24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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24-Hour Friendly Market Specializing in Dimensional Items Episode 10

Episode 10. Store Opening Event (3)

‘Why are you… selling that?’

I stared blankly into space with my mouth agape and a bewildered expression.

“Why are you suddenly acting like that?”

“Huh?”

“Did losing your part-time job make you lose your mind too?”

At Guk Min-seong’s sharp personality attack, I frowned and looked up at him.

“What kind of way is that to talk to a princess?”

“Are you crazy.”

Guk Min-seong looked at me with an indifferent face, as if he wasn’t worried about me in the slightest.

His hollow eyes deeply tinged with fatigue and drooping shoulders remained the same.

‘He looks like a walking corpse.’

I couldn’t very well tell him that I could buy that emblem of some fallen whatever.

I hadn’t even told him I had awakened in the first place, and I didn’t want to follow in the footsteps of Guk Min-seong, who was worn to the bone from being pressured by the top guild.

And since there were 20 Sub Quests, buying one emblem wouldn’t change anything anyway.

But one corner of my heart still felt strangely unsettled.

‘What if.’

Just what if.

If the interdimensional market that only I could access was selling not just the emblem but all the items needed to clear the 49th Floor…

‘Wouldn’t all the 49th Floor Sub Quests be solved at once?’

For a moment, it felt like my hair was standing on end.

The 50th Floor that I had to climb anyway to find traces of Brother.

If the renowned hunters couldn’t clear it, I could just help them, right?

I needed more information about the 49th Floor.

Information about the 49th Floor that only the Babel Management Bureau and the guilds that attempted to clear it would know.

But if I asked Guk Min-seong about it now, he would surely come to his senses quickly and shut his mouth.

Having reached this conclusion, I realized I needed to approach this more carefully.

“What other items do you need? Besides that emblem, I mean.”

“Hey, that’s classified information.”

I approached carefully, but it was a failure.

Guk Min-seong was already frowning as if something was strange.

“Why are you so interested in the 49th Floor?”

“I’m just curious.”

“If you haven’t even awakened, go home and wash your feet before sleeping.”

“…This bastard?”

Just as I muttered that, Guk Min-seong’s phone rang.

Guk Min-seong, who had just been a tired office worker and my friend until a moment ago, suddenly turned cold.

As expected of a B-rank Hunter, the aura emanating from him was murderous.

“Calling me on the weekend.”

Guk Min-seong muttered ominously, then answered the phone with the attitude of someone about to kill someone.

“Yes, Team Leader~! This is Guk Min-seong~!”

“…”

“Of course~! Yes yes, yes. Really? Ah, yes~! I understand~!”

What is this disgustingly cheerful and energetic guy?

I thought he had made it big after awakening as B-rank, but he was just another office worker after all.

While I was offering silent condolences in my heart, Guk Min-seong hung up and stood up.

“I have to go in. They said a guild leader meeting request came in.”

Guk Min-seong’s expression as he said this was colored with such tragic despair that I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Guk Min-seong reflexively asked.

“Are you laughing?”

“…”

This bastard’s eyes are half-crazed right now.

“Ah, I even gave up my afternoon nap to come out and eat a meal bought by an unemployed person.”

“Right, calling you even on weekends. Do you even get to rest?”

“…You try awakening. Your weekends disappear.”

Isn’t it because he’s an office worker, not because he awakened?

Guk Min-seong, who was showing his reluctance to go with his whole body, soon waved his hand sluggishly.

“Anyway, I’m going. Contact me if anything happens, and call me when you move. Don’t try to do it alone.”

Perhaps embarrassed by his own words, Guk Min-seong’s face was wrinkled quite unsightly.

Even though his way of speaking was rude, Guk Min-seong was still Guk Min-seong.

The fact that he was my closest friend who cared for me day and night during the difficult year after losing Brother didn’t change.

This was exactly why no one misunderstood our relationship throughout high school when we stuck together.

Because we were each other’s person.

Above all, we were the kind of relationship that didn’t need to exchange gentle words.

I opened my mouth cleanly.

“Oh, right. Hey, Guk Min-seong.”

“What?”

“I awakened.”

“…Huh?”

“As E-rank. Cool, right?”

“Get lost. We’ll talk later.”

Even though his friend had awakened after a hard life, far from congratulating me, Guk Min-seong left the cafe immediately without any lingering attachment.

I thought he would at least ask something.

‘Wasn’t it a heartwarming atmosphere just a moment ago?’

Having suddenly become alone, I scratched the back of my neck with an awkward expression.

Then should I go home and look up some information about the 49th Floor?

In our country… or any country on Earth, they wouldn’t give information to someone who’s just an E-rank Hunter.

‘But I have Sam-i and Manti.’

I’m someone with quite an extensive network across dimensions.

[⁕ I cannot provide any information regarding scenarios :)]

Don’t act cute, you psychopath.

I took a sip of the drink in front of me and stood up from my seat.

“Hmm?”

The strange drink of yuzu tea with pearls and whipped cream added was surprisingly delicious.

* * *

[> New Message

– I don’t know anything about the 49th step. It wasn’t a step I climbed myself. If you’re curious, asking the hero who conquered the 49th Floor would be one method. Ι Manti (Dimension-■■)

– If you obtain this answer, could you perhaps give me a chance to taste churu of new flavors? As a gourmet, I’d like to experience a more diverse feast of tastes. Ι Manti (Dimension-■■)]

“As expected, my cat.”

Perhaps because I’ve provided two flavors of churu including the feather so far, this cat is favorable toward me.

He’s even smart, and I like how he quickly figures out what I’m curious about.

‘I think the mart sells tuna flavored churu too.’

While I’m getting answers to my questions anyway, I should meet him and give his neck a good scratch.

[⁕ The Irregular Dimensional Market will open in 5 days :)]

At times like this, he appropriately delivers exactly what I’m curious about.

‘Does he feel some kind of competitive spirit with Manti?’

I had a silly thought as I typed my message.

[Thanks. I’ll prepare some other churu to bring, so let’s meet at the next Irregular Dimensional Market.]

Since Manti is such a higher life form, I feel like I should write and send polite replies.

Anyway.

“So, how much is that emblem?”

I asked while lying down on the bed.

Honestly speaking, it doesn’t matter if I can’t get all 20 sub items.

According to Guk Min-seong, it seems like they can’t proceed to the next stage because they can’t get that emblem, so getting just this one item would be helpful.

The only thing my insignificant body can do is this kind of support.

‘But if I bring the needed items on time, wouldn’t that make me a real top-tier supporter?’

It was when I furrowed my brow at this surprisingly late realization.

[⁕ Viewing the sales items of the Open Market selling the specific item ‘Last Emblem of Fallen Falkon’ :)]

[Open Market ‘Freya’s Citadel’ Ι Manager ‘Odin’]

[> Available Items for Purchase

– Last Emblem of Fallen Falkon 2,300G

– Sealed Abyss 14,000G

– Knight’s Final Death Rattle 380G

– (Show More)]

“…Huh?”

At the unexpected amount, I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

“2,300 gold?”

That’s ridiculously expensive!

What kind of fallen country is this!

2,300 gold for one emblem means 23 million won in Korean currency.

“What, is it lined with gold thread or something.”

Honestly, until just now I was casually thinking about getting all the items needed for the 49th Floor conquest to contribute to South Korea’s national power.

But tens of millions of won for just one item.

For me, who was planning to just slip the items over like a dark hero and disappear, this is too big a loss.

I might go bankrupt instead of helping the poor hunters who can’t break through the 49th Floor.

‘How many more times do I need to go to the 36th Floor?’

So many teams have gotten the Sapphire Ring that people are probably starting to think something’s strange.

[⁕ We recommend completing your current Quest before proceeding to the next Quest :)]

Oh, come to think of it, I haven’t completed my current Quest either.

I do need to go back to the 25th Floor.

The Intermediate Station where I ran away because I felt like trash for trampling on someone’s foundation.

‘Should I have just opened it back then?’

Listening to Guk Min-seong, it seems not only the Babel Management Bureau but also various guilds including Aegis are showing interest.

And it’s been several days since that building was erected.

“I’m already getting worried.”

Since nothing has changed because I haven’t opened the door, if something changes there, it’ll draw even more attention.

As an ordinary citizen, such excessive attention is not just burdensome but actually scary.

“Ha, what if I just don’t do the Quest-“

[⁕ Growth will be restricted if you don’t complete Quests 🙂 Babel can regulate awakeners who don’t grow.]

“…I guess I have to do it.”

Actually, even now I can earn enough to make a living, but since my primary goal is ‘visiting the place where Brother got the Gryphon Feather,’ I need to grow.

Not that it’ll create stats I don’t have.

‘But what’s this about regulation?’

There are so many awakeners in this world who don’t climb the Tower and just wander around the job market.

If they had regulated those people earlier, I wouldn’t have had to sustain my life by selling Brother’s belongings.

Suppressing my irritating thoughts, I muttered dryly.

“I should buy an item to hide my identity first.”

[> Available Items for Purchase

– Fifth Shadow’s Veil 4,990G]

…Is this a clearance sale?

Despite the tremendous name, the strange pricing structure felt a bit off.

The Dimensional Market is in 5 days, so if I run the 36th Floor twice, well….

‘I can earn money to buy the Veil and complete the Quest too.’

I have plenty of time.

[Gold in possession: 938G]

Oh no, I don’t have enough money.

Not even close.

Realizing the reality, I muttered weakly.

“I need to run the 36th Floor at least two more times.”

* * *

But there was a problem.

“…Use what?”

Wearing a crude mask, I asked back in bewilderment.

Today’s daily leader of the 36th Floor record-breaking team, a man with a rooster crest hairstyle, said cheerfully.

“Starting today, everyone entering the 36th Floor has to fill out an application form to enter.”

What Rooster Crest handed me was a tablet PC.

[Babel Management Bureau Conquest Application – 36th Floor

Application Date: 20XX. 07. XX

Applicant: Kim Seong-hun

Application Type: □ Inspection □ Training ■ Record Challenge

Conquest Personnel: 5 people

Team Composition: Please accurately fill in name, awakening grade, unique title, and affiliated guild below.

1) Kim X, C-grade, Red Bullet, Lightning Guild

2) Etra, D-rank, Compass of Warmth, X

3) Park Jo-yeon, C-rank, Silent Marksman, X

4) Choi Haeng-in, D-rank, Spear Wielder, X

5)

※ All participants must scan and attach their Hunter License and identification required for identity verification as separate documents.

If the contents of this application differ from the facts, you may be punished according to Article 39 of the Babel Management Bureau Act.]

Right, I had expected people would find it strange.

Records that hadn’t been broken for years since Seo Jae-hyuk were suddenly shattered one after another in just a few days, and there were so many Sapphire Rings appearing—it was only natural.

But I thought they’d just find it moderately suspicious and keep an eye on things!

‘I never expected them to make such an undeniable move!’

All that talk about our country’s public enterprises being incompetent was complete bullshit.

“Come on, hurry up and write!”

Rooster Crest urged me with a cheerful laugh like a hearty man.

The other temporary team members standing beside me shrugged their shoulders as they watched me hesitate.

I smiled awkwardly.

‘Fuck.’

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