I Gave Up Being Stronger - Chapter 295

Cha Jin-Hyeok’s livestream caused a stir.

-How can anyone deny that Harkoen is guilty?

-Arrest Harkoen!

People clamoring for justice took to the streets with picket signs. On top of that, Chul-Soo Landers from various parts of the universe gathered in public squares to protest.

-Punish Harkoen, a demon in human guise!

-She is the devil!

Of course, some people viewed these Chul-Soo Landers with skepticism.

“I highly doubt that they’re doing this for justice.”

“That’s true.”

Although Chul-Soo Landers claimed to be marching for the cause of justice, their true intentions seemed all too clear.

“All they care about is that Harkoen messed with their Chul-Soo Oppa.”

“Actually, they don’t call him Chul-Soo Oppa anymore. Chul-Soo has become a figure embraced by multiple generations, so calling him an oppa just doesn’t make sense anymore.”

Thus, the phrase “How dare you mess with my Oppa?” no longer suited the situation.

“I think now, they just say ‘Our Chul-Soo.’”

“Chul-Soo’s influence is this significant? I had no idea.”

“The shock of this incident played a part as well.”

Despite the commotion, Chul-Soo had gathered the evidence by illegally invading Harkoen’s home, due to which this evidence could not be easily used in court.

“Moreover, in Arvis, courts tend to value citizen testimony, especially in the Helen Empire.”

Hyde was the first to confess to all charges.

“It won’t be easy until Hyde retracts his statement.”

***

Mayor Yuleim of Muren City frowned deeply. He had felt burdened by Muenne ever since she had taken up her post as the captain of the guard in his city. “Look here, Captain Muenne. How can someone who values principles as you do resort to such actions?”

“I am acting according to those very principles.”

“Even someone like you, Captain Muenne, can bring only one Player from a non-Arvis Server to Arvis. What was her name again? Hey, what was her name?”

The secretary standing beside Yuleim quickly answered, “Han Sae-Rin[1]. She’s a former Navigator and currently an active Ruler from the Earth Server. She is also an associate of Kim Chul-Soo.”

“Yes, Han Sae-Rin. Didn’t you bring that woman over on your guarantee, Captain Muenne? Any more would be too much. Please, return to your post.” Yuleim said.

Normally, Muenne would have left without a word when a superior spoke in this manner. However, being a part of Chul-Soo Land now, she had changed. “But, Mayor, according to a special provision in the city’s regulation, there exists an exception.”

[In cases where the circumstances of a crime in Muren City are clearly exposed, the officer in charge of public safety may request external support and authorize entry into Arvis.]

This was something even the mayor’s secretary did not know about.

The secretary was taken aback. “Y-You were able to find this in the city’s regulations?”

Muenne was a commendable Paladin, but she was also known to struggle with reading. She generally disliked reading anything, whether books or documents.

‘And Captain Muenne went through the annex to find this?’

Regardless, the mayor had no choice but to accept Muenne’s request, enabling Angel Girl Song Ha-Young to enter the Arvis Server, under the jurisdiction of the Helen Empire, and into the metropolis of Muren.

Song Ha-Young immediately requested a visit with Hyde.

***

‘Angel Girl? Isn’t she one of Chul-Soo’s close associates?’ Hyde thought. Her requesting to see him could only mean one thing. ‘I am not going to recant my statement no matter what.’

Hyde had firmly resolved to bear the brunt of everything himself, swearing to die beautifully for Harkoen, whom he had loved since her childhood. Yet, he did not outright refuse the visitation request either. As he was a condemned prisoner with a set execution date, nobody bothered or irritated him anymore. For the past five days, he had been leading a monotonous life in prison.

“I accept the visitation request.”

Facing Ha-Young across a transparent glass wall, Hyde spoke up instead of greeting her. “I have no intention of changing my statement.”

“I’m not here to ask you to change your statement.”

‘Lies!’ Hyde knew that was why she was here. Just when he was going to leave, he was surprised. ‘I heard that she was a formidable Thief, and as expected, her skills are quite something.’

Ha-Young had secretly passed him a letter through the glass wall, which had gone unnoticed by the guards.

“Mister, you deeply love Lady Harkoen, whom you have almost raised from childhood, don’t you?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I love Chul-Soo. Just like how you serve Lady Harkoen, I serve Chul-Soo. So, I think I can partly understand your feelings.” Ha-Young had meticulously researched and practiced her choice of words, expression, and tone before meeting up with Hyde. It was her strategy to infiltrate the vulnerabilities in Hyde’s heart. In her perspective, a true Thief should also be able to shake a person’s psyche.

“That’s why I specifically requested the visit. I hope you don’t feel wronged.” After saying something very ambiguous, she stood up from her seat.

Returning to his cell, Hyde secretly examined the letter.

‘I’m sure the letter is going to be exactly what I think it is.’

He knew that the letter was supposed to sway his emotions with various tempting words, ultimately asking him to recant his statement. Bracing himself, he read the letter, and he was immediately shocked.

‘Wait… this is…!’ It was not a letter written by Ha-Young. ‘This is a letter from Harkoen!’

No one knew Harkoen’s handwriting better than Hyde. This was unmistakably Harkoen’s writing.

[To my respected and beloved Uncle Justin.]

Justin was a Grand Counsel of the Helen Empire, responsible for presiding over this case.

Hyde’s heart ached for no reason. ‘There is no need for you to plead for my clemency, Harkoen…’

However, the content was far from what Hyde had expected. Instead of a letter asking for Hyde’s clemency, it was more akin to a letter of greeting.

‘Right. There is no need for it to involve me.’

Hyde knew that bringing him up in the letter would not provide Harkoen any benefits. Moreover, Harkoen was a lonely and pitiful child, with only dolls for friends. So, exchanging letters like this was not strange.

[The only person I truly love and follow is you, Uncle. You know that, right?]

Hyde read the letter several times.

[The only person I truly love and follow is you, Uncle. You know that, right?]

Hyde trembled slightly. An indescribable sense of betrayal washed over him, making him feel like crying. ‘This… is a cheap trick by Angel Girl!’

Even though he thought so, he could not control the feeling of being slighted. He stood up and pounded on the door. When a skilled person like him caused a commotion, it put the guards in a very difficult position.

A guard hurried over. “W-What’s the matter?”

“I request a visitation with Lady Harkoen.”

“Alright, I will convey the message.”

Hyde sat down while crossing his legs, closing his eyes. He needed to meditate to manage his turbulent emotions. ‘Just one conversation with her would put everything back to normal.’

After some time, the guard returned and said, “Lady Harkoen has refused the visitation request.”

***

Upon hearing that Hyde had requested a visitation, Harkoen snorted. “Hmph! Now he requests a visitation with me?”

She was still furious at Hyde. If not for the Rune of Recovery, Chul-Soo could have died. “I asked him to not kill Chul-Soo no matter what!”

He had the audacity to request a visitation after blatantly ignoring her request.

“Hmph!” She was well aware that her refusal to visit would serve as a significant punishment to Hyde. “The chamberlain also deserves punishment.”

The more she thought about it, the more she felt that Hyde needed to reflect on his actions.

When Harkoen refused the visitation, Hyde felt as if he had lost his last shred of reason.

‘I don’t expect a single word for me,’ Hyde thought. After all, it was his choice to take on all the blame for Harkoen, and not her request.

[The only person I truly love and follow is you, Uncle. You know that, right?]

He crumpled the letter in his hand, swallowed the raging anger within him, and continued his meditation.

Then, on the day of execution, he thought, ‘I am dying for Harkoen.’

He reaffirmed this resolve over and over. Betrayal and disappointment meant nothing at all. However, things did not go as he thought.

“Hyde, do you have any last words?”

Seeing Grand Counsel Justin’s face, Hyde lost the last bit of his composure. “I do.”

***

A few days ago, Muenne could not shake off her unease. “Falsifying documents… Is it really okay to be doing something like this?”

“If you are part of Chul-Soo Land, you should be able to handle at least this much.”

Before, Muenne would have reprimanded Ha-Young, but now she couldn’t. It was because Ha-Young was considered Muenne’s senior in Chul-Soo Land, whether it was in terms of experience or relationship with Chul-Soo.

“Good, this should be convincing enough,” Ha-Young said.

“But didn’t you say your Job was a Thief?”

‘How can a Thief perfectly mimic handwriting?’ Muenne thought.

“A capable Thief should be able to imitate handwriting,” Ha-Young replied.

This left Muenne even more confused. She wanted to ask, ‘Why is that the standard for being capable?’ However, Ha-Young’s next words were even more perplexing.

“I know, I know. My imitating skill is not perfect.”

‘It looks pretty perfect to me,’ Muenne thought. She had a lot of questions, but feeling as if she had not fully immersed herself in the Chul-Soo Universe, she kept her mouth shut.

‘But this is fraud… Is this okay?’

After returning from the visitation with Hyde, Ha-Young satisfactorily smiled. “Good, I think I was intense enough.”

Muenne had an epiphany. ‘So, as long as it is done intensely, everything is okay!’

Muenne firmly grabbed Ha-Young’s hand. “I express my deep gratitude for your valuable lesson, Angel Girl!”

***

“It was Harkoen. It was all her doing.”

The case took a new turn, and Hyde’s execution was postponed.

Grand Counsel Justin asked, “Hyde, why do you recant your statement now?”

Hyde glared at Justin, not wanting to exchange even a single word with him. “All I have to say is this: It wasn’t me. The dolls are Harkoen’s, that child’s creation.”

This became a huge scandal across the universe.

-This is real? I thought it was just a rumor, but it’s true?

-There is still no concrete evidence.

-Didn’t you watch the livestream? If that’s not evidence, what is?

-I can’t believe there is an idiot who takes a Streamer’s livestream as credible evidence. LOL

Many people found it difficult to confirm Harkoen’s guilt based solely on Chul-Soo’s video. However, countless anonymous helpers appeared. Video experts identified numerous clues in Chul-Soo’s videos and significantly aided in proving Harkoen’s guilt.

-In the Chul-Soo Universe, nothing is unknown.

This became a kind of meme, with even those outside of Chul-Soo Land joining the Chul-Soo Universe narrative. Collective intelligence began to move to prove Harkoen’s guilt.

Amid all this, Ha-Young infiltrated Harkoen’s mansion.

‘Nice! Timing really is everything in theft.’

Such infiltration would have been difficult under normal circumstances, but in the middle of this chaos, Ha-Young managed to do it.

‘Huh? So these are the actual letters.’

There were hundreds of letters in a drawer in Harkoen’s bedroom, all in red envelopes.

‘Wow…’ Ha-Young was genuinely impressed. ‘Harkoen really is intense.’

Ha-Young could not say she didn’t understand Harkoen’s desire to possess Chul-Soo. This allowed her to read Harkoen’s true feelings.

“To my beloved Kim Chul-Soo. To my esteemed Kim Chul-Soo. To my precious muse…”

The contents of these numerous letters were essentially the same, filled with words of love for Chul-Soo. Essentially, these were fan letters or love letters.

“If I were to die… I would leave everything to Chul-Soo? Am I reading this right?”

There were many expressions, but the content about how Chul-Soo was more precious than anything else to her was prevalent. These were declarations of dedicating everything to Chul-Soo.

Ha-Young smirked. “Oh… This could be considered a will, right?”

1. Chul-Soo is allowed to bring one person with him, but I think the author missed the point here. ☜