I did not want to show weakness in front of a junior, so I pushed myself a bit too much until the end."

"Huh. He’s strong to the extent of making you do such a thing?"

"I am ashamed."

"No. Rather, I'm glad to confirm that your fighting spirit is still alive. Take a good rest for a few days." Gauss smiled lightly and muttered, "Anyway, how surprising. I didn't think Specter would be that strong.”

"He certainly wasn't that strong last time."

"So, you’re saying he grew so much in that short time?"

"Yes, and he will continue to grow."

"Hmm." Gauss wondered, resting his chin on his hand. "I wonder. Just what drives a human being to get so strong?"

Looking at the contemplating emperor, Hart spoke, "May I speak?"

"The problem is that you don’t speak even when I tell you to. If it’s your words, it will always be welcome. Tell me.”

With his eyes closed, Hart recalled the shameless Player who had taken away all his vacation time. As he said, the Player would continue to get stronger. Hart couldn’t even begin to imagine how huge of an existence Seo Jun-Ho would become eventually.

‘The driving force behind his growth...’

It was probably the same feeling the ancestors of this land used as their driving force a thousand years ago.

"I believe he is trying to save his world.”

"So he’s trying to save the world on the path of collapse."

Emperor Gauss smirked, seemingly intrigued.

"So, he’s a Hero."

"Yes, he’s a Hero."

The two smiled as they recalled one man.

***

Seo Jun-Ho returned to Earth and got off the Dimensional Elevator. He managed to resist pressing the button to the 5th floor.

‘I have to sort out some of my affairs on Earth before I go.’

As he got off on an artificial island in the Pacific Ocean he had already visited dozens of times, he saw the association Players. He nodded one by one to those who made eye contact with him, but there was something strange.

‘What, what’s going on?’

Every look in people's eyes showed sadness and sorrow. In addition...

"We are always rooting for you, Specter-nim."

"Please don't overdo it. You've done well enough so far."

"These are potatoes my grandmother sent from the countryside, and it's delicious. Please boil and eat it."

"Oh, yes… Thank you."

Seo Jun-Ho felt burdened for no reason, and he hurriedly ran away to the Korean Player Association building as if he were being chased. However, those he met on the way were also afflicted with the same strange condition.

"Hey, hey, Deok-Gu! I had a really strange experience on my way…”

"Jun-Ho."

Seo Jun-Ho hurriedly entered the association president's office. Upon seeing that Shim Deok-Gu’s eyes were red as he was looking at him, he asked, "Frost, did I go crazy?”

"No. The people on Earth right now are weird."

"Right?"

Hearing the conversation between the two, Shim Deok-Gu waved his hand.

"Never mind, come and sit here."

"Are you going to eat me if I get closer?"

"You think I’m a monster?"

"You’re scarier than monsters right now." Seo Jun-Ho sat down and asked with a sullen expression, "Just what is it? People are treating me strangely.”

“They aren’t treating you strangely.”

Shim Deok-Gu skillfully sent a few hologram articles into the air.

[The story of a man carrying the world, ‘The Loneliness of the 4th Floor’. A bestseller for two weeks.]

[The world cried! The heartbreaking story of a man’s 17 years of loneliness. Impossible to read without shedding tears. He was alone.]

[Specter’s attack on the 4th Floor. 1 million copies sold in 10 days! The third round of printing is confirmed! Publisher KW screams in joy.]

[The Loneliness of the 4th Floor Movie Adaptation Confirmed! The megaphone is in the hands of Hollywood director Michael Bakery.]

…

"Huh? What is this?"

The Loneliness of the 4th Floor. It was such an embarrassing title it made Seo Jun-Ho cringe.

"Deok-Gu, is this talking about the Seo Jun-Ho difficulty guide?"

"Ah, yes," Deok-Gu responded.

Seo Jun-Ho sighed deeply. "Whooo, all right. All right, fine. I give up. But what kind of idiot came up with this title?”

“Me…”

Seo Jun-Ho looked at Shim Deok-Gu’s face and saw a slightly hurt expression. Seo Jun-Ho scratched his neck for no reason.

"Uh, well, now that I’m looking at it again, I don't think it's bad. It’s a good name."

"Thanks..."

Seo Jun-Ho quickly changed the subject. "What's up with the sales volume?"

He expected that it would sell tens of thousands at most, but more than a million copies were sold. And another round of printing was even about to start?

"Oh, we didn't expect that either. The readership is wider than I initially thought."

"Yeah, but why is that?"

The guide was a strategy book the Frost Queen made for the Seo Jun-Ho difficulty on the 4th Floor. As such, it was made for the Players who wanted to beat the 4th Floor. In a broader sense, it meant there was no need to read it unless one was a Player who wanted to beat the 4th Floor.

"We didn’t expect so many civilians to like it."

"Why do they like it?”

“Because it’s a priceless behind-the-scenes story of a hero.”

Seo Jun-Ho had always been a hero fighting on the front lines, but the public didn’t really know exactly the kind of person Seo Jun-Ho was. As such, it was only natural that the people were curious about him.

"The people had always been curious about you, and The Loneliness of the 4th Floor satisfied their curiosity.”

The book contained all of Seo Jun-Ho’s days on the 4th Floor according to what the Frost Queen could remember. It depicted the hardships he faced. How the relentless loop and passage of time shattered him, and how he eventually conquered the Floor.

"The book has to be pretty touching, then."

People around the world realized that—in the end—the hero of mankind was still a 27-year-old young man. They didn’t have that much of an idea of how heavy the burden he was carrying on his shoulders as he silently climbed the Floors. And that was why Seo Jun-Ho received many affectionate gazes upon returning to Earth.

"Ridiculous." Seo Jun-Ho actually snorted. "Why go around sympathizing with a person who’s fine?"

"Don't think too badly of it. Thanks to it, Climb can't even speak anymore."

"Well, I like that part."

"Anyway, where did you even go? What have you been doing?"

Seo Jun-Ho told Shim Deok-Gu about the duel he had with Sir Hart on the 2nd Floor.

Shim Deok-Gu listened to it with interest before asking, "By the way, a clone? What's that?"

"There is a cute version of the Contractor."

"Wait, you think he’s cute? Are you out of your mind?"

Seo Jun-Ho looked at the Frost Queen, astonished. She thought that unpredictable punk was cute?

"I think he’s fine? He's honest with his feelings. He doesn't pretend to be an adult like you.”

"What do you mean I’m pretending to be an adult? I’m an adult.”

Seo Jun-Ho clicked his tongue at the Frost Queen’s words.

Shim Deok-Gu listening to the conversation asked, "When did you get that skill?"

"Where do you think? I got it after beating Erebo.”

"Hmm. An unpretentious version of you. Honestly, I think it'll be fun to meet him."

"Oh, is that so? Then experience it yourself."

Seo Jun-Ho flicked his finger, and the clone appeared.

"Oooh, he looks just like you."

"Well, he's my clone."

"Oh, it's Deok-Gu."

The clone looked around as if he was familiar with Shim Deok-Gu, but he suddenly reached out with his hand.

"Wow, this wig looks so nice. Technology really is scary these days.”

“…”

Shim Deok-Gu stared at his stolen wig and turned to Seo Jun-Ho.

"Okay, it's not fun at all. Thank you for always acting like an adult."

"That's a relief. It seems I have one normal person around me."

Seo Jun-Ho shrugged.

***

"So, you're now going up to the 5th Floor?"

"Yeah, I'm going up."

Seo Jun-Ho nodded. Shim Deok-Gu had already postponed a few requests to interview from many newspapers and magazines.

"I'll reject everything."

"Thank you."

He was a Player, not a celebrity. He appreciated the public interest and support, but he didn't want to be swayed by it.

"I have to meet them before I go, but it's a little difficult."

"Hmm. Everyone is targeting the Seo Jun-Ho difficulty on the 4th Floor."

The sooner his friends received and took the consumable elixirs he had prepared for them, the better. Unless they had a special talent like Mio, they would have to acclimatize to their increased stats.

All of a sudden, the clone wandering around the room while drinking orange juice said, "Original, can’t you just go up to the 4th Floor and meet your friends there?”

"Didn't you hear? They're in the middle of the Seo Jun-Ho difficulty level."

The Seo Jun-Ho difficulty level was a hardcode mode with only three opportunities to overcome the trials without interference.

"What if you just asked the World Tree?"

"Say something that makes sense next time. There’s no way that’s—”

Seo Jun-Ho stopped. He wasn’t really sure whether it would work or not.

"Hmm."

After thinking for a while, he got up from his seat.

"Deok-Gu, keep an eye on him.”

"Are you going to the 4th Floor?"

"Yeah, I think it's fine to just check."

If it were possible, he would be able to give his friends a little help. The clone smiled and waved his hand.

"Have a safe trip, Original."

"Don't make trouble. I’m warning you."

"Hey, I just don’t put on an act like you, but the rest is the same as you. Don't worry."

“…”

The clone sounded trustworthy, but why was Seo Jun-Ho so nervous about leaving him alone?

"If you have time, go to a fortune teller and get yourself a new name with Cold Spear."

"Honestly, going to a fortune teller sounds exhausting, can't you just call it Cold Spear?"

"No. I promised to give it a new name after beating Erebo.”

Seo Jun-Ho retrieved Cold Spear from his Inventory and asked doubtfully, "You can do it, right?”

"Hmm, all right. Leave it to me."

The Cold Spear trembled under the clone’s gaze. Somehow, it felt like a weirdo had caught it.