I Gave Up Being Stronger

Chapter 71

‘Why has the capacity for the viewers increased so much?’

Originally, the capacity increased by three hundred per Level. Currently, Cha Jin-Hyeok was Level 56. The number of viewers allowed in his livestream was limited to around 16,000.

‘Why did it suddenly triple?’

The capacity for viewers had increased significantly to 50,000. He had a hunch that this phenomenon was due to All-Rounder.

‘I guess this Trait has a characteristic that greatly affects both my body and abilities.’

It undoubtedly had a significant impact on his Job as well.

‘I should hide this.’

Regardless of his determination to Play with ambition, this rapid increase was too irrational. Although there might not be any Players who targeted him yet, it was still wise to be cautious.

‘I’ll keep the All-Rounder Trait as the Almighty Jack of All Trades, just like before. But how can I adjust the viewer capacity?’

Jin-Hyeok could change the name and the description of Traits with Multiple Lives, but he could not alter the viewer capacity. However, there seemed to be a way to limit the number of viewers, which he found after exploring the interface.

‘Let’s see… Right now, Egan Paul has around 50,000 viewers.’

So, Jin-Hyeok decided to set the capacity limit back to the original number for now and gradually increase the number of viewers allowed.

‘Now that I looked at Egan’s numbers, he’s pretty insane.’

Egan’s livestream had already surpassed 50,000 viewers. When Jin-Hyeok checked the Ranking Board, Egan had a higher Level than him. Egan had already reached Level 60.

‘Still… I feel good about this.’

Comparing Jin-Hyeok’s abilities to Egan’s, he realized that they were quite similar. Having a similar viewer capacity meant they were on a similar level as Streamers.

‘See? I told you, Jin-Sol.’

In the past, Cha Jin-Sol had praised Egan, saying that his number of viewers was overwhelmingly high and that he was an amazing Streamer.

‘This is how good your brother is.’

Jin-Hyeok was not planning to reveal his true power on the Ranking Board anyway. Officially, Egan would remain at the top, but this was a matter of personal satisfaction.

‘I might even be able to catch up to him.’

As the saying went, ambition grew as one got closer. When something seemed too far away, he did not feel greedy, but as it came within reach, he started to yearn for it.

‘I want to be number one.’

An uncontrollable desire welled up within Jin-Hyeok.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

Joseph came to see Jin-Hyeok. Then, suddenly, he knelt down in front of Jin-Hyeok.

“I have temporarily parted ways with Egan Paul,” Joseph said.

Jin-Hyeok didn’t know what Joseph was talking about. Even right before Jin-Hyeok's regression, Joseph was a Star Maker and the closest aide to Egan.

“I simply cannot forget you. You are destined to be a star.”

“...”

“I will make you a star, the most famous person on the Earth, no, on all Servers. With my help, even the impossible can become possible.”

It was a tempting offer, but Jin-Hyeok declined.

“I am planning on retiring at Level 150. So, I hope you don’t bother me anymore.”

Egan, who was known to value his colleagues, would be furious if his colleague joined Jin-Hyeok’s side, especially if it was Joseph, Egan would surely put a target on Jin-Hyeok’s back.

‘Wow… Even just thinking about it makes me tired.’

Honestly, Jin-Hyeok believed he could reach unofficial rank one until Level 150, even without Joseph’s help.

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“I am going to devote my life to you, Mr. Kim.”

“Don’t do that. Just go away.”

“You know what they say, the tall poppies are the ones that get cut down. A shining star like you will undoubtedly attract dark forces like a magnet. I want that brilliant light to shine even brighter, like the radiant glow of the sun. I will protect that light. Make it shine more brilliantly, more dazzlingly!”

‘What the hell is he talking about?’

Jin-Hyeok had no idea what he said in English, but the translation was very melodramatic.

‘I should’ve known since his Player name is Love, Memories, Longing★. But… he is not completely wrong.’

Joseph spoke as if he had experienced the high-Level stages. His eyes for predicting the future seemed quite outstanding. No wonder he became such a famous Star Maker in the future.

“Mediocre light is bound to be devoured by darkness. But the sun is different. If the darkness tries to devour the sun, it will just shine brighter to get rid of the darkness.”

“Are you saying I’m just a mediocre light?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

“Yes, I am saying that.”

Jin-Hyeok became somewhat interested in what Joseph was saying.

“Just think about it. Everyone covets gems that emit a mediocre but beautiful light. However, the sun is different. No one covets or dares to touch the sun.”

“...”

“I will make you into the sun, Mr. Kim.”

Jin-Hyeok knew he should not entertain such thoughts, but he could not help feeling drawn into it. When he thought back to the time before his regression, he supposed he was just a mediocre light. He was considered strong enough on the Earth Server, but not across all the Servers. If there had been a Server-level ranking, he would probably have been barely in the top 100.

Jin-Hyeok could not help but think about what if he became powerful enough to overpower everyone and how that would make things easier for him.

‘Ah… I should get a hold of myself.’

Jin-Hyeok seemed to have a tendency to only hear what he wanted to hear. In this world, no one could be an all-powerful being. Despite experiencing that fact rather painfully, Jin-Hyeok found himself swayed by such sweet talk. It seemed he still had a lot to learn on how to control himself.

“There are no all-powerful beings in this world. I am going to retire at Level 150, and you should just go back to Egan.”

Joseph remained on his knees and did not stand up.

“I know better than anyone that you are not even considering retiring.”

“What the hell are you talking about? I said I would retire.”

“It is absolutely impossible.”

Jin-Hyeok could not make sense of what Joseph was saying. Jin-Hyeok wondered if his lack of social skills prevented him from understanding Joseph, so he activated his Broadcaster’s Clairvoyance.

[#You’re lying. #Nothing can deceive me. #My intuition can touch the sky☆]

It did not seem like Joseph had any tricks or ulterior motives. He genuinely believed what he was saying. Seeing how he confidently trusted his intuition just reminded Jin-Hyeok that Joseph was just a big fish in a small pond.

“I will take that to mean I am not right for you… yet,” Joseph said.

“That is not what I meant.”

“I will come back to you when you reach Level 150, but until then, I am going to get some hands-on experience with Egan’s Avenger’s Army to help myself grow. When the time comes, please accept my proposal.”

[#You are not going to retire. #No, you can’t.]

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

Someone visited Choi Gap-Soo’’s Alchemist's workshop. It was Michelle Jang, a slender woman in her mid-thirties and a successful and prominent overseas Korean entrepreneur.

“Look at this old man’s face. I heard that you’re using the name Choi Gap-Soo here, am I right?” Michelle said.

“I never invited you here.”

“I thought we were close! Do I need to be invited to come here and chat? I’m saddened by the imaginary wall that you’re putting in between us.”

In the Earth Server, her name was Michelle Jang, but her real name was MoneyShot. She was the rising tycoon and a famous user of the SSP, challenging the throne currently held by MoneyShower.

She crossed her legs as she sat down.

“I guess you don’t know what’s going on,” Michelle said.

“Don’t know what?”

“Why Kim Chul-Soo is not livestreaming these days.”

“I know it!”

Michelle’s eyes narrowed.

“See? You don’t know anything,” she said.

“I told you, I know!”

“If you knew, you would have boasted about it already. You would say something like, Kim Chul-Soo is taking a break from livestream because of this and that, blah blah.”

“...”

Recently, the two of them had been interested in Kim Chul-Soo. Chul-Soo’s presence overshadowed both of them.

“You wasted so much money, but you don’t even get the VIP treatment. You’re just like me. An average viewer,” Michelle said.

“Shut up. If I wanted to know what was going on, I could’ve found out easily, but I just didn’t bother. That’s all.”

“I mean, Chul-Soo could’ve given you a quick text or something, but I guess he didn’t even do that.”

Michelle chuckled softly. Gap-Soo’s face turned red with anger. But at that moment, his Succubus secretary, Lilia, knocked on the door.

“Director, Kim Chul-Soo is here to see you.”

“Tell him to come in.”

Gap-Soo’s shoulders broadened, and he raised his chin while crossing his legs. Gap-Soo looked at Michelle and whispered softly, “Do you see who I am?”

Gap-Soo then shifted his attention to Chul-Soo and spoke to him, “Come in, and let’s hear what you have to say, Streamer Kim Chul-Soo.”

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

As soon as Jin-Hyeok saw her, he knew.

‘Michelle Jang?’

They did not have a deep connection, but she was a prominent entrepreneur who had made a big impact in the United States. Seeing that she had the same face as the one Jin-Hyeok remembered, it seemed that this woman was also related to Gap-Soo, the old man.

Jin-Hyeok had a gut feeling.

‘Is she also part of that Trinity Club or something?’

But today, the old man was acting unusually friendly toward him.

“So, I heard that you have enhanced the Berklev Necklace, correct?” Gap-Soo asked.

“Yes. Thanks to your help, it has been completed.”

“When are you going to use it?”

“I am planning to do it soon. I’ve been studying how to use it and conducting various tests, so I couldn’t start my livestream.”

“If you’re planning on doing that, at least post a notice on your channel. Don’t you know how much the viewers were waiting?”

“....I see.”

Jin-Hyeok realized that he had not paid attention to that detail. It was a basic thing for a Streamer. It was his mistake not to have done that.

“I am sorry. I got too carried away in understanding the new item’s abilities… I’ll make sure to post timely notices from now on.”

“Hahaha!”

Gap-Soo looked at Jin-Hyeok with an understanding gaze and laughed. Jin-Hyeok had no idea why the old man was being so nice to him.

“Ah, what am I doing… This friend is Michelle Jang, who runs a business in the United States. She is a distant relative of mine,” Gap-Soo said.

Michelle extended her hand toward Jin-Hyeok.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Michelle Jang.”

“My name is Kim Chul-Soo. Nice to meet you too.”

“There seems to be something you want to ask, so just tell us straightforwardly. Why beat around the bush? Tell us.”

“Huh?”

Jin-Hyeok had heard that she had the ability to see through people’s minds, and it seemed like her ability was genuine.

“Uh, well…”

“If you came here to ask me for a favor, you should look at me and talk, not look elsewhere. Speak up. What brings you here?” Gap-Soo asked.

Jin-Hyeok wasn’t quite sure, but there seemed to be a strange tension between them. They seemed close, but at the same time, not that close. It felt like they both wanted Jin-Hyeok to ask them for the favor.

“There's a Dungeon that requires an entrance fee.”

“Entrance fee?”

“Yes. It’s for the Gangnam Shinsegae Department Store Dungeon. I heard that there are monsters over Level 50 roaming around there. If the regular monsters are at that Level, there might be even stronger boss monsters…”

While the old man was stroking his chin, Michelle spoke up, “I’ll help.”

“Excuse me?”

A faint smile of a winner appeared on Michelle’s face as she said that. Jin-Hyeok had not even explained the entrance fee yet, but she still offered to help.

“I don’t nitpick about what and how things should be done like some people. If there is a target I want to invest in, I support and invest in it wholeheartedly. So, about the Gangnam Shinsegae Department Store Dungeon… How much is the entrance fee there?”

“It is one million Dias per person,” Lilia, who was standing beside her, answered.

“Good.”

Jin-Hyeok did not come here to receive one million Dias per person as an investment.

“But the thing is, along with the entrance fee, this Dungeon also has a resurrection setting,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“Is that so?”

“Having both the entrance fee and a resurrection setting means that the Dungeon is challenging and dangerous, don’t you think?"

“I suppose so.”

“It seems like it will take several attempts to clear it.”

Jin-Hyeok and his team would have to try many times. He believed he would need to attempt it more than ten times. He wanted to make this into his livestream content, but for some reason, Michelle was overly friendly to him.

“Of course. You can try as many times as you want, even a hundred times. I will give you an upfront payment for ten attempts. In return, give me a VIP invitation,” Michelle said.

“Wait!” Gap-Soo said while making a displeased expression. “I will double it.”

“Are you going to be this bad-mannered by interrupting?”

“Chul-Soo came here to ask me for help, so technically, you are the one interrupting and not me, Michelle.”

These two people’s gazes clashed in the air. The Alchemist’s Workshop vibrated. It felt like a small earthquake had occurred. Jin-Hyeok could not exactly understand why they were acting this way, but soon enough, he was the one receiving their uncomfortable gazes.

“Alright, Chul-Soo. What do you think? What do you believe is right?”

“Yes, I want to know from you, Chul-Soo. Surely, you were here to get help from me, so it’s only natural that you receive my support, right? Did I mention that I am going to double the amount?”

Jin-Hyeok could feel a considerable sense of pressure. If he did not have Imperial Resilience, he might have been overwhelmed by that force.

“But…”

After gaining the All-Rounder Trait, Jin-Hyeok began to see things differently. In the past, he would have simply said that he would take it from whoever paid the most. However, now he saw other things beyond that.

‘What is this?’

An invisible multitude of calculations flashed through his mind.

[You have activated the Latent Skill 「Wide Vision」.]

The Skill, Wide Vision, which ruler-class Players acquired at Level 40, was activated once again. Additionally, a series of notifications followed.

[You have activated the Latent Skill 「Wider Vision」.]

This, too, was a Skill of ruler-class Players. It was a Level 50 Skill that enhanced the previous Skill received from Level 40. Soon after, another notification followed.

[You have activated the Latent Skill 「Diplomacy」.]

A world Jin-Hyeok had never experienced before began to unfold before him.