I Gave Up Being Stronger

“What are the benefits of changing my Job?” Cha Jin-Hyeok asked.

“You will have more freedom for prayer time,” Garcia replied. “As a Priest, you can serve people to your heart’s content. You can even maintain focus during a forty-day fasting prayer without breaks.”

Jin-Hyeok was surprised by Garcia’s unusual sense of social awareness. He wondered if Garcia actually thought these were selling points.

“Can I just do a Dual Class?” Jin-Hyeok inquired.

“Why would you want a Dual Class?” Garcia looked at Jin-Hyeok with genuine confusion. His expression conveyed that he thought being only a Priest was far superior to combining the Job with being an Eltuber.

Marveling at Garcia’s remarkable social skills, Jin-Hyeok responded, “I decline.”

Garcia was caught off guard by the refusal, and his eyes widened in shock. “But… why?”

“As my faith is inadequate, taking on such a noble Job would be too shameful for me,” Jin-Hyeok explained.

“I see.” Garcia nodded.

Jin-Hyeok continued with a serious expression, “It breaks my heart that I can’t receive such radiant grace…”

Gerdok, Garcia’s aide, sensed that something was off. He worried that Garcia might feel guilty, which could turn out to be dangerous for the Feyler Family. Garcia was the type to perform all sorts of good deeds to atone for his sins.

“W-Wait!” Gerdok shouted.

However, before Gerdok could interject, Garcia said, “I apologize. I did not consider that. You must be disappointed.”

“It’s heartbreaking,” Jin-Hyeok said.

“To make amends, I would like to offer you a suitable gift, such as…”

Fearing Garcia could offer something like an all-day prayer pass, Jin-Hyeok quickly interrupted him. “What you are about to offer is surely too grand for me. I might find myself in the sad position of having to refuse such beautiful grace again. Perhaps, you could let me state what I want instead?”

“Fair enough,” Garcia replied.

Gerdok wanted to shout ‘What’s fair about this? Don’t fall for it!’ However, it was too late for him to intervene.

“What do you want?” Garcia asked with a gentle smile, while Gerdok’s face darkened.

***

Jin-Hyeok expressed his disappointment. “I thought there might be some kind of holy relic, but…”

He had requested a family relic from Garcia, but unfortunately, the Feyler Family no longer possessed any such relics.

Jin-Hyeok began to worry. ‘Isn’t the universe-level Scenario progressing too slowly?’

Right now, the universe-level Scenario was stuck at stage (10).

[(10) Dear wanderer, much time has passed. How do you feel, having faced the truth that slumbers within the Sword Fragment? Ah, corrupted believer. The sacrilegious armor you boasted of has pierced your heart instead. The era of false peace draws to a close, and now we shall march toward the truth.]

While Jin-Hyeok had created videos on minor events and relatively calm content over the past few days, he felt it was time to advance the main content.

Mole Woman, who had recently become Jin-Hyeok’s closest confidant due to viewers’ explosive interest in her, tilted her head. ‘Isn’t it progressing fast enough?’

She had heard that Scenarios of the universe-level scale typically spanned years, if not centuries, sometimes continuing through generations.

“Well…” Mole Woman said cautiously, being familiar with Jin-Hyeok’s standards. “Maybe your soul’s dimensional value does match that of the Demons.”

“That can’t be.” Jin-Hyeok dismissed her. “Aren’t all Demons supposed to be crazy?”

History portrayed most Demons as madmen—obsessed with slaughter, pleasure, blood, or greed. They were always described as crazy about something.

“O-Of course, you’re perfectly normal, Chul-Soo,” Mole Woman quickly added. “But think about it. If you do have a Demon’s dimensional value, couldn’t you film content in the Demon dimension too?”

Jin-Hyeok’s eyes widened. He had been so fixated on the idea that he was not corrupt and thus could not share a dimensional value with Demons that he had overlooked the true potential of that.

‘I have been too narrow-minded again, haven’t I?’ He reflected on himself. While it was unlikely that his soul truly matched the Demons’ dimensional value, a true Eltuber would find a way to turn that into content. ‘I need to find a way to open the dimensional gate.’

***

The way of opening a dimensional gate to the Demon Realm was more widely known than expected. Yolin explained it as if it was nothing special. “Demon contractors can summon Demons, Boss. That’s when dimensional gates open.”

“Are they the same as the one that opened in Arvis?” Jin-Hyeok asked.

“The essence is the same. However, the one in Arvis opened on a massive scale due to overlapping dimensions… This would be on a much smaller scale since it’s summoned by an individual.”

“Hm…”

He had hoped to study the recent events by summoning Demon contractors, but Yolin shook her head.

“It might be difficult,” she warned him.

“Why?”

“Demon contractors prefer to remain hidden.” Yolin also had a keen interest in Demon contractors. They often lurked in the shadows of imperial history, suddenly emerging to change the course of major events. “I have tried to contact Demon contractors several times, but always failed.”

The thought depressed her a bit. She held no ill will toward Demon contractors; she was just academically curious. Even a reward of five million Dias had not attracted any volunteers.

“It seems they aren’t motivated by money,” she concluded.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I will look into other ways to contact Demon contractors.”

However, she was not confident. If all her previous efforts had failed, it was unlikely to suddenly work now.”

“I found one. A Demon contractor,” Jin-Hyeok suddenly announced with a grin.

“What?”

He had found a Demon contractor on Chul-Soopia, the exclusive app for Chul-Soo Land.

[No.777: Me! Me! Me! It’s me! I’m a Demon contractor!]

***

Chul-Soo Land No.777 was a famous Chul-Soo Lander. She was the runner-up in the last Sword Emperor Tournament. Originally named Ysael Victor and hailing from one of the Seven Great Families of Arvis, she had changed her name to Kim Ysael out of an obsession with Kim Chul-Soo.

Although she had been cast out by the Victor Family, she had no regret. To her, the surname Kim was more precious than Victor. Her room was filled with photos of Chul-Soo taken by the Homepage Master Kang Eun-Woo.

“Do you wish to contract with me?”

When she had first encountered a Demon, she had been a bit nervous. She had heard that contracts required terrible sacrifices.

“What an outdated notion. This is not the Dark Ages.”

The camera-shaped Demon did not demand a human heart, brain, or blood. He simply presented a contract.

“Here is the contract. It’s a year term, renewable by mutual agreement.”

“What benefits do I gain from this contract?”

“I’m Count Piklu, lord of Picture Castle on the Cliff. I can analyze your photos and drawings, reading the thoughts and emotions of the subjects.”

Count Piklu did not want to lose this contractor. Her pure obsession would enrich him, as such madness tended to corrupt the soul—the very sustenance Demons craved most.

‘I should offer more incentives.’ Piklu thought. He had been caught off-guard by the sudden summoning, so he felt that he needed to present a more enticing bait for this contractor.

“There is only one thing that I want from y—”

“I’ll sign the contract.”

Piklu felt oddly cheated. He had proposed the contract, but she accepted too easily without even hearing the conditions.

A month later, Piklu wanted to cry.

“Please… stop… I beg you!”

Ysael’s obsession disgusted even Count Piklu. Even the tastiest dessert would become nauseating when eaten non-stop for a month.

“Analyze this photo,” Ysael demanded.

Bound by the contract, Count Piklu had no choice but to comply.

“That photo… it’s from a Dungeon called Pangea Temple.”

He did not know where Pangea Temple was; he could only read the information in the photo. It showed Jin-Hyeok crawling through a narrow tunnel made by Mole Woman, with her backside nearly touching his face.

“He feels intense rivalry toward this Mole Woman… Ugh, please… no more! Stop!”

***

“Long time no see,” Jin-Hyeok said.

Ysael, who had been invited by Jin-Hyeok, nervously entered his house.

‘I’ve… I’ve hit the jackpot!’ She had never imagined she would be invited to Chul-Soo’s home. “Mr. Ch-Chul-Soo!”

Unable to control herself, she rushed toward Jin-Hyeok. For a moment, Jin-Hyeok feared it was an assassination attempt, but (un)fortunately, it was just an enthusiastic hug born of excitement.

‘She’s crying again.’ Jin-Hyeok was touched. ‘Is this what it feels like to be loved by a fan?’

Feeling slightly pleased, he asked, “Can you summon a Demon for me? I would like to see a dimensional gate.”

“Of course!” Ysael showed the inside of her wrist, revealing what looked like a magical symbol made of black lines. “This is the mark proving my contract with a Demon.”

She explained everything in great detail, hoping to spend even a second longer with Jin-Hyeok.

“Now, I’m going to summon the Demon. By the sacred contract, Kim Ysael calls upon Piklu. Piklu, heed Kim Ysael’s summons.”

At that moment, a tiny dimensional gate opened in mid-air. The camera-shaped Demon Piklu emerged through the gate, let out a startled Eek,and hiccupped.

“D-Demon…!”

The monster he had seen in only photos was right in front of him. To Piklu, Chul-Soo was a pure mass of corruption. Just as drinking excessively pure water could upset one’s stomach, Chul-Soo’s soul had the same effect on Piklu.

“G-Great Demon Lord! Ruler of Demons!”

Jin-Hyeok wore a bewildered expression.

“Have you finally awakened from your long slumber to conquer humanity and reveal yourself?! I’m Count Piklu of Picture Castle on the Cliff. Great Demon Lord! Now that you have awakened, I shall blow my painted horn to spread the joyous news!”

Jin-Hyeok considered swinging Miri but held back, remembering this was Ysael’s contracted Demon. At that moment, the long-stalled universe-level Scenario progressed once more.

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