Flames Beneath the Eternal Blizzard

Harten's underground Flame Palace of Vesta. No one, not even the village chief's grandfather, would ever guess that such a contrasting space lay beneath the village swept by eternal blizzards. Unlike the midwinter chill of Harten above, this place lived up to its name—humid and sweltering. Lava flowed in place of groundwater, and flames would suddenly erupt into the air with a whoosh—whoosh.

Just like now.

Whoosh!

"Ack! What the—?!"

I'd been peering at the bubbling lava when the sudden blaze shot up, making me flop right onto my butt.

"...Pfft."

"Why does this keep happening?"

I dusted off my rear awkwardly and shot a question at Molrangkau, who was snickering away.

"It's a magical space brimming with fiery energy."

"...Is that a thing?"

In a world where common sense didn't apply, I had no choice but to accept it. Right now, we were on a bridge, gazing down at the flowing lava. Gold Sun and Tteok Sun-i had vanished somewhere with creepy little smirks.

'Hehe, we'll just look around a bit.'

'Hohoho, don't mind us.'

Tch. Who the hell did they learn that sleazy grin from?

I stretched my legs out over the edge of the bridge and sat dangling them.

"Legs on the bridge, stretching legs out over the bridge. So are these my legs? Or bridge legs?"

"...What're you even saying?"

Splash-splash. I kicked my feet playfully. If I fell, I'd be toast in seconds, but no one was shoving me from behind, so it was fine.

"Wah!"

"Kyaa!"

"Thahaha!"

Molrangkau doubled over laughing.

"Hey! Who said you could pull a stunt like that? You wanna get spanked?"

"Ahahaha! Go ahead and try~ You're such a dad. Screaming like a girl, huh? Scaredy-cat?"

"S-scared? No way!"

"Scaredy-cat~ Scaredy-cat~"

"I'm not scared!"

"Nuh-uh~ Sure you aren't~"

This girl. Was she always this good at teasing? Master-level taunting. That punchable smugness. It felt familiar.

"...This is giving me PTSD. You meet my sister or something?"

"W-what're you talking about?"

"Fess up. You met my sis, right? She taught you all her tricks?"

"Pfft."

She plopped down next to me like it was natural, mimicking my splash-splash.

"Oh yeah, you said you had a favor to ask?"

"Right."

Molrangkau clapped lightly and got to it.

"I know someone who heard about your cooking and really wants to try it..."

Maybe her conscience stung after all the teasing, because she glanced at me sheepishly.

"Oh yeah? They're here in Harten?"

"Uh... no. Probably in Genesis Village."

"Genesis Village? That's way too far..."

Way too far. Even with Ptah's coin, it might be doable, but I didn't have that anymore—and I had stuff to do here anyway.

"I'm here on a quest too, so I can't right now."

"Oh, not now. Later. Just checking ahead."

"No problem then."

She let out a relieved whoosh. I smirked slyly.

Heh heh... Dropped your guard, Molrangkau. Too early to relax, kiddo. I haven't set my terms yet.

"But!"

"Huh?"

I thrust up a finger like a declaration of war.

"If you take back calling me a scaredy-cat. Uwahuha..."

How's that? This is adult revenge, you squishy little punk! I'm not stooping to your childish level. Slipping a tough condition into a key negotiation to seize the advantage—that's mature maneuvering. Nice play, me!

Heh heh... Bet your head's spinning. What'll you choose—

"Taken back."

"Huh?"

"I take it back. You're not a scaredy-cat. Super brave. Good?"

"Uh...? Y-yeah..."

"So you'll cook for me sometime? Promise."

"...Y-yeah, sure."

In a flash, she hooked her pinky with mine and stamped our thumbs. I just blinked at her, wide-eyed, as she got played like a fiddle.

...Huh? Why do I feel like I lost? I totally won, right? Weird.

I tilted my head and scratched my cheek. Molrangkau snickered.

"What? Feeling ripped off?"

"Kinda."

"Then ask me for a favor too."

"...A favor?"

"Or a question."

"Good idea."

Come to think of it, I did have something to ask.

"That disguise spell of yours."

"Disguise spell? The one from earlier?"

"Yeah. Can I learn it?"

She shook her head.

"Nah. Mages only."

"Oh..."

Makes sense. If anyone could learn it, the Crying Priest wouldn't bother with the hassle.

"But why disguise magic?"

"Why? To disguise myself."

"For what?"

"To dodge people's eyes."

"Why dodge?"

"You know. I kinda blew up in popularity by accident."

"...Huh?"

"Hm?"

"Oh?"

"Yeah?"

Molrangkau's eyes went wide. No way...

I narrowed mine at her.

"...You haven't seen that video?"

"What video?"

"Haa..."

I sighed deeply and pinched my temple. Talk about a plot twist biting you in the ass.

"I'm disappointed, Molrangkau. No, Seo Ji-hyun. And you're a Panwol player?"

"Wha—how?!"

Her ruby-red eyes shook with panic.

"That video topping the YouTube gaming category real-time trends. How could you miss it? And you're Rank 5?"

"S-sorry! Wait, how do you even know I'm Rank 5—"

"Whatever. Not talking to you."

I whipped my head away and crossed my arms. With those views? How do you not see it? Kinda bragging, but I look insanely cool in it. Charismatic chef beating down villains. Sure, going unofficial ranker was a worry, but damn, I look good! I even rewatch it before bed sometimes. Makes me grin like an idiot. Know that?

...Whoops. Can't let that slip. My secret to the grave.

Ahem... Anyway, Seo Ji-hyun, you must've missed it, but I'm the talk of Panwol right now. Comments are gold. And you skipped it? Are you even a player?

"Hmph. What do I even say to someone who hasn't seen it? We got nothing in common."

"S-sorry! I'll watch it right after logging off today."

"Do whatever."

"No, really. Promise." She held out her pinky. "...Hmph."

I hooked mine with mock reluctance and stamped.

"You promised?"

"Yeah. First thing."

"Good. Write a three-page A4 review."

"Th-three pages? Too much!"

"Is it? Fine, one page."

"Ugh... Fine."

I grinned at the sulky fire witch and pulled up my quest log.

I nodded, taking in the underground palace's lava flows. Yeah. Looks like I came to the right place.

Machine Hill near Shin-dong Village for the Iron Empress. Harten's Flame Palace for the Red Witch. Thanks to Molrangkau, no need to round up contacts myself. The only issue was when Vesta would recover. I needed that quest...

"Hey, Molrangkau."

"Yeah?"

"When's Lady Vesta ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠coming back to life?"

"Takes a bit longer, I think."

"How long?"

"Dunno exactly. Just wait. She'll find us when she's ready."

"Find us?"

"Yeah. She wanders around bored, poking her nose everywhere."

...What is she, a kid?

"So what're you doing here?"

"Me?"

"Yeah. Looks like the final trial for your hidden class."

Her eyes went saucer-wide.

"How'd you know?"

"My sister's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠got a hidden class too. Final trial's meeting the ghost founder for a direct test."

"Oh..."

She nodded slowly, convinced.

"That time in Shin-dong Village, you headed north—here, right?"

"Yeah."

"Trial not going well?"

It'd been ages, and she was still here. Must be brutal. Sis was still tinkering with that robot too.

Sure enough, Molrangkau drooped.

"Yeah..."

"What's the trial?"

"...Curious?"

"Kinda."

"Wanna see?"

"Can I?"

"Sure."

She stood up.

"Up we go."

I followed suit.

"Come on. Gotta wait for Vesta anyway."

Her steps seemed a tad lighter as she led the way. Hidden class final trial, huh... Brimming with curiosity, I trailed after her.

"Miss Dahyun. Ready?"

"Yep!"

Dahyun steadied her pounding heart and replied. She was in an artificial blue space—lying in bed in reality, Dream Gear on.

"No discomfort?"

"None!"

"Proceeding then."

Now in the game planning department, Dahyun was about to take her first steps as a pro tester.

"Create character first?"

"No, we ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pre-made it."

Poof—her character appeared. Dahyun gaped.

"Whoa... So cool."

"Select and log in when ready."

"Wait. The name's weird? Test Subject 32?"

"Oops, glitch. Pick a name."

"Glitch, right? Sebastian then."

"PinkGonduDahyun then."

"Ehh? That's taken too? What then..."

"...My suggestion?"

"What?"

"DadaDahyun."

"Too lazy!"

"Why? Sounds speedy. Parodies 'many hands make light work' too."

"Who thinks that?!"

"Yes."

"Hey!"

"Oops. Mistake."

"That was on purpose!"

Dahyun sighed. Character names couldn't be changed once set.

...Whatever.

"B-but customization?"

"Used your fairy data from service ops. No issues."

"Wait, maybe tweak it a bit more—"

"Starting now~"

Even on remote work from home via Dream Gear, Sunday worker Min Jaehong cut her off with smooth-yet-cold efficiency. Tweaks would drag on forever.

He just wanted to wrap up and enjoy his day off.

"Wait! Hold on!"

Dahyun yelled desperately, but he ignored her and forced the login.

Shwoooosh—

Familiar scenery unfolded: Genesis Village.

"Aww... Wanted more custom tweaks..."

She pouted. But Min Jaehong rattled off like a machine gun.

"Logged in. Skipping tutorial. My job's done. Report on time, Dahyun. Stick to daily playtime too."

"Yeees..."

"Bye then. Have fun in the fantasy world. Enjoy the game! Funwol!"

"It's 'chaos,' not 'fun'! Official greeting changed ages ago!"

"Ugh, wiped. Why work Sundays? Sigh. Ordering chicken."

"Hey! Call's not over! And I'm still working?!"

"Oh, still on? Tough it out. Funwol!"

"Chaos!"

Dahyun fumed at the air, but the call had long ended.

"Ugh... Suddenly don't wanna."

Grumbling, she wandered Genesis Village square. She'd spent most time here as a fairy, but as a player? Felt fresh.

"Ooh~ So this is the vibe?"

Cheered up, DadaDahyun basked in the sun, roaming freely. Memories of her funnest customer, Hura, bubbled up.

"...That was a blast. Feels so vivid."

She followed their old path to the cooking change class building.

"...Huh?"

But things had flipped. Unlike their quiet visit, it buzzed with crowds—line out the door.

"No way?!"

Cooking always hit rock-bottom job changes. The exam was notoriously brutal. One person inside was a shock.

"What's going on here?"

Dahyun stared blankly at the scene.