Chapter 7

Chapter. 7

I returned to my room, walking carefully.

“…Wow, I lived. I really thought I was going to die.”

When Synchronization was active, I was Awakened.

When Synchronization ended, I was old.

If I used Mana too violently in between those two states, I would suffer a backlash severe enough to leave me on the brink of death.

…I had not expected that.

“So that pain just now was the price of 50,000 MP.”

Good thing I stopped after firing a single Permafrost.

If I had gotten careless and decided to test things by unleashing a full magical bombardment, my organs might have burst and killed me.

‘That was dangerous.’

As expected.

A person only stops repeating the same mistake after they have cracked their head on it once.

And there was one more thing I had learned.

When I killed a Monster, I absorbed those motes of light, and those motes healed my body as it writhed from the backlash.

It felt like a form of coercion: if I wanted to use magic freely, then I had to kill Demonic Beasts and absorb those ‘motes of light.’

At the same time, it was a threat saying that if I used magic and failed to kill a Demonic Beast, I could die from the aftereffects.

What that implied was obvious.

“If you draw the sword, then cut down even a radish.”

It was telling me to use this power to hunt and kill Demonic Beasts.

Rationally speaking, that was the conclusion.

But…

the one who had placed the Synchronization ability in my hands had judged me wrong.

“How arrogant.”

I hated this kind of coercion.

If someone shoved a choice like Die VS Choose in front of me, then I was the kind of person who would find a third path no matter what it took.

And once you became a seasoned veteran of a game,

the ability to find loopholes that let you escape this kind of ‘forced choice’ came preinstalled.

“You’re dead.”

You miserable bastard.

You dare try to control me?

I will break through it somehow, no matter what.

“For now, there’s one thing I’ve learned.”

The backlash? It hurt.

It really hurt, but…

I did not die.

“That means I can use up to 50,000 MP without dying.”

Thanks to that, I now know.—Up to this point, it’s safe.

The trick of trying to control me by scaring me had just been shattered.

If anything, it had only told me where the safety line was: I won’t die up to here.

And then,

my mind began to race.

I had not died, but I had just stepped somewhere near death’s doorstep and returned, so it felt as though my entire consciousness had entered an intensely awakened state.

‘This cold and heavy sensation… it’s been a while.’

Not using Synchronization was not an option.

In that case,

I had to develop a way to use it safely.

‘Fight using only Ice Arrow?’

Rejected.

‘It’s weak.’

Ice Arrow was something you used to clean up the lesser mobs around a boss in the first place.

It would be hard to land a truly effective blow on a boss with it.

‘Use a weaker Permafrost?’

Rejected as well.

Why was a finishing move called a finishing move?

Permafrost was a high-powered spell created ‘to kill’ dangerous bosses with certainty.

‘The very idea of using a finishing move “gently” makes no sense.’

My gaze shifted to the monitor in front of me.

‘Come to think of it….’

Compared to the Frost Sorcerer in Lost Honor, the efficiency gap was like heaven and earth.

‘Han Seol-ah really uses magic inefficiently.’

In Lost Honor, the MP cost of Ice Arrow, the Frost Sorcerer’s basic spell, was only 5.

Compared to Han Seol-ah's Ice Arrow, which consumed 500 MP, it was absurdly cheap.

And what about a finishing move?

The difference was even greater there.

There was no need to even go as far as the ultimate spell you could use after leveling Frost Sorcerer all the way to the max level of 99.

Even Blizzard, a high-tier spell available from the midgame onward, would cost only one-tenth as much Mana while delivering equal or even greater power.

If I could use magic like that…

But it was only imagination.

Lost Honor might be a strange game, but…

surely the magic inside a game and the magic of reality were fundamentally different things.

Leaving aside whether it was even possible in the first place,

I still had not the faintest clue how magic was actually used.

‘No way.’

…

Hmm.

Wait a second.

…Is it really impossible?

“…But awakening someone who was incapable of Awakening makes sense?”

And on top of that,

Did it make sense to secretly kidnap a perfectly real S-rank Hunter from the middle of a press conference into the world inside a game without anyone noticing?

…Right.

I was the very person who had experienced a miracle through Lost Honor.

‘A miracle….’

—Do not set limits.

That was what my instincts whispered.

It felt as though I had gained a deeper understanding of my current ability—Synchronization.

‘At the level of miracles… there is nothing that is impossible.’

I spread my palm wide open.

—How do you use magic?

A fundamental question.

My answer was simple.

I have no idea!

I did not know how to use either Ice Arrow or Permafrost, yet both had activated on their own.

—How do you use the spells that exist inside the game?

Same answer.

I did not know.

To begin with, I did not even need to know.

Synchronization. That ability did not work that way.

—I want to use it.

…If I wished for it that way,

“—Blizzard.”

then all the tedious, abstruse, and complicated things

would take care of themselves.

Tremble—

My Mana Hall quivered.

See?

Even now, the moment I put intent into it and spoke the activation word, the Mana inside my body had begun to stir.

Fwaaaaaa—

A magic circle incomparably more intricate and multifaceted than the mandala Han Seol-ah drew when she used Permafrost formed inside me.

It was enough to make my head spin from a single glance.

Its movement was so fast that I could not follow it even by instinct…

Pop!

And then,

a message window appeared.

[Please designate the area]

In the game, when you activated Blizzard, an area-of-effect spell,

a magic circle would appear so you could designate where to cast it.

Just like the one now floating before my eyes.

‘…It worked.’

I can use it.

The magic from the game.

Right now, at this very moment,

I had advanced one step further.

***

At that same time, when Han Seol-ah had met the ‘true Ice Dragon’ in the ‘other world.’

Ever since obtaining Eternal Winter for the first time, Han Seol-ah had been filled with a sense of absolute omnipotence, as though she alone stood above heaven and earth.

And for good reason: the total amount of Mana that had long plagued her as a chronic problem had improved dramatically, and as a result, Han Seol-ah had become an EX-rank Hunter.

The third on Earth, and the second to bear that title as a dealer.

And on top of that… this ‘insane’ staff!

Just holding it made her feel as though she had become a goddess of magic.

But the moment she encountered the ‘real Ice Dragon,’ Han Seol-ah became aware of her true position.

—KRAAAAAAH!

EX-rank was not the peak.

Just look at the life-form before her.

Merely looking at it made the strength drain from her legs.

Her mind went blank, and her Mana froze solid.

The overwhelming difference in power erased even her will to resist.

‘…That’s the real Ice Dragon?’

Compared to that, the one she had seen on Earth felt like a mere little snake.

Han Seol-ah stole a glance to the side.

There…

watching her intently was someone far more terrifying than the Ice Dragon in front of her.

‘…W-why is he watching me?’

It felt as though her legs were about to give way…

After that,

the elixirs… that blatant ‘trap’…

Han Seol-ah had no choice but to step into it, even while knowing what it was.

Because he had been staring at her so openly,

as though saying, ‘What are you doing? Go pick it up.’

The sight of her eagerly snatching up the elixirs tossed onto the ground and swallowing them one after another must have looked ridiculous, like some small beast waiting for its master’s hand.

But she had no room to feel shame.

Because the killing intent beyond that abyss-like helmet was tightening around her throat as though it could cut off her breath at any moment.

And as a result,

the battle began,

and Han Seol-ah fell into panic.

“I-I can’t win! The Ice Dragon is immune to frost magic… my spells won’t work on it…!”

The moment she turned to look back,

there were those abyss-like eyes looking down at her.

The gaze of an absolute predator…

one that seemed able to freeze even her soul the instant she met it.

She met that gaze.

Overwhelming Demonic Energy, far beyond what human perception could possibly contain, ran down her spine.

‘Eek!’

Whip.

Han Seol-ah turned straight ahead again.

‘Okay! Let’s fight!’

Her desire to run away vanished.

More precisely, a greater fear crushed down that lesser… terror.

ROOOOOAR-!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The Ice Dragon charged toward her at tremendous speed.

‘Aaaaahhhh!’

Han Seol-ah screamed with all her might inside her head.

At that moment—

Flash!

A faint gleam flickered from Eternal Winter, and the Mana that had been stiffly frozen began to flow through Han Seol-ah's body on its own.

The icy chill felt like having freezing water dumped all over her, and it forcibly snapped her back to her senses.

Right.

I am Han Seol-ah.

The Guardian of Republic of Korea…!

Han Seol-ah gritted her teeth and drew up her frost Mana with all her strength.

But at that moment—

[H-hey, hey. Stop that.]

She had no choice but to freeze at the male voice sounding inside her head.

‘…?!’

[What kind of nonsense is this? Is this how you handle Frost Type Mana? The Creator transferred ownership to you, so I was going to endure it and just watch, but… I can’t take it anymore. Even a passing mutt wouldn’t operate Mana like this. Is your intelligence on the level of a dog?]

‘W-what?’

I, Han Seol-ah,

I am S-rank, though….

[Haah. Just do as I say. Unless you want to hear that you disappointed the Creator.]

‘!’

Han Seol-ah snapped to attention at once and corrected her posture.

[Extend me forward.]

‘Me? Ah. Don’t tell me, from this staff….’

[Correct. I am Frozen, the artificial spirit of Eternal Winter. Now that you understand, do as you’re told.]

Han Seol-ah thrust the staff, Eternal Winter, forward.

Wheeeeeen-!

‘Huaaahk.’

Then she felt as though all the Mana in her body was being drawn out toward the staff in one sweep.

‘Eek.’

[Endure it. You can’t even withstand this much? And you’re supposed to become my user.]

‘W-wait a moment.’

[You can’t hold out any longer? Damn it. This is my first deployment, and I won’t even get to show the Creator my finest appearance. Fine then. In that case, in your current state, shout this loudly.]

Han Seol-ah's whole body was trembling.

“Permafrost!”

The moment she cried out the activation word,

white light burst forth from the vivid blue jewel set into Eternal Winter.

In front of the extended staff, blue Mana whipped into a vortex, and in the blink of an eye, an orb of ice the size of a human head formed with a sharp flourish.

“Huh?”

This was… different from usual.

She did not need to focus her mind.

She did not need to draw a magic circle within herself.

No, she did not even need to stir her will and touch her Mana at all.

‘Permafrost is not a spell you can cast like this.’

As though… someone had performed all the complex calculations in her place.

‘No way?’

Flash!

The orb shot out at a speed too fast for the eye to follow and struck Scathach.

Boom!

And just like that,

Scathach exploded and died.

[Well, that was serviceable enough.]

‘…Was that your doing, Spirit?’

[What do you mean, “Spirit”? Just call me Frozen.]

‘Yes, Frozen.’

[Good. Your Mana control was too abysmal for me to tolerate.]

‘…Abysmal?’

[The spell’s final form is… not bad. Frankly, it is worthy of praise.]

Frozen’s voice continued rapidly inside her head.

Communicating at the speed of thought felt rather strange.

[It’s a miracle on the level of a goblin with a stone axe constructing a skyscraper. How did you manage to create such a high-grade spell using such primitive and barbaric Mana control?]

‘…Excuse me. I’ve listened and listened, but I’m not that terrible—’

[By my standards, you are terrible.]

‘No….’

[After receiving my assistance just now, don’t tell me you still can’t tell the difference. At least not if you’re an intelligent life-form.]

‘….’

That part was true.

Permafrost was not a spell that could be cast ‘this easily.’

[How have you been using this spell until now?]

‘…I just focused my mind….’

The moment Han Seol-ah recalled how she used Permafrost,

[…Wow…]

came the astonished response.

[What in the… this is shocking and terrifying. It’s a miracle that your body didn’t burst and kill you… no, rather, was it only because you had this much talent that you managed to survive even with such a primitive method… Earthlings are really such blockheads…]

DING-

[Notice: ‘Possession Quest’ has been completed. You will return to Earth in 10 seconds.]

Immediately after that, Han Seol-ah lost consciousness, and while her mind sank into a dim abyss, she heard fragmented voices.

In that black space, Frozen and an unidentified voice seemed to be arguing.

‘It sounded like they were saying things about blockheads… and charity work… or something like that.’

Hahk-!

Like a protagonist waking from a state of suspended death,

Han Seol-ah jolted upright in bed, gasping for breath.

“W-where is this?”

When she looked around, she found herself in a familiar room.

Around her were the soju bottles she had been drinking before being taken to ‘that place.’

“…I’m back.”

Earth.

Republic of Korea.

My room.

‘…Was it a dream?’

No.

The amount of Mana she felt inside her body was unmistakably EX-rank.

And besides…

[Ungh.]

A pleasant male voice rang through Han Seol-ah's mind, filling her with relief.

“Frozen!”

Joy filled Han Seol-ah's heart.

The divine armament gifted to her by the transcendent being she had met in ‘that place.’

‘Eternal Winter.’

The staff was so beautiful that merely looking at it filled her with ecstasy lay beside her pillow.

Han Seol-ah quickly snatched up the staff.

[Hmm, where is this? The Mana density is dreadful. And what is this filthy environment? It is exactly the sort of place suited for the weak to live.]

“…My room.”

[As expected.]

Han Seol-ah closed her mouth.

“I should head out first. Please help me, Frozen.”

[Of course.]

Han Seol-ah hurried up to the rooftop.

[Hmm?]

“What is it?”

[No, I just sensed the incredibly powerful Frost Type Mana.]

“Ah, I’m sorry. I only recently became EX-rank, so I still can’t control it very well—”

[?]

“?”

A brief silence passed.

[…No, your skill is still pitiful. What misunderstanding are you under?]

“…That’s harsh, seriously.”

[Mana of a concentration and purity incomparable to yours. Manipulation so secretive and swift that even I barely noticed it. And this is… power that touches something more ‘fundamental.’ There was a mage of such an absurdly high level on ‘this side’?]

“Uh….”

Han Seol-ah looked around, confirmed that no one was there, then whispered to Frozen.

“The thing is… there isn’t any Frost Type mage here stronger than me.”

[What?]

“I’m the strongest Frost Type mage on Earth.”

[…The strongest?]

“…It’s true.”

[….]

Frozen could not physically sigh.

But Han Seol-ah was certain she had just heard one.

“Anyway, you must have misread it…”

[No, that is impossible. This… hm. Yes, I see.]

As though performing high-speed calculations, Frozen’s jewel sparkled brightly.

“Eek.”

Naturally, the Mana used for those calculations was Han Seol-ah’s.

The elixirs granted by that man, along with obtaining Frozen, had increased her Mana Capacity to an absurd degree, but the amount of Mana Frozen consumed was enormous.

[The power I sensed just now was definitely similar to your ‘Ice Crystal.’ If your Ice Crystal is a snowflake, then that Ice Crystal is like the heart of an Azure Dragon, though the difference in class is immense.]

“…Tch.”

Frozen spoke in a cheerful voice.

[You said you are the strongest Frost Type mage, correct? Yet immediately after your return to Earth, a Frost Type mage vastly more powerful than you appears at just the right moment?]

“…!”

Han Seol-ah’s drowsy eyes widened.

“Don’t tell me?”

[Yes. It is probably my Creator—that man himself.]