24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 137

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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 137

 

Episode 137. Glimmerstona (2)

 

If you asked me what I thought about seeing an Elf for the first time, I could answer without much hesitation.

 

‘I have no regrets now.’

 

Aren’t humans beings who naturally pursue beauty?

 

Of course, I pursue it a little more than others.

 

In that sense, it’s only natural to be curious about how beautiful Elves would be, as they’re generally described as the pinnacle of beauty.

 

Living in this surreal reality where the Tower of Babel exists, I had hoped that someday I might encounter Elves.

 

Though I never thought it would be in the middle of such a bleak gray city.

 

I stared blankly out the window, forgetting even the maturity I had been maintaining in front of the shop owner.

 

Three Elves were walking, guided by someone wearing a gray robe.

 

Golden hair that seemed to flow like the finest honey, snow-white skin, and graceful steps.

 

Not to mention their sculpture-like appearance that belonged in an art museum.

 

The Elves I saw in person were beings with beauty from another dimension.

 

Seeing them directly made my heart swell with emotion.

 

But if there was one thing completely different from what I had expected, it was the expressions on their faces as they walked.

 

‘They look really angry…?’

 

I could clearly see expressions twisted with displeasure on their beautiful faces.

 

The citizens of Glimmerstona heading straight to their destinations occasionally glanced at them, but that was only natural.

 

In this colorless city, creatures in full-color clothing were walking around—it would be impossible not to look.

 

Those were probably the ‘diplomatic corps’ that the soldier in Gearsgard had mentioned.

 

They must have visited several times for the agreement, and would have already experienced such stares following them.

 

But what could be the reason they were so displeased?

 

‘Political reasons?’

 

I tried to think it through, but had no clue at all.

 

That was natural.

 

Today was my first time seeing Elves, and I had no idea why Floraban and Glimmerstona had made an agreement in the first place.

 

Then the answer lay in this direction.

 

“Excuse me, what’s your name?”

 

Namely, the shop owner who recognized me as a very high-ranking human.

 

Upon hearing my question, the shop owner was startled and answered while repeatedly running his hand through his hair.

 

“I’m Salis, Elder.”

 

…I was an elder?

 

So wearing a black robe meant being an elder.

 

Though I was flustered by this unexpected clue, this was probably one of the important pieces of information I’d need when pretending to be a citizen of Glimmerstona.

 

I nodded calmly without showing my surprise.

 

“Mr. Salis, have you seen them before?”

 

The shop owner named Salis nodded immediately without showing any sign of suspicion toward me.

 

“Of course, I think this is your third visit. Since this is on the way to city hall, I’ve seen you every time you passed by.”

 

“It must have been quite chaotic each time.”

 

“Absolutely. Everyone seems curious, I suppose. Even though they know they should be careful with their words and gazes outside, they still act like that. I understand though, since I was curious too and kept looking out the window every time.”

 

Salis scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed expression.

 

I mulled over the words Salis had just casually uttered.

 

‘You can’t even speak outside here?’

 

What kind of messed up city is this?

 

I thought something was off from the moment I first dropped in, but the more I see, the less I like this neighborhood.

 

How can a place where people live be filled with nothing but coldness instead of any human warmth?

 

Seeing how Salis is speaking comfortably now, it seems people can talk freely when they’re inside an ‘indoor space.’

 

And it looks like it’s okay to take off the hood of the robe too.

 

Of course, this doesn’t apply to me since I’m neither from Glimmerstone nor a citizen, yet I have to pretend to be one.

 

I adjusted my hood more carefully and casually asked.

 

“There haven’t been any leaks about what kind of discussions are happening with Floraban, have there?”

 

He thinks of me as an elder, but I can’t ask directly, so this is about my limit.

 

Fortunately, Salis hurriedly waved his hands and began denying it.

 

“Oh my, there’s no way! How could we possibly know what goes on inside city hall…”

 

But he trails off while rolling his eyes around.

 

This is such a suspicious reaction that if Alessandro had seen it, he would have drawn his sword demanding a confession immediately.

 

I suggested in a more gentle and kind manner.

 

“I won’t mention it officially, so feel free to speak comfortably. If it’s an important clue, I can say I received an anonymous tip.”

 

At my sincere expression, Salis, who had been hesitating, let out a deep sigh.

 

“Lately there’s been talk that Floraban has connections with Gearsgard too. So there are rumors going around that the Floraban diplomatic mission is coming not to continue the agreement but to break it.”

 

“Just hearsay then.”

 

“Hearsay…?”

 

Ah, they don’t have that expression here.

 

I played dumb and changed the subject.

 

“So such talk has leaked out. The citizens must be anxious.”

 

“Exactly, Elder, we don’t even know when the war will end, really.”

 

Salis let out such a big sigh it seemed like it could bring down Glimmerstone.

 

War is a game where everyone gets hurt regardless of victory or defeat.

 

Unless one side is overwhelmingly strong.

 

With four cities continuing war in all directions like this, it must certainly be a long, drawn-out fight that’s been going nowhere.

 

‘War…’

 

I slightly frowned at the sudden sense of reality that hit me.

 

Though I’m a South Korean citizen, for someone like me who grew up without experiencing any actual war, it’s a word that’s both familiar and strange.

 

But when I think about it, this is already the fourth war after Falcon, Ganasia, and Laoko.

 

A fight where each side hates the other to death, continuing endlessly unless one side disappears.

 

Of course, unlike other scenarios where I was at the crossroads of life and death every moment, Aeteria was a dimension where daily life was maintained to some extent.

 

Even so, the anguish I feel from Salis’s deeply troubled face is real.

 

Just because I see things differently doesn’t mean one place hurts less or another hurts more.

 

‘This must be how they perished.’

 

Reflecting again on how Aeteria had already fallen and become the stage for a scenario, I can somewhat gauge the end of this dimension.

 

They probably perished while continuing to fight without even realizing the Tower of Babel had appeared.

 

I shook my head slightly as I was about to fall into thought again.

 

That’s already in the past, so let me focus on the information I can obtain right now.

 

‘But an agreement between Floraban and Gearsgard?’

 

I don’t know if the story leaking out is true or false.

 

It’s possible that the elders in black robes really discovered Floraban’s betrayal during their meeting.

 

But it’s strange.

 

I remember the reaction shown by Gearsgard’s soldiers.

 

The soldiers were displeased about the fact that ‘Floraban and Glimmerstone had made an agreement,’ and that was definitely true.

 

‘But how does a story about Floraban and Gearsgard making an agreement come up?’

 

Especially in enemy territory Glimmerstone, before Floraban’s diplomatic mission even openly entered the city?

 

Breaking an agreement and making a new one with another city is a serious matter even to someone ignorant of war like me.

 

It’s too weighty a matter to have become known enough for citizens to gossip about in a city at war, which makes it rather suspicious.

 

There are several possibilities.

 

Either there’s a traitor in Floraban, Glimmerstone spread false information, or Gearsgard threw out bait to divide Floraban and Glimmerstone.

 

‘Or a third party intervened.’

 

In any case, all this content seems to be very strongly connected to the scenario.

 

I tapped the counter with my knuckles.

 

“I’ll be going, Salis. Thank you for speaking honestly.”

 

I held back from saying I was really grateful for sharing everything with a stranger, and succeeded in imitating a stern elder.

 

“Oh, not at all. Please be careful on your way!”

 

Salis, still without any suspicion, quickly bowed in greeting.

 

Waving gently to Salis as I left the shop, I stopped and looked at a building standing in the most desolate appearance at the end of the main street.

 

Now that’s the only place I need to visit.

 

Glimmerstone’s city hall.

 

* * *

 

I thought entering the city hall would be difficult.

 

It would be foolish to let people enter during wartime without checking who they are.

 

But this is even more than the Tower of Babel’s entry procedures.

 

“You’re an elder, I see.”

 

Ah, what I mentioned was the entry procedures from before the Babel Management Bureau awakened.

 

I rolled my eyes as I looked at the guard who was politely bowing toward me.

 

Next to me was a procession of robes standing in line waiting, holding what appeared to be round badges that looked like identification.

 

I was overwhelmed by the parade of gray and brown robes that seemed to number almost thirty people.

 

“I’ll guide you.”

 

The guard came rushing out barefoot to greet me before I could even get in line, escorting me with utmost care.

 

I hesitated for a moment before following behind him.

 

The entry procedures I saw while passing by were more complicated than I had imagined.

 

They checked identification tags, had people remove their robes for inspection, verified documents, made entries in access logs – it seemed like they did every analog procedure possible.

 

‘…I’m way too lucky here.’

 

All entry procedures were waived just because I was wearing a black robe.

 

The Shadow Knight Order’s robes did have their own patterns.

 

Of course, even if it was just dark-colored patterns running around the hem of the robe, if you looked closely you’d notice the difference from other robes.

 

It seems they just let anyone through as long as they’re wearing black.

 

Does black fabric just not come into Glimmerstone in the first place?

 

With such thoughts, as I entered the city hall, I was greeted by yet another wave of bleakness.

 

The lobby with its fairly high ceiling was filled with gray tones, and the chandelier hanging from the ceiling had angular, square-shaped gray lights.

 

Actually, I probably shouldn’t even call that thing a chandelier…

 

“Have a good day, Elder.”

 

I was seriously staring at the ceiling when I startled and turned my head.

 

The guard in gray armor bowed politely once more regardless of whether I was surprised or not, then walked away.

 

Leaving a foreigner free to roam in the city hall, the heart of the city.

 

‘Well, that works for me.’

 

I swallowed a sigh of relief and looked around.

 

After all, gathering information is most comfortable when done alone.

 

Countless people moved around me toward their workplaces.

 

I was the only one in a black robe.

 

People in gray robes were going down the underground stairs, while those in brown robes were disappearing toward the passages connected to Floor 1.

 

Since everyone was moving as if assigned to specific floors, it was hard to easily decide where to go.

 

What if I just walked into any random place and discovered a “Black Robes Prohibited” sign?

 

That would be like asking to get arrested.

 

Though entering here without knowing anything in the first place was reckless from the start, I decided to think positively.

 

‘Then what’s left is the 2nd floor?’

 

No one was going up the gray staircase that two guards were strictly watching.

 

Instead of rashly taking a step, I quietly examined the 2nd floor railing area.

 

I couldn’t sense any signs of people.

 

Instead, there was a small sign that immediately sparked my interest upon discovery.

 

[Top Secret Information Handling Room]

 

…Isn’t that way too tempting?

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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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