The world is complex.
But when you look closer, most things follow certain patterns within a specific range.
Complex patterns often exhibit fractal structures. Billions of people may have diverse appearances, yet most lead similar daily lives. History, too, tends to repeat itself across different eras.
Thus, while life is intricate, it remains somewhat predictable.
You could call it predictable uncertainty.
Nature holds infinite possibilities, and humans possess free will, yet the future isn’t entirely chaotic.
The same goes for the Beauty Quests.
The Beauty talent, which I hadn’t obtained in my previous life, was entirely new to me. Every quest was a first-time experience. But after completing a few, I began to notice patterns.
Auxiliary Beauty Quests focused on improving my external appearance.
Absolute Beauty Quests were usually tied to dungeon-related tasks.
So when I failed Absolute Beauty Quest 8, I naturally assumed the next task would involve either a larger group or a higher-ranked dungeon, upgrading from B-rank to A-rank.
After all, that had been the pattern so far.
But this time, I was wrong.
The updated Absolute Beauty Quest 8 had nothing to do with dungeons.
In fact...
[Absolute Beauty Quest 8]
[Receive the phone number of a stranger of the opposite sex (0/1).]
[Note: The target’s Charm stat must be higher than the challenger’s.]
[Using skills to charm the target is invalid.]
The conditions came with additional restrictions.
Not only did I need to obtain a stranger’s number, but their Charm stat had to be higher than mine, and I couldn’t use any skills to influence them.
Fortunately, Swallow could help identify targets.
[The Charm stat of others can be identified through the Helper of Beauty.]
[The Helper of Beauty has temporarily acquired the trait: Charm Perception (D).]
[Temporary Trait: Charm Perception (D) – Allows the user to identify the Charm stat of a designated target and share the information with the user.]
[This temporary trait will disappear after the quest ends.]
As I was analyzing the quest, additional messages appeared, and Swallow gained a temporary trait.
The result?
“So... that woman over there has a higher Charm stat than me?”
“Indeed, Master. If you obtain her number, you’ll successfully complete Absolute Beauty Quest 8.”
This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.
I found myself on the streets with Swallow, embarking on a hunt to fulfill the newly assigned quest.
‘...What the hell am I doing?’
Frankly, I hated the idea.
My talent was specialized for combat, and I had no interest in romantic pursuits since my regression.
But disliking it didn’t mean I could skip preparation.
Right after receiving the quest, I headed to a nearby bathhouse to freshen up and then bought a new outfit—shirt, cardigan, and trousers—from a department store.
The clothes Han Sungbin had helped me pick out were torn in multiple places after various battles, so I had no choice but to replace them.
Properly dressed, I wandered the streets, looking for someone to approach for their number.
As much as I wanted to give up entirely...
[Remaining Time: 12 hours 28 minutes.]
[Failure to complete within the time limit will double the required number of phone numbers.]
The time limit and harsher penalties for failure left me no choice.
But an unexpected obstacle arose.
It turned out there weren’t many people with a higher Charm stat than mine.
When I first acquired the Beauty talent, my Charm had been a dismal -99, so I’d assumed there would be plenty of people more attractive than me. But thanks to my growth, I’d become so striking that even among passersby, finding someone with a higher stat was nearly impossible.
It was gratifying, in a way.
A high Charm stat meant exceptional attractiveness.
However, while it felt good, it was a major obstacle to completing the quest.
It wasn’t just that I disliked the idea of “hunting” for a stranger’s number; I literally couldn’t find anyone to ask.
Just as I was aimlessly wandering...
An hour after leaving the department store and starting my hunt, I had my first candidate.
I didn’t need to ask who it was.
Across the crosswalk, a woman with long hair and a dress had a pink, upside-down triangle icon hovering above her head.
So here I was, about to make my move.
The unexpected nature of the quest was unsettling, but I had no choice but to adapt.
Beep!
The light turned green.
The woman began walking toward me.
I stood still, waiting for her to approach.
As she drew near, I prepared to speak...
“......”
But my lips refused to move.
Even the hand holding my phone froze in place.
Swallow, hovering nearby, spoke knowingly.
“It’s your trauma, Master.”
This wasn’t my first time trying to strike up a conversation with a stranger.
Before the Great Cataclysm in my previous life, back when I was twenty, I’d tried my hand at flirting—whether at bars with friends or when spotting someone I liked on campus.
Driven by the naive belief that effort alone could win anyone over, I had often thrown myself into these situations.
But the results were...
Whenever I asked for someone’s number, their face darkened instantly. Some even burst into tears, while others swore at me.
It was then that I learned an undeniable truth:
When someone unattractive shows interest, people don’t appreciate it.
The issue wasn’t the act of flirting itself.
When my friends did it, no one cried or swore at them—sometimes it even led to relationships.
The problem was my appearance.
Though I had never shown it outwardly, those experiences had left scars.
And now, I had to admit:
For me, asking a stranger for their number was harder than clearing a B-rank open dungeon without taking a single hit.
Honestly, I’d underestimated the challenge until this moment.
It wasn’t illegal or anything—what could be so hard about asking a stranger for their number?
Clearing a B-rank open dungeon required skill, but flirting was something even ordinary people could do. I’d thought the difficulty level had been misjudged.
But I was wrong.
For me, this was far more difficult.
“Whew... I know it’s tough because of your past experiences, but you need to overcome this, Master. Things are different now.”
“Yeah... you’re right.”
“If you can’t muster the courage, I’ll demonstrate for you.”
“...?”
Despite my determination, Swallow seemed unsatisfied.
Adjusting his sunglasses, he suddenly flew toward a nearby tree, where another swallow was perched.
I watched in confusion as Swallow chirped animatedly, brushing his wing against the other bird’s head.
The scene resembled some kind of affection display.
Swallow then turned back to me, shrugged his wings nonchalantly, and flew back.
I stared at him, bewildered.
“Was that a friend of yours?”
“Nope, just met them. I charmed them on the spot. Do you see the point now?”
“...Not really.”
“Ha! It’s all about confidence, Master. A neat appearance and polite demeanor are essential, but when it comes to charming someone, confidence is the most important thing. Don’t hesitate.”
Confidence, huh...
Swallow, with an almost theatrical fervor, gestured with his beak as he delivered his advice.
Then, snapping his head toward a new direction, he spoke again.
“Let’s try again. Over there—coming from the department store. The woman in jeans and a crop top.”
I followed his gaze.
A silhouette was approaching, her striking appearance amplified by the pink inverted triangle above her head. Her Charm stat was clearly higher than mine, signaling that she was the right target.
Once again, memories of past failures resurfaced.
I even found myself reminiscing about Seo Jieun—the one who had at least spoken to me first, even if her actions later betrayed me. But the past was the past, and it was time to move on.
Walking naturally, I closed the distance between us.
Fortunately, our eyes met.
“Excuse me,” I began.
“Yes...?”
“Sorry to bother you, but I think you’re my type. Could I get your number?”
I managed to speak this time, my voice steady despite the tension.
But...
“Oh! Sorry, I have a boyfriend!”
She rejected me, quickly averting her gaze and walking away as if fleeing.
The sting of failure hit me immediately.
I could feel the weight of people’s gazes on me, and my ears burned red with embarrassment.
Yet, strangely, there was a hint of pride.
At least I had tried.
‘She didn’t frown. She didn’t insult me either.’
Unlike my previous life, where people reacted with visible disgust or outright hostility, this time the response was neutral. Clearly, the power of my improved appearance was working.
For the first time, I felt that success might be within reach.
Swallow chimed in with feedback.
“Master, drop the ‘sorry to bother you.’ It’s not masculine.”
“Hmm... Alright, I’ll try without it next time.”
“Head into the department store. I spotted someone who fits the conditions.”
Taking Swallow’s advice, I entered the store.
Following his guidance, I approached a woman in her late twenties /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ wearing a blouse and skirt.
“Excuse me, hi.”
“Yes?”
“You caught my eye. Could I have your number?”
“Sorry.”
This time, she glanced at me briefly before giving a polite bow and walking away.
Another failure.
Swallow offered more feedback.
“Master, you’re talking too much. There’s no need to say she’s your type or anything like that.”
“But don’t I need to explain myself?”
“Not at all. Phone numbers are decided by first impressions. Overexplaining only detracts from your appeal.”
“Didn’t people say times have changed?”
“Times may change, but human nature doesn’t. The so-called ‘modern era’ isn’t as modern as people like to think.”
“Fine, fine... I’ll give it a shot.”
Though the approach felt a bit old-fashioned, I decided to trust Swallow.
After all, this wasn’t my area of expertise. Having failed multiple times already, I needed to change something.
But...
“Sorry.”
“I have a boyfriend.”
“No, thank you.”
The rejections kept piling up.
By the evening, I had encountered several people with higher Charm stats, yet not a single one had given me their number.
Slumping into a seat at a café inside the department store, I muttered to myself, “At this rate, I’d rather raid a dungeon. I know I’d do better there.”
Despite my determination and the lack of outright hostility, repeated rejection was starting to wear on me.
I needed a new strategy.
Swallow offered a suggestion.
“Master, perhaps it’s time to change locations.”
“Where to?”
“Head to a nightlife district with lots of bars. People there might be less guarded. Your appearance is flawless; the problem lies with the setting. A department store isn’t ideal for this type of interaction.”
“Hmm... Maybe you’re right.”
While I could navigate dungeons and raids with unmatched expertise, this was a field where I was a complete novice. Even the basics felt like stumbling blocks.
As I sat strategizing with Swallow, a new opportunity appeared.
Ping!
Another pink inverted triangle hovered in the hallway outside the café, signaling a target with a higher Charm stat than mine.
I turned my head and briefly made eye contact with her.
But I quickly looked away.
The woman wore a black tracksuit and a cap pulled low over her face.
Based on her demeanor, I doubted she would entertain the idea of giving me her number.
Swallow, seemingly of the same opinion, didn’t press me to act immediately.
Letting go of my expectations, I sipped my iced Americano.
Then something unexpected happened.
The woman walking past the café suddenly stopped, turned around, and walked toward me.
“Excuse me, could I have your number?”
“...My number?”
“Yes, your phone number.”
She asked for my number, completely out of the blue.
‘What... is happening?’
The situation was so absurd that my brain nearly froze.
But the surprises didn’t end there.
As she got closer, I finally got a good look at her face under the cap.
The woman standing before me was none other than Do Minjung, a member of Asenne, the hottest girl group in South Korea.