I Gave Up Being Stronger

Chapter 133

For Jin-Hyeok, he could not comprehend how this could happen. While it made a certain amount of sense for the abilities that were once imprinted on his soul, like the Skills of a Swordsman, were lying dormant within him, there was absolutely no reason for the Fire Control Technique, which he had never ever possessed before, to also be lying dormant within him. In fact, it was absolutely baffling, but alas, he was already in a state where he had lost his reason and failed to realize the peculiarity of the situation.

Meanwhile, Choi Gap-Soo, who was watching Chul-Soo’s livestream, clenched his jaw.

“He seems to have lost his senses, but the livestream has not stopped. Is that even possible?”

“Exactly. I don’t know how this can happen. It must mean his obsession with livestreaming is tremendous,” Michelle Jang replied.

“It seems a vast array of Skills are dormant within Chul-Soo’s mind. Fire Control Technique? Isn’t that a Skill only Players who control fire possess?”

“Well, I see it differently.”

MoneyShot had a comparatively more flexible way of thinking than MoneyShower.

“I believe that the Fire Control Technique is innate in everyone. After all, every individual possesses infinite potential,” Michelle said.

“That’s preposterous.”

“Don’t underestimate the human potential. It’s boundless. It’s just that ordinary people cannot tap into the talents innate to them.”

A gleam sparkled in Michelle’s eyes.

“In my opinion, out of all the talents Kim Chul-Soo has, his most exceptional talent is his survival instinct.”

“Survival instinct?”

“I’m talking about the ability to find a way to survive and awaken even in the most perilous situations. I believe this ability is beyond imagination, for example...”

Michelle continued to speak by mentioning the earlier situation.

“...If I know Chul-Soo, he would have at least tried using Pure Luck before consuming the Phoenix Heart. Yet he did not, or rather, he couldn’t. Why? Because the situation was too dire. The flames emitted by the Phoenix Heart were just too powerful.”

“I suppose you are right about that.”

“It was in that pressing situation that his survival instinct shone through. His heightened senses eventually awakened one of the infinite potentials within him.”

“So he was able to awaken the Fire Control Technique?”

“That’s what I believe.”

Michelle started to speak in a slightly exhilarated manner.

“It is as if he has overcome countless threats of death. In doing so, his naturally honed survival instinct always finds a way. It feels like talent augmented with experience, wouldn’t you say? If you say I’m wrong, I am not going to argue with you.”

Michelle was unaware of Jin-Hyeok’s regression but demonstrated remarkable insight. In his previous life, Jin-Hyeok had overcome numerous near-death experiences. While he believed he had merely been lucky to survive, there was more to it. Despite his penchant for risky Plays, his survival was also due to his formidable survival instinct. Anyone acting like Jin-Hyeok would typically die before becoming the Sword King.

Gap-Soo shook his head vigorously.

“I don’t see it that way.”

“How so?”

“I believe Chul-Soo is very good at hiding his capabilities. Like the secret only we know of, the All-Rounder, per se.”

Michelle subtly glanced toward Lilia.

“Don’t worry about her. She is bound by the Secret Oath of Succubus, so she can’t disclose anything she learns through me,” Gap-Soo said.

“Got it. But the All-Rounder? He told us about that already.”

“What if that’s just a cover? What if there is something even more remarkable than the All-Rounder? Wouldn’t he keep that hidden as well?”

Of course, Jin-Hyeok had nothing more to hide, but Gap-Soo was dead serious.

“While I don’t disagree, would that even be possible? Or rather, does such a thing even exist?” Michelle asked.

“In theory, yes. Or perhaps, it’s more apt to call it a legend.”

“There’s such a legend? I’ve never heard of it.”

“Well, youngsters like you wouldn’t know. Let’s just wait and see.”

In hindsight, both Gap-Soo and Michelle were correct. Jin-Hyeok’s acquisition of the Fire Control Technique was due to the All-Rounder Trait, as well as his outstanding survival instinct. Regardless, the important point to take here was that Jin-Hyeok had acquired the Fire Control Technique.

[You have activated the Skill 「Fire Control Technique」.]

With the assistance of the Skill, Jin-Hyeok began to gradually regain his consciousness.

‘I’m adapting...slowly...!’ Jin-Hyeok thought.

Eventually, he succeeded in controlling the flames that surged from within his body. He had successfully consumed the Phoenix Heart. He felt hot, as if his body was filled with fiery blood, but it was not uncomfortable.

‘My consciousness... is returning.’

He quickly checked his livestream.

‘It wasn’t cut off!’

This was truly fortunate. To not have the livestream interrupted even when he lost consciousness was a stroke of luck. A feeling of accomplishment, having overcome the crisis, surged within him.

[You have acquired complete immunity to fire up to Phoenix-Grade.]

[You have acquired complete immunity to poison up to Snake King-Grade.]

With his consciousness fully restored, Jin-Hyeok opened his eyes.

‘Wait... Should I be delighted just because the livestream was not interrupted?’

Having set high standards for himself, Jin-Hyeok was slightly disappointed in himself.

‘I should not be happy over something like this. Keeping the livestream running is just the basics, right? Being content with just accomplishing the basics? I still have a long way to go...’

After criticizing Lee Hyeon-Seong to such an extent, he felt ashamed of his own behavior. He quickly reflected on himself and began to assess himself with even stricter measures.

‘I couldn’t fill the silent gaps for the livestream. The production was not on point either. I was merely fixated on consuming the Phoenix Heart.’

Jin-Hyeok bit his lips.

‘I need to reflect on this diligently and strive to become a better Streamer.’

? ? ?

The moment Jin-Hyeok ate the Phoenix Liver, Lilia almost silently yelled, ‘No!’

‘No, that’s not what I told you!’ Lilia shouted in her mind.

She concealed her trembling hands behind her back. The keen-eyed Gap-Soo did not miss her trembling hands.

“Lilia, why are you so restless?” Gap-Soo asked.

“It’s nothing.”

“You were hired to seduce Chul-Soo, but it seems you might have been the one who got seduced.”

“...”

“God, I miss being young,” Gap-Soo said while chuckling.

“... I’m embarrassed.”

“Why?”

“Because I failed in my attempt to seduce Chul-Soo.”

Even though she tried to genuinely seduce him, she failed. None of her Succubus Skills or abilities had any effect on Jin-Hyeok. The only thing left was to approach him sincerely.

“But tell me, how did you come to be so fond of Chul-Soo?” Gap-Soo asked.

“That is...”

Lilie could not think of a proper response.

“To put it in terms of the Korean Server, is something like ‘No man has treated me like this before?’ type of thing?”

“...That’s not entirely untrue...”

‘What should I say?’

Reflecting on it, even she did not know when or why she became so sincere toward Chul-Soo.

“Old man, are you genuinely asking because you don’t know?” Michelle said with a deep sigh.

“Do you know?”

“Of course I know! And Lilia knows it too.”

Gap-Soo and Lilia turned their gazes to Michelle. With an expression suggesting, ‘Why don’t you get something so obvious,’ Michelle said, “He’s handsome.”

“...”

Gap-Soo slightly frowned.

“...”

And Lilia had a small realization.

Gap-Soo, who somehow seemed a bit upset, asked again, “That’s the only reason?”

“If someone looks like that, what other reason do you need? Don’t you agree, Lilia?”

Lilia found herself involuntarily nodding. Knowing Jin-Hyeok’s true face, it was a truth she could not help but resonate with.

Michelle licked her lips with a hint of regret.

“If I were only two hundred years younger, I would have tried to woo him no matter what. What do you think, Lilia?”

“Well...”

“Just say what comes to mind.”

“I can’t help but agree with you.”

Gap-Soo’s mood darkened even more.

“Do you know what irritates me the most?” Gap-Soo asked.

It was not because of Michelle or Lilia spewing such nonsense that he was angry.

“The most annoying thing is that I find myself somewhat agreeing!”

Gap-Soo decided to stop his donation for the day.

? ? ?

Upon entering the New World, Jin-Hyeok proceeded in a manner he had never tried before and eventually even killed Jonprich. Everything had gone smoothly. He had a premonition that he was on the brink of achieving a significant milestone.

‘But...’

Jin-Hyeok faced an unexpected obstacle.

‘...What should I do with her?’

The Spirit King of Fire’s daughter, who had been carried on the back of Choi Gang-Byeok, had come to her senses. Presumably having lost most of her Spirit powers, her appearance now closely resembled that of a human. Except for the occasional flames flickering from her, she looked just like a human.

‘If she were human... she looks like she is about five years old.’

In reality, it was hard to tell her age. Whether such a small child was three, five, or seven years old was unclear. In Jin-Hyeok’s eyes, the Spirit King of Fire’s daughter seemed almost like a baby.

“Um...”

[LV80(-69)/Elines/-/-]

Her name was Elines. Originally at Level 80, but due to exhausting all her Spirit power, her current Level had dropped to around 11.

“Can I interview you...?” Jin-Hyeok said softly.

Terrified, Elines stepped backward.

[...#Help me. #When will Daddy come? #Elines is here. #Please help.]

“I’m not trying to hurt you...”

“Kyaaah!!”

Elines ran even farther away. When her back hit a wall, she seemed to give up on everything. Covering her face with both hands, she huddled down and began to sob uncontrollably.

“Elines didn’t do anything bad!” she said.

A sorrowful cry echoed.

“You guys are bad people! My Daddy will scold all of you!”

Jin-Hyeok scratched the back of his head. With her being trapped in overwhelming fear and anxiety, it was not possible to have a regular conversation.

“I understand that after enduring hardships inside Jonprich’s belly, it’s hard for you to trust anyone, but...”

Jin-Hyeok thought it would’ve been easier just to fight monsters. This was a challenge too complex for him.

“The energy emanating from the Spirit Gate is intensifying by the moment,” Jin-Hyeok said to the viewers.

The Spirit Gate had opened. The Spirit energy that Jonprich had trapped inside his belly had carved a path, linking the Spirit Realm to this place.

“If the Spirit King of Fire, Alkinas, appears, we are in for some serious trouble.”

Even in Jin-Hyeok’s past life, no Player had ever faced Alkinas head-on.

‘If Alkinas, misunderstanding the situation, takes a single wrong breath, it could spell doom for us all.’

At that point, even the resurrection setting in this Dungeon might become meaningless. The resurrection in the New World was designed to revive those who met New World-level deaths.

The death bestowed by the Spirit King of Fire would surpass the New World-level resurrection setting. A death by the Spirit King of Fire’s hand might mean no return.

‘The Spirit King of Fire who has lost his sanity is terrifying.’

That would be a disaster. Even for Jin-Hyeok, who enjoyed fighting with powerful opponents, the Spirit King of Fire was an adversary he was not prepared for.

“We probably do not have much time.”

Jin-Hyeok had to find a solution.

‘Even if I have fire immunity up to Phoenix-Grade, I won’t be able to withstand Alkinas’ attacks.’

The Phoenix-Grade flame was one of the highest-grade flames, but it was still ranked a notch below the Spirit King of Fire’s flame. In other words, no flame other than that of the Spirit King of Fire’s flame could harm Jin-Hyeok now.

Though it was a remarkable progression, the imminent threat was the arrival of the half-deranged Spirit King of Fire. And the girl leaning against the wall, clearly traumatized and crying, was the daughter of the Spirit King of Fire

‘I’m truly at a loss.’

In this intense moment, even his famed survival instinct did not shine through. The situation was too challenging for him.

Soon, resurrected Players began to arrive one after another, which only intensified Elines’ fear.

“Stay back! Stay away from me, you wicked beings!”

Approaching her seemed impossible. Jin-Hyeok felt trapped.

‘I could really use Wang Yu-Mi’s advice right about now.’

Whenever he found himself at an impasse, it was always Yu-Mi who provided the solution. Her advice, though often beyond Jin-Hyeok’s comprehension, always turned out to be correct.

‘I really need Yu-Mi’s help now.’

Just then, a secret message from her arrived.

[You have received a secret message from 「KingGodGeneral Yumi」.]

[“You have no choice. Show her your true face. That will solve everything. I will handle the livestreaming aspect. Just ensure Elines sees your true face.”]

Once again, her advice was baffling.