24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 143

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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 143

 

Episode 143. The Fool of Floraban (1)

 

The first thing I saw upon opening my eyes was tree roots stretching up into the sky.

 

“…Wow.”

 

I sighed in a daze.

 

I could immediately tell where I had dropped without even trying to figure it out.

 

The place where the tree roots stretching upward began was a massive island.

 

If this wasn’t Floraban, it would be absurdly and blatantly nature-friendly.

 

However, where I was now wasn’t Floraban’s main island, but the small island hanging beneath it that was supposedly used as a station.

 

Actually, calling it a small island was misleading—since it was used as a station, it was quite considerably large.

 

I couldn’t contain my admiration as I looked up.

 

‘They said it was an island that Floraban held onto by extending its roots.’

 

It was literally exactly that.

 

Tree roots attached to the bottom of the large island were tightly embracing this small island.

 

It looked like a parent holding a baby in their arms.

 

‘It’s a scene you’d only see in fairy tale books.’

 

The sight of moss and small plants growing between the roots created an overall mystical atmosphere.

 

I had expected it to be different from Gearsgard or Glimmerstone, but seeing it in person was even more amazing.

 

Two airships with green flags were moored on one side, and there was a small outpost in front of them.

 

Unlike the previous two cities that were filled with square or tilted buildings, this looked like tall grass that had been cut and woven together.

 

Its appearance was incredibly crude, just like what I had seen in the tree village of Kona.

 

Of course, this must be the principle they uphold.

 

‘They even completely banned entry for outsiders who can’t float in the air.’

 

Just in case, I carefully stepped only on the dirt ground where no grass was growing as I looked around.

 

“Are there no Elves standing guard?”

 

There was no sign of anyone around.

 

It seemed there were no Elves stationed in this place that was only used as a station.

 

“Then I have no choice but to go up?”

 

I muttered while looking up at the massive tree roots again.

 

To reach Floraban, the paradise of nature-loving Elves, I would have to climb up these roots.

 

It wasn’t clearly visible because clouds were slightly obscuring it, but I could faintly sense a green glow.

 

…Do the Elves climb these roots every time they board an airship?

 

Just as I was having reasonable doubts, I noticed something strange about the roots.

 

Looking closely, there were regularly indented sections on the surface of the roots.

 

They looked like the rungs of a ladder.

 

Anyone could see these were grooves made for placing feet.

 

Judging by height alone, it looked to be easily dozens of meters, so they must have prepared this to allow comfortable climbing up and down.

 

‘One wrong move and it’s bungee jumping time?’

 

If someone like me, who awakened but didn’t receive a single stat point, slips while climbing, I’ll be skydiving right on the spot.

 

The Elves might not care much since they’re a nature-friendly race that climbs trees all the time.

 

But I’m just a regular person!

 

Besides, if the roots or grooves looked sturdy, I’d steel myself and climb up anyway.

 

“Why does it look so flimsy?”

 

Looking closely, it strangely resembled malnourished roots.

 

The admiration I felt when I first saw it had now turned into suspicion.

 

It somehow looked thin, and seemed to be swaying too.

 

For roots, they seemed completely lifeless.

 

I’m not particularly interested in plants, but even I could tell those roots were too scrawny for their size.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Good thing I went to see Kang Yeon-hee.

 

I took out the sticker I had carefully stored in my Inventory.

 

That metal sticker Kang Yeon-hee whipped up that supposedly promotes growth!

 

If this could make the roots grow healthier, I wouldn’t have to experience free skydiving.

 

When I appraised the sticker, still in the same state as when I peeled it off the wall, I was greeted by a familiar parade of squares after a long time.

 

[Grow-Grow St■cker (B)

 

■■■ that can convert sunl■ght into quality growth ■ner■■.

 

A multi-use ■ttachment that can be used ■ermanently, usable on living ■■■■.

 

When attached, it ■■ the living being’s inherent growth ■otential and ■romotes ■■owth.

 

However, only ■■ective on ■■■■ with ■■■■.

 

– Creator: Kang Yeon-hee (Dimension-Earth I Zone-South Korea)

 

– Status: Incomplete]

 

After briefly laughing at the grandiose description compared to its cute name, I quickly approached the roots.

 

Even though it’s incomplete and more than half the content is obscured, I could roughly understand what it was.

 

At least I could see the words “growth” and “multi-use.”

 

Since the effect wouldn’t disappear after one use, if I confirmed its performance here, I could subtly appeal to the Flora class.

 

I selected a fairly thick root among those surrounding the island and attached the sticker.

 

And just as I stepped back one pace just in case, that moment arrived.

 

“Whoa?!”

 

No, it was an amazing sight even though I had expected it.

 

As soon as I attached the sticker, the root began thickening visibly.

 

Like a dry sponge swelling up the moment water is poured on it.

 

The scrawny thickness that I thought I could wrap my arms around had grown to an enormous girth that even five or six people holding hands couldn’t embrace.

 

That wasn’t all.

 

Life returned to the root, its surface gained a lustrous sheen, and small new shoots sprouted here and there.

 

The wooden ladder that had been nothing but scrawny roots with unfriendly grooves carved into them was now plump and full.

 

The small branches that had grown luxuriantly above the roots had become safe wooden stairs that could perfectly serve as railings and steps.

 

‘Just a moment ago, it was a ladder to hell.’

 

This is beyond being full of vitality—it’s at the level of overgrowth.

 

I blinked my eyes and muttered in a bewildered tone.

 

“She said it was incomplete.”

 

Kang Yeon-hee, if this is what incomplete looks like, how amazing would the finished product be?

 

I praised myself once again for recognizing Kang Yeon-hee’s true worth and retrieved the sticker.

 

The overgrown roots remained in place unchanged even after removing the sticker.

 

At this level, it should be able to surpass the growth acceleration item that Flora Ban desires.

 

‘That’s not all.’

 

If I handle the delivery for Glimmerstona, I’ll be putting both Glimmerstona and Flora Ban in my debt.

 

It’s an opportunity to secure an advantageous position against both sides, so I can’t let this slip by.

 

Where did my mindset of not getting involved in scenarios go?

 

I stepped onto the first stair with a somehow excited heart.

 

It was solid without any wobbling.

 

The small branches were also appropriately rough, so there was no risk of slipping.

 

“Let’s go up, then.”

 

I muttered while taking out the Mask of All Things from my inventory.

 

Since I was already wearing the robe pulled down, no one would be able to see my face anyway.

 

‘Since the raid team has already entered.’

 

Unlike how it looked from below, climbing the stairs took quite a lot of time.

 

I tried not to look down the entire time I was climbing the stairs through the clouds.

 

It’s not that I have acrophobia or that the stairs are unstable, but this place is just too much in mid-air.

 

Just as I was looking only upward and desperately hoping to step on Flora Ban’s land.

 

“…An engine?”

 

Finally, the bottom of Flora Ban became visible where the clouds had cleared.

 

In the center of the massive floating island with an overall green tint, there was a round ring with a huge sphere embedded in the middle.

 

It looked like Saturn was embedded there.

 

When I heard “engine,” I had imagined a flame-spewing, oil-smelling engine, but this was an unexpected appearance.

 

The engine, which seemed to leak no energy whatsoever to the outside, looked at first glance as if it had simply stopped functioning.

 

‘Do all the other cities have engines like this too?’

 

Since each city has such different characteristics, they might all have distinctive appearances.

 

‘Come to think of it, I’ve never had occasion to see other islands from below.’

 

As I was thinking about what seemed like an obvious realization, I frowned at a sudden sense of déjà vu.

 

“Then what about Berilsha?”

 

Berilsha, one of the four cities floating in the air with engines, had become the host of the Tower of Babel.

 

With the Tower of Babel standing tall where the engine should be, how is Berilsha floating right now?

 

‘Is the engine unaffected by the Tower of Babel?’

 

No matter how much I think about it, there are more than just one or two things about this dimension that don’t make sense.

 

I definitely need to visit the Tower of Babel at least once.

 

‘First, I need to climb all these stairs.’

 

I wiped the sweat that had formed on the back of my neck and caught my breath.

 

Is my lung capacity okay?

 

Now I understand why people go to the gym to climb stairs.

 

How many more minutes did I climb the stairs without trying to be conscious of it?

 

“Argh!”

 

Unable to hold back, I shouted and moved forward, suppressing the desire to lie down right away.

 

Finally, a flat section leading to the edge of the island!

 

Unlike the brown roots, it was clearly Flora’s territory, filled with greenery.

 

The fresh scent of grass and fragrant flower aroma wafting from somewhere.

 

As the refreshing phytoncide energy, like being in a recreational forest, cleared my mind, I finally climbed the last stair.

 

But I couldn’t bring myself to step foot in Flora and just stood there.

 

“…”

 

It was a landscape that made me hesitate, born with the killer trait of killing all plants I try to grow.

 

The entrance to Flora that greeted me after climbing all the stairs was truly nature itself.

 

Grass filling everything from one step ahead to the far end visible to the eye.

 

Not only the colorful flowers blooming here and there, but also the bushes growing so lush they seemed ready to cover the sky, and the tall trees stretching straight up.

 

I thought Konado was quite natural too, but this could just be described as a paradise of nature.

 

I was even becoming enchanted by the flower fragrance vibrating in the air.

 

‘So this is why you can only enter if you can walk without stepping on grass.’

 

The technique of floating in the air – I don’t have anything like that.

 

I mean, I’m not a ghost or anything.

 

How am I supposed to walk without stepping on grass in a place like this?

 

If I even slip from the root stairs I’m standing on, I’ll just step on grass and be permanently banished from Flora.

 

I was contemplating whether I should purchase another item from the market when it happened.

 

“Who are you?”

 

I was startled by the faint voice filled with air and looked up.

 

The source of the voice was the forest.

 

A strange Elf who had suddenly appeared from between the trees and was looking at me.

 

I hadn’t even noticed them appear.

 

Long blonde hair flowing down to their ankles, pointed ears, and mysterious deep green eyes.

 

Moreover, judging by the extraordinary-looking accessories they wore, they seemed to be an Elf of quite high position.

 

Behind them, several Elves were lined up respectfully.

 

Of course, all of them were floating a few centimeters in the air without stepping on grass.

 

‘How can I appear to be someone who’s neither cult-like nor suspicious?’

 

I quickly racked my brain for a moment.

 

But no matter how much I thought, nothing came to mind.

 

Unless I could levitate here, there didn’t seem to be any other way.

 

I do have the sticker that Kang Yeon-hee made, but to win their favor, participating in the ‘Let’s not step on grass’ campaign would be the easiest path.

 

‘Ah, I have to spend money again.’

 

It can’t be helped.

 

Just as I was swallowing nervously while pondering what exact command I should give to Sam-i.

 

The Elf said something absurd.

 

And in a very serious and respectful tone at that.

 

“Are you the savior?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Me, me?

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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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