Return of the Frozen Player

Slice!

A light and cheery sword sliced apart a giant troll. In no time, the troll was cut into multiple pieces. Withdrawing her sword, Tenmei Mio looked back and said, "Wrap it up."

"Yes, yes!"

The soldiers of the Ruben Empire hurriedly went over to pack the troll corpses. At the same time, they did not forget to look sideways at Mio with surprised eyes.

"Does it make sense? How can she... with that small body?"

"Even after killing dozens of trolls, she hasn’t been out of breath even once. She’s not one of the 5 Heroes for no reason."

"Honestly, I thought the 5 Heroes were fake individuals made by the people of Earth."

It took only five days for the troll tribe, which suddenly expanded in the western region, to disappear. However, despite having accomplished the great feat, Mio's expression wasn’t that good.

"Then I'll be on my way,” she muttered as she climbed into the carriage with her tied hair fluttering in the wind.

"…It shouldn’t have been necessary for me to do this.”

She hunted less than a hundred trolls in five days. Of course, a hundred trolls were a lot of trolls, so the residents had been living in fear.

'But Players aren’t weak...’

It meant that the Players would have been able to deal with the matter on their own. She was bothered by the fact that she couldn’t help her comrades because of this matter.

‘How frustrating.’

As usual, she went to the Community forums with a heavy heart, and her expression brightened upon seeing the articles.

[Specter and the advance team cleared the 5th Floor! The spark of hope burns stronger.]

[The 6th Floor will open in 100 days! Just what is the 5.5th floor?]

[Players excited after getting 10 days of vacation (picture).]

…

"They did it."

Her comrades had not only rescued Specter, but they also managed to clear the 5th Floor. Mio was all smiles at the fact, but she quickly became depressed.

‘This feeling will stick around for a while.'

She felt apologetic. She felt guilty and apologetic that she wasn’t there when he needed her help, even though she had always received his help. This feeling would probably remain like a bruise in her heart for the rest of her life.

'But this is the end...’

She had promised her father that this would be the last time she would do the family a favor. Even in her own opinion, she had already paid back the debt of being birthed to the point where she felt that it was sufficient—if not excessive.

- This is the 1st Floor. The door is opening.

When she came down to Earth through Gilleon, an attendant appeared next to her. However, the questions the attendant asked were different from the usual ones.

"Miss, do you want me to take you home, or... would you like to see the family head first?"

Her father would be at home unless something happened, but the question was divided into two for no reason. Mio felt that something was strange as she asked, "Is he not home? That’s a surprise. Did something happen?"

At that, the attendant bit her lips. It seemed that Mio still hadn’t heard of the news.

***

Since 2031, there had been a massive ship floating around the Philippine Sea. The ship's name was Lake Rengoku. The ship’s name meant purgatory, and it existed for one reason.

"It is a hell on the sea, built to trap demons wearing human masks."

Serial killers, terrorists, captured fiends, etc. Countless criminals were housed here, and millions of escape attempts had been made in the past twenty years. However, not a single attempt was successful.

"It's a prison built and operated by the World Player Association. Their capabilities cannot be doubted.”

Tenmei Mio walked through a clean hallway while listening to the guard's explanation.

The entire prison was made up of solitary cells, but one could take a look into the cells from the outside, and Mio saw that the prisoners were tied to the bed and were looking only at the dark ceiling.

"Wait, is that person perhaps…"

"Oh! Come to think of it, Mio-nim would know." The guard nodded and said, "It's the Moscow terrorist captured by the 5 Heroes twenty-seven years ago."

“….”

He wasn't a fiend but a criminal who wanted to stir up trouble in the world.

Looking at him, Mio's gaze shook slightly.

‘I didn’t recognize him.’

If the door didn't have the prisoner's name on it, she really wouldn't have recognized him. It was all because the man was skinny, like a mummy. He was drooling and muttering something as well.

"He doesn't look well.”

"It's fine. Our medical staff is managing the prisoners every day to ensure that they won’t die so easily.”

“…”

It was the worst kind of prison where one wouldn’t be able to die even if one wanted to die. Mio shivered, and she decided to live her life in a way that wouldn’t land her in this jail.

"The visit time is ten minutes."

Upon arriving at the visiting room, she saw Tenmei Yugo—her father—through the glass window.

"Why did you do it?" Mio directly asked upon taking her seat.

Her father's characteristic arrogant gaze turned to her.

"Mio, we don't have time. I'll tell you what you need to do out there. First of all, the Japanese Prime Minister—”

"My question comes first. Why did you do it?"

She also checked the articles on her way here. The numerous corrupt activities that her father had committed so far were shocking, but—

"Why did you order my older brother to kill Specter, Jun-Ho?"

A Big 6 Guild’s attempt to assassinate Specter shocked the world.

"Do you really believe that?"

Tenmei Yugo dodged the question, but Mio's eyes remained steadfast. Instead of opening her mouth, she tapped her Vita.

- Go up to the 5th Floor with those who are tight-lipped.

- Get a grip. Do you really think that we can still retreat?

- Son, be resolute. If you don't get your act together here, the Tenmei Family will collapse along with the Sky Soul Guild. If you want to inherit everything from me, you have to prove your ability.

“…!”

Tenmei Yugo's eyes quivered ever so slightly.

Why? When? No, how?

Numerous question marks popped up in his mind.

"I'm not asking whether it's true or not. I'm just asking why you did it."

“…”

Tenmei Yugo’s glare subsided. He knew that the only rope he could hold onto was Mio. If he didn’t manage to capture her heart here, he would have to live his entire life in this hell, where would not be able to die even if he wanted to die.

"It's all my fault, all my fault.” Fortunately, Tenmei Yugo knew his one and only daughter better than anyone else. She was a tender-hearted child and was weak to affection. "I was scared at the reality that everything could collapse, so I made the wrong decision."

Tenmei Yugo’s head drooped as he shed tears of repentance.

"I shouldn't have done that… I should have thought about it properly so that I will still be able to look at your face.”

“…”

When Mio didn’t speak, Tenmei Yugo looked up. Wiping his red eyes with his sleeve, he asked, "Mio, save your father this one time. I'll kneel down in front of Specter and apologize. Your father is doing this because he really wants to repent."

“…”

"As for the corruption, I couldn’t help it. I had to do them for the family. The fault doesn’t lie with me—it’s this world’s fault."

“…”

"But wrong is wrong, and I have been reflecting on my mistakes since I arrived here."

Unlike Tenmei Yugo, whose lips were getting dry, Mio remained expressionless. She glanced at her Vita and stood up.

"I think you need to reflect more." She was tired—tired of her father, who only knew how to make ugly excuses until the end.

"Don't feel sorry for Jun-Ho from now on. I will apologize and take responsibility for what you did.” Mio’s eyes remained indifferent as she stared at the old man in front of her. It was as if she were looking at a complete stranger.

"Then, goodbye.”

"M-Mio, Mio! My daughter! Please, please come back!”

Tenmei Yugo banged on the window, but Mio never looked back.

***

"Huh…"

Tenmei Yugo slumped in his seat and laughed dryly. It was over. Until a few days ago, he was one of the six people ruling the world. However, he had become nothing but a prisoner being monitored around the clock. He had zero personal space and privacy.

‘I lost everything…’

Here, there was no way he would die even if he wanted to die. In that case, how many years would he have to spend here before dying? Upon realizing that his final sanctuary—Tenmei Mio had abandoned him—fear started to rise in his heart.

‘But why aren’t they taking me away?’

The visit was over, so he would now have to go back to his hellish solitary cell, but the guards didn't come to take him away. Instead, one of the guards spoke once more, making him tremble.

"Number 1748, a visitation.”

“…!” Tenmei Yugo covered his mouth with both hands. He did it to stop himself from laughing.

‘It's Mio!’

It seemed that her tender heart couldn’t abandon him in the end, and she returned to listen to his story. However, Tenmei Yugo’s expectations shattered in less than a second.

"…You are?"

- Hahaha, hi.

The visitor was a Player with a decent suit and a ridiculous LED helmet. He was Shoot, the Guild Master of Labyrinth, one of the Big 6 Guilds.

"What about Mio? Where's Mio, and why are you here?!"

- She has already left the ship, so how could she visit you again?

Shoot sat down after shattering the old man’s hope.

"So, why did you come here?"

Tenmei Yugo murderously glared at Shoot. He thought that Shoot had come here to make fun of him.

Shoot shrugged.

- First of all, aren’t we in an alliance?

"…Alliance?"

Could it be that Shoot was here to rescue him?

Tenmei Yugo nodded, surprised.

"T-that’s right. We're allies. I was counting on you, too.”

- I’m thinking of making an offer to you as an ally.

"I'll accept any offer. As long as you can get me out of here.”

- Oh, really? It'll be easy then. ^_^

Shoot's helmet revealed a smiling emoticon.

"I'm not in a position to be picky right now. What is it?"

- It's simple. Ten minutes later, bite your tongue and try to kill yourself on your way back to solitary confinement. It just so happens that the prison healers are away, so they won’t be able to save you from bleeding to death.

“…?” Tenmei Yugo frowned at that. "Do you want me to disguise my death?"

- No? You said you wanted to get off this ship somehow. I just told you how.

In short, the only way off this ship was to die.

Bang!

Tenmei Yugo slammed his fist into the glass window. Blood trickled down his torn skin.

"Are you making fun of me?"

- Mmm, well, I only told you the truth.

Crossing one leg over the other, Shoot quietly took off his helmet.

“Of course, I also came here to see what kind of face you’ll make in the face of death.”

“…”

Tenmei Yugo frowned. The face behind the helmet was marred with horrible-looking burn scars. He terrifying burn scars all over his face, and he looked so hideous he didn't seem like a human being.

"Isn’t that so, Father?"

"What? What nonsense are you talking about…?” Tenmei Yugo trailed off.

‘Wait. Burns?’

All of a sudden, a child's face passed through his head. However, he quickly vanquished the idea.

"…No, it can't be. He's dead. We even checked the corpse."

"I’m alive. I had always been alive, but my body is now of a monster’s."

"Then, are you really…?”

Tenmei Yugo’s expression darkened. He thought he was dead the whole time. He never had any doubts about it because it was his own directive.

"You… You shouldn’t be alive. You should be dead.”

"I suppose? So that my sister will feel guilty for the rest of her life and will not be able to refuse your orders, is that right?"

“…”

For the first time in his life, Tenmei Yugo had no idea what expression to assume.

"Accumulated evil brings disaster. If you do a lot of evil, karma will affect your descendants. Perhaps it's all because of you that my brothers died."

“…”

"Oh, but don't worry about Sister," Shoot replied, putting on his helmet again. “For the sin of leaving her alone with bad brothers and an evil father, I intend to take care of her in my own way, even from afar."

"Ibuki, you… You have no intention of revealing your identity to Mio?"

"Family had always been a burden and shackle for Mio. She will only be burdened if I were to reappear."

Tenmei Yugo couldn't say anything at that. No, it would be more accurate that there was nothing for him to say.

"Then, I’ll be on my way."

The door to the visiting room opened, and Shoot looked back one last time before leaving. The one sitting in the chair wasn't the giant who used to rule the world anymore. Shoot could only see a stupid and shabby old man who only knew how to hurt everyone and himself.

‘A dumbass.’

If he had been a bit less greedy—if he had been a bit more of a family man, he could have had happy days when he became old. He could have avoided a catastrophe, along with his children.

“…”

Two days later, the news about the suicide of Tenmei Yugo, the Guild Master of the Sky Soul Guild, was released.

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