I Gave Up Being Stronger

Chapter 195

Encyclopedia, a celebrity on the Korean Region Minor Gallery, was exhilarated these days.

‘Again! He did it again!’

Because of Kim Chul-Soo, Encyclopedia had become a super-celebrity among the Named users. He boasted the highest viewership among the users who specialized in analysis, and he had gained a multitude of followers on his personal social media account.

Encyclopedia’s analysis post on how Chul-Soo had defeated Makendra and instantly killed her, detailing the thorough setup process, had garnered over three hundred million views. Hence, Encyclopedia was desperate to analyze Chul-Soo.

‘Chul-Soo has done it again!’

Chul-Soo’s success was also a victory for Encyclopedia.

[Chul-Soo has reached Level 200.]

[The System is in chaos. Chul-Soo has received the Major Achievement called Faster Than Anyone. He just registered it in the Hall of Fame.]

┗Are you serious? Is that a new universal record?

┗Obviously.

Faster Than Anyone was a record given to Players who had leveled up the fastest for a specific range of Levels. This record was mostly held by Players from the Arvis Server, and the current records were so extraordinary that surpassing them seemed almost impossible.

[Who originally held the universal record?]

[We need you, Encyclopedia! Tell us!]

[All hail Encyclopedia!]

[Encyclopedia will tell us. Just wait.]

Everybody wanted the online community celebrity, and Encyclopedia moved his fingers with great satisfaction.

‘Let’s wait just five more minutes.’

He was extremely proud to see the other users in such eager anticipation. Although he had intended to wait at least five minutes before responding, he could not suppress the impulse.

Fifteen seconds later, he was rapidly typing.

[Kim Chul-Soo has set a new record for leveling up in the 180-200 Level range. His record, completing the level-ups in less than forty-eight hours, surpasses the previous one for this range, held by the Arvis Server’s Named Player ‘Markwon’, who took about fifty-five hours. The location was the same: the Buffalo Temple.]

┗As expected of Encyclopedia. Thumbs-up!

┗Who is this guy? How does he know everything?

┗Wow! So. Chul-Soo broke Markwon’s record?

┗Who is Markwon?

┗You don’t know Markwon? He’s a super super super Named Tank from the Arvis Server. Actually, it is not clear if he is a Tank or not, but he claims to be one.

After watching Chul-Soo’s videos from multiple angles, Encyclopedia quickly published an analytical post.

[Three factors played a role in this new universal record.

<1> The presence of Zoro, a dual sword-wielding Damage Dealer and Tank.

<2> The unique characteristics of the Streamer Job.

<3> The party including only two members.

I will write and share the detailed analysis later. It will take about two hours.]

For the next two hours, users eagerly sought Encyclopedia, and after completing his analysis, Encyclopedia finally posted his article. The post instantly received thousands of likes and became one of the top trending posts.

[Streamers receive a leveling speed adjustment based on the number of their viewers and the viewers’ reactions. There is a reason Streamers level-up the fastest. Chul-Soo currently has over four hundred million subscribers, and his livestreams reach an impressive eighty million concurrent viewers. (Typically, only five to ten percent of a Streamer’s subscribers participate in livestreams. However, Chul-Soo’s livestream attracts around twenty percent of his subscribers, which is almost double than that of a regular Streamer.)

This indicates a remarkably high viewer-to-subscriber ratio, suggesting that he has a large number of loyal subscribers.

The question is whether a Streamer can survive in the Buffalo Temple. Many Streamers have attempted to level up in this Dungeon.

Attached links:

eltube.abs/watch_...

eltube.abs/watch_...

As you can see in the links, most of them died in the Dungeon.

So, to survive in this Dungeon, a Streamer would need 1) the ability to focus on their livestream, 2) defensive stats as solid as that of an average Tank, 3) the ability to handle a few buffaloes on their own, and 4) the skill to stealthily take down the buffaloes without drawing aggro...

.

.

.

...Therefore, it is implicitly considered impossible, and most advanced Servers tacitly stipulate a party having five members as an implicit rule. I did not attach separate videos, so I encourage you guys to look them up.

In Chul-Soo’s case, the elements <1>, the presence of Zoro, and <3>, the party including only two members, come into play.

(Skipped)

A Damage Dealer or Tank can be good at both roles, but it also means neither role is exceptionally outstanding. This translates into a significant burden for the relatively lower-Level Player Chul-Soo.

Chul-Soo will be recorded as a unique case who completely took on this burden as a Streamer...

(Skipped)

Therefore, there is no room for debate about Chul-Soo’s record being a new universal record. I predict that Kim Chul-Soo’s record will not be broken for at least several decades.

With the hopes that Chul-Soo’s record remains unbroken, this dedicated post is written by Kim Chul-Soo expert, Encyclopedia.]

┗Can someone summarize this?

┗Summary: Chul-Soo is amazing.

┗Thanks for the summary.

Encyclopedia bit his fist and let out a happy scream. “Normally, for a post this long, I would be getting hate comments telling me to get lost...!”

This was a risk he had to take. Such lengthy posts were not in line with the recent trends of the online community. Being concise was the norm; otherwise, one would be mocked as a boomer. However, today was different for him.

┗This analysis is incredible!

┗Shouldn’t we be paying to read this kind of analysis? Seriously mind-blowing.

“There aren’t any hate comments!”

Instead, users were clamoring for even more analysis. For Encyclopedia, who had been in the business of commentary and analysis for two hundred years, this was almost a first.

“Glory to Chul-Soo!” A green light flickered in Encyclopedia’s eyes. It was true madness.

‘A new universal record after a long time... What Major Achievement effect will he receive?’

Chul-Soo had not yet disclosed it, but Encyclopedia’s mind was already brimming with tens of thousands of possibilities.

‘The most likely effect would be that, but...’

There was one remaining issue.

‘Isn’t it about time for Zoro to show his true intentions?’

Zoro had not hesitated to go through hell to become stronger. Encyclopedia seemed to know why Zoro was helping Chul-Soo, and his fingers started to dance as if he were possessed.

[According to my prediction, an attack on Chul-Soo by Zoro is imminent. This is because of Zoro’s...]

[Written by: Encyclopedia.]

***

“You have been looking unwell lately,” Choi Gap-Soo said.

“No, I’m fine.”

“Do you need some time off?”

“...”

As Lilia remained silent, Gap-Soo heartily laughed. “Normally, you would say ‘No, thank you for worrying about me.’ Okay, I will give you a vacation. Would a week be enough?”

“...Thank you.”

“No wait. Take two weeks. Have a good trip!”

Lilia received her vacation and headed to the Cherbyl Server.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve been here.’

For Succubi, the concept of a main Server was not really significant. They often wandered across numerous Servers, but for some reason, many Succubi had settled in the Cherbyl Server. It was also the hometown of Lilia and Lucia.

Lilia visited an orphanage.

“Who are you?” The orphanage director was a Succubus with orange hair and round glasses. She was cautious of Lilia.

“I am Lucia’s younger sister.”

The director’s face lit up. “Ah, you’re Lucia’s sister!”

Lucia was one of the major sponsors of this orphanage.

The director led Lilia in, and they had tea together.

“Yes, well, as you know, the situation isn’t so good. Child abductions are still common, and the social perception of Succubi is not very good,” the director said.

Succubi were known for their seduction skills. Their allure did not discriminate, and some Succubi even destroyed happy families. However, this was the deviation of a few extreme or foolish Succubi. Nevertheless, the majority of people despised the entire Succubus race.

[An unclean and filthy race.]

[A dirty clan that ruins peaceful families.]

Such were the perceptions regarding Succubi. Throughout their long history, Succubi had faced oppression. They were also used as toys by the powerful. Even though the practice of using Succubi as toys had disappeared from most Servers since the Arvis Server, a Server advocating for justice, gained dominance as a superpower, Succubi’s lives were miserable until as recently as two hundred years ago.

“Thanks to Lucia’s support, over thirty children are growing up here.”

Even two hundred years after the abolishment of the practice of using Succubi as toys, many Succubi still led miserable lives. That was why well-established Succubi often sponsored other Succubi. The only ones who helped the Succubi were the Succubi themselves. The reason they owned bars and inns on various Servers was mostly due to this.

“I intend to continue that support,” Lilia said.

“Does that mean...”

Rather than being happy, the director cautiously observed Lilia. There was only one reason why the donations had stopped coming.

“Yes. She was murdered a few days ago,” Lilia said.

“... I see.”

It was an all-too-familiar reality for the Succubi. The director expressed deep condolences for Lucia’s death and had a lengthy conversation with Lillia. She then introduced Lilia to the children in the orphanage.

“Kids, this is Aunt Lilia.”

“She looks like Aunt Lucia!”

“She is as pretty as Aunt Lucia!”

The children were quite innocent. They warmly welcomed Lilia, knowing she was Lucia’s sister. Some of them could not control their instincts and tried to enchant Lilia, but it was a harmless and cute action. Lilia called each child by their name, making eye contact with them and exchanging greetings.

‘These children are the sprouts that my sister left behind, aren’t they?’

Lucia often used to say that she hoped the children would be happy and that they would not have to grow up in an environment like hers. To achieve that, she worked to earn money, believing that it brought happiness.

‘I will take care of what you’ve left behind, Lucia...’

After finalizing the sponsorship agreement, Lilia took a photo with the children. To the right of a group photo of Lucia and the children hung a new one of Lilia and the children. The children in the photo on the right were older than those on the left.

‘They are growing up healthy and well.’

During her vacation, Lilia devoted herself to caring for the children. She also had a brief relationship with the orphanage director. The difference between their ages was about seventy years, but that did not matter much.

On the last day of their relationship, the director said to Lilia, “It seems you have someone else in your mind.”

“Was it that obvious?”

“Very. A Succubus in love... Does the other person know that you love them?”

“I think he might, or he might not. Or maybe he just doesn’t care.”

“Lilia, you are truly charming. It seems that the other person doesn’t realize your charm.”

“I wish he did.”

“If things don’t work out, come to me. I really like you, Lilia.”

“I will think about it.”

They shared a light kiss before saying their goodbyes.

“I am going to return to my place in life now,” Lilia said.

“Alright. I will be cheering for you from here, Lilia.”

Lillia returned to Cheongdam-dong.