~~~
It was late at night, with the moon glistening from above. The light shone down on the shabby hut that resided near a cliff, lighting up the house and showing the beautiful flora that surrounded it, displaying a marvel of beauty.
However, as mesmerizing as the scenery may be, it was anything but that for the player who's traveled his way to get there.
"I'm sorry...they both weren't treated in time," An old woman with a crooked back says, as she holds out a bag of coins. "I'll return the money to you," She says, offering a sigh of lament at the young man in front of her.
The man was none other than Shun, who was currently cloaked in bloodied equipment. Shun clenches his fist, as a look of anger and despair clouds his countenance.
"We're leaving," He says, not even bothering to take the money from the old lady. His attention was focused on the 8 other women beside him. The old lady looks at him with surprise, about to thank him for his generosity...but when she sees a glimpse of the man's face, she quickly withdraws from saying anything of the sort.
Shun and his harem left, as they had more things to do...and more goals to reach. He's suffered a huge loss from his current expedition.
"I was too hasty...I didn't believe that the monsters in the Cavern of Frost were that strong," Shun thinks to himself, gritting his teeth in anger. All eight women beside him felt his anger but said nothing out of it. They were already thankful enough to have married a player who was anything but lecherous. They didn't want to incite his anger, especially so when his relationship with them was all for the sake of battle.
Shun and his harem go to the guild hall, even if it is already late at night...after all, he just made a remarkable achievement: being the fastest player to challenge the Cavern of Frost...and successfully killing all the beasts there.
For a hefty price.
As he reaches the guild hall, he takes a look at the huge stone statue at the center of it all. Any normal player, wouldn't even manage to see this statue...for this is the Wall of Achievements, an exclusive feature known only by the pros.
Shun looks at the stone statue, his heart beating fast as he sees two uncanny achievements in the long list...
~~~
Wall of Achievements:
- Congratulations to Player Master Shun for clearing the Cavern of Frost in 7 hours, accomplishing the feat in his 31-day journey in Belunia!
- Congratulations to Player UNREGISTEREDNICKNAME for obtaining the 3$?2i@(&8# 9l(@*'s Last Legacy Quest, accomplishing the feat in his ???-day journey in Belunia!
- Congratulations to Player UNREGISTEREDNICKNAME for obtaining epic-tier clothing, accomplishing the feat in his ???-day journey in Belunia!
- Congratulations to Player Wynister for obtaining the rare-tier weapon, Tear's Amulet, accomplishing the feat in his 162-day journey in Belunia!
- Congratulations to Player UNREGISTEREDNICKNAME for marrying the first legendary-tier woman, accomplishing the feat in his ???-day journey in Belunia!
~~~
Taken aback by the display of achievements that an unregistered player had, he couldn't help but feel a spark of competitiveness burning deep inside him. "S-someone...someone managed to marry a legendary tier?! But how! They're infamous for having crazy conditions..." He cried out, panicking inwardly.
Although he hid the shocked expression on his face with a mask of nonchalance, his heart could not betray the emotions that he felt this very day. He had to do better...to reach further the heights that the mysterious unregistered player had managed to climb.
"I'll have to clear up my schedule to do more grinding tomorrow," Shun sighs, coldly looking at the stone statue.
He didn't like to be bested in terms of impossible achievements.
~~~
I've been greeted again by the hot sun, and I immediately wake up in excitement. I'll have to practice and learn how to fight properly today...but not after I eat breakfast. I don't want my mom to cook for me again...
Yep, that's right...she beat me to it when we were competing yesterday...
But hey! At least I managed to cook the soup!
...and so, I strolled to the kitchen, grimacing as I saw a plate of bacon and eggs on the dining table. I sigh inwardly, as I begrudgingly take a piece of my breakfast...of course it tasted good.
It always does...but I really have to make it up for her someday.
On the good side, I've been feeling more and more energetic as of late...even feeling my stamina build up, but maybe that's because of how frequently I have to travel to that mountain. Mount Lianthan.
...minutes pass, and I then clean my dishes, proceeding to play the game again. I can't make money out of it without proper combat training.
Thus, as soon as I go back in-game, hiding my egg deep into the bag so that it won't be noticed by any player. I don't wanna risk getting duels again...
I then go to the path of the mountain, with a spear at hand, and greet the spearwoman guard. She greets me back with a hearty smile...which is a good sign since I need her cooperation with my training.
"Um...do you mind if I ask your help with something?" I ask, a sheepish smile on my face. She seems to look confused, and she even shudders slightly, visibly gulping in front of me.
"Yes, master, what do you need help with?" She asks, her tone nervous.
I look at her puzzled...she calls me master again? It wasn't a one-time thing?
Why? What's up with the formalities?
"For starters, why do you call me master?" I ask, and she looks even more frightful...and is frankly, quite the opposite behavior she had when I remember our first meeting.
"I-i'm sorry for getting your title wrong...I...I don't know what type of formality I should call you..." She bows her head down, looking like a meek sheep.
I panic inwardly as well...I'm not supposed to give her this reaction!
I'm pretty sure Rosalina will skin me alive if she realizes I've done this to one of her subordinates...
"H-hey, nothing's wrong...just call me Rodrick, no need for formalities," I say in a friendly tone, hoping she wouldn't look at me with the same fearful expression on her face. She looks up and shakes her head.
"N-no, I wouldn't dare...please let me call you formally as I do with the madam..." She answers, and I can't help but sigh.
"Very well, if you insist...you can just call me master," I smile, and immediately, she returns back to her professional behavior.
"Yes, master," She nods, looking at me with the same sense of seriousness she showed from our first meeting.
"Anyways...are you free right now? I want you to help me with something." I ask hesitantly, and her expression immediately falters back into a crumbling mess. Her hands start to shake like crazy, and she keeps looking...behind her? For no reason whatsoever...
"Umm...hello? I was asking if you were free," I ask again waiting for a response...and it's true, I did get one, but it's not something I would have wanted to get.
Especially not when it was absurd!
...she was kowtowing to me! Can you believe it?! What was up with that?!
"M-master...please forgive me! Please chop off my head! I would rather stay faithful to the madam than engage in an act of infidelity!" She says nervously, making me stay stuck like a statue.
...What?!
Infidelity?! What infidelity?!
All I wanted to ask was for help in my training, so what is up with this reaction?!