NOVEL NEXT Chapter 301
“The winner of the Cross-Dressing Contest is…! The sensational Lee Ha-yul from First-Year Ipchun Class!”
– Clap clap clap clap!
“……”
As expected, I was the winner.
Holding a trophy engraved with ‘Cross-Dressing Contest Winner Lee Ha-yul, Birth Ceremony, 00th Session’ in one hand, I maintained my expression on stage as a furious applause erupted.
I expected it, but winning really tangled my feelings.
After all, I hadn’t done much compared to the efforts and sacrifices made by the other participants.
I just let my hair grow a bit longer and tossed a ceremonial robe over comfortable clothes. That was all, yet here I was, snatching the victory.
I was confused whether to be happy or sad…
“Next, the winner of the Men’s Cross-Dressing Contest is…! Oh! Coincidentally, the winner is once again from First-Year Ipchun Class! Baek Ahrin!”
“It’s an honor~”
The winner of the Men’s Cross-Dressing Contest was Baek Ahrin. She smiled brightly on stage, waving her hand casually.
Considering there were fewer participants than the women’s contest, Ahrin won the trophy after a close match with Hong Yeon-hwa.
In fact, the winner was decided more by the voter’s preference than by the level of disguise.
That is, Baek Ahrin was the winner due to her better reputation.
“Wow~ Just because your hair is a little longer, you look so different now?”
[?]
Just as the awards ceremony ended, Baek Ahrin came over to me with a giggle.
With her trophy in one hand, she examined me thoroughly.
Her gaze felt a bit prickly. I instinctively hunched my shoulders and turned my face away, avoiding her eyes.
“Hmmm… Oh ho?”
[Please don’t tease me…]
“It’s a heartfelt compliment! I really feel like something’s changed…?”
Baek Ahrin tilted her head while stroking my cheek. Her hand then moved up to grab a handful of my longer hair and rubbed it.
“Did you become prettier…? Did you secretly use some magic?”
“Hey, don’t just touch her!”
Hong Yeon-hwa, who dashed back on stage, slapped Baek Ahrin’s hand away.
After shooting Baek Ahrin a glance, Hong Yeon-hwa grabbed my shoulder and pulled me into her embrace. I followed without resistance. Soon, the soft sensation supported my head…
– Swoosh…
[Shock]
‘……’
It didn’t provide much support.
Hong Yeon-hwa’s chest, still wrapped in bandages, was noticeably smaller than usual. I knew it was because she had wrapped herself up for observation, but it was still shocking.
With a hollow feeling, my eyes trembled.
“Haha! Look at that lost expression, just as I expected!”
Baek Ahrin burst out laughing as she saw my face. She too hadn’t removed her disguise, so her chest appeared smaller as well.
“Kuh.”
Hong Yeon-hwa lowered her head to check my face and swallowed her laughter while brushing my cheek.
“What’s wrong? Is something weird?”
When I tilted my head back, I could see a blatant mischief dancing across her face. As the teasing tone filled my ears, I couldn’t help but nod along.
“It’s weird…”
“Really? Doesn’t it suit you?”
“No… it suits me… but, you know, I think it’d be better to take off the bandages…”
“Hmmm, what to do…?”
“Ugh…”
Hong Yeon-hwa silently smiled and pressed her hand on my cheeks.
“Ha-yul, you haven’t forgotten our appointment for tomorrow, right?”
When I heard her soft whisper tickling my ear, my face flushed.
The promise I made with Yeon-hwa on the last day of the birth ceremony. There was no way I could forget that.
“…Y-Yes.”
“Good. That’s settled.”
As I nodded slightly, Yeon-hwa smiled happily and withdrew her head.
.
.
.
Once I calmed my flushed face and went down to the waiting room, I soon spotted my teacher and Professor Riana sitting in the audience.
But Choi Ji-yeon was following them. Turning my head toward her, she awkwardly smiled and greeted me.
“So it’s not a wig, but real hair? But you’re saying this isn’t your unique ability?”
“There wouldn’t be a wig that would look this good with this hair.”
“Sniff sniff… it even smells the same.”
Right after, the curiosity flowed.
The main topic was, of course, my hair. Most people were showing their amazement by touching my long hair, and there was even Yeon-hwa who buried her nose in it to smell.
As I sat down with Seo-yul in my arms, I felt the continued touches around me.
“Leaving the hair aside, I feel like the overall vibe has changed a bit, you know?”
Professor Riana, who had secretly sniffed my hair while observing Yeon-hwa’s actions, tilted her head. Then, her hand gently lifted my chin.
At that comment, all eyes turned to my face.
The touches spread to my face as well. Hands caressed everywhere—my forehead, eyelids, nose bridge, cheeks, and lips. I tightly closed my eyes against the lingering caresses.
Even Seo-yul in my arms curiously touched my face with her little hands.
“…I guess it does feel… no, I really feel like something’s changed?”
“Ummm… just a little change, right?”
“You’ve become prettier!”
“Ah? Th-thank you…”
[W-wait, what?]
…The ongoing conclusion was that something had indeed changed. Even I, observing myself introspectively, nodded internally.
Having the power of observation and knowledge allowed me to perceive it more meticulously.
I had indeed changed. My physique had slightly altered, and with it, the aura I exuded had also transformed.
‘Is this a new function of the Jack of All Trades…?’
It granted various corrections to my qualities. I thought it was only that, but I hadn’t anticipated there would be a kind of appearance correction as well.
If my guess is correct, the growth method is unique too.
After all, the unique ability is already hard to master, but this type requires a special external influence rather than simple training.
‘There haven’t been many like that even in past loops… The first and third loop’s unique abilities come to mind.’
As I patted Seo-yul’s back, I plunged into thought.
Summarizing the positive comments swirling around me, it appeared I had changed for the better.
I had become prettier… or more accurately, transformed into a beauty.
‘What does “beauty” mean, anyway?’
Long hair and beautiful clothes? Is that what defines beauty?
So, are short hair and normal clothes considered ugly?
Is there an exact standard for beauty? Is there an absolute criterion for distinguishing between beauty and ugliness?
Can beauty and ugliness be clearly measured like with a ruler?
If the Jack of All Trades cultivates me to be beautiful, then what standard does it use to distinguish between beauty and ugliness?
Is it my personal standard as the wielder of the Jack of All Trades? Or does my unique power have its own inherent standards?
I still don’t know. I’ve only just realized it. I can’t even be sure if this is actually appearance correction. It might be similar to another function.
‘Geez.’
The Jack of All Trades is my unique ability. While I might receive advice from those nearby, in the end, I have to figure it out and realize it myself.
*
During the birth ceremony, many gathered at Shio-ram.
Families of students, associates of their respective groups, and even group members who came to recruit talents, all gathered there.
Thus, the birth ceremony often served as a place for many people to meet and converse after a long time.
“You seem to be in a good mood.”
So were the two of them.
The head of the Taesan Clan, Lee Ji-a, said this during a pause in their long conversation.
The man across from her coughed lightly.
“Hmm, is it that obvious?”
“Yes, somewhat.”
The man engaging in conversation with Lee Ji-a, the head of the Gop-hwa Clan, Hong Sung-jin, smiled gently, which was uncharacteristic of him.
‘How could I not be happy?’
As Ji-a said, he was in a good mood. Not just good, but quite wonderful.
It wasn’t only Hong Sung-jin who felt this way; most members of the Gop-hwa Clan likely felt the same.
Now it was the fourth day of the birth ceremony, and yesterday, the students’ struggles in the Tower of Growth were broadcasted.
Naturally, Hong Sung-jin watched.
‘They’ve grown well.’
The remarkable growth displayed by Hong Yeon-hwa, his granddaughter, could only fill him with joy as a grandfather.
Despite worries that the output of Gop-hwa would be too overwhelming and that she could get hurt, that reckless girl had somehow learned to handle Gop-hwa so skillfully now.
Concern over the next heir of Gop-hwa could be set aside.
And then…
“Haha.”
Recalling a memory, Hong Sung-jin chuckled.
The child he had been watching closely, Lee Ha-yul.
It was hard to put into words about that child.
Excellent? Marvelous? Those were undoubtedly correct words. The skills shown by that child could leave even Hong Sung-jin in awe.
What pleased Hong Sung-jin even more wasn’t just the raw power, but the utilization of Gop-hwa.
‘Using magic with Gop-hwa? Not with fire magic but using the essence of Gop-hwa for magic?’
Gop-hwa wielders find it hard to master magic. They can twist their whole bodies to use it, but it would be a hundred times more efficient to just throw some Gop-hwa around.
Because of this, the Gop-hwa Clan didn’t develop magic. Most members within the Gop-hwa Clan who could handle magic were usually those who couldn’t handle Gop-hwa.
But Lee Ha-yul was different.
He manipulated the flames of Gop-hwa, not fire magic, and utilized them magically.
And that’s not all! He brilliantly showcased the renowned characteristics of Gop-hwa.
Gop-hwa. Known as a fiery flame that could bring ruin to the world, in reality, it exhibited a harmless and warm nature instead.
However, it wasn’t always gentle; it roared fiercely when facing enemies.
Although it didn’t resemble what Hong Sung-jin had known about Gop-hwa throughout his life, he didn’t feel the slightest discomfort.
‘I shouldn’t deny this change.’
Is this change positive or negative? Is it progress or regression? Or perhaps stagnation? Even Hong Sung-jin, who had lived a considerable long life based on a standard of superhumans, couldn’t be certain about it.
Yet instinctively, he sensed that this would lead to something positive.
Gop-hwa had always been a unique ability passed down since the founding ancestor. Over the long period of its inheritance, Gop-hwa has flowed through many unique powers.
The unique abilities of the founder, the unique abilities of their heir, further continuing through blood ties.
They mixed, manifested, and connected.
Someone’s advances brought about the blooming of Gop-hwa. Someone’s step resulted in the evolution of it, and someone’s progression ignited the holy fire.
Hong Yeon-hwa and Lee Ha-yul’s Gop-hwa would likely be similar. It wouldn’t appear all at once, but their Gop-hwa would influence future generations.
“……”
As Hong Sung-jin reminisced, he suddenly felt a bitter taste on the tip of his tongue and swallowed his thoughts.
Hong Sung-jin had two sons.
The first was Hong Jin-sun, the current head of the clan. Leaving aside being a father, he was a proud son who had grown remarkably to lead the clan.
The other was no longer around.
He was a painful reminder in the clan’s history, having committed acts that would bring shame and retribution, even being estranged from the family tree.
Why?
Even now, he often pondered that question.
Unlike his firstborn’s stoic demeanor, his second born was lighthearted but had deep thoughts hidden beneath the surface.
His talents were decent. He was a little less impressive than the first, but the second had openly acknowledged him, hoping for competition instead of jealousy.
He had his sharp edges, yet he was still a son to be proud of.
Then, one day, he disappeared.
When he reappeared, he left behind an irreparable tragedy and vanished without a trace.
His firstborn still desperately pursued his younger brother. As the representative of the clan, he aimed to cleanse the sins borne from blood ties, punishing the shame himself.
However, Hong Sung-jin knew of another reason.
His firstborn, Hong Jin-sun, wanted to prevent parents from killing their children. Thus, he intended to personally end his brother’s life.
‘What a complicated family.’
Within the three great clans, it had a painfully complex situation filled with many stories.
If there was any relief, it was in the next generation of his sons. The bond between Hong Yeon-hwa and… the child named Lee Ha-yul brought him some peace.
– Zzztt
Just then, the hologram flickering in the corner of the table changed. Hong Sung-jin, swallowing the bitter taste, focused his gaze on it.
“Hmm?”
The scene showed a bustling street full of people.
Hong Sung-jin’s eyes widened. The two children he had just been thinking about were now on the hologram.
“Whoa…?”
The reason his mouth dropped open was due to the completely bizarre appearance they were showing.
Lee Ha-yul, the fair-skinned boy, had his previously short hair flowing long and got an entirely different aura. He was glancing around, clearly conscious of his surroundings.
Beside him, Hong Yeon-hwa was smiling brightly, holding Lee Ha-yul’s hand, as they strolled down the street…
‘Is she troubling that child again…?’
Hong Sung-jin instinctively suspected his granddaughter.
Though she was precious—one of his golden granddaughters—he remembered the wild and reckless Hong Yeon-hwa who once fell prey to Gop-hwa’s impulse.
Moreover, it was indeed true that it was Hong Yeon-hwa who had asked for this.
It was a reasonable suspicion.
*
[Beginning the awareness of the source]
[The mental condition ｢Beauty?｣ is changing]
…
[Player Correction System: Developmental Index]
[Subquest ｢Beauty｣ Achieved]
[Points are accumulating]