Chapter 11 : Chapter 11

Chapter 11 - Shortest Record

[Park OO has achieved the shortest record (11th Floor)!]

[Final time: 1 minute 56 seconds.]

Swoosh.

A calloused palm passed over the holographic message.

It was Chun-sik.

“How is the record?”

“1 minute 56 seconds.”

“First place?”

“Yes. Five seconds faster than the previous first.”

Tzzzz.

For a moment, it felt as if I were standing in front of a fire. My body grew hot. The culprit was the intense magic power radiating from Chun-sik.

“What are you doing?”

“To only create a five-second gap…….”

“You took first place. What is the problem?”

“This is unacceptable! First place was already expected. Other than my lord, no one can stand above me.”

“Ah. I see.”

I could not tell whether it was confidence or arrogance.

The main reason he achieved first place was that he came prepared with the optimal strategy for clearing the 11th floor in the shortest time.

From the 11th floor onward, the method used on the lower floors no longer worked.

One had to find all the scattered Golems, remove every stone composing their bodies, and destroy their Core. That process itself took time.

Identifying the locations of the Golems and mapping the shortest route, and removing the piles of stone as quickly as possible.

Those two factors were the most crucial elements for achieving the shortest record.

“The previous first place was in the two-minute range. Do you know what that means?”

For some reason, his eyes seemed to be burning fiercely.

“It means that I am a Player far stronger than my lord.”

“I know that already! Anyone wandering around the lobby would probably be stronger than me!”

“It means you must work harder.”

“I know that too. So stop it.”

“I hope we begin again from the 11th floor tomorrow, my lord.”

A hollow laugh escaped me. If he was only going to say what he wanted, why did he even come to me?

“You already got the shortest record. Are you trying to get another Magic Crystal?”

“No. I will only be satisfied by an overwhelming record! A shortest record so absolute that no one else can even dare to challenge it. What suits my lord is overwhelming power, the pinnacle, first place, and absolute supremacy. The Player who set the previous record is also someone you must overcome someday. Please do not forget that.”

“Oh, good grief.”

This was no exaggeration. My face grew hot, heat surged up from my neck, and my head began to throb.

“I will support you with my life so that this may be possible.”

The days ahead were going to be exhausting. No, they already were exhausting enough.

He knelt on one knee before me.

I looked down at the crown of his head. Sometimes, I wondered if this was not some extreme form of gaslighting. He did not even have much hair. I really should have drawn him bald.

“Through bone-grinding effort, I will present you with a proper shortest record tomorrow.”

“It is already a shortest record. This is enough.”

“No.”

“That is enough. Do whatever you want.”

“Does that mean you permit it?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you, my lord. As expected, you are worthy of my admiration.”

Well, if he insisted on breaking it, I was not going to stop him. The more his competitive spirit burned, the more I benefited.

Those who set shortest records were powerful Players.

In that sense, Chun-sik was breaking the shortest records that S-Class Players had set, one by one.

It seemed he was aware of that as well. If that was enough to satisfy that battle-crazed maniac, so be it.

I had no particular reason to refuse, so I nodded.

“Let us go to the 12th floor.”

“Yes. The 12th floor will naturally have Golems as well. Up to the 15th floor……”

“The 15th floor is the boss floor, right?”

“That is correct. With your current strength, it will be difficult for you to face it.”

“……That bad?”

“Yes! You have not even defeated a Death Knight yet.”

Just recalling the Death Knight made my body shudder.

“It is still scary.”

“Do not worry. I will handle the 15th-floor boss as well. If it were left to you, my lord, who knows what might happen.”

“Say one more word and you are not getting any Chicken Skewers today.”

Chun-sik immediately bowed his head.

“Please forgive my rudeness. I was shortsighted. To instantly identify my fault and even grant me enlightenment…… I have learned that a lord must possess not only strength but also wisdom.”

Damn it. He really knew how to talk.

I should start carrying headache medicine from tomorrow. I planned to take one every time he spouted nonsense. I did not know whether it would even work on a Player.

Still, his words were not entirely wrong.

That was exactly what worried me the most.

My combat ability was realistically effective only up to the 9th floor.

I cleared the 11th floor only thanks to Chun-sik’s help, and I did not even dare attempt the 10th-floor boss.

My body was growing appropriately as a Player through training with Chun-sik, but my mind was still stuck as an Illustrator.

And yet, I had monopolized the shortest records from the 1st to the 11th floor.

I had shattered every shortest record that was likely set by previous S-Class Players.

Growth and results were supposed to be proportional, but right now, my balance was skewed.

‘This might cause misunderstandings.’

Even so, the reason I continued climbing floors was simple. This was the method of growth.

A rolling stone gathers no moss. If I kept rolling desperately, the balance would eventually even out.

Tzzzz.

“We have arrived at the 12th floor. Shall I take the lead?”

“Yes!”

The 11th-floor Magic Crystals in my bag. They were worth several thousand. In the end, money was the biggest reason for climbing floors.

Compared to the money that would be deposited by the Association, the 11th-floor Magic Crystals were pocket change, but I could not afford to miss them.

The easiest way for a newly rich man like me to go bankrupt was to forget his past.

Earn money, but do not waste it.

“After clearing the 12th floor, I have somewhere to go.”

“A place to go?”

When I nodded, Chun-sik’s thick eyebrows twitched.

“My lord. What about training?”

“I will do it after I get back. If we do not go right after clearing the 12th floor, the place will close, and the timing will be awkward.”

“……Very well.”

I planned to visit the Equipment Store operated by the Association.

I had contacted Sang-cheol in advance yesterday, so it would not be a problem even if I went with little money in my account.

“Looking at things, it seems I will reach the 15th floor soon. I need to prepare equipment. I will buy something for you too.”

“I shall deal with those stones that dare to obstruct my lord and return.”

“It feels like you are moving faster because I said I would buy you something?”

“Absolutely not.”

As we spoke, a Golem closed the distance.

With each step it took, small stones fell from its arms, shoulders, and abdomen.

Chun-sik quickly found its Core and thrust his sword into it.

“I live only to protect my lord with my life. Nothing more.”

Wow. He could sell heaters with that kind of pitch. He would make a fortune after retiring as a Sword Master.

“Grrrk.”

The Golem collapsed, leaving a pile of stones where it stood.

Then another. Every time Chun-sik’s sword flashed through the air, a Golem turned into rubble.

Barely a minute had passed, yet more than half of the Golems had already fallen.

The current shortest record for the 12th floor was 2 minutes 12 seconds.

It was a record set by some S-Class Player in the past. An American Player, if I remembered correctly.

All records in Avalon were shared worldwide.

One of those records was about to be broken. Even though he had chatted with me for over ten seconds before fighting, it still seemed more than enough. Chun-sik had grown that much stronger as I reached Level 2.

‘……He is really strong. Stronger than when I first summoned him.’

I was the one training, so why was he the one getting stronger?

For some reason, it felt like I had lost, and that annoyed me.

He was my summon, but Chun-sik was an alpha male.

He was handsome, tall, and well-built. He was intelligent, and his combat prowess was beyond question.

“My lord, observe and learn well. This is swordsmanship at a level you can never reach.”

His attitude was just as unbearable. At least it was fortunate I named him Chun-sik.

I really should have drawn him bald.

“…….”

No. That would not do. The Illustrations I drew had to be handsome and beautiful without exception.

If Chun-sik’s pride lay in his strength and swordsmanship, then my pride lay in the appearance of my Illustrations. Chun-sik was the pinnacle of that.

“My lord! Are you watching carefully!?”

“Yes.”

“Focus even more.”

“Yes! I am focusing!”

Another minute passed.

‘One second, two seconds, three seconds.’

The moment it reached four seconds.

[Park OO has achieved the shortest record (12th Floor)!]

[Final time: 2 minutes 0 seconds.]

‘Two more shortest records in a single day.’

Setting a shortest record did not improve rewards within Avalon itself. However, the rewards gained outside Avalon increased.

Just like how I had received a massive contract offer from the Association.

Shortest records were a form of competition among Players. There was no need for pointless arguments about whose combat power was higher when the results were clearly visible.

Nothing was more definitive than a record publicly announced to the entire world.

That was why powerful Players obsessed over shortest records, the only thing they could truly boast about.

There were also first-clear records, but those were excluded since only one person could ever achieve them.

“My lord, please do not forget to train.”

“I told you I know.”

“I trust you.”

I dismissed Chun-sik’s summon first.

Then I loosened my legs. I needed to escape as soon as I returned to the lobby.

It might have been my imagination, but there was no harm in being cautious. I made sure to wear a hat and a mask.

Tzzzz.

I exited the 12th floor and arrived at the lobby. At the same time, I scanned my surroundings.

The men in suits standing to the left began preparing to move the moment they spotted me.

They might not have been coming for me, but being cautious never hurt.

I walked away without looking back.

“Excuse me!”

A voice called from behind, and at the same time, I arrived at the empty lot in front of my house.

“Whew. That was close.”

There was only one reason I frequented this lot. No one passed through here.

A long time ago, a Rampage had broken out here and a battle took place, and it had been abandoned ever since.

Back then, I thought I was going to die. The Rampage happened right in front of my house.

After confirming no one was around, I removed my mask and hat and headed toward the nearby Association building.

After about thirty minutes of walking, I arrived.

The top of the building was only visible if I craned my neck, and the Association sign hung at its peak.

‘The Equipment Store was on Basement Level 1, right?’

As soon as I entered the building, I headed to Basement Level 1 via the emergency stairs.

“Wow…….”

Dozens of pieces of equipment were visible beyond the glass doors.

Items I had only seen online were now displayed right before my eyes. Perhaps because it was close to closing time, there were not many Players.

‘Just come before closing. I will let them know.’

I recalled my conversation with Sang-cheol from yesterday. It was really okay for me to go in, right?

When I opened the door and entered, an employee radiating powerful magic approached me.

“Hello.”

When I showed my Player ID, the employee broke into a wide smile and guided me.

“We have been expecting you, Mr. Si-hoo. Please enjoy your time.”

I nodded and shifted my gaze. Among the displayed weapons, I spotted a familiar Longsword.

‘Ah. This is the one Chun-sik wanted.’

I was planning to gift him a weapon anyway. That one would do nicely.

“How much is this?”

“It was originally 1.5 billion, but it was recently upgraded with processed Magic Crystals, improving its durability and attack power. The total magic capacity it can hold has increased, and its discharge power has also improved.”

……What was he saying? Should I just understand it as a successful enhancement?

“The price?”

“It was 1.5 billion, but due to a major upgrade success, it has been set at 3 billion.”

“Oof!”

I immediately put the sword back on the display. It was too expensive. No matter how much it was for Chun-sik, gifting something like this……

“Please take it.”

The employee continued with a bright smile.

“Mr. Sang-cheol said that if you found equipment you wanted, you should be given it.”