As Long as You Have the [Shop] Skill, the Dungeonized World Is a Breeze ~The Bullied Youth’s Payback Lifestyle~

I, Bouchi Hiro, was ostracized by the entire school because I stood up against the student who held an absolute power in the school. But no matter what kind of bullying I received every day, I never yielded. Today as well, I was getting beaten up behind the school building. But at that moment, I heard the students screaming―That was the moment when the world was transformed. On the school grounds, the students were being attacked and killed one after another by monsters that seemed to have come out from an RPG. Using this opportunity, I managed to escape and return home safely. Then at that time, I realized that I had a strange power dwelling inside me. A skill called “Shop”. As long as I could pay for it, I have the ability to buy variety of items on Earth, and even fantasy items that couldn’t possibly exist on Earth. In this world, where humans were gradually being wiped out, I decided to make the most of my new skill to live a slow, comfortable life free of worries. It was truly thrilling and delightful to see all the people whom hated and ostracized me being killed one after another because they didn’t have the power I did. This is the payback story of a boy who was once bullied, and uses his skill to take advantage of those who are now left with nothing.

Original Publisher

dash x bunko (shueisha)

Original Language

japanese

Type

Web Novel

## My Thoughts on *As Long as You Have the [Shop] Skill, the Dungeonized World Is a Breeze ~The Bullied Youth’s Payback Lifestyle~* ### First Impressions Okay, so diving into *As Long as You Have the [Shop] Skill...* was a bit of a rollercoaster. The premise itself, a bullied kid getting a powerful shop skill in a dungeon-crawling apocalypse, definitely grabbed my attention. I was hoping for a satisfying power fantasy with a touch of revenge, but what I found was… complicated. ### What Works Well I can see why some readers are sticking with this one. There's a certain appeal to the MC's "anti-hero" stance. He's not your typical goody-two-shoes, and that can be refreshing. Several readers seemed to appreciate his initial focus on self-reliance and survival in a brutal world. The [Shop] skill itself has potential, offering a unique twist on the standard system mechanics. A few readers also pointed out that the author does a decent job portraying a character traumatized by bullying, even if it's not always consistent. ### Areas of Concern However, the road gets bumpy pretty quickly. The biggest issue seems to be the MC's inconsistent character. He flip-flops between cold apathy and surprising acts of kindness, making it hard to connect with him. Some have even described his behavior as sociopathic, or suggest he may be bipolar due to the constant mood swings. His motivations are often unclear, and his actions sometimes defy logic. The plot also suffers from inconsistencies. The world-building feels underdeveloped, and the author introduces elements, like the MC's multiple personas, that don't always serve the story. And while the idea of a 'payback lifestyle' is intriguing, the execution seems to fall short, leaving the reader wondering what the MC is actually working towards. The story seems to lose direction as it continues with the author seeming to not know what they want to do with the story. ### ⚠️ Spoiler Warning Several reviews mention specific plot points that could be considered spoilers. One example is the MC's shifting stance on killing, which some find contradictory. Another is his seemingly random decision to help a cult of women who kill men. These inconsistencies contribute to the overall feeling that the story lacks a clear direction. ### Final Verdict *As Long as You Have the [Shop] Skill...* has a captivating premise and some interesting ideas, but ultimately falls short due to inconsistent character development and a meandering plot. While the anti-hero MC might appeal to some, his erratic behavior and unclear motivations make it difficult to invest in his journey. If you're looking for a tightly written and consistent power fantasy, this might not be the web novel for you.