24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 18

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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 18

Episode 18. Me, an Ordinary Merchant, in Babel?! (3)

“Huff, why is it, haa, so, far, ugh, huff.”

Starting my run from the entrance of the Royal Palace, I couldn’t even run for 10 minutes before collapsing flat on the ground, gasping for breath.

What kind of body structure do people who say running is their hobby have?

I wanted to lie down and sleep right away, but this was the path where monsters had run past, kicking up dust clouds.

‘Damn breathing technique of dirt…’

I roughly spat out the sand from my gritty mouth.

Anyway, if I keep walking in this direction, I should be able to meet Wolpae, right?

I didn’t know which direction Wolpae was in, but I was blindly heading in the direction the monsters had run.

But since I couldn’t hear any fighting sounds right now, it seemed I still had a long way to go.

‘I should catch my breath first before continuing.’

If I kept going like this, I’d only end up collapsing from exhaustion halfway there.

As I caught my breath and looked around, I saw a dried-up fountain and a half-collapsed clock tower.

“Looks like it used to be a plaza.”

I muttered quietly and looked around at the other areas.

Unlike Korea, the medieval atmosphere of the surrounding scenery made me realize I was inside the Tower.

On both sides of the roads extending from what seemed to have once been a city district plaza, buildings with signs for restaurants, inns, weapon shops, and the like were lined up.

Of course, not a single building was intact.

As Alessandro, who had been the Knight Commander of Falcon, had said, it clearly showed signs of being occupied by Dark Mages and left abandoned for a long time.

‘Don’t they have enough people to clean up even this far?’

If the Dark Mage faction had many people, they would have made the entire Capital of Falcon their base and established their territory.

Maybe since they’re ‘Dark’ Mages who prefer the night, they didn’t like it here because it was bright.

I had pointless thoughts as I opened my inventory.

“Ahh, refreshing.”

What I took out was the F-grade item ‘Spring Water of Styx’.

The Spring Water of Styx that I ultimately couldn’t sell and had stuffed in my inventory had minimal effects but was excellent for quenching thirst.

Then my gaze fell on a carriage that was smashed and abandoned in one corner of the plaza.

…There’s no real need to run, so why did I run?

Did I lose my intelligence along with my sweat?

“Sam-i, look for transportation in the market. Something around 1,000 gold.”

[> Available Items for Purchase

– Kremla’s Baby Tricycle 32G

– Old Carriage 110G

– ■■ Magic Tower Invention No. 82153 879G]

“Hey, are you crazy? A tricycle? Don’t you know what ‘baby’ means?”

Did it bring this as a recommendation list?

Even though it’s been over a month since we’ve been together, I expressed my condolences to this dim-witted AI that still hasn’t completed its learning, and let out a deep sigh.

The tricycle seemed to be included just to annoy me, so that’s out.

The carriage that didn’t seem particularly special was out since it needed a horse.

That left only one option.

“But what’s this Magic Tower invention?”

It only had a number attached, with no separate description.

[⁕ It’s an invention that received a patent from a Magic Tower existing in another dimension 🙂 Magic Tower inventions are delivered by patent number as a rule.]

Only after checking the response did I nod my head.

Having lived in a world without magic, let alone Magic Towers, how would I know such rules existed?

“I’m curious, so let me at least see what it is.”

I wasn’t planning to buy it without knowing what it was, but since it was called a ‘Magic Tower’ invention, I had expectations that it might be something amazing.

And after moving into Ba-man-jang, I had gained some financial leeway.

How revolutionary would a transportation method made with magic be?

[■■ Magic Tower Invention No. 82153 (C)

Invented by ■■ Magic Tower researcher Nocturne Garth. A magical balance-maintaining perpetual vehicle powered by Celestial Wheels.

Embedded with Superior Mana Stones for maximum efficiency, this is the best transportation method of this era, capable of 80 hours of continuous use.

It achieves high-speed movement regardless of the user’s stamina and boasts innovative design that transmits mana stone energy through a dual-wheel structure.

This invention completely transcends the limitations of existing transportation methods, enabling stable operation regardless of rough terrain and altitude, and is equipped with a cutting-edge safety system with no risk of magical explosion.

Maximum speed reaches twice that of ordinary carriages while weighing only half as much.

The Celestial Wheels are made from special metals and Ether Alloy researched by Magic Tower researchers for 10 years, resulting in almost no wear.

However, mana stone efficiency may decrease by 20 percent in rainy weather, and caution is needed when passing through puddles.

/Hidden Ability/ None.]

“…”

I gasped at the endless stream of text pouring down.

The length of the description made it clear how narcissistic this Nocturne Garth person who invented this must be.

However, the photo of No. 82153 that appeared above this dazzling description looked all too familiar.

I muttered in disbelief.

“…It’s just a bicycle.”

* * *

I take it back.

It wasn’t just a bicycle!

I was now riding across flat ground with my feet merely resting on the pedals, without any effort at all.

Magic is the best.

Nocturne is the best!

You are the greatest inventor of this era, Mr. Nocturne Garth.

The pedals, which I thought I’d have to pedal somewhat, were just for comfortably resting my feet.

While it looked exactly like a bicycle, the fact that I didn’t need to pedal made it no different from a motorcycle.

Even the speed was at motorcycle level.

My untied hair whipping in the wind felt stingingly sharp.

‘Should I try selling this?’

Inside dungeons where cars can’t be brought in, the only transportation options are summoned creatures or special skills.

Well, top-tier rankers often have suitable skills without needing such things, but mid-tier rankers are different.

Everyone would laugh at first just looking at its appearance, but it would sell well eventually.

‘I bought it for about 8 million won… maybe I could ask for around 30 million?’

I grinned while having thoroughly capitalistic thoughts.

Even the unpaved road, firmly packed down by the monsters that had run through, was perfect for an unexpected drive.

Even in this situation where a timer determining Earth’s fate was ticking away, the wind felt refreshing.

It was at that moment when I let out a light laugh.

Thud thud thud-

It was something I had heard just an hour ago.

I unconsciously turned around to look back.

The wasteland I had been running through for so long still had nothing in it.

Nothing except the bumpy, unnatural tracks left by the bicycle wheels.

However, as I narrowed my eyes to look further into the distance, I realized that there really wasn’t nothing here right now.

To be precise, the dust cloud they had kicked up was rushing toward me like a massive tsunami.

“No way…”

I hurriedly checked my wristwatch.

Inside the Tower where radio waves don’t reach, the only thing that functions properly is an analog clock.

The time was just passing the hour mark.

“Damn it!”

The third monster wave was approaching.

Instinctively sensing the crisis, I pedaled the magic bicycle—no, the magic perpetual motion vehicle—my only lifeline.

But nothing changed.

Nocturne Garth, that fellow who almost deserved praise—didn’t he even think about speed control?

What kind of crazy person puts decorative pedals on a bicycle!

Even as I wailed like this, I could feel the terrifying presence getting closer behind me.

Through the sound of wind, vibrations like the screams of the earth and the howls of monsters tearing through the air struck my eardrums.

“Ah, I’m screwed!”

I glanced back and cursed.

I had only looked forward for a brief moment, but in that time the horde of monsters had come close enough to be clearly visible.

Definitely wild boars, shaped like wild boars, but.

Undead monsters rotting and decaying in places were charging forward with the rattling sound of bones.

Their speed was clearly faster than my bicycle.

What good is it if there’s no risk of magical explosion when I’ll die from being trampled anyway.

Even if the Merchant’s Mark works because NPCs can communicate, those are monsters that don’t understand a single word.

Merchant’s Mark?

If they trample over me and pass by, it’s a completely useless skill.

As the distance narrowed even more, the smell of rotting corpses stung my nose.

“This damn…”

‘Is this my end?’

I thought I had gained an EX-rank title and become the final hero destined to save Earth.

Would I end up meeting my end without even solving Brother’s secret?

I squeezed my eyes shut, thinking of the approaching end.

“…”

But I didn’t feel any proper impact.

The bicycle lost its balance for a moment and wobbled, but that was all.

When I carefully opened my eyes, I could see the backs of countless undead monsters.

Goosebumps rose all over my body and I held my breath.

The monsters showed no interest in me at all, dropping flesh and bone fragments as they charged forward looking only ahead.

As if their target was fixed.

I remained still, holding my breath among the countless monsters, and only after 10 minutes passed was I left alone in the sandstorm.

“Haah…”

Only then did my held breath burst out.

Did the Merchant’s Mark work on monsters too?

Strictly speaking, those things are artificial beings created by dark mages, so if the mark applies to those undead as well.

‘That would be awesome.’

It was just as I gathered one piece of information and smiled wickedly.

[Title Side Quest (5)

Promote ‘Friendly Market’ to promising candidate Chae Geun-dam.

Reward: ‘Dimensional Door’ skill proficiency increase, 1,000G]

At the side quest that appeared at an unexpected timing, I scowled without resistance.

If it’s Chae Geun-dam, he’s the leader of Wolpae.

But that’s not what’s important.

“What does promising candidate mean?”

Is Babel playing word games?

At the meaningless words, I frowned and stared at the notification window.

Babel is throwing hints at me one by one, but since I don’t know what they are, I’m just getting hit by them.

Moreover, without even time to think about their meaning, the tearing howls of monsters could be heard from far away.

And different from that, the unmistakable ‘sounds of battle’ rang in my ears.

‘It’s Wolpae!’

I finally found them.

It seemed like I found them at a very strange moment, but anyway, I was fortunate to find them by the third wave.

I immediately drove the bicycle in that direction.

The monster horde that looked like dots gradually grew larger.

The howls that monsters sensing defeat let out like final struggles could be heard continuously.

This meant that Wolpae was enduring the third monster wave well, and it was also proof that I wasn’t too late yet.

But they must be exhausted too.

How could it be easy to face monsters that pour out by the thousands, monsters that steal stats at that?

‘I need to hurry.’

The heart of the battle was right in front of me.

Monsters died and turned to dust, and debris that couldn’t quite disappear rolled on the ground.

Soon I reached the center of the dust storm.

The moment I slowed down and entered through that dust storm.

Suddenly, silence came like a lie.

I instinctively realized that Wolpae had successfully blocked this wave.

A cruel scene with monster corpses that hadn’t yet turned to dust scattered everywhere.

In contrast, the battlefield was far too quiet.

‘Wait.’

And I ended up discovering someone.

My expectation that Wolpae’s full strength would remain intact to block all these attacks was wrong.

A faint silhouette against the wasteland backdrop that seemed ready to weather away at any moment.

A man was sitting collapsed, leaning against a large great sword.

“…”

I stared at the precarious man’s figure, forgetting even to blink.

Chae Geun-dam, the leader of Wolpae, had collapsed alone after cutting down a thousand monsters.

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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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