Frozen Fire Armor and the Mayor of Ifrit
“I never knew you could make armor like this.”
Outside Ifrit's city gates. Avant-garde stood at the roadside, gazing at Hanbit's armor with evident wonder.
[Frozen Fire Armor]
Rank: 3
Grade: Unique
Equip Restrictions: Strength 30, Vitality 30
Options:
- Durability 27
- Defense 31
- Cold Resistance 30(+30)
Description: Armor crafted using fangs that inflict cold debuffs, tough hide with high cold resistance, and fire polish. Layered with each material, it should allow activity even in stronger cold zones.
- Cold Resistance 60
whoa
- This actually got made;
- Thought it'd troll with those material combos. lmao
Armor made from opposing attributes. Nothing complicated—it's like a boiler's principle. The innermost layer of fire polish constantly drives down cold buildup. Anyway, it's exactly what I wanted.
“Ah, there he comes.”
Just then, Kim Jaeha appeared from beyond the road. He'd rushed over, but his expression looked off somehow.
“Bro, you okay?”
“Huh? Why?”
“Your face looks rough.”
“Ah……”
At that, Kim Jaeha touched his face, seeming a bit flustered. The character's expressions captured reality perfectly, down to the finest emotions.
“Yeah, your face does look dark. Something happen?”
Avant-garde chimed in with agreement. Kim Jaeha shook his head in response.
“Probably 'cause I didn't sleep. Wanted to wrap up quick, so I rushed. Ah, I'll crash later, so don't worry.”
The reason made sense. Finishing this fast would've left no time to rest. But Hanbit wasn't one to miss the tells of fatigue-induced expressions.
“Viewers, one sec.”
He muted the stream audio. Then, looking at Kim Jaeha, he asked,
“How'd it go with the company? They accept your resignation?”
“Resignation's fine. Boss isn't the type to hold people back.”
“'Resignation's fine' means there's still some issue, right?”
“……”
He'd hit the nail on the head—Kim Jaeha's face stiffened further. His fidgeting fingers and slightly bitten lip screamed anger and anxiety.
“Bro, Yeonu says he wants to build a company like family.”
“Huh?”
Kim Jaeha looked puzzled at the sudden topic. But it was exactly what he needed to hear right now.
“You can't think of it like your old company. Bottling up problems inside? That's no different. Unless you wanna tease Yeonu about running a black company.”
“…I don't think it's the same. Not at all.”
“Then tell us what happened. We can figure something out together, right?”
It aligned with Yeonu's hopes, but Hanbit meant it sincerely. He felt responsible for bringing Kim Jaeha on board. More than that, comrades meant something special to him.
“I'll help however I can too. I didn't join lightly.”
Avant-garde put on a serious face, ready to listen.
Kim Jaeha glanced between them, hesitating. But this wasn't something he could handle alone anyway. Better to prepare for risks now. After a deep breath, he looked at Hanbit.
“The department head's blackmailing me. Says he'll sue you for assault.”
“…Assault?”
“Lying about what happened at the company entrance. But no CCTV footage left……”
Kim Jaeha showed messages as he explained. Totally unexpected. It was absurd from start to finish.
“What a scumbag. But if it goes to public opinion, we could lose. Attacking a celebrity's morals is prime entertainment for the masses.”
Avant-garde, who knew all about RP's scandals, nailed it. Popular stars got buried by single incidents more often than you'd think. “It was a misunderstanding, no charges or evidence”—such defenses rarely even got follow-up articles.
“Sorry. Got you tangled with that trash.”
Kim Jaeha clenched his fist, apologizing. But it wasn't his fault. You can't blame someone for trash being dirty.
“Hm.”
Hanbit pondered. Giving the department head something profitable as demanded wouldn't be an issue. Even spoon-feeding him, he'd choke and spit it out. But even that felt unsatisfying.
“No one was at the company entrance then? Parked cars or anything.”
“We park behind the building—no spots out front. Passersby… don't remember.”
Kim Jaeha, enduring the department head's outburst, hadn't had the luxury to check surroundings. Things would play out just as the bastard wanted.
“Oh, wait.”
Then Avant-garde, recalling something, spoke up.
“After dinner, didn't Roper say he had somewhere to stop by?”
“…Yeah, he did.”
Hanbit remembered too. After the four ate, Yeonu suddenly said he had a detour and left first. No questions asked then, but it was abrupt.
“Lemme call him.”
Curious now, Hanbit dialed Yeonu right away.
(Bro? Aren't you streaming?)
Answered in under three seconds. Hanbit relayed what Kim Jaeha said. Yeonu listened quietly, then let out a short sigh.
(Ah, figured he'd pull that. Had a bad feeling.)
“You knew?”
(Physical contact happened between you and the department head anyway. Guy even tripped himself. High chance of issues like this.)
He'd foreseen it early. The problem was the countermeasure.
“You said you had somewhere to go then? For this?”
(Parents always say: sometimes you gotta hunt evidence on foot. Hit me suddenly.)
A line drilled into him by his lawyer folks. Remembering it post-dinner, Yeonu headed to the scene.
(Delivery scooter on the road where the department head stood. Had a bodycam vest on it.)
“Bodycam?”
(Some delivery guys use 'em. Contacted the owner, bought the SD card. Audio's crystal clear too.)
Yeonu's footage started before Hanbit arrived—department head punching Kim Jaeha's chest, spewing abuse, all caught.
“Boss is boss. Gotta say, impressed this time.”
(C'mon, praise me more.)
“Tell that to Jaeha bro. Anyway, with evidence, I do what I want now?”
(What're you planning this time?)
Sensing something in his tone, Yeonu chuckled nervously. Hanbit smirked.
“Gonna fuck him up proper.”
***
The three headed back toward the gates. Hearing they'd secured evidence, Kim Jaeha visibly relaxed.
“Party together? New face with you.”
As they approached, a soldier from yesterday's checkpoint greeted them.
“Hi. We have intro letters to show.”
“Ah, lemme check.”
Hanbit handed over the Edlen intro letter and adventurer card. The soldier examined them, eyes widening slightly.
“Such a guarantor. I'm from Edlen too—shocked.”
“Really?”
“Heard rumors, but William really got framed. And Brooke the culprit… tragic.”
His face distant, the soldier went into the guard post. He returned with a parchment.
“Take this to central offices. Show the entrance guards—they'll guide you. Ah, gotta take back the bracelets first.”
-?
-Why take the bracelets?
-Wtf. Give 'em back;
-What's the parchment?
The soldier reclaimed the two black bracelets. Simple reason: he lacked authority to judge these visitors.
“Thanks.”
Hanbit took the parchment and entered the city with the others.
Ding-
[Episode 2: Ifrit in Crisis]
[Main Quest #1: The Meeting]
You've arrived in the new city of Ifrit. Head to the city offices first.
Goal: Move to central offices.
Rewards: 10,000 gold, 2,000 EXP
Progress: 0%
Quest popped up on entry. Episode started only after the intro letter.
“Why not give bracelets? First time seeing this.”
“Didn't expect 'em to take back either.”
You get bracelets entering Ifrit regardless of episodes. This was weird.
“But that dwarf? Can he enter the city?”
Kim Jaeha cautiously scanned around and asked. No sign since meeting him, but no worries.
“He has another route—should catch up fine. Ah, hold this, bro.”
Hanbit handed over the dog tag-like token he'd carried since yesterday. Kim Jaeha blinked.
“Huh? Why? You can keep it.”
“Better if the one learning smithing holds it. Anyway, stash it safe.”
“Got it.”
Kim Jaeha nodded, inventorying the metal plate. Avant-garde sidled up from behind.
“What's the plan? Offices'll just give bracelets, so straight to smithing?”
“Ah, you don't know who picks bracelet colors?”
“Third floor has the clerk, right? Entry manager, I think……”
Avant-garde shared what he knew. Not wrong, but the person they'd meet held no such title. Hanbit eyed the towering blue-white central building.
“The one we're meeting now is Ifrit's mayor.”