The Handsomer You Are, the Stronger You Become-Chapter 95: Reverse Utilization (4)
<Agreement Document>
<1. Kang Hyunsoo and Hayuri shall cooperate with each other. If either party betrays and endangers the other's life, the agreement is automatically nullified.>
<2. Hayuri will cease exploiting Asenne. Failure to comply or any future exploitation will result in any retribution Kang Hyunsoo deems appropriate.>
<3. Hayuri will provide truthful information about the Seven Deadly Sins. Any falsehoods or omissions will be subject to consequences.>
<...>
“Alright, I think this should do.”
In the grand reception room of the mansion, Kang Hyunsoo smiled in satisfaction as he looked at the two copies of the agreement laid out on the table.
Meanwhile, across from him—
“Ugh... I can’t believe I’m signing something this humiliating....”
Hayuri clutched her head in frustration, bowing it low in defeat.
After Hayuri’s surrender following Hyunsoo’s activation of Bloom, the two had drafted this agreement.
The terms of their cooperation were heavily skewed in Hyunsoo’s favor, leaving Hayuri at a significant disadvantage.
Given the circumstances of her surrender, she had no leverage to negotiate.
Of course, the document lacked legal enforcement. If Hayuri decided to breach the agreement, there was little Hyunsoo could do to hold her accountable—at least not through conventional means.
That’s why Hyunsoo had taken additional precautions.
[Consumable Item]
[Summoning Orb]
[Effect: Upon receiving significant physical impact, the orb summons the contracted individual.]
[Contractee: Lv 680. Hayuri.]
Hyunsoo had bound Hayuri to the Summoning Orb, a rare item he had been keeping in his inventory. Initially intended for a future contract with Choi Jiwoo, it found an even better use here.
If Hayuri broke any terms of the agreement, Hyunsoo could summon her directly and administer any punishment he saw fit.
Reluctantly, Hayuri had agreed, though her expression betrayed her distaste.
Now, slumped in her chair, she wore a sour expression despite her earlier consent.
Hyunsoo narrowed his eyes, watching her closely.
“Not happy with the terms? Fine, we can tear it up and settle this here and now.”
“N-No! It’s fine as it is. A perfectly reasonable agreement! Haha...”
Though her words tried to mask it, her puffed cheeks and strained smile showed her lingering dissatisfaction.
Hayuri had good reason to be upset.
The agreement required her to terminate contracts with individuals unwilling to bear the power of Greed, including the members of Asenne.
This significantly weakened her ability to draw strength from their popularity.
Still, Hyunsoo had insisted on this clause.
Do Minjung had expressed a desire to end her contract with Hayuri, and weakening Hayuri’s power was strategically advantageous.
‘To think she set up that many traps in such a short time... If it weren’t for Golden Roar and Bloom, I might’ve been caught.’
Despite his victory, Hyunsoo reflected on how close the fight had been. The traps Hayuri had deployed during their conversation were of exceptional quality.
Without Golden Roar to dispel them in one blow—or had he conserved those skills—he might have been overwhelmed.
Moreover, the Summoning Orb revealed an unsettling detail: Hayuri’s level was 680, placing her among the highest-tier Hunters.
She was only 20 levels shy of the elite category, and though her talents lay in support rather than direct combat, Hyunsoo couldn’t afford to underestimate her.
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“First, terminate the contracts with Asenne.”
“Tsk... Fine.”
At Hyunsoo’s command, Hayuri closed her eyes, waved her hand briefly, then opened them again.
“It’s done. The members of Asenne are no longer influenced by the power of Greed. Their performances might suffer a bit, but... that’s their problem now.”
To have her contracts nullified at someone else’s demand was a blow to Hayuri’s pride, but she had no choice.
‘To think Absolute Beauty’s power could be so overwhelming....’
Hayuri couldn’t shake the memory of her defeat.
Despite her preparations—laying traps and casting spells during their conversation—Hyunsoo had dismantled them all in an instant.
With a single golden flash, hours of her meticulous setup had been rendered useless.
And when Hyunsoo activated Bloom, his transformed appearance had left her completely disarmed.
No matter her strength, she couldn’t bring herself to harm him.
Even knowing that her attraction stemmed from the power of Lust, Hayuri couldn’t resist its effects.
Attraction to physical beauty was a primal instinct, and in this case, it was a force she couldn’t overcome.
‘I’ll have to start carrying my sealed weapons from now on. I thought I wouldn’t need them anymore, but I can’t make the same mistake again....’
Clenching her jaw, Hayuri resolved to be better prepared.
Her underestimation of Hyunsoo—and her failure to bring her strongest equipment—had cost her ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) dearly.
“Now, let’s move on to the Seven Deadly Sins. Tell me about their abilities and identities.”
“I can tell you what I know, but you’d be better off avoiding them.”
“And why is that?”
“If they discover you, they’ll come after you—just like I did. There’s already a precedent.”
“Precedent?”
“Pride’s wielder, Hwang Inbeom. He gained the power of Pride in the Infinite Dungeon but rushed his quest without proper preparation. He ended up dead. His successor didn’t fare any better, assassinated in their own home.”
“Who killed them?”
“No one knows. But the fact that the successor inherited Pride was information known only among the Seven Deadly Sins. The culprit must’ve been one of them.”
“Truly a relationship of mutual dependence and rivalry,” Hyunsoo remarked.
“That’s why I’m telling you to stay under the radar. If you draw their attention, I’ll get dragged into the mess as well.”
With Hayuri’s warnings in mind, Hyunsoo nodded. “Fine. We’ll leave it at that for now. I have other matters to attend to.”
“Alright. I’ll organize what I know and tell you when we meet again. No written records or messages—it’s safer that way.”
Though he was curious about the remaining five sins, Hyunsoo decided to prioritize his growth. The more he understood the sins, the more pressing it became to strengthen himself.
As Hyunsoo walked to the exit and opened the door—
“Ah...!”
Do Minjung was standing there.
Caught red-handed, she had been pressing her ear against the large wooden door, clearly attempting to eavesdrop.
Kang Hyunsoo, unfazed, casually closed the door behind him, blocking Hayuri’s view, and stepped in front of Minjung.
As he stood before her, she spoke with tears welling up in her wide eyes.
“Thank you, Kang Hyunsoo Hunter.”
“For what exactly...?”
“You saved me. You freed me from that pain. I’m so grateful... truly.”
“Hm, it was just the right thing to do,” Hyunsoo replied, scratching his cheek awkwardly.
While it was true he had considered Minjung’s situation, his primary motive had been to weaken Hayuri’s power and gather information about the Seven Deadly Sins.
Yet, despite overhearing their conversation and knowing his intentions, Minjung still expressed her gratitude.
“No, even if you say it was the right thing to do, there are plenty of people—like my CEO—who wouldn’t have done it. This wasn’t something just anyone would do. It’s your thoughtful kindness that made it happen.”
“Thank you for thinking so highly of me. I’m glad to hear you’re no longer in pain.”
Hyunsoo offered a gentle smile. Sometimes, excessive humility could stifle conversation, and he decided it was better to respond kindly.
At that moment, Minjung stepped closer.
“Yes, now that the pain is gone, I want to fill that space with happy memories.”
And then, without warning—
Peck!
Minjung kissed Hyunsoo on the cheek.
“......!!”
Caught entirely off guard, Hyunsoo’s eyes widened in shock.
But the surprises didn’t end there.
[A beautiful choice surpassing the threshold has unlocked your Inner Image.]
[Absolute Beauty Quest 10 has been completed.]
[Reward:]
[Beauty Trait: “The Handsomer You Are, the Stronger You Become” has been upgraded from S to SS.]
[Grade upgrade enhances the effects of Appearance Power.]
[All subcategories have increased by one grade.]
[A new subcategory for “The Handsomer You Are, the Stronger You Become (SS)” has been unlocked.]
The moment Minjung’s lips touched his cheek, the nearly stagnant progress on Absolute Beauty Quest 10 shot to completion.
Still reeling from the unexpected gesture, Hyunsoo’s gaze shifted to his trait window.
[Beauty Trait: The Handsomer You Are, the Stronger You Become (SS)]
<Subcategories>
[Physique (A)] [Features (A)] [Aura (B)] [Skin (B)] [Fashion (C)] [Scent (C)]
[Appearance Power: 84]
[Effect: All stats +252.]
The upgrade was significant.
Most notably, the effects of Appearance Power had increased: each point now provided a +3 boost to all stats, compared to the previous +2.
The improvements didn’t stop there.
[Condition Met:]
[Skill: Bloom (S) has been upgraded to SS.]
[Duration extended from 30 seconds to 3 minutes.]
[Cooldown reduced.]
[While using Bloom, the effects of all Beauty Skills are enhanced by +100%.]
The upgrade to Bloom made it considerably more powerful.
[Physique has increased from B to A.]
[Condition met: Title upgraded.]
[Title: “Handsome Swordsman” has been upgraded to “Ridiculously Handsome Swordsman.”]
The rewards continued to pour in, seemingly without end. Completing such a challenging quest had unleashed a cascade of benefits.
Minjung had given Hyunsoo an unexpected and invaluable gift.
“Thank you. This will be a cherished memory for me, too,” Hyunsoo said warmly.
“Hehe, really?” Minjung beamed, her face lighting up for the first time.
“Now, why don’t you show me your real dorm? I’ll walk you back.”
“Okay! Thank you, Hunter!”
For the first time, Minjung’s expression was truly bright and carefree. She turned and began leading the way.
‘Finally, she’s smiling again,’ Hyunsoo thought, his own smile softening at the sight.
[The base stats of the Beauty Assistant have increased.]
[The Beauty Assistant has learned a new skill: Quick Blade Slash (A).]
As the unending rewards continued to appear, Hyunsoo followed Minjung down the hallway, anticipation building for what lay ahead.
