Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Saving the First Life (1)
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Really, the world is so damn filthy.
Was it around the time my Charm stat hit 9, about average?
Honestly, it's still a bit below average.
But if I think back to my old face, that vessel of pure ugliness and desire...
Now, when I look in the mirror after a shower, I can at least think, "Hey, this isn't so bad, right?"
But here's the thing.
Charm goes up, my looks change, and people's opinions shift along with it.
And that's how this happened.
Something that never would've happened to first-life me.
"Hey."
I'd just finished the good deed quest and was resting at my seat, exhausted.
When suddenly, a girl I'd never spoken to before came up to me.
Well, I knew her face.
She's in my class, after all.
But we'd never even made eye contact, let alone talked.
"...?"
At first glance, it wasn't Han So-mi, the one I'd been paired with for cleaning duty once.
So her next words hit me like a truck.
"Do you like karaoke~?"
"...."
What the hell is this?
Do I like karaoke?
Yeah, I do.
I've sung my heart out solo at Konno more times than I can count.
But that's not the point.
Even I wouldn't play the oblivious light novel protagonist.
This is clearly an invitation.
A boy and girl going to karaoke together.
She didn't say "let's go" outright.
But she's floating the idea, testing the waters.
No way, fuck that.
After all the shit I've been through?
I need to confirm properly.
"Why?"
I've got scenarios lined up in my head.
First one, the worst case.
"You didn't lose at some embarrassing game or something, did you?"
Embarrassing game.
One of those crazes back then, like Dragon Ball, Ssesse Sse, Boribori Rice!
Rock-paper-scissors where the loser follows the winner's orders—a kid-friendly version of drinking game king commands.
Usually, it's stuff like "Spin around ten times with your elephant trunk nose" or "Bark like a dog."
Or "Go give a kissy face to [the hottest girl or guy in class] and come back."
Or worse.
"Go tell [the ugliest loser in class] you like them and come back."
Super humiliating stuff you have to do.
Especially that last one. Hits right in the bones.
I know from experience.
Not that I lost rock-paper-scissors a lot.
I never even played with the kids. I just watched.
You know what I'm talking about, right?
I was just minding my own business.
Then a girl comes up, says she likes me, and right in front of me, she's like, "Eww, so embarrassing, gross as hell," puking and shit.
And later in the hallway, "Hey, your boyfriend just walked by lololol."
Bonus points.
Basically PTSD.
"Huh? No, no! Nothing like that!"
Good, her reaction doesn't scream "lost an embarrassing game."
"Phew, had me worried."
I nodded in relief.
Eased up on the hyper-alert mode I'd prepped.
And pulled a crumpled parental consent form from my bag, handing it over after a quick signature.
"Han So-mi asked you to get this signed, right?"
"Pfft. You sure it's okay for you to sign it? I'll pass it to So-mi anyway."
Our vice class president Han So-mi, not quite an outcast but semi-isolated.
She'd made some friends lately anyway.
She's just shy, but pretty enough—give her a chance, she'll find her group quick.
"So, do you like karaoke~?"
"...."
Huh?
Not that either?
"Yeah, I do."
No reason to lie or read into it.
So I answered straight.
"Oh, for real? Thanks~"
Han So-mi's new bubbly friend smiled and walked off.
Even with my PTSD-riddled brain, I could tell it wasn't mockery.
[A middle school girl spoke to you first.]
[Inssa Force (Popularity) rises by 4.]
[Inssa Force (Popularity): 1 → 5]
[Assa Force (Loserdom) decreases by 4.]
[Assa Force (Loserdom): 58 → 54]
-Dude, are you insane?!
-What's the big deal~? You said he didn't seem that bad, So-mi~
-Yeah. He even helped me with a problem I didn't know, not just So-mi.
-You're the one who brought up karaoke, So-mi~
-Uh, still, out of nowhere...
-Anyway, he said he doesn't hate karaoke?
-For real...?
Silly middle school girl chatter.
What the hell?
This is weird...
No.
I was too stunned to just let it slide like that.
I said it before.
Light novel oblivious protagonists don't exist in reality.
They were seriously considering karaoke with me.
I'd vaguely thought, if I raise Charm, stuff like this might happen someday.
Plus...
It's a huge win overall.
"...Sigh."
Why does it feel even more bitter than before?
Did the good deed quest actually pay off properly?
No.
This isn't because of the good deed.
It's because Charm went up.
My face changed, that's all.
[※ Evaluation: "Scary guy-Ugly-" → "Scary but decent(?)-The guy who looks in the mirror post-shower and thinks 'average at least?' guy-"]
That's why my reputation changed like this.
And that description, nailing my last week's vibe.
Just one takeaway.
"...The world really is all about looks, huh."
Well, I knew that already.
But maybe the lingering inferiority from my loser days.
I escaped the ugly loser label, and I'll get even better looking.
Should just be happy like a normal person.
"Still a bitter world."
Somehow, it makes me rebel.
I've decided.
No more Charm for a while.
"I'm not trying to debut as an idol or anything."
I'll raise it eventually.
If Life Points start overflowing later, no reason not to dump into existing stats.
Plus, though it's a guess, like some games, maxing one stat might cost more points.
But not right now.
Inssa, Assa, whatever.
It's just middle school life.
No reason to stake my life on looks right now.
Assa Force at 100 means death, so it was forced then.
But the Assa issue's been handled ages ago.
-Kyung-jun, you... no, big bro Kyung-jun... you're not really a bro, right...?
-This punk?
-Eek!
Clearing good deed quests lowered their guard.
They still flinch a bit.
But now we can chat briefly during breaks.
No after-school buddies or playmates yet.
[Improved perception halts Assa Force (Loserdom) increases.]
Enough to stop Assa rises.
Escaped the frog-in-lukewarm-water life, dying after 50 days.
Still need to manage Assa Force.
But no more trembling at daily death creeping closer.
"That's plenty."
No more reason to dump into Charm now.
Can push it back in priority.
Good deed quests dried up after that frenzy anyway.
"Now I get why it felt off."
Charm up, face changed, rep decent.
Escaped ugly loser.
But felt hollow, not joyful.
Probably this.
"It's not my life."
Denies my past self.
Maybe just loser pride remnants.
Even so.
I won't ditch my entire past.
And get chained to their league again to be Inssa like them.
No more.
That's not my life.
Miserable and hopeless as it was.
I tried harder than anyone.
Denying my entire first life? No.
I think that's wrong.
No avoiding, no running.
Must fully accept my shameful past.
"I'm me."
Inssa.
Assa.
Loser.
Whatever they judge.
I become who I want.
Live that way, always have, always will.
So, one step further.
Continuing first life into this second.
Not just escaping ugliness superficially.
This regression has meaning.
Regrets unfinished.
Goals from that.
"Studying."
That's it.
First life me.
No money, looks, personality, stamina, talent.
Hellish nothing.
Clung only to studying.
No other path.
Nothing else to show.
Gave everything.
Got my own skills.
But that was my life.
Lost it all, including that, at the end.
"That's why I'm here now."
Back in middle school, ahead of everyone.
Sacrificed half my life building that.
"Must save the first life."
It's duty.
Right, privilege.
"Like before, I do physics."
Everyone said.
In Korea, only doctors, judges, prosecutors work.
Physics? Starve and die.
Who decided that?
"Doctors, herbalists, judges, prosecutors—whatever. All fuck off."
In this era where physics is scorned, romance fading.
I'll revel in romance more than anyone.
With physics, studying alone.
"I'll succeed more than anyone."
Studying now changes future wife's face? Rumors or not.
No more for that.
"I'll build a quantum computer. With my own hands. My own power. That way..."
Now, purely for me.
No more peeking at others.
"I'll become K-Elon Musk."
To live as I want.
[Intelligence: 12]
Raised Physique to block bullying at source.
Charm dam holds back rising Assa Force.
Nothing left blocking my studies.
"No redoing first-life studies. Fill the gaps I couldn't then."
Past me majored physics.
Physics only.
From general high school, miracle KAIST entry.
Math undergrad, switched to physics sophomore year as dreamed.
Same after.
Integrated master's/PhD in physics grad school.
PhD, then postdoc.
Thus, from KAIST student to professor.
But that was my limit.
Bit of talent, tons of effort. That's it.
Above average, at best sub-genius or between talent and genius.
My max from pure studying first life.
"All because math was lacking. If I'd had proper math tutoring young..."
But now it's fine.
Can self-study.
Regression gives time.
"The stuff from the bookstore last time... here it is."
Action time.
Rustle.
Opened the book and dove in.
How much time passed?
"Son, let's go hiking with Dad."
Dad opened the door.
"No can do. Busy studying."
"Studying?"
"Yeah. Math."
"Oh, math huh?"
"Yeah. This problem's pissing me off."
"Hmm, what is it?"
"Just probability... like..."
Hiking-geared Dad suddenly clears his throat.
"Lemme see. Back in the day, your old man was Han Young-geun of math, especially probability..."
Dad steps up to help.
"...Uh, huh?"
And freezes solid.