Thumbs Up, Level Up

to the holy system were the most popular.
However, divine blessings inevitably required faith, and life was too much of a hellhole to simply go to a temple, pray to the gods, and repent.
In addition, there was a high possibility that holy skills would conflict with White Night, Dark Night and the skills in the shadow system.

‘Try your best to stand out without assistance from the gods! Gotta be the top attention whore!’ Ji-Cheok knew and accepted that he would begin his career as an attention seeker and finish it no differently.

‘Spirits! Bless me!’

This invocation sounded so cringe to Ji-Cheok, but he had to accept it, as it would make him popular with the teenagers.
It was the sad thought process of an outsider who craved attention but never got any.

‘Ugh, let’s be patient with this.’

Finally, it was time to look at movement and passive skills.

[Wind and Cloud Steps — 5,100 Likes]

[Class: Rare (Upgradable, Rank F)

A movement skill that imitates the fleeting wind and clouds — a symbol of a comfortable and simple life.
The user’s every move will be elegant and flow smoothly like water.]

[Prince Charming — 6,000 Likes]

[Class: Rare (Non-Upgradable, Rank C)

Everything that the user consumes will be contributed towards their beautification: This skill can help restore skin elasticity, remove acne, lose weight, tighten pores, and improve skin complexion and hair!

*This item is non-refundable.]

‘Prince Charming, my ass! Why on earth is it so expensive? It doesn’t heal wounds or make your swordsmanship better, and it doesn’t even make you faster so you can head for the hills when monsters appear!’

The reason was actually quite simple.
Some cosmetic products became much more expensive when they were advertised to have premium ingredients like whale oil, even if their actual quality was crappy.

Ji-Cheok was now a GodTube Influencer, and besides the challenging Hunter life, he also had to take exceptional care of his looks.
It was important to maintain his dashing appearance as it directly correlated with the number of fans he would attract, which in turn was proportional to the number of Likes.

‘Haha, it is what it is.
If I want Likes, I have to be willing to give up other things.’

Regrettably, the thing he had to give up right now was his dignity, and Ji-Cheok sighed as he heard the sound of his manly pride shattering into pieces inside his chest.
He couldn’t help it.
Idols succeed in getting to the top by wearing cute animal costume hats during fan sign events.
Even world-famous idols couldn’t say no to wearing cute animal costume hats.

That was the mindset of a professional and that was the mindset that Ji-Cheok was in.
If he wanted to get big in this industry, beauty was his answer.

“Ha ha ha! Ha ha! Ha ha ha! I’m an attention whore! I crave attention! Worship me! You little punks!” he yelled out.

He grinned and laughed as if he was going mad, and stacked the skill books one by one.
It was a desperate struggle to get Likes in the hell of lookism.

* * *

Two days had passed since Ji-Cheok purchased his skill books.
He had tried to practice them one by one.
He hadn’t fully mastered them yet, but he could use them in a pinch.

Ji-Cheok prepared some instant ramen and slurped the noodles.

[You have consumed instant ramen.]

[Skin Elasticity has increased by 3.]

‘How did the System come to the conclusion that my Skin Elasticity increased by three?’

Ji-Cheok had no choice but to accept that the System’s calculation was correct.

‘Is this like how the facial creams that claim they contain nutrients and vitamins are actually placebos?”

The restaurant ajumma[1] was a victim of this, as she had previously worked at a multi-level marketing job.
She said that there were so many skin care options — lotion, essence, first cream, night cream, all that — but in truth, sunscreen was the only thing that was effective at all.
The rest depended on having faith that the product worked.

‘If the result of this ‘Prince Charming’ skill depends on a placebo effect too…’

6,000 Likes could become nothing in one second.

However, Ji-Cheok decided to trust it because he needed passive skills related to beauty.

Bzzt!

Ji-Cheok’s phone vibrated as he received a text message.
When he looked at the screen, he saw a message indicating a downpayment had been successfully deposited.

‘Was this supposed to happen…’

It must have been a huge amount, as it needed to be processed in three deposits.
Ji-Cheok was surprised, and just then his phone vibrated again.
It was Jung Ji-Han.
Of course, he would be calling immediately after his deposits were made.

“Hello,” Ji-Cheok said first.

— Have you checked the deposits? Ji-Han asked straight away.

‘Hello? You could have asked how are you doing? Have you eaten yet?’

Ji-Han didn’t even bother to be polite.

“Ah yes, yes! I have confirmed it, thank you! It was processed a lot faster than what I was expecting.
Thank you again,” Ji-Cheok responded.

— No problem.
If you want we can send an asset manager to oversee your finances.
It would make your life a whole lot easier, Ji-Han offered.

“As much as I am grateful… I think I’ll have to think about that offer.”

— Do you have a reason as to why…? Ji-Han sounded frustrated.

“I have to consult with my younger brother before I do anything.” Ji-Cheok could hear Ji-Han clicking his tongue in disappointment.
It was no exaggeration to say that Mu-Cheok was a thorn in Ji-Han’s side.
If Ji-Cheok didn’t have his brother helping him, he would have just signed the first contract that Ji-Han had presented.
Ji-Cheok would have lost out on many additional clauses that his brother had then put in to protect him and increase his perks.

Ji-Cheok talked a bit more with Ji-Han and then hung up the phone.
He pulled up his account balance on his internet bank app and looked at it multiple times.
His heart jumped.

‘I’m climbing up the social ladder! I’m becoming a popular Hunter!’

Ji-Cheok found it funny how this thought didn’t cross his mind because he gained more attention in the media or because he collected more Likes.
It was because his account balance was now eight billion won.

“….”

He dialed Mu-Cheok’s phone number, and his younger brother picked up after three rings.

* * *

The next day, Ji-Cheok met his brother at a nearby cafe.

“Holy cow!!! Your account balance is so high, it looks like something you would only be able to see in video games.” Mu-Cheok didn’t seem to grasp the reality of what was going on.

Ji-Cheok spoke calmly, “Let’s first buy a house.”

Mu-Cheok looked a bit taken aback and began to ponder.

“A house? Hmmm… how about you buy your equipment first, Hyung.
You can all buy the other stuff later.
By the way, what are your Hunter skills?”

It was admirable how Mu–Cheok could smoothly change the topic and get to the point.
Ji-Cheok knew that he was truly family, and there were no secrets between them.

“I don’t mind sharing, but I have a serious question I want to ask before I tell you,” Ji-Cheok proposed.

“What is it?”

“Do you really want to become a Hunter like me? You know there’s a real chance of you dying, right?”

1.
a term used for middle-aged women

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