24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 162

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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 162

 

Episode 162. Turning Point (8)

 

“While I said I would provide you with maximum convenience, that didn’t mean I would understand fights like this as well…”

 

Quentin, who had buried himself in his chair, muttered slowly.

 

‘No, why does he keep dragging out his words to make people nervous?’

 

He could speak clearly word by word, but is he doing that on purpose?

 

Quentin, who had already been branded as a bad guy in my mind, was smiling with a languid expression.

 

It was clearly a smiling face, but somehow displeased undertones seeped through his pale skin where blood vessels were clearly visible.

 

The intimidating feeling from his murky gaze as he rolled only his eyes to survey the raid team was no joke.

 

It was a clear light green like budding sprouts, yet such gloomy and sticky eyes were far from ordinary.

 

I straightened my back and pretended to be nonchalant as I took a sip of tea.

 

Of course, I was on high alert, feeling like I might be crushed by his gaze if I let my guard down even slightly.

 

Quentin began tapping the armrest with his bony fingers.

 

Then he murmured softly as if asking casually.

 

“Perhaps my proposal wasn’t to your liking…”

 

As soon as his calm words ended, Lee Hwa-yeon’s expression hardened sharply.

 

Having endured quite painfully until now, Lee Hwa-yeon’s face as she opened her mouth was terrifying.

 

At that moment, I reflexively grabbed Lee Hwa-yeon’s wrist that was resting on the armrest.

 

“Huh?”

 

Not only Lee Hwa-yeon, who was startled by the unexpected contact, but also Chae Geun-dam and Lee Ja-gyeom stared at me as if asking what I was doing.

 

I could feel tremendous strength from Lee Hwa-yeon’s wrist that my frail hand was gripping.

 

Lee Hwa-yeon exhaled once and looked at me with a smile.

 

“What?”

 

Her smile was murderous, as if she had decided to kill someone.

 

‘Ah, she’s really hot-tempered.’

 

Instead of explaining, I smiled awkwardly and let go of her hand.

 

Actually, grabbing her wrist was just a means to put the brakes on Lee Hwa-yeon.

 

What’s most important right now is that Quentin shouldn’t learn any more about the internal affairs of the raid team, and I need to control the atmosphere so that the relationship between Lee Hwa-yeon and Seo Jae-hyuk doesn’t get worse.

 

I struck first before Lee Hwa-yeon could say more.

 

“Well, I haven’t been here very long, so…”

 

The light green eyes looking at me seemed to say ‘permission to speak granted,’ which was annoying, but whatever.

 

‘This is my survival method.’

 

I calmly acted appropriately foolish and opened my mouth.

 

“What kind of proposal is that?”

 

At my question, Green’s mouth, who had been standing behind Quentin, opened slightly.

 

Though maintaining a professional poker face, he seemed unable to believe that I was lying in front of that Quentin.

 

Fortunately, since there weren’t eyes on the back of his head, Quentin slowly blinked and nodded.

 

“Ah… That’s right, it’s natural that someone new wouldn’t know.”

 

“Right. I came as reinforcement, but I don’t know much about where this is or what the situation is. I haven’t received an explanation yet. And I don’t know the name of the person speaking now either.”

 

I scratched the back of my neck as if embarrassed and tactfully glanced at the other raid team members’ faces.

 

Seo Jae-hyuk was still staring at me blankly with an incomprehensible expression, so I just ignored him.

 

Lee Hwa-yeon seemed a bit flustered but gave the feeling of quietly playing along, as if she hadn’t earned 2nd rank for nothing.

 

Lee Ja-gyeom, tired of this atmosphere, had his eyes closed with a firm expression as if he wouldn’t look at anything.

 

And from Chae Geun-dam’s expression, I could clearly read the pressure of ‘What on earth are you trying to say now?’

 

Hmm, I understand why he’s looking at me like that.

 

‘Pass for now.’

 

I coldly averted my gaze.

 

Among these people, there will come a time to explain to Chae Geun-dam, who at least knows my circumstances.

 

Perhaps thinking my words made sense, Quentin’s eyebrows twitched.

 

Quentin, who had been tapping the armrest again, soon placed his hand on his chest with an exaggerated gesture.

 

“My introduction is late. I am Quentin Ixion Berylsha, the mayor of Berylsha and a mage. Where should I start explaining…”

 

Quentin buried himself even deeper into the sofa and drew out his words long.

 

Good.

 

I was worried about what to do if he asked my name, but his own words seem more important.

 

“This is Aetheria, where four cities including Berylsha exist. There were times when we got along well in the past… but now we’re at war.”

 

I leaned forward, making an appropriately shocked expression as if surprised.

 

If I show that I’m listening attentively, his wariness toward me should ease a bit more.

 

Quentin began explaining calmly in his characteristic slow speech.

 

Since I already knew all the content, there was no reason to listen again, but I listened quite intently.

 

It was because of reasonable suspicion that Quentin might give a biased explanation with only content favorable to Berylsha.

 

But Quentin only spoke facts.

 

‘He’s not lying at all.’

 

He left out the part about already scheming to bring down each city, so anyway, it sounded plausible.

 

Something about how the citizens of Berylsha are suffering, so leading this war to victory is Berylsha’s duty.

 

Of course, there was also content subtly implying ‘reasons why Berylsha should be at the top,’ but I listened with one ear and let it flow out the other.

 

After finishing his explanation, Quentin stared at me with murky eyes as if trying to gauge my reaction.

 

I nodded with a serious expression and left a review.

 

“So because you’re at war, you never know when a major clash might occur. Berylsha originally maintained neutrality, but since many ordinary people who aren’t mages live here, you don’t have much military strength to respond to attacks…”

 

“That’s right. That’s why I made such a proposal to you all.”

 

He didn’t bother mentioning that the little military strength they had included mages, including the strongest in the dimension.

 

‘Gloomy bastard.’

 

While I was internally swallowing a harsh assessment different from my serious expression, Quentin added in a somewhat transparent tone.

 

“If you cooperate with Berylsha, you’ll be able to protect not only Berylsha’s daily life but also Aetheria’s peace…”

 

It was Lee Hwa-yeon who reacted to those words.

 

Lee Hwa-yeon frowned as if displeased and glared at Seo Jae-hyuk sitting across from her again.

 

I hurriedly opened my mouth to draw Quentin’s attention.

 

“If that’s the case, I understand why the advance team members are staying in Berylsha. However…”

 

When I paused briefly, Quentin’s eyes narrowed.

 

I naturally smiled favorably and added.

 

“I still don’t seem to know much about Berylsha. I should hear the rest of the story from the advance team members. For now, it seems like there’s plenty of room for positive consideration.”

 

All three sentences were lies, but Quentin probably doesn’t have the power to discern that.

 

Even if he could, he doesn’t seem like he’d say anything in this situation.

 

After hearing my words, Quentin looked back and forth between Seo Jae-hyuk and Lee Hwa-yeon with ambiguous eyes.

 

‘Now!’

 

The moment his gaze left me, I sent a rescue signal to Green standing behind Quentin.

 

Fortunately, Green, who has the best intuition in Berylsha that I acknowledge, glanced down at Quentin as soon as our eyes met, asking about my intention.

 

I blinked slowly once to show affirmation.

 

Green bent down to Quentin’s ear without hesitation.

 

“Quentin sir, I’m sorry but.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“The magic circle blocking the City Hall basement was broken due to the aftermath of the earlier incident.”

 

“What?”

 

Quentin’s face crumpled as he turned around.

 

Though one might be frightened by the instantly fierce aura, Green calmly put on a troubled expression and made excuses.

 

“I was going to report immediately, but you seemed to be in the middle of a serious conversation…”

 

I don’t know if that’s real or fake, but it was truly an appropriate report.

 

‘Besides, seeing how confidently he’s speaking, there’s a high probability it’s true.’

 

Since there’s an entrance to the Tower of Babel in the City Hall basement, from Quentin’s perspective as a Tower of Babel fanatic, this had to be a major issue.

 

Quentin immediately shot up from his seat and quickly headed toward the door.

 

“I’ll go check on something for a moment.”

 

Without even waiting for our response, Quentin’s hurried steps as he rushed out were completely contrary to the leisurely attitude he had shown until now.

 

Green gently closed the door and greeted us with a nod.

 

I was so moved by Green’s performance in stepping in at just the right timing to drive out the unwelcome guest that I almost teared up.

 

I really made the right choice revealing my identity to Green.

 

‘Ah, I can’t take him to Babel Square.’

 

[⁕ Scenario performers cannot leave their designated floor :)]

 

‘Yeah, I know that.’

 

Just as I frowned briefly at Sam-i saying something unnecessary after such a long time.

 

“Just tell me honestly what you’re thinking by doing this.”

 

Lee Hwa-yeon, who had been admirably patient and waiting, picked another fight.

 

Her target was naturally Seo Jae-hyuk.

 

Seo Jae-hyuk, whose gaze had been fixed on me the entire time, slowly turned to face forward.

 

Cold golden eyes and hot silver eyes clashed, once again creating that damn hellish atmosphere.

 

‘I want to check if he’s in his right mind.’

 

Just as I thought that to myself, the necklace chimed lightly and Silvester’s voice flowed into my head.

 

‘There don’t seem to be any traces of curses or magic spells.’

 

I thought he had been torn to shreds and disappeared earlier, but fortunately he was alive!

 

I lightly stroked the necklace as my response and looked at Seo Jae-hyuk again.

 

So Seo Jae-hyuk really intends to side with Berylsha of his own will… but why?

 

Someone like Seo Jae-hyuk wouldn’t participate in killing innocent citizens.

 

If this really was a decision Seo Jae-hyuk made after careful consideration, there had to be a valid reason.

 

A reason why he absolutely had to side with Berylsha.

 

So that means…

 

‘Does Quentin have something?’

 

Something that Seo Jae-hyuk wants?

 

Something that can only be obtained in Berylsha, or perhaps something only Quentin can give.

 

Just as my mind was racing, Lee Hwa-yeon muttered coldly.

 

“It can’t be sincere, so did they get dirt on you?”

 

At that moment, Seo Jae-hyuk chuckled.

 

The corners of his mouth stretched long and the laugh that escaped was brief but clearly self-deprecating.

 

Seo Jae-hyuk, who had been staring at Lee Hwa-yeon with a smile, asked back in a voice mixed with laughter.

 

“Dirt on me?”

 

It wasn’t a laugh from finding something genuinely funny, but a self-deprecating laugh that burst out as if he found it absurd and ridiculous.

 

Seo Jae-hyuk added dryly.

 

“I have something at stake too.”

 

At those words, Lee Hwa-yeon leaned back with an expressionless face.

 

Watching her, I had an intuition.

 

‘Lee Hwa-yeon has something at stake too.’

 

And that whatever was ‘at stake’ was the reason why the 1st and 2nd ranked players entered the Tower of Babel at the same time.

 

But Lee Hwa-yeon couldn’t find a solution in Aetheria, while Seo Jae-hyuk did, which is why he became so stubborn.

 

Chae Geun-dam and Lee Ja-gyeom seemed to have caught on to the situation as well, maintaining silence while glancing at the two.

 

Of course, that didn’t solve this situation.

 

I took a deep breath.

 

The more I hesitated, the less I wanted to do it, so I had to strike while the iron was hot.

 

I suddenly stuck my head between the two and opened my mouth.

 

“Does Quentin happen to have what you want, Seo Jae-hyuk?”

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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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