Frost (1)
Shinhwa Group. To Baek Isul, Shinhwa was a towering mountain she had to one day topple. If she couldn't bring it down from below, then she would climb to the summit and shatter it herself.
"That vicious bitch."
That was what they called Baek Isul's mother. Baek Isul was the illegitimate child of her father—no, Chairman Baek. It was unfair. The one at fault was Chairman Baek, yet the finger-pointing fell on her mother. It was irrational. Her mother, tormented by depression, had ultimately left this world.
"Live quietly, if you please. Isul."
At the funeral where not a soul came to mourn, Chairman Baek had said that. But she couldn't. Baek Isul couldn't stomach such injustice.
They called her a vicious bitch? Then she, who had inherited that vicious blood, would use the poison coursing through her veins to addict Shinhwa and kill it off. Only then would her grudge be sated.
In that sense, the cataclysm was an opportunity. No, it was fate.
Arcana, which she had once started to escape reality. Now Arcana had become reality. Baek Isul seized that fate. She walked into the tiger's den of Shinhwa on her own two feet. And before long, she earned Chairman Baek's recognition.
She became the master of Shinhwa Guild. Shinhwa Guild became an official subsidiary of Shinhwa Group.
So, was she happy? Regrettably, her revenge was only just beginning.
...It should have been that way, for sure.
What the hell am I doing right now?
A submerged feeling in her unconscious. Her mind only surfaced when someone spoke to her.
"How about it? We're getting closer to your goal, aren't we, my lady?"
The hotel's panoramic view. Her own face reflected in the glass.
...That was definitely her. But she couldn't move a single thing as she wished. Not even the fingers stroking her reflected face. Not even a single word.
As if mocking such a Baek Isul, the voice continued.
"Of course, it might differ from the way you envisioned. But even if you regret it now, what can you do? It's not something you can undo."
...Those words brought it back.
Right, the one possessing her body was a demon. The succubus she had encountered in the rift. The memories of that day slowly returned.
The rift raid had failed. Demon monsters? No one could have predicted that variable.
Mid-level Demon, Succubus is gazing at you.
Your mental strength is too low.
Status Ailment: Possession has occurred.
Baek Isul gazed at her guild members pointing swords at her. They had all fallen to the succubus's status ailment.
Was this how she died? Baek Isul gritted her teeth.
...She couldn't die like this. Her revenge had only just begun.
Baek Isul clenched her fist.
Even if it means selling my soul to a demon...!
To such a Baek Isul, the demon whispered.
"Such ecstatic eyes. I like it."
But Baek Isul was mistaken. She didn't know what manner of creatures demons truly were. Selling her soul? Forget transactions. To demons, humans were all the same—pitiful playthings deceived by lies. Regret was meaningless.
Only then did Baek Isul realize.
...This wasn't the first time.
Right, ever since realizing her body had been taken by the demon, falling into despair, and sinking back into unconsciousness—she had repeated this dozens of times.
It plunged her into even deeper helplessness. To the point where next time, she might not even hear the demon's voice...
"Truly befitting a pathetic demon."
...?
But what was this voice? Not calling a pathetic human a demon...?
It wasn't the succubus—it was a man's voice.
Did even the succubus falter? In her agitation, the unconscious Baek Isul awoke. And she saw it too. An unwavering, upright posture.
"...W-what are you saying?"
As if the demon's temptations fell on deaf ears.
"Th-this can't be!!"
Lee Hoyeol hunting the demon.
"Aaaah!!"
Baek Isul felt an indescribable emotion.
...Refreshing? No, it wasn't that simple. After all, she was dying alongside the demon.
So it was a complex feeling hard to put into words. But one thing was certain.
...Thanks for now.
Gratitude toward Hoyeol. The succubus's atrocities flooded back—nauseating horrors. Just never having to endure such indignities again made death worthwhile.
Yes, just as she thought that...
"...?"
Scritch-scratch. A steady sound. Like signing documents...
Right, the scrape of a sharp nib on paper.
...What is that?
Whatever it was, it was odd for a sound she'd never heard in hell.
Finally, Baek Isul slowly opened her eyelids. And there he was—Hoyeol, as if nothing had happened. In the same steadfast posture, writing something.
Baek Isul blinked a few times and grasped reality. Somehow, she had survived.
Realizing that, she became aware of her situation.
...Oh no.
The possession by the succubus. Even attempting those indignities because of it. Hoyeol knew everything about her.
Beyond gratitude, shame was inevitable.
I need to get up.
As Baek Isul wiggled her toes, gauging the moment—
"Have you regained your senses?"
"...!"
Hoyeol spoke. Baek Isul reflexively looked at him and flinched.
"...Yes. Thank you."
Yet his posture showed no disruption.
...Did he have eyes on the side of his head or something?
In that state, Hoyeol continued.
"We shall discuss the details later."
...Details?
Quick situational assessment. Baek Isul's mind raced. Fortunately, she was used to negotiations. She sorted her stance swiftly.
...I'm in no position to resist.
Hoyeol knew her secrets. And he'd saved her life to boot. If she saw it as payment for her life, she'd accept any deal.
She opened her mouth calmly.
"Anything. You say the word now."
But her efforts were for naught. The response was an unexpected question.
"Is it not you who should make an offer?"
"...?"
The true superior position.
"I have yet to hear your proposal. What investments and risks will Shinhwa Guild bear to join the reconstruction of Yusra Kingdom? Present it clearly at our next meeting."
"...!"
No hiding behind others. No petty tricks. The posture of true nobility.
Baek Isul nodded at Hoyeol's words.
"Understood."
To have misjudged such an opponent. Infusing gratitude and apology, she continued.
"Then I shall return with a sincere proposal."
*
The predator-prey relationship hadn't activated. In a word, I was off my game. Add in the unfamiliar sword aura combat style, and even I struggled against a mere Lv.350 monster. Just one, at that.
Of course, considering my level, it was impressive. But compared to the demon monsters I'd felled before, it was lackluster. That's why my level stalled at 230.
Not slow compared to other players, surely.
I've already tasted the good stuff.
But knowing that flavor left me inwardly dissatisfied.
And yet.
I'd slain the demon possessing Baek Isul. And in one go, my level jumped by 8...!
Trophies aside, how could I not be thrilled? Demons were my calling. No other demon hunter could match me.
Anyway, enough self-praise.
Demon monsters. Once more, their viciousness hit home. Demons were unlike regular monsters. Even if rifts collapsed and they poured out, detection wasn't always possible.
They just possess a human and blend in.
Why, even the weakest low-tier demon, an imp, could possess players easily. Like what happened to Nam Cheolmin.
And demons grow more insidious with power.
An imp at least showed obvious signs others could spot. But in Baek Isul's case, despite long possession, no one noticed.
Scritch.
Suddenly, I paused my writing and spoke.
"Thou dost trouble me greatly."
Baek Isul might not even be a special case. Demons could be hiding in society right now.
"I shall exact the proper toll for interrupting my research."
...Right, even if I overlook it, Grandfell couldn't.
Well, not a bad deal for me either. Demon monsters had high levels by default. And I was their natural predator.
...Should I even welcome this reality?
As I pondered seriously—
Bzzz.
My smartphone vibrated.
"Time slips away all too swiftly."
Right, skipping even a day would be a shame. Brushing off the cringy line, I checked the notification.
Hm, this was important. I finally set down my quill and opened the browser.
Logging into the official Arcana homepage to check the new update.
...
The community buzzed with players' excitement.
Even with endless small and large rifts generating and clearing without fanfare, the balance tweaks for new content had bombed hard. Viscount Ascura was bad enough, but a treasure island turned giant evil? That vibe was nightmare fuel even now.
Naturally, players cheered the new update details.
『A new region comes to you all. The new region, 'Northern City, Frost,' has been added.』
Frost. Arcana Continent's northern metropolis. Not some village—a full-blown city. Players' fervor had reason: cities meant shops, forges, and diverse content.
Frost's influence was huge even back when Arcana was a game. Top rankers and big guilds had built ties there.
"We must reclaim our ranking from Gaon!"
"...But Gaon probably has a foothold in Frost too?"
"I don't want to hear it. We do it, no matter the sacrifice!"
Not just players—governments worldwide perked up.
"We need to pinpoint the spawn location fast."
Frost, Arcana's prize city, manifesting on home soil? Not matching Mage Tower's buffs, but a massive national boost.
Arcana's top experts—AAU brass—agreed in a video call. Former Cosmo dev lead, now AAU branch chief.
"Frost after Yusra Kingdom. This could mark humanity's counterattack."
"Counterattack might've already started. With Lee Hoyeol at the vanguard. Speaking of, Korea branch chief—anything on him?"
"Don't ask. I'm dying to know too!"
Laughter eased the tension. Mood was upbeat.
...
Right, the only one unmoved by the update? Me.
Worried Frost would dilute Yusra's influence? Nah.
[Quest window blinking before my eyes]
Because I knew Frost wasn't some dream city of hope before other players? Nah.
It was simply Grandfell's lofty pride.
『As heir, Grandfell first learned not to rejoice or despair over trifles.』
I opened my mouth with usual dignity.
『No demon's temptation, deceit, or trial can scratch Grandfell's noble pride.』
"To appear at a mere summons is no different from a servant."
Demon King Subjugation
"Demon King."