The Handsomer You Are, the Stronger You Become

Rage, frustration, suspicion, reverence—Hayuri’s face was a whirlwind of emotions.
In contrast, Kang Hyunsoo sat calmly beside her, sipping his water as if nothing were amiss.

“Are Special Talent Quests really that difficult?”
“Of course they are! I’ve been working on mine since the Great Cataclysm and only managed 45% progress! Ah…!”
Realizing her slip, Hayuri slapped her hands over her mouth, clearly regretting revealing her own progress.

But Kang Hyunsoo wasn’t so quick to take her words at face value.
“Probably closer to 55%, maybe even 65%,” he thought.
The precision of her claim and the tone of her voice made it feel less like a genuine mistake and more like deliberate misinformation.

And his intuition was spot on.
“An 18% difference… If I’m not careful, he might overtake me. I thought he was just a newbie, but at this rate, I might be the one left behind.”
Hayuri gnawed her thumbnail nervously as she observed Kang Hyunsoo.

When she had initially struck a deal with him at the mansion, it was partly to avoid unnecessary conflict, but mostly because she had assumed she was far ahead in the Sin Quests.
While she didn’t know the exact progress of the other successors, she had believed herself to be in the lead.
Now, it seemed she had underestimated him.

“I need to either step up my game or figure out a way to use him.”
The rapid pace of Kang Hyunsoo’s growth had caught her off guard.
Surpassing 50% completion in under two years since acquiring the Sin of Lust was unheard of. If he continued at this rate, he could reach the Divine Quest before anyone else.

She couldn’t risk a direct confrontation—it would only weaken them both and benefit the other sins.
Hayuri quickly shifted gears, softening her expression into one of admiration.
“Wow… You’re incredible! How did you progress so quickly? Do you have some sort of secret method?”

“…Your intentions are obvious. Enough games. Hand over the rest of the information on the sins.”
Despite Hayuri’s best attempt at looking innocent, Kang Hyunsoo wasn’t buying it. His unwavering gaze left her momentarily flustered.
“Is this guy even human? He’s supposed to embody the Sin of Lust, but he has zero interest in me.”
She wasn’t used to this.

Everywhere she went, she was showered with compliments about her beauty. As the successor of Greed, she had amassed wealth and influence, undergoing top-tier cosmetic treatments and adorning herself with luxury goods.
Even Ji Wonhoon, known for his cold indifference, had eventually fallen for her.
Yet Kang Hyunsoo didn’t so much as flinch.

It wasn’t that he found her unattractive—his disinterest extended to everyone, even someone like Do Minjung, whom he barely interacted with after their initial meeting.
For now, Hayuri decided to back down and regroup. It was the smart move.
“Fine… Alright. I’ll give you the rest.”

Sliding back into her seat, she pulled out her notepad and began scribbling again.
Finally, she handed over a sheet of paper.
Sin of Pride
Successor:
Name: Unknown
Age: Unknown
Affiliation: Unknown
Weapon: None
Sin Talent: Unknown
Trait: Unidentifiable

“…So you’re telling me I’m done here?”
Kang Hyunsoo frowned at the uselessness of the information.
Before he could voice his frustration, Hayuri began writing again, quickly explaining as she did.

“The Sin of Pride’s successor changes constantly. The original holder, a Chinese-American hunter named Wei Cheng, was assassinated. When a successor dies, their sin scatters globally—it could become a dungeon reward or end up in dimensional rifts. So, no one knows its current location.”
“…Who’s behind these assassinations?”
“A mix of individuals—hunters who accidentally uncover the truth and shadowy organizations. That’s why the successors are cautious around one another. If word gets out, not only would it cause chaos, but it would also put all of our lives at risk.”

Hayuri handed him another sheet of paper.
Sin of Wrath
Successor:
Name: Iron (Hwang Moonchul)
Age: 48
Affiliation: Guild Master of Iron Guild
Weapon: Knuckles
Sin Talent: Wrath
Trait: Korean-American, fluent in Korean.
This one was much more informative.

“I had no idea… He’s a successor, too?”
The name struck him as unexpected.
Iron—a Korean-American hunter known for his muscular build and bald head, one of America’s most prominent hunters.

Seeing his name tied to a sin was a surprise.
While reviewing the papers, something caught Kang Hyunsoo’s attention.
“All the sins so far have been tied to either Koreans or Americans.”

“The coalition that explored the Infinite Dungeon was a Korea-U.S. alliance. There’s one more name left.”
With a flourish, Hayuri jotted down the final entry and handed it over.
Sin of Envy
Successor:
Name: Kyle Dusk
Age: 32
Affiliation: Guild Master of Sword Guild
Weapon: Dagger
Sin Talent: Suspected to be related to swordsmanship.
Trait: Leader of the coalition team during the Infinite Dungeon expedition. Exceptional swordsmanship.

“…Kyle is a successor?”
Kang Hyunsoo’s reaction was markedly different this time.
Until now, even familiar names had only elicited mild surprise. But this—this struck a chord.

“You know him?” Hayuri asked, noticing his reaction.
Kang Hyunsoo nodded.
“Not personally, but I know him well enough.”

Kyle wasn’t just a famous hunter—he was the one who had eliminated Kang Hyunsoo in a swordsmanship tournament before the regression.
***

“Wow, is he really coming?”
“This is insane! Look at all these people!”
The arrival gate was packed to the brim.
Not only were there those waiting to greet the arriving passengers, but also reporters, fans, and security personnel, filling the vast space to its limit.

And then, as the gate doors slid open—
“There! Oh my gosh, they’re here! The U.S. representative hunters have arrived!”
“Kyaa! It’s Kyle!”
“Whoa, Iron is here too! Look at that physique—unreal!”
“Please, just one autograph!”
Cheers erupted from the crowd.

Though only Kyle’s golden hair and Iron’s bald head were immediately visible, people surged forward, raising their phones high to snap a picture.
It was no surprise.
These two weren’t just renowned hunters; they were the leaders of some of America’s most powerful guilds.

For instance, as soon as Kyle and Iron stepped through the gate, dozens of bodyguards flanked them, guiding them toward the exit.
The throng of people was so dense it was nearly impossible to clear a path.
However, Kyle and Iron, both wearing sunglasses, didn’t so much as glance at the crowd.

Such scenes were a routine part of their lives, and they were far too accustomed to them. Besides, they had far more pressing matters on their minds.
Walking briskly under the watchful escort of their guards, Kyle spoke.
“Let’s hit a restaurant first. I’m starving.”

“Huh? Aren’t you going to train right away? If you don’t do it now, there won’t be time later. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten why we’re here.”
Iron tilted his head, puzzled by Kyle’s nonchalance.
The Ultimate Swordsmanship Tournament.

Kyle had come to Korea specifically to claim victory in this prestigious swordsmanship competition. Skipping practice could cost him dearly.
Yet Kyle, utterly unfazed, responded casually.
It didn’t matter if he skipped a day.

“It’s fine. There’s no one in this world who can defeat me with a sword.”
Victory was already his for the taking—or so he believed.