I Gave Up Being Stronger

“Ah, Acacia is kneeling and apologizing before the family head. Also, I’m not exactly sure, but traces of Fyurel’s flames seem to linger in the air.” Cha Jin-Hyeok easily grasped what had just been happening here.

Gridel sighed deeply and sat down on a chair. “Why are you here?”

“Why do you look so disheartened?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

“Are you mocking me?”

“If you’re upset because the Pisat Relics were destroyed, I’m the one who should feel the loss the most. After all, they were mine.”

-He’s right, but wow! I can’t believe he’s saying that to Gridel’s face.

-What a character, LOL!

-It looks like Chul-Soo went there just to mock him.

Experiencing the livestream from Jin-Hyeok’s perspective, the viewers immediately sensed Jin-Hyeok’s emotions. Contrary to his words, Jin-Hyeok did not feel much regret.

-He’s just crazy about his livestream!

-Gridel: How can such a madman exist?

Jin-Hyeok took out Miri. “Please take a look at this.”

“T-This is!”

It wasn’t just that the relics had been destroyed. The enhancement had transferred the essence of Pisat inside the relics to Miri. While Miri hadn’t gotten stronger, inscriptions had appeared on both sides of its handle.

[Heirs of Pisat, welcome your master.]

[In the frozen crimson flames shall the truth reside.]

Like the writings on the relics, these inscriptions were not actual letters but an interpretation of Pisat’s will in the form of a script.

Watching Gridel’s twisted expression, Jin-Hyeok smirked. “Looks like you can feel the noble will of the weapon!”

***

When Gridel saw Miri imbued with the essence of Pisat, he stiffened. ‘Damn it!’

He involuntarily moved and knelt on one knee before Jin-Hyeok. His attempts to resist were futile. It was a vow etched in Pisat's blood.

‘I didn’t expect him to kneel so soon,’ Jin-Hyeok thought. He maintained a composed expression and read the inscriptions on Miri’s handle with a dignified attitude. “Heirs of Pisat, welcome your master.”

Gridel tried to resist, but it was impossible. Pisat’s swordsmanship and blood had bound him.

-What’s going on?

-Did Gridel just kneel before Chul-Soo?

-This is amazing!

-I thought Chul-Soo was just a Streamer, but turns out he’s the head of the sword family.

Jin-Hyeok maintained his imposing demeanor. “In the frozen crimson flames shall the truth reside… What does this mean, Gridel, the Sage of the Sword?”

Gridel was annoyed by Jin-Hyeok’s sudden change in tone but managed to hide it. He had no choice but to respond to the question.

“The frozen crimson flame is a symbol of the Heina Family, Mas—” Gridel tried to stop himself from saying the next word, but ultimately failed. “Master.”

His pride was crushed. Jin-Hyeok seemed to understand Gridel’s feelings, although he showed no sign of it.

“Then the place I must go is amidst the cold flames,” Jin-Hyeok said. He shared the overarching content of the universe-level Scenario.

[Legacy of the Forsaken Queen]

[(1) The Queen’s Beloved Disciple

The Forsaken Queen cherished and loved a disciple. This disciple’s name was Carvington. The queen imparted all her knowledge and wisdom to Carvington. Even at the moment when he betrayed her, Veselity loved him.

(2) He Who Nurtures the Golden Tree Shall Conquer the World.

Carvington and Goldium tenderly cared for the golden tree. Moved by their devotion, the queen bestowed her treasures upon them. Enriched by the queen’s treasure, the tree thrived, and its power and glory reached the ends of the world.

(4) In the Frozen Crimson Flames Shall the Truth Reside.

The Forsaken Queen had a friend dearer than life itself, named Heina. In her final moments of abandonment, the queen entrusted Heina with a gem filled with her heart. This gem entered hibernation within the frozen crimson flames.]

Jin-Hyeok tilted his head.

“Something seems off. I don’t see number three. Why is that?” He checked again, thinking it could be a typo, but it appeared intentional.

Universe-level Scenarios were not meant to be tackled by a single Player. They were typically handled by a large army, commonly involving Region-level or Server-level efforts. Consequently, numerous fragments from various places had to come together to form a grand narrative for a Universe-level Scenario.

Although the directions and processes in such a Scenario were complex and diverse, the midpoints were clear. In the description of Jin-Hyeok’s Universe-level Scenario, the numbers (1), (2), and (4) were exactly those midpoints—essential milestones.

-He’s right. Why is 3 missing?

-Is that an error?

-It’s true! There is no number three!

Even among the viewers, almost no one knew the reason behind this.

-Encyclopedia just posted something on the Korea Region Minor Gallery.

Encyclopedia updated his analysis.

[Why is there milestone no (3) in Kim Chul-Soo’s universe-level Scenario.]

[Typically, a Scenario of this magnitude is not undertaken by an individual… therefore, such Scenarios have milestones where numerous paths converge… Normally, one must follow the sequences of these milestones to unlock the next phase of the Scenario. However, these are just normal cases, and I don’t think anyone can describe Chul-Soo’s Play style as normal or logical.]

Every one of the over two billion viewers agreed with that.

-Yeah, Chul-Soo is crazy.

-He is definitely crazy about his livestreams.

-Who else uses Pisat Relics as enhancement material, LOL!

[Originally, numerous paths would have converged to open (3), which would have led to (4). However, Chul-Soo simply bypassed (3). He shattered it. Normally, we call this skipping.]

-I’m not sure if the word ‘skip’ is appropriate for this, LOL!

-It’s a skip.

-What a monumental skip, LOL!

-Koreans: This is definitely a skip.

Jin-Hyeok wore a quite satisfied smile and said, “It’s unfortunate that number three is missing, but ultimately, it was about discovering that the truth lies in the frozen flames.”

To clear the 3rd milestone, Jin-Hyeok probably would have had to go through a complex process to forge a connection with the Pisat Family and gain their trust to obtain this information. Without it, the process had turned out to be much easier.

‘Now I know that skipping is possible!’

He had learned of a slightly more proper way to clear the universe-level Scenario, which made him feel even better.

***

Jin-Hyeok promised to establish a friendly relationship with the Pisat Family. He was fairly straightforward. “Sage of the Sword, I want the Pisat Family to cooperate with me.”

“As… you please, Master.” Gridel still resisted, but it was futile.

Jin-Hyeok felt a twinge of regret. “I wish you would resist a bit. Then I could have brought Park Terse to forcibly and comfortably save you with violence.”

Terse, who had successfully tamed Emperor Marco, was eagerly looking for people to tame.

‘Of course, the Sage of the Sword is more powerful than Marco, but…’ Since Gridel was already halfway submissive due to Miri, Jin-Hyeok thought taming him would not be too difficult. A mix of appropriate violence could have helped in taming Gridel thoroughly, but Jin-Hyeok viewed forcing a non-resistant opponent as somewhat distasteful.

‘I am a normal person.’

Some viewed him as insane, but he thought that was a misconception held by those who knew nothing about him.

‘If I were truly insane, I wouldn’t consider what’s going on and just smash people’s heads!’

After signing the agreement with the Pisat family, Jin-Hyeok set off. He wanted to take a break, but with a live audience of two billion, that was not an option. Ending the livestream here would disappoint his viewers.

“I will now seek out the Mad Sorceress Fyurel,” Jin-Hyeok said.

By meeting Fyurel Heina, he hoped to gain some information about the frozen flames. However, before he could head to the Heina Family, Fyurel appeared before him instead.

Surrounded by flames, the Mad Sorceress said, “It’s been a while, Chul-Soo.”

“Your timing is perfect. I was just about to look for you.”

“You’re so annoying. You look for me only when you need something.”

Jin-Hyeok stared at Fyurel for a moment. Fyurel seemed like the personification of the color red. Her long, shimmering red hair and bright red eyes were as intense as burning flames. Moreover, her tight-fitting red robe highlighted her voluptuous and sensuous curves.

“Wow!” Jin-Hyeok could not help but admire her.

Fyurel straightened her shoulders and crossed her arms, accentuating certain parts of her body. A distinct shadow formed under her chest.

“I dressed a bit provocatively today. What do you think?” she asked. Chul-Soo’s admiration made her feel good. ‘Ah, so Chul-Soo likes these kinds of women. Had I known, I would’ve been more provocative!’

With a serious expression, Jin-Hyeok asked, “Can I use you as the thumbnail for my video?”

“What?”

“Your provocative figure will attract viewers.”

Amused, Fyurel flicked her finger and shot a small fireball at Jin-Hyeok. It was as tiny as a lighter’s flame, but Jin-Hyeok could sense the potent destructive power within it.

[You have activated the Mystery Spilling Wind.]

He casually dodged the flame, but it swirled back and touched his back.

[You have activated the Trait Absolute Barrier.]

Jin-Hyeok scaled down Absolute Barrier to just the size of the flame and focused on it, successfully blocking Fyurel’s fire. However, the flame suddenly split into hundreds of strands, scattering around Jin-Hyeok, then shooting up toward his head. It soon grew in size and fiercely engulfed him, forming a bell shape around him.

Jin-Hyeok excitedly said, “This Skill is similar to my Sword Prison.”

Fyurel flicked her tongue over her red lips and smirked.

-LOL! Did he just say my Sword Prison?

-Acacia: Fuck…

-Acacia is so confused right now.

“Thanks for recognizing it. It’s my welcoming gift for you. Do you like it?” Fyurel said.

Jin-Hyeok remained engulfed in the fire-shaped prison for a while, maintaining Absolute Barrier. Any average Tank would have melted from such intense heat, but Jin-Hyeok was hardly bothered. Only his shirt melted from the heat, revealing his well-toned and balanced upper body.

“You’re so sexy,” Fyurel said.

The number of live viewers soared past 2.2 billion, and many started demanding the livestream be changed to a third-person perspective.

-Third-person perspective!

-Give us what we want!

-Third-person perspective!!!

Fyurel said, “I saw your livestream. You were coming to find me, right? Something about the truth in the frozen flames?

“That’s right.”

“I won’t tell you.”

‘Even better!’ Jin-Hyeok was pleased that Fyurel refused. The content needed a twist. If Fyurel had just said, ‘Sure, I will tell you the secret,’ it would have killed the intrigue.

Jin-Hyeok asked with a feigned serious expression, “What must I do to reach the truth, Mad Sorceress Fyurel?”