Two pairs of eyes met in the air.
The two did not say a single word for a moment but only looked into each other’s eyes in silence.
A little more time went by and Seo Jun-Ho began to feel awkward about the long silence. Just then, the Frost Queen’s gaze slowly turned downward.
“The…soul…stones.”
She looked at the four hundred soul stones scattered on the floor of the room and murmured softly.
The Frost Queen’s voice caused Seo Jun-Ho’s expression to instantly distort.
“You…how long have you been…”
Seo Jun-Ho could tell from her low tone, broken sentences, and hoarse voice that she hadn’t made a sound, much less had a conversation, in a very long time.
The Frost Queen in front of him looked and felt like a soulless doll. Sadly, she simply went on as if she wasn’t aware of this fact.
“The…Season…Knights…must…have…decided…to…follow…you.”
“...”
Seo Jun-Ho tightly bit his lips and calmed his emotions by taking a deep breath. Then he slowly opened his mouth and tried to speak in a natural manner as much as possible, just like a normal person having a normal conversation.
“Well, to be exact, they didn’t decide to follow me. You’re the one they follow.”
“Me?”
“Yes. They only gave me their souls because they wanted to protect you even after their death.”
If it hadn’t been for the Frost Queen, the Season Knights wouldn’t have sworn their allegiance to Seo Jun-Ho.
But the Frost Queen shook her head.
“It’s…the…first…time…they…follow…you.”
“...It’s the first time?”
Seo Jun-Ho paused and asked back.
Kis had told Seo Jun-Ho that the Frost Queen had been sitting on the narrow throne in the same place all along, watching the world repeat itself over and over again. This meant that Sung-Jun had also passed by this place as well.
“But Sung-Jun—I mean, the past Seo Jun-Ho who reached the Star Destruction Stage must have passed by this place.”
“The…Season…Knights…did…not…follow…him.”
‘Huh? But why?’
Not only was Sung-Jun at the Star Destruction Stage just like Seo Jun-Ho, but he had likely been much stronger than Seo Jun-Ho was now.
‘The only difference between us is…’
Seo Jun-Ho inadvertently looked back at the Frost he was carrying on his back.
- Please do not give up on mankind, the world, clearing the Floors, and lastly… please do not give up on Frost.
Sung-Jun’s advice passed through Seo Jun-Ho’s mind.
‘No way. Could it be that the Season Knights refused to swear their allegiance to Sung-Jun because he did not come together with Frost? Is that why he made that desperate request not to abandon her?’
Seo Jun-Ho’s expression changed as he pondered the matter.
‘But that’s also kind of strange. There’s a Frost Queen on the eighth floor. If Sung-Jun couldn’t come up with the Frost Queen from down the tower, couldn’t he have just gone up with the Frost Queen in front of me to…’
“Oh.”
When Seo Jun-Ho’s thoughts reached that far, a small sound of surprise escaped his lips. At the same time, his eyes turned sad.
‘Is that what Kis meant when he said I don’t have to worry about it?’
When Seo Jun-Ho expressed his concern about two Frost Queens becoming one again, Kis assured him that he didn’t have to worry about it. However, Kis’ expression as he said that was rather complicated.
“...”
Seo Jun-Ho felt like he could finally understand what Kis meant. The Frost Queen in front of his eyes was not in a state to continue the quest with anyone.
‘I cannot be sure of it because I’m not a Transcendent, but…’
Whether they were a Transcendent or not, common sense dictated that nobody could remain unchanged after experiencing the same world ten thousand times over.
“...”
The Frost Queen remained alone in a frozen world and waited for the players to come up. If they failed to defeat the Archduke, she froze the world again.
Rinse and repeat.
She did this more than ten thousand times, all over again, in the dry and cold world, all by herself.
“...”
Seo Jun-Ho could feel an emotion on the face of the Frost Queen, who had appeared nothing but cold until a moment ago.
‘No. Maybe I already felt it when she first spat out her first word to me.’
“You’re exhausted…”
The Frost Queen was so exhausted that she wanted to hand over everything to her half that she had sent down to the first floor and disappear from this world.
“Then what happens to you now? Can you finally rest after sending us to the upper floor?” Seo Jun-Ho asked.
“I…must…wait.”
The Frost Queen had to wait again, as always. All she could do was open the way for the players and sit down on her throne, ready to freeze the world again in case Seo Jun-Ho of this episode failed.
“But how long are you going to wait?”
“...”
The Frost Queen did not answer Seo Jun-Ho’s question.
‘How…long?’
The Frost Queen did not know how long she had to wait, because all she had was a vague idea that she would be waiting until she and Seo Jun-Ho defeated the Archduke.
“It’s hard on you. Isn’t it?”
“...”
‘Hard on me?’
The Frost Queen had lost any such feelings a long while back. If she had entertained them instead, she would have been incapable of seeing this through for so long.
Drip, drip.
But for some reason, tears formed in her eyes and slowly flowed down her cheeks.
“I understand.”
Seo Jun-Ho slowly reached out his hand and patted her on the head.
The Frost Queen tensed up like a scared cat. She seemed to be afraid of the unfamiliar touch and emotions.
“I understand you.”
Seo Jun-Ho meant what he said.
Although it was incomparable to what the Frost Queen had gone through, Seo Jun-Ho was also exhausted because of his numerous returns to the past.
All he wanted was to disappear from the world without leaving any trace of him.
Therefore, he truly did understand.
“You tried your best. You did a great job.”
“...”
Seo Jun-Ho knew the Frost Queen’s personality better than anyone else.
He could tell how many scars had to be left on her heart for her to turn out so cold and dry.
“You can rest now.”
The Frost Queen deserved a fair retirement more than anyone else. She no longer had to be tied up in her throne like a prisoner.
“...I…cannot…rest.”
The Frost Queen shook her head.
If she took a rest and the Seo Jun-Ho in front of her failed the quest, the whole universe would be plunged into tragedy. And this time, there would be no turning back.
“It’s okay.”
Quietly listening to Seo Jun-Ho’s soft and warm voice, the Frost Queen felt like she could really give in to the illusion that everything would be okay.
Seo Jun-Ho gently patted her on the head.
“If the peace is only barely maintained by sacrificing someone, it’s fake and only meant to break in the first place.”
Seo Jun-Ho thought that he was perhaps too well synchronized with Kis’ emotions. However, he was being serious. The peace created by throwing everything onto the Frost Queen was not true peace, and it was only natural for it to disappear.
“...I.”
The Frost Queen shivered.
Seo Jun-Ho did not rush her but only waited for her to go on in silence.
“Can…I…”
Frost Queen slowly raised her head. On her face, a sea of sadness unfolded.
“Can…I…really…take…a rest?”
“...”
A moment later, the Frost Queen began to cry miserably, like a child.
The emotions she had forcefully suppressed for a ridiculously long time finally exploded in front of Seo Jun-Ho.
“I’m no match for you, but I’m also carrying a lot on my shoulders.”
Pat, pat.
Seo Jun-Ho continued to pat the Frost Queen’s shoulder as she sobbed.
“My burden won’t be any heavier if I carry you as well. So don’t worry and take a rest.”
“Sob…sob.”
As she kept crying for a while, the silhouette of the Frost Queen gradually began to blur like a ghost. Only then did she calm down and look up at Seo Jun-Ho with sadness in her eyes.
“Contractor.”
“Yes.”
“Contractor…”
“What is it?”
“Contractor, my contractor…”
“I’m right here for you.”
Seo Jun-Ho tightly held the Frost Queen’s hand that reached out toward him.
The Frost Queen whispered one last word to him, then disappeared with a brighter smile than ever.
[Congratulations! You have cleared the eighth floor.]
[From now on, you have access to the ninth floor—the Underworld area.]
[You have cleared the hidden quest ‘Season Knights.’]
[You have received the title ‘Master of the Four Seasons’ as a reward.]
[You have cleared the hidden quest ‘Frozen Queen.’]
[You have received the title ‘My Contractor’ as a reward.]
“...”
The feeling in Seo Jun-Ho’s hand was still vivid.
Seo Jun-Ho closed his eyes upon recalling the Frost Queen’s last words.
“So that was her name.”
Indeed, Seo Jun-Ho had just learned Frost’s actual name.
Clack, clack.
At that moment, footsteps echoed from behind him, and Seo Jun-Ho turned around.
“You are…”
The person behind him passed by him and looked down at the throne without saying a single word.
After staring for a long time, she asked, “Was she happy?”
“...Well, she disappeared with a smile on her face.”
“Is that so?”
The woman slowly turned around, showing Seo Jun-Ho the weary smile on her face.
“I don’t like you because you’re the one who hurt my precious friend. That doesn’t change even at this moment.”
“...”
‘Is that the reason she hates me even though she cherishes Frost so much?’
While Seo Jun-Ho nervously swallowed a gulp, Helic stood in front of him.
“With that said….”
She lowered her eyes.
“Thank you so much—and I mean it, from the bottom of my heart. You released her from the curse she put on herself.”
“...”
Seo Jun-Ho felt awkward to be thanked by a god. However, just as he contemplated what to say in response, Helic returned to her usual self.
“But that doesn’t mean I forgave you, so don’t get ahead of yourself, human.”
“Okay…”
“And hurry up and bring me back my Holy Relic.”
“I will.”
“Hmph.”
Helic passed by Seo Jun-Ho with a snort.
“...”
She approached Frost, whose head drooped on Seo Jun-Ho’s shoulder, and gently stroked her cheeks a couple of times. Then, she walked out the room with yet another snort.
“Hmph.”
Seo Jun-Ho blankly stared at the figure and murmured to himself in the empty room, “Shall we go back?”
***
When Seo Jun-Ho walked out of the dimensional elevator, Gray, who had been waiting for him in front of the door, smiled.
“How was your trip?”
“Don’t you already know how it went?”
“Hahaha! You’re right.”
Gray walked forward to guide Seo Jun-Ho with an exaggerated smile. His steps seemed much lighter than before.
“Although no one said it out loud, I’m sure everyone is grateful to you, player Seo Jun-Ho.”
“About the Frost Queen?”
“Yes. It was a curse that no one could lift.”
“...But they must have at least tried it.”
Gray made a sad expression as if he were hurt by Seo Jun-Ho’s surprised voice.
“We care about our colleagues too. Of course, we tried to stop her.”
According to Gray, the other administrators had not only tried to convince her with kind words but also scolded her, trying to persuade her to stop. Despite their efforts, she had stubbornly carried out what she thought was her responsibility.
“I don’t know if this is the right judgment or not, but at least I feel much better. It definitely lifted the weight off of my chest.”
“...Same here.”
Of course, everything would be meaningless if he failed to get rid of the Archduke. Seo Jun-Ho could end up destroying everything that the Frost Queen had protected by repeating the past ten thousand times over.
“...”
‘Yes. Just like the imperial landscape out of the window.’
As Seo Jun-Ho stopped and looked out the window, Gray approached him.
“Please don’t feel too pressured.”
“But how can I not? On my shoulders, I’m carrying…”
‘I’m carrying the fate of the universe.’
Seo Jun-Ho did not say the last words out loud because he was too embarrassed.
“Hahaha! Indeed. You are a hero of mankind!”
Gray laughed broadly and advised Seo Jun-Ho with a soft smile.
“It’s good to be responsible for what you’re doing, but too much concern and responsibility can become poison. I hope you can keep a good balance.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
‘Yes. That's good advice. Let’s keep it in mind.’
“Now. Let me show you where to lay the Frost Queen down.”
Seo Jun-Ho let the Frost Queen rest in a clean hospital room, then inquired about his friends.
“What are the others up to right now?”
“Oh. I heard that they’ve adapted well. I was actually thinking about starting their training soon.”
From what Seo Jun-Ho had heard earlier, his friends would reach at least the late Liberation stage if they completed the training.
“But do my friends need training, though? Some of them will soon reach the Star Destruction Stage anyway.”
“Huh? Your friends will reach the Star Destruction Stage…soon?”
Gray tilted his head as if Seo Jun-Ho was talking nonsense.
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