I Gave Up Being Stronger

Chapter 98

Externally, Maria was the Vice Minister of the Office of New Civilization Management of the National Intelligence Service. However, in reality, she was sort of an administrator, handpicked to oversee the System and directly responsible for cultivating Players.

“Soon, the Free Duel System, or PvP Zone, will be introduced. It’s a system where you fight in individual or team battles with resurrection settings enabled,” Maria said.

‘I will make it hard for you to refuse my offer,' Maria thought.

She wanted regular interactions and duels between Flaming Fist’s party and the National Intelligence Service Players.

'We must maintain a continuous relationship with Flaming Fist’s party. It’s for the development of our team.’

She especially thought it was essential to continue interactions with Cha Jin-Hyeok. Maria was pouring great interest in him from a Player management perspective. Some people might undervalue Jin-Hyeok as a flashy prospect due to his talent, but Maria did not see it that way. A saying that those too versatile could not become the top in one field did not concern her.

‘Cha Jin-Hyeok, no, Kim Chul-Soo, is the Player showing the clearest and the greatest potential in South Korea.’

And Jin-Hyeok had a peculiar obsession with buying buildings. It even seemed as if buying houses and buildings in Yeonhui-dong was his lifetime goal.

‘But various administrative restrictions have become a great inconvenience to him.’

Maria judged that relieving Jin-Hyeok’s inconvenience would make him very happy. However, his reaction was very different from what she had expected.

—Sorry, but I refuse.

“I knew you would come aro— What did you say?”

—I see no reason to interact with your team.

Jin-Hyeok was slightly uneasy. Maria had often catered to his convenience in the past. If she carelessly eased the administrative restrictions now, it could lead to trouble. Jin-Hyeok did not want even one excuse for why he shouldn’t retire or why he should Play harder to disappear.

Jin-Hyeok spoke firmly, “Your team is too weak.”

This was true. He was thinking with significantly lowered standards, but still, the current level of Players was far below his standards.

‘I remember I was just like them.’

Jin-Hyeok always reminded himself that he was also once weak. Still, Jin-Hyeok flatly refused Maria’s offer.

After hanging up, Maria sat at her desk and closed her eyes.

‘I was so sure that he would say yes to this offer,’ Maria thought.

Yet he refused.

‘Is our team so pathetic that he would refuse even such a sweet offer?’

It deeply wounded Maria’s pride. She clenched her fists under the desk.

‘We just need more proactive support.’

Her actions had to be cautious. As an administrator officially recognized by the System, she couldn’t disregard the balance with other Players. She began to draft a document. It was a formal request for additional support and assistance in Player development.

⁕ ⁕ ⁕

Lately, Jin-Hyeok had found himself immersed in deep thought.

‘I don’t know how long I will be able to Play like this, with such joy.’

In his previous life, he learned a bitter lesson. There was no such thing as being perfect at everything. A Player might be adequate at many things but never the best. Even if what Jin-Hyeok was experiencing now was extraordinary and revolutionary, he always had the thought that it wouldn’t last forever.

‘Still, I think I can do this until I’m Level 150.’

He had only about 90 Levels left. He didn’t need to worry about what lay beyond, at least for now.

Finally, he made up his mind

‘If I want to enjoy this to the fullest in this short time, I have no choice but to pursue extreme efficiency.’

In this regard, clearing Dungeons on his own was the best way, and clearing with just one partner was almost as enjoyable.

‘Soon, with the addition of the PvP Zone, there will probably be Solo Dungeons and Dual Play Dungeons.’

PvP Zone.

Solo Mode.

Dual Play Mode.

They seemed to be updated more quickly than in his past life, but these three things tend to be released simultaneously. Jin-Hyeok had little opportunity to properly experience them because he was bound to a party, but a man’s dream, after all, was solo Play.

“Each one of you can fulfill your roles in any party, or you can form your own parties,” Jin-Hyeok said.

He decided to let his nurtured(?) members become independent. He really wanted to not tell them, but there was one more honest reason.

“If, just if, I can still actively participate even after Level 150, I will gradually need my own faction.”

Those who had their own faction and were top of their game were relatively safe. Being strong as an individual and being strong as a group were entirely different. Therefore, if Jin-Hyeok were to grow to the point of being targeted by other Players, forming a faction would be much more advantageous. Of course, Jin-Hyeok was not saying that he would enjoy Playing like this beyond Level 150. That would be utterly unconscientious of him.

Cha Jin-Sol wore a serious expression.

“Why? Is it because we’re weak?” she asked.

“No, it’s not that.”

“We’ll do better. We will work hard to meet your standards. So, let’s just keep Playing together, Oppa. I hate the thought of Playing without you. There’s a thrill I can only feel when I’m with you,” Jin-Sol said while her voice quivered.

Seo Ji-Ah also stepped forward, slyly grabbing Jin-Hyeok’s sleeve. It seemed Ji-Ah felt the same way as Jin-Sol.

“I…also… feel the same way…”

Kim Jeong-Hyeon appeared to share his sentiment as well.

However, Mok Jae-Hyeon wore a slightly relieved expression.

“Jae-Hyeon, what about you?” Jin-Hyeok said.

“I am sad about it, but I think I know why you made this decision. Through the recent battle with the Milky Way Alliance, I’ve learned a lot too.”

“Really?”

“Ultimately, there is a clear limit to how well a single party can do. We need a faction too. To do that, I think we should split up and each form our own parties.”

On closer examination, it seemed Jae-Hyeon had a knack for seeing how the future unfolded.

After quite a lengthy discussion, the members finally agreed to respect Jin-Hyeok’s decision. Ji-Ah’s tears started to flow.

“Why are you crying like that?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

He had no idea why. If someone saw them, it might look like they were breaking up.

[#Where to find a Ruler of similar skill? #No hope. #So frustrating. #Gotta look for another Ruler.]

‘Ah, if she is crying because of that, I totally understand.’

Seo Ji-Soo’s eyes were also red, probably for a similar reason.

“But still, Oppa, have a coffee with me now and then,” Ji-Soo said with a slightly sullen tone.

“Coffee?”

‘How strange. Not a sword fight, but a coffee?’

“I haven’t shown you what I’m capable of yet.”

‘That makes sense.’

It would be weird if she could show her true capability when she wasn’t even Level 100.

“You still haven’t found out my true beauty yet, Oppa. You’ll be surprised how beautiful I will become when you see me the next time.”

That was a good resolution. To become that beautiful, she would have to become really strong.

Jin-Hyeok patted Ji-Soo’s shoulder with a sudden feeling of pride.

They decided to form their own parties. Everyone agreed to establish a close cooperative relationship, promising to be each other’s steadfast partners.

No one knew that this would later become the precursor to the Earth Server’s most powerful network USK (United States of Korea/United States of Kim Chul-Soo).

⁕ ⁕ ⁕

Jin-Hyeok turned on his livestream.

“What makes me angry is the uncivilized attitude of not acknowledging defeat.”

The issue of Players joining forces to attack Jin-Hyeok was not at all troubling. It was only natural for Players to fight for their beliefs. However, the complete denial of such a clear defeat was a very uncivilized act.

That was what Jin-Hyeok thought, at least.

“I demand Chairman Choi Ik-Hwan to accept defeat. Stop dragging this out disgracefully.”

Ik-Hwan had recently felt a significant threat to his personal safety, and this had dramatically increased the number and size of his security forces. He was extremely cautious when it came to his outside activities, not knowing

“...So, what you’re demanding is not an apology or compensation, but acknowledgment?” Ik-Hwan said.

“Yes, that’s right. That’s what is being said for now.”

Ik-Hwan felt his entire sense of reason shaken to the very core. Lost in agony, he mumbled to himself, “Am I failing to adapt to how the world is changing, or does that person have an abnormal mindset?”

It was as if Jin-Hyeok didn’t mind that someone had tried to kill him. Jin-Hyeok was just insisting that Ik-Hwan acknowledged his defeat.

“I will set up a meeting,” Ik-Hwan said.

Ik-Hwan had reached where he was without knowing defeat, but that was a different matter. In fact, Ik-Hwan didn’t place much importance on losing as a Player.

He arranged an official meeting and formally invited Jin-Hyeok. He also invited BonjourTV and MiNaTV, two of the most popular Streamers, and numerous reporters gathered.

“Will my acknowledgment of defeat really suffice for you?” Ik-Hwan asked.

“What more do I need?”

“But I tried to kill you.”

“That’s understandable.”

Ik-Hwan couldn’t take his eyes off Jin-Hyeok, and he realized that Jin-Hyeok was sincere. It didn’t look like Jin-Hyeok was hiding any ulterior motives. To Jin-Hyeok, acknowledgment itself was what mattered.

“I don’t care about any of that. But common sense dictates that if you have been defeated to this extent, you should officially acknowledge defeat and make a defeat pledge, right?” Jin-Hyeok said.

“I’m starting to confuse what’s common sense and what’s not.”

“And? Does that mean you are not going to admit it?”

Ik-Hwan shook his head. Already, many of his files had been stolen by an unknown Thief. Ik-Hwan now seemed to understand what Jin-Hyeok meant when he said that a Thief could be scarier than an Assassin.

Everyone had their weaknesses, and Ik-Hwan was no different. Jin-Hyeok was holding the weaknesses in his hand.

“I will officially admit defeat,” Ik-Hwan said.

“Are you saying that as the Chairman of the Shinil Group, or as the head of the Milky Way Alliance?”

“Does it matter?”

“It sure does.”

“Ha…”

Ik-Hwan chuckled helplessly.

‘My life’s work, my enterprise, it seems to have no value to that man. The world is changing too quickly,’ Ik-Hwan thought.

If a person could not adapt to change, they became obsolete. Though Ik-Hwan was willing to step down from his throne, he had no desire to become obsolete.

‘It seems it’s about time for me to retire as well.’

Ik-Hwan finally declared his defeat.

“So, what do you want?”

The victor always took everything from the loser, and the loser always gave everything to the victor—that was the truth of the world, as Ik-Hwan had experienced. He thought this philosophy would also be applied in this situation.

However, Jin-Hyeok frowned.

“You’re not planning on giving me money, are you?” Jin-Hyeok said.

“...What?”

“It looks like you intend to pay a substantial amount of money as compensation. You’d best not think about doing that.”

Jin-Hyeok almost lost his temper for a moment.

‘He’s thinking like Maria,’ Jin-Hyeok thought.

Maria, offering to simplify administrative procedures, and Ik-Hwan, wanting to compensate with money… From Jin-Hyeok’s perspective, both were contemptible.

“Just sign here.”

[Defeat Pledge]

There was a provision that if a Player from Flaming Fist of Cheongdam-dong’s party were to go to war with someone, Ik-Hwan would automatically participate. Also included was the content that all Players belonging to the Milky Way Alliance could not attack any Players of Flaming Fist of Cheongdam-dong’s party.

[However, if a Player from Flaming Fist of Cheongdam-dong’s party attacks a Player from the Milky Way Alliance, retaliation is permitted.]

Essentially, it meant that they could not attack first, but once they were being attacked, retaliation was allowed.

In truth, such details were not particularly important to Jin-Hyeok.

‘I’ve obtained a defeat pledge.’

The more defeat pledges he had, the more prestigious his party became. The higher the reputation of the opponent, the better.

Jin-Hyeok was happy.

“Let’s consider our dispute settled.”

“...Really?”

Ik-Hwan couldn’t believe that simply acknowledging defeat and drafting a pledge would erase all that had happened, and even the part where he was actively trying to kill Jin-Hyeok would be resolved. It was utterly shocking that the situation was being wrapped up so quickly.

“Why? Do you want to do more?”

“No, that’s not it.”

Jin-Hyeok was the first to leave the conference room, and Ik-Hwan blankly stared at him from behind.

‘Is he just big-hearted, or his common sense is different from everybody else?’ Ik-Hwan thought.

It was hard to know the answer to that question. Everyone else in the world would do what it took to receive as much money as they could, but Jin-Hyeok didn’t even care about that. Ik-Hwan decided to give up on trying to understand him.

Meanwhile, after leaving the conference room of the Shinil Group, Jin-Hyeok saw a woman on the first floor.

‘A person protesting by herself?’

Her face looked oddly familiar. She was a family member of someone who had been in an accident while working for a subsidiary of the Shinil Group. She was demanding a thorough investigation and a sincere apology.

‘Wait a minute.’

Jin-Hyeok stopped to observe the woman conducting the solitary protest. He felt like he knew who she was.

‘Is that Shin Yu-Ri?’

She was the villain who had once plunged Korea into shock and horror, a woman with the alias, Siege Weapon.

‘What is Shin Yu-Ri doing here?’

The alliance of villains.

It was unmistakably Yu-Ri, who had led the Demigod Alliance.