24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 121

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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 121

 

Episode 121. Babel Official Excellent Seller (2)

 

As soon as we emerged from the blue Warp Gate, Kang Yeon-hee’s eyes widened to a level they shouldn’t have been able to reach.

 

Unable to close her mouth and stammering, Kang Yeon-hee barely managed to let out this exclamation.

 

“Th-th-this is…!”

 

She was probably going to follow up with clichéd phrases like ‘What’s happening?’ or ‘How is this possible?’

 

‘Yeah, I was pretty shocked when I first came here too.’

 

Kang Yeon-hee, who grew up on peaceful Earth and was a potion merchant specialist who didn’t even climb the Tower, would never have had the chance to see such sights.

 

I mean, octopi selling goods, talking rocks, bargaining Slimes…

 

“A-a spider is…! Walking on two legs…!”

 

Hearing Kang Yeon-hee’s frightened voice, I turned my head and was startled.

 

‘Ugh, what the hell is that?’

 

I thought she was talking nonsense, but it was real.

 

Not something similar, but an actual spider with eight legs standing upright and bargaining with a merchant.

 

Even its size was extraordinary.

 

‘What kind of spider is as big as a kindergartener!’

 

The spider was moving its six remaining legs freely while keeping two legs firmly planted, earnestly making some kind of argument.

 

Since this was an Irregular Dimensional Market, it must have been bargaining.

 

Watching that scene, my mouth moved involuntarily without me realizing it.

 

“Urgh.”

 

Ah, I almost threw up.

 

Even people who are good at catching bugs don’t like multi-legged insects…

 

I barely managed to swallow down the nausea before coming to my senses and shaking Kang Yeon-hee.

 

“It’s rude to stare at other life forms like that.”

 

“R-right, but still…!”

 

“Get used to it.”

 

Of course, it seemed I wasn’t quite accustomed to it yet either.

 

‘How could anyone not be shocked seeing a spider walking on two legs?’

 

After my reprimand, Kang Yeon-hee succeeded in looking away from the spider.

 

Though she still couldn’t close her mouth.

 

At this rate, her jaw might dislocate soon and she could start walking on her chin.

 

Alessandro, standing beside the intensely shocked Kang Yeon-hee, had a completely different expression.

 

Since he came from a world where Dark Mages ran rampant and had experience visiting Irregular Dimensional Markets, this wouldn’t be surprising to him.

 

Alessandro’s face looked utterly calm as he stood quietly surveying the market.

 

Only his eyes revealed the complex emotions he was feeling.

 

Seeing him like that reminded me of my first encounter with Alessandro.

 

His uncomfortable-looking armor.

 

Above that, the knight wearing a worn-out cloak that was falling apart looked utterly exhausted.

 

The dimensional castaway who had lost his homeland and wandered aimlessly without finding a place to go was now wearing a Made in Korea tracksuit and cushioned running shoes.

 

Even I, as a third party, feel such deep emotions about this, so Alessandro must be feeling it even more strongly.

 

‘He must be thinking about those days.’

 

His eyes seem to look somewhat moist.

 

I lightly touched Alessandro’s shoulder with gentle comfort.

 

“Alessandro.”

 

As if released from a trance, Alessandro blinked his eyes lightly.

 

He must have been thinking about those painful and difficult past days.

 

After moving his lips for a while, Alessandro muttered as if whispering.

 

“Couldn’t spiders also be considered a type of bug?”

 

“….”

 

Are you kidding me right now….

 

I looked at the knight commander who had stiffened with fear of bugs and Kang Yeon-hee who was spaced out by this new world, then shouted decisively.

 

“Let’s both go!”

 

When I didn’t wait and took the lead walking ahead, the two people hurriedly followed behind me.

 

This situation of bringing Alessandro and Kang Yeon-hee to the 75th Floor of the Tower of Babel, the Irregular Dimensional Market.

 

To explain this, first an understanding of the position called ‘intermediate manager’ that I assigned to these two is necessary.

 

As someone with the EX-rank title ‘Open Market Manager,’ I can designate ‘intermediate managers’ at Offline Market branches.

 

Alessandro, who had been a homeless refugee, was able to become a permanent employee stationed at Babel Square thanks to being designated as an intermediate manager.

 

According to Sam-i, Alessandro could be recruited because he had no affiliation.

 

[⁕ I never explained it that way 🙂 The ‘Alessandro Hale’ you mentioned had no affiliation, so we could grant him the title of ‘Open Market Intermediate Manager’ and give him the affiliation of ‘Babel Square.’ However, beings from other dimensions who already have affiliations cannot be recruited :)]

 

…What’s different from what I said?

 

Anyway, seeing how even Alessandro was saved, the scope of what can be done with the Open Market Manager title is broader than I thought.

 

After designating the two as intermediate managers for several months, I deeply felt the importance of intermediate managers.

 

They serve as branch managers who manage the market so it doesn’t become a wasteland while I’m away.

 

Kang Yeon-hee is also a supplier who provides potions, the market’s main selling product, and Alessandro also serves as our live-in housekeeper.

 

And although I’ve never used it once, intermediate managers can also use some of the manager’s authority within the scope I allow.

 

So today I granted the two people ‘Intermediate Station Entry,’ which can be considered partial authority of the ‘Dimensional Door’ skill.

 

Of course, I didn’t bring them here to show them around another world.

 

“Wow, is this your shop stall, unnie…?”

 

Naturally, I brought them here to work.

 

Kang Yeon-hee’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked at the shabby stall that was no different from when I last saw it.

 

It’s just an old, worn-out stall with nothing particularly interesting to see, yet she finds it so fascinating.

 

Kang Yeon-hee, who had been looking around here and there, suddenly widened her eyes as she looked at the stall across from us.

 

“That one is really pretty….”

 

I unconsciously turned my head to follow her gaze and discovered something familiar.

 

‘That still hasn’t sold yet.’

 

A brilliant magical harp that shines with five colors, reminiscent of Laoco’s work.

 

My heart seemed to flutter for a moment, but thanks to an intense gaze I felt from somewhere, I didn’t get swept up in emotions.

 

Behind the harp, blue eyes were stealing glances at me as if fed up.

 

Maybe it’s because I growled at him last time, but his mood doesn’t seem very good.

 

I raised one hand, meaning to shake off those old grudges and get along as friendly neighbors.

 

“Hey, long time no see?”

 

Blue eyes blinked in confusion then turned his head away.

 

Only my right hand felt awkward for no reason.

 

“Five eyes…!”

 

“Please don’t be so obviously surprised, Kang Yeon-hee.”

 

At the sharp rebuke, Kang Yeon-hee smiled awkwardly.

 

Meanwhile, Alessandro was diligently setting up the chairs I had taken out.

 

“So sister, what should I do here?”

 

“What do you mean what.”

 

I opened my inventory wide and pulled out a pile of snacks.

 

Dozens of snack bags appearing in a marketplace where all sorts of bizarre creatures roamed around.

 

Kang Yeon-hee’s eyes widened at the sight.

 

I then pulled out the items I had swept up from the mart and stacked them behind the shop stall.

 

Kang Yeon-hee’s face was full of question marks as she helped stack the items following my lead.

 

“Why donut cushions…? Sister, could it be…?”

 

She seemed to be saying some nonsense in the middle, but I pretended not to hear and let it go in one ear while neatly stacking the items.

 

While displaying small items nicely on the shop stall, curious gazes poured in.

 

Beings passing by busily were glancing at the stall with ‘what is this?’ looks in their eyes.

 

Seeing them look for more than 3 seconds without frowning at the strange items they’d never seen before.

 

‘This will work.’

 

I felt a pleasant confidence even before starting.

 

“Ah, right. Alessandro.”

 

I rummaged through my inventory and pulled out a poster I had made to look somewhat decent.

 

“Please attach this below the tent sign.”

 

“Well… I won’t criticize your decision, but doesn’t the wording sound a bit like a quack?”

 

Alessandro muttered while looking at the poster with a serious face.

 

[Items that don’t exist in your dimension – all the ‘what is this?’ stuff is here!]

 

“It’s fine. I’m not actually trying to scam anyone.”

 

“That sounds like anything’s okay as long as it’s not actual fraud…”

 

I wholeheartedly ignored Alessandro’s reasonable advice.

 

I pulled out another poster and held it out.

 

“Ah, this one too.”

 

Alessandro took the poster with a face full of distrust, but this time showed a relieved expression.

 

[We repair broken items!]

 

Of course, today’s goal was to sell out all the prepared products, but I also needed to take care of this for clearing the title quest.

 

This was an easier method than waiting for inquiries to come to the repair shop.

 

And I was reluctant to operate both the repair shop and appraisal office anymore.

 

‘Too many S-rank hunters have been asking about that place.’

 

I want to work in a comfortable environment where no one recognizes me too…

 

That’s when it happened.

 

“Are we opening now?”

 

Having experience operating the Bamanjang Store, Kang Yeon-hee was already looking at me with clear, alert eyes.

 

Alessandro had been nodding at me as if he’d been ready for a while now.

 

“Alright.”

 

Well then.

 

“Let’s make some money.”

 

Let’s show these otherworld residents a taste of Earth’s brilliant civilization.

 

* * *

 

“Items that don’t exist in my dimension… things that make me wonder ‘what is this’.”

 

Perhaps because the items looked too unfamiliar, our first customer came quite late despite all the stares we were getting.

 

The first customer, who was stroking his chin with interest while looking around the shop stall, was a very tall stone person.

 

Every time he stroked his chin, the rustling sound was like stepping on a gravel path.

 

‘He looks like a golem.’

 

His height could easily surpass the second floor of an apartment building.

 

His dark gray body was a jagged form made of hexagonal vertical columns fitted together without gaps.

 

‘Like columnar joints.’

 

I’d never been on a school trip so I hadn’t seen them directly, but I knew what columnar joints looked like.

 

The hexagonal columns that made up his entire body from head to toe were all different sizes.

 

The torso area had thick, blunt columns, while the arms and legs were connected by thinner, more delicate columns.

 

What appeared to be his face had small hexagonal stone pieces attached one by one, which seemed to be his eyes and mouth.

 

‘There really are all kinds of strange creatures…’

 

Stone dust fell from the gaps in his waist as he bent down with effort to look at the shop stall.

 

I pushed Kang Yeon-hee, who had failed to keep her jaw in check again and was gaping at the stone person’s overwhelming size, behind me.

 

Then I immediately stood in front of the shop stall.

 

Since these were unfamiliar items to them, kind and gentle service was necessary.

 

Explaining things clearly and in detail was also natural.

 

After all, if you successfully serve your first customer, the next customers won’t be able to overcome their curiosity and will come too.

 

I asked with a bright and gentle smile I’d never made in my life.

 

“Welcome, customer. Is there anything specific you’re looking for?”

 

“How can I look for something when I don’t know what it is?”

 

I wanted to tell him to cut the attitude and throw down right here, but I held back for now.

 

Instead, I put on an even more obnoxious smile.

 

“Then is there anything that’s been inconvenient in your daily life recently? I could recommend something suitable for you.”

 

“Inconvenient?”

 

The stone man straightened his back a little and scratched his chin.

 

When stone dust fell from his chin onto the shop stall, the neat freak Alessandro’s eyebrows twitched.

 

“I’m getting old, so it’s inconvenient how my body cracks whenever I sit or lie down on something hard.”

 

“Then how about this?”

 

I pulled out a large bundle from behind the shop stall.

 

I hadn’t planned to use my secret weapon from the very beginning.

 

“What’s that?”

 

The stone man tilted his head suspiciously.

 

I lowered my voice and whispered with a very serious expression.

 

“This is called a microfiber blanket.”

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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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