24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 188

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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 188

 

Episode 188. Singularity (1)

 

When I carefully shook my head, the Griffin let out a low breath.

 

Up close, despite its massive body that looked like it could overcome anything, its eyes appeared innocent and tired.

 

I was momentarily flustered by the unexpected look in its eyes, but then the Griffin opened its mouth.

 

“You’re not an intruder?”

 

“No.”

 

I spoke with a somewhat clearer tone, unlike my previous cautiousness.

 

But contrary to my words, my actions were calm and careful.

 

As if taking them out of my pocket, I began placing potentially dangerous items from my inventory one by one.

 

Iron daggers, daggers from the beginner adventurer package, and other obviously threatening items.

 

Of course, I could open my inventory and take out items even in mid-air or inside the Griffin’s mouth.

 

‘Still, there’s no easier path than doing it this openly.’

 

It’s useless but perfect for calming the Griffin.

 

Of course, buying time to learn the Griffin’s name while performing meaningless actions was a bonus.

 

[Ekia (???)

 

Attribute: Griffin

 

Affiliation: Dimension-Earth Ι Zone-South Korea Ι 67th Floor Performer]

 

Nothing special, but knowing the name is all part of strategic planning.

 

Knowing the name would make it easier to leverage Brother’s reputation.

 

Completely unaware of my dark intentions, Ekia examined each item I placed down, then stared at me.

 

Only then did I spread my empty palms toward Ekia.

 

See!

 

I have no weapons and am completely unarmed, right?

 

“I came because I have something to ask.”

 

“….”

 

“Will you talk with me for a moment?”

 

Ekia stared at me with deep eyes without answering.

 

I’d been feeling this since earlier, but despite Ekia’s pure and clear eyes, they were utterly soaked in fatigue.

 

They even looked sad at a glance.

 

Though I wonder if it makes sense to use clarity, sadness, and fatigue together.

 

‘What kind of hell have you been living through?’

 

There probably aren’t any words that could describe Ekia more accurately than that.

 

A meaningless silence stretched on.

 

Frustration was about to rise again from yet another patience test in Seiporamonium—I’d lost count of how many.

 

That’s when it happened.

 

Whoosh—

 

The sound of massive wings spreading filled the entire enclosure.

 

I reflexively squeezed my eyes shut and opened them to find the shadow cast by the wings completely blocking my vision.

 

Ekia’s eyes, seen from beneath the shadow, were somehow like those consumed by Agemor’s erosion.

 

It was like seeing the Ganaesia Continent when everything was black and white.

 

‘Well, Agemor has been purified now.’

 

Ekia’s sad and dark heart would be purified too.

 

I carefully crouched down and looked up at Ekia.

 

How many minutes did that profound eye contact continue?

 

Finally, Ekia folded its wings and answered concisely.

 

“Alright.”

 

…Isn’t that answer too short for all that dramatic posturing?

 

Not that there’s anything I can do about my complaints.

 

With sunlight streaming across its face again, Ekia opened its mouth.

 

“What are you curious about?”

 

‘Should I match this atmosphere and continue speaking solemnly?’

 

I considered it briefly, but not having time for that, I immediately opened my inventory.

 

I slowly took out an item so as not to startle Ekia, and when I placed it on my face, Ekia visibly flinched.

 

This was the first real reaction from Ekia, who had been sitting still with a face exhausted by everything, wanting to do nothing.

 

Not only did it flinch, but it even spread and closed its wings.

 

I asked carefully.

 

“Do you recognize this face?”

 

What I had taken out was the Mask of All Things.

 

And the face I showed Ekia was Brother’s—Lee Hae-on’s face.

 

Even though I’d done this dozens of times, I couldn’t help feeling strange every time I transformed into Brother’s face.

 

Especially with a being sitting right in front of me reacting so blatantly.

 

Instead of answering, Ekia slowly lowered its head.

 

As the massive beak came close to my face, quite loud breathing echoed in my ears.

 

No matter how unlikely it seemed to attack me, it would be normal to feel tense with such an enormous size and sharp beak right in front of my nose.

 

‘Its eyes have changed to a friendly look.’

 

For some reason, looking into Ekia’s eyes made me feel calm and settled.

 

Ekia spoke quietly and low.

 

“A welcome face.”

 

As expected, I knew you’d recognize it!

 

I tried to ignore the tightening feeling in my chest and removed the mask.

 

As my hair grew long again, covering my shoulders, Ekia’s face moved back.

 

Regret that rose in Ekia’s eyes gazed at me.

 

“That’s my brother. I’m currently looking for him, and you were the last one to talk with him. You even gave him a feather as a gift, Ekia.”

 

“You know my name?”

 

“Yes, Brother told me.”

 

‘Actually, I found out with my brilliant skills.’

 

Innocent Ekia, who knew nothing, blinked.

 

“Right, he was a kind human.”

 

This was more definitive proof than anything I’d seen in memories.

 

There’s a monster here giving the exact same evaluation that everyone gives Brother!

 

My heart began to lift at words I could never hear unless it was about Brother.

 

This time, I might really be able to get information about where Brother went.

 

“What did you talk about? Did Brother ever mention where he was going?”

 

Ekia tilted its head to one side.

 

Large, deep eyes stared at me for a while, then slowly blinked.

 

“I met that person when I was young, so I don’t remember exactly. I don’t think he said anything about going somewhere.”

 

‘Ah.’

 

Right, since Brother met it in the Livestock Pen, it would have been when it was still growing.

 

Expecting it to know everything might have been unreasonable from the start.

 

‘Still, it should remember something.’

 

I’ll admit that Brother’s face is handsome enough to be memorable.

 

But remembering only the face when everything else is forgotten is kind of funny.

 

Trying not to let my slightly dejected mood show, I asked in a deliberately bright voice.

 

“Still, if you remember anything, could you tell me?”

 

“…Mm.”

 

Ekia made a low sound mixed with complaint.

 

I couldn’t tell if it didn’t want to talk or was searching its memory, so I just waited quietly.

 

“That human… said he had asked many other monsters too. He asked for a long time, but I think everyone said they didn’t know.”

 

“What was he asking about?”

 

“I was looking for something.”

 

“So what was it?”

 

I’m not usually the type to ask the same question twice, but I was so frustrated I couldn’t help myself.

 

Fortunately, Ekia didn’t seem offended, quietly twitching her beak.

 

Then after a long while, she rummaged through her memories and came up with an answer.

 

“‘One who doesn’t belong’ and ‘anomaly.'”

 

‘What, she remembers everything after all.’

 

Why did she make me disappointed first by saying she didn’t remember?

 

After feeling annoyed at first, I soon found myself mulling over Ekia’s answer, swept up in a strange feeling.

 

An answer that seemed too profound to be called simple.

 

‘No way.’

 

I forcibly pushed away the hypothesis rising in my mind.

 

It was still too early to jump to conclusions.

 

“What exactly was that?”

 

“Um… I think he said it was an existence that doesn’t fit in well here.”

 

So Brother found someone who seemed disconnected from the dimension…?

 

In a dimension where everyone lives following their own rules and performing their respective roles, someone who couldn’t blend in like an impurity.

 

‘Like Agemor, Kraken, Quentin.’

 

Those kinds of existences that could disrupt the smooth flow of a dimension at any moment.

 

My neck stiffened with an ominous premonition.

 

I hesitated before asking carefully.

 

“Did he happen to say why he was looking for that?”

 

“He said he liked stories.”

 

“…Stories?”

 

“Yeah, he said he wanted to see a ‘perfect story.'”

 

The Griffin slowly blinked her eyes.

 

Her gaze was calm, as if there was nothing more to explain.

 

A perfect story.

 

Those six syllables stuck in my head and wouldn’t leave, making my temples throb.

 

If it’s what a perfect story means, there’s obviously only one thing.

 

‘Scenario.’

 

Inside the Tower of Babel, the only thing that word fits most naturally with is a scenario.

 

I slowly organized my thoughts.

 

Brother found an anomaly in the dimension and wanted to see a perfect story.

 

For a scenario to be created, there must be an anomaly.

 

“Did you happen to tell him about the dragon?”

 

Since Seiporamonium’s scenario hadn’t started yet, the anomaly wasn’t outwardly apparent.

 

But I had already heard information about ‘Enclosure 18’ from Siena and Tommy’s conversation.

 

That dragon that attempted escape multiple times and even cast Polymorph.

 

An existence that could barely be subdued even with two Chief Managers.

 

That’s definitely Seiporamonium’s anomaly.

 

The Griffin rolled her eyes and muttered.

 

“…Oh, did I? That sounds right. I heard from Siena that one dragon was being very uncooperative.”

 

So the anomaly Brother found is still ongoing even now.

 

As soon as I realized that, the information floating in my head began to organize and converge into a single line.

 

“This is impossible.”

 

Ekia tilted her head at my words that slipped out, but I had no room to pay attention to that.

 

My thoughts had frozen from the shocking realization I’d just had.

 

‘Could it be that Brother was connected to scenarios…?’

 

I want to deny it.

 

But from what I’ve heard so far, it seems clear that Brother played some role in creating scenarios.

 

Unbelievably, even now they’re saying Enclosure 18 is a problem.

 

What if the reason he looked for anomalies was to construct part of a scenario?

 

And perhaps.

 

‘…Me too?’

 

Brother who could access unopened floors.

 

I also gained that ability as my skill level increased.

 

And my hidden title, ‘Creator.’

 

If Brother, who has the same skill as me, has a special title that allows him to intervene in scenarios.

 

‘Could it be that I can also intervene in scenarios…?’

 

The moment my thoughts reached that point, my heart began pounding hard enough to shake my entire body.

 

I came to find out about Brother’s whereabouts, but suddenly got hit with foreshadowing out of nowhere and couldn’t collect myself.

 

I thought all I could do was sell things, buy things, and commit fraud.

 

But the truth is, there are too many things I can do with my abilities for that to be the case.

 

I know it’s an absurd thought.

 

I haven’t gotten a definitive answer to anything.

 

Yet the problem was that this hypothesis seemed more plausible than I’d expected.

 

In my confused state, unable to organize my thoughts, I asked my only helper.

 

‘Sam-i, am I thinking correctly right now?’

 

Even though he’d never given me a proper answer, Sam-i was the only one who could resolve this question.

 

It was then, as the Griffin looked down at me with worried eyes while I sat lost in thought under the brilliant sunlight.

 

A sharp warning message flew before my eyes.

 

[※ Warning: This information cannot currently be confirmed.]

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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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