The Handsomer You Are, the Stronger You Become

“Gasp! T-that man... isn’t that Jin Gijun?”

“Huh? It is! The deputy guild master of the Samcheon Guild!”

“Wow, no way! Isn’t he over level 500? Just how serious is this situation?”

The arrival of a towering man, nearly 190cm tall, sporting a thick beard, immediately stirred up a commotion.

His rugged appearance, reminiscent of a mountain bandit, was made even more imposing by the Samcheon Guild uniform he wore and the massive axe he carried. It was a sight frequently broadcast on television and across the internet.

This was none other than Jin Gijun, the deputy guild master of the Samcheon Guild.

Ranked 35th among hunters in South Korea, Jin Gijun’s high rank and fearsome visage had made him a household name not only in hunter circles but also among the general public.

He was particularly known for his usually calm demeanor, which would erupt into a fiery, beast-like rage when he entered combat. And now was one of those moments.

“Where are the bastards who dared to attack our guild?!”

With his brow deeply furrowed and gripping his giant axe tightly, he looked ready to cleave through anyone who got in his way.

“......!”
“......!!”

The citizens who had been chatting noisily moments before fell silent, cowed by the sheer force of his presence.

Even Jang Seonggeun, Jin Seoyun’s loyal secretary, couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed.

“O-oh, you’re here, Deputy Guild Master! My deepest apologies. I should have been more thorough in my protection efforts...!”

Though not entirely silent like the bystanders, Jang Seonggeun bowed deeply, sweat pouring down his face.@@novelbin@@

However, Jin Gijun raised a hand to stop him from apologizing, his sharp gaze fixed on the shimmering silver portal.

“We’ll settle responsibility later! Right now, we need to focus on resolving this situation. So, what’s the current status?”

“Approximately one hour has passed since the incident began. Three unknown hunters, all masked, infiltrated the open dungeon. The dungeon had already been cleared, so entry shouldn’t have been possible.”

A calm, professional voice answered Jin Gijun’s question.

There was no need to search for the speaker. A woman wearing thin, round gold-rimmed glasses approached, her presence dignified and unmistakable.

Jin Gijun recognized her immediately.

“Chief Choi Jiwoo...! You were already here. Is that report accurate?”

“It’s based on survivor testimonies. The masked hunters attacked using stealth. Since their entry, there’s been no additional movement, which suggests they’re still inside.”

“Damn it, stealth... So Seoyun hasn’t made it out yet?”

“No. She remains inside the dungeon. According to the survivors, the masked hunters were stronger than expected. She insisted on staying behind to cover her team’s retreat.”

“She prioritized the team’s escape? Just how strong are these bastards?!”

Jin Gijun’s face flushed with anger as he gripped his axe tighter, glaring at the portal as if he could break through it by willpower alone.

Choi Jiwoo adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses and continued her briefing in a measured tone.

“The estimated levels are in the mid-200s. This figure is derived from the survivors’ descriptions and the evidence left at the scene of the Incheon Hunter Massacre. While their levels aren’t exceptionally high, they possess advanced combat skills that pose a significant threat, especially to lower-tier hunters in a D-rank dungeon.”

“The Incheon Hunter Massacre? How is that relevant?”

“The methods match. Survivor accounts of their skills align closely with the traces left at the Incheon dungeon. These hunters are known for their brutal tactics. Even Samcheon Guild members would struggle against them, not because of a level disparity, but due to lack of experience in direct combat.”

“So what you’re saying is...”

“We need to prepare ourselves for the worst. Besides Jin Seoyun, there’s reportedly another hunter inside—Kang Hyunsoo. However, based on our investigation, he’s a low-level hunter under level 100 and unlikely to provide much assistance. Furthermore, no one has emerged from the boss room after an hour, suggesting the situation inside remains dire.”

“......!!”

A heavy silence fell over the crowd.

Not just Jin Gijun, but the government hunters and Samcheon Guild members listening in were all rendered speechless.

Even without saying it aloud, everyone was beginning to piece together the grim reality.

Approximately an hour had passed since the incident began.

If Jin Seoyun had defeated the masked hunters, she would have exited the dungeon by now. Even if she hadn’t won, she should have escaped once her team was safe.

But time continued to pass, and there was no sign of her.

The logical conclusion was that the masked hunters had won the fight. Knowing they were surrounded outside, they were likely planning their next move.

“Damn it! If only I were stronger...!”

“Team Leader... Hyunsoo...”

Min Dongchan and Ha Jaesung clenched their fists, their faces twisted with frustration.

Jin Gijun swallowed his rage and asked through gritted teeth, “Is there any way to enter the dungeon?”

“You know the answer, Deputy Guild Master. Once an open dungeon is cleared, entry becomes impossible. If the boss monster hadn’t been defeated, we could freely enter. But now, there’s no way inside.”

Choi Jiwoo’s voice was quiet but resolute, befitting her nickname, the Ice Knight.

Hunters had to remain calm and composed, much like doctors treating patients. Emotional outbursts wouldn’t help.

“...You’re right. Losing my temper won’t improve the situation.”

Jin Gijun took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair to calm himself.

But his composure shattered in an instant.

FLASH!

“......!!”

As they spoke, a brilliant light erupted from the silver portal. Figures began to emerge.

“Everyone, prepare for combat!”

“I’ll kill every last one of these bastards!”

Both Choi Jiwoo and Jin Gijun leaped forward, readying their skills.

Based on the survivors’ testimonies and the time elapsed, the odds of Jin Seoyun surviving were slim. Jin Gijun prepared to unleash his strongest skill, gripping his axe tightly, but—

“Wait! Stop!”

Choi Jiwoo raised her hand, halting him just as the figures came into view.

Jin Gijun frowned, his instincts screaming at him to attack, but he soon understood.

Emerging from the portal was none other than—

“Gijun Oppa?”

A raven-haired beauty wielding a saber: Jin Seoyun.

And she wasn’t alone.

“Oh wow, quite the crowd we’ve got here.”

Behind her, as unexpected as her survival, Kang Hyunsoo stepped out of the portal, looking remarkably nonchalant.

“......!”

Jin Gijun froze in place, wide-eyed with shock.

He wasn’t the only one. The government hunters and Samcheon Guild members forming the perimeter were also staring in disbelief.

But their astonishment quickly gave way to tension.

“Freeze! Drop your weapons and raise your hands!”

Choi Jiwoo’s sharp command snapped everyone back to attention.

Meanwhile, Kang Hyunsoo tilted his head and murmured, “Huh...?”

“All the intruders have been dealt with, though?”

Jin Seoyun and Kang Hyunsoo tilted their heads, confused, but the reason soon became clear.

“We need to confirm something first. The intruders might have used a skill to disguise themselves as someone else.”

Choi Jiwoo was suspicious that the two might be intruders using a transformation skill.

Jin Gijun shared the same concern.

“Cooperate, Seoyun. If you’re really who you say you are.”

“Ah… I understand. Check as much as you need.”

“Well, there’s no helping it.”

Jin Seoyun and Kang Hyunsoo complied without resistance.

Given the circumstances, they found it reasonable to suspect them. They placed their weapons on the ground and raised their hands.

With that, Choi Jiwoo approached, taking a portable scanner from one of her subordinates. She pressed it against their fingerprints.

The results appeared almost instantly.

<Identity Verified>
<Name: Jin Seoyun>
<Level: 181>
<Rank: Lower>

<Identity Verified>
<Name: Kang Hyunsoo>
<Level: 65>
<Rank: Lowest>

Although it was just a basic scanner, unable to provide detailed stats or skills, it was sufficient to confirm their identities.

Choi Jiwoo, after reviewing the results, looked at them with disbelief.

“They’re not imposters. These two are the real deal.”

“Ah… Seoyun! I’m so sorry! I should have come with you, even if it meant abandoning the raid!”

“Ugh! O-oppa, wait a second…! I can’t breathe!”

As soon as the verdict was announced, Jin Gijun was the first to react.

Upon confirming that Jin Seoyun was indeed herself, he rushed to her and wrapped her in a bear hug. Jin Seoyun grimaced and tried to push him away, but to no avail.

His overwhelming sensitivity didn’t match his massive frame.

The other hunters weren’t much different, their emotions bursting out.

“She really took out those masked hunters!”
“Unbelievable! How did she manage to beat those monsters?”
“Jin Seoyun Hunter, you’re amazing!”

The Samcheon Guild hunters who had clashed with the masked intruders broke into cheers, as if they were in a drama, shouting their admiration for Jin Seoyun.

Amid the storm of praise, there were, of course, some dissenting voices.

“Tch, the spotlight’s all on her now. Even though it was the Master who actually dealt with them.”

Hovering invisibly near Kang Hyunsoo, Swallow clicked his tongue.

While everyone assumed that Jin Seoyun had taken care of the intruders, the truth was that it was Kang Hyunsoo who had defeated them.

It was a situation that could understandably feel unfair to Hyunsoo.

But.

“It’s fine. I’m used to it.”

Hyunsoo shrugged it off as if it were no big deal.

In his previous life, he had lost credit for his accomplishments countless times to Choi Taehun and Seo Jieun.

Not just hidden pieces, but public recognition of his contributions had been stolen.

Whenever he excelled in high-difficulty dungeons, they would claim the achievements in interviews, saying that the "geniuses" of the guild had carried the day, all because Hyunsoo’s unattractive face was deemed detrimental to the guild’s image.

This situation brought back memories of his previous life.

Still, Hyunsoo didn’t feel the need to correct anyone.

Even if he spoke the truth now, no one would believe him, and there wasn’t much to gain from setting the record straight about defeating the intruders.

In fact, the situation might become troublesome. Questions like “How could a low-level hunter defeat enemies that even Samcheon Guild hunters struggled against?” would only draw unwanted attention.

As Jin Seoyun basked in the adulation of the crowd, Hyunsoo quietly tried to slip away.

But just as he was about to take a step, something unexpected happened.

“Wait! It wasn’t me!”

“Huh? What do you mean, Seoyun?”

Jin Seoyun pushed Jin Gijun aside, looking around as she raised her voice.

And then, suddenly.

“I didn’t defeat the intruders! The one who took them down was…”

She turned toward Kang Hyunsoo with a bright smile and finished her sentence.

“...Hunter Kang Hyunsoo over there!”