The Handsomer You Are, the Stronger You Become

“Haah, haah… hooah, haah… this is seriously killing me.”

In the midst of Han River Park, where countless people were exercising under the blazing sun, I leaned forward, bracing my hands on my knees, panting heavily.

The reason was simple: running.

I had been running since dawn, and even now, with the sun high overhead, I hadn’t taken a single break.

This wasn’t just running anymore—it was practically a marathon. Some might even call it foolish or excessive, but I couldn’t stop halfway.

[Auxiliary Beauty Quest #11]
[Your weight is disproportionate to your height.]
[You need to go on a diet. Calculating the aesthetically optimal weight.]
[Target: Weight 70 kg, Body Fat 15% (86/70 kg, 29%/15%)]

It had been about two weeks since I received Auxiliary Beauty Quest #11, and yet, I still hadn’t completed it.

No, “not completed” wasn’t strong enough. I’d actually gained a kilogram since accepting the quest. A diet where the weight goes up instead of down—how ridiculous was that?

In the early days, the weight had indeed fallen rapidly.

Right after leaving the Hunter Bureau following my conversation with Choi Jiwoo, I started limiting myself to just one meal a day during raids. My weight plummeted to 80 kg almost instantly.

Feeling encouraged, I switched to eating only sweet potatoes, chicken breast, and salads, and I dropped further to 76 kg. The goal was finally in sight.

But then, temptation struck.

“Just a little more to go… surely, one cheat day won’t hurt, right?”

With the finish line in view, I decided to pause the diet for just one day. I ordered pizza and fried chicken, indulging myself thoroughly.

Honestly, I didn’t think it would be a big deal. Raids burned so many calories that eating pizza and fried chicken wouldn’t immediately cause weight gain. Besides, I was confident. After losing weight so steadily from 85 kg to 76 kg, I thought I could control myself easily.

That, however, was a mistake.

Once my appetite surged, it was impossible to stop. My body began leaning toward gaining weight instead of losing it, and no amount of raiding could counterbalance it.

In the end:

“Master, is now really the time to rest? You still haven’t burned off the calories from last night’s pork belly and boiled pig trotters!”

I was now in the absurd position of being scolded by Swallow while running.

Failing to complete even one Auxiliary Beauty Quest in two weeks had clearly pushed him over the edge. His patience had run dry, and now his tone was merciless.

Frankly, I had no excuses. Still, I was exhausted.

Looking up at Swallow, who was flying invisibly above me, I yelled:

“Hey, I’ve been running for over six hours! Can’t I get a break?”

“You should’ve eaten in moderation. Judging by what you shoveled into your mouth last night, I’d say you consumed enough to feed an entire pig farm.”

“Shoveled? That’s too harsh! And it’s not like I drink or smoke! With all the stress from dealing with Babylon, you’re telling me I can’t even enjoy food?!”

Finally, I snapped, venting all my pent-up frustration.

It was true I’d eaten too much, but there was a reason for it. Ever since my previous life, I’d coped with stress by eating. Whenever the pressure mounted, I instinctively reached for something indulgent.

But Swallow, ever unsympathetic, remained firm:

“There’s no need to stress over Babylon, is there? We still don’t have concrete evidence linking Choi Taehun or Seo Jieun to them. Even if they do target you, we already have contingency plans.”

Honestly, he wasn’t wrong about Babylon. The Hunter Bureau was actively tracking them, and with the items Choi Jiwoo had given me, I could likely survive even if they came after me.

Babylon was just a convenient excuse, and Swallow saw right through it.

With no other choice, I resorted to shameless deflection.

“So, what, should I just let the stress pile up?”

“Relieving stress isn’t wrong, but doing it in a healthy way would be better. Haven’t you felt the runner’s high yet? After running for 30 minutes, your body should feel lighter, your mind clearer, and your mood elevated.”

“Do you think runner’s highs last forever? And running for six hours under this scorching sun is hard, even for a Hunter!”

“The sun shouldn’t be much of an issue anymore. Didn’t you acquire the Sacred Relic of the Sun Temple? Its effects should make even desert sunlight seem mild.”

“…”

He had a point.

Since dawn, I’d been running around Han River Park, exposed to sunlight all morning, but the heat hadn’t really bothered me.

The reason?

[Necklace of the Lost Sun God]
[Grade: Legendary]
[Effects: Magic Resistance +10, Fire Resistance +30]
[Skill: Lost Technique (?) - Locked]
[Skill: Wrath of the Sun (A) - Unleashes the sun’s power in all directions. Costs 300 mana per use.]
[Passive Skill: Fire Dominance (A) - Increases fire-based skill power by 30% and reduces fire damage by 30%.]

This relic, obtained from the Sun Temple, had been my salvation. After being acknowledged by the Final Knight in the underground caverns, I’d uncovered a hidden altar and received it as an additional reward.

The relic—a small golden necklace adorned with a red, sun-shaped jewel—was the second hidden piece of the Sun Temple that I’d failed to find in my previous life.

Thanks to this, I was now nearly invincible against fire-based attacks. And Swallow, having observed it all, knew this well.

“…You heartless little bird.”

No amount of excuses would work on him. Realizing this, I straightened up and said:

“Fine, whatever. I’ll keep running.”

“Just a little more, Master. You’re making great progress. See? Even passersby are starting to notice your charm.”@@novelbin@@

“What are you talking about? They’re just looking because it’s weird.”

“Not at all. Their gazes are filled with intrigue and appreciation, not disgust. You must’ve felt it too, haven’t you?”

Curious, I turned to observe the people around me. Sure enough, I caught glimpses of pedestrians sneaking looks at me as they passed by.

At first glance, it seemed like nothing out of the ordinary. But deep down, I couldn’t deny it.

In my previous life, whenever people on the street looked at me, it was often with disdain or outright mockery. Now, however, their expressions held something closer to curiosity.

“…What a load of nonsense. I’m just glad they’re not sneering.”

“Haha, it seems you haven’t completely shaken off the trauma from your previous life. You’re flawless with a sword, yet adorably clumsy in everyday situations. It’s quite endearing, Master.”

Maybe Swallow was right. The harsh experiences of my past life had left scars, making it hard for me to trust this newfound reality.

“Fine, fine. I’ll run, so stop nagging me, you cheeky bird!”

Embarrassed by his teasing, I grumbled and resumed running along the Han River. After another two hours of relentless jogging, I finally saw results.

[You have achieved the optimal amount of exercise.]

“Yes!”

It was only a 2 kg weight loss and a 1% drop in body fat, but it was progress worth celebrating.

“Fantastic work, Master. Now, let’s push for one last kilometer!”

“Alright, let’s finish strong!”

Invigorated by the results, I picked up my pace for the final stretch. But just as I was hitting my stride, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

“Master, why are you stopping?”

“Hold on… haah, haah… this time it’s not an excuse. I think the announcement I’ve been waiting for just came out.”

<Jaewon University President’s Rookie Hunter Raid Competition>
Event: D-rank Dungeon Raid
Date: October 1
Eligibility: Hunters below level 200
Prizes:

• 1st Place: 100 million won + Special Item
• 2nd Place: 50 million won
• 3rd Place: 30 million won

“Finally! You were right about the timing, Master.”

Swallow fluttered down to inspect the announcement with me. The rookie raid competition hosted by Jaewon University—it was the very reason I had been deliberately pacing my level-ups for the past two weeks.

Thanks to my solo experience farming and title synergy, I could’ve easily surpassed level 200 if I wanted to. But the competition’s eligibility criteria required participants to be below level 200. That’s why I’d been stuck jogging around Han River instead of grinding dungeons.

The first-place prize—a special item—was a necessity. In my previous life, Seo Jieun had leveraged that very item to significantly boost her abilities. Winning this competition was non-negotiable.

Even Swallow agreed.

“It seems the diet can end here.”

“Right. I’ve hit today’s goals, so… time to shift gears and start preparing for the competition.”

Leaving Han River Park behind, I headed toward the Hunter training facility. It was time to get serious.

***

Yangjae Station Hunter Training Facility

“Haah! Haaahh!”

In a quiet corner of the shared training ground, where numerous Hunters honed their skills, loud shouts of exertion echoed.

“Wow, who knew sword movements could look that beautiful?”

“It’s the result of relentless training. She’s been coming here almost every day lately.”

“She’s not just down-to-earth but also incredibly diligent? Seriously, she’s perfect…”

Hunters scattered throughout the training area murmured in admiration.

The hard work on display wasn’t anything new, but the person being admired was none other than Jin Seoyun.

Jin Seoyun—the daughter of the chairman of the Yuseong Group and a Hunter from Samcheon, Korea’s top-ranking guild.

Her mere presence was enough to make headlines, and here she was, training earnestly in a common Hunter facility.

To those watching, her unwavering focus appeared nothing short of remarkable.

But contrary to appearances, her thoughts were elsewhere.

‘He’s not coming again today…?’

Jin Seoyun was waiting for Kang Hyunsoo.

There wasn’t any particular reason.

She just felt—

‘I need to thank him. And… there are things I’m curious about.’

After fighting side by side against the masked Hunter, she simply wanted to talk to him.

What exactly had he been doing with the scarecrows at the training ground? How had someone below level 100—a bottom-tier Hunter—managed to exhibit such power?

Her questions seemed endless.

And if possible, she even wanted to recruit him into the Samcheon Guild.

To that end, Jin Seoyun had tried to arrange a meeting through her personal secretary.

• “He declined, Miss Seoyun. He said he’s too busy with training and doesn’t have the time.”

He’d turned her down.

Technically, it was through her secretary, but Jin Seoyun had still been outright rejected by Kang Hyunsoo.

For someone like her, this was unheard of.

At first, she was taken aback—this had never happened before.

But her initial shock quickly gave way to curiosity, which overpowered her pride.

‘Training? Is he talking about hitting those scarecrows?’

Feigning coincidence, Jin Seoyun began training at the same facility where she had seen Kang Hyunsoo practice.

But—

One day.
Two days.
Three days…

It had been nearly two weeks, and not once had she crossed paths with him.

She even dispatched her secretary to confirm his whereabouts and checked with the reception desk to verify the times he’d visited. Yet, not once had Kang Hyunsoo come to the facility.

‘Maybe I should just hit the scarecrow one last time before I give up.’

Reaching out directly felt oddly embarrassing, and it seemed like it was time to let it go.

Jin Seoyun stood before the scarecrow that Kang Hyunsoo had trained with. She raised her saber, preparing to swing.

But just as she was about to strike—

“Hello, Hunter Jin Seoyun. Fancy meeting you here.”

“…?”

A man’s voice suddenly called out from behind her.

Jin Seoyun turned her head to see a man in running gear approaching her.

His unfamiliar appearance made him difficult to recognize at first glance.

But as he drew closer, and she looked at him more closely—

“Who…? Wait, what?!”

Jin Seoyun’s eyes widened in shock.