NoveLight ™
No matter how loud the surrounding noise, words directed at me always seemed to reach my ears clearly.
Even though the restaurant was packed with dozens of people, the mockery aimed at me cut through the buzz like a knife.
“God, he’s so damn ugly. Did you see how the waitress laughed as soon as she turned around?”
“And he’s eating three whole bowls of gukbap. Looks just like an orc! Pfft…”
Two men sitting at the table across from me sneaked glances my way and snickered as they ate their sundae gukbap.
At that moment, I thought:
‘Tsk, some things never change. Maybe there really is an absolute standard of beauty.’
Smiling bitterly, I continued eating my meal.
I had wanted to refute Swallow’s claim that there was an absolute standard of beauty, but the evidence was sitting right in front of me.
The truth is, I was more aware than anyone else that such a standard existed.
One clear example was situations like this, where strangers would openly mock me.
Humans and animals alike often laugh at those they perceive as inferior.
Being at the very bottom of this so-called absolute standard of beauty meant I was no stranger to ridicule whenever I walked in public.
While most people didn’t say anything aloud, there were always a few, like these two hunters, who had no qualms about mocking me openly.
Even those who didn’t verbalize it didn’t exactly react warmly. When meeting Choi Taehun or Seo Jieun for the first time, people would often greet them with bright smiles. But when they saw me, their expressions froze, or they would act indifferent.
This wasn’t some baseless insecurity or inferiority complex—it was reality.
And those who reacted that way were simply acting on their primal instincts.
No matter how friendly or polite I was, there was always an inherent difference in how I was treated.
It was a fundamental aspect of human nature I’d faced since birth.
Perhaps that’s why, when I heard the two men criticizing me, I wasn’t particularly bothered.
Instead, I simply:
“Sluuuuurp…!”
…pretended not to hear them and continued eating my gukbap.
In my previous life, there were times when I’d confronted such people directly, but now, I didn’t see the point.
I had more pressing priorities, like developing both my Beauty and Swordsmanship talents simultaneously.
Besides, judging by the equipment those two were wearing, they were low-level hunters in their 20s.
‘Ah, those days. Back then, I was full of bravado, thinking I was invincible.’
It wasn’t that I was afraid of fighting.
Even if there were two of them, my experience as the Sword Emperor and my Bloom skill could easily overpower them, just like I had with Choi Taehun and Seo Jieun.
But they held no value to me. Dwelling on them would just be a waste of time.
“Sluuurp! Aah, that hit the spot.”
After finishing all three bowls of sundae gukbap, I walked over to the counter and handed over my card.
As I turned to leave the restaurant after paying, suddenly:
Thwack! Smack!
“Ow! What the hell!? Why’d you hit me?”
“That wasn’t me! Didn’t you just punch me? Wanna die?”
The sound of a heavy impact echoed through the restaurant as the two men who had insulted me began fighting each other.
The commotion was so loud that all the diners turned their heads at once.
“What’s going on? Why are they acting like that?”
“Did you see that? One of their heads just slammed into the table! Looks like he got hit in the back of the head.”
“The back of the head? But there’s no one behind them. Did they just hit each other?”
Everyone stared in confusion as the two hunters rubbed the backs of their heads. While it looked like they’d been struck from behind, there was no one near them.
Of course, no one would know who was responsible.
The one who attacked them was none other than…
“You arrogant fools. How dare you mock my master?”
…Swallow, the sunglasses-wearing bird.
In stealth mode, Swallow had flown behind the two hunters, pecking and smacking them with his wings.
“Ow! Ow! What the hell is this…?!”
“Argh! My head hurts so bad…!”
The two men shot to their feet, clutching their heads as they writhed in pain on the floor.
It seemed they hadn’t realized Swallow was the culprit.
Watching this unfold, I quietly slipped out of the restaurant.
Saying something to Swallow would only draw suspicion toward me, and stopping him wasn’t an option—I found their punishment mildly satisfying.
Smirking to myself, I left the restaurant. Before long, Swallow flew up beside me.
As I walked down the street with light steps, I said, “You didn’t have to waste your energy on them.”
“Mocking my master is no different from insulting me. I have a duty to protect you—not just physically, but emotionally as well.”
Though he could be infuriatingly arrogant and self-absorbed, moments like these made me appreciate Swallow.
Digging into my pocket, I found a single piece of candy I’d saved from my earlier raid: grape-flavored caramel.
Unwrapping it, I held it in my palm and asked casually, “Do you even eat stuff like this? Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen you eat.”
“I don’t need to eat to survive. I recharge my energy in a pocket dimension. That said, I can eat most things humans consume—though I avoid insects. They’re not stylish.”
“Of course. Everything with you is about style.”
“Of course! I’m the assistant of beauty, after all. But since it’s a gift from you, Master, I’ll gladly accept it.”
Swallow bowed midair, took the caramel in his beak, and swallowed it whole.
“Oh, this is sweeter than real grapes!”
His eyes widened in amazement behind his sunglasses.
“Glad you like it. I’ll make sure to keep some on hand for you.”
I chuckled, but then:
“Even though you’re hideously ugly, your increased charm means you’re not that bad anymore. You don’t need to feel hurt by those crude remarks.”
“…Spit that caramel out, now!”
The amicable mood didn’t last long. Whether intentional or not, Swallow’s remark hit a nerve.
I reached out, trying to grab him, but he flew upward just as he finished his sentence, as if expecting my reaction.
“Ugh, I can’t tell if he’s comforting me or mocking me…”
Shaking my head, I resumed walking.
Soon, Swallow lowered his altitude and asked curiously, “Where are we headed now, Master? This isn’t the direction of the hunting grounds.”
“You think I came out just to eat? I have another destination in mind.”
There was no need to spell it out.
<Supreme Hunter Training Ground – Yangjae Station Branch>
The sign came into view just as I spoke.
“Ah, so this is your final destination,” Swallow remarked.
“Yep. A place for hunters to train.”
Looking up at the gymnasium-like building, I stepped inside.
“Hello! How can I help you today?”
The receptionist flinched slightly upon seeing me but quickly forced a smile and asked.
Pulling out my hunter license, I handed it over and replied, “I’m here to train.”
“How many hours would you like? It’s 100,000 won per hour.”
“An all-day pass, please.”
“Understood. You’re a first-time visitor here—would you like me to show you around?”
“No need. I’ve got the gist of it.”
“Alright, enjoy your time, Hunter Kang Hyunsoo.”
Though the receptionist offered to explain how the center worked, I declined.
These training centers were expensive, so I hadn’t used them much in the past. However, after hitting level 200 in my previous life, they had practically become my second home.
Swiping my card at the entry terminal, I stepped inside.
“Haahh…!”
Boom!
“Huff, huff…!”
“Moonlight Slash!”
The air was thick with sweat.
In the spacious gymnasium, dozens of hunters wielding swords, spears, and knuckles were training relentlessly.
Some pummeled specially crafted sandbags, others hacked at dummies, and many lifted heavy weights as they honed their talents.
This facility was a training ground designed specifically for hunters. Its steep prices meant it was primarily used by intermediate hunters level 200 and above.
Perhaps that’s why no one paid me any attention as I entered the gymnasium.
Unlike the novice hunters I’d seen at the restaurant earlier, these individuals were focused on their growth, uninterested in showing off or seeking validation from others.
I was no exception.
I had no time to worry about others' gazes.
Walking over to the practice equipment station near the entrance, I grabbed a wooden sword.
“Here seems good enough,” I muttered, taking a spot in front of a wooden dummy in the corner of the gym.
“What are you planning, Master?” Swallow perched atop the dummy’s head, tilting his head in curiosity.
It was understandable. After all, I had interrupted my Absolute Beauty Quest to grab a meal and then come here to train.
Apparently, Swallow hadn’t pieced together my reasoning.
His sunglasses couldn’t hide the curious expression on his face.
But I simply replied, “Just watch. Something amazing is about to happen.”
Instead of a detailed explanation:
Swish! Thwack!
I smirked and began striking the wooden dummy with my practice sword.