Gathering Husbands with a System in a Game Like World [BL]
Chapter 2: Beautification Beyond Measure

Chapter 2: Beautification Beyond Measure

Kai stared at the translucent blue screen floating in front of him.

[Beginner Reward Available. Would you like to claim the exclusive Starter Pack: Beautification Beyond Measure?]

[YES] [NO]

He stayed quiet for a long moment, his face showing nothing. Then he let out a slow sigh. "This has to be some kind of joke."

He reached out carefully, thinking his hand would go straight through. Instead, his fingers touched a cool surface like smooth glass. "...It’s real."

Kai pinched his own arm hard. "Ow!" The sharp sting felt completely real. He was not dreaming. He was not seeing things. He had really come to this world inside Eternal Genesis.

And he was not the strong hero. He was not a powerful boss. He was not even a secret strong character. He was Kai Valerius, the ugliest noble in the whole game. A character made just to die early and show how unfair the kingdom could be.

He looked over at the dusty mirror on the wall. Even though he tried to prepare himself, his heart still beat faster. The face in the reflection was just as bad as before. Crooked features. Pale skin covered in scars. One cloudy eye that hardly caught any light. Messy white hair that looked like it had never been brushed. It was not just plain ugly. It was the kind of face that made people turn away without thinking.

Kai understood now why everyone in the game pulled back when this character showed up. Even he found it hard to look at his own face for long. He looked down. "...Sorry." The word came out before he could stop it. He was not saying it to himself. It was for the original Kai Valerius, the young man who lived eighteen years of people laughing at him just because of how he looked. No wonder he stayed inside this old house most of the time. No wonder he barely spoke. No wonder he did not fight when they came to take him away.

Kai made his hands into tight fists. "What kind of life was that..."

The room stayed quiet. Only the system waited patiently.

[Would you like to claim the exclusive Starter Pack?]

Kai frowned. "What happens if I refuse?" No answer came. "Can I exchange it for something else?" Still nothing. "How about money? A sword?" Nothing at all.

He rubbed the sides of his head. "So you’re one of those systems." He had read many stories like this. The system did not bargain. It offered, and the choice was his.

Kai looked toward the cracked window. Outside, the sky was turning gold with the new day. His stomach felt tight. Tomorrow the Royal Knights would come. Or maybe even today. They would take him, say he kidnapped the Duke’s daughter, and kill him in front of a big crowd.

He laughed in a tired way. "I’m already a dead man." If this pack was dangerous, what did it matter? It could not be worse than losing his head.

Kai lifted his hand. "I accept."

The second his finger touched the glowing YES button, the whole room disappeared.

Pure white light stretched everywhere. Kai floated in the bright empty space. He could not tell if he was standing or falling. There was no floor, no ceiling, just endless light.

A gentle voice spoke from all around. It did not sound like a man or a woman. It felt very old and calm, almost like something holy.

[Exclusive Starter Pack accepted.]

[Initiating Beautification Beyond Measure.]

Kai got ready for pain. "...This is the part where it hurts, isn’t it?"

No pain came. Instead, a pleasant warmth started in the middle of his chest. It felt nice, like sitting in warm sunlight after being cold for a long time. The warmth moved slowly through his whole body. His shoulders dropped and relaxed. The tiredness from staying up so long went away. The tight worry in his heart became lighter.

Kai blinked. "...It feels nice."

The warmth reached his face. A gentle tingling started under his skin. It was not bad. It felt like careful hands fixing every part of him perfectly. A small sound came from his face, like bones settling softly. Then another. His eyes opened wide. "My bones?"

He touched his face. His fingers stopped. The rough scars on his cheeks were going away. He watched as the damaged skin became smooth and clear. Another wave of warm energy came. His cloudy left eye suddenly felt hot. "Agh..." He closed it tight. Tears ran down. For a few scary seconds he worried he might lose his sight. Then the heat left, and he opened both eyes.

The world looked completely different. Every small crack in the distance, every piece of dust, every detail was sharp and clear. His vision was not just fixed. It was better than before. His heart beat faster with excitement.

The warmth kept moving. His skin started to shine softly. All the scars on his arms and body faded away until his skin was perfect. His thin body from years of poor food filled out with nice, balanced muscle. Not too big or heavy, just strong and graceful. His messy white hair lifted gently even though there was no wind. The dry strands became smooth and shiny like fine silk, catching the light like fresh snow.

Kai listened to his own voice when he spoke. It sounded different now, gentle and clear, nice to hear even for simple words. He covered his mouth in surprise. "That’s... my voice?"

The bright light pulsed one more time, even stronger. Golden streams of light circled around him like ribbons, then rushed inside. A strong heartbeat sounded through the space. Thump. His breathing caught. Another pulse went through him, reaching deep inside. His back straightened naturally. His body felt lighter, like the world was easier to move in. His skin glowed with healthy light that normal people could never have. Every part of his face settled into perfect balance. Nothing too much or too little. Just right.

The light slowly went away. A tall mirror made of crystal appeared in front of him.

[Transformation Complete.]

Kai waited a long time before looking. He had spent his whole first life avoiding mirrors. Even here, he wanted to turn away at first. "...It’s just a face." He took a deep breath and lifted his head.

The moment he saw the reflection, he stopped moving completely. His eyes shook. The young man in the crystal mirror looked eighteen years old. Long, silky white hair framed a face so perfect it seemed like it came from old stories. His skin was smooth like fine porcelain under soft moonlight. Bright silver-blue eyes shone with clear light. Long eyelashes made his calm gaze look kind. His lips had a natural soft color. Every part fit together with no flaws at all.

He looked less like a regular person and more like someone from the heavens who had stepped into the human world by accident. Kai reached out slowly. The reflection did the same. His fingers touched the cool surface. "...That’s... me?"

He laughed quietly at first, then louder. Tears ran down his face, but they were happy tears. After two lifetimes, this was the first time looking in a mirror did not make him feel bad. He stood there for a long while, just looking, unable to look away.

A soft chime broke the quiet.

[Congratulations, Host.]

[Exclusive Trait Successfully Installed.]

[Divine Trait: Beautification Beyond Measure]

[Rank: EX]

Kai read it. "EX?"

More windows opened to explain.

[Passive Effects:]

• Appearance permanently optimized to the System’s maximum limit.

• Immense Charisma.

• Enhanced Affinity toward all intelligent races.

• Increased Emotional Perception.

• Mental Resistance greatly increased.

• Presence naturally attracts attention.

Kai read every line carefully. Then he saw the last part.

[This transformation is permanent. Further beautification is impossible.]

"...Permanent?" He touched his face again. "So this is really me now?"

The system answered right away.

[Correct. Your current appearance is now your true appearance.]

Kai smiled a little. It felt good. Real.

Another big window opened. It looked nicer than the game menus, with clean silver edges.

[Opening Main System Interface...]

Host: Kai Valerius

Race: Human

Age: 18

Level: 1

Class: Sovereign of Bonds

Titles: None

Husbands: 0/10

Kai’s eyes went straight to the last line. "...Seriously? Husbands?"

The system kept explaining.

[Primary Objective: Recruit ten destined husbands. Unite the Ten Heavenly Pillars. Rewrite the fate of the world.]

Kai shook his head. "No. You’ve got the wrong person. I’m a guy." Silence. "I like guys, sure, but that’s not the point!" More silence. He rubbed his forehead. "So you’re just going to ignore me?"

[Correction. Host compatibility: 100%.]

Kai almost laughed in surprise. "Excuse me?"

The system showed more details.

[The Husband Collection System cannot force affection. All bonds must be willingly accepted. False emotions cannot establish a contract. Only genuine trust, love, and mutual devotion may create a Husband Bond.]

Kai thought about it. "So no brainwashing? No mind control? No charms?" The system said correct each time. He nodded slowly. "...That’s actually reassuring." He liked that any bonds would be real, not fake.

A loud sound rang out. A golden quest window appeared.

[Main Quest Activated: Survive Your Predestined Execution.]

[Description: Escape the death that awaits Kai Valerius and begin rewriting destiny.]

[Reward: Reveal First SSS-Rank Husband Candidate. Unlock System Shop. Level +10. Random S-Rank Skill.]

[Failure: Death.]

Kai read it twice and let out a sigh, but he looked determined. "...Now that is a quest I can understand."

The white space around him started to crack. The crystal mirror turned into small lights and disappeared. The system spoke one last time.

[Returning Host to Reality.]

[Countdown... Three... Two... One...]

The space broke apart like thin glass. Kai’s eyes blurred, and he was back in the cold, dusty bedroom of the old mansion. The windows were still there. Everything looked the same, but he felt different.

One small message stayed.

[Welcome to your new life, Sovereign of Bonds.]

Kai turned to the dusty mirror on the wall. The breathtaking face looked back at him, with bright silver-blue eyes and silky white hair. He smiled faintly. It felt good to look this good.

He stood taller in his new body. The system had given him a chance. Now the real test was coming in hot.