I Gave Up Being Stronger-Chapter 132

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In Choi Gap-Soo’s Alchemist Workshop...

Lilia the Succubus informed Choi Gap-Soo, “Chairman, Michelle Jang has come to visit.”

“Again?”

“Shall I send her up?”

“No need. I think she’s already here.”

Ding!

With that sound, the elevator door opened. This elevator was not the creation of human technology but a System Artifact. The official term for it was the Dimensional Gate and where it led to was Gap-Soo’s self-made sanctuary called the Media Room.

It was a secluded space where he could indulge in his hobbies without interruption. Lately, he had been enjoying watching Netplus and Kim Chul-Soo’s livestreams here.

“You’ve been frequenting my Media Room quite a lot lately,” Gap-Soo said with a frown.

“Where else could you find a place as well-equipped as this? How much have you invested in your hobby?”

“Maybe I should start charging admission for the room.”

“You’re still happy, though, aren’t you?” Michelle said with a chuckle.

“With what?”

“That I acknowledge the quality of this room. You’ve really done well.”

“You can call this the epitome of life experience, taste, and class.”

“Yeah, yeah. Aren’t you also happy that you have someone to enjoy it with?”

Michelle sat down on the sofa. The Media Room was optimized to bring out the most lifelike experience of Chul-Soo’s livestreams, and Gap-Soo took considerable pride in that fact.

“It took 1.2 billion Dias just to set up the sound system,” Gap-Soo said.

“It’s cheaper than I thought, by the look of things.”

“Tsk. When will you stop measuring everything by its cost? When will you move beyond that upstart mindset? Creating this space with such a modest sum is a great feat by itself, don’t you think?”

‘A modest sum?’

Lilia doubted what she had just heard.

‘The 1.2 billion Dias was just for the sound system. You actually spent around forty billion Dias for the entire room...’

No matter how many times Lilia overheard such conversations, they never ceased to boggle her mind. Before she knew it, Gap-Soo and Michelle were engrossed in Chul-Soo’s livestream.

“Chul-Soo eventually killed Jonprich. He should receive the Phoenix Heart any minute now,” Gap-Soo said.

“Even with money, the Phoenix Heart is hard to get. This Wind Wanderer guy seems to really favor Chul-Soo.”

“Seems so. I haven’t seen him in any other livestreams lately.”

“He must be utterly smitten by Chul-Soo. At least we’re not that bad.”

“True. That guy is simply overboard.”

“Compared to Wind Wanderer, we’re not crazy, right?”

“Obviously.”

‘I don’t think you can say that when you spent forty billion Dias for a room specifically designed to watch Chul-Soo’s livestream... And you think it’s cheap! How are you guys not crazy?’ Lilia thought to herself.

Michelle, who claimed they were not crazy, continued to speak.

“But at this rate, the Spirit King of Fire will appear, right? I’ve seen him in another livestream, he was completely out of his senses.”

“Then Chul-Soo will be in danger too.”

The two of them looked at each other, having the same facial expression.

“This feels awfully like a strategy designed by the System, doesn’t it?”

“It’s as if the System is treating Chul-Soo like some sort of virus.”

The both of them erupted in anger.’

“No one else in the world produces such high-quality livestreams!”

“This crosses the line.”

Gap-Soo was the first to give out the Surprise Mission.

[Mission Title: Eat It Quick.]

Michelle followed by creating her own Surprise Mission. Since she was slower than Gap-Soo, she ended up using three times the Dias to do so.

[Mission Title: We’re All Gonna Die!]

“Lilia, fetch the Phoenix Liver from the storage,” Gap-Soo said.

“M-Me?”

“What’s the matter?”

“My Level is only 110... I hardly have any fire resistance.”

“There should be a pair of gloves in the storage. Wear those and bring it.”

‘Wouldn’t it be better for you to go personally?’

The gloves that Gap-Soo mentioned were single-use fire-resistant gloves that cost a whopping one billion Dias. Using the pair of gloves once would waste one billion Dias. However, for Gap-Soo, those few minutes it took to walk to the storage seemed more valuable than the billion Dias. Lilia headed to the storage, and Michelle shrugged, commenting, “I’ve set the mission reward to be the Flame of Nebidia.”

“Good.”

They shared the same sentiment.

“I can stand it if we’re the ones killing Chul-Soo, but if it’s the System... I can’t let that happen.”

“Obviously.” freew(e)bnovel.com

The Phoenix Liver and the Flame of Nebidia were auxiliary Artifacts that assisted in properly consuming the Phoenix Heart. However, the order of consumption was extremely crucial.

“If Chul-Soo consumes the Phoenix Liver first, it’s lethal, right?”

“The chances are high.”

One had to consume the Flame of Nebidia first and then swallow the Phoenix Liver. While this method was less effective, it was considerably safer.

“But if he consumes it the other way around, the effect is superior, right?” Michelle asked. “That’s the charm. Which will Chul-Soo choose? The less effective, but safer way, or the highly effective yet risky way?”

“What if he dies?”

“When livesetreaming sincerely, it’s a risk one might have to take, isn’t it?”

“Either way, it’ll be entertaining.”

Meanwhile, after retrieving the Phoenix Liver from the storage, Lilia hurriedly logged into KimKnowItAllTV and quickly sent a message.

[「ChulSooIsHandsome」 has donated 100,000 Dias.]

[“He has to eat the Flame of Nebidia first. Otherwise, it’s going to be dangerous. Please make sure he knows this.”]

? ? ?

If a Player were to recklessly consume the Phoenix Heart, disaster would ensue. Their stomach would burn from the inside out, turning a charred black. Assistance from a fire-elemental-class Player was typically required.

In Korea, this would be akin to seeking help from someone like Yeom Tae-Goo, also known as the Fire King. However, there existed a method to consume the Phoenix Heart without Tae-Goo’s aid.

‘They’ve given me the Phoenix Liver and the Flame of Nebidia,’ Jin-Hyeok thought.

He knew that he had to swallow the Flame of Nebidia first and then consume the Phoenix Liver. Doing so provided significant aid in controlling the flames emanating from the Phoenix Heart.

‘It seems like the old man and Michelle really want me to grow as fast as I can.’

It would have been better if they had informed him of the correct sequence, but that might have made the livestream less thrilling. While not knowing the order could have been a potentially deadly mistake, it turned out for the better.

‘This is perfect for my livestream.’

It felt like a sign of respect toward his role as a Streamer.

[You have received a secret message from 「KingGodGeneral Yumi」.]

Jin-Hyeok paused the livestream for a moment to check the secret message.

[“You must first consume the Flame of Nebidia! It’s dangerous if you don’t.”]

It appeared someone among his viewers cared deeply about him. He decided not to disclose this information and continued with the livestream.

“By consuming the Phoenix Heart, I can clear two Surprise Missions at once. Thank you for giving me such an easy task.”

His hand felt searing hot. Taking the genuine advice from Choi Gang-Byeok, Jin-Hyeok held the Phoenix Heart with his bare hands. His skin nearly melted off, but presenting it this way seemed more intense and appealing.

‘It would appear as though I had exhausted all my energy battling Jonprich, wouldn’t it?’

“Now, I shall consume the Phoenix Heart!”

Gulp.

A sensation of scorching heat coursed through as the massive fireball passed down his throat, seemingly burning his esophagus.

‘This is quite painful. I think at this point, I need the assistance from Yeom Tae-Goo.’

[You have cleared the Surprise Missions.]

[You have acquired 「Phoenix Liver」 as the mission reward.]

[You have acquired 「Flame of Nebidia」 as the mission reward.]

Both rewards manifested on his palms. One was the blazing Phoenix Liver. The other, a lump of flame, burning in a majestic purple hue. Given their fierce intensity, his hands were completely scorched. If merely holding them felt this excruciating, consuming them would probably incinerate his insides.

‘I should eat the Flame of Nebidia to be safe...’

But then, the sincere advice from Gang-Byeok flashed in his mind.

“What the hell is going on? You look so clean! Are you even really a Streamer?”

While the viewers from the Earth Server might be oblivious, there would certainly be those from other Servers who knew the danger of consuming the Phoenix Liver first.

Memories of his Swordsman days surfaced.

‘Greater danger brings more thrill.’

This was a truth almost too evident. He decided not to overlook that fact.

‘I should consume the Phoenix Liver first.’

Upon reflection, this was not a matter of choice. It was imperative. Being a Streamer, the right course of action was clear. As a Streamer one should stream, or rather showcase, the riskier, more thrilling choice.

“I will consume the Phoenix Liver first.”

Jin-Hyeok chewed and swallowed the blazing Phoenix Liver. Instantly, he felt as if flames were engulfing the inside of his stomach.

‘Wow, this is pretty painful.’

At moments like this, a Streamer should stay focused, ensuring that there were no silent gaps in his livestream. However, right now, he did not have the luxury to think about that. He still had much to learn as a Streamer.

‘I have a method in mind.’

Jonprich was capable of artificially creating a space to imprison the daughter of the Spirit King of Fire. To keep the Fire Spirit from dying, even when cut off completely from the Spirit Realm, Jonprich had to have devised an artificial environment of fire.

‘If Jonprich could do it, so can I.’

Desperately, he recalled his earlier memories.

“He ate the fire! His belly area has turned red.”

‘I didn’t know that was possible. Can I do that too? Wouldn’t it be convenient if I could block fire like that?’

This was what he thought just a while ago. Acing on them now was, in a way, fortuitous.

‘Let’s recall what Jonprich did.’

Immediately, Jin-Hyeok assumed a cross-legged position. Being defenseless was a bit risky, but he trusted Gang-Byeok to protect him. If he did not focus, he would likely meet his end either way.

‘And now, I need to consume the Flame of Nebidia.’

A wave of nausea hit him. His body instinctively seemed to reject any more fire energy.

‘I need to suppress the urge to vomit.’

He concentrated on his meditation. He toiled to navigate the microcosm within his mind, seeking an answer.

‘What would the Fire King, Yeom Tae-Goo, have done in this situation? Damn it...! I might go crazy!’

He felt like he was on the verge of shattering his meditation. The microcosm, where only he existed, seemed aflame. And to be precise, it was actually engulfed in fire.

‘If I don’t handle this properly, I might melt away, soul and all.’

Though the resurrection setting was active for the Dungeon, he was certain that even if revived, he would be left in a vegetative state. It felt as if his spirit, not just his body, was dissolving.

‘I must get through this.’

The Phoenix Heart, Phoenix Liver, and Flame of Nebidia—the intense heat of these three Artifacts blazed through his inner universe.

‘I might genuinely perish at this rate.’

Yet, paradoxically, his consciousness felt sharper. The deeper the agony and torment, the more heightened his senses became. This electrifying sensation of death’s approach, as much as he loathed to admit, was an intense pleasure for him, amplifying his senses to their peak.

‘I had forgotten this sensation for a while.’

Without realizing it, he became wholly engrossed in the situation. It felt like a pendulum swinging between should and shouldn’t.

‘This is... exhilarating!’

At some point, he began to drift into the Trance Realm. Within this bubbling euphoria, with his sharpened senses, he instinctively started searching for what he needed to do.

“...Ah!”

He let out an exclamation, seemingly involuntarily. It felt as though he had discovered something. It was a method he had never considered before.