I Gave Up Being Stronger

Three months had passed since Cha Jin-Hyeok had revealed the Quest for Stage (18). During that time, he had made numerous attempts to sneak into the Imperial Palace’s treasury alongside Angel Girl Song Ha-Young.

“Unfortunately, it’s difficult to open the treasury’s door,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“But…” Ha-Young wanted to say, ‘No, I think we can open it.’ However, when she saw Jin-Hyeok’s stern face, she couldn’t say anything else. She thought that he had probably sensed dangers lurking inside the treasury that were beyond her current level of understanding.

“We should head back for today,” Jin-Hyeok said.

They had secretly infiltrated the Imperial Palace several times as a team, even deliberately exposing themselves to danger a few times. They had also made contact with palace officials to try and find a way into the treasury.

One day, Ha-Young asked, “Do you really intend to go in?”

They had infiltrated the palace more than ten times. The first three attempts were failures. In the next three, they showed some progress, and from then on, they came close to success.

Considering the chaos surrounding selecting a new Emperor, these attempts were quite significant achievements. Yet, at crucial moments, Jin-Hyeok kept turning back. After the first couple of times, Ha-Young found this suspicious.

“Of course,” Jin-Hyeok replied.

“No, I didn’t. We’re really going to clear it this time.”

“Really?” Ha-Young narrowed her eyes. ‘So, all the previous times were for a show?’

When Ha-Young suspiciously looked at him, Jin-Hyeok glanced away and said, “Let’s go.”

“Are we really going to raid the treasury this time?”

“Stay alert. We have managed to breach the entrance, but it’s still the Imperial Palace’s treasury. The entrance keeps changing, but with your skills, you should be able to handle it.”

The Imperial Palace’s treasury was a forbidden sanctuary with magic woven into every particle of the air. As they prepared to step in, they received a strange letter.

[To the esteemed Kim Chul-Soo.]

It was a letter from Kyle, Jin-Hyeok’s former master and the current emperor.

[Despite opposition from numerous officials, I have decided to make the Imperial Treasury public.]

The letter detailed the arduous process of making the treasury public. Kyle had to persuade countless officials; find the seal of the former imperial family; and secure cooperation from the Pisat Family, whose members were renowned for their swordsmanship. He even sought approval from the elders who had served the previous Emperor.

This ordeal was partly due to Kyle’s resolve to open the treasury for the benefit of the empire’s citizens, but it was also undoubtedly motivated by his desire to help Jin-Hyeok.

[I would like to invite you, Chul-Soo, to the opening ceremony as an honored guest.]

Jin-Hyeok trembled as he read the formal invitation.

[As a representative of the Swedeen Empire, I wish to offer you compensation for all the harm you have suffered from the previous imperial family. Please choose what you need from the treasury.]

‘They’re just giving this to me?’ Jin-Hyeok shook as he held the polite letter.

***

Kyle satisfactorily smiled. “This should make him very happy.”

“I think so too. Now that I think of it, Chul-Soo is quite admirable. He never asked for any personal favors from you, Your Majesty,” his advisor replied.

Kyle, who was Chul-Soo’s comrade-in-arms and former master, had become emperor. In this situation, with the Imperial Treasury linked to the universe-level Scenario, most people would have at least hinted at needing help. However, Chul-Soo had never asked for any assistance.

There had been suspicious movements detected near the treasury, but that was common. As an honorable former member of the Sword Emperor Unit, Kyle did not believe Chul-Soo would engage in such activities.

“This should be a grand gift to Chul-Soo.” Kyle chuckled. Inviting Chul-Soo to the opening ceremony as an honored guest was a quite significant action, especially considering the compensation that the Swedeen Family owed to him.

“Chul-Soo’s livestream has tremendous influence. Inviting him as an honored guest and sending an apology gift on top of that will likely have a positive impact on the empire as well,” Kyle’s advisor said.

A few days later, Jin-Hyeok arrived at the palace as an honored guest. Despite his busy schedule, Kyle personally greeted Jin-Hyeok, and they had a private conversation.

“Welcome, Kim Chul-Soo!” Kyle exclaimed.

“It’s been a while, Kyle,” Jin-Hyeok replied, sounding not pleased and somewhat sarcastic. “Not only did you invite me as an honored guest, but you’re also offering items from the Imperial Treasury. How generous of you.”

“I believe it’s the least we can do, considering the terrible deeds the previous imperial family committed against you,” Kyle responded.

Jin-Hyeok remained silent. Kyle’s gaze was filled with nothing but genuine affection. Even with Broadcaster’s Insight, Jin-Hyeok could see it was pure goodwill.

‘I can’t say anything about this…’ Jin-Hyeok decided to just accept the goodwill, considering that participating as a VIP in the treasury’s opening ceremony could make for decent content.

“Is there the Sword of the Old Era in the Imperial Treasury?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

“I do not know the exact name for it, but there is a special holy sword stuck in a rock. It seems quite worn, having been neglected for a long time,” Kyle answered.

Jin-Hyeok immediately realized it was the Sword of the Old Era.

‘I’ve been wasting my time.’ Jin-Hyeok realized how easily he could obtain it now. However, refusing it and choosing something else would seem like forced acting.

“Do you want that sword?” Kyle asked.

“Yes, I do.”

“If that’s what you want, I can certainly give it to you.”

“How delightful,” Jin-Hyeok said, trying to mask his true feelings.

“I’m honored to help you. However, there is one problem.”

“A problem?” Jin-Hyeok perked up, hoping it would be a problem that would make for good content.

“As I said, the sword is stuck in a rock. We have tried to pull it out several times, but it won’t budge.”

“Really?”

“Access to the Imperial Treasury is extremely limited, so we haven’t been able to test it with many people. Someone stronger than me might be able to pull it out, but it seems difficult to remove the sword by sheer force alone.”

“I see!” Jin-Hyeok smiled.

Although Kyle was being modest, he was one of the top rankers in Arvis and the winner of the previous Sword Emperor Tournament. If he could not pull out the sword, it would likely be difficult for anyone.

“So, while getting the sword itself isn’t a problem, actually pulling it out properly is…’ Jin-Hyeok mused.

“We can ask the Imperial Scholars to give suggestions on how to solve this issue,” Kyle said.

“That won’t be necessary.” Jin-Hyeok quickly refused him.

The Imperial Scholars were the empire’s brightest minds; accepting their help would be like using a cheat key. Jin-Hyeok almost frowned at the suggestion.

“I know you would say that,” Kyle said, looking at Jin-Hyeok with gentle eyes. The more he saw Chul-Soo, the more remarkable the Streamer seemed. He did not make any demands of Kyle, who had become the emperor, and even refused the support of the Imperial Scholars. “There is no need to refuse. The Imperial Scholars would also be interested in researching a sword that can’t be pulled out.”

“I said it’s not necessary.”

“If you refuse so adamantly, I won’t force it upon you. But please remember, you do not need to hold back. I and the Imperial Palace will always stand by your side and support you.”

***

The long-hidden Imperial Treasury was finally unveiled after centuries of mystery. Hundreds of paths led to the treasury, constantly shifting in real time. The routes themselves were like living organisms, perpetually changing.

Yulette, one of the Imperial Scholars and the most respected academic in the Swedeen Empire, personally guided the VIPs.

“Every day, skilled Navigators map the changes, predicting patterns and pioneering new routes. Entering the Imperial Treasury is akin to venturing into a labyrinth,” Yulette explained.

The guests included heads of the Seven Great Families, except for the Kyen Family; influential heroes and top-ranking Players in Arvis; journalists who had received direct invitations from the palace; Marshmallow; and Cha Jin-Hyeok.

Jin-Hyeok thought, ‘The Imperial Scholar is exaggerating quite a bit.’

The path to the treasury was indeed complex and constantly changing. However, Angel Girl Song Ha-Young had succeeded in reaching the treasury entrance five out of ten times. If a ranker of a single Server, Earth, could find the way so easily, universe-level rankers could likely breach it without much trouble.

“In fact, 124 years ago, Margaret, the unrivaled top Thief in Arvis, attempted to infiltrate the treasury but was trapped in an infinite time barrier. Her skeleton was discovered only ten years ago,” Yulette continued.

Jin-Hyeok mused that the skills of rankers 124 years ago had been surprisingly lacking.

“There are countless similar cases. Other renowned Thieves such as Rilton, Amium, and Joron either disappeared or were severely injured trying to infiltrate the treasury. All of them failed.” Pride filled Yulette’s face as he said, “In preparation for this opening ceremony, we secretly commissioned some of the universe’s top Thieves to breach the path to the treasury. All of them also failed.”

Jin-Hyeok carefully asked, “Did you also commission Angel Girl?”

“Yes. While she is not typically renowned enough for such a task, her close relationship with you, Chul-Soo, made her an interesting candidate.”

“Did Ha-Young fail too?”

“Of course she did.”

Jin-Hyeok felt slightly suspicious. ‘But she breached the path several times when she was with me,’

He assumed Yulette was exaggerating to boast about the treasury’s security.

“The path to the treasury itself is a nearly perfect magical maze. It’s probably the most advanced magical space in the Swedeen Empire. To demonstrate this, we have invited Song Ha-Young from the Earth Server, who has a close relationship with Chul-Soo,” Yulette said.

The opening ceremony was not just about revealing the treasury. While they had a benevolent intent to help the needy with the treasury’s treasures, they also desired to showcase Swedeen’s technological prowess. “Even a renowned Thief from Earth cannot reach the treasury without the help of Imperial Scholars. Isn’t that right, Lady Ha-Young?”

All eyes turned to Ha-Young. The four billion viewers on Marshmallow’s livestream flooded the chat with comments.

-Is the Imperial Treasury really that secure? Seems a bit exaggerated, lol.

-Didn’t you hear that Margaret failed too? How is it exaggerated? She was the overwhelming number one Thief at the time.

-Why is he asking a Thief from the Earth Server and not Arvis? What’s on Earth besides Chul-Soo?

-Yeah, Earth is just a new Server with nothing special except Chul-Soo.

-Are they trying to embarrass Angel Girl?

“Yes, it seems that way,” Ha-Young replied.

“Could you perhaps demonstrate for us?” Yulette asked, implying that she should use her best Thief skills to attempt to breach the path to the treasury and fail.

“Can I do it together with Chul-Soo?” Ha-Young requested.

“Pardon?”

‘Yulette wondered what difference Chul-Soo’s presence would make; he was not even a Thief.

‘This might be even better,’ Yulette thought. Angel Girl’s failure to do it in front of all these people would be an excellent opportunity to showcase the palace’s technological prowess.

Yulette nodded. “Of course, you can.”

He approached Chul-Soo and whispered something to him. Chul-Soo was a VIP of the palace, so being an Imperial Scholar, Yulette felt obligated to offer some advice to the Streamer.

“I recommend not participating. This attempt is destined to fail. It could damage your undefeated image, Chul-Soo, of having triumphed over everything. In my humble opinion, it would be advantageous for you to decline,” Yulette said.