24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 147

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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 147

 

Episode 147. The Fool of Floraban (5)

 

Chae Geun-dam couldn’t bring himself to continue speaking and quietly stared at the airship.

 

His pupils were shaking, showing he was quite flustered.

 

Well, Chae Geun-dam must have hoped he could end the scenario in the most beautiful and peaceful way possible.

 

He probably believed without a doubt that the other strategy teams were thinking the same way as him.

 

That’s why he was so speechless at Gearsgard’s invasion, which clearly showed obvious hostile intent.

 

I stared at Chae Geun-dam for a moment, then shook my head.

 

‘Well, it can’t be helped.’

 

To me, this was a natural situation.

 

I hadn’t thought that Lee Hwa-yeon would be in Gearsgard, but someone definitely would have ended up there.

 

I had also anticipated that this scenario would force participants to attack each other.

 

Four cities and four participants – it was too obvious.

 

Of course, if we wanted to end the scenario quickly, supporting one city, meaning one hunter, would be the right choice.

 

‘But if there’s a war of annihilation, that many resources will be lost.’

 

Since we couldn’t be certain that only one city’s victory was the answer, the strategy team needed to preserve resources for South Korea’s infinite development.

 

Most importantly, there were the technologies each city possessed.

 

Floraban’s spirit power and Glimmerstona’s alchemy, Gearsgard’s mechanical engineering, Berilsha’s magical engineering.

 

Not one of them lacked appeal.

 

The scenario wasn’t demanding we choose only one of these either.

 

If we could have them all, that would be better.

 

I deliberately nodded and stared at the airship.

 

‘The problem is that Lee Hwa-yeon is thoughtlessly charging toward here right now…’

 

The mace’s aura, which had become more distinct, caught my eye.

 

Seeing the silver aura rippling, she seemed to be swinging the mace quite impressively.

 

I glanced sideways to check Chae Geun-dam’s expression.

 

He had a very troubled expression, as if carrying all the world’s worries.

 

Even though she always laughed carefreely, Lee Hwa-yeon was still someone who firmly held the 2nd rank among South Korea’s hunters.

 

I didn’t know how solid the sacred tree’s barrier was, but if Lee Hwa-yeon attacked seriously, we couldn’t be certain of Floraban’s safety.

 

Chae Geun-dam’s serious expression was probably due to thinking about that.

 

Eldarin, who had been watching the airship, spoke seriously.

 

“You don’t need to worry. The sacred tree’s barrier is solid right now.”

 

I knew that.

 

Let’s say the barrier would protect us from Gearsgard’s bombardment, as Eldarin said.

 

But what would change after desperately realizing the seriousness of war there?

 

Chae Geun-dam, who had been endlessly gazing at the sky, muttered seriously.

 

“I think I need to have a conversation with Lee Hwa-yeon.”

 

“What? You’re going to try to convince her that this isn’t a simple scenario supporting war?”

 

“Lee Hwa-yeon is also a respectable representative hunter of South Korea. There must be a reason why Lee Hwa-yeon boarded that airship like that.”

 

I have no idea where Chae Geun-dam gets that unwavering faith from.

 

Did the top rankers secretly build friendships among themselves without ordinary people knowing?

 

From what I can see, it feels like she’s just excited about joining a fight and charging in without thinking things through…

 

I couldn’t bring myself to say it so bluntly and changed the subject.

 

“What if Lee Hwa-yeon really has sided with them?”

 

“Even so, don’t we have enough content to persuade her? We’re not just individual hunters, but hunters of South Korea. We have a duty to serve our country.”

 

It’s exactly the kind of loyal comment that the rotten Babel Management Bureau would love to hear.

 

Even though he must have realized something fishy was going on when the 1st and 2nd ranked hunters entered together.

 

This person should know that there are dirty corners in this world that don’t need to be viewed favorably.

 

But for some reason, I’m weak against such straightforward people.

 

“That’s right. Why don’t you try talking to her once, Chae Geun-dam.”

 

“Good. First, before any attacks come in, I should approach the airship first. If she recognizes me, she won’t attack, so I’ll go alone. Lee Hae… have you ever encountered Lee Hwa-yeon?”

 

“…In this form, yes.”

 

Maybe if it were the Clara version of the appraiser.

 

“Then it would be better for you to hide here. It seems like you don’t want your identity to be discovered, Lee Hae.”

 

That’s already been ruined and I gave up on it half-way long ago.

 

Chae Geun-dam’s eyes were quite serious to confess the truth, so I just gave him an affirmative smile.

 

It’s very much like Chae Geun-dam to worry about me even in this complicated situation.

 

Right, if it’s Chae Geun-dam, he could persuade Lee Hwa-yeon very politely and reliably.

 

…But suddenly, one doubt crept into my mind.

 

“Um, is Lee Hwa-yeon someone who can be reasoned with through conversation?”

 

Chae Geun-dam, who was hesitating unusually in response to my question, added in an uncertain tone.

 

“…I can’t be certain.”

 

“Oh my.”

 

What exactly is Lee Hwa-yeon that makes even the upright Chae Geun-dam uncertain?

 

I stared blankly at Gearsgard’s airship that had gotten a bit closer and traced back my memories.

 

‘What kind of person was Lee Hwa-yeon again.’

 

My first impression of Lee Hwa-yeon, who had barged into the appraisal shop without warning, was that she was stubborn, relied only on strength, and wasn’t very likable.

 

But she met my demands by formally requesting a business trip, and even did everything I asked her to do.

 

She even gave me detection writing instruments that boast tremendous efficiency inside the Tower of Babel as a gift, and handed over Kienum’s watch…?

 

“Wait a minute.”

 

I stopped Chae Geun-dam who was requesting a mount from Eldarin.

 

Hasn’t everyone experienced this at least once?

 

When you’re having an important conversation and things aren’t going well, you get the urge to turn back time and start the conversation over from the beginning.

 

‘…But I have an awesome item that makes that possible, don’t I?’

 

Of course, it has the fatal drawback of only being usable once per day, but it’s still enough to write up some wrong answer notes.

 

And if things go well, I might even get another prophecy about the match of the century: Seo Jae-hyuk versus Lee Hwa-yeon!

 

I hurriedly rummaged through my inventory and pulled out Kienum’s watch.

 

Chae Geun-dam blinked his eyes as if asking why I had grabbed him.

 

I made a suggestion with a quite serious expression.

 

“Let’s have Lee Hwa-yeon come down here alone. Tell her we want to have one final negotiation. While you’re talking with Chae Geun-dam, I’ll try to find a way to persuade Lee Hwa-yeon.”

 

“Wouldn’t it be fine to just tell her the truth?”

 

“Do you think she’s the type of person who would be persuaded by the truth?”

 

Chae Geun-dam couldn’t answer easily and closed his mouth.

 

This wasn’t so much a desperate measure as it was a precaution to prevent any possible mishaps.

 

I could catch any errors in the conversation between Chae Geun-dam and Lee Hwa-yeon, then turn back time to make it never happen.

 

After that, I could just give Chae Geun-dam helpful information!

 

‘If that doesn’t work, I’ll just give Lee Hwa-yeon sleeping pills too.’

 

“Eldarin, would it be possible to completely erase a human’s presence using spirits?”

 

“It might be difficult for this human, but… it should be possible for the Savior.”

 

Eldarin looked me over and nodded calmly.

 

Somehow it sounded like he was saying it was possible because I was weak.

 

‘Since I know it’s true, it doesn’t even hurt.’

 

It would be difficult for Chae Geun-dam who has the aura characteristic of an S-rank Hunter, but it would be possible for me, an F-rank with no stat buffs.

 

I nodded and spoke to Chae Geun-dam.

 

“I’ll hide. Try to draw out as much conversation as possible. Why they’re attached over there, whether they really intend to attack this side, what the current situation in Gearsgard is like.”

 

“…Won’t it look like I’m interrogating her?”

 

“It’s fine.”

 

I shrugged my shoulders and smiled as if telling him not to worry.

 

Patting my chest confidently as if to say ‘trust me this once’ was a bonus.

 

Chae Geun-dam’s eyes still wavered slightly, showing his anxiety.

 

But perhaps because he had seen my performance in Falkon, he nodded.

 

‘Of course, it is interrogation.’

 

But for me with Kienum’s watch, this was purely like advance reconnaissance.

 

I never expected an amicable agreement to be reached in one shot anyway.

 

* * *

 

I watched with bated breath as Chae Geun-dam, in charge of information gathering, and Lee Hwa-yeon, the vanguard, had a precarious conversation.

 

And just as Lee Hwa-yeon, fed up with Chae Geun-dam’s straightforwardness, was about to raise her mace.

 

I quickly used Kienum’s watch to turn back time.

 

And now, what I could see through the hazy vision was a bookshelf packed with books.

 

‘A study?’

 

The future I would be spying on this time seemed to be events taking place in a study.

 

Luxurious interior that looked like only someone of very high status would use, and expensive-looking accessories.

 

And on the sofa placed right in the center sat two people facing each other.

 

Two very familiar people.

 

‘Again?!’

 

Specifically Seo Jae-hyuk and Lee Hwa-yeon.

 

A heavy silence flowed between the two, and neither seemed to have any intention of opening their mouth.

 

It seemed to be a future slightly closer to the present than what I had seen before.

 

The violent future where he wielded Legato and faced off as the Judge of Holy Light couldn’t be earlier than this.

 

If they ended up fighting because they couldn’t agree while talking like this, at least the sequence would make sense.

 

‘…Or not?’

 

Maybe they were taking a break from fighting, entering a proper room to talk and setting the mood.

 

But since they weren’t saying anything, it was too difficult to guess the situation.

 

If they were going to waste my precious 30 seconds without saying a word, they might as well show me some fighting instead.

 

I took a step closer, thinking I needed to catch something within this short time.

 

‘Hmm, is something wrong?’

 

First of all, Lee Hwa-yeon’s expression was different from usual.

 

Lee Hwa-yeon’s face, which never lost its smile, was filled with rigid tension.

 

And Seo Jae-hyuk, who was receiving Lee Hwa-yeon’s sharp gaze…

 

‘Why are his eyes like that?’

 

Though I had never seen Seo Jae-hyuk up close before, I could easily tell that his pupils were completely messed up.

 

His pupils were cloudy.

 

And in a very unnatural way.

 

The light that a person should naturally have in their eyes had completely disappeared.

 

They were truly opaque eyes, as if a filter had been layered over them, too strange to dismiss as just becoming like dead fish eyes.

 

Just looking at them briefly made goosebumps rise on the back of my neck.

 

Then Lee Hwa-yeon, who had been quietly glaring at Seo Jae-hyuk, spoke as if chewing each word.

 

‘I also have something at stake.’

 

It was a voice that had sunk seriously, too serious to just brush off.

 

What was at stake?

 

‘So both Seo Jae-hyuk and Lee Hwa-yeon have something at stake?’

 

Could it be that the reason these two entered the 54th floor together was because they both ‘had something at stake’?

 

Had the Babel Management Bureau, or the government, presented these two with an unavoidable choice?

 

I was forming numerous hypotheses when it happened.

 

“…”

 

Seo Jae-hyuk looked in my direction and tilted his head slightly.

 

Just as I flinched, wondering if he was looking at me, I realized that Seo Jae-hyuk and Lee Hwa-yeon were staring behind me.

 

When I hurriedly turned around, there was someone I hadn’t known was there, leaning against the door.

 

The figure standing in the shadows, barely visible, was even wearing a robe pulled low over their head.

 

It wasn’t Chae Geun-dam.

 

It definitely wasn’t Lee Ja-gyeom either.

 

‘Who is it?’

 

Just as I was thinking this and about to take another step toward the stranger.

 

“…Argh, seriously.”

 

My vision swayed as I once again stood on the land of Floraban.

 

Ah, seriously, 30 seconds is way too short.

 

What faced me again was Chae Geun-dam from 5 minutes ago in reality.

 

The owner of those upright eyes shining with firm resolve spoke.

 

“I’ll try to talk to her properly. If I ask politely, Lee Hwa-yeon will understand.”

 

“No, Chae Geun-dam.”

 

I shook my head firmly.

 

The future is the future, and I need to make use of the wrong answer notes I wrote before turning back time.

 

“Just be stubborn.”

 

“…What?”

 

Chae Geun-dam furrowed his brow as if he didn’t understand.

 

I drove the point home once more with complete seriousness, filling my tone with the nuance that this was absolutely not a joke but my sincere intention.

 

“Be stubborn no matter what.”

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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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