"If you work hard enough, you can achieve anything. Desire it passionately and give it everything you’ve got!"
These were the words a famous actor said on TV during Ji Wonhoon’s school days.
The message was clear: to achieve your dreams, you had to work tirelessly, putting everything on the line.
Luck and privilege were beyond one’s control; skill could only be built through relentless effort.
For Ji Wonhoon, who dreamed of stardom, those words became his creed—his gospel.
He dedicated his every waking moment, save for eating, sleeping, and basic necessities, to becoming the greatest actor.
He followed the conventional path: enrolling in an arts high school, applying to countless auditions, and finally entering a prestigious university's theater and film department.
As a college student, he juggled part-time jobs with small roles in films and dramas, steadily building his career.
His talent was recognized by senior actors and directors, earning him praise and minor recognition.
Eventually, he signed with a well-known agency.
But he never became the leading man.
To be a top-tier actor, one had to headline a blockbuster production.
Yet, he wasn’t even offered lead roles in the first place.
Confused and frustrated, Ji Wonhoon sought answers from his colleagues—actors, agents, and crew members he’d befriended on set.
The truth hit him like a hammer.
"Wonhoon, your acting’s incredible, but... your face isn’t leading-role material. To be blunt, you look too mature, and you don’t have the ‘heroic’ look."
"Have you considered cosmetic surgery? It might help."
"Acting can convey attractiveness to some extent, but it still requires a base level of charisma. That’s probably why you’re not landing lead roles."
Deep down, Ji Wonhoon had always known.
He saw it in the mirror and in the playback footage: he didn’t have the face of a leading man.
But he clung to the hope that hard work and determination would eventually lead to success.
He decided to climb the ladder step by step, starting with bit parts, progressing to supporting roles, and eventually claiming lead roles.
For over a decade, he toiled away.
By his mid-thirties, he was forced to admit the bitter truth.
Some things in life simply couldn’t be achieved, no matter how hard you tried.
Though he earned a reputation as a skilled actor, he was typecast as a “luxury supporting actor.”
While his peers soared to stardom, Ji Wonhoon remained stagnant, gradually fading into obscurity.
He wasn’t wealthy or well-connected. His family was a financial burden, not a boon.
While his earnings from acting kept him afloat, there were times he had to take on part-time jobs to make ends meet.
His opportunities dwindled.
He believed recognition as a supporting actor would eventually pave the way to success, but the harsh reality crushed that hope.
His dreams seemed so distant now.
"Goddamn it. All that nonsense about 'dream it, believe it, achieve it'—what a load of crap."
The world changed before Ji Wonhoon could process his failure.
The Great Cataclysm brought monsters and hunters, overturning society.
Ji Wonhoon awakened in the midst of chaos, narrowly escaping death in downtown Seoul.
His talent: Fire Magic.
It was rare and powerful, instantly elevating him to prominence.
In the old world, he had been a struggling actor.
In the new world, he became a hero.
For a time, he thrived as a hunter, earning fame and fortune.
The public’s adoration made him feel like the protagonist of a grand story, something he had always yearned for.
But it didn’t last.
As the world stabilized, stronger hunters emerged with talents far surpassing Ji Wonhoon’s.
Among them were charismatic figures with striking looks who dominated public attention.
Even in this new era, appearance held sway.
The hunter industry began resembling show business, seeking out stars with both power and presence.
"Would things have been different if I’d been better looking?"
Defeated once again, Ji Wonhoon sank into despair, drowning his sorrows at a bar.
Though no longer poor, he had lost the will to fight.
The pain of being denied the spotlight twice in one lifetime left him hollow.
One fateful night, as he downed yet another drink, a stranger approached him.
"You look miserable. Wouldn’t you like to teach those who underestimated you a lesson?"
Ji Wonhoon turned toward the voice.
A figure cloaked in a black hoodie and cap sat beside him, their face obscured.
The stranger took a sip from their glass before continuing.
"If you accept our offer, we can make you the protagonist you’ve always wanted to be."
Ji Wonhoon’s breath caught in his throat.
Even as suspicion crept in, the promise of finally achieving his dream burned within him.
"...What do I have to do?"
"Nothing too complicated. Just... complete this."
The stranger pulled a small, golden shard from their pocket.
It was no larger than a thumb, glowing faintly with an otherworldly light.
Though its edges were jagged and uneven, its beauty was mesmerizing.
As Ji Wonhoon reached for it, the shard dissolved into golden smoke, seeping into his hand.
[You have obtained the Shard of Beauty.]
[You become slightly more attractive.]
[Skill Acquired: Beauty Extraction (S)]
[Skill: Beauty Extraction (S)]
[Complete Absolute Beauty by Extracting the Shards of Beauty and Combining Them into the [N O V E L I G H T] Talent of Beauty (0/1)]
Ji Wonhoon stared at the message hovering before his eyes. The skill and quest it presented were unlike anything he'd seen before.
It didn’t end there.
When the shard was absorbed, another notification appeared.
[You have become slightly more attractive.]
The bartender handed Ji Wonhoon a small hand mirror.
As if bewitched, he looked into the mirror.
“...!”
His eyes widened in shock.
The reflection staring back at him was still himself, yet... different.
His eyes were slightly larger, his skin smoother, and his cheeks more defined as if some excess fat had melted away.
More importantly, there was something intangible about his appearance—an allure he couldn’t describe in words.
The face that countless others had once dismissed as “lacking charm” now radiated an undeniable appeal.
“What... what is this?”
Ji Wonhoon’s trembling hands touched his face as he continued to stare at the mirror in disbelief.
The hooded figure beside him broke the silence, casually passing his empty glass back to the bartender.
“Have you heard of the Seven Deadly Sins?”
“The Seven Deadly Sins?”
“Lust, greed, pride, gluttony, envy, wrath, sloth... The Bible describes them as grave sins, but they also embody immense power.
We, the Frontier, are searching for and developing these powers. The Shard of Beauty is one of our successes.”
“So this power...?” Ji Wonhoon’s voice trembled.
“Yes, it’s lust. Most of the deadly sins were destroyed and scattered. Some remain as shards, while others have fused into individuals as talents.
Your task is simple: use any means necessary to complete it. If you succeed...”
The hooded man raised his refilled glass, savoring the liquor before delivering the final, tantalizing promise.
“...The entire world will worship you as the protagonist.”
It was an offer impossible to refuse.
From that moment, Ji Wonhoon devoted his life to completing the Shard of Beauty.
While participating in raids to build his reputation, he worked in the shadows, abducting those more beautiful than himself to extract their beauty.
But despite his efforts, he couldn’t find what he sought: Absolute Beauty.
Although Ji Wonhoon’s appearance became more striking by the day, he never encountered a hunter so beautiful they could be called "absolute."
Even when he did find potential targets, he couldn’t recklessly abduct them. It required precision and caution.
Thus, Ji Wonhoon maneuvered his way into a position where he could access promising young hunters—the president of Jaeweon University, renowned for nurturing hunters.
By cooperating with the government and winning their trust, he secured the role while secretly founding Babylon, an organization that recruited aspiring Awakened like himself to commit unspeakable crimes.
With support from both the government and the Frontier, Ji Wonhoon’s influence grew rapidly.
At times, he felt like a god.
But in the end...
Slash!
He was cut down by a hunter named Kang Hyunsoo, the twin blades carving through his chest.
‘Ah...’
Am I dying?
He felt the mana loop in his heart unravel, accompanied by a faint, numbing sensation.
Ji Wonhoon knew—this was the end.
In the slowed passage of time, he reached out toward Kang Hyunsoo’s face, his hand trembling.
[Activate Skill]
[Beauty Extraction (S)]
He had to know.
Even as his life ebbed away, he needed to confirm if it was true. The power he had long coveted—was it real?
[Absolute Beauty Detected.]
[Target is conscious.]
[Extraction not possible.]
He saw it.
Absolute Beauty.
Only at the moment of his death did he realize his goal.
His final thought?
“So... beautiful...”
No time remained to indulge his desires.
As the petals of cherry blossoms scattered, blood surged from his wounds.
Thud!
Ji Wonhoon collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
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“Haah... Haah...”
Kang Hyunsoo stood over the body, panting heavily, twin blades raised in case another strike was needed.
But there was no need.
Ssshhh...
Ji Wonhoon’s body disintegrated into golden dust, vanishing without explanation.
The battle was over.
“Is... is it over?”
“Ji Wonhoon is down!”
“Kang Hyunsoo... he won!”
“Woohoo! Hyung-nim!!!”
“Hyunsoo oppa!!”
Cheers erupted from Yuhana and the hunters of the Samcheon Guild, who had been anxiously watching the fight.
They rushed toward Kang Hyunsoo, their faces bright with relief and excitement.
But Kang Hyunsoo didn’t share in their joy.
The battle had ended mere moments ago, and his tension had yet to subside.
Moreover, as he stood over Ji Wonhoon’s remains, golden smoke rose from the spot where the body had disintegrated, swirling toward him.
[You have absorbed a Shard of Beauty!]
[Special Talent: Beauty has leveled up.]
A new surge of power coursed through him.
[You have also absorbed fragments of memories contained within the Shard of Beauty.]
Ji Wonhoon’s memories flooded Kang Hyunsoo’s mind.