I Gave Up Being Stronger

Engulfed in the golden light, Ha-Young looked around. She felt a little unfamiliar.

‘This is similar to a microcosm.’

This place was just like the inner universe one could access through meditation. However, she also felt a strange sensation she had never encountered in the real world.

‘There is a video playing here?’

It was like she was alone in a dark movie theater. The hologram before her showed Cha Jin-Hyeok struggling. She also saw somewhat clumsy subtitles, which seemed to have been made in a hurry.

[‘It’s not that I’m being outclassed by his skills; it’s his items. How deplorable!’]

‘Are these Chul-Soo’s thoughts? Who would insert such corny inner monologue subtitles these days?’ Ha-Young soon understood. ‘Considering Choi Gap-Soo’s age, I can understand.’

She didn’t know why this hologram was playing before her, but after she watched it, her heart pounded.

‘I understand if a Player loses because of their skills, but if they lose because of item difference, it’s infuriating.’

Soon, a bright light burst out. The dark microcosm disappeared, and a universe filled with golden radiance revealed itself.

‘Even though I’m inside a vault, it feels like I’m in an open field.’ She felt like she were facing a horizon that human eyes could not dare to see the end of. It was like she had entered a world with no visible end. ‘So this is the vault of a Trinity Club member!’

However, the moment she touched a turquoise gem the size of a child’s fist, a strong spark flew out and rejected her. “Ow! So, I guess I can’t steal just anything.”

She utilized her innate sense as a Thief to ponder what she should steal here to make it the most righteous and cost-effective theft. Among the countless treasures, two items stood out the most.

‘A greatsword and dual swords?’

One was a huge greatsword with a bluish blade. She could see incomprehensible letters engraved on one side of the blade, and the blade was trembling and buzzing as if it were asking to be taken.

‘For now, I will just pick… no, steal this one.’ Unlike the gem she had tried to steal earlier, she could grab the greatsword without getting hurt. She didn’t even have to open her inventory; the sword disappeared into the inventory on its own. ‘It doesn’t feel like I’m stealing it; it’s like the greatsword was waiting to be grabbed. There is no point in me being a Thief at this point.’

The other item was a set of two white swords. They looked like they had been made by grinding white marble. They seemed closer to ceremonial swords rather than practical ones. These dual swords were also automatically sucked into her inventory as soon as she touched them.

‘These too? If it was going to be like this, why didn’t they just give them to me as gifts instead of telling me to steal them? They even personally opened the door to the vault! Huh?’

She then saw a note on the floor.

[Owner of the dual swords: Kim Ysael]

[Owner of the greatsword: Shelby]

Ha-young awkwardly smiled for a while. “Is it… telling me to deliver them?’

‘How dare they make the world’s greatest Thief just a delivery girl?’ Ha-Young’s eyes began to burn. ‘If you want to give these to them, just donate them directly! Why make me suffer like this?’

This was an act that tarnished her honor.

‘Even Thieves have honor! Now that it’s come to this, I have to protect my honor.’

She made up her mind to steal at least one thing no matter what.

***

Min-Ji worried so much that her mouth was dry. ‘What is she doing in there?’

It was fine until when she gave Ha-Young the two items—no, where Ha-Young stole the two items.

However, Ha-Young still seemed to be thirsty.

‘You can’t steal anything more in there with your current skills!’ Ha-Young could ‘steal’ those greatsword and dual swords only because Min-Ji had lifted the restrictions on them. ‘How long do you think you can endure being inside the vault with your human body, you foolish Thief!’

Ha-Young had to be reaching her physical and stamina limits. Seeing her act so stubbornly infuriated Min-Ji. ‘I can’t just stand idly by.’

Ha-Young’s safety here didn’t matter to Min-Ji, but if Ha-Young died here, it would be difficult for Min-Ji to help Jin-Hyeok. So, the Mad God transformed into Gap-Soo and revealed herself in front of Ha-Young.

“What do you want to steal the most?” Min-Ji asked.

“Uh… is it okay for me to steal in front of the owner?”

“If you can steal it.”

“Then that one.” She pointed to the turquoise gem that had shattered her pride at the very beginning.

“How about stealing something other than that?”

“No, I want that one.”

“Really? Nothing else? That one is a bit…”

“Then please move aside. I will steal it myself.”

Min-Ji thought about it for a while. ‘Is it okay for that gem to be out there in the real world?’

She was a little worried, but did not have much time. Even at this moment of contemplation, Unknown could be killing Chul-Soo.

Gap-Soo (Min-Ji) strode over to the turquoise gem, picked it up, and handed it to Ha-Young.

‘I just want to protect Chul-Soo!’ Min-Ji thought. For her, Chul-Soo’s well-being was more important than the universe’s well-being.

“Oh my! A Thief with outstanding skills just robbed me!” Gap-Soo (Min-Ji) burst out in anger. “How dare you rob the vault of a Trinity Club member! You must be out of your mind!”

“What?”

“I will expel you immediately!” As if it had been prepared beforehand, a warp portal was engraved on the floor. “Get lost!”

Ha-Young was transported to the Arvis Server, near the venue of the Sword Emperor Tournament.

***

Jin-Hyeok’s stamina gradually began to deplete. People also started to realize that this Sword Emperor Tournament was stranger than usual. As much as Jin-Hyeok was getting tired, Unknown also sensed that he did not have much time left.

‘In the end, the Pisat Family’s Swordsmen will have no choice but to intervene. Surely, they will come in and handle the situation. Or the referee would declare the end of the tournament.’ Unknown’s plan was taking more time than expected. ‘I didn’t know his defensive abilities were this strong.’

To avenge his cherished ones, he had to take Jin-Hyeok’s life by any means necessary.

‘I guess I have no choice but to use that method.’ Swedeen’s Prince Deliark had taught him that Artedal had a mysterious power hidden within it. ‘Time Reversal is an ability known to the public.’

However, the sword had one more hidden power. It was called Berserker, which allowed the sword’s wielder to exert superhuman power using their life as a source.

“If you use that, you will undoubtedly become crippled or lose your life. However, you will surely succeed in your revenge.”

‘The prince seems to have foreseen this entire situation.’

“Chul-Soo’s defense will be more formidable than expected, and perhaps you won’t get the chance to avenge your loved ones. So, when the final moment comes, use Berserker without hesitation. If your revenge is sincere, that is.”

Somehow, he felt like he was playing right into the prince’s hands, but that was not important. Unknown raised Artedal and inwardly chanted, ‘Activate Berserker.’

It felt like resonating with the sword while breathing together. The ink-colored blade trembled and buzzed as if it were delighted at the thought of devouring its owner’s life. As the black color deepened and Artedal transformed into a pure black sword, the sword’s surroundings began to distort.

Jin-Hyeok watched Unknown’s transformation with tension.

‘Everything around Artedal is getting distorted.’ Jin-Hyeok felt as if Artedal and Unknown were dominating the space and even the time around them. ‘It’s like I’m being subjected to Time-Lapse Recording.’

Jin-Hyeok’s body became as heavy as water-soaked cotton. Even his thoughts seemed to slow down.

Accordingly, Unknown felt much faster.

“Die, Kim Chul-Soo,” Unknown said. His eyes were dyed jet black. Saliva was dripping from the corners of his mouth as if the sword had devoured all his rationality.

‘He’s fast.’ Jin-Hyeok sensed that death was right in front of him. ‘I need to turn on my livestream.’

This thirst and tension could not be quenched with recorded videos. Unfortunately, he did not have the leisure to turn on the audio. He attempted to block the opponent’s attack using Absolute Barrier, but it was uncertain whether he would succeed. Now, he had only one card left to play—the Skill Omnipotent Producer.

‘Maybe I should’ve used it earlier.’

Omnipotent Producer was a Skill akin to an ultimate attack, and it required time and concentration to activate. Jin-Hyeok couldn’t satisfy those conditions. He squeezed out his last bit of mental strength and uttered a single line. “The messenger of death is approaching.”

***

Flash!

A white flash burst out. All the spectators in the arena, except for Marshmallow, squeezed their eyes shut.

Clang!

The clamorous clash of metal against metal rang out. Blood dripped from some spectators’ ears.

Woong! Woong!

Everyone heard the resonating of swords colliding and the vibration of the air.

“Mr. Chul-Soo, are you alright?” Ysael said.

Two blades blocked Artedal. The blades were pure white, contrasting with the pitch-black Ink Sword Artedal. That wasn’t the end.

“Die!”

Shelby showed up the next instant. She was much faster and more concise than she had been in her match with Jin-Hyeok. It was like she had become a giant arrow—as if a giant had pulled back a bowstring and shot her out. She became one with the greatsword and charged, instantly piercing Unknown’s heart.

Unknown collapsed with a large hole in his chest. Jin-Hyeok had not expected the appearance of these helpers, but he was not flustered at all.

“The strategy to defeat Artedal lies within itself,” Jin-Hyeok said.

Breaking Artedal was the only way to counter it.

***

Marshmallow was moved.

“The messenger of death is approaching.”

When he first heard those words, he had felt like it was a will. His marshmallow-shaped head melted down like melted cheese. If he weren’t livestreaming, he would’ve almost shouted, ‘No!’

However, he realized that it was a misunderstanding; Chul-Soo was referring to Kim Ysael, who had blocked the black Ink Sword with pure white dual swords, and Shelby, who pierced Unknown’s heart with a blue greatsword.

‘Those two… those two were the messengers of death!’ Marshmallow thought. His heart started to pound. ‘This is the plot twist!’

The viewers were also going wild.

-I thought it was a will!

-I didn’t expect the messengers of death to be those two.

-I thought even his will was so solemn and cool.

-But this is even cooler. T_T

-Where does reality end and the production begin?

-The plot twist was insane!

“The boundary between reality and fiction. Truth and production. Streamer Kim Chul-Soo perfectly recreated it! This can be said to be the part that shows why he participated in the Sword Emperor Tournament. Although Swordsman Chul-Soo may be defeated, Streamer Chul-Soo cannot be. This is the direction Chul-Soo will take, and the ideal he dreams of!” Marshmallow excitedly continued the livestream.

Moreover, Jin-Hyeok seemed to have found a way to counter Unknown.

“The strategy to defeat Artedal lies within itself.”

Jin-Hyeok approached the vulnerable Unknown and swung Miri.

Clang!

Back to being hammer-shaped, Miri had the optimal physical structure for breaking things.

Clang! Clang!

Like a blacksmith forging steel, Jin-Hyeok struck Artedal. Unknown, who had regained his stamina through Time Reversal, tried to resist, but due to the combined attacks of Shelby and Ysael, he couldn’t do anything to stop Jin-Hyeok from hammering Artedal. Moreover, Ysael and Shelby also struck fatal blows to Artedal.

As he was holding Artedal, Unknown could feel it. ‘Artedal is… starting to break!’

Deliark, who was watching the fight from a VIP seat, jumped up. He could also feel that fine cracks were forming on Artedal’s blade. So, he hurriedly said to his aide, “What are you doing? End the fight!”

Things had unfolded in a way completely different from his expectations.