24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 1

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Dimensional Item Specialty 24-Hour Friendly Market Episode 1

 

 

Episode 1. A Lucky Day

 

 

When I opened my eyes, I was inside a Sudden Gate.

This must be a dream.

After pinching my cheek while hypnotizing myself, I soon realized the reality and sighed.

“It hurts though…”

A dense jungle lined with massive trees, my stinging and aching cheek, and an unidentifiable roar echoing from far away.

Putting all of this together, I understood.

I was completely screwed right now.

And thoroughly at that!

Just a few minutes ago, it had been a peaceful weekday afternoon.

I was sitting in front of a convenience store spacing out, waiting to make a secondhand transaction.

I had made solid plans to go home, cook some ramen, look for part-time work, and then sleep.

‘But why!’

I denied reality while tearing at my hair.

My hair had grown wild after missing the timing to go to the salon and was now a complete mess, but I had no time to worry about that.

Even though Gates can occur without warning, they said the probability of ordinary people getting caught up in them was extremely low…

“But that person turned out to be me…”

A non-awakened person who could only refuse negotiations, caught in a Gate!

I frantically tried to fix my disheveled hair while looking around, but all I could see was vast wilderness.

‘Could this be divine punishment for organizing Brother’s belongings?’

At this ridiculous assumption that suddenly occurred to me, I denied reality once again.

I had started organizing all of Brother’s belongings exactly three months ago.

It was exactly nine months after Brother died in a Sudden Gate a year ago.

At first, I had no intention of doing so.

After all, my attachment to Brother was different from that of ordinary siblings.

Brother was eight years older than me, and after our parents passed away, he raised me like his own child.

Naturally, I couldn’t organize everything in a single moment.

‘The problem was that my mental strength was pathetically weak.’

I hadn’t expected it.

That I would be swept away by weak sentimentality every time I saw Brother’s belongings left in the house.

Starting to organize Brother’s belongings was a drastic measure I decided on after much hesitation.

Because I had to live too.

Just because I lost Brother didn’t mean anyone would pity my life.

To make matters worse, the cold reality I had briefly turned away from came crashing down.

I got fired from my part-time job, rent piled up, and it became increasingly difficult to even afford one meal a day.

I tried to leverage being physically strong for a woman to do manual labor, but even that field had already been conquered by awakened individuals.

I had no choice.

So after three months of a long journey, today.

One feather that Brother had brought home, calling it loot.

Once I dealt with that, all traces of Brother would finally disappear.

I had definitely resolved that starting today, I would live earnestly even if it meant a rock-bottom life!

If this was divine punishment, Brother must have definitely slipped God some extra money behind the scenes, calling me ungrateful.

‘Brother, I’m sorry!’

“Ha, damn it.”

I groaned while tearing at my hair.

That’s when it happened.

 

Rustle-

 

At the sound from the grass, I turned my head in surprise.

“…Did I mishear?”

 

Rustle-

 

I hadn’t.

That’s how the laws of the world work.

When you think you misheard something, you definitely heard it correctly.

I had just raised a death flag.

“…”

Something unidentifiable was approaching from beyond the bushes taller than me.

Cold sweat began to dampen the back of my neck.

As a non-awakened person, all I could do right now was run away.

“Why, why won’t I move?!”

This was insane.

My body, stiff with fear, wouldn’t move, and goosebumps rose eerily on the back of my neck.

I clenched my hands, damp with cold sweat.

Would I die like this, without even a chance to escape?

As the brief highlights of my unremarkable life flashed by, I squeezed my eyes shut.

I didn’t have the courage to face the approaching terror with my own eyes.

However.

 

Meow-

 

An incredibly faint roar, different from what I expected.

I slowly opened my tightly shut eyes.

“A cat?”

What emerged through the bushes was a very small and cute white cat.

I muttered blankly while frozen in the same position.

“…So cute.”

Though I wondered if this was something to say inside a jungle.

The cat approaching me with its tail held high was truly adorable, regardless of the Gate situation.

If this weren’t inside a Gate, I would have thought it was a rich family’s cat that had been well-cared for but ran away.

“Meow-“

The furball slowly approached while staring at me with bright blue eyes, then wrapped its tail around my ankle and meowed softly.

“Huh.”

Whether from tension or cuteness, all the strength drained from my legs.

I plopped down and petted the cat’s soft head.

Its glossy white fur was so soft it reminded me of the finest fabric.

Soft grass under the shade of tall trees, a cool breeze, and even a cute cat in my hand.

Could I have died without realizing it?

Immersed in this unexpected peace, I absentmindedly stroked the fluffy fur.

“You’re not a monster, are you?”

“Meow.”

The cat stopped licking its paw and looked at me while meowing softly.

Taking the meow attack head-on, I grinned foolishly.

What an aggressively attractive appearance that could make you forget all of reality.

…No, wait!

“This is a B-rank Gate! Get it together, Lee Hae-won!”

I hardened my expression and looked around cautiously, staying alert.

I vaguely remembered the contents of the disaster alert I’d seen before getting caught up in this.

The majority of South Korea’s hunters are C-rank or below.

Considering that there aren’t that many B-rank or higher hunters, who are supposedly the core of Gate conquest, the possibility of rescue coming approaches zero percent.

Right, I’m on the verge of death right now.

“Isn’t there anywhere to hide?”

As I muttered and looked around frantically.

“Meow.”

The cat suddenly let out a small cry, wagged its tail, and started walking somewhere.

It was quite a cute gesture, so I chuckled and spoke to it.

“What, you want me to follow you?”

“Meow.”

“What, do you even know the way?”

“Meow.”

“Oh, really? Do you live here?”

“Meooow.”

“That’s not it, this place is dangerous, you know?”

“Meow.”

“Smart cat. …Wait, hold on.”

I, who had been responding casually, suddenly shut my mouth.

‘Have I lost my mind?’

But wait, I’m surprisingly calm for someone facing death right now?

I muttered uncertainly.

“Strangely… the meowing sounds different?”

It’s almost like it’s answering me?

Many cat owners think their cats understand what they’re saying.

But only crazy people would actually be able to have conversations with them.

And I guess I’m that crazy person.

But this is inside a Gate where all sorts of things happen.

What if this cat isn’t a pet that got swept into the Gate, but instead…

“Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Meow.”

“If yes, meow twice, if no, meow three times.”

“Meow meow.”

“Holy shit.”

This little bastard wasn’t a cat!

I thought it was just cute, but it understands human speech!

‘Wait, then maybe…’

Isn’t this situation advantageous for me?

As long as that little thing isn’t trying to eat me, asking me to follow it could be seen as a very friendly attitude.

I looked at the cat waiting in front of the bushes with suspicious eyes. The cat was also looking at me with eyes that showed I couldn’t tell what it was thinking.

I don’t know what the real identity of that ‘cat’ is, but if I’ve somehow been chosen by an existence I never could have expected…

‘Maybe I can ask for help?’

I slowly approached the cat, bent my knees, and met its gaze.

“Do you happen to know a safe place?”

The cat, which had been looking up at me with clear eyes, meowed distinctly.

“Meow.”

This is definitely a yes!

“Then could you take me to a safe place?”

“Meooow.”

How absurd.

No, just a moment ago you were trying to take me somewhere, you crazy cat…

‘They say cats live however they want.’

To survive here, I have to somehow get this cat to guide me to a safe place.

“How can I persuade this thing…?”

Having never raised a pet in my life, all I know about cats is what I’ve seen in videos and heard through the grapevine.

I don’t have any Churu or anything, and it’s not like I’d have any toys…

“Crazy, I do have something!”

I hurriedly pulled out the glass box I’d put inside my jacket.

It’s not a commercial toy with a long stick attached, but it roughly has a similar shape – today’s planned trading item.

A feather!

‘Brother, thank you so much!’

I grabbed the shaft of the fairly long feather and started waving it in front of the cat’s eyes.

The cat’s eyes, which had been aloof as if it found everything bothersome and was thinking of abandoning me, immediately sparkled with curiosity.

‘As expected, this guy is still a cat.’

I’ve never raised a cat, but I know how to play with them.

The cat, which seemed to have completely lost interest in me just moments before, started bouncing around as if it had taken the wrong medicine.

“Meooow!”

It’s even making noise – looks like the dopamine really kicked in.

“Meooooow-!”

Look at it yelling excitedly.

That’s a very favorable situation for trading conditions.

Sending my heartfelt condolences to all the cat owners in the world, I enthusiastically waved the feather until my arm was about to fall off…

“Okay, that’s enough now.”

Just before my stamina ran out, I cleanly tucked the feather back inside my jacket.

“Meooooow-“

The cat, having instantly lost its prey, let out a long cry mixed with irritation.

But I’m a veteran seller who has dealt with countless difficult customers with an average manner temperature of 52 degrees on Carrot Market.

I crouched down in front of the cat and met its eyes.

“This is a trade. If you take me to a safe place, I’ll give you this feather.”

“…Meooooow.”

“Don’t want to?”

At the complaint-filled plea, I slightly lifted my inner jacket pocket to show it.

The cat’s eyes sparkled again.

‘That’s why you shouldn’t get so excited when playing for the first time.’

“Let’s make a deal.”

The cat, which had been growling for a while as if displeased, let out a fierce cry.

“Meooow!”

It was a sign of agreement.

 

* * *

 

How many hours had I walked without a single sip of water?

“This is the Rescue Team!”

My ears perked up at the voice coming from far away.

Finally!

I shouted with the most booming voice I’d ever produced in my life.

“Over here!!”

My voice boomed so magnificently that it seemed to reach the very end of the dense jungle inside the Gate, and immediately came a response from the other side.

“Who’s there?! Answer me!”

“Here! There’s someone here! Please save me!”

I shouted at the top of my lungs again.

Soon, thundering footsteps began echoing from the previously silent area ahead.

This wasn’t the sound of mindless monsters carelessly approaching!

Anyone could tell these were human footsteps!

My heart raced.

“Are you over here?!”

What emerged through the grass was the human I had been waiting for so desperately.

Though abnormally large in build, he was still a human man who looked relieved to see me!

“I’m alive…”

And it was even a familiar face!

Park Bo-bae, the A-rank Hunter known as the ‘White Shield’ from , which maintains 2nd place in the Guild rankings.

A rising star among rising stars, evaluated as being comparable to S-rank when it comes to Anti-Monster Tactics alone.

Such an incredible person was right before my eyes.

‘Safety guaranteed.’

Park Bo-bae spoke with a tone as warm as his good impression.

“How fortunate that we found you right in front of the Gate. What a relief.”

“In front of the Gate?”

“Yes, if you walk this way for about 10 seconds—no, since you’re a civilian, about 5 minutes—there’s an exit right there. Usually when people get caught up in Gates, they fall into the center, so we searched from the inside first. We should have started looking from the entrance.”

“…”

The Gate is right in front of me?

‘My goodness.’

I had cursed internally the entire walk, but this cat wasn’t a fraud.

It had been guiding me from the Gate Center where I’d dropped, toward the direction of the exit.

The moment I realized this fact, my legs gave out and I plopped down right there.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

“No, I just lost my strength…”

“Well, two days have passed outside. The Rescue Team defeated the boss, so don’t stray onto other paths and just head toward that Red Pillar.”

With that, Park Bo-bae immediately left to search for other survivors.

Before I could even be shocked by the fact that two days had passed or that they’d already defeated the boss, I turned my gaze toward where Park Bo-bae had pointed.

Whether he’d used some Skill, a bright red pillar that hadn’t been visible before was now towering there.

To think I’d escape this place alive.

It was practically like surviving hell, so my mouth fell open in amazement.

“Meow!”

“Oh, right.”

I’d forgotten while talking to Park Bo-bae, but the cat irritably tapped my thigh.

Come to think of it, this was all thanks to this cat.

‘To think it guided me to the Gate exit.’

Today’s good cat award goes to you.

“Meooow-“

“Alright, alright.”

I took out the Glass Box I’d been carefully keeping in my arms.

The Feather my Brother left behind, his final keepsake.

If I kept holding onto it, I’d just keep getting lost in sentiment, and since I got caught up in the Gate, the original buyer probably ran away too.

…And besides this cat, there probably isn’t anyone else who would cherish it this much.

I handed the Feather to the cat while gently stroking its head.

“Thank you, it was a very successful trade.”

That was the moment.

 

Ding!

 

I snapped my head up at the clear sound coming from somewhere.

Just as I was turning my head this way and that, wondering if something strange was happening again.

 

[Human ‘Lee Hae-won’ has made a trade with an existence from another dimension.]

[This is the first Achievement accomplished in ‘Dimension-Earth’.]

 

I doubted my eyes at the pure white light illuminating before me.

“A notification window…?”

The notification window that only Awakened could see was floating boldly before my eyes.

 

[Searching for an appropriate title.]

 

I couldn’t make a sound and just quietly examined the notification window.

When I got swept up in the Gate, it felt like my life was completely over!

If all of this was paying off bad luck and my Brother’s blessing, wouldn’t my days of struggling desperately finally be over?

At that moment, brilliant light burst like fireworks before my eyes.

 

[You have Awakened as ‘Open Market Manager'(EX)!]

 

My eyes widened at the brilliant letters “EX”.

But my surprise was brief.

I belatedly noticed the modifier attached in front of it.

“Open Market Manager…?”

I know there are all kinds of Awakened, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a strange title.

I furrowed my brow and muttered.

“What is that?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————