“Gets Stronger the More Handsome…?”

What a peculiar name.

I immediately opened the status window to inspect the newly acquired trait.

[Handsome Trait: Gets Stronger the More Handsome (A) – The user’s level of appearance is converted into Appearance Power. The higher the Appearance Power, the more stats are gained.]

[Appearance Power: 0]
[Appearance Power Effect: None]

“The higher the Appearance Power… in other words, the better looking you are, the more stats you gain…?”

I was bewildered.

To think that one’s level of appearance could be converted into Appearance Power.

The idea that being better looking could grant more stats was absurd, but the very concept of quantifying appearance into stats was just as ridiculous.

After all, appearance is subjective. How could it possibly be quantified and judged?

More importantly, how did it make sense that my Appearance Power was currently at 0?

Questions and a sense of absurdity swirled in my mind.

For a moment, I wondered if this was a bad trait. However, that didn’t seem to be the case.

For one, the trait was ranked A, which indicated its potential.

“Congratulations, Master! You’ve taken your first step towards ultimate handsomeness!”

Swallow, sitting on the laundry rack, clapped its wings together, genuinely celebrating.

However—

“Are you sure this is good? No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t seem very helpful.”

I tilted my head as I read the messages again.

No matter how you spun it, it didn’t feel worth celebrating.

And it wasn’t just a hunch.

[Your Appearance Power is still too low to obtain Absolute Handsome Quests.]
[Sub-quests have been assigned to help increase Appearance Power.]

[Sub-Quest 1]
[Trim your fingernails (0/10)]
[Trim your toenails (0/10)]

The system had determined that it was too difficult to proceed with the main quest, so it handed out sub-quests instead.

But even then, Swallow remained firm in its opinion.

“Of course, you might not realize it yet. But as you complete quests step by step and grow, you will come to understand the greatness of handsomeness!”

“The greatness of handsomeness, huh….”

I crossed my arms and stared at the messages.

It sounded like a sales pitch, but….

“Well, I might as well give it a shot.”

I grabbed a nail clipper and sat down on the floor.

Seeing this, Swallow, seemingly intrigued, tilted its head and rubbed its beak with one wing.

“Oh, you’re starting right away?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I do it? All I have to do is trim my nails, and the quest is done.”

One thing I learned from my past life: you never lose by completing a quest.

Click! Click! Click!

I quickly trimmed my fingernails and toenails.

[Trim your fingernails (10/10)]
[Trim your toenails (10/10)]
[You have completed trimming both your fingernails and toenails.]
[Sub-Quest 1 Complete.]
[Reward: Strength +3, Stamina +2, Charm +1]

Just like that, I gained rewards equivalent to leveling up once.

Afterward—

[Sub-Quest 2]
[Trim your nose hairs (0/1)]

“Wow, these quests are really trivial.”

Snip. Snip.

[You have completed trimming your nose hairs.]
[Trim your nose hairs (1/1)]
[Sub-Quest 2 Complete.]
[Reward: Agility +2, Mana +3, Charm +1]

Completing the next quest rewarded me with gains equivalent to leveling up again.

In less than five minutes, I had achieved the same results as soloing six dungeons.

“This is surprisingly efficient.”

I chuckled as I washed the scissors and stepped out of the bathroom.

But then—

“You’re quite surprising, Master.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Swallow, perched on the laundry rack, adjusted its sunglasses and looked at me with curiosity.

“I didn’t expect you to be so proactive with the Handsome Quests.”

I tilted my head at its words and asked,

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well, as I mentioned before, fragments of your memories have been transferred to me. In your past life, you were so focused on effort that you drastically undervalued appearance because of your unattractive looks.”

“Well, that’s… direct, but not entirely wrong.”

“So, I assumed you wouldn’t think much of the Handsomeness talent or bother with its quests. But here you are, fully committed. Why are you so motivated to complete these quests?”

Why was I so motivated?

Swallow’s question made me pause for a moment.

But I didn’t have to think too deeply.

The answer was obvious.

“For revenge.”

“Revenge…?”

I didn’t reply but instead pulled out my phone.

Messages lit up the screen:

<Seo Jieun: Hyunsoo oppa, let’s go hunting!>
<Choi Taehun: Hey, Hyunsoo! You up yet?>

Texts from my girlfriend and my best friend.

Though I had regressed seven years, Seo Jieun and I were still in a relationship.

We had been dating for just over a year.

But based on their confession in my previous life, they had been deceiving me from the very beginning.

Which meant they were already betraying me now.

I had to get revenge.

Those two traitorous scumbags needed to be destroyed.

However, at this point in time, I was weaker than them.

My current level was 51, while Choi Taehun and Seo Jieun were in the mid-60s.

Even one-on-one, I would lose, let alone against both of them at the same time.

A sneak attack might give me a chance, but there were too many variables to ignore.

I needed to get stronger.

Only then could I repay the humiliation and despair they had caused me.

“I’ll get stronger and take my revenge. No matter what…!”

My hand trembled as I gripped the phone.

And then—

Without me explaining, Swallow seemed to realize the reason.

“Ah, you’re planning to take revenge on those who betrayed you in the dungeon.”

“That’s right. And to do that, I need to get stronger, even if it means selling my soul to the devil. Effort? Appearance? I don’t have time to pick and choose. In my past life, I prioritized effort over appearance, but not anymore. I’ll do anything to gain power.”

Clenching my fists, I steeled my resolve.

Then—

[Sub-Quest 3]
[Achieve an Appearance Power of 1 (0/1)]

The next sub-quest appeared, and I immediately prepared to complete it.

However, this one wasn’t as straightforward.

“How do I increase my Appearance Power?”

“Either become more handsome or complete Absolute Handsome Quests. But since the latter is impossible right now, let’s start with your outfit.”

“My outfit?”

Thankfully, the Handsomeness talent’s helper offered some guidance.

Although, its tone was as condescending as ever.

“Yes, Appearance Power includes fashion. The reason your Appearance Power is currently 0 isn’t just because of your face. Your outfit is also a disaster.”

“What’s wrong with a T-shirt and underwear? Everyone dresses like this at home! Fine, I’ll show you what real fashion looks like.”

Even a worm will squirm when stepped on.

Being insulted for my looks and now my fashion—on top of the system officially rating my Appearance Power as zero—fueled my determination.

I dashed to the wardrobe and dumped its contents onto the floor.

Suits, T-shirts, sweatshirts, slacks, jeans, pajamas—you name it, I pulled it all out.

Then, I put on a shirt and suit—the outfit I thought looked the coolest.

【Activation】

[Trait: Gets Stronger the More Handsome (A)]
[Outfit changed.]
[Clothes are too tight and don’t fit well.]
[Appearance Power: 0]

After changing, I received a message different from before.

Apparently, my bulked-up physique was the issue.

My Appearance Power hadn’t increased.

Instead, the system had scolded me for wearing ill-fitting clothes.

But I didn’t let it get me down.

“So that’s how this works, huh?”

From this experience, I realized the system instantly judged outfits and measured Appearance Power.

In other words, I could use the system to test if my outfit was fashionable!

I took off the suit and began trying on different combinations of clothes scattered on the floor.

As expected—

[Outfit changed.]
[Unfashionable outfit.]
[Appearance Power: 0]

[Outfit changed.]
[Eye-scorching fashion.]
[Appearance Power: -2]

[Outfit changed.]
[Appearance Power: 0]

Each time I changed clothes, the system displayed messages, and my Appearance Power fluctuated.

But I couldn’t get it above 0—and even hit negatives at one point.

Perched on the laundry rack, Swallow stifled laughter, covering its beak with a wing.

“What an absolutely awful combination, Master.”

“…You’re laughing at me, aren’t you?”

“Not at all. As your helper, I’m simply providing an unbiased assessment. That last outfit was simply unwatchable.”

“You’re one to talk, you sunglasses-wearing bird.”

I wanted to give it a piece of my mind about fashion, but—

The priority was completing the quest, so I bit back my retort and kept changing.

Sweatshirts and shorts.
Shirts and cargo pants.
Tank tops and slacks.

I tried every combination I could think of.

Since different outfits affected Appearance Power, there had to be one that would raise it to 1.

And my persistence paid off.

[Outfit changed.]
[Slightly fashionable outfit.]
[Appearance Power +1.]
[Appearance Power: 1.]

Slacks paired with a tucked-in shirt.

When I wore just the shirt with rolled-up sleeves—unlike the suit, which was too tight—my Appearance Power finally increased to 1.

Following that—

[Achieve an Appearance Power of 1 (1/1)]
[Sub-Quest 3 Complete.]

[Reward]
[Handsome Skill: Bloom acquired.]
[Handsome Skill: Bloom (S) – Temporarily enhances latent handsomeness to its maximum potential. Consumes up to 10% of maximum mana.]

With the quest cleared, I gained a new skill.

“Bloom…?”

It meant for something to flourish in full bloom.

But—

“Gets Stronger the More Handsome…?”

I couldn’t immediately grasp the meaning of the skill’s description.

What does it mean to raise latent handsomeness to its limit?

As I tilted my head in confusion, staring at the skill description:

“Oh-ho! You’ve obtained Bloom, Master. Why don’t you give it a try?”

Swallow, perched on the laundry rack, gazed at me from behind its sharp sunglasses and made the suggestion.

It looked oddly expectant.

Curious about its effects, I decided to focus my thoughts and activate the skill immediately.

What kind of power would an S-rank handsomeness skill demonstrate?

I channeled mana into the skill window’s Bloom.

At that moment—

Flash—!

A brilliant light burst from my entire body.

[Bloom]
[For 30 seconds, latent handsomeness will be elevated to its maximum potential.]

My senses began to shift.

My previously blurry vision sharpened, the heaviness in my body lifted, and my previously tight shirt loosened slightly.

At the same time, I felt an inexplicable lightness and freshness.

But—

‘Is that it?’

For an S-rank skill, I expected something extraordinary, but it didn’t feel like much had changed.

Then it happened.

While glancing over myself in confusion, I caught sight of my reflection in the full-length mirror I’d set up earlier for the Appearance Power quests.

Inside the mirror stood—

“…?”

A ridiculously good-looking man.

“……!!”

The sight of him made my eyes widen.

His appearance was so handsome it was blinding.

On closer inspection, the word “handsome” didn’t do him justice.

God-tier Handsome.

Those were the only words that came to mind.

The face staring back at me wasn’t just leagues apart from the one people used to mock—it was from another dimension entirely.

But something felt off.

When I flinched, the god-tier handsome reflection flinched too.

It wasn’t just that.

The widened eyes, the awkward posture, and the tilt of the body were identical to mine.

“No way… is this me?”

I reached up to touch my cheek.

Only then did I understand.

The meaning of raising latent handsomeness to its limit.

And this wasn’t just about looking handsome.

[Appearance Power: 999]
[Appearance Power Effect: All stats +999]

As my handsomeness reached its peak, my Appearance Power shot up to 999, boosting my stats.

All of them. By 999.

The skill lived up to its S-rank status, demonstrating fantastical results.

But before I could fully enjoy it, the skill ended like a fleeting summer night’s dream.

Fwoosh—!

[30 seconds have passed.]
[Bloom has ended.]
[Appearance has returned to normal.]

The short duration ended almost as soon as it began.

In an instant, the dazzling transformation vanished, and my original face returned.

I blinked and looked into the mirror.

Gone was the god-tier handsome man; the rough, plain features of my true face stared back at me.

“….”

I stood there, dumbfounded, staring blankly at the mirror.

Was this what they meant by “reverse shock”?

The face I thought was decent enough during my earlier “fashion show” now seemed unbearably ugly compared to the pinnacle of handsomeness I had just experienced.

As if sensing my inner turmoil—

“Hehe! How was it, Master? The power of your special talent…!”

Swallow smirked smugly from its perch on the laundry rack.

Its expression seemed to say, I knew this would happen.

It was as if the bird had been waiting for this moment, certain that experiencing Bloom would change my attitude toward the Handsomeness talent.

I wanted to deny it.

That cocky smirk made me want to crush it.

But instead of arguing—

Bang! Clatter! Thud!

“Hm? Where are you going, Master?”

“Didn’t you say the handsomer I get, the stronger I become?!”

Grabbing my wallet, I bolted toward the door, shouting at the top of my lungs.

“I’m going to become god-tier handsome right now!!”