I Gave Up Being Stronger

Chapter 428

“You think so too?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

“Of course. Since the early days of the Arvis Server, countless powerful figures have searched for the Herb of Immortality. But no one has ever found it. There is a rumor that Garbinu obtained it, but if that were true, wouldn’t he have used it on himself?”

“Hm...”

Jin-Hyeok’s mood lifted for the first time in a while. The Herb of Immortality had all the makings of a long-term project. It seemed he would not have to worry about content for the foreseeable future.

“It must be tough for you,” Marshmallow said, looking at Jin-Hyeok. Though his tone was gruff, his eyes were filled with concern. However, even now, he did not admit that he cared for Jin-Hyeok.

“The path of an Eltuber isn’t an easy one, it seems,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“Have you considered changing your content type?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why not shift toward more interactive livestreams?”

“I’m not particularly good at that sort of thing.”

It wasn’t that Jin-Hyeok lacked communication skills; it was just that his standards for comparison in engagement were Bong King and Wang Yu-Mi. Not many could match their level of engagement.

‘Isn’t your face enough of a talent?’ Marshmallow thought. He was sure that Jin-Hyeok could excel as an interactive Eltuber. ‘So what if he is not the best speaker? With that face, he’ll do just fine.’

The world was an unfair place. Even if Jin-Hyeok stuttered and fumbled his words, people would still hail him as the greatest orator and king of communications.

‘But I suppose that doesn’t align with his standards.’ Marshmallow decided not to push the issue further. If Jin-Hyeok were to change his livestream concept, it would mean discarding everything he had built up until now—a decision that would shake the foundations of his channel.

Regardless of the success this change could potentially bring, Marshmallow did not feel he had the right to make such a suggestion.

Instead, he offered some words of encouragement. “Finding the Herb of Immortality will be incredibly challenging. The process is bound to produce some breathtakingly exciting content.”

“Thanks,” Jin-Hyeok said with a smile, appreciating Marshmallow’s understanding.

“So, is the conversation over now?” Encyclopedia, who had been hiding in the bookshelf, came fluttering out at his maximum speed. He excitedly flipped through his pages and said, “About what happened in the Imperial Treasury...”

Encyclopedia had analyzed why Chul-Soo and his friends had been able to bypass all the traps in the Imperial Treasury and why striking the rock had yielded no change when it should have. “I think it’s because you’re too strong.”

“Is that even a valid reason?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

Encyclopedia’s pages fluttered rapidly as he grew even more excited in front of Jin-Hyeok, who could very well be the strongest Player in the universe.

“You’re so powerful that the traps could not function properly on you,” Encyclopedia said.

“Come on. That’s impossible.”

“I thought so too at first. But this is the only explanation. The path to the Imperial Treasury is practically a magical organism. It thinks, changes, and reacts on its own!”

Encyclopedia looked triumphant. Though he had no facial expression since he was a book, everyone there could sense his pride. He seemed to be shouting, ‘Listen to how strong you are! You should be proud!’

“I think the traps cowered before you,” Encyclopedia added.

“How does that even make sense?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

“It didn’t until now.” Encyclopedia’s pages fluttered even more vigorously. “But from now on, it does. History will be divided into before Kim Chul-Soo and after Kim Chul-Soo.

“...”

“A singularity must have occurred when you surpassed Level 500!” Encyclopedia’s pages continued to flutter wildly. “How about it? Doesn’t the mere thought excite you and make your heart race? Isn’t your manly heart burning with passion? Becoming so strong that you can’t get any stronger—that’s the dream of all men in the universe!”

With an unimpressed expression, Jin-Hyeok picked up Encyclopedia and unceremoniously tossed him back toward the bookshelf.

***

Jin-Hyeok had a dream. In it, Gogeom entered a bamboo forest and cut down all the bamboo shoots. It was not just a one-time occurrence; he had been having this dream repeatedly, even when he wasn’t asleep.

“Just say it,” Jin-Hyeok said, sitting on the sofa with Gogeom on the table before him.

-Say what... Sir?

The sword acted innocent.

“You and I are mentally connected.”

While Jin-Hyeok did not fully agree with Encyclopedia’s notion that he was a human singularity, he had also felt that he had grown significantly stronger lately. His connection and bond with his artifacts had become stronger than ever.

Even as Jin-Hyeok was having a conversation with it, Gogeom was bad-mouthing Jin-Hyeok behind his back within its consciousness.

“What are you trying to tell me?”

-Ugh... it’s nothing.

Just as Jin-Hyeok could sense Gogeom, it could sense him too. It could tell that its strange master did not want it to reveal crucial information. However, Gogeom was created to disclose such information. Going against its purpose made the sword feel like its entire being was itching unbearably.

“Just tell me. I’m dying of frustration here.”

-Okay, I’m saying this only because you told me to, Master.

Gogeom cautiously glanced at Miri once.

-The Herb of Immortality is hidden within the Kyen Family!

Gogeom finally felt relieved. In contrast, Jin-Hyeok’s expression darkened slightly.

***

After researching the Kyen Family, Jin-Hyeok found a glimmer of hope. ‘The Kyen Family is one of the Seven Great Families of Arvis.’

Unlike the other families, however, the Kyen Family was shrouded in mystery. It was a legendary family whose very existence was questionable. Countless Explorers and Adventurers had searched for the Kyen Family, but none had ever found them.

“There is a theory that the Kyen Family killed all the Adventurers who found them,” Yolin, the head of the MK Foundation’s Historian Nurturing Project, said as she adjusted her glasses. “In fact, the path believed to lead to the Kyen Family is quite well-known. It’s said to be somewhere east of the Forest of Mist.”

Many people had set out to explore this path. The problem was that no one ever returned.

“Did they go missing?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

“I think that’s the consensus.”

‘A forest filled with mist where all Explorers and Adventurers vanish.’ Jin-Hyeok could already smell the potential for an amazing story. If he recorded it in first-person perspective and made some adjustments to prevent accidents before livestreaming, it could make for thrilling content.

“I see!” Jin-Hyeok’s expression brightened slightly. This time, he could produce some spine-chilling content that would be the cornerstone of his channel.

“Are you interested in the Kyen Family, Boss?” Yolin asked.

“Yeah. I think it might be related to the universe-level Scenario.”

“Well, I’m not sure if I should mention this now, but...”

“What is it?”

“Actually, I have an alternate personality that I usually keep dormant. Did you know?”

Jin-Hyeok vaguely sensed that Yolin was hiding something, but he had not pried into it, assuming there was a reason for it.

“Sort of?” Jin-Hyeok answered.

“Well, that personality is trying to wake up on her own.”

Jin-Hyeok somewhat understood what she was talking about. Like Gogeom, which struggled to speak properly, Yolin’s other personality seemed to be in a similar situation. She probably wanted to come out directly because she felt suffocated.

Suddenly, Yolin’s tone and demeanor changed slightly. She then said, “It’s nice to finally greet you directly, Sir Chul-Soo.”

“Is it like a split personality?”

“Yes. More precisely, it’s another personality that formed when my desire turned into a powerful will, and...”

Jin-Hyeok patiently listened to her explanation. ‘She seems to enjoy explaining things.’

Yolin also had this trait.

The explanation dragged on and became a bit boring.

‘I will just have to edit this part.’

“So? What’s your name?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

“My name is Sara. Sara Kyen.” She smiled gently.

They locked eyes for a moment.

“Sara Kyen? That’s a pretty name.” Jin-Hyeok’s subconscious momentarily rejected reality, failing to recognize that Sara was a member of the Kyen Family.

Sara kindly repeated herself, enunciating, “Yes, Sara Kyen, the head of the Kyen Family.”

***

After hearing Sara’s story, Jin-Hyeok could understand her feelings. “It must have been tough for you too.”

Sara had no desire to continue her family’s legacy. She did not want to live as an Assassin or uphold her ancestors’ mission. The Kyen Family’s head simply wanted to study history and live peacefully. Some could consider this a trivial concern, but not Sara. She didn’t need any more money, power, or honor.

“You understand me?” Sara asked.

“Everyone has their struggles.”

“I’m glad.” Sara smiled softly. It was the first time someone had understood her so easily. The only people around her were the heads of the Seven Great Families, and they had never understood her.

“So, are you coming to the Kyen Family?” Sara asked.

“I plan to find the way.”

“The path is already well-known. It’s somewhere east of the Forest of Mist. If you search well, you might even find detailed maps.”

“I heard everyone who tried to find the Kyen Family went missing.”

“They did go missing.”

“Did you kill them all?”

“My subordinates suggested that, but...” Sara shook her head. All the missing Explorers had been sent back, their memories erased or brainwashed.

“Are you planning to do that to me too?” Jin-Hyeok asked. It could make for quite interesting content.

“Would it work on you?”

“Huh?”

“You deflected all the illusions and brainwashing traps in the Imperial Treasury.”

“There weren’t any such traps in the Imperial Treasury.”

“Yes, there were.”

“?”

“You just deflected them all, Sir Chul-Soo.”

Jin-Hyeok shrugged.

Although he had learned the location of the Herb of Immortality, met the head of the Kyen Family, and discovered the family’s location, he still had a glimmer of hope that he could turn this into an exciting adventure. The Forest of Mist, a natural labyrinth that refused intruders, still lay ahead. This great force of nature had caused countless Explorers and Adventurers to vanish.

Jin-Hyeok delivered a line to build tension. “Do you have any advice on how to safely reach the Kyen Family?”

He made a mental note to add some thrilling background music here.

Sara tilted her head. “Can’t you just walk there?”

“But the natural labyrinth, the Forest of Mist, stands in the way.”

“Even so, it’s not as bad as the Imperial Treasury.”

“...”

Sara smiled reassuringly as if to say there was nothing to worry about. “Just walk vaguely eastward, and you will be fine.”