Around the time Seo Jun-Ho was on a flight back to Korea, one man was walking to his house on the Frontier, the 2nd floor.
“Huh?”
He picked up a box that was in front of his door.
“A teleport delivery…from the 1st floor?” Teleport deliveries were expensive, but they arrived in only a few hours.
‘But who sent it?’
He tilted his head. Deliveries across floors, especially teleport deliveries, were expensive for the average person.
“I don’t remember ordering anything…” His forehead wrinkled as he picked up the mysterious package.
‘Is it a trap from those fiend bastards?’
It was likely. He was currently tracking fiends in secret. He slowly brought up his magic to defend against an explosion and started to open the package. But contrary to his expectations, there was a luxurious box beneath the packaging.
“This is…” His eyes widened as he recognized the seal carved onto the box.
How could he not? News of the biggest auction had reached even the 2nd floor.
It was the mark of The Auction.
He carefully opened the box, only to find a refined necklace sitting inside.
“Item window.” He only got more confused when he saw that it was a rare-grade necklace.
‘Stamina Regeneration Necklace…just who sent this to me?’
He pondered for a while, but he couldn’t find the answer. There was no one from his family, team, or even his Guild that would send him this sort of present when he lived while wandering around.
‘Huh? It’s a note.’
He picked up a note in the corner of the box and quickly read over it.
—I hope you’re healthy. I’ll come up within half a year. Your uncle.
“…” He read over it several times and looked up silently at the starry night sky. His eyes were starting to sparkle like the stars.
‘Half a year…so he’s starting to move.’
He was filled with both anticipation and worry. The 2nd floor was a completely ‘different world’ than the one his uncle knew.
But he simply shrugged his shoulders and let out a chuckle.
“Geez, just who am I worried about?”
His name was Arthur Green. He was Gilberto Green’s son and regarded as the 5?Heroes’ nephew.
***
Seo Jun-Ho blinked as he emerged from the Incheon Airport gate. Someone he didn’t expect was waiting for him.
“W-why are you staring at me like that…?” Cha Si-Eun muttered as she avoided his gaze. She was wearing a clean suit as always.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t know that you’d come all the way to the airport.”
“…Escorting you when you come back to your home country is also the duty of a secretary.” She casually led him to a car. “Do you have anywhere else you’d like to stop by? Or shall we go straight to the Association?” She asked as he took a seat.
“Go to the Association. And,” Seo Jun-Ho rummaged around his bag, pulling out a well-wrapped book. “This is a gift. I didn’t know what I should buy, so I just got a book…I don’t know if you’ll like it though.”
“Well, I’d be grateful for any gift at all…” Cha Si-Eun smiled softly, but her expression quickly changed when she turned around. There was a ripple in her eyes when they landed on the book Seo Jun-Ho was holding.
“W-wait. Did you buy me the fantasy novel that’s getting adapted into a movie in Hollywood, <The Youngest Son of the Gates>? The hardcover edition…?!”
“Oh, you know this book? It was the last copy in the bestseller section.”
“Yes! Of course, I know it!” Cha Si-Eun’s mouth was wide agape as she held out her hands politely like she was receiving New Year’s money. She stared at it for a second and cradled it in her arms like it was a treasure while bowing her head. “I tried so hard to get a copy, but I couldn’t do it.”
“Really? I’m glad, then.” Seo Jun-Ho looked at Cha Si-Eun and her bright face. “You can read it right now if you want.”
“T-that’s…I’m working right now.” Her words were admirable, but her eyes betrayed her.
“Do you have any forms to do?
“I finished them all on the way to the airport…”
“So what’s the problem?” Seo Jun-Ho smiled and buried himself into the seat. “Have fun reading, and wake me up when we arrive.”
“….” Cha Si-Eun hesitated before she responded in a soft voice. “G-good night…”
A few minutes passed. Seo Jun-Ho fell into a deep sleep, listening to the sound of pages turning.
***
“Yo~ Is that Mr. Sherlock?” As he entered the office, Shim Deok-Gu gave his warm, signature smile and waved his hand.
Seo Jun-Ho’s face soured. “Sherlock? What are you saying?”
“Wherever he goes, things happen and terror arises. Much like you.”
“The hell are you saying…” Seo Jun-Ho grinned as he sat down and pulled out a liquor he bought from the duty-free store. “Here, Balvenie 1975. It’s a present.”
“You got me something expensive? What do I do? I’m abstaining right now.”
“Just drink it later then.” Seo Jun-Ho continued talking as he watched Shim Deok-Gu happily hold the bottle worth millions of won.
“I contacted Arthur on the way here. I told him I’m going up within half a year.”
“Good. That kid had it hard, but he grew up nicely.”
“It’s been a while since you saw him?”
“He hasn’t come down since going up to the 2nd floor. He said the 1st floor keeps reminding him of his dad…”
“Tsk.” Seo Jun-Ho’s mouth tasted bitter. He changed the topic. “Oh, and I heard from Gong Ju-Ha…she said that the invitation you gave me wasn’t a normal one.”
“So you heard?” Shim Deok-Gu nodded, seemingly unaffected. “It was a warning to show the world how much I care for you.”
“Ew, gross.”
“Hehe, that grossness will save you at some point.” Seo Jun-Ho was a little embarrassed by the love his friend was showing for him. He was an adult after all, not a child.
“Anyways, I have a favor to ask you.”
“What favor?” Shim Deok-Gu replied.
“I’m looking for an orphanage.”
“…Why an orphanage?” Shim Deok-Gu tilted his head. He didn’t understand.
“Listen carefully to what I’m about to say. It’s pretty heavy.” Seo Jun-Ho’s face turned serious as he started to tell the story.
He told Shim Deok-Gu how he acquired the ability to read the memories of the dead. How he was the one who took care of the Watchdogs at the Las Vegas auction. Lastly, he told him about the place where the fiends trained orphans to turn them into one of them.
When he finished, Shim Deok-Gu’s face hardened like stone. “…What you said, is that all true?”
“Yeah. But I don’t know the specific location of the orphanage. The only thing I’m sure of is that it’s not in Korea.”
“Dammit, those bastards don’t know where to draw the line!” Shim Deok-Gu’s breath was rough as he banged his fist on the handle of his chair. That was how shocking the news of the orphanage was. “…Hoo, I promise. I’ll find out everything I can.”
“I’m counting on you.”
After trying to catch his breath, Shim Deok-Gu uncorked the Balvenie 1975. Seo Jun-Ho looked at him blankly. “I thought you were abstaining?”
“Shit, whatever! How could I just sit still after hearing all that?”
“Wait.” ｂ𝚍𝚘𝚟ｌ.ｎｔ
Seo Jun-Ho quickly activated his Frost skill, and several ice cubes formed in their glasses. The two downed their drinks immediately after pouring.
“Keuh…..” Shim Deok-Gu’s face wrinkled at the taste of the strong whiskey. He wiped his lips. “Kwon Noya wants to see you.”
“Noya?”
“Yeah. You know the sword you asked for before you went to the States? He said it’ll be finished tomorrow and that he wants to give it to you in person. It won’t be suspicious anymore if you guys meet.”
“…I see.” Seo Jun-Ho placed his glass down and nodded. There was a simple reason he hadn’t been able to meet with Kwon Noya immediately after he awakened from the ice.
‘I didn’t have anything to my name back then.’
.
Meanwhile, Kwon Noya was so well-known that he was far above him like a castle wall. But now, things were different.
“What do you think? Do you think I’m big enough to meet him?”
“Well, you have a lot farther to go when compared to the 2nd floor Rankers…But when we look at the 1st floor, you’re doing amazing. Your progress is shocking.”
The other countries knew that he was over level 15, but there was a reason why he was so famous.
“The Uncleared Gates has been a big factor.”
“Your plan worked.” Seo Jun-Ho was a rookie Player who only went into Uncleared Gates and in the end, made Korea into a Special Safe Zone. He had accomplished things that others never even dreamed of.
“You said it’s tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah, we’ll go in the morning.”
“Alright. I’m going to rest, then.” Seo Jun-Ho replied.
Shim Deok-Gu grinned as he watched his friend leave. “Bastard, he’s all excited to meet Noya since it’s been a while.”
He rolled his shoulders and drank another glass. He stopped smiling as he called his secretary.
“Get me a list of every Player orphanage in the world.”
There was no way he would do a sloppy job on this.
***
As soon as daybreak arrived, Seo Jun-Ho headed toward the Insa-dong Player Market. Deep within the street of workshops was Kwon Noya’s forge. Seo Jun-Ho looked at the workshop with fondness. It hadn’t changed in the last 25 years.
‘Now that I think about it, Kwon Noya’s grandson must’ve grown a lot.’
He smiled as he thought of him. He was always being scolded to tears by old man Kwon, so Seo Jun-Ho always bought the kid some ice cream. He was so cute, following him around like a puppy and calling him Hero-nim.
‘He was so timid and weak. I’m curious to see how he’s grown up.’
From what he heard from Shim Deok-Gu, the crybaby had inherited the workshop from Kwon Noya and was now the owner.
As he got closer to the workshop, he heard a rhythmic sound.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The ringing sounds of the hammer were very sharp and clean.
‘That crybaby learned properly from the old man.’
As he was about to knock on the door with anticipation, the sounds stopped.
“Who is it?”
The front door opened and hot air billowed out. A 191-cm muscular giant answered the door. He was dressed in work clothes and was holding a hammer as if to prove that he was indeed a blacksmith.
‘Wait. So this is…’
Seo Jun-Ho blinked as he looked up at him blankly.
‘This is Kwon Noya’s grandson?’
He had been cute like a puppy in the past, but after 25 years he became a hellhound.
The muscular giant recognized Seo Jun-Ho and quickly welcomed him inside. “Oh, You’re Player Seo Jun-Ho. The Association told me. Come on in.”
The workshop was neat and tidy as he went inside. The family had been smiths for generations, and their skill was obviously good.
‘Noya’s probably upstairs.’
Seo Jun-Ho looked at the stairs.
“You rascal, it’s so hard to see your face.” A strong, familiar voice came from behind him. As Seo Jun-Ho slowly turned around, a smile crept up his lips when he saw an old man with an overgrown beard and white hair.
“It’s been a while, Noya.” It was the first time he’d seen him in 25 years.
1. the author says “ASMR” but I thought it sounded weird lol
2. ‘Noya’ also means old man, but they use it like a name/nickname.