24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 20

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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 20

 

 

Episode 20. I’m Just an Ordinary Merchant, but in Babel?! (5)

 

 

Ah, I must have misheard.

“I must guard this position.”

…No, I didn’t.

Chae Geun-dam muttered once more with a serious expression and adjusted his grip on the great sword.

A natural stance that only someone who had fought with the same sword for a long time could possess.

Where had that flustered look in his eyes gone, the one he’d shown throughout our conversation?

His eyes burned even more intensely, contrasting with his calm tone.

‘It doesn’t seem like he understood a word I said?’

Bewildered, I abandoned my composure and spoke quickly.

“What are you talking about right now? Going to complete the scenario should come first!”

My suggestion was reasonable.

Having had his stats drained while blocking three waves, Chae Geun-dam must be much weaker than usual right now.

Yet trying to block even the fourth wave was nothing short of a suicidal act.

‘Is this person really facing a thousand-unit monster wave right now?’

I was so dumbfounded that I raised both hands in the air and lowered them again.

However, Chae Geun-dam remained calm.

“Completing the scenario is the final goal, yes. But…”

Chae Geun-dam paused mid-answer and looked back at me.

The voice that followed was completely different from my urgent mood—a calm voice.

“Blocking the monster waves is my role. While the guild members carry the Quest items and perform the main scenario, I must prevent any monster from reaching the village. If monsters pass through this point, they’ll head straight toward the village.”

I couldn’t say his judgment was wrong.

He had blocked three monster waves alone so far, so thanks to that, his guild members had been safely searching for items.

But…

“No, I mean, I don’t understand? If Chae Geun-dam is the maximum firepower, wouldn’t it be more beneficial to quickly join up and clear the main scenario first?”

“That’s a last resort. It’s most efficient for me to block as many monsters as possible here.”

“Since you’ve obtained all the items, how about calling your companions to solve this wave together… and then going to the main scenario?”

“Then even my companions would have their stats drained. It’s better for me to handle it alone than that. I’m just doing my best at what I can do. I trust my guild members.”

‘What is this person saying?’

Why is this person so positive and upright that he makes an ordinary citizen who was just sitting still feel guilty?

Moreover, there wasn’t a single waver in his voice.

It was a clear tone imbued with the particular dryness of someone moving toward their goal.

Standing straight facing the direction where dust was blowing, Chae Geun-dam took out a communication device from his pocket and began inputting something without hesitation.

Then he looked at me apologetically.

“Could you deliver the items to the guild members in the village instead? The village isn’t large, so you should be able to find them quickly.”

It seemed he had contacted his guild members.

Since I had only planned to sell the items and go home to rest comfortably, I was about to refuse with a sneer.

But the cold words of refusal wouldn’t come out of my mouth.

Looking at his serious expression, some other emotion was slowly rising up.

‘…This is strange.’

I pressed my lips together and quietly stared at Chae Geun-dam.

The emotion rising now wasn’t dissatisfaction or irritation.

Rather, it was closer to strange curiosity and respect.

To say he’d guard his position in this situation. What kind of mindset would one need to have such thoughts?

He was an incomprehensible type of person.

Someone who wasn’t calculating, was faithful to his role, and completely trusted his people to handle things behind him.

“Why… do you go that far?”

At the question that unconsciously slipped out of my mouth, Chae Geun-dam frowned as if it were strange.

Then, with a nonchalant attitude, he asked back as if it were obvious.

“Is a reason necessary?”

A face with considerable weight that didn’t quite suit a man in his early thirties.

Chae Geun-dam asked as if he were genuinely curious whether a reason was needed.

‘Is he an idiot? Or is he crazy?’

To me, who had lived earning day by day and considering beliefs like that a luxury, such devotion was only unfamiliar.

Even my offer to help him clear the 49th Floor was due to anxiety about the extreme danger of ‘world destruction’ being right around the corner, not because of any sense of mission.

The thoughts I’d had while watching hunters climb Babel had been simple ones.

When the hell are they going up, why is everyone making such a fuss when they’re going to break through this time too.

I, who had thought that way while sitting in my room, was becoming embarrassed.

If hunters from other guilds were also climbing Babel with this kind of mindset…

‘That’s fucking cool.’

It wasn’t that I was moved and my heart was touched, or that I was deeply impressed.

I was just amazed by the S-rank hunter’s charisma.

While I was gasping, intoxicated by Chae Geun-dam’s charisma, Chae Geun-dam asked once more.

“So may I ask this favor of you?”

Without any hesitation, a surprisingly firm answer popped out of my mouth.

“Understood.”

Chae Geun-dam, who looked at me in surprise, soon calmly nodded his head.

“Thank you. Thanks to Lee Hae, I can focus here.”

I scratched my head.

It felt like I’d gotten strangely involved, but if I had coldly run away, it would have bothered me for a long time.

‘Ah, this isn’t my image.’

Knowing objectively well about my temperament, I let out a deep sigh.

If I stayed here any longer, I’d probably end up sitting down saying I’d give him my liver and gallbladder too, acting as a potion supporter.

I turned around like the wind and got on my bicycle.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

“I wish you good fortune.”

Even saying something like that?!

Turning around in shock, I discovered Chae Geun-dam’s back as he stood looking far into the distance where dust was blowing.

To have such a heavy presence even standing alone—was it really okay to leave him like this?

Though it was funny for a mere E-rank hunter to worry about an S-rank hunter.

It was then, as I hesitated because my feet wouldn’t easily move.

“Whoa.”

My eyes naturally widened at the unbelievable fact.

Chae Geun-dam, who had been steeling his mind in preparation for the decisive battle, turned around as if asking why.

“What’s wrong? The monsters will arrive within 10 minutes. If you don’t leave quickly…”

“Chae Geun-dam, the sword you’re holding right now.”

Before Chae Geun-dam could be bewildered by my rudely cutting off his words, I continued like a machine gun.

“It has an awesome Hidden Ability?”

“…Hidden Ability?”

Hearing my words, Chae Geun-dam frowned.

A face that had never heard of such a thing.

But the ‘Appraisal’ skill I had unconsciously used was showing that the great sword had an insane effect.

 

[Guardian’s Great Sword ‘Moonlight’ (S)

A great sword that has endured many battles beside the Guardian of the Heavens for long years.

Special mana circuits are engraved throughout the blade, providing an effect that amplifies the user’s mana.

/Hidden Ability/ When the sword is thrust vertically into the ground and high-purity mana is continuously injected for 10 minutes, it creates a wide-area protective field. Defense and mana recovery speed of designated allies within a 30-meter radius increase by 30 percent.]

 

As I smoothly recited the hidden ability visible to my eyes, Chae Geun-dam’s eyes widened in amazement.

He had maintained his composure fairly well until now, but this was the most surprised he’d looked since meeting me.

“Really? It had such an ability?”

“Yes, the activation conditions are difficult, but it’s a hidden ability that won’t cause you any loss if used. Having to inject for 10 whole minutes though…”

After only identifying trashy hidden abilities, it was fascinating to see a decent hidden ability for the first time.

Chae Geun-dam carefully stroked the blade of his great sword with eyes like he’d gained a new ally.

‘Could it be that other S-rank Hunters are also using their weapons without knowing their hidden abilities?’

Then maybe I… could make some good money with this?

While I was continuing these somewhat materialistic thoughts, Chae Geun-dam muttered.

“You can even identify items’ hidden abilities? That’s truly an amazing power.”

Behind him, the dust storm was gradually approaching.

…Come to think of it, this place was a monster wave hotspot.

“Yes, yes, well, that’s right. Anyway, please survive.”

To the praise he threw at me with apparent emotion, I gave a casual response and smiled.

The advancing march of monsters getting closer and closer was a more important problem than leaving Chae Geun-dam alone or having the value of my Appraisal skill recognized.

I want to get out of the 49th Floor quickly!

 

[⁕ Manager, you mustn’t forget to promote the market too :)]

 

Ah, right.

At Sam-i’s words that I had forgotten, I stopped trying to leave and gestured at the air.

Chae Geun-dam was speechless at the business card that suddenly fell from thin air.

“Up, up until now.”

I snatched the business card and smiled while slightly bowing my waist like a courtier.

Then, in an attitude completely inappropriate for a situation where a monster wave was approaching, I subtly held out the business card and said.

“I, I was ‘Lee Hae’ from Friendly Market, ahaha…”

Chae Geun-dam, who had been standing stiffly with tension before the battle, muttered in a tone of bewilderment.

“Are you perhaps insane…”

“No I’m not, I’ll be going now.”

How embarrassing, calling someone crazy.

I got on my bicycle and began slowly picking up speed.

“Lee Hae.”

“Yees?!”

When I answered loudly to the sound from far away, a small voice infused with mana came back.

“Thank you.”

In the spot I looked back at stood a guardian who seemed like he would never break, holding a sword that resembled him, standing firm.

In a posture that would guard his position without breaking under any trial, just as he had promised.

 

* * *

 

‘Good, good.’

I sipped my Vita100 and praised myself.

It was a bit embarrassing, but this much was fine!

No?

It was almost perfect!

Meanwhile, the woman with horn-rimmed glasses who had been fiddling with the crystal orb in front of me muttered as if she couldn’t believe it.

“It’s really true, everything here is all items needed for sub-quests. ‘Crystal Orb of the Ninth Prophet’… we can really skip the sub-quests and open the main scenario.”

The woman’s position in Wolpae must have been quite high, as the guild members surrounding us cheered at her words.

The people who had been wary of me at first changed their attitude like flipping their palms as soon as they confirmed I had brought sub-quest items.

“Now, everyone quickly gather the items and move. Since Geun-dam is blocking alone, let’s open the main scenario as fast as possible.”

At Horn-rimmed Glasses’ words, the excited atmosphere quickly settled down.

After that, Wolpae’s guild members, each carrying several items, began to leave quickly.

What remained were me and Horn-rimmed Glasses, a young-looking boy with an eye patch, and a woman with a pale complexion who looked tired despite not having fought.

‘Are they healers or supporters?’

Just as I was glancing around, Horn-rimmed Glasses grabbed my hand again and shook it up and down vigorously.

“A wandering merchant of Falkon, how could we meet such a benefactor?”

I was quickly caught when dealing with the sharp-sensed Chae Geun-dam and gave up lying because it was bothersome, but this place was crawling with Wolpae guild members.

Having brought up my identity as Falkon’s wandering merchant again, I smiled awkwardly and scratched my head.

“What do you mean how, noona. It’s all because Geun-dam hyung is a chosen person, obviously!”

At the words of the young kid with an eye patch who had been sitting quietly, I glared.

Chae Geun-dam was chosen?

No?

That’s all because I’m the benefactor!

Supplying vitamins to Dark Mages, appraising Chae Geun-dam’s weapon, and even buying all the sub-quest items individually to make and sell them as a package!

Where else on this Earth is there such a supporter!

“That’s why we followed only the guild leader, believing in him.”

The words of those who don’t know the truth are stabbing into my heart.

 

[Awakened Lee Hae-won – Open Market Manager(EX)

> New Notification

– Title Achievement Quest (5) has been completed.]

 

At the notification that appeared just then, I smiled bitterly.

Better than nothing, let’s consider it good since I completed the quest.

‘I like chicken, anyway.’

I looked at Eye Patch who was praising Chae Geun-dam and shook my head.

That’s when it happened.

 

[■ Babel System > 49th Floor Notification

– Sub-quest ‘Remnants’ has been completed.

– Sub-quest ‘Cleo’s Request’ has been completed.

– Sub-quest ‘Royal Palace Fugitive’ has been completed.

…]

 

Notifications ringing out one after another on a window that appeared brightly in the air for all foreigners on the 49th Floor to see.

The sub-quest items that Wolpae’s guild members had taken were finding their rightful places one by one.

“To think we’ve really come this far…”

Horn-rimmed Glasses muttered quietly in an emotional voice.

For quite some time, 20 sub-quest completion notifications passed, and finally.

“…It’s the main scenario.”

The sickly-looking woman who had been sitting quietly without saying a word muttered.

The new mission that appeared in the darkening sky was demanding the conquest of the 49th Floor.

 

[■ Babel System > 49th Floor Notification

– Main Scenario ‘Lord of Darkness’ has been opened.]

[Main Scenario ‘Lord of Darkness’

: Seal the Dark Mage who threatens the Falcon Kingdom, the Lord of Darkness, and restore peace.]

 

Everyone stared up at the sky with dreamy expressions on their faces.

The Wolpae guild members who had brought their sub-quest items to their designated places, and Chae Geun-dam who had been blocking the monster wave alone.

Even I, who was seeing the moment a quest occurs for the first time.

‘This feels strange.’

It wasn’t even my quest, yet somehow a corner of my heart felt oddly tight.

That was the moment.

 

Knock knock-

 

From somewhere came a dull knocking sound that broke the silence.

Horn-rimmed Glasses tensed up instantly, drawing her dagger as she approached the entrance.

Solving a few sub-quests was a stage that other guilds had reached before.

However, since Wolpae was the first to reach the main scenario, there was no information whatsoever about what would happen next.

Even I, who had somehow become an add-on member, held my breath while staring at the closed entrance.

 

Knock knock-

 

Once again, a cautious knocking sound echoed inside the building.

Horn-rimmed Glasses quietly put her finger to her lips as she approached the entrance step by step.

Then, Eye Patch, who had been quietly rolling his eyes, carefully raised his hand.

“But this…”

“You need to be quiet, Hyun-jun!”

“No, Vice Guild Leader, this isn’t from outside.”

Eye Patch gestured somewhere and muttered as if finding it strange.

“It’s coming from below.”

The place Eye Patch pointed to was the floor of the tavern we were standing on.

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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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