For Jin-Woo, the Ice Elf was a magic beast with a complicated history. Were they not the ones firing arrows left and right in the Red Gate he had first entered? He had been so frustrated back then when the boss monster "Baruka" had vanished, leaving behind nothing but a single dagger. The moment that memory surfaced, the feeling of having failed to extract its shadow came rushing back along with it.
'I had almost forgotten...'
Naturally, his grip tightened around the Ice Elf's neck and wrist. Crunch!
[Ghk!]
But. Why was a high-rank magic beast that should be inside a Dungeon here? Having swapped places with his shadow soldiers seven or eight stories up the building, Jin-Woo used the "Ruler's Authority" to keep himself from falling, and spoke to the Ice Elf.
"What are you?"
With those pointed ears, pure-white hair, and silver eyes, they certainly looked like a White Phantom. Yet somehow, he sensed an unfathomably long span of years etched into the creature. And besides—
[Graaah!]
The grimacing magic beast mustered everything it had and wrenched itself free from Jin-Woo's arms.
'...!'
Incredible strength! Before Jin-Woo could even register his surprise at the beast slipping from his grasp, he sensed the freezing energy beginning to condense inside its mouth. For a brief moment, its silhouette overlapped with that of the "Demon King Baran," who had spewed lightning from his mouth. Instinctively, Jin-Woo twisted his upper body. Whaam-! The blast of cold that erupted from the magic beast's mouth shot past Jin-Woo and poured into the empty air. Having confirmed the tremendous mana with his own eyes, Jin-Woo quickly retreated to what he judged a safe distance. Drip, drip. He shook the ice fragments clinging to his shoulder and watched the Ice Elf's—no, the Frost Monarch's—movements. This was no ordinary foe. His razor-sharp senses were warning him that this enemy was stronger than anyone he had fought before. But Jin-Woo was not the only one who was surprised.
[How can you...?]
The Monarch glanced hurriedly down into Jin-Woo's shadow, and upon seeing the number of soldiers sleeping within it, could not conceal his astonishment.
[Why did you not make contact with us despite having amassed such a force?]
When Jin-Woo offered no reply, the Monarch peered into his eyes. Soon, a pained groan escaped his lips.
[So... you were the variable he spoke of.]
What was he babbling about? Jin-Woo was curious about the meaning behind the beast's words, but he had no leisure to exchange pleasantries. One wrong move and the enemy's blade would reach him. And that blade was far too sharp to simply ignore—the shoulder that had frozen for just an instant still throbbed. Jin-Woo cast a brief sidelong glance at his shoulder, then quietly summoned the "Demon King's Dagger" from his storage. One in each hand. His eyes narrowed.
'...A magic-type, then.'
Given how hard it had been to break free from his grip, the creature's physical strength and defense did not seem particularly high relative to its immense mana. That was at least a relief. From his experience fighting magic beasts of various types, magic-type enemies were the easiest to deal with swiftly. A single exchange. If their mana was on par, all he had to do was dodge the spell, and the fight would be decided in his favor. Perhaps the opponent knew this as well, for even though it could clearly read Jin-Woo's killing intent, it did not easily launch an attack. A short time, but after deep deliberation, the Frost Monarch reached a decision.
[...I'll stop. Today I did not come here to fight to the death.] "What?"
Jin-Woo scowled. He had no intention of letting the thing go, so what was there to stop? The tremendous mana it possessed—successful capture would yield an unimaginable amount of experience points. Perhaps he would rise nearly ten levels, like when he had caught the King of Giants.
'...Wait a minute.'
The instant that thought crossed his mind, Jin-Woo was able to guess the creature's identity.
'Could it be... that one?'
The Monarch pointed one fingertip through the shattered window of the Association building.
[Did you not come here to save that human?]
More precisely, Jin-Woo had come running because the ant soldier he had planted on Chairman Ko Gun-Hee had sent a danger signal. Jin-Woo's gaze followed the Monarch's fingertip. There, Chairman Ko Gun-Hee lay collapsed.
'...!'
Drenched in blood and utterly motionless, the chairman looked perilous at a single glance. Then—
[Choose.]
In the Monarch's left hand, which had been pointing at the chairman, a large and razor-sharp spear of ice materialized.
[Fight me, or save him.]
The words had barely left his mouth when the Monarch hurled the spear at Ko Gun-Hee. Jin-Woo's eyes went wide. His concentration spiked to its peak, and the flow of time around him began to slow. The spear glided forward—slowly, yet with perfect aim, straight toward the chairman.
'Ruler's Authority!'
He tried to stop the spear with an invisible hand, but the mana of the one who had thrown it resisted that force. Furious, Jin-Woo turned to the Frost Monarch. The Monarch was waiting. Waiting for Jin-Woo's answer. Biting hard on his lower lip, Jin-Woo launched his body toward the spot where Chairman Ko Gun-Hee had fallen. Whoom-! The atmosphere where Jin-Woo had been standing roiled under the violent force. Just before the spear arrived, Jin-Woo reached the chairman by a hair's breadth and dragged him out of the spear's trajectory. Crunch! The spear plunged into the floor, and the cold that seeped from it began freezing everything nearby. Crackle, crack. In an instant, the entire floor of the chairman's office was encased in sub-zero ice. Holding the chairman in hisThe request was rejected because it was considered high risk