I Gave Up Being Stronger

Chapter 60

The existing networks on Earth and the SSP had started to gradually be interconnected.

⌜What is this unidentified and unknown system called the SSP?⌟

⌜What is the SSP?⌟

Although still limited, connections with other Servers were also possible. The System’s largest community Server, Nerver, began to interconnect with Earth’s websites, and some of its features were activated in the Korean Region.

⌜A new Minor Gallery[1] for the Korean Region!⌟

⌜The SSP had penetrated into the internet network!⌟

Not everyone could use the SSP.

Kihael, GM No.3 of Seodaemun-gu, made an announcement.

[Based on the System's review, the proportion of early adopters in the Korean Region is significantly higher compared to other Regions.]

[Among the various regions on the Earth Server, the SSP will be interconnected with the Korean Region first for a trial operation.]

[Through a random drawing, 3,000 Korean Region users will be granted priority access.]

[The access is currently limited, but it will be open to all users in the future.]

Users from other Servers flocked to the Korean Region Minor Gallery.

“Assistant Manager Serchan, it’s an emergency,” Kihael said.

“What is it?”

“We just opened the Minor Gallery, and the concurrent users have exceeded eight thousand. At this rate, the Server will crash within five minutes.”

“That’s why I told you to secure enough Server capacity.”

“...But you didn’t even give me enough time to do that!”

Kihael clenched his fist tightly.

“For now, we will impose a user limit. The Server won’t be able to handle it like this,” Kihael said.

After restricting the total number of active users to five thousand, he forcibly adjusted the entry of users from other Servers to one thousand.

Kihael let out a deep sigh. He could not understand why there was so much attention on this remote Open Beta Server. With all this attention, the workload would increase. He had already been forced to work overtime for the past eleven days, in-a-row, and it seemed today won't be any different.

‘Damn it.’

“This project is going to be a huge success!” Serchan chuckled.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

The Korean Region Minor Gallery was a System community derived from an existing site in Korea.

-Anonymous[2]: Holy shit, there are so many posts up already.

There were many different rumors circulating.

-Anonymous: Idiots on Earth, be aware. After five months, the Open Beta service will be over, and you will all be crushed by the power of the mighty Planet Hammas.

-Anonymous: But why is the Minor Gallery so popular?

-Anonymous: Did you get on this community without even knowing this? LOL

-Anonymous: Get this finger princess[3] out of here!

There were posts with an unusually high number of comments. Posts that received many Likes were categorized separately as Trending posts.

-Kim Chul-Soo’s true identity was revealed. [92]

The number at the end indicated the number of comments on that post. As soon as the name 'Kim Chul-Soo' was mentioned in the title, the number of comments would typically be close to a hundred. Considering that other posts rarely had more than ten comments, it was quite an abnormal phenomenon.

-No doubt, Kim Chul-Soo’s party annihilated them all. [110]

Currently, the most trending post was about whether Kim Chul-Soo’s party had wiped out a group of Players.

-No doubt, Kim Chul-Soo’s party annihilated them all.

┗Anonymous: Look at this wannabe expert. There is no sign of a battle. What the hell are you talking about?

┗Anonymous: With that little evidence, that means one or two of them wiped out the entire party. Do you think that’s possible?

┗Anonymous: I bet they just fell into a trap.

The mainstream opinion was that it did not make sense for Kim Chul-Soo’s party to have completely wiped out Go Doo-Hyeon’s party.

┗Anonymous: If they died from the trap, why did only the Players from Doo-Hyeon’s party die?

┗Anonymous: No, you idiot, there is no sign of a battle!

┗Anonymous: There wasn’t even a drop of blood on the other members of Chul-Soo’s party.

┗Anonymous: How can you even assume there was a battle? You keyboard warriors who didn’t even experience a single minute of Play have no sense of reality.

Among them, there was a fairly well-known user from Nerver, Mireuk.[4]

┗Mireuk: If we assume that a battle took place between the two parties, the only possibility is that Chul-Soo (Streamer) alone killed those three and made the rest flee. Are there any plebs who believe that is possible?

┗Anonymous: Hey, isn’t this the famous troll from Nerver?

┗Mireuk: From my power of knowledge, your mind seems to be clouded.

In any case, if the current situation was indeed a result of a battle, a somewhat absurd assumption that a Streamer single-handedly annihilated a party of nearly ten Players had to be established.

┗Anonymous: To make that possible in the Earth Server, that person has to be at the level of the Yeosu Swordmaster.

Yeosu Swordmaster was what people called the mysterious figure who disappeared after defeating the Flying Toad. If it was not him, it was impossible.

┗Anonymous: So enough about that. What the hell are they doing?

┗Anonymous: They’re unsealing the Clear Crystal in order to battle the mobile boss monster.

The chat for Chul-Soo’s livestream was completely blocked. And there were already nearly twenty thousand viewers who wanted to communicate in there. Already thirsty for some chats, the Korean Region Minor Gallery became their only way of communication.

┗Anonymous: I can’t believe that even this place has a user limit.

The SSP’s connection to Earth’s network happened much faster and earlier than anticipated, and this was what the GMs had come up with as a solution. However, it only made the viewers thirstier.

┗Anonymous: That person seems to be quite a skilled Navigator.

┗Mireuk: From my power of knowledge, she is the second-ranked Navigator in the Korean Region.

┗Anonymous: Yeah, hallelujah.

Viewers from other Servers who were longing for communication flooded the discussions about Chul-Soo.

┗Anonymous: Is this the Korean Region Minor Gallery, or is it the Kim Chul-Soo Minor Gallery?

┗Anonymous: Shut the hell up. Is there anyone else worth watching in this shitty-ass Server?

┗Anonymous: I just asked because I was genuinely curious. Why the hell are you swearing at me?

┗Anonymous: Sorry.

The name Kim Chul-Soo filled the Korean Region Minor Gallery. Other discussions were buried under the name Kim Chul-Soo. Korean users who were new to the SSP knew very little about Kim Chul-Soo.

‘Who the hell is Kim Chul-Soo?’

‘Why is there such a commotion about him?’

Integration with Eltube had not happened yet. Korean users had very limited information about Kim Chul-Soo. Due to the limited information, they started searching ‘Kim Chul-Soo’ on search engines. Although ‘Kim Chul-Soo’ appeared on trending topics, it was such a common name that no significant information came up.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

Cha Jin-Hyeok was a little surprised.

‘When did Han Sae-Rin pick that up?’

She had to have looted hidden items on the way here. In fact, Jin-Hyeok knew about them through the Broadcaster’s Clairvoyance, but he did not bother picking them up.

There were always so many hidden things in a Dungeon, and if he were to pick up every single one of them, he would actually be slowing himself down instead, which would have resulted in him taking a much longer time to clear the Dungeon.

Most of the things Players picked up were close to garbage. It took wisdom to only pick up what they really needed, and Sae-RIn had a special talent for instinctively distinguishing that.

‘Hm…’

About thirty minutes had passed. Beads of sweat were forming on Sae-Rin’s forehead.

“Do you see it?” she said.

The lock was wobbling. It was almost about to unlock.

“Oh, I see it.”

Jin-Hyeok started to get anxious. The lock was wobbling, but it had not been fully unlocked yet.

“Will it take long? Jin-Hyeok asked.

“Hey, I’m actually going pretty fast.”

“...I see.”

Jin-Hyeok had to admit she was right. It usually took three days to unlock something like that. She looted all the miscellaneous items that Jin-Hyeok did not pay attention to and used them to unlock the Clear Crystal. It was true that she was doing her best as a Navigator, and that this was the proper way to proceed.

‘But. I am livestreaming right now...’

If Jin-Hyeok was a Streamer like Egan Paul, who could create exceptional storylines with exceptional directing, it might not be a problem. However, in his honest opinion, he was not such an exceptional Streamer. His strength lay in a fast progression based on his knowledge of the future. It was his strategy as a Streamer with limited talent to secure third place.

‘Damn it. I started the livestream too early.’

Usually, when it was about ninety-eight percent complete or when the end was in sight, that was when the time went by the slowest.

[...#Almost done! #This is making me frustrated! #What’s the last step?]

Jin-Hyeok was right.

For reference, Jin-Hyeok was applying his Second Identity and only showed what he wanted to show on the livestream. He was not broadcasting the thoughts of his party members because he thought it would not have the same impact if he revealed everything they were thinking about.

“Now, I am going to try and have an interview with our hardworking Navigator.”

Jin-Hyeok approached Sae-Rin.

“Don’t disturb me. I’m concentrating!” Sae-Rin exclaimed.

“As expected, our Navigator is working hard. I am so lucky to be able to meet such an amazing Navigator. I am really fortunate.”

Jin-Hyeok captured Sae-Rin’s beautiful and passionate appearance up close. And from an angle that wasn’t captured on the screen, Jin-Hyeok used the Mystery toward the lock.

[You have used the 「Unleashing Technique」.]

“Hey! It’s unlocked!”

Sae-Rin smiled brightly.

Jin-Hyeon genuinely thought, ‘Wow, she is truly beautiful.’

Jin-Hyeok believed that her smile was the most beautiful thing in the world.

It was a smile she put on after a dedicated and focused Play, and when she finally achieved what she set out to do. That expression was the most beautiful expression in the world.

“You’re truly beautiful,” Jin-Hyeok said sincerely.

“...What?” Sae-Rin flinched. “What did you just say?”

“No, don’t worry about it. I’m in the middle of livestreaming.”

“No, tell me. What did you say just now?”

“I said you looked beautiful.”

“Why are you spouting nonsense all of a sudden?”

Sae-Rin turned her head, seeming somewhat displeased. Jin-Hyeok wondered why she always reacted like that when he expressed his genuine feelings, whether it was now or before regression.

‘I should stop using Broadcaster’s Clairvoyance.’

In ordinary human relationships outside of Dungeon Play, Jin-Hyeok tried his best not to rely on the Skill too much. If he depended on it, he felt like his social skills kept deteriorating.

Seo Ji-Soo approached him.

“So, that’s your type?” Ji-Soo asked.

Jin-Hyeok had no idea what she was talking about.

“You just wait. In just three more years, I will become much sexier than her,” Ji-Soo said.

⁎⁎⁎

The chains broke, and Jin-Hyeok’s party members began breaking the Clear Crystal. Just before the Crystal shattered, a red light burst forth from the cracked Clear Crystal.

[You are now able to move to the Hidden Field 「Arachne’s Temporary Residence」.]

[Do you wish to move to 「Arachne’s Temporary Residence」?]

[The Dungeon will still be cleared if you decide not to move.]

The System even kindly provided them with a warning.

[Statistically, the death rate when Players of your current Level range move to 「Arachne’s Temporary Residence」 is 80%.]

Mok Jae-Hyeon’s face stiffened. It seemed like he could not help it with his innate disposition.

“Don’t worry. I think we will be fine,” Jin-Hyeok said.

That statistic represented all Players. It did not distinguish between a Player with a 1-Star Job and a Player with 9-Star Job in the statistics. There was a world of difference between a Player with 1-Star Job and a Player with a 9-Star Job, even if they were at the same Level. Of course, the number of Players with a 9-Star Job was extremely small, and the number reflected in the statistics itself was very low.

‘Considering all that, an eighty percent death rate is actually a very low death rate.’

It also did not even differentiate between the Level Grinders and actual Players. In fact, the death rate was disappointingly low. The Dungeons Jin-Hyeok’s party challenged before the regression had a statistical death rate of around 99.98%.

Kim Jeong-Hyeon was smiling faintly.

‘Just as expected!’

Sae-Rin was also the same. She was undoubtedly more excited than Jin-Hyeok. She was already in a highly excited state, with adrenaline rushing through her.

‘It seems like the Seo sisters are happy about it.’

Cha Jin-Sol seemed to be okay with it too.

Everyone was not afraid of new adventures and had a mental state of not being swayed by mere statistics of death rates. They were all solidifying their fundamentals.

‘But Jae-Hyeok seems a bit scared.’

Even though he might look scared, he was the kind of person who managed to fulfill his role somehow.

[You are about to move to 「Arachne’s Temporary Residence」.]

All of them moved to Arachne’s Temporary Residence.

“We have arrived in a Cave-type Field.”

The path ahead was a long and straight tunnel where no crossroads were visible.

“There is a stench mixed in the wind.”

Sae-Rin took the lead. It was convenient and comforting to have a party member who acted efficiently even without Jin-Hyeok’s command. He could focus more on his livestreaming.

Sae-Rin, being an excellent Navigator, even gave information to the party.

“This smell is the scent of rotting corpses. Arachne is said to be a spider-type monster. So it probably wraps its prey tightly with spider webs and keeps them stored.”

Jin-Hyeok followed behind Sae-Rin. She had discovered something.

“Look over there.”

It was the prey that she had mentioned. There were monsters and human corpses.

‘They’re all dead.’

They were Doo-Hyeon’s party members. They had to have fallen into traps while escaping the maze and ended up here.

“They have not been eaten yet, so it seems Arachne is not hungry at the moment.”

Intermittently, small spiders appeared on the walls and then vanished as if they were taken by an invisible wave.

“Arachne probably uses these spiders as scouts. It will learn that intruders have appeared in its precious food storage,” Sae-Rin continued to boast.

Jin-Hyeok saw Sae-Rin smirk. She seemed to be enjoying this.

“I wonder how impressive a mobile boss monster can be,” she said with a slightly excited voice.

After a certain point, she stopped leading the way and stepped back. She stood behind Jae-Hyeon.

“I think my role ends here.”

Now, show yourself. The enchanting battle of the crimson light.

It felt like Jin-Hyeok was hearing voices, but he just thought it was his imagination.

Step. Step.

Jin-Hyeok heard something approaching. It was a creature larger than a bull.

Arachne, a spider-type monster with eight legs, revealed itself.

[LV57/Arachne/Skills]

‘Wait. It’s at a higher Level than the Arachne I know. Will the party be able to handle it with their current abilities? I hope they can’t. Then I have no choice but to turn off my livestream and join the fight—Wait, no. I shouldn’t be thinking like this.’

“The monster’s Level is really high. Let’s fight with all our might.”

Jin-Hyeok did not know what kind of impact this battle would have on him.

1. A Minor Gallery is a sub-forum (kind of like a subreddit) dedicated to a specific topic for a large Korean forum website called DC Inside (kind of like Reddit). ☜

2. The raw says (-ㅇㅇ: ). This is used on DC Inside website, and people can post anonymously. ☜

3. Finger princess is an online slang used to describe users who don’t do their own research and just ask other users to find the answers. ☜

4. Mireuk or 미륵 is Maitreya, who is regarded as the future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. ☜