Chapter 70
In the Abyss, there are many ways to gain [Reputation].
Whether it’s clearing a quest set by a Creator or achieving a required feat, reputation is bound to increase.
Reaching a milestone for the first time, or stepping into unknown, unfathomable realms where none have dared to go is the same.
If you’re lucky enough to get special equipment or tools from a box, your reputation rises according to the rarity or rank.
Facing a mighty being or having an awe-inspiring experience is also a way to earn reputation.
There are endless ways to build reputation like this.
But—
‘There are many ways to gain reputation. But the amount is never much.’
Dagon thought.
The problem was the ‘amount.’
Reputation does not increase in large quantities.
It only rises when you have an experience far more intense than your current level or power.
‘For a level 1 human to go through a level 10 experience, it might barely rise by a single digit.’
It goes up only a tiny bit at a time, making it hard to accumulate.
And humanity still didn’t know the importance of reputation.
Because they didn’t know its value, they made no effort to increase it.
‘Reputation is a crucial currency for surviving the Abyss, but in the beginning, it doesn’t stand out much.’
Another name for reputation is [Karma].
It’s sometimes called ‘Karma (업/業).’
It is [rank], and at the same time, a measure of one’s position in the Abyss.
If you want to enter the Abyss created by super-high-rank Creators like a Demon King, Demon God, or one of the Great Nine Lords, a minimum amount of reputation is required.
Not only that.
There will be many future ‘events’ that require reputation, like the [Species War] with the Twelve Species that humans will soon face.
Shops like the [Reputation Shop] that Dagon runs will also keep appearing, so the importance of reputation goes without saying.
‘The human with the most reputation right now might barely have a hundred.’
An item you can buy in the shop with 100 reputation?
There is none.
In the beginning, reputation only rises by a single digit, but as your level rises, the increase also grows.
If you have less than a thousand reputation, you’re not even worth a glance in the Abyss.
Once you pass 3,000, people might say, ‘He’s quite something.’
That’s why devil merchants avoid the [Reputation Shop].
They know.
The world where the Abyss just opened—inevitably, hardly any reputation has been accumulated yet.
And even if you wanted to build it up, it’s not easy!
—Even a beginner can only collect a minuscule amount of reputation.
—No human can use the Reputation Shop.
—No matter how stupid you are, surely no one would pick the Reputation Shop.
A shop that only accepts reputation.
Naturally, there’s no demand.
All the other shops are accessible, but you can’t use the [Reputation Shop] even if you want to.
It’s only the Second Night.
Most humans didn’t even know reputation existed.
What about the other shops, though?
‘All the top shops use resources you can get here.’
The [Contribution Shop] and [Mark Shop] were like that.
They all used currency you could acquire by working hard in the Second Night.
The [Body Shop] let you trade your own flesh for top-tier items.
Even the [Coin Shop] had its own demand.
All of them could be used with resources obtainable within the Second Night, with things you had on hand or prepared in advance.
But the [Reputation Shop] was the exception.
“I need a thousand reputation for this? I don’t even have ten!”
“My reputation is only 40, and I was once first in the Abyss!”
“There’s nothing I can buy here…”
“Reputation? That’s a thing?”
“Are you telling me to buy or not?”
People grumbled as they left Dagon’s shop.
The amount of reputation they had was pitiful.
No one needed to be told the importance of coins, so plenty had them stockpiled—but reputation was another matter entirely.
On top of that, Dagon had only brought the best items from Master of the Moon Ahheta’s vault.
Because the shop was small, the number of items wasn’t great.
But each and every one was a true treasure.
‘Park Chan-woo… Sephiro needs to come as a customer.’
It was a gamble, of course.
The only reason Dagon chose the Reputation Shop was because of the existence called ‘Park Chan-woo.’
His exclusive contractor, whom he was sure was Dragon God Sephiro.
He seemed to be having ‘fun’ on Earth in human form, but Sephiro was famous for seeing anything through once he took an interest.
‘The one who bankrupted countless Creators and accomplished feats no one else could.’
How many miracles had Dagon witnessed firsthand?
Park Chan-woo was no ordinary human.
He was even called the nemesis of Creators, bankrupting every Creator whose Abyss he challenged.
Bankrupting a Creator was one of the fastest ways to earn massive reputation.
He went where no one else would, saw what no one else could, and witnessed the end of ‘Arrogance’ where even the Twelve Progenitors had never reached.
Naturally, it made Dagon wonder.
…Just how much reputation had Park Chan-woo accumulated?
‘He should have at least 1,000.’
He grew anxious.
There was a good chance it might be less than he hoped.
It might not be enough to even use the shop.
Even if he had enough, there was always the possibility he wouldn’t use the shop.
So it was a gamble.
If Park Chan-woo didn’t buy anything, Dagon’s results would plummet.
No, not plummet—from the top, you have to fall. If you’ve never been up, there’s nowhere to fall from.
Zero results.
The Second Night was a festival for devil merchants.
If you couldn’t rack up sales even here, you’d have no right to call yourself a merchant.
“Please take your time and let me know if there’s anything you need, customer.”
So, Dagon tried to be as polite and courteous as possible.
Park Chan-woo was not just a customer but a contractor.
Their exclusive contract was a secret.
Here in the Abyss, they had to pretend not to know each other.
No one was watching, but if he let it show, the contract could be nullified for breach.
Sephiro was fickle. He had to adapt to him to survive.
“Your merchandise is good.”
Watching Dagon’s attitude, Park Chan-woo replied casually.
He too acted as if this was their first meeting.
Actually, it wouldn’t have mattered even if they acknowledged each other.
He was the only customer, and no Creators were watching.
‘No one’s watching. But there’s no harm in being careful.’
In the Abyss, you always test the bridge before you cross.
There is no such thing as 100%.
Park Chan-woo stroked his chin and looked around the shop.
‘About twenty items.’
He never expected Dagon to be the owner, but thanks to that, the shop’s inventory was quite extravagant.
Most of those items must have been picked by Dagon himself from Master of the Moon Ahheta’s vault.
‘Each shop has a few fixed items.’
He had come to check those, and found more useful things than he expected.
It seemed Dagon had brought in some good goods just for him.
At Park Chan-woo’s praise, Dagon nodded.
“Yes. Every single one is a treasure. The required reputation is high, but… I’m confident they’re worth even more.”
Dagon’s heart was pounding as he spoke.
Park Chan-woo was actually looking at the goods.
In other words—
‘He can actually afford to buy something?’
Among about twenty items, even the least valuable required at least 1,000 reputation.
His lips went dry.
Even if he just bought one, Dagon’s results would shoot to the top of all the shops!
He didn’t even dare hope for first place.
Just getting into the top three would be enough to end the “perpetual loser” nickname.
“I’ll take this one.”
At last, Park Chan-woo pointed to the shop’s wall.
Dagon’s eyes widened.
“Th-the ‘Trajectory of Divinity’…?”
“It looks like pretty good armor, but there’s no price written. How much reputation does it need?”
Some of the items didn’t have prices.
Not because he didn’t want to sell them, but because he thought no one could afford them.
It was one of those treasures that required at least 3,000 reputation to buy.
‘Trajectory of Divinity’ was one of them.
Not just good armor—insanely good armor.
Dagon stammered as he replied.
“Th-three thousand five hundred.”
At the price, Park Chan-woo nodded.
“Not a bad price.”
“Pardon?”
“I said I’ll buy it.”
“Huh! R-really?”
“Yeah. Wait a moment.”
“…….”
Is he short after all?
Well, 3,500 is a lot.
Maybe he was just bluffing.
That would be just like such a whimsical being.
But then—
Park Chan-woo pointed at another item on the opposite side.
“Give me those gauntlets as well.”
“Th-the ‘Ultimate Gauntlets’…?”
“Yeah. There’s no price on that either.”
“…That’s also 3,500.”
“I’ll buy it.”
“Eh…?”
“Or is it just for display?”
“N-no, that’s not it…”
Dagon couldn’t tell if this was a dream or reality.
Trajectory of Divinity. Ultimate Gauntlets.
Both are [Legendary] grade equipment.
And together, they required a staggering 7,000 reputation.
That amount could make even the Abyss take notice.
But the surprise didn’t end there.
“Lastly, I’d like to buy a ‘Masterpiece Map’ as well.”
“C-customer?”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“The Masterpiece Map… it requires 10,000 reputation…”
“I know.”
“You realize you need a total of 17,000 reputation for everything…?”
“You think I’m an idiot? Of course I can do that math.”
Wait.
He can do the math?
…No, no way.
Dagon shook his head.
So—
‘He did the math before saying that?’
He really had 17,000 reputation?
Dagon blinked.
Realistically—
‘…Can that be possible?’