Chapter 8 : Chapter 8

Chapter 8 - The Old Man Who Shaves Records

[Park OO has achieved the shortest record (1st~10th floor)!]

[Final Time 2 minutes 18 seconds.]

[Your level has risen!]

[The level of the Illustration Creation skill has risen!]

There were various events in Avalon, one of which was the fastest clear time.

From the 1st to the 10th floor, where there were no sub-quests, the clear time was calculated across all floors, and from the 11th floor onwards, it was calculated for each floor.

I was not very interested, but now that the message had appeared, I could not feign ignorance. Especially since, just a week ago, I had never dreamed that I would be the subject of the message.

‘Ah, wait a minute. This…….’

Doesn’t the shortest record message appear for all players?

I had seen a similar message a few days ago.

A message that some Kim had set the shortest record on the 15th floor.

For a while after that, the internet was abuzz with facts about that person.

It would be no different for me. The culprit of it all was walking towards me.

“My lord.”

“Yeah.”

“What was the time?”

“2 minutes and 18 seconds.”

“Ugh.”

“Excuse me. I leveled up. Aren't you impressed by that?”

“To fail to break…… the 2-minute barrier.”

“Can't you feel that you've gotten stronger too?”

“It is a disgrace. I vowed to break the 1-minute mark today, but……!”

It seemed he was not impressed.

Chun-sik ignored me and clutched his chest. He was so frustrated that he struck the ground with his sword.

What was wrong with this guy all of a sudden.

I told you I leveled up. I told you my skill level went up too. I told you you got stronger too.

“This is not the right time!”

Before we came, Chun-sik had said something to me.

‘Today, I will definitely break the 1-minute mark.’

However, the actual clear time was 2 minutes and 18 seconds. It was a level that fell far short of the goal.

“It is because my level is too low. The battle time with the Death Knight was too long.”

“No. That’s enough……”

“It is not! It is a clear time that is far from sufficient to offer to you, my lord. I vowed to break the 1-minute mark, but I have shown you a poor performance.”

Ah, what a stress. I spoke casually.

“That’s enough……”

“It is not!”

“I said it’s enough?!”

“It is not! First, we need to go back and figure out where we lost a lot of time. My lord. You have been watching from the side, so please give me accurate feedback.”

“I said it’s fine. Ah, and I’m level 2……”

“Absolutely not. If we are satisfied and move on now, there will be no development. Please think of this as work for the future and help me, my lord.”

This rotten, bamboo-like personality of his. It just would not break.

‘It’s my fault, fuck.’

Why did I create his personality like that to go through this hardship?

“You took a video, right?”

I pointed to my phone and nodded.

Avalon could only be climbed once a day anyway. Since we had already come out from the 10th floor, it was impossible to go in again.

As Chun-sik said, we were now going to have a feedback session.

CRACKLE.

I closed my eyes for a moment and then opened them to arrive at my familiar home.

“Show me right away, my lord.”

Chun-sik’s two red eyes flickered. At this rate, you’re going to cry tears of blood, you punk.

The video length was 2 minutes and 30 seconds, including the time we were chatting before we started.

Chun-sik was sitting in a chair, carefully checking each and every frame.

“Huh?”

“Did you find something?”

“My lord. Look here. It’s the 2nd floor. You spoke to me here and I responded. As a result, 2 seconds were wasted in vain. And look here too.”

“…….”

This had been going on for a week already.

Chun-sik was picking on the rights and wrongs, pointing out each frame.

“It’s the 5th floor. Here, that monster showed behavior that was beyond my expectation. Do you see it? The scene where the guy who was walking towards me tripped on a stone and fell!”

“Oh, you’re right.”

“Thanks to that, my sword qi could not kill him in one blow. I had to approach him, and as a result of swinging my sword one more time, a huge 5 seconds were wasted in vain.”

After nitpicking everything, Chun-sik came to a solemn conclusion.

“I judge that if we just eliminate the variables, we can definitely break the 1-minute mark.”

“You might really be able to do it in 1 minute like you said. That’s really amazing.”

“It is also my role to give my lord the best results. You, my lord, must always be number one, the best, the pinnacle, standing above the heavens.”

“……Don’t pressure me.”

“I will do my best to make it so.”

There it was. Why the guy was so obsessed with the shortest record.

The record he achieved was also mine anyway. In other words, his goal was to give me the shortest record and ensure I received the best treatment.

“Anyway, you worked hard.”

“Tomorrow, I will definitely hit the 1-minute mark, my lord.”

I was starting to reach my limit. It was the master’s duty to quickly dismiss the summon before he went overboard, not content with just repeating himself.

“You still have the money you’ve saved up from selling magic crystals, right? After you reach level 2, you must use it to purchase equipment that befits your level.”

The money I had saved up from selling magic crystals so far was about 200 million won.

I never knew making money could be this easy. I also realized that players’ equipment was quite expensive.

No, that was that.

“Hey, I told you I leveled up.”

“Is that so?”

I glared at the guy who was widening his eyes as if it was the first time he had heard it.

“Why did you not tell me?”

“I did. Twice! I told you twice, you bastard!”

“Ah, did you? I did not hear you.”

Of course you didn't! Because you were blinded by the record. Like some old man obsessed with shaving records.

CRACKLE.

The guy straightened his posture and drew up his power. I could definitely feel the effect of the level up. The magic power I felt was a little stronger than before.

“Hmm. It is still a far cry from my prime, but this much in a short period is quite encouraging.”

“To say you had a prime means……”

“The memories do not remain. But my past self was considerably stronger than my current self.”

“You said you don't have memories? How do you know that? Do you have any basis?”

“The power I have is the basis. How could a Sword Master have only this much skill?”

“Is that a proper basis?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Alright, let’s do well.”

Well…… he seemed to have high self-esteem, so that was fine.

My mouth was itching, but I did not bother to pick a fight for no reason. All I wanted was to dismiss the guy quickly.

“My lord, I will now brief you on tomorrow’s schedule.”

He even started planning my schedule.

Who was the master and who was the summon? Really, I must seem like a pushover.

……Please treat me just a little bit like a pushover.

“First, please do the homework I gave you, and then summon me. After that, we will break the record, and since you have reached level 2, we plan to enter the 11th floor. Please familiarize yourself with the gimmick-solving method by tomorrow.”

What was with all these orders. I frowned and grumbled.

“Thanks to you, I’m getting very healthy, huh?! Do you know that?”

“It is encouraging! You are still lacking in my eyes, but I can see you are improving.”

“Is that an insult or a compliment? Can’t you just pick one?”

“It is an insult-flavored compliment. What is bitter is good for the body. Please enjoy it.”

After the short briefing, the guy licked his lips. The moment his gaze turned to the refrigerator.

“Are you hungry?”

“Yes.”

“……You again.”

Hey, no way, right? That would make it a week straight.

But as expected of Chun-sik. He was the world's best at crushing my expectations.

“Chicken skewers.”

That was right.

“I must eat them before I am dismissed.”

“Ha, fuck.”

While grinding from the 1st to the 10th floor with the guy, I had been eating chicken skewers for over a week.

This guy did not seem to get sick of them either.

“Do you have a grudge against chickens or something?”

“How could I. Rather, I am just grateful that they are delicious.”

I was a person who developed too. Of course, I had anticipated this and bought a large stock of frozen chicken skewers from a food wholesale mart.

I took out thirty chicken skewers from the freezer and started grilling them one by one.

I knew this would happen, so I even bought an oven!

‘I wonder how much I spent just to grill some chicken skewers.’

Still, this was all an investment for the future. It was something my summon liked, so of course, I should make it for him with a happy heart.

There was not much summon time left. I quickly cooked the chicken skewers and then presented them to Chun-sik, who was no different from a master.

“Here. Eat up.”

“Are you not having any, my lord?”

“It's fine. I’m full just watching you eat.”

“Does that make sense? How can you be full just by watch……”

“If I say so, then it is so. Please just eat it by yourself!”

“I will follow your command, my lord.”

The guy, who was holding a chicken skewer with a reverent expression, suddenly stopped moving. Then he whipped his head towards the front door.

“They are coming.”

“What is?”

“Those who seek to disturb our pleasant time.”

His voice became heavy. Just like that time when we first reached the 10th floor and faced the Death Knight.

I became nervous as well. If Chun-sik was acting like this, there was a high probability that it was a monster.

“Don’t tell me it’s a berserk state? I didn’t feel any monster magic power.”

KNOCK KNOCK.

“Excuse me. Is Mr. Si-hoo here?”

“……Huh? That voice is?”

A voice that was somehow familiar called out to me.

“Who is it?”

“Ah, you’re here. That’s a relief. I am Baek Sang-cheol, who introduced myself the other day!”

Baek Sang-cheol? Who was that……?

Ah, I remembered. The Association employee who had given me a contract while I was training before. It was him.

“Are you from the Association?”

“Yes, that’s right. I have something urgent to tell you, so I was wondering if we could talk for a moment.”

“Just a moment!”

Do these guys have too much time on their hands? Why were they coming all the way to my house?

“It seems they have come because of our recent activities.”

“The ones who are coming are them?”

I whispered in a small voice.

“That is correct. By the way, how dare they interrupt the intimate time between you and me, my lord……”

“I don’t think it was particularly intimate. You just stay there, shut your mouth, and eat your chicken skewers.”

“My lord, how can I eat chicken skewers with my mouth shut……”

I ignored the nonsense and walked to the front door. I placed my hand on the doorknob and hesitated for a moment.

Would it be better to dismiss that guy? As if he had read my thoughts, Chun-sik spoke first.

“There isn’t much time left anyway. I will be on my way now. And, my lord. Whether you sign the contract or not, I will always follow your choice.”

“……Alright.”

“I will see you tomorrow. My lord.”

The guy picked up the plate of chicken skewers, plate and all. Before long, his body blurred.

Even in the midst of that, Chun-sik knelt on one knee and paid his respects to me. Only at times like these did he seem like a proper Sword Master.

[The Red-Eyed Sword Master Park Chun-sik (2Lv) has been dismissed.]

Chun-sik disappeared along with the chicken skewers.

‘I don’t have many plates at home, and he takes that one.’

I stared at the spot where the guy had been for a moment and then turned my body.

“I’m opening the door.”

As soon as the door opened a little, Sang-cheol-ssi stuck his face in first.

“Thank you. It seems you have just returned from Avalon, so we will just explain the main points and disappear quickly!”

“You can take your time……”

“No, we cannot disturb Mr. Si-hoo’s rest time! It seems you have a lot on your mind, by any chance, are you not satisfied with the contract conditions……”

……What were the conditions again? I had forgotten. Since I did not answer, he spoke first.

“Ah, as I thought, you are not satisfied with the conditions.”

He seemed to have tried his hand at mind-reading, but he had failed. I just could not remember, that was all.

“C-could you give me the contract again?”

“Th-the contract……?”

“Yes! We will collect that one and give you a new one.”

Ah, I already threw it away, what should I do.