24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 19

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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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Dimensional Item Specialty 24-Hour Friendly Market Episode 19

Episode 19. Me, an Ordinary Merchant, in Babel?! (4)

There are limits to endurance.

But you can’t call someone who endures to their limit shameful, even if you might call them foolish.

Chae Geun-dam, who had single-handedly blocked three monster waves, possessed that kind of stubbornness.

Leaning against his great sword that had cut down countless rotting monsters, Chae Geun-dam assessed his physical condition as objectively as possible.

‘I’m not in good shape.’

Perhaps from facing monsters that stole stats for so long, Chae Geun-dam’s combat power had dropped considerably.

He didn’t need to check his status window.

He could easily tell just from how exhausted he’d become after cutting down only about a thousand monsters.

Having experience with the 49th Floor conquest before, Chae Geun-dam had decided to block the monster waves alone.

Though he might not be a popular or famous Hunter, Chae Geun-dam was a proper S-rank Hunter.

While other guild members ran around searching for the scenario’s Sub Items, he would firmly guard the passage to prevent undead footprints from marking this small, shabby village.

That was the Quest Chae Geun-dam had assigned himself for the 49th Floor.

Of course, his guild members had tried to stop him, but Chae Geun-dam was resolute.

This wasn’t Wolpae’s first attempt at conquering the 49th Floor.

Previously, seven people including Chae Geun-dam had been deployed to block the monster waves, but five guild members died losing their stats before they could even find five Sub Items.

Recalling those memories, Chae Geun-dam pressed his lips tightly together.

He should have repaid their deaths with the result of conquering the 49th Floor.

If only he could do it this time.

“Huu…”

But seeing his ragged breathing and dulled senses, it seemed he didn’t have much time left to endure.

He could probably withstand at most three more waves.

Three monster waves meant three hours.

It would be nice if a miracle occurred where his guild members found all the Sub Items during that time.

Making a cold assessment, Chae Geun-dam let out a deep sigh.

The possibility of that was approaching zero.

That’s when it happened.

“This is bad. He’s really dying, isn’t he?”

The keen hearing of an S-rank Hunter caught a voice coming from quite far away.

Instinctively gripping his great sword properly, Chae Geun-dam only moved his eyes to look ahead.

From the direction the monsters had been charging until just moments ago, someone was walking over without fear, completely at ease.

‘…A humanoid monster?’

Since it was such an unrealistic scene, Chae Geun-dam’s first thought was quite reasonable suspicion.

However, they seemed too careless to be a monster.

They weren’t hiding their presence, he felt no killing intent, and most importantly, they lacked the distinctive aura of monsters.

“…”

They’re not at a level that could oppose me.

Having reached a clear conclusion, Chae Geun-dam stood up straight.

Even if the being before his eyes seemed weak, he had to be wary of everything inside Babel.

This was a world where it was natural for someone who appeared weak to be able to cut off your head with a single strike.

Drawing up his mana to protect his entire body without gaps, Chae Geun-dam faced the approaching stranger.

‘…A woman.’

He’d sensed it from hearing the light footsteps, but as the stranger’s silhouette drew closer, Chae Geun-dam became more certain.

The approaching stranger was a woman with a slender build.

Quite tall for a woman, with a rough gait.

The woman, wearing her robe’s hood pulled deep, approached dragging a bicycle, an item rarely seen inside the Tower.

‘Just a human?’

That would be too strange since she wasn’t a familiar face from Wolpae, and her attire seemed too Hunter-like to be a member of Falkon.

A Hunter not counted in Babel’s restricted numbers?

‘That can’t be possible.’

Chae Geun-dam leaned toward the possibility that the approaching woman was a suspicious individual.

From what he could glimpse, her hands looked soft, so she probably wasn’t a martial artist, but she also didn’t possess mana vast enough for him to perceive.

The woman who had walked earnestly stopped about 3 meters away from Chae Geun-dam and spoke.

“Hello, you’re Chae Geun-dam, right?”

Her voice asking this was so casual, as if asking whether he’d eaten, that Chae Geun-dam nearly lost his composure for a moment.

“…Are you an enemy?”

“Of course not, I’m…”

The woman who had drawn out her words seemed to ponder for a moment, then casually threw out an answer.

“I’m ‘Lee Hae,’ a wandering merchant of Falkon.”

“…”

Chae Geun-dam wasn’t lacking in perception.

The 10 seconds she’d pondered before introducing herself.

In that gap, he could tell that her words were lies.

But the woman who introduced herself as ‘Lee Hae’ showed no hostility.

Could this be his own delusion from being exhausted by everything?

Then the woman slowly removed her robe.

When the black hood was removed, the woman’s revealed face was ordinary.

Seeing the faint traces of mana remaining on her face, it seemed she had used a Face Blurring Skill.

The woman who met Chae Geun-dam’s eyes spoke.

“I’ve been waiting for the day I could take revenge ever since Falkon was destroyed by Dark Mages. And now, I’ve met you like this.”

“…”

Not knowing how to respond, Chae Geun-dam frowned.

This was… ambiguously sincere to call a lie, yet too lacking in sincerity to call a scam.

The woman with serious eyes solemnly added one more thing.

“I was dispatched to help Chae Geun-dam, to help Wolpae save this country.”

“What bull… What are you talking about?”

Chae Geun-dam lost his composure and asked back.

* * *

There was one thing I hadn’t expected.

That an S-rank Hunter’s intuition was like a perfectly ripened and aged persimmon.

‘Ah, his perception is incredibly sharp.’

From the moment I introduced myself as a ‘wandering merchant,’ Chae Geun-dam didn’t believe my words at all.

Well, I didn’t think the leader of a guild would lack perception, but it’s a bit disappointing that he won’t even pretend to believe me.

Even though it was a hastily made-up story, wasn’t my role as a ‘patriotic martyr burning with revenge for a destroyed country’ plausible?

Chae Geun-dam spoke with a reluctant tone.

“So you’re saying you’ve gathered the items that Wolpae’s guild members are searching for to help me.”

“Of course. I’ve always been on edge, ready to reclaim the Kingdom. I thought that someday a hero would appear to end all this chaos.”

I answered half-heartedly.

Though Chae Geun-dam nodded out of courtesy, he seemed unable to decide how to treat me.

Well, it would be too suspicious to believe.

The Dark Mages were too naive and believed whatever I said.

It might be different when I’m messing with people, but lying to someone who’s being sincere like this is quite bothersome given my personality.

‘He doesn’t seem like the type to go around blabbing though.’

After 10 seconds of long deliberation, I decided to cleanly wash my hands of it.

“Ah, let’s just cut to the chase.”

“…Pardon?”

“We’re both busy people, so let’s just quickly discuss the main point and move on. Just promise me you’ll consider everything I’m about to say as confidential and keep it secret.”

At my attitude change in less than 5 minutes since we met, question marks appeared on Chae Geun-dam’s face, which had maintained an expressionless look the entire time.

I cleanly ignored that reaction and pulled out potions from my inventory first.

“First, you seem to be poisoned, so here’s an Antidote. This is a Special A-Grade Potion, so drink it. Also take this Buff Potion. It’s effective, so down it all at once.”

When I handed him an armful of potions that Kang Yeon-hee had upgraded again after just a few days, Chae Geun-dam’s question marks increased to about five.

I looked at Chae Geun-dam, who still hadn’t dropped his suspicion, and opened my mouth.

“I’m not from Falkon, I’m a fellow Korean. You’re probably curious why a hunter who isn’t a Wolpae Guild member is here, but that’s a secret. Don’t ask and don’t be curious. And I’d like you to never mention anywhere that you met me and received help. Will you promise?”

“…”

The large man in his mid-thirties blinked his eyes blankly.

I’d like to use the Confidentiality Contract I used in the infinite raid on the 36th Floor, but unfortunately he’s S-rank.

There’d be no point in shoving an A-Grade Contract at him.

I was planning to rely on Chae Geun-dam’s conscience and ethics.

Though there was some risk, Chae Geun-dam’s track record so far was my basis.

I asked again with emphasis.

“Will you promise?”

“…I promise.”

Chae Geun-dam answered with a face that showed he had no idea what was going on.

Unlike his taciturn and calm appearance in the media, he looked quite flustered.

“There are a total of 20 Sub Quest items to collect on the 49th Floor, and you can only enter the main scenario after finding them all. Since I’ve collected all the sub-quest items, after I leave, just contact your guild members to stop searching that poor village and gather together.”

“Wait, the strategy content for the 49th Floor should be top secret, so how did you…”

“No questions.”

At my firm words, Chae Geun-dam just blinked.

‘Lee Hae-won, you’ve made it big.’

To think the day would come when I’d interrupt an S-rank hunter.

“The 20 Sub Quest items are sold as a package. The price is exactly 50,000 Gold as a lump sum payment.”

“…You’re selling them?”

“Of course? I told you, I’m a ‘merchant.'”

A slight look of difficulty crossed Chae Geun-dam’s expression.

Not that I had any intention of giving him a discount.

“Such a large amount suddenly…”

“There’s no way Wolpae doesn’t have that much, right?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

‘Considering how much I spent collecting these.’

500 million won might seem like a large amount, but honestly, this was practically giving it away for free.

Even 5 billion instead of 500 million wouldn’t be enough.

Especially when you include the honor of being the first on Earth to clear the 49th Floor.

Chae Geun-dam fell silent for a moment.

His gaze swept between my face and robe.

Was he still doubting whether I was someone he could trust?

Come to think of it, he still hadn’t drunk Kang Yeon-hee’s special potion I’d given him.

After pondering for a while, Chae Geun-dam asked with a stern expression.

“Can you prove it? That you’re really not lying?”

Well, that’s easy.

I took out an item I’d carefully stored in my inventory and displayed it.

“Will this do? You should have seen it before.”

What I pulled out was the ‘Last Emblem of Fallen Falkon.’

The emblem with red and blue light subtly mixed together was the item written on the first line of the Sub Quest item list that Manti had obtained for me.

If so, there was a high probability it would be the first item obtained, so I guessed that Chae Geun-dam, who had re-attempted the strategy, would have seen it before.

Chae Geun-dam’s eyes wavered.

It seemed he realized I wasn’t a scammer trying to rip off naive hunters.

Well then, no need to wait any longer.

“Login.”

I quickly displayed a window in front of Chae Geun-dam.

[Open Market ‘Friendly Market’ Ι Administrator ‘Lee Hae’]

[> Items for Sale

49th Floor Speedrun Package 50,000G

A-Grade Health Potion 100G (Made by: Kang Yeon-hee)

A-Grade Mana Potion 100G (Made by: Kang Yeon-hee)

A-Grade Antidote 100G (Made by: Kang Yeon-hee)]

Whether surprised by the suddenly appearing window, Chae Geun-dam reflexively gripped his Great Sword tightly and asked slowly.

“What is this? Open Market…?”

“It’s my store. You can see the items for sale, right? Just purchase what you need. Potions and Antidotes are also on sale, so please show lots of interest.”

At my shameless answer, Chae Geun-dam couldn’t react at all and just stared blankly at the window.

However, his deliberation wasn’t long.

What Chae Geun-dam was buying wasn’t just Sub Quest items.

It was his own stats, Wolpae’s time, and his guild members’ lives.

[> Transaction Alert 1 item

– ’49th Floor Speedrun Package’ has been sold (1 item). Ι Buyer: Hong Ja-seong (Region-South Korea)]

“Hong Ja-seong?”

“Ah, yes…”

Chae Geun-dam, who had been dry the entire time, answered somewhat sheepishly.

Hmm, so his nickname was Hong Ja-seong.

“Thank you for the transaction.”

I smiled brightly.

Now Wolpae would smoothly clear the 49th Floor, and South Korea would finally enter the 50th Floor.

‘I’ll be able to look for Brother.’

Having achieved my goal, I felt much lighter.

That’s when it happened.

Thud thud thud-

The sound of the ground vibrating from very far away.

“Huh, what’s that?”

Though this was already the fourth time I was feeling this vibration, I asked reflexively.

Whether embarrassed about being caught with the nickname Hong Ja-seong, Chae Geun-dam’s previously flustered expression had already turned combative.

In a calm tone that contrasted with his expression, Chae Geun-dam answered.

“The fourth monster wave is coming.”

I know that too!

“You should hurry and go!”

I pointed toward the back and gestured to Chae Geun-dam.

I even had my inventory open to take out the Sub Items.

It was a problem that could be solved if he just ran with me right now and finished all the scenarios in an instant.

However, Chae Geun-dam shook his head with a serious face.

“I cannot go.”

What is he saying, is he crazy…?

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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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