I Gave Up Being Stronger

Chapter 213

After conducting a more meticulous analysis and segmenting the statistics by gender and age, Cha Jin-Hyeok understood his subscribers’ preferences. Originally, eighty percent of his channel’s subscribers had been men, mostly in their teens to their thirties, but that had undergone a significant change recently.

‘The gender ratio has almost reached fifty-fifty.’

This did not mean that the number of male subscribers had decreased. Rather, it was the result of a rapid increase in the number of female subscribers.

Moreover, in terms of leaving comments or reactions, women in their teens to their thirties were the overwhelming majority.

‘Looks like I am a bit lacking with the audience over the age of forty.’

Egan Paul had recently released data that he was loved by all genders and age groups.

‘I guess I still have a long way to go.’

Jin-Hyeok knew he could not surpass Egan, let alone Marshmallow, if his main audience were only viewers in their teens to their thirties. To become a Streamer loved across the universe, he at least needed to be loved across genders and ages, even just on the Earth Server.

‘Well, it has not been that long since I’ve been enlightened.’

Jin-Hyeok realized that he should not be impatient. He calmly went through the comments.

-He didn’t ride the Thunder Dragon for his friend’s frail wife. What a guy! T_T

└Please stop overreacting. It’s getting old.

└Do you know how much Chul-Soo earns in an hour? From his perspective, by wasting time riding the train, he is throwing billions of won into the trash. How am I overreacting here? Can someone explain?

└Just the way Chul-Soo remembers his past as a weak Player and cares for the sick shows his character.

└He has such a warm heart. I cried... T_T

‘Wow...’

Jin-Hyeok realized he had become a very warm person without trying to be. Although many commenters criticized him as well, they were overwhelmed by those defending him. He felt goosebumps on his forearms.

‘So, this is how it feels!’

Having many fans meant having so many people on his side. Jin-Hyeok knew it earlier as well, but today, it felt especially clear. Maybe it was because he had several realizations lately.

-Everyone knows Chul-Soo squeezed in time while doing his main content, right?

└True story. He should have his hands full planning how to defeat Sephia and Grandel.

└And he stepped up to help a friend? He’s amazing!

└Chul-Soo has everything but me. Now he just needs me to be perfect!

‘I didn’t really squeeze in that much time though...’

He was not even sure if Sephia and Grandel were the Cult Leaders. But he still felt weird.

‘Even before my regression, I had many fans...’

He had many fans and haters. Usually, one hater would stand out more than a hundred fans. However, for some reason, the presence of his fans felt much larger now. It was probably because he had switched to being a Streamer who could interact with the viewers.

“Lots of people are talking about Kang Eun-Woo,” Cha Jin-Sol said.

“Yeah, I saw that,” Jin-Hyeok replied.

“He really looks good on camera. He was handsome before, but he looks even better on camera.”

“Seems like it.”

“You’re the same.”

“Me?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

“Yeah, you look great on camera too! Eun-Woo must be a huge fan. It looks like each photo is taken with care. The communities are buzzing about it.” Jin-Sol showed him some comments that she had captured as screenshots.

-Their visual chemistry is insane. T_T Never thought I would see this handsome duo in my life.

-The cold but actually kind prince and The scared but brave little deer.

-And the little dear is following Chul-Soo around and growing up. T_T

-Must protect the little dear!

Jin-Hyeok genuinely did not understand any of this.

‘How can a person be cold but kind? Is that like ordering a warm iced Americano? And what’s with the prince and the deer? I guess I’m the prince and the brave little deer is Eun-Woo, but I still have a lot to learn. I don’t understand! But anyway...’

Eun-Woo had been appearing briefly on Jin-Hyeok’s videos and drawing quite positive reactions. Jin-Hyeok thought of focusing more on promoting Eun-Woo, which would be a huge help to him in turn. Jin-Hyeok just had not expected the fans’ enthusiasm to be this immense. He felt like he had an entire army of people helping him out just from having Eun-Woo on his side.

After some days, Han Sae-Rin visited Jin-Hyeok. “Hey, I’ve noticed that you changed your concept quite a lot.”

“Why did you come so late?”

“I’ve been busy! I came straight here after finishing my work.”

Jin-Hyeok was not finished with Hwa Ta yet. Hwa Ta had tagged along with him of his own volition, sporting a smile on his face. As they had been on the way to Jin-Hyeok’s place, people recognized them and took pictures. Sighting photos of Hwa Ta circulated in online communities.

“Smile. If you don’t, I won’t be able to stop myself from becoming a wonderful conductor who creates beautiful melodies.”

Of course, that conductor would be holding a hammer, not a baton. After hearing that, Hwa Ta had desperately smiled, and those photos and videos were now circulating as heartwarming memes. After arriving at Jin-Hyeok’s place, Hwa Ta had been tied up in the corner of the room.

“It seems better for you to do the interrogation, I mean, questioning, instead of me,” Jin-Hyeok said to Sae-Rin.

With her being here, it was time to delve deeper into the Truth of Violence Cult.

***

Sae-Rin was one of the people who had been closely observing the recent changes in Chul-Soo.

‘Chul-Soo... is aiming for a significant change.’

He had cast aside his familiar sword and was diversifying his content. Despite already being successful, he completely changed directions. It was a move with considerable risk. In fact, as new types of subscribers flooded in, some existing ones left in protest.

‘But Chul-Soo pulled it off spectacularly.’

He had reached one billion subscribers recently, received a gold button, and already surpassed 1.3 billion subscribers. Even those who had unsubscribed to him were returning like salmon in their spawning season, saying ‘Still, nothing is as entertaining as Chul-Soo’s livestreams.’

‘Chul-Soo paved the way. I can do it too.’

Sae-Rin had always believed her talent lay in finding paths and pioneering Dungeons. However, as time passed, the feeling that she had chosen the wrong path had grown stronger.

‘Being a Navigator is not that bad. But is this really the best I can do? Is being a Navigator what the sword was to Chul-Soo? Am I missing out on what I truly excelled at? Come to think of it... Chul-Soo has always treated me somewhat like a Ruler. Maybe he knows more about me than I do.’

Thus, she had entered a deep meditation that lasted three days. In her meditation, her inner microcosm was dark and murky, but a small light flickered far away. Strangely, that light felt like Chul-Soo. The path shown by Chul-Soo, the decisions he made, the choices he had taken... all these were signposts for Sae-Rin.

‘The stars are starting to shine.’

Stars that had lost their light in her microcosm were gradually finding their brightness again. Some stars shone blue, others red, some brilliantly, some faintly, filling her microcosm with their own colors and brightness.

‘This is it.’

Then, a very bright star exploded in her inner microcosm. It was like a big bang, and the aftermath shattered the microcosm enveloping her mind.

‘I must find a new universe.’

If the shell of an egg was broken by an outsider, it meant the development of a fried egg; however, if the shell of an egg was broken from the inside, it was the birth of a new life. Ultimately, she had transitioned to the Job of an Absolute Ruler, and today was her first day stepping into that role.

“So, you want me to find out about the Truth of Violence Cult and their leader, right?” It was not that difficult for Sae-Rin. “Leave it to me. I will talk to this guy alone.”

Sae-Rin took Hwa Ta into a room. She then pulled out a club, smiling. “Let’s start the conversation, shall we?”

Hwa Ta saw a glimmer of hope. To him, Sae-Rin looked quite gentle on the outside. She seemed like someone with whom he could reason with. So, he sobbed, expressing his innocence. “I-I am innocent! I was just brought here for no reason!”

“Did anyone ask?”

After her transition through meditation, a new Trait had emerged in her; it was a Trait that Sae-Rin didn’t have before Jin-Hyeok’s regression.

[Absolute Violence]

“You will tell me everything, even if you don’t want to,” Sae-Rin said, madness glinting in her eyes.

“I will tell you everything! Please!”

“I won’t stop hitting you even if you talk.”

“Please... Please don’t kill me...”

“I won’t kill you. But it will hurt so much you will wish to die. Hehehe.”

“You... crazy bastards!!”

She decided to test the extent of her power as a Ruler.

***

‘I want to go in and see what they are doing.’

Jin-Hyeok heard quite a beautiful sound of beating. The sound made it seem like Sae-Rin was using a club, perhaps with some special Skill or Trait. Jin-Hyeok could feel a deep resonance between Sae-Rin and the club, which made him quite proud.

‘Sae-Rin has grown. But her style of Play seems a bit more aggressive than before. I don’t recall her treating opponents this way.’

Jin-Hyeok was not sure why she became this aggressive, but he was somewhat relieved knowing that she had Awakened as Absolute Ruler. Just like the famous Korean saying ‘The end justifies the means’, Jin-Hyeok was sure Sae-Rin would do well with her new Job.

Since the beating was going to take some time, Jin-Hyeok decided to do something else.

With a slightly scrunched expression, Song Ha-Young asked, “Why exactly?”

“Like I said, Hwa Ta is too valuable a piece to simply throw away.”

Hwa Ta could cure many diseases that modern medicine could not. It was said that the only disease he had not conquered was baldness.

“I thought he would be quite useful if I put the Golden Headband on him,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“...”

Ha-Young’s reaction was very unexpected. He thought she would be happy if he said he would remove the Golden Headband, but strangely, she seemed a bit displeased.

“I told you. I haven’t found a way to remove the Golden Headband yet,” Ha-Young said irritably.

“I think I’ve found it.”

“What?”

“With this.” Jin-Hyeok took out the Rule Breaker. The upgraded Rule Breaker was exuding a mysterious charm, shimmering brightly. “This is more of an artifact to break rules than a weapon. I think I can use it to remove the Golden Headband bound to you and put it on Hwa Ta. It will require a delicate operation, though.”

“...”

‘Her reaction is oddly strange.’

“Are you not happy?” he asked her.

“...I am happy,” Ha-Young replied.

“I thought you'd be desperately wishing for the Golden Headband to be removed.”

“Of course.”

“Then why do you seem to dislike it?”

“I don’t dislike it!”

‘Ouch, my ears! Why is she yelling?’

Jin-Hyeok did not understand why she was yelling and making a fuss. “Looks like you dislike it no matter how I see it.”

“No, I’m really happy, okay? Just remove this damn thing already!”’

‘Why is she acting like this?’

He just couldn’t understand it.