The Handsomer You Are, the Stronger You Become

Chapter 75

Whew, it’s finally starting. This time, I won’t make any mistakes!

At Paju Stadium Square, Jin Seoyun’s secretary, Jang Seonggeun, clenched his fists as he surveyed the area with renewed determination.

During the Open Dungeon raid at Daechi Station, he had failed to notice the masked hunters entering the portal, endangering the Samcheon Guild hunters.

Although the intruders had used stealth, any trace of their presence would have been enough to summon reinforcements and mount an immediate pursuit. But he hadn’t noticed anything until the raid was over.

Since that day, Jang Seonggeun had vowed to improve.

Not only had he thrown himself into his work during business hours, but he had also ventured into dungeons after hours to raise his level.

Today, he was determined to redeem himself.

“Wow, I heard a B-rank Open Dungeon appeared, but there are so many hunters here!”

“It’s not just a lot; the Samcheon Guild hunters are here too! I even saw Jin Gijun and some other famous ones!”

“Who?”

“Han Sungbin and Jin Seoyun! There was also this really handsome hunter, but I can’t remember his name. He looked familiar, though...”

Around the stadium square, clusters of people—ranging from teenagers to office workers and the elderly—had gathered to watch the spectacle.

What started as a small crowd had grown to over 200 as word spread, forcing the police to step in and manage the crowd.

Jang Seonggeun stood at attention, scanning the onlookers with a grim expression.

Even though the police were keeping civilians away from the portal, he couldn’t afford to let his guard down.

Especially after what had happened at Daechi Station, his vigilance was heightened.

But as he remained on high alert:

Step, step...

A figure caught his eye.

It was an elderly woman with a hunched back and a cane, her white hair flowing as she slowly approached, having somehow evaded police control.

She stopped in front of him and spoke.

“Excuse me... Do you know where I can find the chicken shop around here?”

It was an innocuous question, one anyone could answer.

But Jang Seonggeun didn’t respond.

Instead, he narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the old woman now standing directly in front of him.

The question was eerily familiar—it was exactly what he’d heard back at Daechi Station.

A question that felt strangely out of place.

And indeed, there were no chicken shops anywhere near Paju Stadium.

Rather than answering, Jang Seonggeun drew his sword.

Whoosh!

He swung it swiftly, stopping just short of the old woman’s face—not to harm her, but to confirm his suspicions.

Then:

Clang!

The old woman raised her cane and blocked the blade.

Her movements were unnaturally quick for someone hunched over and frail-looking, deflecting the attack with precision.

Creak, creak!

The sword and cane locked together, grinding against each other.

Jang Seonggeun gritted his teeth as he glared at her.

“...Is this how you infiltrated last time?”

“You’ve got a sharp memory, young man. Hoho! But...”

Despite being found out, the old woman remained calm.

Clang!

She deflected his sword to the side and leaped backward with surprising agility.

“Do you really think you can stop us?”

Then, she swung her cane in an X-shape through the air.

The movement seemed harmless at first.

But suddenly:

Wooooom!

The air in the stadium square began to tremble, and then:

“Wow! This is my first time raiding with the Vice Guild Leader, and he’s amazing!”

“Every time I see him fight, it’s unreal... My brother really knows how to handle a fight.”

“Whoa! He’s so cool!”

Han Sungbin, Jin Seoyun, and Yoo Hana stood beside Hyunsoo, marveling at Jin Gijun’s raw strength.

They wanted to jump into the fray, but Jin Gijun had confidently declared he would handle everything alone. Jumping in recklessly might do more harm than good, considering the scale of his attacks.

Jin Gijun’s overwhelming power was awe-inspiring, but it wasn’t flawless.

Amidst the chaos at the gates, a new threat emerged—demonic archers atop the walls. Jin Gijun, locked in combat, failed to notice their appearance.

It could have been a critical moment, but no intervention was necessary.

Slice! Slash!

“Where do you think you’re aiming?”

“Guaaaah!”

[Lv 330. Demon Baron’s Battalion Archer has been defeated.]

[... ...]

[Lv 330. Demon Baron’s Battalion Archer has been defeated.]

[Experience gained.]

Bang Ilhyung and Na Yeongjin swiftly scaled the walls and eliminated the archers before they could pose any significant threat.

With that, there was truly nothing left for Hyunsoo to do.

‘This... This is too easy. It’s starting to feel a bit... wrong.’

Perhaps it was because he had never experienced such ease before.

Hyunsoo couldn’t deny that sitting back felt oddly comfortable, but a small part of him was nagged by guilt.

From his previous life until now, he had always handled everything himself.

Whether it was being gaslit by Seo Jieun and Choi Taehun, who coerced him into giving up hidden pieces, or soloing dungeons post-regression, Hyunsoo had always been the one to bear the brunt of the labor.

It wasn’t out of pride but sheer necessity. If he didn’t step up, nothing got done.

That’s why standing idle felt so foreign to him.

“What’s wrong with that, Master?”

Swallow’s carefree voice broke into his thoughts. “Think of this as a vacation. Everything’s working out perfectly, even if you don’t lift a finger.”

As if to emphasize his nonchalance, Swallow was lounging mid-air, using the sky as his pillow.

Hyunsoo gave him a skeptical look. But the truth was, Swallow wasn’t entirely wrong.

Jin Gijun and his team not only cleared out the demon forces at the gates and on the walls but also swept through the castle’s interior, taking down demon knights and mages alike.

The sheer spectacle of the Samcheon Guild’s elite hunters was overwhelming.

Eventually, Jin Gijun stepped back, his booming voice signaling the end of the skirmish.

“Hmm! Is that all they’ve got?”

“It seems so, Vice Guild Leader. Great work, as always.”

“You did amazing, big brother.”

“Wow, everyone here is so cool!”

Not a single enemy remained within the castle.

All that was left was the portal near the fountain deep within the castle grounds—the gateway to the boss’s chamber.

‘Maybe I’ve been taking it too easy, but... I guess everyone deserves a break now and then.’

Hyunsoo reassured himself. While he believed in earning his accomplishments, he recognized that sometimes, it was okay to rely on others.

This time, it wasn’t just about his growth. He was repaying the Samcheon Guild’s kindness while completing the Absolute Beauty Quest without taking a single hit.

‘Let’s just ride this bus for now. It’s not a bad thing.’

“This time, too, everyone just sit back! I’ll take care of the boss monster myself!”

“Thank you so much! You guys from Samcheon Guild are amazing!”

“I’ll assist from the sidelines, Vice Guild Leader.”

Like Yoo Hana’s excitement, everything seemed like it would conclude smoothly, with Hyunsoo merely observing the boss battle from a safe distance.

He began heading toward the boss portal alongside the others, a rare smile on his face.

But just as he approached the portal with a light heart—

“...!?”

BOOOOOM!!!

A sudden surge of energy blasted toward him, creating a massive explosion that engulfed Hyunsoo completely.