He's not greedy i think he's doing that to craft items for his team and doesn't want anyone to know he's a 8x Class people around him only knows that he's a tetra class that's why he needs money.
Also it's not like he's smug he's just surprised that the world he's currently residing in got so much technology while his previous life they only got magic. He also like to compare skills , magic to his previous world also yeah he got that smug type guy i mean he's the top of his game before he got rekt by a dragon so i guess that's how he is?
Guess what Solo leveling is also like that he gets greedy after the japan invasion he practically own japan portals like its his property. He's not even thinking of getting stronger for others he just want to get stronger to kill the messenger of gods/monarchs
I mean, yeah Solo Leveling has definitely got similar problems but there is something about the presentation here that really rubs me the wrong way. Like chapter 23 in particular was just painful, for me at least. Which is not to say it's a bad series or anything like that. It's just that I think the tolerance required here might be a bit higher than even Solo Leveling. Just because it's really hard to watch a MC act like this guy does and really not do much to earn it or be challenged.
The art style I think hurts him a little too. Because he's drawn with so little tension. If you have a powerful character walking around looking relaxed and full of himself, when people around him are getting hurt, and focusing so much on money. It doesn't work great. If he looked concerned more, I think I'd have an easier time liking him.
On the positive side I think your right that it had incorperated more characters in an enjoyable way. I can already see potential there even if so far they haven't really done anything much to the point I got to. Just mainly been a smokescreen for the MC to hide his strength behind.
