The Warmth of Ice
“Heh, they’re all quite the spirited ones.”
“Indeed. I never expected the people here to react this way.”
There were no strict seat divisions within the circus troupe, yet a VIP section still existed for honored guests.
It was a vantage point that overlooked the entire circus arena in one sweeping view.
The structure prevented anyone outside from seeing in, and Park Geon-su and Seong Ye-eun had watched the entire performance from start to finish today.
“They look like the type who wouldn’t bleed a single drop even if you stabbed them.”
In truth, those who came to the circus already had clear purposes in mind.
The circus itself was not illegal, but the black market that followed its conclusion was the real draw. With auctions and various other dealings as the primary objectives, many attendees lived lives that were far from respectable.
They sold drugs or trafficked magic beasts, like the orc that had appeared earlier.
It wasn’t that they particularly liked or disliked children. Most simply never encountered them in their daily lives.
Unless they had offspring of their own.
To such people, Seia must have seemed like an untouchable existence, someone they should never lay a hand on.
“It seems the management chief handled things better than expected?”
“He’s always been quick on the uptake.”
This was a rough place.
That was why they had stayed to observe, wary of any potential trouble. Fortunately, nothing had occurred.
Even so, they could not let their guard down yet.
The Ice Circus Troupe was still to come.
“I’ll head over first.”
“Yes. That would be best.”
The VIP area required no trip outside. One could simply pass through a connecting room to reach the VIP lounge of the next troupe.
As they exited and moved along, the leader of the Ice Circus Troupe was already waiting for them.
“Oh my, greetings to you both.”
“Yes. How will the program proceed today?”
“The same as always. Each performer will demonstrate their abilities and showcase their power against the prepared magic beasts.”
“Understood.”
“By any chance, have you taken an interest in any particular hunter? If so, I can arrange a private seat immediately...”
“No. We came for other reasons.”
“If you would only tell me, I could...”
The leader, who had maintained a constant smile, suddenly flinched.
The way they looked at him.
The eyes of two S-class hunters regarded him as if he were not even worth considering a conversation partner.
“I-I apologize.”
“It’s fine. Ah, and...”
If they had no particular hunter in mind, why had these two formidable figures come to watch the circus?
From the looks of it, they had no intention of visiting the night market that began right after the fire circus concluded.
With the order to clear the premises already in effect, the leader had neither the intention nor the right to ask further questions. He simply bowed politely and returned to his original position.
All the while, he kept recalling the final words he had been given.
The ice circus began immediately after the fire circus ended.
Having sat near the very back, Jeong-woo, Seia, and their attendant had been able to exit first. They now stood outside, conversing before the ice performance began.
Some spectators headed straight for the night market, but most would watch the ice circus as well before entering.
As they waited outside, enjoying the fresh air, audience members gradually emerged one by one.
“How was it, Seia?”
“It was weally, weally good!”
Seia wriggled her whole body, as if she could barely contain herself.
It was obvious that nothing stronger than “really good!” had come to mind.
The most extreme expressions in Seia’s vocabulary were essentially limited to “super” or “really.”
“Wasn’t it? Even Daddy thought it looked incredibly flashy.”
“Can Daddy do it too?”
“Daddy? Hmm...”
Jeong-woo did have one trick up his sleeve.
Something like making coins disappear?
It wasn’t magic but sleight of hand, and he had never studied it professionally.
Long ago.
It was the trick he had practiced relentlessly for over a week while preparing his proposal to his wife.
The one where he placed a coin in his hand and had others guess its location.
It seemed like an obvious trick, but Jeong-woo was naturally dexterous.
He could do more than simply make the coin vanish. He could replace it with something else entirely.
The ring currently resting on his left ring finger had been the centerpiece of that performance.
“Here, watch closely.”
“Okay!”
He waved his hand a few times while holding the coin.
“Where is it now?”
“Umm... here?!”
Seia pointed to his left hand, but of course the coin was not there.
“Then how about here!”
Her voice brimmed with confidence.
Yet, astonishingly, that hand held no coin either.
“Ah! The coin disappeared!”
“Where could it be—”
With practiced grace, he reached toward Seia’s ear, then pulled his hand back. The vanished coin reappeared with a flourish.
“Wow?!”
Seia’s eyes grew wide, though not quite as round as when she had seen the fire flowers.
“Hehe. What do you think? Isn’t it amazing?”
“...Yes! Is Daddy a wizard too?”
At the word “wizard,” soft laughter rippled through the surrounding crowd.
When Seia’s gaze darted toward the sound, the laughter faded as quickly as it had begun.
Hunters possessed bodies far superior to those of ordinary people, so they could not help but overhear the father and daughter’s conversation.
What an adorable pair.
She looks cute, and even speaks cutely.
If only I had a daughter like that...
Such thoughts would never reach the pair, yet nearly everyone watched their exchange with similar warmth in their hearts.
“Hmm... Daddy can be anything you want, you know?”
“Wow...!”
Her eyes sparkled with admiration and longing.
To Seia, if she called Jeong-woo a wizard, then he was a wizard. If she called him a magician, then he was a magician.
She could call him an alien and he would become one. She could even call him a magic beast, and he would gladly play the part.
“Ah, thank you. We got to enjoy such a wonderful show because of you...”
“Thank you!”
“Haha. Not at all. I’m completely satisfied knowing you both enjoyed it.”
“......?”
The attendant’s expression suddenly grew solemn.
“There is still one more to go. The ice performance.”
“Haha. That’s true.”
“Daddy. When does the ice start?”
“It should begin any moment now. Are you excited?”
“Yes! The fire flowers were so pretty.”
“I bet there will be ice flowers too.”
Transparent, shimmering ice flowers.
Seia still remembered exactly what the fire flowers had looked like and how breathtakingly beautiful they had been.
Surely the ice ones would be just as lovely?
“We’re about to begin. Please come inside.”
Right on cue, an usher’s voice called from the ice circus side.
They could have entered first, but Jeong-woo chose not to.
If they weren’t in the absolute front row, arriving early served no purpose.
To match Seia’s height, he would need to hold her in his arms, which made viewing from the rear seats slightly awkward.
So he had planned to sit toward the back again this time.
It might be a little distant, but they could watch in comfort.
As they waited their turn, a troupe member approached Jeong-woo.
“Excuse me, sir.”
“Ah, yes?”
“Please follow that gentleman there.”
“Who is he?”
“The troupe leader.”
What could the circus leader possibly want with them?
He couldn’t tell whether this was good or bad, but with so many people around and their attendant present, he wasn’t overly concerned.
“Hello. I am the leader of the Ice Circus Troupe. Haha.”
“Ah, hello. But why have you called for us...?”
“No special reason. I simply thought you might prefer to watch from the front row.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. The others here can see well enough even from the back.”
“Thank you. I was just thinking the same thing.”
Even from the rear seats, the fire circus had been stunning.
What would it be like to see it up close?
Jeong-woo wasn’t the only one wondering.
Whether she had heard the offer of better seats, he felt Seia’s grip tighten on his pant leg.
They followed the leader to the front row and waited for the performance to begin when—
“Hey, little one.”
A gruff voice sounded from directly behind them.
When Jeong-woo glanced back, he saw a middle-aged man covered in facial scars looking at Seia.
The scars extended across his hands as well.
One could tell at a glance the kind of life he had led.
“Yes!”
Even Jeong-woo felt a flicker of intimidation at the man’s imposing presence.
It was like facing a battle-hardened mercenary from medieval times.
Yet Seia showed no trace of fear.
Earlier, when she had been clapping and drawing everyone’s eyes, she had seemed frightened.
The man seemed pleased by her spirited reply. He let out a short chuckle.
Then he rested one hand on the back of their seat with a heavy thud and opened his previously clenched fist.
Crafted with cold-warding properties
Obtained from a C-class Gate
Not cold to the touch
“Want to have it?”
It looked like a blue magic stone.
One obtainable from a C-class gate. Not the sort of thing one casually offered to a stranger.
“Wow... is it ice?”
“Hm? You asking if it’s ice?”
Considering the timing, it made sense. The ice circus was about to begin.
“Heh heh. That’s right. But it’s ice that isn’t cold.”
“Ice that isn’t cold...?”
Seia’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, prompting the man to chuckle again.
This was not the first time a child had attended the circus.
Long ago, an ignorant person had once brought a child without thinking.
The man still remembered. The important detail was that the wealthy family had been terrified from the moment they entered until the moment they left.
A spirited child indeed.
But Seia was different.
The man who accompanied her—whether father or older brother—showed the same lack of fear.
He understood that wary glances were unavoidable.
He knew his own appearance better than anyone.
Still, the fact that neither of them had recoiled in fear earned them high marks in his book.
“Ah... thank you, but isn’t this a magic stone?”
“Hmm. You don’t want the magic stone?”
“Light snacks would be fine, but this is too much...”
He didn’t finish the sentence, but the man already knew what he meant.
It was too expensive.
“I see. I overstepped.”
“Not at all. I’ll gladly accept the kind thought. Thank you.”
It was an unexpected response.
The man who appeared to be the father wore a resolute expression.
Whether he distrusted unearned favors or had some other reason, the scarred man could not tell.
“Then hold onto it just until the circus ends.”
“Until it ends?”
“That’s right. It’s been processed to block cold air. Watching up close like this would be chilly for the little one.”
“Ah... thank you.”
He had assumed it was given simply because Seia was cute, but there had been thoughtful consideration behind the gesture.
Indeed, evening had already given way to night and the air was growing crisp. After watching the ice circus, it would surely be quite cold.
“Thank you~”
Seia never forgot her manners.
Though she didn’t fully understand the conversation, whenever Jeong-woo thanked someone, she echoed him.
“Good. Keep it safe until the show ends, then return it to this uncle.”
“Yes! I won’t lose it!”
“Haha, good girl.”
Spirited, bold, and bright.
So much so that she seemed completely out of place in a location like this.