"Handsome…?"
I tilted my head as I stared at the message floating in my vision.

When a hunter awakens, they are granted a status window, an inventory, and one talent.

The only talent I had received upon awakening was swordsmanship.

And yet—

[Settlement Complete.]
[Based on achievements from your previous life, you have gained a new talent.]
[Special Talent: Handsomeness acquired.]

This time, I had suddenly obtained something called a “special talent.”

It was something that had never happened before.

“Achievements from my previous life…? Did events from my last life get converted into talents?”

I speculated as I read the message.

I couldn’t be certain, but it seemed that some mysterious opportunity before my regression had allowed me to gain this new talent.

But for the special talent to be handsomeness?

Questions upon questions spiraled in my head, but before I could resolve my curiosity, more messages began appearing.

[A unique stat has been granted due to acquiring the Handsomeness talent.]
[Unique Stat: Charm has been added.]
[Your Charm stat is too low to acquire any unique skills.]
[A new title has been granted based on your current Charm stat.]
[New Title Acquired: Ugly Bastard.]

“U-Ugly Bastard…? Is this what I think it means?”

It was nice to receive a new title, but the name sounded horrendous.

I quickly opened my status window to confirm.

《Status Window》

[Lv 51. Kang Hyunsoo]
[Title: Ugly Swordsman]

《Stats》
[Strength: 60] [Agility: 65] [Intelligence: 57] [Stamina: 85] [Mana: 43]

《Talent Stats》
[Sword Proficiency: 24] [Charm: -99]

《Skills》
[Counter (F)] [Power Slash (E)]

《Talent》
[Lv 2. Swordsmanship]

《Special Talent》
[Lv 1. Handsomeness]

《Traits》
[None]

“Wait, something got added in front of ‘Swordsman’?”

The title had originally been just Swordsman.

But after obtaining the special talent handsomeness, the title had changed to Ugly Swordsman, and a new stat called Charm had been added.

That stat was at the ridiculous value of -99.

What on earth was going on?

I scratched my head, staring at the status window.

At that moment—

“‘Ugly Bastard’ means you’re extremely ugly, Master.”

A young voice suddenly spoke from beside me.

“W-what the?!”

I jumped back in surprise.

Something had appeared without a sound.

For a moment, I thought it was a monster, but it wasn’t.

There was no news of a dungeon break nearby, and monsters didn’t speak Korean.

The truth soon became clear.

[A helper has been dispatched as part of the acquired talent.]
[A charm-based helper has been summoned. Mana cost: None.]

I had been too focused on the status window to notice, but apparently, a helper had been summoned.

Thankfully, it wasn’t a monster, but I still tilted my head in confusion.

The helper’s identity was none other than…

“A swallow…?”

It was a swallow, like the ones you occasionally see outside.

But this wasn’t an ordinary swallow.

Not only was it wearing pointed sunglasses—

“Hello, Master. I am Swallow, dispatched as a helper to assist in improving your charm.”

It could talk.

The swallow perched itself on the laundry rack, spread one wing to its side, and used the other to politely bow to me.

“A helper? You’re not a monster?”

“A monster? That’s a hurtful accusation. Just think of me as a pet that can talk.”

A talking swallow.

I’d never seen anything like it on Earth, but after experiencing regression, I figured nothing was impossible anymore.

I stared at the charm helper and asked,

“So, you’re a swallow, right?”

“That’s correct, Master. But please call me Swallow. It sounds cooler than just ‘a swallow.’”

What was this overly polite yet utterly absurd swallow?

Just looking at it gave me an inexplicable headache.

But there were too many questions to let this go, so I decided to play along.

“Alright, Swallow. If you’re a helper, then explain. What am I supposed to do now? If I regressed, gained a talent, and you appeared, that must mean there’s something you want from me.”

“Oh no, there’s nothing like that, Master. Just do whatever you’d like, as long as you nurture your handsomeness talent and help it bloom.”

Swallow explained while flapping one wing.

Then suddenly—

[Handsome Talent Blooming Tutorial]
[Special Talent: Handsomeness has begun to bloom.]
[A daily quest has been assigned.]

[Handsome Daily Quest]

Wash your face (0/1)
Brush your teeth (0/1)
Take a shower (0/1)
[Complete the daily quest to proceed with this quest.]
[Warning: If you fail to complete the daily quest once per day, your Charm stat will decrease.]

Messages floated into view above me.

I stared at the words and asked,

“What is this?”

“These are quests designed to help Master improve your charm. Completing them will aid in nurturing your handsomeness talent.”

“I get that. Talents always come with quests. But… this is just weird. Washing up is a quest?”

I knew what quests were.

I had performed countless quests while developing my swordsmanship talent and clearing dungeons.

But this… this was absurd.

Washing my face, brushing my teeth, and showering? That was the quest? Was this a joke?

I turned to Swallow with an incredulous expression, only to see it mirroring my look.

“Master, do you dislike washing up?”

“No! It’s just… the quest is too easy. In my previous life, every talent-related quest I completed was extremely difficult. Are you telling me that’s all I have to do to complete this?”

“Don’t underestimate cleanliness, Master. Hygiene is the foundation of handsomeness.”

“…Fine. So, you’re saying this really is the quest?”

“Yes, Master.”

It was strange to hear a sunglass-wearing swallow speak so seriously, but with confirmation in hand, I headed straight to the bathroom.

Then I quickly stripped off my clothes and completed all the tasks on the daily quest list at once.

I brushed my teeth while washing my hair and showering under the running water.

After finishing and getting dressed—

[You have completed washing your face.]
[You have completed brushing your teeth.]
[You have completed taking a shower.]
[You have completed the Handsome Daily Quest.]
[Rewards will now be received.]

The daily quest was genuinely completed, and the rewards came in.

But then—

“What… what is this…?”

I couldn’t help but gasp at the message hovering in the air.

[Reward: All Stats +3, Charm +1]

Honestly, I hadn’t expected much since the quest was so easy, but the rewards were excellent.

All my stats increased by 3, and the Charm stat for my handsomeness talent went up by 1.

[As a reward for completing your first Handsomeness Quest, a special reward has been granted.]

[Special Reward]
[Handsome Trait: The More Handsome, The Stronger (A) has been acquired.]

This time, I had acquired a new trait.