Random, but I agree. It's refreshing this type of story building. I get to appreciate the lack of romance, as you've explained beautifully, and it fits in line well with his character pronounced throughout the webtoon / novel (novel of which I haven't read so if you've got any spoilers you'd like to share I'm down to hear any!).
It's nice having the opportunity to read a plot without its characters losing their orginal traits with the absence of proper justification or suddenly switching focus onto a spur of the moment romantic interest/ development stretching far from a less than accurate depiction of the storyline up until that point. In any case, thanks for the break down! (▰˘◡˘▰)
Well, if you're serious about the spoilers...
Some big but vague ones:
The crazy demon was on their asses for so long that we'd all thought he was the final boss, but dude, it pulled some Leveling with the gods type of shit and there's a even higher power and actual demons that rose the story to marvel level insanity. Also, Frost queen's backstory made me sob, it's broke my heart but solidified her place in the story. And Junho be old old by the end, but oh my goodness was it refreshing to see him put him family (friends and the like) above everything no matter what - except when he was losing his mind ofc in a groundhog day situation (that spanned decades for him), which was done incredibly well and I can't wait to see it in the manhwa. Also Woojoong is such a cute specter fanboy. Man if I knew how to write, I'd totally write a Woojoong x Junho fic called the Misadventures of Specter and the Sword Saint where they go on outreach missions to other worlds with platonic undertones. The other heavens are pretty cool and chill people, and although fire girly be blushy blushy around Junho and especially after she finds out he's specter, but they became regular comrades in the last 200 chapters. Though fair warning, she was a little annoying at the beginning of them interacting more frequently with each other (but from what I see with the manhwa, i think they'll thankfully downplay it), but knowing he never saw her that way definitely rubbed a soothing balm on the cringe and awkwardness. Also, frost queen is fiercely protective over junho and is wayyy more powerful than we could originally imagined, and they make an awesome team. Also, she grows to like middle schooler size by the last 100 chapters, and I think she was fully grown (and I'm honestly expecting her to be taller than junho cuz that was the vibes she gave off) by the near end.
Haha, sorry for the lengthy reply. Your reply flooded my brain with the memories of reading it and while this isn't all the most important information of the story, it's what I can give without feeling I'm ruining the progression for anyone following the story in the manhwa.
No worries! It's the little details that often encompass the overall emotion of a story so I'm not at all disheartened! I enjoyed the spoilers, thanks for letting me know what to expect in advance! Side note : you've read Leveling up with the gods? It's one of my favorites! I absolutely love the unique storyline ε=ε=(ノ≧∇≦)ノ
I’m glad I can be of any service~ This and Leveling with the gods are my favorite manhwas! I would have read the web novel for leveling with the gods already, but it doesn’t seem as well translated as Return of the frozen player last I checked. ;( I’ll probably read that as soon as it does though~
Return of the hero was also good, until the last 15 chapters
Ah, you're right. It's always a hit or miss trying to locate good web novel translations and their corresponding websites. If you're interested I have a website I came across by chance. It's like a hidden gem I use to read my top two favorite web novels, one of them being Leveling Up With The Gods. I also recommend if you haven't already, or have the time to, reading Swordmasters Youngest Son, I can't believe it's not well known! The web novel is an absolute treasure trove (〜￣△￣)〜
Oh gosh, I meant to reply a while back but completely forgot. I have read Sword masters youngest son! Up until right after the ritual and tribal slave stuff was resolved. It had amazing momentum, but it started to feel a little dragged as it went on tbh, I do like how natural they were making the romance, but I kind if wish it started at a later point since the timing with all the problems running around was not great. I think Turning (a bl fantasy - if you don't vibe with that genre definitely don't read that (they can sometimes be finicky)) had a better depth into the world building in the web novel. But I think a web novel I'd want to read that I haven't gotten around to and already got a great manhwa adaptation would be the Star-Fostered Swordmaster. If you haven't checked it out, I promise you would not be disappointed. It's like one I haven't seen before.
Honestly, the webnovel might be boring to some, but in my personal preference, I think it's a masterpiece. I just finished all 642 chapters today and it was a crazy rollercoaster that I had to take days breaks every 100 chapters, great for anyone with a lotta time on their hands, like Seo Jun-ho (which we're all gonna find out sooner). I'm gonna come back to this manhwa in a year or two and see how it progressed. I wouldn't mind watching the entire story unfold again when it's complete - hopefully it gets complete before... 5 years. Anyways, great news to any aces or aromatics, there are no harems, lusty demons or any intimate relationships between Junho and any other characters. However - this won't affect the plot or storyline at all to know at the moment [spoiler]
Junho and the frost queen are platonic soulmates. So if you don't like the frost queen, you better quit while you're ahead. She's amazing and I totally understand her role in this story. Also Junho be suffering through some angsty ass shit and still be sacrificial AF, like a Kim Dokja we all know and love, but a bit ... coooler lmao. It's great. Even at the end, all he wants is to live in peace with his friends. And by no romance, he literally have not a single stray thought or even desire to pursue an ounce of romance, you might say he kinda transcended those kind of wants. Just a honest, wholesome and badass dude with a sense of humor. True definition of a "Hero". If you like the Hero's journey, or even something like the Butterfly effect, go read the Webnovel or stay close with this manhwa. It's gonna be one of the best rides humanity can offer.
You can read on a website called novelbin.