The Handsomer You Are, the Stronger You Become

A black, form-fitting dress under a long coat, high heels that elongated her legs, and a graceful posture that commanded attention.

Hayuri’s appearance was the kind that could leave any man breathless.
Add to that her seductive gaze and the luxurious scent that lingered as she moved—it was the perfect recipe for admiration.
Yet, no one on the street gave her so much as a second glance.

That was because Hayuri had activated her Perception Disruption skill, erasing not only her presence but also her physical appearance within a 300-meter radius.
While she clearly existed, the people around her were entirely oblivious to her presence.
All except one.

Kang Hyunsoo stared directly at her.
The reason was simple:
[Skill: Perception Disruption is active.]
[There is a presence resisting the skill.]

Hayuri’s skill failed against Kang Hyunsoo because his magical resistance was far too high.
Her attempt at stealth had been a complete failure.
In response, Kang Hyunsoo dismissed Swallow to minimize any unnecessary exposure and spoke calmly but firmly.

“Why were you tailing me? Was your promise to cooperate just a lie after all?”
During their previous encounter at the mansion, Kang Hyunsoo had negotiated with Hayuri.
The agreement was simple: Hayuri would stop exploiting idols using her power and provide him with information about the Seven Deadly Sins, while also refraining from interfering with his Beauty Quests.

It was an uneasy alliance—mutually beneficial, yet hostile.
Kang Hyunsoo had been quietly inserting himself into the ecosystem of the Seven Deadly Sins to gather information without raising suspicions. So far, things had gone smoothly.
But now, she had blatantly followed him.

Kang Hyunsoo glared at her, his eyes filled with frustration.
How long had she been trailing him?
He had sensed her presence after completing the Emergency Quest and heading into Yongin for dinner, but it was possible she had been following him even earlier.
Hayuri, arms crossed and seemingly unbothered, denied the accusation with a shake of her head.

“Of course not. I was just visiting a nearby villa when I felt an immense power coming from Babylon’s base. I came to investigate.”
“And I’m supposed to believe that?”
“If you don’t believe my words, trust yourself. If I’d been tailing you from the start, you would’ve noticed immediately—just like you did now.”

“…”
She had a point.
If Hayuri had been tailing him earlier, Kang Hyunsoo’s heightened senses would have picked up on it right away.

His ability to detect her now, even with her Perception Disruption, proved that.
Kang Hyunsoo’s glare softened slightly, which Hayuri took as an opportunity to press further.
“So, drop the suspicion. To be precise, it wasn’t tailing—I was just looking for the right time to talk.”

“The right time to talk?”
“There’s a lot to discuss. From the Seven Deadly Sins to what you found at Babylon’s base.”
“…So you’ve organized your thoughts?”

The origin of his Beauty talent, tied to the Seven Deadly Sins.
During their first meeting, Hayuri hadn’t been able to explain it fully, but now she seemed ready to share.
“I’ve updated myself with the latest information. But this isn’t the place for it. Follow me. Even with Perception Disruption, it’s not completely safe here.”

She gestured toward a black SUV parked nearby.
It didn’t take long to guess who it belonged to.
As Hayuri approached the vehicle, a man who appeared to be her driver exited the car, bowed respectfully, and entered a nearby building.

Kang Hyunsoo followed Hayuri but kept his hand near his waist, ready to draw his weapon if needed.
Noticing this, Hayuri smirked.
“…It’s good to be prepared, but try not to scratch the car when you draw your weapon.”

With a chuckle, she opened the back door and got in.
Kang Hyunsoo entered from the opposite side, prepared for a potential ambush.
Fortunately, it wasn’t a trap.

Even seated next to Hayuri in the backseat, there were no immediate threats.
However, there was one problem—her proximity.
Though there was plenty of room, Hayuri had moved to the middle seat, sitting so close their bodies nearly touched.

“Wow… You look even better than before,” she teased.
“If you’re going to waste my time with nonsense, I’ll get out.”
“Tsk, so uptight.”

Seeing Kang Hyunsoo’s hand move to the door handle, Hayuri reluctantly returned to her seat, crossing her arms as she looked at the headrest in front of her.
“So, what exactly happened at Babylon’s base? That wasn’t ordinary mana—it felt like the energy of sin.”
“Let’s start with the Seven Deadly Sins. I’ll tell you about the base afterward.”

Kang Hyunsoo had no intention of revealing his cards first.
This sudden meeting was on Hayuri’s terms, and if he wasn’t careful, she could seize the upper hand.
Hayuri seemed to understand his caution and conceded.

“Fine, let’s go fifty-fifty. I’ll tell you about four of the Seven Deadly Sins first. After that, you share what happened at the base, and then I’ll tell you about the remaining three.”
“That seems reasonable.”
With the terms settled, Hayuri retrieved a small notepad and pen from a holder on the back of the front seat.

As she began writing, Kang Hyunsoo tilted his head and asked, “Didn’t you say this kind of information couldn’t be shared in documents or calls?”
“I’ll burn it as soon as you read it. Besides, it’s safer than talking out here on the street.”
Handing him a small piece of paper, she added, “There’s a lot to write, so I’ll give it to you piece by piece.”

Kang Hyunsoo glanced at the paper.
But the first entry made his brow furrow.
The Seven Deadly Sins
Special powers manifesting during the Great Cataclysm in the form of sin.

Types: Lust, Greed, Gluttony, Pride, Sloth, Envy, Wrath
Sin of Lust
Successor:
Name: Kang Hyunsoo
Age: 28
Occupation: Hunter
Weapon: Twin swords
Sin Talent: Beauty
Trait: Handsome
“What’s this supposed to be…?”

“It’s an example. The paper’s too small to write everything, so I have to do it bit by bit.”
Before Kang Hyunsoo could voice his annoyance, Hayuri quickly handed him another sheet.
Sin of Greed
Successor:
Name: Hayuri
Age: 28
Occupation: Chairwoman of Arden Entertainment Group
Weapon: Staff
Sin Talent: Popularity, Wealth
Trait: Likes good-looking people

“…”
Kang Hyunsoo was at a loss for words.
The information wasn’t particularly insightful, and the revelation that Hayuri was the same age as him felt oddly absurd.

On top of that, the shamelessness of writing down “likes good-looking people” as one of her own traits was beyond comprehension.
He considered abandoning the negotiation altogether and leaving the car.
But Hayuri seemed to sense his intentions.

“This next piece of information should be more useful,” she said confidently.
She handed him the third paper, her voice brimming with certainty. For once, it seemed like the information might actually be valuable.
Sin of Gluttony
Successor:
Name: Choi (Yoon Chohee)
Age: 32
Occupation: Mukbang Creator
Weapon: Hammer
Sin Talent: Consumption
Trait: Melee combat-focused, exceptional strength. Don’t underestimate her slim frame.

“Wait, her?”
Choi, a popular mukbang creator in South Korea with over 20 million subscribers, was revealed to be the successor of the Sin of Gluttony.
She had seemed unrelated to the world of hunters, but it turned out she possessed one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

A fact Kang Hyunsoo hadn’t known in his previous life.
Letting out a faint laugh of disbelief, he said, “So she’s the successor of Gluttony?”
“That’s right. It’s part of why I started my company,” Hayuri replied, scribbling more notes on her paper. “Sure, I needed to gain money and popularity for my Greed Quests, but I also had to keep Choi in check. Not that it matters anymore—her influence has grown too big to control.”

“So, the more she eats, the stronger she gets?”
“Exactly. That’s why she doesn’t gain weight no matter how much she eats. Everything she consumes converts directly into strength. Here, this is the fourth one.”
Hayuri handed him another slip of paper.

Sin of Sloth
Successor:
Name: Luke Aresa
Age: 35
Affiliation: None
Weapon: Unknown
Sin Talent: Sleep
Trait: Missing for five years, current whereabouts unknown.
“What’s this supposed to be?”
This time, the information was underwhelming.

Putting her pen and notepad back into the holder, Hayuri explained, “This is why gathering information on the other sins is so hard. That guy’s talent is literally sleep, and he’s been missing for years. He used to use a sword, but who knows if he still does.”
“…I think I understand why you were so eager to start.”
Hayuri’s willingness to go first now made sense.

She had used two already-known pieces of information, one that was practically useless, and only one truly valuable tidbit.
It was a strategic win for her, no doubt.
“Well, it’s not like you came out of this completely empty-handed. Now, it’s your turn. What did you find at Babylon’s base?”

Now it was Kang Hyunsoo’s turn to share.
How much should he reveal?
He pondered for a moment, stroking his chin, though his decision came quickly.

“The altar.”
“Hmm…?”
“I found the Altar of Lust. It was hidden underground at the factory entrance.”

Kang Hyunsoo relayed the truth plainly.
Hayuri had kept her promise, and he needed information about the altars.
But despite his straightforward explanation—

“…What? Are you serious?”
Hayuri turned her head sharply, her expression one of utter disbelief.
Frowning slightly, Kang Hyunsoo asked, “What’s the issue?”

“Do you know how hard it is to find one of the Sins’ altars? It took me over three years of searching to find mine, and you just stumbled across one like that?”
“Is it really that difficult?”
“Of course! The reason many of the successors are abroad is to search for altars and other scattered items related to the Sins. And Ji Wonhoon found something like that and didn’t tell me? Ugh, betrayal!”

Clutching her head in frustration, Hayuri seemed genuinely distressed by the revelation.
But after a moment of dramatic indignation, she calmed herself and turned back to him.
“Did you prove your qualification?”

“Yes.”
“Then… did you see anything?”
“I was about to ask you the same thing. Do all those who prove their qualification see the same vision?”

“They do. It’s always the knight and the woman beneath the dead tree, talking under the night sky.”
“What do you think they are? Their conversation was abstract, something about completing a task for their world.”
“I’m not sure. The information we’re given is limited. But based on the dialogue, I’d guess they were beings from another world who once held divinity—the reward of the quest.”

“Hmm… That aligns with what I thought.”
Though hoping for more insight, Hayuri’s explanation matched his own assumptions.
Moving on, Kang Hyunsoo asked his next question.

“Are the altars provided to all successors?”
“Yes. You need to find them to track your Sin Quest progress, and after completing everything, you can summon the altar again. But you can only locate them when you’re nearby, which makes it incredibly difficult. Ji Wonhoon gave you a huge gift by leaving you that one.”
“It’s that significant?”

“Absolutely. I thought you had a long way to go, which is why I agreed to cooperate. But to think you’d find an altar so soon… This is shocking. Some of us spend years searching.”
Hayuri leaned back in her seat, pressing a hand to her forehead, clearly overwhelmed.
Taking a sip from a bottle of water, she continued, “But your progress can’t be that far, right? What are you at—10%? Maybe 20%? Even that would be impressive at your level.”

“…”
Her offhanded guess made it seem like she wasn’t expecting much.
But Kang Hyunsoo didn’t respond, his silence noticeable.

“…Wait, don’t tell me it’s higher. 25%? 30%?”
Hayuri immediately picked up on the hint and pushed further.
“Don’t joke—40%? You haven’t actually passed 50%, have you?!”

“What if I have?”
Kang Hyunsoo tilted his head slightly, puzzled by her disbelief. To him, a 50% completion rate didn’t seem particularly high.
But the moment he said it, Hayuri’s reaction was pure shock.

“Y-you’re kidding. Do you know how hard it is to progress in a Sin Quest? And you’ve already cleared over half?!”
She stared at him, utterly dumbfounded.