I Gave Up Being Stronger

Thomas, Muenne’s adjutant, had always respected and admired her, but his feelings had begun to waver lately. Muenne had abandoned her noble spirit as a Paladin and entered the world of politics. At first, he thought, ‘She surely made this bold decision for the sake of countless citizens, to guide the development of the city in a better direction!’

However, as time passed, his thoughts gradually changed.

“Why is there discrimination between honorary citizens and regular citizens?”

“Honorary citizenship is granted to those who make great contributions to Arvis. It’s only right that they receive appropriate treatment.”

“As honorary citizens are not originally from Arvis, we will permit them to bring in people from their hometowns when necessary.”

“As the mayor of Muren, I declare that honorary citizens will not be taxed in Muren.”

Honorary citizenships were rarely granted in Arvis. Less than one hundred people had received honorary citizenship of Arvis in the past decade.

Then, Thomas realized, ‘She’s implementing policies for Chul-Soo’s benefit!’

All of Muenne’s actions were for Chul-Soo’s sake. Thomas had felt deeply betrayed. It was as if Muenne, who had always prioritized principles and walked the true path of a Paladin, had become corrupted. Though he was deeply disappointed in Muenne, he did not express it. He still respected her, after all.

While she intended to bestow excessive privileges on Chul-Soo in some matters, overall, Muenne was quite a capable mayor. Nevertheless, Thomas found it hard to accept the sight of her beaming at Chul-Soo.

‘She hasn’t smiled even once recently!’

Muenne had lived her entire life as a Paladin, so she faced many challenges in political life. The political circles subtly looked down on her since she was a Paladin to her core. Yet, here she was, smiling at Chul-Soo as if she had gained the world.

‘Why has she given her heart to such an insignificant person?’

Chul-Soo seemed unbothered wearing the tainted priestly robe. This meant that Chul-Soo was the very embodiment of corruption.

‘He must have tainted Muenne!’

The pure and noble Paladin had disappeared; in her place was now only a mayor infected by the virus named Chul-Soo. Thomas clenched his fist, hiding his malice toward Chul-Soo.

***

Muenne smiled brightly. “I heard you’re participating in the Demon Sealing Ceremony.”

“The head of the Feyler Family gave me a good opportunity,” Cha Jin-Hyeok said.

“I’m thrilled and excited to be working alongside you, Sir Chul-Soo.”

She felt as if all her fatigue had vanished. Just then, they heard a deafening thunderstrike, and strange ripples began to appear in the air. It was a sign that the dimensional gate was about to open.

“The dimensional gate will open soon, and Demons will appear,” Muenne said.

“Are you nervous?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

“Of course.”

Muenne appeared slightly tense as well. Jin-Hyeok looked up at the sky and asked, “But why aren’t we taking any measures and just waiting?”

He wondered if, at this critical moment, they could take preemptive action, like sealing the gate or launching a first strike against the Demons beyond.

Thomas, who had been quietly standing behind, stepped forward. He was surprised that a Player participating in the Demon Sealing Ceremony did not know such basics.

“Sir Chul-Soo, the dimensional gate at this point is protected by a massive external force,” Thomas said.

“A massive external force?”

“Yes. Its origin remains unknown. You could’ve found this with a simple search.”

Thomas’s tone was somewhat sarcastic, but Jin-Hyeok did not pay much attention to it. He just asked, “Then can I try attacking now?”

“It would be meaningless,” Thomas replied.

“Does it matter if it’s meaningless?”

The actual sealing ceremony would be carried out by the Paladins and the Priests gathered here. Jin-Hyeok did not think he could perform the sealing better than them. Everyone had their role to play, after all.

“That seems like a reckless statement for someone participating in the Demon Sealing Ceremony,” Thomas said.

“I don’t think anyone expects me to seal the dimensional gate anyway.” Jin-Hyeok knew exactly why Garcia had invited him here. It was to create good content, not to personally seal the dimensional gate.

“That may be true, but… you will only exhaust yourself.”

“That does not matter either.” Jin-Hyeok’s goal was to capture footage. He started recording. “I’m going to try attacking first.”

Jin-Hyeok turned to catch Thomas’s expression. Though Thomas quickly composed himself, the Streamer could tell the adjutant had been looking at him with disdain. Seizing the moment, Jin-Hyeok provoked him. “Adjutant Thomas, you don’t like me do you?”

“It’s not a matter of liking or disliking.”

“Do you want to make a bet?”

“What kind of bet?”

“Whether my attack will work or not.”

“It won’t. History has already proven that.”

“Then isn’t that advantageous for you, Adjutant Thomas?” Jin-Hyeok whispered, “Or are you scared?”

“Okay! Let’s make a bet!”

‘He’s pretty easy to read.’ Jin-Hyeok grinned and said, “What will you do if I manage to even scratch the dimensional gate?”

“It’s unlikely, but if such a thing were to happen, I would crawl on all fours and bark like a dog. What will you wager, Sir Chul-Soo?”

Jin-Hyeok was taken aback. ‘He’s willing to sacrifice that much?’

“I will…” Jin-Hyeok thought about what he could do.

“I want you to wager your honorary citizenship,” Thomas said first.

“Sounds like a plan.”

‘This might turn out to be another good piece of content!’ Jin-Hyeok thought.

***

Startled, Wang Yu-Mi sent Jin-Hyeok a message.

[Is it okay to make such a risky bet?]

Jin-Hyeok replied to her immediately.

[It will draw a lot of attention.]

[What if you lose by any chance?]

[I don’t think I can lose my honorary citizenship over this anyway, right?]

It was common for video titles to differ slightly from their content.

[Still, it’s not good to draw attention like this too often, Chul-Soo. You know that, right?]

[It’s fine. Everyone knows it’s an impossible bet. If the video becomes viral, Thomas will be the one getting all the hate, right?]

For a moment, Yu-Mi was surprised. She had thought Jin-Hyeok had accepted the bet just because he was obsessed with drawing attention. ‘Does he just want to mess with Adjutant Thomas?’

She wondered if that Eltube fiend had such intentions, but then shook her head. Chul-Soo lived his life for Eltube. He was a man obsessed with views; he was not the type of person to seek revenge.

Jin-Hyeok raised Miri and concentrated. ‘I probably won’t even be able to scratch it.’

This was the most likely outcome. If a mere Eltuber could do it, countless Paladins and Priests throughout history would have been able to as well.

‘Still, I should give it my all and unleash my most powerful attack.’

Such opportunities were rare. Typical battles unfolded with split-second decisions and constant unexpected variables. Normal combat involved making countless judgments and choices in the blink of an eye. The enemy never waited for an attack. However, his current target was stationary, and all Jin-Hyeok had to do was unleash his strongest attack. He immediately pulled out his trump card.

[You have activated the Skill ⌜Omnipotent Director⌟.]

His surroundings turned ashen gray. As Jin-Hyeok made this space entirely his domain, he felt a strange distortion.

‘Huh?’

Originally, he had intended to strike the dimensional gate, but that was unnecessary. The gate was merely a phenomenon. He could see several strands of mana connected to the dimensional gate. These strands, invisible to the naked eye but visible with the Omnipotent Director Skill, were transmitting unseen energy to the gate, summoning Demons from it.

‘Cutting them all won’t be possible.’ Jin-Hyeok decided to target the thickest mana line. ‘At least, that one…’

He tried to get rid of it, but it would not disappear. Just as Thomas had told him, an invisible external force was protecting the dimensional gate and the mana lines.

[You have activated the Mystery ⌜Unleashing Technique⌟.]

Jin-Hyeok unlocked the protective force.

[The Trait ⌜Persistent and Sticky Desire⌟ has been activated.]

Miri, the Rule Breaker, unleashed her destructive power. A golden beam of light shot toward the mana line, tracing a peculiar curve. Within it was a power mimicking Shin Yu-Ri’s Babylon Cannon.

Snap!

A sound only Jin-Hyeok could hear rang out, and the thick mana strand was severed.

***

Thomas hid his joy and said, “Please voluntarily surrender your honorary citizenship, Sir Chul-Soo.”

Soon after, the dimensional gate opened.

“The dimensional gate is opening!”

“Alert the front-line Priests! Prepare the holy magic!”

“Holy magic preparations complete!”

“Choir, sing the sacred melody!”

As the choir’s harmonies filled the air, Priests began to pray, and Paladins summoned their strength to face the impending Demon onslaught. At that moment, the first Demon appeared.

Peep!

It was a Spirit in the form of a chick.

“A Spirit…?”

“It’s a Spirit!”

The choir’s sacred song, which should have tormented the Demons, made the chick Spirit dance instead.

Peep! Pe-peep!

The chick Spirit flapped its wings, calling its friends. Countless chick Spirits poured out of the dimensional gate.

“D-Do not be fooled!”

“They may look like Spirits, but they are extremely dangerous Dem—”

The chick Spirits danced or, rather, moved rhythmically to the choir’s song.

Peep! Peep peep!

After finishing their dance, the chick Spirits landed on the ground, wandered, and then returned one by one.

***

Garcia showed a faint smile.

Jin-Hyeok asked him, “Sir Garcia, what’s going on here?”

“It seems our sincere prayers have been answered.”

Garcia’s aide, the leopard Beastkin Gerdok, wanted to ask, ‘Then were the prayers of the Priests in the previous Demon Sealing Ceremonies impious?’

Except for those showing fanatical devotion to faith like Garcia, most people could easily guess that this change was due to Jin-Hyeok. Even during this urgent Demon Sealing Ceremony, quite a few Priests and Paladins had been watching Jin-Hyeok’s livestream in real-time.

Thomas was displeased about this too. ‘What kind of lunatics would bother turning on their phones to watch a video? Why would they do such a thing when Chul-Soo is right in front of them?’

What he couldn’t perceive was that there existed a clear difference between seeing something with one’s eyes and watching the same thing through a video. In that absolute space where the Omnipotent Director Skill was activated, people watching Chul-Soo did not know what had happened. Only through Chul-Soo’s livestream could they discern his actions.

Regardless of Thomas’s dissatisfaction, Chul-Soo’s video became viral, and many concluded that Jin-Hyeok had brought about this change. Though he did not know the exact cause or reason, Jin-Hyeok thought so too.

“It does seem like I changed something, but…,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“Woof! Woof!” Thomas was barking and crawling on all fours, his eyes blazed with fury.