Without waiting for a reply, Kang Woo leaped gracefully from the spectator seats to the ground, landing on the edge of the magic circle. He leaned casually against the spectator wall, arms folded, his expression indifferent.
As if on cue, Makima followed, mimicking his pose as she leaned on his right side.
Kang Woo tilted his head slightly toward her. "How's the Reality Stone?"
Makima raised her hand, the stone materializing briefly in liquid form, floating above her palm. "Is this stone really that complicated?"
Kang Woo's expression shifted to mild amusement. "Yeah. But I didn't expect it to turn into aether immediately ." He reached out, his fingers brushing the liquid as it solidified back into the Reality Stone. Twirling it between his fingers, he added with a smirk, "I'm thinking of making it into a necklace. Or maybe a ring. Haven't decided yet."
Makima nodded, her yellow-ringed eyes glancing at him thoughtfully. Kang Woo's attention drifted, as it often did, to the invisible air before him. He stared intently, his focus on something only he could see.
Suddenly, more figures joined them. Kobeni and Reze leaned against the wall on Makima's other side, mirroring her pose. Moments later, Aki, Himeno, and Angel Devil leaned on Kang Woo's left side, creating a line of spectators.
Kang Woo let out an exaggerated sigh, his voice dripping with mock annoyance. "I get why Makima's clingy—she's always been like that. But all of you? What's this about? Starting to feel like a damn family photo."
Reze smirked, her tone playful. "I'm just a humble waitress. Bootlicking the boss might get me a raise, right?"
Kobeni pouted, crossing her arms. "I just don't want to lose to Makima."
Kang Woo turned his gaze to his left, raising an eyebrow at the others. "And you?"
Aki shrugged, his tone dry but curious. "You're staring at something again. Is it your quest system? Or something more interesting? You've got to share it with the rest of the class."
Himeno grinned wickedly. "I'm just here to piss you off."
Angel Devil, ever deadpan, nodded in agreement. "Same. It's fun."
Kang Woo groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I attract the absolute worst kinds of people." His exasperation, however, was betrayed by the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Kang Woo waved his hand, summoning a massive hologram that displayed his shop inventory in intricate detail. The light from the hologram bathed everyone in an otherworldly glow as Kang Woo casually navigated through the list, his demeanor relaxed, almost bored.
The inventory was an overwhelming showcase of impossible items:
...............…
Benevolent Points Inventory:
Book of Vishanti – 2,000,000 Benevolent Points: 1x already bought in inventory and only 1 stock.
Divine Axe Rhitta – 750,000 Benevolent Points: 4x already in inventory and bought.
Playful Cloud – 200,000 Benevolent Points: 2x already in inventory and bought.
Owl Quinque – 150,000 Benevolent Points: 3x already in inventory and bought.
Quincy King Spiritual (excluding Almighty) – 1,000,000 Benevolent Points: 1x.
Vision's Body (including Mind Stone) – 750,000 Benevolent Points: 1x (Mind Stone: 1 stock available).
..........
Malevolent Points Inventory:
Darkhold – 1,500,000 Malevolent Points: 1x already bought in inventory and only 1 stock.
Chaos Sword Excalibur – 900,000 Malevolent Points: 1x already bought in inventory and only 1 stock.
Kamutoke Dagger – 400,000 Malevolent Points: 3x already in inventory and bought.
Dragon Kagune – 500,000 Malevolent Points: 1x already in inventory and bought (limited to one; subsequent purchases may yield lower-grade items).
Zanpakuto: Ichimonji, Kyoka Suigetsu – 1,200,000 Malevolent Points: 2x already in inventory and bought. Only 1 stock each
Endo-Sym Armor Mark 50 (with Extremis App and Virus) – 600,000 Malevolent Points: 3x already in inventory and bought.
............…
Current Points:
Benevolent Points: 0 (No good deeds currently.)
Malevolent Points: 50,000,000 (Evil deeds from past hell and ongoing actions counted.)
....................
Note:
Points can be converted at a 2:1 ratio between Benevolent and Malevolent Points.
Two items must be sacrificed to increase the number of available items in the shop inventory.
,...............…
Himeno squinted at the hologram, her arms crossed. " all that shit you were saying about already having all these items… not bullshit, huh? You've really been hoarding all this, and we didn't even know these things existed."
Aki sighed, his fingers rubbing his temples. "Ms. Makima told me I'd need to broaden my perspective to deal with you, Kang Woo. But looking at this…" He gestured vaguely toward the hologram. "I think I need to shut off all my logic and just be a good listener."
Makima's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Smart move, Aki-kun."
Reze, watching the hologram, narrowed her eyes, her thoughts spinning. To Kang Woo, all of this must feel like a game. He's not just powerful—he's got a system that lets him grow endlessly. Whatever he wants, he can eventually get.
Makima broke the silence, her yellow-ringed eyes fixed on Kang Woo. " what are you going to delete, Kang Woo? I assume this is the first time you've considered doing that to expand the shop inventory."
Kang Woo tilted his head slightly, his crimson eyes locked on the hologram. "Let me think for a while," he said, his tone as casual as if he were deciding what to have for dinner.
Kang Woo made a dismissive hand swipe, scrolling through the list in his hologram inventory with clear disinterest. "Ugh, too long," he muttered. "Let's cut to what matters." With a quick flick of his fingers, he navigated to specific items.
With another casual swipe, he deleted Vision's Body (including Mind Stone), Owl Quinque, Dragon Kagune, and Chaos Sword Excalibur. As soon as the fourth item was removed, the hologram displayed a bright, pulsing message: Wait.
Aki furrowed his brow, stepping closer to Kang Woo. "Uh… that's four items, Kang Woo. Are you sure you don't need them back? I mean, some of those sounded pretty useful."
Kang Woo shrugged, clearly unbothered. "Sometimes you've gotta switch it up," he said, waving his hand dismissively. "It's like flipping coins in a bull-run market—if there's any crypto in this world, that is."
Makima shook her head, clearly unimpressed. "Kang Woo," she said with a sigh, "some of those were one-of-a-kind. Is the system being limited, or…?"
Kang Woo didn't even pause as he replied, "More like they're unique to this world. If it's listed as one stock, it means it's the only one available here. Simple."
Reze smirked, folding her arms as she leaned slightly closer. "And you found them by cheating your way out, didn't you?" she teased, her tone playful but laced with an edge of curiosity.
Kang Woo didn't miss a beat as he replied to Reze's teasing. "It's not cheating—it's a system shop granted to me, fair and square. It all depends on your points. You don't find these things through conventional means because, frankly, you'd suck at it."
Reze's smirk wavered for a moment, and she crossed her arms tighter. Still as frustrating as ever, this man is, she thought, rolling her eyes internally.
The hologram flickered and updated itself, the words Shop Inventory Updated glowing brightly as the new list appeared:
...............
Benevolent Points Inventory: (Modified Filter)
Eye of Agamotto (carrying the Time Stone) – 1,000,000 Benevolent Points
Dragon Slayer Sword (Guts' sword) – 250,000 Benevolent Points
Arata Proto (Kakuja Armor) – 200,000 Benevolent Points
Arms Inventory (Tower of God version) – 100,000 Benevolent Points
..............
Malevolent Points Inventory: (Modified Filter)
Tesseract (Space Stone) – 1,500,000 Malevolent Points
Crimson Beherits – 800,000 Malevolent Points
Yukimura 3/3 Quinque – 50,000 Malevolent Points
Casket of Ancient Winters – 500,000 Malevolent Points
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Kang Woo's gaze lingered on the updated inventory as his thoughts wandered. With the King of Chaos, I've managed to modify the inventory system. Some items, like the Infinity Stones, are beyond mere reality-warping. They can only be brought into my possession if they already exist in the universe. The points-based system operates on a give-and-take relationship, much like a binding vow or a Nen restriction—you sacrifice something to gain something.
Himeno from her spot glanced at the hologram and immediately recognized a name. Her brow furrowed as she pointed at the list. "Wait… why is Guts' Dragon Slayer Sword on there? And Crimson Beherits?! Is the system in your head planning to pull off an Eclipse here, Kang Woo?"
Kang Woo's lips curled into a devilish grin. "Do you want me to?"
Himeno recoiled slightly, her face scrunching in disgust. "Of course not! That's a horrifying ritual! Have you even read Berserk? No way I'm signing up for anything that involves that nightmare."
Kang Woo chuckled, clearly entertained. "Relax. I wasn't serious. Even I wouldn't touch the Eclipse ritual with a ten-foot pole. But it's fun watching you all squirm."
Makima, leaning against the wall as usual, gave Kang Woo a side-eye. "You enjoy your dramatics too much," she muttered, though there was a faint trace of amusement in her voice.
Meanwhile, Aki and Angel Devil exchanged a glance, both too uneasy to comment on the bizarre additions to the inventory. Reze, on the other hand, leaned forward with genuine curiosity. "And the Time Stone?" she asked, pointing at the Eye of Agamotto. "Is that going to be your next big thing?"
Kang Woo smirked. "That can come later. Besides…" He glanced at Aki. "Your wife's probably going to chime in soon and say something like, 'Hey narcissistic jerk, why don't you share your rewards with us?'"
Aki sighed, his tone resigned. "Well, that's Himeno-senpai. She always speaks first."
With a quick motion, Kang Woo tapped the hologram and purchased six Arms Inventory (Tower of God version). A moment later, a series of floating, futuristic armory devices appeared, shaped much like the one in the image. The sleek devices were curved and white, with dark segments housing various components. Each one hovered in midair before settling in front of Aki, Himeno, Angel Devil, Kobeni, Makima, and Reze. ( img here )
Kang Woo gestured casually toward them. "There. I'm one step ahead—not being a cheapskate. You can think of these as mobile inventories. Say 'dismiss,' and they'll disappear. Say 'visible mode ,' and they'll materialize again. They function as storage spaces, capable of carrying as many weapons as you can fit."
Makima, inspecting hers with mild interest, asked, "And what happens if we lose it?"
Kang Woo sighed, clearly unimpressed with the question. "It's bound to your presence, Makima. You can't lose it unless you die. And if that happens, there won't be a blue sky anymore in this world."
Kobeni, nervously fidgeting, spoke up. "Please don't joke like that, Kang Woo… I still live here, you know."
Ignoring her anxiety, Kang Woo tapped the hologram again and made another purchase. The hologram shimmered as a new item appeared: Yukimura 3/3 Quinque. He handed one to each member of the group: Aki, Himeno, Angel Devil, Kobeni, Makima, and Reze.
"This is called a Quinque," Kang Woo explained as they examined their new weapons. "It's far superior to your conventional swords. The blade is long and tapered, similar to a katana. The '3/3' means it has three forms—it can split into three swords when needed. When inactive, it can collapse into a compact iron stick for easier storage. Or, if you don't want to carry it, just put it in your inventory."
Reze tilted her head, a playful smirk on her lips. "Are you a Santa now? Handing out fancy gifts to everyone?"
Kang Woo rolled his eyes but smirked faintly. "Hardly. I just wanted Himeno to stop mocking me for a while. This is the first time I've shown my shop inventory to everyone, and what I actually want isn't even there."
Himeno, never one to back down, grinned mischievously. "Oh, you know you love my bullshit, Kang Woo—"
"Sorry, Himeno-senpai, I need to interrupt," Aki cut her off, stepping forward with a serious expression. "Kang Woo, I need to ask—what could possibly be more valuable than these Infinity Stones you keep talking about? You literally have two of them now, although one is in Taiyo's forehead and the other is in Makima's hands. And two more could be bought if you wanted. Is there really something more important?"
Kang Woo's smirk faded into something sharper, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly as he crossed his arms. "Yes, Aki. There is something far more important than these 'paperweight stones.'."
The group fell silent, their curiosity palpable. Himeno muttered under her breath, "Far more important, huh? Figures he'd find something even crazier than planet-killing stones."
Kang Woo's smirk sharpened as the group grew quiet, their attention fixed on him. Pressing through his inventory menu, his crimson gaze lingered on a new note that had appeared:
"To update and add more items: Buy all available items and delete the current stock."
Makima, noticing his pause, tilted her head. "That note wasn't there before, was it?"
"Nope," Kang Woo replied casually, though his tone carried a faint edge of suspicion. Without hesitation, he flicked his hand and selected 'Buy All Items.'
The room trembled slightly as the shop inventory processed his command. Suddenly, a cascade of powerful artifacts materialized around him, clattering onto the ground like treasures pulled from a vault:
Eye of Agamotto (carrying the Time Stone) ,Dragon Slayer Sword (Guts' Sword) ×3, Arata Proto (Kakuja Armor) ×5 ,Tesseract (Space Stone), Crimson Beherits, Casket of Ancient Winters
The sound of steel and artifacts hitting the floor echoed ominously. The hum of magical energy filled the room, making everyone freeze.
Angel Devil, usually unfazed, blinked as he surveyed the pile. "Some of these… have duplicates. You're hoarding now?"
Makima stepped forward, picking up a Crimson Beherit between her fingers. The crimson egg shimmered ominously in the light. "It seems some of the items were bought for his collection. Or maybe…" Her lips curled into a faint smirk. "You're turning into Santa Claus again."
Himeno's gaze narrowed as she took a step back, eyeing the Beherit warily. "Kang Woo, didn't you literally just say you weren't going to pull off an Eclipse ritual? That's a Crimson Beherit in her hand! You know what that thing does, right?"
Makima interrupted smoothly, holding up the Beherit and inspecting it with fascination. "Himeno, Kang Woo had to buy all the items to update his shop inventory. It's not like he's planning anything… yet. But if you want to target someone foolish enough to pull off an Eclipse, you can ask me."
Makima's yellow-ringed eyes glinted with confidence as she added, "I've realized it's impossible to keep up with Kang Woo. His power is returning too quickly, even with the Commandment of Piety inside me. As he grows stronger, I risk being left behind… and as his first wife, it's my goal to remain his equal. If I want to make Kang Woo my property, as I've already declared before him, I need to at least be able to keep up with him."
Himeno shot her an incredulous look. "You've read Berserk, haven't you? Or watched the anime? This isn't some joke. You sound way too casual about this. Pulling a Griffith is a horrifying thing to do ."
Makima turned her gaze to Himeno, her expression calm but with an unsettling edge of amusement. "That's the genre I enjoy. And yes, I've read Berserk. I like the idea of power—of control. If I were to pull a Griffith…" She trailed off, smirking faintly, "…I'd find the loopholes first."
Himeno paled, her tone hushed. "Makima, that's not funny. That's real. Kang Woo's shop isn't just fiction. Those Crimson Beherits or any artifacts he bought they're real items.
Reze, observing silently, finally spoke up, her voice tinged with curiosity. " Kang woo why buy duplicates? Why three of Guts' swords? Why five of the Kakuja Armors?"
The room fell into silence again as everyone's gaze turned toward Kang Woo, waiting for an answer. Kang Woo kept silent, only staring at the hologram above him.