The First Thing Back Home: Checking the Loot
The moment I returned home, the very first thing I did was check my spoils of war. I rifled through my backpack. Inside was a pair of plain-looking silver gloves—the S-rank artifact, White Tiger's Fang. Hunter Association President Jin Cheon-jin had given them to me as a reward.
Now it really feels like I've accepted a quest in the real world. Gamers don't take quests without rewards—that's basic. My goal was the subjugation of the Ice Dragon Ska Zaha, looming just five days away. It was a hefty epic quest with rewards like unlocking the "Hall of Constellations achievement" and a "Possession Ticket."
Anyway, no reason to refuse.
But. The method was the issue. Korea's Tower was in Seoul. But for some reason, the boss gates from Breaks opened in Pyongyang—about 200 km away in a straight line. Time limit: 10 minutes. And using mana would rapidly drain that time.
In a situation like this... was there a way to take down Ska Zaha?
The answer was yes.
If I could only use Han Seol-ah's magic after acquiring Bingjeong, it'd be hopeless. But... I wasn't an "Awakened Hunter with Bingjeong." I was a Frost Sorcerer. A mage who could wield every frost spell in Lost Honor. All I needed was to use a "very special spell" that only a Frost Sorcerer could cast. That spell would be the highlight of this subjugation op.
Let's test it.
For the simulation, I job-changed my character—Nebula—into a Frost Sorcerer. Then I hopped through an otherworld gate and farmed Ska Zaha like crazy. Got the materials too. It was a two-for-one: real combat sim and all.
I massacred Ska Zaha for a good while.
"Alright, basic strategy's set..."
The rough plan was complete. Epic quest clear confirmed.
But!
"Can't settle for just clearing an epic quest."
Epic quests have hidden quests. The sweet honey pots you can't miss! While analyzing the epic quest, I calculated what hidden ones were lurking.
The answer came quick.
"Easy, too easy. I can predict every intention~"
Ten years in Lost Honor? Finding hiddens is child's play.
First step of the plan.
Rustle.
I pulled out the ticket I'd stashed deep in my pocket. The reward from clearing the first epic quest: the Possession Ticket.
"Time to use this."
It was a rare item you couldn't just snag easily, so I'd been saving it... but this quest was impossible without it.
Clear this one and I'll get another, so it's fine. And this was the perfect chance to practice using it while I could "refill."
I set the ticket on my desk and pondered.
Who to possess?
A parade of names flashed through my mind.
This guy's a criminal... that one's too.
To me, who only used the underworld net—the dark web—most familiar names were infamous in all the wrong ways. Filter out the scum and sub-S-rank weaklings, and candidates were slim.
First up: "War God."
Rank: EX-rank.
Everyone agreed: the strongest man on Earth. War God's power was the real deal.
But.
"War God, you're out. Sorry, you can't come with me."
Regrettable, but passed.
Immediately useful, sure. Borrowing War God's strength would crush the current crisis. But I couldn't waste a Possession Ticket on just "right now." It was key to unlocking Hall jobs. I had to weigh how much it filled my Hall collection and how useful the job was overall.
War God failed there. No long-term benefit.
If I'm right, once I can enter the Tower, I can unlock all martial artist jobs myself. So not just War God—all martial Hunters were off the list for my Hall going forward.
Pass on War God, and anything less won't cut it.
Next EX-rank. Epithet "Observer"—nothing else known. On hold. Too little info.
Third candidate: Japan's S-rank flame mage. Epithet "Kakutsuchi," Akabane Ren. Handles fire magic, Ska Zaha's weakness.
Meets Flame Sorcerer unlock conditions too.
And rumors of "Clone Technique," so maybe unlocks a Hall "14th series—Extraordinary/Outlier" job.
Perfect candidate all around.
I wrote "Kakutsuchi" on the Possession Ticket.
Please enter exactly.
"Like this, huh."
I wrote: [Japan, S-rank, Epithet Kakutsuchi, Akabane Ren]
You cannot exceed the 'country' unit yet.
...Not asking for age or address, right?
"Too far and no dice?"
'Yet' is the hint... Can't possess from other countries. That knocks out the rest.
"Korea only, then."
...Korea's Hunter pool is pathetic. Calling in a B-rank like Cheol-su for this fight? Useless. The few A-ranks are all tanks. Only S-rank is Han Seol-ah.
"Best I got right now."
[Korea, EX-rank]
"Whoa. EX-rank. Sounds grand."
[Korea, EX-rank, Epithet Guardian, Han Seol-ah]
I finished writing and set the pen down.
Possess?
[Yes][No]
"Got it."
I could've possessed right then. But with choices offered?
[No]
Let's set a more perfect stage.
The next day.
Han Seol-ah's group waited sleeplessly for the appointed time. Han Seol-ah sat cross-legged, Eternal Winter on her lap, deep in training. She'd scanned with detection whenever she could, but no trace of the "Apostle."
How is such perfect stealth possible?
—Is he even human?
Aside from those brief lapses, she circulated mana under Frozen's guidance, reliving the feel of casting magic.
[...]
The odd part: Frozen, who usually chimed in unasked, was eerily silent while siphoning her mana. Looked like it was crunching high-speed calculations.
Min Ji-hee was swamped handling Association admin remotely. Jin Cheon-jin stood watch outside. With mana detection useless, visual confirmation of the Apostle's approach was all they had.
Whirr— The door opened, and Jin Cheon-jin entered.
"He's coming. Prepare."
"... "
Everyone knelt reverently.
Moments later.
Whirr—
The Apostle entered.
"... "
The Apostle paused at the sight of the three kneeling politely, then raised a hand to stop their bows.
"Three conditions."
"Yes. Please speak."
Min Ji-hee handled the response.
"One. Hand over Eternal Winter."
Han Seol-ah's shoulders twitched visibly. They knew how much she relied on that staff—no, on the "Frozen" within.
"...Understood."
Min Ji-hee answered a beat late. Her gaze lingered pityingly on Han Seol-ah's trembling fingertips. A parent's heart—she couldn't urge her to hurry.
Sensing it, the Apostle spoke calmly.
"I'm not taking it. Eternal Winter is yours."
"Ah... "
"Once this crisis of annihilation passes, I'll return it."
"Thank you... thank you."
No hint of reluctance in his tone. Eternal Winter was a peerless artifact. To the Apostle, even such a marvel was just an item.
Han Seol-ah bowed deeply, then crawled forward on her knees to offer it. The Apostle stowed Eternal Winter in his backpack.
"Two. Cooperate fully with my requests henceforth."
"Understood."
Min Ji-hee nodded.
"Whatever it is. Even if you want my life."
The Apostle shook his head.
"Don't misunderstand. My requests will be 'perfectly reasonable' by your standards."
"...We thank you for your mercy."
"I'll exercise my first request now. 'Prepare measures so I face no interference while active in this world.'"
Min Ji-hee's eyes flashed with insight.
No interference... prepare measures?
Her brilliant mind probed the hidden intent in his words.
"Understood. As you wish... "
The Apostle nodded.
"Since you mentioned lives, I don't enjoy human sacrifices."
"...Yes."
A chill sweat trickled down Min Ji-hee's spine at his dry tone. Joke? ...Or dead serious?
As Min Ji-hee reeled in confusion, the Apostle continued. She showed relief.
But it didn't last.
"Three."
The Apostle pointed a slender finger at Han Seol-ah.
"You must die 200 times."
"... "
"... "
The air froze solid.
"Pardon?"
Jin Cheon-jin blurted it out. His face flushed red, fists trembling. Even for a savior Apostle, killing his precious daughter? Fatherly rage boiled over.
"What do you mean?"
Even cool-headed Min Ji-hee bit her lip bloody.
Throw Seol-ah into the fire, or let the nation fall...?
That was the dilemma flashing in her mind. After denying human sacrifice—joke or not—came this chilling choice.
The Apostle raised his hand.
"No reply?"
"... "
"Do you accept?"
"Is there no other way... "
Min Ji-hee's strained words met:
"None."
"Can I substitute my life... "
"Wait!"
Han Seol-ah urgently blocked her parents.
"Seol-ah! We can't lose you... "
"No, that's not it."
Han Seol-ah gripped their hands tightly with her trembling ones. To her parents, it looked like shoving their daughter to sacrifice. But in her mind flashed memories from "that world."
The circular ring spawning with a flag. The terrifying "Nebula" she'd only watched. The first death in hopeless despair... and first respawn.
Repeated fights, same endings. Despairing, but undeniably certain growth.
It was... painful, but solid training.
Han Seol-ah looked straight at the Apostle's face.
Saying 'must die' is asking if I'm ready for that resolve.
She steeled herself. If it meant getting stronger, she was prepared for anything.
"I'll do it."
Jin Cheon-jin couldn't protest her firm gaze, just sighed deeply.
"You'll summon me... to that world again, right?"
This was a chance. To grow even stronger.
The Apostle's lips curled in a smirk.
"With this, your 'quest' is accepted."