Earth
“Wow... Baek Hamin's no pushover either, but that Park Chanyoung guy's something else entirely. This is my first time laying eyes on either of them since I just got assigned here.”
“That's probably Park Chanyoung's real personality... At least before he turned back time, he was way more vicious than this...”
“...And this intensity is supposed to be toned down?”
“Yeah. This is actually the first time I've gotten close to Chanyoung too... I was shocked—he's not as evil as I thought.”
Smack! A strike lands.
Smack! Another one.
Smaaack!
“Guhk! ...St...op... ughk!”
Thud! I kicked the rolling bastard. His bones probably didn't break, but his whole body was covered in severe bruises.
I bought another potion with karma and forced his mouth open, shoving it down his throat.
“Ptoo! No... pfft!”
The guy was starting to develop a real phobia of this red liquid. Trauma, maybe?
Of course, these potions weren't free. They were eating up the karma I'd saved over the past three days.
Doesn't matter.
Karma was endlessly useful. I could use it to grow taller, shed fat, sharpen my looks into something handsome. Even superhuman strength. Magic-like skills.
But I bought the potion without hesitation.
I refuse.
When friction arose with Ri Shaolin, I'd done the same. Accepted the loss and fought her anyway. Even if it screwed up the future, cost me karma, hindered my growth—I took it all on.
What mattered was me. Above everything, I came first.
It's not just about physical strength or looks!
Before the body swap, maybe. My life had revolved around honing my appearance and body. Extreme diets, insane gym sessions, creams with exotic ingredients slathered on my skin. I'd worn emotionless masks with friends, building ties if they benefited me—regardless of whether I despised them.
I refuse.
But now? Everything had shattered. The eternal empire I'd built crumbled, stolen, hurled into the abyss. All because of that body swap with him.
I no longer worshipped material things alone. I'd realized my emotions mattered just as much.
Thud!
“Grrrrk...”
This bastard made me see that.
I refuse.
So I'd do whatever the fuck I wanted. I wanted to beat this piece of shit to death, and 5,700 karma was a joke to waste on that. My resolve wouldn't waver at 10,000 or even 15,000.
“...So cut the shit already, you bastard.”
[Tolerance]
Content: Forgive Baek Hamin.
Details: Forgiving an enemy leads to growth in that moment. Even if it's for the reward, you still grow. You can resent him later, seek revenge another day—it doesn't matter. Just forgive him once, right now. Experience mercy toward your foe.
Reward: 15,000 Karma
Time Limit: None
Failure Condition: Use a potion on Baek Hamin.
Failure Penalty: None
Abandon Penalty: None
Will you accept the 'Tolerance' quest?
“I refuse.”
The 'Tolerance' quest has been refused!
The system AI kept popping up this quest window. And the reward kept climbing. Started at 5,000 karma, shot up to 15,000 after a few rejections.
Made sense for an AI trying to grow 'Park Chanyoung' as a person.
But I had zero intention of taking it. My anger hadn't cooled yet.
6,000 karma for potions. Plus 15,000 reward—that was 21,000 lost just from beating Baek Hamin.
“Not enough.”
Not bargaining with the system—just stating facts. 21,000 karma couldn't quench my rage. I'd used twenty potions now; it had simmered some, but embers remained. I still wanted to hit him more.
Thuuud!
“Khhk... ugh... stop... please...”
About 4,000 karma left. A normal quest 'Go Jogging' completed mid-beating, so it ticked up a bit. No normal quests pending now.
...The system AI's smarter than I thought.
If it made 'Tolerance' a normal quest I couldn't refuse, I'd have to forgive him. But that wouldn't be my choice. Forced forgiveness would just breed more rage. That wasn't growth.
I refuse.
Wanting true willful forgiveness, the AI kept sending hard mode quests. I kept refusing.
Smack!
“Kk... sob... mo...m... please...”
I said, I refuse...
The constant quest pop-ups were annoying—maybe mute notifications entirely? Then the reward caught my eye. Something that yanked my full attention.
What?
[Tolerance]
Content: Forgive your enemy. Even for a moment is fine. Experience 'forgiveness.' Revenge later? Fine. Just endure once.
If refused, the [Tolerance] quest will never appear again.
Reward: Unlock Item Info Check Lv1, Status Window Lv2, Inventory Lv1, +1 Novel Entry Spare Slot
Time Limit: None
Failure Condition: Use a potion on Baek Hamin.
Failure Penalty: None
Abandon Penalty: None
Will you accept the 'Tolerance' quest?
This is insane...
Unlocks that'd cost 55,000 karma total—as a reward. My jaw dropped.
Emotionally: Would getting those rewards beat beating Baek Hamin more? ...Honestly, yeah.
Everything unlocked so far had been insanely useful—or promised to be. Each of these was hard mode quest-tier value. Just imagining it was thrilling.
Plus, twenty potions and over a hundred hits—I've vented plenty...
Blood and piss stench rose from the crawling worm at my feet. Baek Hamin had submitted fully. Hierarchy etched in.
“Spa...re... me... ple... guhk...”
Minimum goal achieved. With his wrecked state plus 55,000 karma's worth... My heart was satisfied!
Emotion said yes—now logic. 55,000 plus 4,000 unused: nearly 60,000 karma. Worth it for a few more punches on this trash?
...Even for me, that's overkill.
Decision in under three seconds. Both heart and head agreed.
“...I accept the quest.”
[HARD MODE] quest accepted!
Good deal. Hope for more like this.
I squatted, grabbed Baek Hamin's hair, and lifted his head. He couldn't look up through the pain, so I helped.
Bones intact, but joints twisted—he couldn't hold himself. Twenty potions' worth of tests nailed the 'combat incapable' line without crossing it. He stayed down.
“Grr... ugh... ple...”
“Don't cry. Good news.”
“Huh...?”
“The 'fight' is over. No more pain.”
“Rea...lly...?”
“Heh. No lie, asshole. Now, I'll end it.”
Thump!
“Guh...”
I dropped his head. Placed my foot on his neck.
Might as well try it. An inevitable experience someday. First times are hardest, right? With him, no hesitation.
Your final use, Baek Hamin.
Ignoring faint revulsion, I pressed down. 130kg-plus mana-infused pressure crushed his neck.
It didn't last long.
“K...! Y...”
Crack...
“...Die! Baek Hamin is dead! Fight's over! Back to Earth?”
“Hoo...”
[HARD MODE] quest 'Tolerance' cleared!
My first kill. Not really—he'd live on Earth—but the sensation under my foot was murder.
Chest a bit heavy, I nodded to the angel. Cheon-gwon-il-gak proficiency, kill experience, unlocks... Huge gains.
...Calling kill experience a 'gain' felt off, but I wouldn't live saintly in novels or on Earth. Especially where death wasn't permanent.
Vision spun, stamina full.
Thump!
“Hik! Haa!!... Uwaaa! I just... di...died...”
“Hold on... done! Hey, Baek Hamin! Trauma's gone, so you're fine? Don't freak.”
“Uh... ah?... Wha...? I'm alive...? What happened...?”
Calm crept into his tear-streaked, terrified face. But locking eyes, he froze.
Expected piss-your-pants trauma, but just paralysis...?
“...Ugh... P...Park Chanyoung...”
“Could even erase trauma?”
“Tough job, actually. Drained a ton of power? But gains outweigh it! Heh...”
This level of fear exceeded goals anyway? Angel wouldn't leave daily-life-ruining trauma, as expected. Impressive—keep memories, erase just trauma.
“Anyway, no lawsuits now, right?”
“Got it.”
No intent to break the promise. I was satisfied.
“Then, I'm off? Better if we never meet again. Hope this is our first and last!”
“...Yeah.”
Good no witnesses. To others, he'd pop out of thin air, then vanish.
Baek Hamin and his handler angel vanished after the goodbye.
Now, time to check the reward unlocks.