24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 165

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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 165

 

Episode 165. How to Protect the Nest (1)

 

As soon as I opened the door, Lee Hwa-yeon stuck her face forward and grumbled.

 

“What’s this, Seo Jae-hyuk. Where did that polite attitude from earlier go?”

 

“So now… you’ve decided to drop the honorifics completely?”

 

“It would be weird to go back to formal speech after dropping it once, right?”

 

Lee Hwa-yeon shrugged her shoulders, pointing at Seo Jae-hyuk who was sitting there nonchalantly.

 

Her attitude was casual, as if to say ‘he doesn’t care either, so why are you interfering?’

 

Chae Geun-dam responded with an awkward cough, seeming flustered.

 

“Why are you making such a big deal about it?”

 

I have no idea what kind of confidence Lee Hwa-yeon’s ‘so what?’ attitude stems from.

 

Only after Lee Ja-gyeom entered with an utterly exhausted expression did the study become quiet again.

 

Whatever the atmosphere outside had been like, Lee Ja-gyeom wore an expression full of resentment that seemed to say ‘why did you kick us out anyway?’

 

‘Looks like Lee Hwa-yeon gave him quite a hard time.’

 

I turned my head, ignoring Lee Ja-gyeom’s earnest gaze, and pointed to the sofa.

 

“Everyone sit down, I’m going to tell you what we’ll be doing from now on.”

 

“What, is Lee Hae the leader?”

 

“I’ll do it if you let me. Seo Jae-hyuk agreed for now.”

 

Of course, I hadn’t mentioned anything about taking the leader role, but Seo Jae-hyuk tactfully kept his mouth shut.

 

As soon as everyone sat around the sofa, led by Lee Hwa-yeon who looked puzzled, I got straight to the point.

 

“Alright, let’s confirm this first. The goal of this scenario is ‘stopping the war’. And the reason for the war is because there’s only one mine left where magic stones to float each city are extracted, right?”

 

“Yeah, it would’ve been easier if not for that.”

 

Her grumbling tone was full of irritation about the complex scenario.

 

“But there’s a way to float each city without going to war.”

 

“There, there is such a thing?”

 

Lee Ja-gyeom asked hurriedly while adjusting his glasses.

 

Chae Geun-dam leaned forward and asked seriously.

 

“If such a method existed, why didn’t Aetheria choose that method?”

 

…Naturally, such a question would arise.

 

“Because nobody knew about it.”

 

“Really? Winning the war wasn’t the answer?”

 

“That would be one method, I suppose. But the scenario wouldn’t only wish for destruction, right? It’s no fun to just rush toward a predetermined ending.”

 

Even though the dimension had already perished, Babel surely left various possibilities open so we could see different endings on this stage.

 

Thanks to my confident statement, the others seemed to accept it, though with some uncertainty.

 

“What exactly is this method?”

 

Hope could be seen on Chae Geun-dam’s face as he asked in a serious voice.

 

True to his personality, hope that bloomed upon hearing that no one else had to be harmed.

 

I responded with a face full of conviction.

 

“We’re going to complete an engine that can float cities without magic stones.”

 

“Is there a way to make it?”

 

Seo Jae-hyuk, who had been quietly listening, asked with a subtle expression as if wondering if it was really possible.

 

I didn’t need to answer.

 

Knock knock knock-

 

At the perfect timing, the person I was looking for had returned.

 

“Excuse me.”

 

Green, who carefully opened the door and entered, bowed lightly with a respectful posture.

 

In that short time, whatever tantrum Quentin had thrown, the dark circles under his eyes were at a seriously severe level.

 

Naturally, since he reported that the City Hall basement magic circle had been erased, Quentin must have thrown a complete fit.

 

Green wore a kind smile that showed no trace of such circumstances.

 

“Master Quentin is looking for you. Everyone must be hungry, so dinner has been prepared.”

 

The exhausted aide had appeared, and it was just about dinner time as the sun was setting.

 

Lee Ja-gyeom and Lee Hwa-yeon, faithful to their instincts, naturally got up from their seats.

 

“Hey, wait a minute. We’re having an important conversation here, aren’t we?”

 

I’m giving the speech of a lifetime here, and they’re ready to just follow along.

 

‘How absurd.’

 

Do these people not want to clear the scenario?

 

When I looked back and forth between the two with an incredulous expression, Lee Ja-gyeom coughed awkwardly.

 

Lee Hwa-yeon was quite bold about it.

 

“Well, there’s no way to make it anyway, right? We need to see how Quentin reacts first too.”

 

If she hadn’t been rubbing her stomach like she’d been starving for days, I might have agreed that was also a necessary part.

 

I firmly gestured for them to sit back down and said.

 

“The answer is Magitech Engineering.”

 

“Magitech Engineering?”

 

Lee Hwa-yeon, with her mace slung over her shoulder, blinked and asked.

 

Instead of answering, I got up from my seat, firmly closed the door, and stood next to Green.

 

I grabbed the bewildered Green’s arms and pushed him forward, adding with a face full of smiles.

 

“And this is Green, the inventor of the engine that will protect our nest.”

 

This ordinary-looking aide is precisely the most important key for us to solve the scenario.

 

We should be treating him with the utmost care.

 

“Gasp, Lee Hae!”

 

Green, whose secret he had only quietly revealed to me was exposed, covered his mouth in shock.

 

I lightly patted Green’s shoulder as if to say not to worry.

 

“He’s not… an aide?”

 

“Right, we saw his face earlier?”

 

I cleanly ignored the doubts Lee Ja-gyeom and Lee Hwa-yeon raised, and patted Green’s shoulder.

 

“Green immigrated from Gearsgard. He’s an engineer before being an aide, right? The engine that doesn’t need magic stones that will be our answer – Green can make it.”

 

“If that’s really possible… as Lee Hae says, we might be able to end the war without fighting.”

 

Chae Geun-dam’s expression was quite bright as he muttered with serious eyes.

 

Then, Seo Jae-hyuk, who had been resting his chin on his hand, casually asked.

 

“Is this engine still in the invention stage?”

 

He could ask more kindly, but he asks so coldly again.

 

Green, who got scared along with him, looked at me with tearful eyes as if asking if it was really okay to speak.

 

I guess being worked to death by Quentin has made him quite weak.

 

‘Ugh, frustrating.’

 

Of course, we can’t leisurely wait around when Quentin is calling for us now.

 

“It is in the research stage. He said he wanted to try experimenting, but that crazy bastard Quentin who wants to see blood didn’t listen to Green at all. What did you say you needed, Green?”

 

When I kindly set the stage and patted Green’s shoulder once more, Green’s mouth twitched.

 

After hesitating for a moment, Green began to honestly spill the facts in a small voice.

 

“To test the engine, enormous magical power is needed. It’s impossible at the level of ordinary mages, so it would be impossible without an Archmage like Master Quentin…”

 

‘You heard that, right?’

 

I shrugged my shoulders with a very intentional expression.

 

Seo Jae-hyuk, who felt my gaze, met my eyes with his characteristic dry look.

 

“Surprisingly, there’s someone here who could replace Quentin?”

 

“…Where is such a person?”

 

As if hearing something absurd, Green’s tears dried up instantly.

 

‘It’s true though.’

 

Green probably never could have expected this.

 

The fact that sitting right here are South Korea’s 1st and 2nd ranked Hunters, overflowing with magical power.

 

“Green, you know what? This person here is an enormous magical battery… I mean, a mage with magical power.”

 

Seo Jae-hyuk, who I had pointed to, slowly blinked his eyes.

 

He seemed briefly annoyed at my word choice, but apparently thought it wasn’t a situation worth pointing out.

 

That was as good as a sign of agreement.

 

“So Lee Hwa-yeon and Seo Jae-hyuk, please stay here and help Green complete the engine.”

 

“Why me?”

 

Apparently hating Berylsha that much, Lee Hwa-yeon forgot her formal speech and immediately objected.

 

But my reason for wanting to leave Lee Hwa-yeon here wasn’t personal, like not wanting to be with her.

 

“You two stay in Berylsha and keep an eye on Quentin’s movements. He definitely has other plans he hasn’t told us about. Right?”

 

The question was naturally directed at Green, the person who had watched everything by Quentin’s side.

 

Green, who had been hesitating, answered weakly.

 

“I don’t know everything either… but he’s someone you never know which way he’ll jump.”

 

If that human obsessed with the Tower of Babel immediately notices our betrayal, everything could go wrong.

 

So it’s natural to leave a safety measure in Berylsha.

 

I looked back and forth between Lee Hwa-yeon and Seo Jae-hyuk with a quite serious expression.

 

“If Quentin goes berserk, you two are the only ones who can stop him.”

 

“…I’m also capable.”

 

“Chae Geun-dam needs to protect me and Lee Ja-gyeom. You know we’re the weakest, right?”

 

Lee Ja-gyeom flinched, apparently wanting to shamelessly object that he wasn’t quite the weakest.

 

Lee Hwa-yeon waved her hand and asked.

 

“No, where are you two going?”

 

“I’m going to Florabon with Chae Geun-dam and Lee Ja-gyeom.”

 

“Why are you suddenly going there? Ah, I fought with Seo Jae-hyuk, so can’t I just come along too?”

 

“Isn’t the reason to stay here more valid?”

 

“Don’t answer back so snappily just because I dropped the formalities?”

 

…Is leaving just these two behind the right choice?

 

In terms of efficiency it’s the right choice, but seeing them growling at each other doesn’t inspire much confidence.

 

Even so, I can’t change the decision to leave our strongest forces in the most dangerous place.

 

Instead, I decided to suppress them with authority.

 

“Ah, please just don’t fight. You’re all grown adults, really.”

 

“What, wha-”

 

“I’m the leader, so let’s do as I say. Don’t fight. Got it?”

 

Fortunately Lee Hwa-yeon snorted and turned her head away, so it seems I don’t need to explain why I have to go to Florabon.

 

If I had said I was going to Florabon because I needed the ‘Spirit King Summoning Magic Circle’.

 

‘No, but why do you suddenly need that?

 

‘Ugh, how troublesome.’

 

I can’t very well tell the truth and say that Seo Jae-hyuk is throwing a tantrum that he won’t do it without that.

 

He’s calmed down a bit now that he’s made a deal with me, but if I reveal the facts I’ve been hiding on my own, Seo Jae-hyuk would probably turn me into grilled meat without hesitation.

 

Seo Jae-hyuk was looking at me with meaningful eyes.

 

Eyes that seemed to say ‘You better fulfill the deal conditions if you want me to play along with your leader act.’

 

‘Arrogant bastard.’

 

He’s still annoying, but I can’t not use the card called Seo Jae-hyuk.

 

I clapped once lightly to focus attention.

 

“Alright, final briefing then.”

 

The eyes of five people – Seo Jae-hyuk, Lee Hwa-yeon, Chae Geun-dam, Lee Ja-gyeom, and Green – turned toward me.

 

“While Chae Geun-dam, Lee Ja-gyeom and I are away, Seo Jae-hyuk and Lee Hwa-yeon please humor Quentin. And secretly help complete Green’s engine. Green, finish that engine as quickly as possible.”

 

Oh, didn’t I just sound like a real leader there?

 

Giving myself a generous evaluation, I nodded with satisfaction.

 

Then, Green cautiously raised her hand.

 

“Go ahead and speak.”

 

“But right now Quentin is waiting for all of you…”

 

“So we’re going to disappear secretly. Green didn’t see us disappear. You came to call us for a meal but three people had vanished? Just report it like that.”

 

I encouraged the lie as if it were natural, and smiled brightly.

 

I thought it would be a somewhat kind smile since it was Brother’s face, but Green flinched.

 

Someone seems to be shaking their head, but let’s pretend not to notice.

 

I bent my waist slightly and asked quietly.

 

“Green knows how to sneak out of here, right?”

 

“…”

 

Green, who had been rolling her eyes for a moment, nodded as if resigned.

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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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