The Handsomer You Are, the Stronger You Become

What does it mean to have a great sense of fashion?

Ever since I gained the "Beauty" talent, this question had been on my mind.

One of the characteristics of the talent, "The Handsomer You Are, the Stronger You Become," was that good fashion could increase Appearance Power. The better I dressed, the stronger I became.

But increasing Appearance Power through fashion wasn’t easy.

No matter how many outfits I tried, the most I could achieve was a +1 increase. If I threw on random clothes without thought, my Appearance Power would drop instead.

The only option left was to buy new clothes and experiment.

But even that wasn’t simple.

I didn’t trust myself to pick the right outfits online, and with all the raids and quests taking up my time, I couldn’t find an opportunity to shop in person.

So far, I had focused on raids and quests, avoiding the issue. But now I couldn’t delay it any longer.

[Supplementary Beauty Quest 12]
[Achieve a +5 increase in Appearance Power through outfit changes (0/5).]

The quest was clear: I had to raise my Appearance Power by +5 through my choice of attire.

Until now, I had survived with a basic combination of shirts and slacks. But it was time for a change.

After much deliberation, I decided to take a different approach.

“Over here! This way, Hyung!”

Standing in front of a towering department store entrance was a tall figure wearing a mask, sunglasses, and a cap. Despite his face being completely hidden, his striking physique made him easy to identify.

Han Sungbin.

The rising star of the Samcheon Guild, known for his exceptional looks, had come to greet me at the department store.

"I just asked for a recommendation, but he actually showed up."

This unexpected meeting wasn’t my idea.

After leaving the tournament venue, I had spent all night trying on different outfits at home. Frustrated and out of ideas, I texted Han Sungbin to ask for advice about stylish clothing.

<Han Sungbin - Stylish clothes? Ah, you need something for the winners' party! Leave it to me, Hyung. I’ll help you find the perfect outfit. Let’s meet at New World Department Store!>

He could’ve just sent recommendations over text. But no, he insisted on meeting in person at the store.

While he claimed it was also an excuse to report on Yoo Hana’s condition, there was no real need for us to meet.

I already knew about Yoo Hana’s state.

<Jin Seoyun - Yoo Hana’s fine. It looks like she just had a brief episode of PTSD. Physically, she’s completely okay.>
<Yoo Hana - Hyunsoo oppa! I’m so sorry about today. You could’ve had a great interview, but I ruined it by getting sick...>
<Kang Hyunsoo - Don’t worry about it. We won the tournament, and you did your best. Rest well.>

With everything settled, there was no real reason to meet Han Sungbin.

But in the end, I found myself here.

"Why are you meeting him? You can’t learn fashion just through words, Master. Set up the meeting immediately."

Swallow had scolded me into it. Annoying, but not wrong.

And so, I agreed to meet Han Sungbin. His voice practically overflowed with enthusiasm.

“I was sad we had to part ways so early yesterday, but I’m thrilled to see you again today. Congratulations again on your victory, Hyung! Or should I say, Kang Hyunsoo Hunter!”

“Just stick to calling me Hyung,” I said, granting him permission to use the informal term.

I didn’t care much about making friends, but switching back and forth between titles was tiring.

“Sniff…! You’re officially recognizing me as your dongsaeng (younger brother)! Thank you, Hyung! I’ll do my best to support you!!”

Tears of gratitude seemed to well up beneath his mask as he clenched his fists with determination.

Even Swallow, who was perched invisibly nearby, clapped his wings in mock celebration.

“Oh, congratulations, Master. You’ve gained an excellent minion.”
“…Where do you even learn to talk like that?”
“From your own memories, of course. Hair styling, fashion… Han Sungbin’s proving to be quite useful. He’ll likely be invaluable in the future.”

Swallow’s words, though harshly phrased, weren’t wrong.

The last time I changed my hairstyle, Han Sungbin had helped. And now he was going above and beyond to assist me with fashion.

“Follow me, Hyung! Let’s start with some of the latest trending styles!”

I followed him into the department store, trying on every outfit he handed me. When I emerged from the fitting room in one of them, the system reacted immediately.

[Activated]
[Trait: The Handsomer You Are, the Stronger You Become (S)]
[Outfit changed.]
[Youthful fashion adds vitality to your entire look.]
[Appearance Power: +2]

The outfit gave me a +2 boost to my Appearance Power—double what my usual shirt-and-slacks combo provided.

“Huh… Not bad.”

I stared at myself in the full-length mirror.

The loose beige pants, white t-shirt, and denim jacket created a casual yet refined look. It was the kind of outfit you’d see in a fashion magazine.

And judging by the reactions of others, it wasn’t just me who thought so.

“You look great, Hyung! You look at least five years younger!”
“Wow! You look like a magazine model, sir!”

It was definitely an upgrade from my usual style. Even the system had acknowledged it with a +2 boost.

But…

“This is nice, but I don’t think it’s quite the style I’m looking for.”

I smiled sheepishly and changed back into my previous clothes.

While the outfit was good, my ultimate goal was to find something that would give me the full +5 boost I needed for the quest.

Fortunately, Han Sungbin was more than willing to keep helping.

But.

"Let's check out a few more stores, Hyung. Oh, and please wrap these up as well."

"Are you buying those for yourself?"

"No, Hyung. I'm getting them as a gift for you. These suit you perfectly; there's no reason not to buy them."

Han Sungbin casually purchased the clothes I had tried on and handed me the shopping bags.

I hadn’t planned on buying them since they didn’t quite match my style, but he insisted on gifting them to me.

"Thanks for the gift… but isn’t this a bit expensive?" I asked, hesitating.

"It’s nothing, Hyung. This is why I earn money—to spend it like this."@@novelbin@@

The jacket, pants, and t-shirt alone exceeded a million won. Yet, Sungbin swiped his card without hesitation, as if it were pocket change.

I reluctantly accepted the bags. The price tag made me uneasy, but he didn’t seem to care at all.

Even as we continued shopping, he insisted on buying everything I tried. Streetwear, casual combinations like blousons with shirts and black jeans—each outfit increased my Appearance Power, sometimes by as much as +3.

"Let’s keep looking; I think there’s something even better out there," I said.

"And I’ll buy this one, too," Sungbin added nonchalantly.

I tried to stop him. "You realize this is over two million won, right? This is starting to make me feel uncomfortable."

"It’s nothing compared to the value of my life, Hyung. Please, accept it. If not, I’ll just hand you the cash equivalent!"

He wasn’t kidding. The way he threatened me with a "cash alternative" left me no choice but to let him continue.

Honestly, I wanted to stop shopping altogether because it felt burdensome. But the consistent increase in Appearance Power with each new outfit encouraged me to keep going.

Swallow, ever the voice of practicality, chimed in invisibly from above.

"Master, you should accept the gifts. Han Sungbin has more than enough money. I noticed earlier—one of his bank accounts alone has over five billion won. Also, compared to the prices of these clothes, it’s really not that much for him."

Five billion? That explained his carefree spending.

"But let’s not forget," Swallow added, "the true test of fashion lies in formalwear. And for that, we need a proper suit."

After exhausting the casualwear options, Sungbin led me to the men’s formalwear section. The suits here were leagues above the casual outfits we had tried so far.

<Price: 3,000,000 KRW>

"Three million won for a suit? Are you insane?"

Swallow’s earlier comment about high-end brands proved accurate. This one suit alone cost more than all the other outfits combined.

I leaned toward Sungbin and whispered, "Why is this place so expensive?"

"It’s a luxury brand, Hyung. Don’t worry about the cost. Just try it on."

I had enough money saved from raid earnings and leftover fees from the Samcheon Guild, so I could afford it if I really wanted to.

But spending the equivalent of a month’s salary on a single suit? That triggered every frugal instinct in me.

Still, I reluctantly went into the fitting room to try on the suit.

[Outfit changed.]
[The material and design are exceptional, and the fit complements the wearer perfectly.]
[Appearance Power: +4]

It was the highest boost I’d seen so far, just one shy of the +5 I needed for the quest.

"This is good," I admitted as I looked in the mirror, "but it still feels like something’s missing."

I tried cheaper suits at other stores, but none came close to matching the +4 boost from the luxury brand. Eventually, I found myself back at the high-end store.

But no matter how many combinations I tried, I couldn’t get past the +4 threshold.

Then, Sungbin approached me with a determined look.

"Hyung, could you wait here for about thirty minutes?"

"Why?"

"Trust me. I’ll make this perfect."

Before I could ask further, he paid for the suit, darted toward the elevator, and disappeared.

When he returned, he was panting but smiling triumphantly.

"Hyung, try this again!"

The suit looked almost identical to the one I had tried earlier, but something seemed subtly different.

I tilted my head in curiosity as I took the suit and went back into the fitting room.

When I emerged, the system chimed again.

[Outfit changed.]
[The material and design are exceptional, and the fit complements the wearer perfectly.]
[Appearance Power: +4]

"It’s still the same," I muttered, disappointed.

Sungbin didn’t give up. He crouched down, removed my shoes, and replaced them with a pair of polished leather dress shoes.

Then, he pulled out a sleek wristwatch from nowhere and fastened it onto my wrist.

The moment the watch clicked into place, something shifted.

I felt the outfit settle around me, almost as if it had been custom-made just for this moment.

[Outfit changed.]
[The outfit, accessories, and setting harmonize perfectly.]
[Appearance Power: +5]
[Quest completed: Achieve a +5 increase in Appearance Power through outfit changes.]

[Rewards granted:]
[Charisma +15]
[Trait upgraded: Physiognomy increased from D to C rank.]
[Your face becomes slightly more handsome.]

A subtle warmth spread across my features as the system finalized the upgrade.

"Hyung," Sungbin said, grinning as he saw my reaction. "You look perfect. No one at the party will be able to take their eyes off you."

I stared at myself in the mirror, taking in the completed look.

"Yeah," I admitted, adjusting the cufflinks. "This will do."

Finally, the quest was complete.