"I just want to live comfortably."
It’s a thought everyone has at some point. Why else do people earn money? Isn’t it to buy the labor of others and make life easier?
Kang Hyunsoo shared the sentiment. That’s why he didn’t outright reject Jin Gijun’s proposal. Having a top-tier hunter accompany him into a B-rank open dungeon not only made the raid smoother but also helped him avoid damage—a crucial condition for his Absolute Beauty Quest.
And it worked.
Kang Hyunsoo did nothing but watch, while Jin Gijun single-handedly wiped out the dungeon’s monsters.
Now, only the boss monster remained.
Hyunsoo had essentially hitched a ride, what hunters often called "taking the bus." Like a passenger on a chauffeured ride, he reaped the experience points without lifting a finger.
It was easy. It was blissful.
At first, Hyunsoo felt awkward doing nothing. He was used to solving problems himself. Even after regressing, escaping the clutches of Seo Jieun and Choi Taehun required his active effort. Quests and hidden pieces demanded constant movement, making this life twice as busy as his previous one.
But here, he didn’t have to do anything.
For once, he resolved to fully enjoy this newfound ease—even if only for a moment.
That’s when it happened.
BOOOOOM!
As he strolled toward the boss portal, an explosion erupted beneath him, flames surging skyward.
‘What the hell?!’
Caught off guard, Hyunsoo stared at the fire raging at his feet.
The damage wasn’t severe. The flames were strong enough to engulf his body and reach the sky, but...
"Master, danger ahead!"
[Your Charming Helper activates a dazzling shield.]
Before the flames could deal any significant damage, Swallow cast a protective blue barrier, shielding Hyunsoo.
Simultaneously, Hyunsoo activated his own skill:
【Activate】
[Trust Armor (A)]
A transparent armor enveloped his body, boosting his magical resistance, an enhancement from the Trust Bracelet. This combination significantly reduced the threat of the fire magic.
But even though the damage was minimal, it wasn’t good news.
[You’ve been injured.]
[Clear B-rank or higher open dungeon with at least 5 party members without taking any damage (0/1)]
[Absolute Beauty Quest 8 failed.]
[Penalty: Increased difficulty for Absolute Beauty Quest 8.]
[A new Absolute Beauty Quest will be issued in 24 hours.]
The quest failure notification hit like a punch to the gut.
The Absolute Beauty Quest wasn’t concerned with the severity of the injury. It simply deemed him hit, marking the task as failed.
"Just when I thought I could take it easy... There really is no such thing as a free lunch in this world, huh?"
A wave of frustration washed over Hyunsoo. For the first time in his life, he had hoped to savor the meal someone else had prepared, only to have it ruined.
As he stood amidst the roaring flames, his ears caught a faint sound from outside.
This fire wasn’t a dungeon trap—it was far too advanced for a B-rank open dungeon.
And then he heard it.
A familiar voice.
Ji Wonhoon.
The voice of the man who had left a deep impression on him at Jaewon University now echoed faintly through the chaos.
‘Babylon?’
Though Hyunsoo didn’t know how they had infiltrated the dungeon, it was clear they were here again.
‘These bastards must have a death wish.’
Grinding his teeth, Hyunsoo raised his twin blades within the inferno.
He wouldn’t let this slide. They had ruined his hard-earned chance and shattered his expectations. They would pay.
Through the flames, Hyunsoo spotted Andy, standing with his back to him.
With no hesitation, Hyunsoo retaliated.
【Activate】
[Crimson Flame (B)] [Skyward Blade (B)]
Fiery, blade-like energy surged from Hyunsoo’s swords, tearing through the flames and striking Andy’s back.
BOOOOOM!
The explosion announced his declaration of revenge.
"You bastards... you dare ruin my quest?"
Emerging from the pillar of fire, Kang Hyunsoo strode forward, his face a mask of fury.
"Say it with me now: ‘We’re screwed.’ Because today, you’re all dead."
The scene outside was chaotic.
Bang! Clang! BOOM!
Above, Ji Wonhoon and Jin Gijun clashed, fire magic and whirlwinds colliding in a chaotic aerial battle.
On the ground, Bang Ilhyung and Na Youngjin were locked in combat with the masked hunters.
Nearby, Jin Seoyun, Han Sungbin, and Yoo Hana knelt, injured and barely holding on.
"K-Kang Hyunsoo Hunter!"
"You’re alive, Hyung!"
All eyes turned to him as Hyunsoo stepped out of the flames, unscathed. Relief washed over his allies’ faces.
But not everyone shared their joy.
"Kang Hyunsoo...!"
Andy staggered to his feet, glaring at Hyunsoo.
"All units, prioritize killing Kang Hyunsoo!"
"Yes, sir!"
The Babylon operatives rushed him from all sides.
Surrounded, with no escape route, Hyunsoo would have been an easy target.
But instead of fear, Hyunsoo smirked, lifting the corner of his mouth.
"Good. Come at me all at once."
"I’ll kill every last one of you."
【Activate】
[Bloom (S)]
[For 30 seconds, unleash your latent beauty to its maximum potential.]
[Appearance Power: 999]
[Appearance Power Effect: All stats +1,998]
Flash!
A blinding light radiated from Kang Hyunsoo’s entire body.
The aftermath left everyone, including Andy and the masked hunters, gasping for breath.
What they saw when the light subsided left them utterly speechless.
Hyunsoo’s face and physique had transformed into a state of perfection, so strikingly beautiful it was almost surreal.
The sheer sight of him compelled awe, admiration—and for his enemies, sheer dread.
But Babylon’s operatives couldn’t revel in his beauty for long.
Swoosh! Slashslashslashslash!
An unrelenting storm of sword strikes tore through the air, descending on the stunned masked hunters with overwhelming force.
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“Gahhh!”
The three closest to Hyunsoo were shredded by the barrage, their bodies collapsing in a grotesque heap.
The vanguard crumbled instantly.
“What kind of madness is this?!”
“Fall back! He’s no ordinary opponent!”
The rear guard, realizing the danger, stopped in their tracks.
But retreat was impossible.
The moment they turned to flee—
BOOM!
Hyunsoo stomped the ground, unleashing a shockwave so powerful it left the Babylon operatives paralyzed where they stood.
They couldn’t advance, nor could they escape.
Swoosh! Slashslashslash!
Hyunsoo unleashed another flurry of strikes, targeting those still at a distance with Skyward Blade, sending fiery arcs of energy hurtling through the air.
“I’ll assist, Master!”
From above, Swallow, cloaked in stealth, rained down dazzling feather attacks, adding to the chaos.
“Ugh! Gahhhh!”
“Arghhhh!”
The screams {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} of dying Babylon operatives filled the air. By the time the smoke cleared, fewer than five remained standing.
Desperation thickened the air.
Seeing no other option, Andy decided to counterattack.
“Kang Hyunsoo! I’ll make this your grave!”
Though paralyzed by Hyunsoo’s shockwave, Andy managed to lift his arms.
He raised his sword above his head, channeling all his remaining energy into a final strike.
【Activate】
[Fang of the Viper (A)]
Andy’s strongest skill manifested—a venomous blade attack that could kill with even a graze. Enhanced by his latent potential, the skill gained unparalleled piercing and destructive power.
With his subordinates already decimated, Andy no longer hesitated to unleash it.
Hissss!
The sword’s violet aura twisted into the shape of a serpent, fangs gleaming menacingly as it shot toward Hyunsoo.
But—
Slash!
The serpent vanished mid-air.
Only one reason:
【Activate】
[Heaven Splitter (S)]
Hyunsoo, anticipating the attack, countered with a fiery blade strike.
The serpent wasn’t the only casualty.
Following the trajectory of Hyunsoo’s blade—
Splurt!
Andy himself was cleaved in two, split cleanly down the middle.
“......!!”
“The Chief Secretary... was defeated in a single strike...!”
The remaining Babylon operatives froze in shock, staring at Andy’s lifeless body.
Hyunsoo, however, remained unfazed.
“I’m better at slicing things up than you are, idiot,” he remarked casually.
At Jaewon University, dealing with Seo Jieun and Choi Taehun had delayed him. But with Bloom active, Andy posed no real threat.
And the remaining masked hunters?
“R-retreat! We need to regroup with the President!”
“This is impossible!”
The surviving operatives turned and ran.
But none of them made it far.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Hyunsoo’s Skyward Blades cut them down one by one.
Bodies fell to the ground, lifeless and crumpled.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The battlefield fell silent.
“K-Kang Hyunsoo Hunter? How is this even possible...?”
“That wasn’t a fight someone could win so easily!”
“H-Hyung’s face...!”
Even his allies were left dumbfounded. Initially, they’d been overjoyed to see Hyunsoo alive. But now, his transformed appearance and overwhelming power left them speechless.
[Bloom]
[Remaining Time: 5 seconds.]
There wasn’t time for explanations.
With Bloom nearing its end, Hyunsoo focused his attention on the final target: Ji Wonhoon.
Above, Ji Wonhoon and Jin Gijun continued their chaotic aerial battle, fire magic and whirlwinds clashing violently.
【Activate】
[Shadow Step (A)]
Hyunsoo used the skill to teleport behind Ji Wonhoon.
And then—
“Die, you bastard.”
“Huh...?!”
【Activate】
[Black Sunburst (Unfinished)]
Hyunsoo crossed his twin swords against Ji Wonhoon’s back, conjuring a miniature sun between them.
BOOOOOM!
A golden explosion lit up the darkened sky, consuming Ji Wonhoon entirely.
“Wh-what in the...!”
Jin Gijun, startled by the blast, sent out a whirlwind to distance himself from the explosion.
Ji Wonhoon, however, wasn’t as lucky. He plummeted to the ground, blood spraying from his mouth.
As he hit the dirt, coughing up more blood, he looked up at the figure standing before him.
“You... Kang Hyunsoo?!”
Hyunsoo smirked. “Wow, you’re like a cockroach—refusing to die.”
Though Hyunsoo’s appearance had changed, Ji Wonhoon recognized him immediately. The skills were familiar, and despite the handsome face, traces of the original features remained.
Most importantly—
[30 seconds have passed.]
[Bloom has ended.]
[Appearance has reverted to its original state.]
As Hyunsoo landed, his features returned to normal, further confirming Ji Wonhoon’s suspicions.
The overwhelming power Hyunsoo had displayed in such a short time left everyone speechless.
Even Jin Gijun was stunned. “You survived, Kang Hyunsoo Hunter! But what was that form just now?”
“We’ll talk later. Let’s deal with him first,” Hyunsoo replied, pointing at Ji Wonhoon.
“Ah, right. That’s more important,” Jin Gijun agreed, snapping back to reality.
Ji Wonhoon, kneeling on the ground, surveyed the battlefield.
For the first time, he noticed the carnage: every single Babylon operative, from foot soldiers to Andy himself, lay dead.
Witnessing the devastation, Ji Wonhoon threw his head back and laughed maniacally.
“Hah... haha... ahahahahahah!!!”
And then—
“As I thought... you’re the successor of the Beauty’s Legacy, Kang Hyunsoo! Good. I’ll stake everything to steal that power from you!!!”
BOOOOM!
A pitch-black aura erupted from Ji Wonhoon’s body, signaling his descent into madness.