24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 134

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

24-Hour Friendly Market Specializing in Dimensional Items Episode 134

 

Episode 134. Gearsgard (5)

 

I take it back.

 

A fair fight only works when both sides have similar skill levels.

 

The dwarves’ daily average alcohol purchase is 10 bottles of moonshine, 2 liters per bottle?

 

In other words, dwarves are crazy bastards who drink 20 liters of beer per day.

 

And I am.

 

“Ugh.”

 

A weak human who boldly challenged a dwarf with a drinking capacity of about three bottles of soju.

 

It feels like I didn’t drink the alcohol, but the alcohol devoured me instead.

 

My head feels heavy as if it’s packed full of cotton, and even my tongue tip is numb.

 

Through my spinning vision, I could see Brozen’s nose glowing bright red.

 

But Brozen wasn’t retching saying he felt like throwing up, and he wasn’t even staggering.

 

“Lee Hae, you’re a good guy. Ahehehe!”

 

He was just laughing cheerfully.

 

Where did all that wariness from earlier go, and why is he smiling so brightly now?

 

Just as I was about to let out a hollow laugh at Brozen’s appearance, completely accepting me just because I brought alcohol.

 

‘Urp.’

 

What came up instead of laughter was nausea.

 

I quickly covered my mouth and forcibly anchored my swaying body to the table.

 

The sky is spinning… I’m not actually moving right now, am I?

 

It feels like the table, which should definitely be still, is charging toward me.

 

I finally opened my inventory.

 

My determination to beat Brozen without using a single item was just bravado.

 

What I struggled to pull out was the hangover potion that Kang Yeon-hee had given me, saying it would be her new product.

 

Kang Yeon-hee’s masterpiece, which she said would be essential to survive in alcohol-loving South Korea.

 

I downed the potion while Brozen was tilting his head back and cackling loudly.

 

The pale pink liquid surprisingly tasted sweet like strawberry milk, and left a cool, refreshing sensation as it went down my throat.

 

Soon, my sense of reality quickly returned.

 

‘Wow… was I sitting like this?’

 

Along with a reality check.

 

My appearance, sitting with my legs spread wide while gripping the table as if it were some kind of lifeline, was too unsightly.

 

‘I hope Brozen didn’t see that.’

 

Fortunately, Brozen’s gaze was fixed only on the whiskey bottle.

 

It seems his vision has narrowed due to being drunk, which is fortunate for me.

 

I straightened my posture with my now-clear mind, praising Kang Yeon-hee.

 

Now that I’ve sobered up, let’s get to work, Lee Hae-won.

 

I opened my mouth with a deliberately firm and clear tone.

 

“Mr. Brozen.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Brozen, who was quite drunk, stared at me with a completely relaxed face without any reservations.

 

A defenseless expression he would never have shown earlier.

 

A satisfied smile hung on his lips visible between his beard, and his eyes were openly unfocused.

 

I lightly cleared my head while recalling my original purpose.

 

I said I’d ask if I lost the bet, but seeing Brozen’s completely open heart now, he looked like he’d answer even if I asked about his bank account balance.

 

And what was the reason for drinking together in the first place?

 

It meant to blow away all the accumulated resentment between us with alcohol, right?

 

In that sense, Brozen’s face being relaxed in a perfect state for information gathering was a very positive sign.

 

I casually threw out a question.

 

“But it seems like each city isn’t at the same height?”

 

“Hehe, why do you think that?”

 

“When I looked outside, I could only see the sky. I got curious about where the other cities might be.”

 

“Ha, that’s ridiculous to hear. There’s no way they’d all be in a straight line, right?”

 

Brozen chuckled as if asking what kind of stupid thing I was saying.

 

“Of course the altitudes are different. Some are below, some are above.”

 

It’s a bit annoying that he’s treating me like the world’s biggest idiot, but I like his naive honesty in answering questions straightforwardly.

 

Indeed, the power of alcohol is great.

 

I added another question while showing with my whole body that ‘I really didn’t know!’

 

“Amazing! I had no idea! Then which one is the highest?”

 

“Glimmerstone floats the highest. Next is here, Gearsgard.”

 

“Gearsgard floats pretty high too? Then what about the other cities?”

 

“Below us is Vernium. Then comes Floraban, and Berilsha is at the very bottom.”

 

Hearing this, it feels like a 5-story floating apartment building.

 

Well, calling it an apartment would be inappropriate since each island would be far apart from each other.

 

I widened my eyes and nodded my head.

 

“I had no idea. As expected, Mr. Brozen knows a lot?”

 

“Well, I’ve lived my whole life in Gearsgard. Ha, really!”

 

“….”

 

The way he looks embarrassed yet full of pride is somehow irritating.

 

Still, since he’s answering obediently thanks to being drunk, I can give him this much flattery.

 

“Then are there no other islands besides these five?”

 

“That’s not the case. There are so many islands in this place. Well, the mines have already fallen quite a while ago though.”

 

“Where are the other islands?”

 

“There aren’t that many. There are no islands near Gearsgard… Oh, there’s one more small island below Floraban. An island that Floraban is holding onto by extending roots down to it?”

 

Holding onto an island by extending roots?

 

‘This isn’t Jack and the Beanstalk.’

 

As I was letting out a hollow laugh at this absurd fairy tale-like story, Brozen continued speaking.

 

“There’s no grass growing there, so I think they said the Flora faction uses it as an airship port.”

 

Right, it’s about time I stopped trying to seriously understand stories from other dimensions.

 

Anyway, Brozen’s words made it certain.

 

The detection writing tool is definitely a good item, but it can only draw floor plans viewed from above.

 

No matter how detailed it draws, it’s not a perfect item.

 

‘So the Tower of Babel could be hiding on some other island too.’

 

Unless the detection writing tool was blocked from drawing the Tower of Babel at all.

 

I found myself staring at Brozen’s damp beard as he opened a new bottle of whiskey.

 

“Mr. Brozen, by any chance.”

 

“Yeah, go ahead.”

 

I opened my mouth cautiously, feeling slightly tense.

 

“Have you ever heard of something called the Tower of Babel?”

 

“What’s that? Is it a newly built tower?”

 

Brozen answered while blinking his eyes as if he had no idea.

 

Never having heard of it means it wasn’t built on any of the currently known islands.

 

Then there’s a high probability it’s somewhere below these islands that the detection writing tool can’t recognize.

 

I finally asked if he had ever gone down far enough to reach the bottom below the sky.

 

But Brozen shrugged his shoulders with a puzzled tone and answered.

 

“What’s down there? Do we really need to go see?”

 

As soon as I heard those words, I realized something.

 

A difference in perspective – something obvious to me but not obvious to them.

 

I’m someone who has lived my entire life with my feet planted on the ground, looking up at the sky.

 

In contrast, for Brozen who was born in the sky and grew up his entire life in the sky, ‘land’ means only floating islands.

 

Even if I asked other people, the answer would be the same.

 

All the people in this dimension have lived on floating islands.

 

They’ve lived without even making the assumption that there might be land below this.

 

I looked down from the whiskey bottle rolling around on the table.

 

‘Then the Tower of Babel might really be down below.’

 

On unknown land that would be there if you went down against the sky.

 

* * *

 

Brozen finally emptied all 4 bottles of whiskey before falling asleep drunk.

 

An enormous smell of alcohol wafted from Brozen, who had fallen asleep using a tire rolling around the workshop as a pillow.

 

If I had endured to the end without any tricks, it would be me lying there instead of Brozen…

 

‘I should buy something delicious to bring when I go to Ba-man-jang.’

 

I swallowed my infinite gratitude toward Kang Yeon-hee while staring at Brozen.

 

Brozen sleeping and snoring looked like an ordinary middle-aged man.

 

Anyway, adding Brozen’s answers to what I’ve learned so far, the action I need to take is clear.

 

“I should go down and see…?”

 

I let out a deep sigh and muttered to myself.

 

I need to check if there’s actually land beneath the floating cities in the sky.

 

In that process, I should be able to find the location of the Tower of Babel too.

 

Also, since I don’t know what special events might occur in the scenario, it’s only natural to scout out unknown territories.

 

I gathered my things and stood up from my seat.

 

Brozen is sleeping right now, and since it’s dawn, there won’t be anyone on the streets either.

 

Perfect timing to avoid running into anyone.

 

I took out two bottles of whiskey from my Inventory and placed them on the table.

 

Perhaps due to the soft lighting, the whiskey gleamed brightly in golden hues.

 

Well, even though Brozen couldn’t hold out till the end and fell asleep, it’s true that I used underhanded methods.

 

Just leaving like this would feel a bit guilty.

 

This is payment for information that I’m giving out of conscience.

 

‘So just exactly two bottles.’

 

I left the gleaming whiskey bottles behind and carefully fastened the Shadow Knight Order’s Robe.

 

As I left the Workshop without hesitation, dawn was already breaking.

 

Befitting a mechanical city, white steam rose from chimneys that sprouted everywhere, and the sound of gears turning could be heard in the distance.

 

Crossing through the dimly brightening Gearsgard, I calmly made my plans.

 

First, my primary goal was to reach the edge of the city.

 

Whether there’s land or sea, I need to face the sky to confirm what’s there.

 

I quickened my pace and searched through the market.

 

And I found the necessary item by searching through the market.

 

Finally arriving at the edge of the island, at the cliff’s end where safety railings were installed.

 

The dawn wind blew fiercely, making my Robe flutter as cold air brushed against my cheeks.

 

“Ugh, it’s cold!”

 

Shouting that made me snap to attention.

 

It’s fortunate that no one’s around since it’s still dawn.

 

I leaned diagonally against the railing and looked down below.

 

Though I’d seen this sight before, it looked even more dizzying under the sky brightened by the rising sun.

 

“Phew.”

 

I quietly let out a sigh and took out the item I had bought earlier.

 

A very small backpack-like item with white feathers attached.

 

This will be my helper from now on.

 

[Anoru’s Wings (B)

 

A one-time use item that automatically activates parachute and gliding functions when worn.

 

Direction can be controlled by moving both arms.

 

Perfectly protects the user from one fall, and automatically disappears when use is complete.]

 

“Ah, seriously…”

 

Reading the description made me sigh again.

 

That doesn’t mean there are any problems with my reckless challenge.

 

The method I chose to check the ground is simply throwing my body down there.

 

Anyone watching would point fingers saying it’s dangerous, but as a market user, I had the power to find ways not to die.

 

In that sense, ‘Anoru’s Wings’ is a rational choice.

 

If the worst case scenario happens, I can just use Kienum’s watch or Patala’s summoning skill.

 

“…Huhhhh.”

 

Of course, it’s inevitable to hesitate about jumping from such a dizzying height.

 

I laughed self-deprecatingly as I equipped Anoru’s Wings.

 

I felt as if massive wings were spreading behind my back.

 

Market items have never been fraudulent, so this time they’ll surely protect me too.

 

‘Would there be anyone else doing this…’

 

I thought about jumping, but there couldn’t be any other crazy person besides me doing bungee jumping without a cord, right?

 

I climbed onto the railing with a deliberately serious expression.

 

The dawn wind struck my cheeks fiercely.

 

“Ugh, scary.”

 

Hey, I’m human too, so of course it’s scary!

 

All the hunters in South Korea should give praise to my will to overcome this and somehow obtain information.

 

‘This is skydiving, skydiving.’

 

What others pay expensive money to enjoy as a sport, I’m doing for free.

 

I hypnotized myself and took a deep breath.

 

If there’s something down there, it would be worth going down, and if there’s nothing, I can just think of another method.

 

Looking at the infinite sky spread out beneath my feet, my legs trembled.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

I soon threw my body into the vast sky.

 

If there was something unexpected.

 

“Uh-ryaaaagaaaak!”

 

It was the fact that I didn’t know I would let out such an unseemly scream.

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