I Gave Up Being Stronger

Chapter 464

“It seems that the Final Abyss is about to appear somewhere,” Cha Jin-Hyeok said.

“I see,” Choi Gap-Soo replied.

Gap-Soo and Jang Michelle also sensed that the progression of this Scenario was unusual.

“Where do you think it will appear?” Gap-Soo asked.

“I’m not sure. I plan to discuss it with Sae-Rin.”

“I will also seek some advice.”

“From other Trinity Club members?”

“No,” Gap-Soo replied. He wondered why he would ask someone from the Trinity Club when he had Kim Min-Ji.

“Is there someone with more knowledge about the subject than the Trinity Club?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

“Of course.”

Jin-Hyeok tilted his head in curiosity. “Is it Min-Ji?”

“Ahem. I didn’t say anything. I can’t confirm nor deny it.”

“I see.” n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Michelle giggled quietly. “How much do you know about Min-Ji, Chul-Soo?”

“Even with Broadcaster’s Insight, I can’t seem to read her.”

Jin-Hyeok could see through the mind of the Spirit Realm’s prince without even needing Broadcaster’s Insight. His perception had reached a point where he could see beyond forms and read the minds of anyone. Yet, he could discern nothing about Min-Ji. He had always known she was extraordinary, but he had no clue about her true nature.

“We don’t know much about her either, but...” Gap-Soo glanced around cautiously before saying in a low voice, “She is undoubtedly a lunatic when it comes to you. Anyway, Chul-Soo, what’s your plan?”

“For now, I’m thinking of delaying my level-up as much as possible.”

“Delaying your level up? Are you saying you will stop livestreaming?”

“Yes.”

Disappointment flashed across Gap-Soo’s face. Michelle also frowned. Even if the universe was on the verge of destruction, they still wanted to watch Chul-Soo’s videos.

“Why would you delay leveling up? If the Final Abyss opens, wouldn’t it be better to be as strong as possible?” Michelle asked.

Jin-Hyeok confusedly looked at Michelle. He was sure that a wise person like Michelle would have known why he was delaying leveling up.

‘My livestream must be really entertaining,’ Jin-Hyeok thought. It seemed they were so blinded by their desire to watch the livestream that they couldn’t see anything else. ‘Still, it’s oddly satisfying that they love my content this much.’

“I’ve reached a singularity that comes at Level 500. I can overpower most things with just my physical prowess of being Level 500,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“Hmm, I could tell you’ve been struggling with that. I’m aware of it,” Gap-Soo replied.

“The tension has lessened, but I still enjoy your livestream.” Michelle chimed in.

“But if things continue like this, I will soon reach Level 600.” Jin-Hyeok’s heart started pounding again. The mere thought of the unknown realm of Level 600, a peak no one had ever reached, made his heart race uncontrollably. “The more transformations I bring to the world, the closer the Final Abyss seems to come. It’s likely that the Final Abyss will open when I reach Level 600.”

That was why Jin-Hyeok planned to delay leveling up as much as possible.

“Hmm, that makes sense. Given the situation, I guess we will have to accept the hiatus,” Gap-Soo said.

“When do you think you will reach Level 600?” Michelle asked.

“I’m not sure. I’ve never reached Level 600 before...”

Currently, he was leveling up at a fast rate, but he could hit a sudden bottleneck at any moment. In extreme cases, he could reach Level 599 in a day, but it might take him months to break through Level 600.

“So, do you think you’ll reach it in about one hundred years?” Michelle asked.

“Come on. We’re talking about Level 600 here. A mere one hundred years is too short. Tsk,” Gap-Soo said. ‘The younger generation really have no sense of time.’

Gap-Soo thought that even if Chul-Soo aimed low, it would take him at least three hundred years.

“Well...,” Jin-Hyeok began speaking.

“Well, what? Speak up. Do you need three hundred years? Or maybe more?” Gap-Soo said.

“Aren’t you underestimating Chul-Soo’s abilities? I say about one hundred years should be fine. Maybe even less,” Michelle said.

“Damn, this young generation...”

Jin-Hyeok scratched his head. “ My estimate is a few months...”

“What?”

“Excuse me?”

“If things go slowly, I say a few months. If they go quickly, a few days,” Jin-Hyeok said.

No matter how many variables he considered, it wouldn’t take more than a year.

“That’s assuming you won’t take a break from livestreaming, right?” Gap-Soo asked.

“The number of viewers has been crazy high lately,” Michelle said.

Among all Jobs, Eltubers had the fastest leveling-up speed, and for someone like Chul-Soo, who had an overwhelming number of live viewers, the rate of leveling up was insane. That’s why it made sense to both Michelle and Gap-Soo that Chul-Soo would need a few months to reach level 600 if he didn’t take a break.

“No, if I don’t take a break, I will probably hit Level 600 in a few days.”

“Huh? What Level are you at right now?”

“597.”

“...”

“...”

An awkward silence filled the room, and just then, Lilia, who was bringing tea, accidentally dropped her tray.

Clang!

The sound of cups shattering echoed through the air.

“I-I’m so sorry. The numbers you were discussing were so absurd that I reacted without thinking...”

***

The Final Abyss was approaching. Jin-Hyeok knew that to prepare for it, he had to do more than just delay his level-up. ‘There is no other choice. I have to grow stronger.’

This was not a desire to gain power—it was something inevitable.

“Hassan, I need to receive the Intimate Miracle as well,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“What? You want to become a woman?” Hassan shut his eyes tightly. The thought of turning Jin-Hyeok into a woman and dealing with the aftermath was something he did not even want to imagine.

“No, no. Can’t I just receive the buffs while keeping my gender?”

“But that would reduce its effect...” Then Hassan had a realization. “Oh, right. I’m really sorry, but I think it’s going to be impossible. I’ve already used all 77 Miracles.”

“We can just get rid of the limitation settings on your ability.”

“Is that even possible?” Hassan had experienced something similar once, where Chul-Soo had turned the Holy Miracle into a mere Intimate Miracle using Miri. But altering something so artificially came with risks—there was always a chance that things could break beyond repair. It was natural for Hassan to feel a vague sense of dread.

“I’m a lot stronger now than I was back then,” Jin-Hyeok said.

As the one having the ability, Hassan knew how fragile the Miracles were. ‘Even a slight mistake could shatter them.’

Intimate Miracles were exactly what the name represented—miracles. For a mere human to wield such immense power meant they had to shoulder enormous risks. Carrying that power inside him would be like holding a ticking time bomb.

‘If it breaks, I’ll probably die.’ Hassan could already picture his body exploding. Anyone with a sound mind would refuse Jin-Hyeok. Even the smallest failure would lead directly to death. ‘But..., Chul-Soo saved my life.’

He was the one who had given Hassan a new life. Hassan decided that even if things went wrong, he wouldn’t hold a grudge; he had already received too much. He was about to close his eyes tightly.

“It’s done,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“What?” Hassan's head shot up. ‘He must have read my mind and seen how scared I was!’

His face flushed red, thinking that Broadcaster’s Insight had revealed his thoughts.

“No, it’s okay, you can do it. I’m fine. Just go ahead. I trust you, Chul-Soo.”

“What are you talking about? I said it’s done.”

“I’m really oka—”

“No, I mean I got rid of the limitation settings. Check it. It shouldn’t say 77 Intimate Miracles anymore.”

“...”

Wondering if Chul-Soo said this just to comfort him, Hassan quickly checked his status. The 77 Intimate Miracles ability had indeed now turned into simply Miracles.

“H-How did you...?”

Jin-Hyeok captured Hassan’s shocked expression on camera. Although he wouldn’t be uploading any videos for a while, it was the duty of an Eltuber to never neglect filming.

“The power of pure fire I got from the Spirit Realm is pretty helpful when it comes to breaking settings,” Jin-Hyeok said.

Miri was slightly displeased.

-Hmph! I don’t like the power of fire.

She enjoyed smashing things as she pleased. However, now that Jin-Hyeok was using the power of fire to break settings with precision, it had become quite uncomfortable for her. It was like she had gone from shoveling food into her mouth with her hands to being forced to eat with proper utensils.

-Why do I have to be so precise? I’m a hammer, not a scalpel!

‘If you keep complaining, I will turn you into a scalpel permanently,’ Jin-Hyeok told her telepathically.

-Tch, how mean!

Miri did not want to be a scalpel. Though stabbing with a blade had its charm, it was nothing compared to the satisfaction of smashing things with a hammer.

-I will be understanding with Hassan since I like him. But let me smash the Final Abyss’s head however I want, okay?

Jin-Hyeok could sense Miri’s burning desire. It was baffling. He could not believe such a fanatical weapon existed under such a rational master like himself.

***

After Hassan regained his power, Kang Eun-Woo was the first to approach him.

“Can I receive the Miracle one more time?” Eun-Woo asked.

“It seems possible. I’m not sure how much stronger it’ll make you, though.”

In the end, Eun-Woo returned to being a man once again. In total, he received three miracles. After receiving all of them, Eun-Woo was astonished. ‘Wow, I’m Level 400 now.’

He had instantly become one of the top rankers. Of course, at this Level, a Player’s rank was not solely determined by their Level. Even a Level 400 Player could be weaker or less skilled than a Level 300 Player, depending on their abilities. Still, it was obviously better to have a higher Level.

Lessefim rushed over soon after. “Hassan, can you grant me a Miracle too?”

“What?”

“I want to become an adorable female.”

“Are you... an imposter?”

“No, don’t you recognize me? I’m Lessefim. We met just recently.”

“But back then...”

Even though Lessefim had appeared as a cute squirrel Beastkin back then, the aura surrounding her was undeniably that of a top-tier ranker. Her dignified presence had overshadowed her adorable appearance. However, the creature now standing in front of Hassan looked like nothing more than a cute squirrel Beastkin. Hassan felt he should hand over an acorn to her right away.

“If possible, I would like to be a bit smaller with shinier fur. I want to be cuter. That’s possible, right?”

“You... don’t want to enhance your abilities as a Navigator?”

“I said I want to be cute!”