I Gave Up Being Stronger

“To reach the truth is, you…” The Mad Sorceress suddenly snapped back to reality. She had almost revealed everything. Shocked, she asked, “What have you done to me?”

“What do you mean?” Cha Jin-Hyeok replied.

“You didn’t do anything?”

“Well, I can’t say that I didn’t do anything…”

Both thought about it for a moment before simultaneously speaking.

“Chul-Soo, is this your seduction technique?”

“Did I just use a seduction technique?”

They nodded at the same time. Fyurel wore a look of complete understanding, while Jin-Hyeok sported a rather satisfied smile.

‘Did I unconsciously activate the seduction technique?’ Jin-Hyeok thought. To use the seduction technique, he required significant resolve and commitment. So, if he could use the technique without any effort, things would become easier for him. ‘How did I do it?’

Even after thinking about it for a while, Jin-Hyeok didn’t find any answer and concluded that it must have been a fluke.

-Why is he overthinking? LOL. We all know the answer.

-I bet he thinks that he unconsciously activated the technique.

The viewers knew that the real cause was something else.

-Fyurel is just smitten, LOL!

Fyurel was simply enchanted by Jin-Hyeok’s appearance.

-Having a face like that is automatically a seduction technique.

-Chul-Soo doesn’t need to think about it.

-Even if he just stood in front of me, I would give up everything for him.

-He’s the personification of the seduction technique.

“Seduction or not, it does not matter. What I really want is…,” Fyurel said with a sly grin, “to marry you, Chul-Soo.”

-Wow! A proposal in the middle of a universe-level Scenario?!

-Man, Chul-Soo is so crazy about his livestreams that he might accept the proposal for content.

-Noooo!! I won’t allow this!

Jin-Hyeok firmly responded, “We can’t do a ‘We Got Married’[1] content.”

“What’s ‘We Got Married’?” Fyurel asked.

“It just means that we can’t do fake marriage content.”

“No, that’s not what I mean…” Fyurel pressed her pale hand to her forehead. Although her head throbbed, Chul-Soo’s obsession with his content was a sight to behold. “Did I just get rejected?”

“If you want to put it that way, yes.”

Fyurel heartily laughed and licked her lips, eyeing Jin-Hyeok from head to toe.

‘Ah, he’s so damn sexy!’ She wanted to claim him for hers.

At that moment, Jin-Hyeok came up with something. “If you want to try out marriage content, I have a good idea.”

***

Fyurel had an old friend and subordinate named Abe. Abe was one of the few people who could bad-mouth her without repercussions.

“Why not go on that blind date? I think you’ll like it,” Abe said.

“But I want to marry Chul-Soo. I’m not interested in anyone else.”

“But your date is one of Chul-Soo’s closest associates. With his help, you can keep an eye on Chul-Soo’s every move.”

Jin-Hyeok had suggested a blind date to her.

“Besides, Kang Eun-Woo is as handsome as Chul-Soo,” Abe added.

“Who is Kang Eun-Woo?”

“You don’t know Kang Eun-Woo but you call yourself Chul-Soo’s fan?”

“Do I need to know about him?”

“Eun-Woo is Chul-Soo’s Homepage Mas… Well, let’s just say he captures photos and videos of Chul-Soo. He’s one of Chul-Soo’s closest associates.” Abe knew Fyurel very well. “Just meet him once. You might even fall for Eun-Woo.”

“I like Chul-Soo the best.”

“But if you accept the blind date, you can meet Chul-Soo again.”

“You know what? A blind date sounds pretty good.”

Fyurel decided to meet Eun-Woo. However, she didn’t think much about him. She was interested in only Chul-Soo.

“Abe, teach me how to seduce Chul-Soo while being on a blind date. Should I use a love potion?”

***

Jin-Hyeok praised himself for coming up with the blind date content.

‘Fyurel was a member of Silver Rain before my regression!’

Silver Rain was Eun-Woo’s fan club. Back then, even though Eun-Woo rarely showed his face, his fandom grew every day.

‘I wasn’t much interested in it then, but…’

Jin-Hyeok realized this useless information now seemed quite useful.

“Eun-Woo, I want you to meet Fyurel,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“Ah, well…” Eun-Woo did not want to meet anyone right now. He was too busy with his work.

“You know. I think Fyurel could provide us with some information.”

“Oh, then is this part of the content?” Although Eun-Woo had been reluctant about the idea of a blind date, his attitude changed and his eyes sparkled.

“Exactly.”

“So, I should use a seduction technique on Fyurel and, while dating her, gather information about the universe-level Scenario?”

“Exactly.”

Eun-Woo closed his eyes and imagined his appearance and direct participation in Jin-Hyeok’s livestream. It could be considered the ultimate fan experience.

“If I successfully date Fyurel, will you smile for me?” Eun-Woo asked.

“Is that important to you?”

“Yes. The best shots come out when you smile brightly.”

Jin-Hyeok was momentarily impressed. Eun-Woo was as serious about his work as Jin-Hyeok was about his livestream. Eun-Woo’s passion was admirable and worthy of emulation.

“Shall we set a date then? I will practice my smile for you,” Jin-Hyeok said.

***

The viewers were enthusiastic.

-LOL! What a combo!

-We’re going straight from a universe-level Scenario to a blind date, LOL!

-The atmosphere has become so much lighter!

The juxtaposition of a universe-level Scenario and a blind date turned into a major source of laughter for the viewers.

-No one could’ve predicted that they would throw a blind date into the mix!

-But is this for real?

-Come on, it’s just a show. Why do you take it so seriously?

Most viewers saw this as scripted entertainment, but Eun-Woo was serious. ‘How am I supposed to seduce Fyurel?’

Eun-Woo didn’t have any plan or script to follow. He genuinely needed to seduce Fyurel to extract information about the universe-level Scenario and capture the happy smile of Jin-Hyeok.

Suddenly, a red flame flickered in front of Jin-Hyeok. The temperature rose, and a slender woman with red hair appeared on the scene.

“Chul-Soo, I’m here,” Fyurel said.

“Sit down. As I told you before, this is Kang Eun-Woo.”

At first, Fyurel glanced at Eun-Woo with apparent disinterest, but she then flinched.

‘Huh?’ Fyurel blinked. ‘There is another man as handsome as Chul-Soo. Earth has two of them? What kind of Server is it?’

Fyurel smiled. “You’re also my type.”

“Is that so?” Eun-Woo slowly stood up and pulled out a chair. “Please take a seat, my lady.”

Having extensively studied the etiquette and manners of Arvis, Eun-Woo was well-prepared. However, due to his nervousness, he was tense.

-Look at how awkward he is. So cute!

-I can die happy now. T_T! He’s so adorable.

Even at this moment, Eun-Woo’s mind was a whirlwind. ‘How can I seduce Fyurel?’

Fyurel was one of the leaders of the Seven Great Families. Seduction required a meticulously planned strategy. He had met with Succubi before coming here and devised numerous strategies in his head, but everything had become a blur due to his nerves.

“What’s your name?” Fyurel asked.

“I’m Kang Eun-Woo, Lady Fyurel.”

Fyurel placed a finger under Eun-Woo’s chin and lifted it a little. She looked at Eun-Woo’s face, marveling at it.

“This is rather impolite. I’m not an object to be appraised, Lady Fyurel.”

“You look too tempting not to appraise.” Fyurel traced her long finger near Eun-Woo’s lips. “Such luscious lips.”

“Your lips are equally luscious, Lady Fyurel,” Eun-Woo stiffly replied. His mind had gone blank. ‘This shouldn’t be happening.’

Theory and practice were worlds apart. Such a flimsy attempt at seduction was unheard of. He felt that both the seduction technique and the universe-level Scenario could collapse.

“Shall we kiss then?” Fyurel asked.

“That would mean we’re dating.” Eun-Woo immediately regretted his words, thinking they were too cheesy.

But Fyurel’s face came closer to his, and her red lips became visible.

-LOL! What is this? Shouldn’t this be rated 15+?

-A kissing scene in Chul-Soo’s content! How unexpected, LOL!

-Their chemistry is too good!

-Imagine telling the story of kissing a universe-level ranker at your first meeting, LOL!

After a brief moment, Eun-Woo gently pushed Fyurel away. “Have I succeeded in seducing you, Lady Fyurel?”

***

Jin-Hyeok was somewhat bewildered. ‘The seduction technique worked?’

Eun-Woo had yet to display any remarkable skills. According to the viewers, he had only fumbled around, yet he had managed to seduce Fyurel. The two even started dating, which left the viewers confused.

-Is this for real? Or just a show?

-Come on, it has to be scripted.

-It has to be. It must be a show. We must protect our Eun-Woo!

Many fans of Silver Rain wept. Quite a few members of Silver Rain were from Arvis. They protested in front of the Heina family mansion with signs saying ‘Give us back our Eun-Woo’ and ‘Our Eun-Woo is not a substitute for Chul-Soo.’

Regardless, the relationship between Fyurel and Eun-Woo had begun. They enjoyed a cozy walk in the gardens of the Heina family mansion.

“Lady Fyurel, how about a gift for our three-day anniversary?” Eun-Woo asked.

“Why? Are you going to give me a wedding ring?”

“Marriage is not that simple, Lady Fyurel.”

“Then what?”

“Can you tell me about the Frozen Flame?”

Fyurel smirked. “You’re dating me just to help Chul-Soo, aren’t you?”

“Is that a problem?”

“No, not at all.” Fyurel shrugged. It did not matter to her. Eun-Woo’s beauty overshadowed everything else. “Three days is a bit soon, but I will tell you on the twenty-second day, as a gift for our two-two-day anniversary.[2]”

“Two-two day?” Eun-Woo was puzzled. He had not heard this term in so long that he was not sure what it referred to. “Are you talking about the two-two-day anniversary on the Earth Server?”

“Yes, on the twenty-second day. You didn’t know?” Fyurel had been studying the Earth Server lately. She was undoubtedly infatuated with Eun-Woo, and even though they had been dating for only three days, she had developed a genuine affection for him. “It’s okay if you didn’t know. That’s cute too.”

On the twenty-second day, Fyurel declared to her family, “I will open the deep secrets of our family and show the Frozen Flame to my lover.”

The family elders strongly opposed it.

“You cannot do that, Head Master!”

“The Frozen Flame is a treasure symbolizing the Crimson Heina!”

“Didn’t you see what happened to the Pisat Family when their treasure was shattered?”

The destruction of Pisat Relics was well-known in Arvis.

“Eun-Woo is an associate of Chul-Soo!”

“He will surely meddle with the Frozen Flame too!”

Fyurel was unconcerned. “So what? I don’t care.”

“...”

“If you’re so bothered, why don’t you become the family head?”

“Head Master!”

“Or try to stop me. Of course, I will kill you all then.”

“...”

As per her promise, Fyurel decided to directly show Eun-Woo the Frozen Flame.

“Lady Fyurel, may I take Mr. Chul-Soo along with me?”

Fyurel brightly smiled. “Of course, darling.”

1. We Got Married was a Korean reality TV show where celebrities would pretend to get married and complete various challenges together. ☜

2. Two-two Day is a Korean-exclusive anniversary, celebrated 22 days after the first day of dating. It’s a very light-weighted anniversary compared to others, mostly celebrated by teenagers. ☜