The Handsomer You Are, the Stronger You Become

An unexpected appearance.

“D-Did you just block that for me?”

Jin Seoyun looked up at Kang Hyunsoo with wide eyes. Though she hadn’t seen it directly, the circumstances suggested that it was Kang Hyunsoo who had split apart the boulder flying toward her.

And she was right.

Just moments ago, when the Great Golem hurled a rock at Jin Seoyun, Kang Hyunsoo acted immediately.

[Activation]

[Sky Blade (B)]

Upon witnessing the boss monster’s regeneration, Hyunsoo instinctively realized the danger. He hurled his old, worn-out mercenary sword directly at the incoming boulder.

A response driven more by instinct than logic.

The sword flew so quickly that even the hunters of the Samcheon Guild, not to mention Jin Seoyun, failed to see it clearly.

To be honest, this was a moment where he could have easily bragged.

But instead, Kang Hyunsoo simply wrapped an arm around Jin Seoyun’s waist and leapt sideways.

“Eek…!”

Boom! Boom-boom-boom!

A massive stone pillar erupted from where Jin Seoyun had been standing.

“Save the chat for later. Focus on the raid.”

“Ah… Yes!”

Jin Seoyun nodded quickly, regaining her composure at his sharp command. Now wasn’t the time to ask questions.

“Graaargh…!”

“Damn it! This thing’s too strong now!”

“Hitting its lower body isn’t working anymore!”

“I think its weak point has changed!”

During their brief exchange, Ha Jaesung, Min Dongchan, Han Sungbin, and the other Samcheon Guild hunters continued their battle against the boss monster. However, unlike before, they were clearly being pushed back.

“All units, form up and counterattack! Taunt team, draw the boss monster’s attention! Attack team, handle the minions first!”

Breaking free from Kang Hyunsoo’s grasp, Jin Seoyun shouted commands to her team.

Then:

Whoosh!

Gripping her saber in both hands, she dashed into the fray.

The plan worked.

“Yes, Team Leader!”

“Take this, you bastards!”

Crunch!

[Lv 120. You have defeated a Stone Golem from the Damp Cave.]

[Lv 120. You have defeated a Stone Golem from the Damp Cave.]

Following Jin Seoyun’s orders, the attack team hunters swiftly took care of the minions, while the taunt team hunters kept the boss monster’s focus on them.

During the commotion:

“Haahhhh…!”

Clang!

Jin Seoyun leaped high into the air and swung her saber toward the red gem embedded in the Great Golem’s chest.

In mere moments, she had identified its weak point.

This was thanks to one of her talent skills: Weak Point Detection.

“It’s working…!”

Even the taunt team hunters felt a surge of hope and cheered.

However.

Graargh…!

Though Jin Seoyun’s saber struck true, the red gem didn’t shatter.

While she had correctly identified the weak point, she lacked the power to break it.

And that enraged the Great Golem.

The massive stone monster swung its colossal fist directly at Jin Seoyun.

Boom!

“Ugh!!”

“Team Leader!!”

A deafening crash echoed through the air as the taunt team hunters cried out in alarm. Jin Seoyun tumbled across the ground before forcing herself upright.

It could have been a fatal blow, but she had equipped a shield at the moment of impact, reducing the damage.

However, there was no time to relax.

While Jin Seoyun steadied herself:

“Roaargh!”

The Great Golem lifted a boulder, preparing to throw it.

Even with her shield, surviving a direct hit was uncertain.

At that moment:

“Arghhhh!!”

In a split-second decision, Han Sungbin lunged forward, swinging his greatsword. After clearing out nearby minions, he charged toward the boss monster with incredible momentum.

Although the distance was significant, it didn’t matter.

As Han Sungbin swung his greatsword:

Slash!

A streak of blue aura formed along its trajectory, flying toward the Great Golem.

Han Sungbin wasn’t the only one pressuring the monster.

“You damn rockhead!!”

“How dare you go after the Team Leader…!”

Min Dongchan and Ha Jaesung joined the assault with their weapons.

Thud! Boom!

The hunters’ attacks struck the Great Golem’s legs, forcing it to stagger and halt its boulder throw.

Taking advantage of the opportunity:

“This time for sure…!”

Jin Seoyun charged at the Great Golem again.

Thanks to her teammates’ efforts, she had another chance to target its weak point.

But she failed to capitalize on it.

Boom! Crash!

As she sprinted forward, the Great Golem slammed its fist into the ground, causing massive stone pillars to erupt around her.

“……!”

“What the—?!”

The hunters were stunned by the towering stone walls that now blocked their path. Even with their weapons, they couldn’t so much as scratch the pillars. They were also too high to jump over.

Jin Seoyun widened her eyes and tried to slow her approach, but then—

A faintly pleasant scent filled the musty air of the dungeon.

Boom!

Suddenly, the stone pillar obstructing Jin Seoyun’s path shattered into pieces.

“……?!”

She froze, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

The cause of the destruction soon became clear.

“Go now!”

Kang Hyunsoo.

The scarecrow-like man who had split the earlier boulder had now obliterated the pillar.

Even the hunters of the Samcheon Guild, who couldn’t break it, were left in awe.

Though questions swirled in her mind, Jin Seoyun didn’t have time to dwell on them.

Following Kang Hyunsoo’s shout, she propelled herself forward without hesitation.

Leaping high into the air:

“Haahhh!!”

She descended on the boss monster hiding behind the shattered pillar, swinging her saber.

This time, her attack succeeded.

Slash! Crack!

Jin Seoyun’s saber cleaved the red gem embedded in the Great Golem’s chest.

[Lv 140. You have defeated the Great Golem of the Damp Cave.]

[Your level has increased.]@@novelbin@@

“Graaaaah…”

The boss monster of the D-rank Open Dungeon collapsed into rubble.

[You have defeated the boss monster and cleared the dungeon (1/1).]

[The dungeon has been cleared.]

Boom! Rumble…!

As the dust settled, a victorious message appeared, marking their success.

“Whoa! The Team Leader defeated the boss monster!”

“As expected of Jin Seoyun Hunter!”

The Samcheon Guild hunters cheered, raising their weapons high.

With the boss defeated, the remaining minions crumbled to the ground, lifeless.

The raid was finally over.

The rewards were exceptional.

From the debris of the boss monster, a glimmering potion emerged.

Its golden radiance caught everyone’s attention.

Though it seemed like just another potion at first glance, its true value was immediately recognized by the hunters.

“T-That’s the Elixir of Ascension…!”

“An Elixir of Ascension? That’s amazing, Team Leader! You can only find those in at least B-rank dungeons!”

The Samcheon Guild hunters were buzzing with excitement, and for good reason.

[Consumable Item]
[Elixir of Ascension]
[Effect: Permanently increases all stats and talent stats by +20 upon consumption.]

Jin Seoyun held up the glowing potion, a rare item worth billions at auction, capable of permanently boosting both standard stats and talent stats by a staggering 20 points.

The hunters cheered and celebrated her achievement, but Jin Seoyun didn’t bask in their praise. Instead, she approached Kang Hyunsoo and bowed deeply.

“Thank you, Kang Hyunsoo Hunter. Thanks to you, we cleared the dungeon smoothly and even got such a valuable item.”

“It’s nothing. All I did was swing my sword a few times.”

Although Jin Seoyun expressed her gratitude, Kang Hyunsoo shook his head modestly. While he had contributed, the one who ultimately defeated the boss monster was Jin Seoyun.

However, not everyone agreed with him.

“Hmph… Technically, it’s as good as you taking it down yourself, isn’t it?”

Swallow, who had been observing the battle from above, adjusted his sunglasses with a click and spoke coolly.

He wasn’t wrong.

Though Kang Hyunsoo hadn’t mentioned it, he had shattered not only the stone pillar blocking Jin Seoyun’s path but also the protective barrier around the boss monster’s core.

Still, Kang Hyunsoo didn’t dwell on it.

In his previous life, he might have made a show of his skills to try and join the Samcheon Guild. But now, he understood the truth.

Guilds and comrades were nothing more than shackles that hindered growth.

That wasn’t to say there were no benefits.

By clearing the D-rank open dungeon claimed by the Samcheon Guild, Kang Hyunsoo achieved significant progress.

[Swordsmanship Quest 16]
[Clear an open dungeon (1/1)]
[You have cleared a D-rank open dungeon.]
[Rewards: Strength +5, Agility +5, Sword Mastery +10]

[Sword Mastery: 52]
[Sword Mastery has surpassed 50.]
[Basic Swordsmanship effects have increased.]

• Attack Power: +5%
• Attack Speed: +5%
• Movement Speed: +5%

Not only had he completed the Swordsmanship Quest, but he had also cleared another crucial objective.

[Absolute Beauty Quest 3]
[Clear a D-rank or higher dungeon while maintaining an Appearance Power of 11 or higher (1/1)]
[You have cleared a D-rank dungeon.]
[Rewards]
[Beauty Trait: Thermal Stabilization (E) acquired.]

[Beauty Trait: Thermal Stabilization (E) - Rapidly normalizes body temperature using mana. Slightly reduces sweat production.]

Kang Hyunsoo considered this reward even more valuable than the Elixir of Ascension and had no intention of claiming the potion for himself.

“Still, Master, I think you should take that potion,” Swallow suggested, clearly convinced.

But Kang Hyunsoo ignored the bird flapping by his head and turned to Jin Seoyun.

“You were impressive at the end. Without your quick action to exploit the weak point, we would’ve had a much harder time.”

“If you hadn’t sliced through the rock and pillar, it wouldn’t have been possible. How did you do it? Even our team members found it challenging. Was it a skill?”

Kang Hyunsoo tried to dismiss the topic with a vague compliment, but Jin Seoyun’s curiosity was evident in her bright, sparkling eyes.

‘This is getting tricky…’

Kang Hyunsoo hesitated, unsure how to deflect her questions. After all, it made no logical sense for someone below level 70 to split a boulder created by a level 140 boss monster.

The truth was a combination of his boosted stats from Appearance Power, the destructive force of a B-rank skill, and his mastery as the Sword Emperor.

But he had no intention of explaining all that.

Fortunately, a distraction arrived.

“Haha! Didn’t I tell you, Team Leader? Kang Hyunsoo’s a genius!” Min Dongchan chimed in as he and Ha Jaesung approached.

“When it comes to swordsmanship, this guy’s on a whole other level. Timing, strength control, speed—everything’s flawless! He even pulls off those tricky F-rank counter skills with a 100% success rate!”

The two hunters provided the perfect cover story, giving Kang Hyunsoo a chance to nod in agreement.

Thankfully, Jin Seoyun seemed convinced.

“I thought ‘swordsmanship genius’ was just an exaggeration, but I see it’s true. Since we cleared the dungeon thanks to you, we’ll adjust the distribution ratios. But first, let’s gather the loot. Is anyone injured?”

“No, Team Leader!” the hunters replied in unison.

“Then everyone, start collecting the drop items and mana stones. There’s plenty wedged between the rocks, so work together.”

With her orders given, Jin Seoyun moved on, letting go of her earlier questions about Kang Hyunsoo.

“Looks like they have no chance of figuring out your abilities, Master,” Swallow remarked, flapping lazily.

“Well, that’s a relief,” Kang Hyunsoo muttered under his breath. He joined the others in collecting the dungeon’s spoils.

The results were excellent.

He completed his quests, kept his B-rank skill a secret, and successfully hid his full capabilities.

It felt like winning a high-stakes gamble with his trump cards still concealed.

But just as he began to relax and search for more items, disaster struck.

While crouching to pick up loot—

BOOM!

An enormous explosion suddenly erupted from the ceiling.

“What the…?”

Crash! Rumble!

Countless stones began raining down, threatening to crush Kang Hyunsoo and the Samcheon Guild hunters beneath them.