Chapter 34

The [Twelve Species].

The twelve most exceptional lifeforms.

Among them, the [Dragonkin] stood unrivaled in the domain of magic.

From birth, they could instinctively wield [Fifth-Tier Magic] without being taught. Upon reaching maturity as a [True Dragon], they effortlessly achieved [Ninth-Tier Magic] as if it were breathing.

After living for a thousand years and ascending to the status of an [Ancient Dragon], they would then step into the realm of [Tenth-Tier Magic]. Beyond that point, they could either continue to rise or plateau depending on their individual effort and talent.

But even reaching the [Tenth Tier] required no special effort—a monstrous race that fulfilled the role of magic’s rightful rulers purely through the blessing of their birth.

The one who reigned over the Dragonkin was Sephiro.

An individual so skilled that even other dragons hailed him as unprecedented.

An absolute being who created magic beyond the previously nonexistent [Thirteenth Tier].

Yet to demons, Sephiro was a taboo name.

A symbol of hatred—and fear.

All because of a war in the distant past.

There was a time when Sephiro single-handedly crushed the [Lords of the Abyss] like insects.

To him, nothing was impossible.

He casually ignored limits.

He toyed with the Abyss in the most outrageous of ways.

…For such a being, crossing dimensional boundaries would be child’s play.

He could transform into a human form—or perhaps even possess a human’s mind and control them directly.

‘No human should know the name Sephiro unless they are Sephiro. If this man is Sephiro, everything makes perfect sense.’

No Devil Merchant, no Creator would ever dare leak that name to a human.

Even claiming he learned the merchant rules from Sephiro aligned perfectly—if from the start, this human had been closely tied to Sephiro, or worse, if Sephiro was directly piloting this human body.

Sephiro, with his infinite wisdom, wouldn’t even need to read the merchant rules to know them.

Bankrupting countless Creators and collecting 21 [Coins]? That would’ve been trivial.

Everything pointed to one truth:

This human—was Sephiro.

“……”

Dagon silently ran the calculations.

If this man truly was Sephiro, he had to understand what signing an “exclusive contract” would mean.

After a long pause, Park Chan-woo addressed him.

“Still can’t decide?”

“…Why me?”

“You mean why I want to sign an exclusive contract with you?”

“There must be other Devil Merchants with higher rank than me. Why pick me?”

Dagon was tangled in confusion. No matter how he computed the variables, he couldn’t understand.

Park Chan-woo just shrugged.

“You pulled out the [Fruit of the World Tree] without needing guild approval. I found that quite impressive.”

“That’s… you knew even that…?”

This wasn’t part of the publicly known merchant rules—it was operational detail.

It proved he even knew the behind-the-scenes workings.

Dagon didn’t even have the strength left to be shocked.

Of course, the real reason Park Chan-woo had rated Dagon highly… was his honesty.

Despite being on the verge of bankruptcy, he had confessed his true [value]—an extremely rare thing for a Devil Merchant.

And he had openly stated that the [Fruit of the World Tree] was worth about 7 million.

All facts Park Chan-woo already knew.

“…I have no choice. Fine.”

In the end, Dagon nodded.

He realized there was no path forward other than making this contract.

But then another shocking realization hit him.

“You… what’s your name? Come to think of it, we made a deal, but I don’t know your name…”

To sign a contract, both parties needed to know each other’s names.

And yet they had already completed a transaction.

When a deal is made, a Devil Merchant automatically learns the client’s name.

Even without trying—it appears above their head.

But he couldn’t see it.

There was no name hovering above this man’s head.

It was as if he didn’t exist.

Dagon glanced over at the man passed out on the ground.

Han Min-oh.

The name floated clearly above his head.

That meant Dagon’s merchant powers were functioning correctly.

“There’s no way you shouldn’t know my name…”

“I really don’t know… W-Wait… Don’t tell me—is it that name?”

“That name?”

“Sephi—damn it!”

Even now, Dagon found it hard to say Sephiro aloud.

But if it truly were the omnipotent Sephiro, it would make sense. He could bypass the merchant’s powers, or control the mind so that his name didn’t appear.

Seeing Dagon’s shaken reaction, Park Chan-woo let out a quiet laugh.

‘…He really thinks I’m Sephiro.’

Delusions were harmless, but Sephiro, huh.

It felt strange.

But he couldn’t even deny it now.

‘He can’t read my name. It means the merchant’s authority isn’t working on me. Is this also the effect of [Nonexistent]?’

To be able to hide one’s true name from a demon—

There was no greater blessing.

This is why Creators hid their names.

A name is the ultimate proof of existence.

If he could keep “Park Chan-woo” hidden, he could escape any unfair situation unscathed.

…The die had been cast.

Might as well lean into the misunderstanding—it could prove useful.

He never imagined that damn Sephiro would end up helping in this way.

“That name you’re thinking of is correct, Dagon.”

Park Chan-woo declared it:

He was the Dragon God, Sephiro.

In that instant—

“……!!!”

Dagon’s pitch-black face turned ghostly pale.

‘Only one wall left to pass.’

Words alone couldn’t make him Sephiro.

The real test would come during the signing of the contract—when names would be revealed.

This would prove whether Dagon could register a name through the system.

After all, this was the first time a Devil Merchant had failed to perceive a trade partner’s name.

There was no precedent—no knowledge to fall back on.

And so, Park Chan-woo was curious.

Even if his real name was revealed, he could just laugh it off as a joke.

He hardened his expression and lowered his voice.

“My patience ends here, Dagon.”

“U-Understood.”

Snapping out of it, Dagon quickly switched to a polite tone and began preparing the contract.

《‘Dagon’ has requested an exclusive contract.》
《Do you accept?》
《Exclusive contract between ‘Dagon’ and ‘Sephiro’ has been established.》
《‘Dagon’ may not trade with anyone else, and ‘Sephiro’ may not trade with any other Devil Merchant.》
《‘Sephiro’ must trade 5 million worth of value with ‘Dagon’ every 30 days.》
《In return, ‘Dagon’ may only retain 20% profit from trades with ‘Sephiro.’》
《If either party violates the contract, a penalty ten times the value must be paid to the other.》
《Failure to pay results in erasure.》

…It went through.

Whether it was due to Dagon’s perception influencing the system or not, even the system was now recognizing Park Chan-woo as Sephiro.

‘So this works.’

Even Park Chan-woo was surprised.

This was truly absurd.

No Devil Merchant had ever failed to read a name.

The ability to read names was an absolute authority of the merchants.

Even [Creators] had their names revealed in the presence of a merchant.

That’s why Creators never allowed merchants near.

In the Abyss, Devil Merchants were treated like the lowest caste. There was no reason for them to be near the Lords.

It was all written in the “Demon Handbook”—distributed by Sephiro himself.

‘It must be because of Dagon’s perception.’

Park Chan-woo didn’t take the system labeling him as Sephiro too seriously.

That wasn’t what mattered right now.

‘An impossible thing just happened.’

And it was in his favor.

Now, he could trade with other Devil Merchants as Park Chan-woo—and walk away from any unfavorable contract.

“……”

Dagon had the face of a man who had achieved enlightenment.

He had accepted everything.

There was no longer any room for doubt.

Then it happened—

《You’ve triggered Easter Egg (001)! Luck is with you!》
《Contract terms have been adjusted.》
《‘Dagon’ may now only retain 15% profit from trades with ‘Sephiro.’》

You’d find more pity squeezing water from a stone.

Changing the system’s figures on a whim was another impossible event.

“…Ahh.”

Dagon’s eyes grew wet as he gave up thinking altogether.

* * *

The deal was a massive success.

Park Chan-woo had obtained the [Fruit of the World Tree], a [High-Grade Elixir], and the [Boots of Hermes] from Dagon.

He used the elixir to save the man whose arms and fingers had been severed.

Considering how crucial that man had been in cornering Dagon, such goodwill was fair.

Afterward, Park Chan-woo prepared for his next move.

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

Thirteen dungeons remained uncleared in South Korea.

To clear all of them within the remaining time, the [Boots of Hermes] were essential.

The moment he wore them, his movement speed would skyrocket.

Park Chan-woo looked at the feathered boots.

An information window appeared before him.

—

Name: Boots of Hermes
Level: -92
Grade: [Ancient]
Description: Shoes imbued with the spirit of wind. The wearer is said to run like the wind.
Equip Slot: Footwear
Defense: 25
Durability: 2,000

Unique Options:
(1) Movement speed +50%
(2) Easily overcome obstacles
(3) Agility +5
(4) Increases running stamina

—

Perfect.

With this, he could blaze through dungeons without pause.

He immediately changed his equipment.

《You’ve unequipped: Demonic Boots (-98Lv, Epic).》
《You’ve equipped: Boots of Hermes (-92Lv, Ancient).》

He instantly felt as light as a feather.

‘I’ll eat the [Fruit of the World Tree] after I’ve cleared all dungeons.’

No telling what effects it might cause. He’d wait until everything else was ready.

Park Chan-woo’s eyes gleamed.

Then—

《The ‘Flame Wraith’ has been defeated!》
《Dungeon of Fire Cleared!》
《The Abyss of Fire Dungeon is closing.》

With insane speed, he began clearing the dungeons one after another.

* * *

Han Min-oh felt like he had woken from a long dream.

Being thrown into the Abyss, getting his arms and fingers torn off—it couldn’t possibly have been real.

But the memory was too vivid.

‘It wasn’t a dream.’

He awoke in a small room.

The hellish Abyss was gone.

‘The marks…’

His arms were intact, but scars remained.

Proof that everything had truly happened.

‘That man saved me.’

The faint image of that man surfaced in his mind.

A nameless man had saved him.

His savior.

‘Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.’

He didn’t know how to repay the debt, but Han Min-oh was sincerely grateful.

“…To the unknown man whose name and face I do not know—I swear I will repay this kindness.”

That’s just the kind of person he was.

If someone helped him, he had to return the favor.

One day, if the opportunity arose, he would repay it.

Buzz buzz!

Suddenly, Han Min-oh’s phone vibrated.

He picked it up with trembling hands.

Tapping the screen, he saw an unread message.

> “Come to the company immediately.”

That was it.

Aside from the sender’s title: “Chairman.”

It was from the head of Han Yeon Group—Han Min-oh’s father.

What he told the Devil Merchant hadn’t been a lie.

‘Wasn’t I disowned…?’

But it had been ten years since his father last called for him.

They hadn’t even exchanged greetings in that time.

He had shut himself away for over a decade.

He didn’t want to go, but refusing the summons would only lead to being dragged there by force.

That’s just the kind of man his father was.

An absolute authority who got what he wanted.

“Sigh…”

With a long breath, Han Min-oh quietly dressed and headed out.

He rode a car into the underground parking lot of a skyscraper in the heart of Seoul.

The headquarters of Han Yeon Group, ranked 6th in Korea’s business world.

A man in uniform greeted him at the entrance.

“Welcome, Young Master.”

“…I heard the Chairman summoned me?”

“Yes, sir.”

He followed the man into the VIP elevator to the 31st floor.

Once in front of the conference room—

Thump! Thump! Thump!

His heart pounded violently.

The Chairman of Han Yeon Group—his father—was a man of iron.

He couldn’t even imagine what kind of conversation awaited him.

But Han Min-oh clenched his fist.

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

He had seen hell.

There was no reason to fear meeting the living.

Quietly, he opened the conference room door.

“…No bodyguards?”

“They’re not necessary.”

“I don’t care if you’re not human—your opponent’s a real monster.”

“I’ll protect myself.”

Inside the room, two familiar men were talking.

One was his father, the Chairman of Han Yeon Group.

The other—

‘Shit.’

The scariest man in the world.

Scarier than even his father.

No way… was he summoned too?

But neither of them even looked at Han Min-oh.

It was as if he were invisible.

Biting his lip, Han Min-oh bowed his head and finally opened his mouth.

“I-I’m here, Father. And H-H-Han Shin… hyung.”