I Gave Up Being Stronger

Chapter 319

“Eventually, we will be stripped of our freedom.”

“We must not make a foolish choice now, tempted by sweetness, only to regret it in the future!”

Protests erupted everywhere, and clashes between supporters and opposers became intense. Given that the majority were Players, these confrontations sometimes even escalated into violence. With only twenty-four hours remaining, the conflict between the two factions was fierce.

Meanwhile, Kim Min-Ji was busy chomping on a lollipop as big as her face.

“Are they idiots? It’s in their interest, so why protest against it?” Min-Ji said to Gap-Soo.

Choi Gap-Soo smiled broadly. Although Min-Ji’s real age was unclear, she looked like a high-school student, and her face, flushed with indignation, seemed oddly endearing.

“It must be the aversion to the word owner,” Gap-Soo said.

“And why is that?” Min-Ji found it incomprehensible. She was sure that Chul-Soo would make a great owner of the Earth Server.

“People think the benefits are too good to be true and that there might be disadvantages later.”

“What disadvantages?”

“They don’t know exactly, but they think there must be some. It’s human nature to fear the unknown.”

Min-Ji sighed. “Hey, do you think I should rig the vote?”

“You want to rig it?”

Min-Ji crossed her legs and scowled. “But I am worried the vote share might end up over 100 percent.”

Helping Chul-Soo through hacking was not a difficult task. However, a mistake could lead to an inconvenient situation where the approval rate exceeded one hundred percent.

“If there are 100 people and 120 vote in favor, it will be too obvious that I intervened.”

“...”

“I’m just worried that if it’s too obvious, my mom will stop me from enjoying my hobbies again!”

***

On the surface, the ones opposing seemed far more vehement than those in favor. However, the results told a different story.

[Approved 72%, Opposed 28%]

Jin-Hyeok was established as the owner of Earth.

[Experience points on all Earth Fields are now tripled.]

[Dias acquisition on all Earth Fields is now tripled.]

[Item drop rate on all Earth Fields is now significantly increased.]

Even Jin-Hyeok found the outcome somewhat unexpected. ‘I thought it would be a close call.’

According to Cha Jin-Sol, the majority had quietly voted in favor, while a vocal minority fervently protested against it.

‘What happened is pretty interesting.’

Considering the online communities’ reaction, one would have thought the opposition was overwhelming. For Jin-Hyeok, who was always mindful of public perception, this was a new experience.

“Congratulations, Earthlord,” Gahi said.

Apparently, this was what people from other Servers called the owner of a Server.

“Are you ready to depart for Hell?” Gahi asked. He emerged from the bathroom, wearing a bathrobe, after what was his twelfth shower in just twenty-four hours. Apparently, Hell did not have such fine shower facilities.

When his robe gaped slightly, revealing his well-defined pectoral muscles, Jin-Hyeok did not miss the moment.

“You must be quite popular,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“...”

The door slammed shut. It seemed like Jin-Sol had also been stealing glances at Gahi.

“That miracle is truly remarkable,” Jin-Hyeok said.

Hassan’s miracle was astounding. Gahi, who looked stunning before the operation, became even more radiant after transitioning to a man. An online fandom named Helling (Hell + Healing) had been created to support Gahi, and it was growing big across the universe. With just one livestream, the Empress of Hell was becoming a universal star.

Jin-Hyeok spoke earnestly. “Promise me. You will appear on my livestream without hiding your face.”

“I promise. Though I don’t see why that is important.”

“The fact that you don’t know is why you are still a rookie.” Even Jin-Hyeok had come to appreciate the power of being handsome only recently. “With time, you will understand the value of what you hold now. I assure you as a senior.”

“...”

“So? Should I still call you the Empress of Hell?”

“No.” Gahi had already thought of a new title. “From now on, call me Hell Man.”

“Hell Man? That doesn’t sound as impactful as Empress of Hell or King of Hell. Wouldn’t something like the Grand Lord of Hell or Emperor of Hell sound cooler?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Gahi was deeply impressed by Jin-Hyeok’s Play. “On Earth, or rather, in the universe, they call you Intense Man, right?”

“That’s true.”

“Then, I hope to be called Hell Man.” Gahi was adamant.

***

The Succubi that had taken over King Beckant’s palace in the Fourth Hell were being pushed back, as the residents of Hell rose against them.

Lilia remarked, “I expected some resistance, but this is quite severe?”

Seo Ji-Soo, Seo Ji-Ah, and Kwak Do-Hyeong, along with the members of the Black Thorn Alliance, were reaching their physical limits. Assassins were weak in large-scale battles. If not for Park Terse’s ability to marshal a vast number of monsters and command armies, the gates would have already been breached.

“Siege Weapon Shin Yu-Ri will come here to help us,” Lilia said.

Han Sae-Rin shook her head. “This problem cannot be solved with force alone.”

Yu-Ri’s arrival would undoubtedly aid the defense, and she could even decimate the protesting residents in one fell swoop.

“Killing them all won’t make this land ours. Oppression only leads to greater resistance. Of course, it is possible to suppress them with even greater force, since if violence does not solve your problem, you are not using enough of it,” Sae-Rin added. However, deploying such tremendous force was difficult. For it to be feasible, Earth itself would need to possess a far greater power than Hell. “We need to win their hearts...”

For the Players and Succubi from Earth, winning the hearts of the residents proved challenging.

Lilia’s expression darkened. “What should we do then?”

“Wait. The Empress of Hell will be arriving soon.”

“But he’s the ruler of the Fourth Hell, and he doesn’t have much to do with the Third Hell.”

Contrary to expectations, there was a connection.

“I have ordered the beheading of the tyrant King Beckant,” Gahi said. The Empress of Hell, not introducing himself as Hell Man, boldly stepped forward in front of the residents of the Third Hell. “Residents of the Third Hell, trust in me and return to a peaceful life.”

King Beckant was not a well-regarded ruler to begin with. Many desired a new leader.

“How can we trust you?”

“How can we trust someone from the Fourth Hell?!”

The five Hells did not like each other. Historically, they had attacked and plundered each other, each claiming to be the real Hell.

“I promise you all. I will bring you prosperity,” Gahi said.

“Words are cheap. You can say anything!”

“I will ensure that every home has a shower that provides a continuous flow of hot water.”

Engineers from Earth had been transferred en masse to the Third Hell. A large-scale project had begun in Hell.

***

Lee Hyeon-Seong, known as the Anus Destroyer, was recently feeling conflicted about his values. ‘I know I’m supposed to be intense, but.... can what is happening truly be excused simply as intensity? Installing boilers and shower facilities in each home is one thing, but...’

Hell Man was not just persuading the residents; he was slightly brainwashing them using his mental abilities.

“The Fourth and Third Hells will become one. The distinction between them will disappear, and you will no longer view the Fourth Hell as an adversary.” Hell Man’s mental powers were indeed formidable. There were hardly any protesters near the palace, and some had even switched to vocally supporting Hell Man.

Feeling his sense of justice wavering, Hyeon-Seong sought advice from Jin-Hyeok.

After hearing everything, Jin-Hyeok looked puzzled. “And you’re confused about how you are feeling?”

“Yes. What we are doing is not justice. We shouldn’t gain support by manipulating people.”

“You really see only one side of things, don’t you?”

“What?”

“If Hell Man had brainwashed them, would their eyes still be focused?”

“...”

“Try adding seduction techniques to that equation. Everyone would look like they were insane.” Jin-Hyeok patted Hyeon-Seong’s shoulder. “Do not judge merely by what you see. Hell Man is considered the top expert in that field, and he is making calculated, intense Plays. Even if it seems somewhat unjust on the surface, he is making tremendous considerations.”

‘But technically, Hell Man is still brainwashing them...’ Hyeon-Seong thought.

Yet, everyone around them was praising Hell Man as being intense and giving him a thumbs up. Even Lilia and Maria, who Hyeon-Seong thought were relatively sane, agreed with Jin-Hyeok.

‘Am I the one who is wrong here?’

His values were shaken.

***

With Hell Man at the helm, the Third Hell quickly regained stability. The event that unfolded next was the most peaceful merger in Hell’s history, drawing attention from across the universe. The news that Chul-Soo had become the owner of Earth was somewhat overshadowed.

However, Jin-Hyeok was feeling the effects of being the owner.

‘I am leveling up every day.’

With two billion Players earning three times the usual experience points, Jin-Hyeok’s experience points were skyrocketing.

‘I heard Garbinu became incredibly powerful at some point. It must have been because of this.’

His heart was pounding, and he was eager to become even stronger.

‘If I am going to Play, I might as well be number one. I might as well be the strongest.’

Anything less than being the strongest seemed meaningless. The Jin-Hyeok, who was content with third place, was no more.

‘How much money have I accumulated?’

Checking his finances had become pointless. Two billion Players were consistently transferring(?) money. Jin-Hyeok had invested most of his money in the infrastructure of the Third and Fourth Hells. Many referred to it as a modern-day New Deal.

-You can’t deny the Chul-Soo effect.

-Be proud! Chul-Soo is from our country!

-Those Koreans are being cheap! You should say that Chul-Soo is from our Server!

-Right! How long will we confine Chul-Soo within the small vessel of a country?

-Korea is too small to contain Chul-Soo.

Jin-Hyeok’s generous investments and support brought a warm financial breeze to Earth’s many construction companies. Architecture, civil engineering, plumbing, and electrical industries saw a huge number of people dispatched to Hell.

-The economic effect caused by Chul-Soo is said to be in the trillions.

-That makes sense since he is developing two Servers bigger than Earth.

The economy began to revive on Earth. Numerous jobs were created, and stable employment opportunities arose. This was happening globally, but it was particularly noticeable in Korea.

-Those Korean workers are insane!

-I heard that they like to work fast, but this is something else.

-I think they’re violating human rights at this point.

To other countries, the efficiency of Korean workers seemed to disregard human rights. However, Korean Players thought differently.

-Foolish ones. This is what true INTENSITY looks like.

The virtue of intensity began spreading globally. The capital of the Third Hell, chosen as the first city for the large-scale project, was quickly transforming into a modern cityscape, with some homes already enjoying hot showers. Those who experienced these new amenities were amazed.

“This is something else!”

“I support Hell Man!”

As support for Hell Man grew, so did the public’s friendly relationship with Intense Man.

Then, one day.

“This is officially the first content from Hell,” Jin-Hyeok said. He started his livestream from the Third Hell. This was the real beginning. “I will start my first content called Hell Conquest!”

He had prepared intensely and fiercely.

‘Let’s see if we can hit a billion views!’