I Gave Up Being Stronger

Chapter 211

‘Hwa Ta was something else...’ Jin-Hyeok shook his head in disbelief.

Hwa Ta guy was a Doctor Player who dealt with only conglomerate heads, high-ranking government officials, or top-tier Players.

‘I remember he was such a snob before my regression.’ Cha Jin-Hyeok had wanted to punch Hwa Ta in the face dozens of times.

Before Awakening as a Doctor Player, Hwa Ta had been studying for the public service exam for six years. Back then, he had borrowed three million won from his friend and then cut off all contact. After Hwa Ta became famous, that friend publicized the incident, which made Hwa Ta furious.

“Three million won? Ha! That’s how much I spend on food every day. Are you seriously groveling over such a trifle? Get lost, you wretch.”

When this incident became widely known, Hwa Ta received a lot of hate. However, he didn’t change his stance. Jin-Hyeok also remembered Hwa Ta’s livestream on Enstagram.

“Ultimately, these incompetent fools who can’t do their part are just barking up the wrong tree. Let them bark all they want. I am earning in a day what they will make in a lifetime. Losers!”

He was the kind of person who referred to most ordinary people as incompetent or losers. Even Jin-Hyeok’s team members from the NIS occasionally needed Hwa Ta’s treatment, and the disdain they received from the Doctor Player each time was unbelievable.

“I am treating you guys only because the director of the NIS personally requested it.”

He would mutter to himself, “I’m not someone who deals with mere civil servants.”

Jin-Hyeok recalled one incident. He did not remember when it took place exactly, but it was probably around the time when Han Sae-Rin’s mother was ill.

“So, you are an Absolute Monarch?”[1]

At that time, Sae-Rin had changed her Job to Absolute Monarch. She was undoubtedly at the top of the Korean Region among the Rulers, but she was still a civil servant and was treated with disdain.

Jin-Hyeok and his team genuinely did not have much money compared to their fame, and to Hwa Ta, people without money were just slaves. Jin-Hyeok really wanted to beat Hwa Ta up, but he had to hold back. The team had to ensure quite a few things in exchange for national support.

“I’ve heard that you were pretty, but I didn’t expect you to be this beautiful. Are you free tonight? Let’s have dinner at a fancy restaurant and a drink. I will make sure to cure your mother.”

What had followed was like something out of a cheesy and trashy movie. Hwa Ta had made some distasteful remarks about saving Sae-Rin’s mother if she complied, and if she had not stopped Jin-Hyeok, Jin-Hyeok would have smashed Hwa Ta’s head right then.

‘I had forgotten about that guy.’

When Jin-Hyeok thought about that, his mood significantly improved. He was not a civil servant anymore. Now was a great time to proceed with his sentimental content. With this content, he could provide comfort that was even warmer than Elly’s flame.

***

Jin-Hyeok was growing into an Eltuber who knew how to handle emotions, so he had more to think about than just efficiency. Sure, riding the Thunder Dragon would have been the easiest and fastest way to travel, but he chose to ride the train. It seemed like the right choice, as along with the train came the opportunity to capture a peaceful scenery from the window.

Sitting next to him was Song Ha-Young, and behind them was Kang Eun-Woo, who looked excited.

“This is nice,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“Huh?”

Jin-Hyeok realized everything had become much easier now than it had been during his government official days. Back then, attempting to do anything involved an absurd amount of reporting to his superiors. He also had to submit tons of paperwork. The bureaucracy was always best at complicating things. They had a knack for making easy things difficult. But now, Jin-Hyeok just had to ask Ha-Young, and she would handle most things for him.

“I can’t believe we found Hwa Ta so easily.”

“It was not a big deal. He’s quite famous around Wonju.”[2]

In this life, Hwa Ta had yet to become extremely famous. He was in a phase of building his reputation by treating various people. Right now, people still considered him a bit of a quack. He had set up a treatment room in Wonju.

“Ha-Young, can you cast a simple barrier skill to prevent people from entering the treatment room?”

“I can keep out beginner Players and ordinary people.”

“That should be enough.”

Jin-Hyeok and his party entered Hwa Ta’s treatment room. A woman in a nurse’s uniform greeted them. The place was decorated quite similarly to an actual hospital.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No.”

“Hm, I see. We accept only clients with appointments. I’m sorry.”

“I’d like to make one now.”

“B-But, sir!”

Jin-Hyeok strode toward the room marked Consultation Room.

Hwa Ta’s voice, which sounded a bit young, came from the room. “This is all for the treatment. Please undress and lie down here.”

“A-Are you asking me to take all my clothes off right here?”

Jin-Hyeok could also hear a woman’s panicked voice.

“Don’t you want the treatment? You said you were terminally ill. If you don’t like it, then you can leave.”

“W-Wait a moment.”

‘Wow, he’s still the same as before my regression.’

The nurse ran up to Jin-Hyeok. Though she was called a nurse, she was actually an Assassin Player, employed as a guard.

“She seems like an ordinary nurse,” Jin-Hyeok said. The Assassin merged into the wall’s shadow, probably thinking that would fluster Jin-Hyeok.

However, since this vlog was supposed to be calm and sentimental, Jin-Hyeok spoke slowly. “...If she is an Assassin, that’s a different story.”

Jin-Hyeok could not help but smile. He took out the Rule Breaker. “This is just a small hammer.”

Thwack!

After taking a hit, the Assassin collapsed.

“My new weapon of choice is truly elegant. It has a great feel to it.”

The Assassin lay unconscious on the ground, foaming at the mouth. Jin-Hyeok thought about killing her but decided not to. He wasn’t a crazy Player anymore; he was an Eltuber with a conventional mindset. Plus, Wang Yu-Mi had requested him to avoid killing if possible.

Flash! Flash!

The sound of the flash continued. Eun-Woo, who had Awakened as the Homepage Master and Everyone’s (Beloved) Idol, seemed to have pressed the shutter about three hundred times. His intensely dedicated appearance was nice to see.

Jin-Hyeok opened the door of the room wide.

[LV114/Incarnation of Greed/Hwa Ta/Skills/Treated 100 People]

“W-Who are you?” Hwa Ta yelled, and the woman inside screamed, covering her chest.

“Kyaaaa!”

‘Ugh, I’m the one who wants to scream.’

This video was supposed to have a sentimental concept, and it would be a big problem if the video got demonetized. Jin-Hyeok bought a large cloth from the Broadcaster’s Shop and threw it to the woman. It was a good item that could keep her warm. “Cover yourself with this for now.”

Jin-Hyeok approached Hwa Ta, or rather, ‘Incarnation of Greed’. Earlier, Jin-Hyeok used to call him Hwa Ta, not knowing his Player name.

‘Incarnation of Greed, huh? What a fittingly awful name.’

“Yo,” Jin-Hyeok said.

Hwa Ta was frantically pressing a button under his desk. It seemed like a button to summon the Assassin.

“Why would you hire an Assassin for protection?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

Assassins were meant for attacking, not protecting. Hwa Ta hiring an Assassin for protection showed how little he understood about the Play.

“W-Who are you?!” Hwa Ta asked.

“Are you Incarnation of Greed?” Jin-Hyeok stood before Hwa Ta. He felt like his companion weapon, Rule Breaker, was pleading to smash Hwa Ta in the face.

‘I don’t need to worry about the audio, right? I’m sure this part is going to be edited out anyway. My capable editor will take care of it.’

“H-How do you know who I am? Who are you?”

“Me? I’m Kim Chul-Soo.”

“W-Who the hell is that?”

‘Wow... He doesn’t know who I am?’

Jin-Hyeok did not expect everyone to know him, but still, it hurt his pride a bit. Hwa Ta did not seem that old and had probably watched a lot of Eltube. Yet, he still didn’t know about Jin-Hyeok.

‘I have a long way to go.’

Feeling inadequate, Jin-Hyeok swung the Rule Breaker.

“Also, my hammer is quite modest.”

Thwack!

‘Ah, this satisfying sensation.’

The Jin-Hyeok before enlightenment and the Jin-Hyeok after enlightenment were completely different. The solid impact sound of the Rule Breaker made his heart race. If the old thwack sound was the sound of a recorder, the current one was the sound of an entire orchestra.

“ARGH!!” Hwa Ta screamed, even though Jin-Hyeok had controlled his strength well enough not to crack his skull.

‘Ah, wait! That woman is a civilian. I should help her out first.’

“Hey, Eun-Woo. Help this person out and wait outside for a moment.”

Eun-Woo, who was filming Jin-Hyeok with his cannon-sized camera, looked startled. He was so focused on the camera that Jin-Hyeok felt a bit sorry for breaking his concentration.

“What are you doing? Hurry up.”

“Okay, got it.” Eun-Woo looked a bit regretful to leave the room this early, so he took a few more shots before leaving with the woman. It was nice to see his dedication until the end.

With the woman gone, it was time for a grand and majestic orchestra.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

The most important thing was not to kill Hwa Ta. The Rule Breaker seemed to understand Jin-Hyeok’s intent very well, resonating with his will and significantly reducing its lethality.

‘Wow, can’t believe this is working.’

Jin-Hyeok had sensed this feeling after a long time, the feeling of synchronizing and resonating with his weapon. It seemed like he had surpassed his Sword King days.

“ARGH!!”

At that moment, Jin-Sol entered the room.

‘Good. Now I don’t have to worry about killing him’

“Why are you hitting me? What did I do wrong?” Hwa Ta said.

“I didn’t say you did anything wrong.”

“Then, why are you doing this to me?!”

“I’m making a sentimental vlog. I need you to cooperate.”

“What the hell are yo—ARGH!!!”

Now that a capable Healer had joined the group, Jin-Hyeok could play a more varied melody with his Rule Breaker. The second act of Chul-Soo’s main theme, ‘Thwack Thwack and More Thwack’, began.

Jin-Sol, now an audience member, seemed quite moved by her brother’s performance. She healed Hwa Ta with all her heart while enjoying the elegant hammering.

“So... Beautiful,” Jin-Sol said.

‘She might be my sister, but she knows her music. Her understanding of art and sentimental content is quite high. This is really exciting, but I’m not this excited because I’m beating him up... You know what? Scratch that. I love beating him up. I’m so glad I’m not a government official anymore.’

1. This was previously a Trait, but the author wrote it like a Job in this chapter. ☜

2. Wonju is a city in Gangwon-do. ☜