Chapter 69
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Basic Charm Boost Package
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Resurrection was a double-edged sword.
Or, to put it more precisely, it was like a chicken rib—something utterly useless in most cases.
It was a unicorn of a skill among hunters, something that shouldn't exist in this modern era, yet at the same time, it was a forbidden skill that no one ever wanted to actually use.
The very fact that you needed to use Resurrection meant the dungeon was in a state of absolute emergency.
Even with that dazzling word "resurrection" attached to it, the skill's benefits didn't go to just anyone.
The penalty.
Overpowered abilities always came with penalties.
Otherwise, with performance like that, it wouldn't be SSS-grade—it'd need to be EX-grade or even SSSSSSS+++.
Once every 30 days.
When Im Hyeji first awakened it, the Hunter Association deemed it ridiculously overpowered.
It could instantly promote a bottom-tier S-rank healer—who was common as dirt even among S-ranks and top 1% overall—to SS-rank.
It was a skill that was "just right" for saving a B-rank hunter: handy if you needed it, but nothing special.
But use it on an SSS-rank hunter, and it became absurdly cheat-level.
Now, though, the cooldown was down to once every 10 days.
Once every 10 days, it could revive anyone who died within a generous two-hour window.
Still, even that felt a bit ambiguous.
It all came down to weighing lives.
But over 80% of that flaw had been patched in level 5 Resurrection.
"Mass resurrection..."
Resurrection's fatal flaw was that it only worked once.
In a close-fought battle, when your team's strongest hunter died by a hair's breadth, tipping the scales toward defeat...
Bringing them back in that moment would deliver a thrill like no other reversal.
It'd feel like Resurrection existed solely for that instant.
But when defeat was overwhelming...
When the enemies were so strong that even having an SSS-rank hunter wasn't enough, and reviving them meant nothing...
That's when Resurrection became an SSS-grade skill in name only—worse than even an S-rank one.
In that moment...
If it could revive everyone...
Sssup. Two SSS-rank hunters would be way too much.
A spine-tingling image flashed through my mind for a second, but I clicked my tongue, knowing reality doesn't always play out like fantasies or novels.
For an environment where SSS-ranks and a dozen SS-ranks on Mars all bit the dust, monsters would have to suddenly infiltrate our base disguised as humans, poison our food to weaken us en masse, then ambush us all at once.
Or maybe a few hidden SS-rank monsters sneaking in mid-battle.
But twenty-odd S-rank monsters—despite their numbers—couldn't stop the Hunter Association's all-out push to reclaim Mars, complete with massive PR.
Apparently, body cam footage from the Mars reclamation battles was being edited into videos and uploaded straight to the Association's official Nutube channel.
This wasn't just some reverse dungeon raid party reclaiming Mars.
In Korea, it was the first reverse dungeon challenge to retake lost land.
So civilians had rallied with tons of support beforehand, drawing massive attention.
Ironically, that's why Im Hyeji wasn't getting much spotlight, unlike in that B-rank dungeon.
Instead, Kang Hana was blowing up this time, which meant one of my breeding targets under management was thriving—from my perspective, anyway.
Still, it wasn't a bad thing for Im Hyeji.
She didn't need to shine right here.
We'd chosen Mars to prove her rank, sure—but clearing without incident was safer risk-wise.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
You have graduated from the Pregnancy Tutorial 'Basic' quest.
It was good for me too.
Clearing Quest 3 ended the Pregnancy Support Program's tutorial with that message.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
The Precise Pregnancy Support Program has been activated.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
The 'Charm' stat has been activated.
Your current Charm is extremely low. We recommend increasing your Charm, as it falls short of the minimum required to sow your seed in females.
"..."
The performance seemed solid enough—it was bitching at me the moment it popped up.
I knew that already.
But I had to save P, and focusing on inner qualities over looks seemed smarter.
I'd been growing my dick on the side, and lately, I'd been thinking about tweaking my appearance a bit too.
Turns out, holding out had paid off.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
The First Childcare Liberation Commemorative Package has been unlocked.
⚔ STATUS ⚔
'Basic' Charm Boost Package
✨ Charm:+1 Grade
📏 Height:+2cm
💪 Muscle:+2kg
🍂 Fat:-2kg
🎨 Overall Body Scaling
✨ Eyebrow Tattoo & Fine Care
The package sales pitch popping up out of nowhere felt straight out of a mobile game.
You clear a stage, things start getting tough, and bam—tempting packages appear.
And every item was a must-have.
Sssup. Not very macho, but...
It was packed with essentials.
The Pregnancy Support Program was going this far to push an appearance upgrade—my resolve wavered a bit.
Mobile games always shoved these "limited-time deals" down your throat at a steal compared to regular prices.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Purchase Cost: 5P
"...Oh?"
In a looks-obsessed world, looks trumped dick size or skills.
Sure, the era of pure looks was fading into hunter supremacy...
But a guy like me bagging Im Hyeji, Lee Soo-ah, Kang Hana—and getting laid whenever—proved it.
Still, looks mattered; being a hot hunter was just better.
I knew upgrading appearance cost a fortune.
While tweaking my dick, I'd checked: height was insanely pricey—no pain, just snap taller, yet costlier than dick upgrades.
Even 1cm height was 10P from what I'd seen.
Dicks at least went straight into pussies for breeding; height felt like luxury tax—makes sense for premium stuff.
This stingy program priced breeding/survival skills fairly cheap but gouged on everything else. Height must fall into "optional seduction" territory.
Necessary to lure women, but not essential.
For the Pregnancy Support Program to push a discounted Charm package at 5P while throwing a fit? It screamed must-buy.
I'd planned to shop around, but 5P? No need.
Bought it instantly with 5P.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
You have purchased the 'Basic' Charm Boost Package.
5P gone, package contents incoming.
First, a new Charm stat appeared in my status window.
⚔ STATUS ⚔
💪 Stamina:C
✨ Magic Power:C
⚡ Virility:B
💖 Charm:E
"....Even so, base Charm at F? That's harsh."
I had skills to snag pretty girls.
Shouldn't it factor in more than just looks?
System's call, though.
Seemed purely skin-deep.
Height +2cm, fat -2kg, muscle +2kg.
Body scaling, eyebrow tattoos, fine tweaks.
Felt like it'd hurt like hell, but no change—I stood up.
"Did it even work?"
Magic snap fix? Even better.
That thought hit...
Bzzzt-crackle-snap!
"Gaaahhh!"
Muscles tearing, pain-mana surging from toes to scalp—like absorbing a magic stone.
"...Oppa? Oppa? You okay?"
Twisting, ripping.
Head pounding—I screamed, waking Im Hyeji. She hit me with a heal in panic.
No effect.
"I-I'm... f-fine..."
Couldn't even finish—swallowed it, stopped her from going out.
Didn't take long.
About 2 minutes.
"Haaa..."
Pain vanished clean.
Im Hyeji's embrace felt cozy.
I looked up at her.
"You okay, oppa? What hap—...Huh?"
Her face, seeing mine, filled with bewilderment.