Chapter 34.2

…It worked.

It wasn’t clear if Dagon’s perception had influenced the system, but even the system recognized Park Chan-woo as ‘Sephiro’.

‘So it’s possible.’

Though he didn’t show it, Park Chan-woo was actually surprised. This was an impossible scenario, after all.

A demon merchant who couldn’t read a name—such a thing had never existed.

The power to read names was absolute for merchants. Even Creators couldn’t hide their names if they were in front of a merchant, which was why Creators avoided them altogether.

In the Abyss, demon merchants were considered the lowest of the low, so the idea of them even meeting a ruler was unheard of.

It was all written in the ‘Demon Compendium’ distributed by Sephiro himself.

‘It must be due to Dagon’s perception.’

As Park Chan-woo thought this, he treated the system’s display of his name as *Sephiro* with little concern. Right now, there were more pressing matters.

‘Something unthinkable has happened.’

And, it was an advantage that only worked in his favor.

As Park Chan-woo rather than Sephiro, he could freely break ties with other demon merchants or back out of unfavorable deals.

“…….”

Dagon wore an expression of resigned acceptance, as if he’d come to terms with everything. Just then:

Even scavenging from a flea might yield better returns.

Changing the system’s values at will was also unheard of.

“…Ah.”

Dagon’s eyes moistened as he seemed to abandon all thoughts.

* * *

The deal had been a resounding success.

From Dagon, Park Chan-woo had acquired the World Tree’s Fruit, a superior elixir, and even the ‘Boots of Hermes’.

He’d used the superior elixir to save the man who had lost both arms and fingers. Since he had played a crucial role in bringing Dagon to heel, this small act of mercy seemed fair enough.

Now, Park Chan-woo turned to his next plan.

‘From now on, it’s a race against time.’

Of the thirteen dungeons still open in South Korea, ‘Boots of Hermes’ would be essential to clear them all in the allotted time.

Once worn, they granted incredible speed. He looked down at the feathered boots, prompting their description to appear before him.

Excellent. This would enable him to clear dungeons at breakneck speed without needing to rest. He swapped his gear immediately.

Instantly, his body felt feather-light.

‘I’ll save the World Tree’s Fruit for after I clear all the dungeons.’

Since consuming the fruit could trigger unknown effects, he’d wait until he was fully prepared.

Park Chan-woo’s eyes gleamed, and with that—

* * *

Han Min-oh felt as though he’d awoken from a long dream.

He couldn’t believe what he had experienced—being thrown into the Abyss and having his fingers and arms severed—could be real.

But it was a dream far too vivid.

‘It wasn’t a dream.’

When he opened his eyes, he was back in a small room.

The hellish Abyss was nowhere in sight.

‘The marks from being severed and torn…’

Though his arms were intact, scars from where they’d been cut remained—a clear sign that everything he had experienced was real.

‘That man saved me.’

A vague memory of the man’s face surfaced in his mind.

An unknown man had saved his life, a true savior.

‘Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.’

Though he had no idea how he would repay him, Han Min-oh felt deep gratitude.

“…To the face I’ve never seen, to the name I don’t know. I will repay this kindness somehow.”

Han Min-oh was the type who believed he must repay any help he received. He resolved that if the opportunity ever arose, he would return the favor.

Buzz!

Suddenly, his phone, lying nearby, vibrated.

With trembling hands, Han Min-oh picked up the phone and tapped the screen to reveal an unread message.

[Come to the office immediately.]

The message was brief, except for the fact that it was from “the Chairman”—Han Min-oh’s father and the head of Hanyeon Group.

‘So I’m not entirely disowned…’

It had been a full decade since his father last contacted him. They rarely spoke or met.

For more than ten years, Han Min-oh had stayed holed up in isolation. He had no desire to go, but refusing the call would only mean he’d be dragged there by force.

His father was that type of person—the ultimate authority who always had his way.

Sigh.

With a sigh, Han Min-oh dressed and left his apartment. Soon, he was driving to the headquarters of Hanyeon Group, an ultra-high-rise building in the heart of Seoul, home to South Korea’s sixth-largest conglomerate.

Upon arrival, a man in uniform greeted him.

“Welcome, Young Master.”

“…The Chairman called for me.”

“Yes, I’ll escort you.”

Following the man, Han Min-oh took the VIP elevator up to the 31st floor. When they reached the conference room, his heart began to pound wildly.

His father, the chairman of Hanyeon Group, was a man of steel. Han Min-oh had no idea what to expect. However, he clenched his fists.

‘I survived death in the Abyss. Compared to that, this is nothing.’

He’d faced hell itself, so there was no reason to be afraid of meeting a living person. With a deep breath, Han Min-oh quietly opened the conference room door.

“…You don’t think you need security?”

“It’s unnecessary.”

“No matter how inhuman you may seem, your opponent is a real monster.”

“I can protect myself.”

Inside the conference room, two men were conversing, both faces familiar. One was his father, the head of Hanyeon Group, and the other…

‘Damn it.’

The man Han Min-oh feared most in the world—the one even scarier than his father—was there.

‘Did he call him here as well?’

Neither man paid any attention to Han Min-oh—he was practically invisible to them. Swallowing his nerves, Han Min-oh bowed his head and finally managed to speak.

“I…I’m here, Father. And… B-B-Brother… Shin…”

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