"…"
An old man with sunglasses watched the entire thing unfold.
From the moment that Fang Raon was asked to put sunscreen on the bikini-wearing girl, to her boyfriend angrily storming over to them, and to the death that followed.
He watched as Ellie kept shouting curses at Fang Raon, who was just walking away and completely ignoring her.
"Psst, kid, come here!"
The old man beckoned towards Fang Raon with a smile on his face.
"?"
Fang Raon, with a frown on his face, looked at the strange gray-haired old man.
He looked like someone who had just retired and came to the beach to catcall some young women.
"What do you want, old man?"
Fang Raon asked.
"Who are you calling an old man? Respect your elders!"
The old man whacked Fang Raon in the head with his walking cane and created a bump on his head.
"Ah…?"
Fang Raon rubbed his forehead.
It wasn't that he didn't want to dodge the old man's attack, but he simply couldn't see it coming. It was like the cane traveled in time and space, hitting him faster than he could react.
'What the hell was that?'
"I am not old. I am only sixty years old and yet as spry as ever."
The old man stood up and did pirouettes in the sand like he was a ballerina. He was light on his feet.
"…Okay? What do you want, old man?"
Fang Raon asked.
WHACK!
Again, the cane found its mark on his forehead, and Fang Raon rubbed his forehead with an uncomfortable look.
'If I had lost health points from that, would he get banned from the city? The attack is so quick, and it feels uncomfortable getting hit, but for some reason, I am not losing health points?
'What the hell is this old man doing to me?'
Fang Raon wondered.
"Call me Rock."
The old man said.
"…Rock? Was Scissor and Paper taken?"
Fang Raon asked with a smirk, and Rock suddenly grabbed his ear and twisted it sharply, making him cry out in phantom pain.
"Argh! The hell?!"
He cried out.
This felt different, as he could almost feel pain, but not quite, as if his body remembered the pain that should follow, but the virtual world didn't allow it to happen.
"You are a shitty kid, aren't you? Zero respect for your elders, and you are clearly a virgin, bitch boy."
Rock said.
"What the fuck?"
Fang Raon said, his anger flaring.
"I can also speak with crude language. From now on, you will show some respect, is that clear, young man?"
Rock asked.
"…Sure. You still haven't told me what you want with me."
Fang Raon said.
"I am currently on holiday, but my occupation is a teacher. I saw your little fight over there, and I felt frustrated.
"When I feel frustrated, I must scratch that itch off!"
Rock said sternly.
"Frustrated? About what?"
Fang Raon asked.
"The way you won that fight. It was no good!"
Rock said.
"What do you mean it wasn't good? The fight lasted a second."
Fang Raon said with a frown.
"It doesn't matter how long it took. It was sloppy work! Your opponent was a complete amateur. He was holding the shortsword with two hands!
"Two hands!
"Ridiculous. If your opponent was even slightly better, they would've stopped your attack in its tracks."
Rock said.
"I knew my opponent wasn't good. Why would I accept the fight otherwise? This is the 6th floor, and I could accidentally encounter some powerhouses from higher floors.
"I knew I would win, so I accepted the fight!"
Fang Raon said.
"That's fine, but your movement was sloppy. You almost slipped on the sand. Don't you know that being mindful of your environment is extremely important in a fight?
"If you had accidentally slipped on your ass, you would've died no matter how shitty your opponent was."
Rock said.
"I won. That's all that matters, so if you are done educating me, I will be leaving."
Fang Raon walked past him, but then his body started falling forward, and he face-planted on the sand.
"…"
He raised his head from the sand and angrily turned towards Rock, who was whistling innocently as if he had done nothing.
'When I stepped forward, he placed that shitty cane in front of me so I would trip on it. This bastard old man…'
"Tch, tch, so careless."
Rock said with a smile.
"Ok, what else do you want from me?"
Fang Raon sat up and asked.
"Let me train you for a while."
Rock said.
"…Aren't you on a holiday?"
Fang Raon asked.
"I am honestly very bored. I haven't taken a holiday in years, and whenever I do, I just can't stand still, as I want to do things.
"I just came to the holiday because my daughter pestered me to do so, and I couldn't say no to her."
Rock said.
Fang Raon stood up, stretched his back a little bit, and then looked at the smiling old man.
"Okay, train me."
He said.
"What do your stats look like?"
Rock asked.
"…Stamina is 5. Attack is 8. Defense is 5. Vitality is 8, and Mana is 0."
Fang Raon asked.
"…You also have those ear piercings, and I saw that hand tattoo of yours. It looks like you have received some enhancements."
Rock rubbed his chin thoughtfully and then tapped his cane on the sand.
"The sandy beach surrounds the entirety of the city. If you keep running one way, you will eventually be back here again.
"Running around the entire beach will probably take you three hours, so you better get going then."
Rock said with a smile.
"…Are you serious? Three hours of running?"
Fang Raon asked.
"How else are you going to improve, little shit? Hmm?"
Rock asked.
"…Fine, but can you keep up with me? I think you are one step away from cracking your back in half."
Fang Raon said mockingly.
"I will be fine!"
Rock tapped his cane on the ground, and suddenly, a large hound manifested next to him. It had dark fur and glowing red eyes.
The hound was the size of a horse!
"I will be following you closely."
Rock said with a smile and mounted his hound.
'A summoning power? What class does this belong to? Mage, maybe?'
Fang Raon thought in surprise.