24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 225

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. 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 225

Episode 225. Preview (2)

I leaned against the tree beside the grave and took a deep breath.
My heart raced faster than usual, driven by anticipation.
Considering that when the Dimensional Door Skill reached Level 3, the new authority granted to me was access to unopened floors and the ability to view the trading ban list, I’d likely gain considerable new privileges this time as well.
I pressed my lips firmly together and opened my status window.
“…Wow.”

[Dimensional Door Lv.4]
You can open doors leading to other dimensions. You can use more functions within the Babel System. Only inanimate objects can be traded.
+ Lv.2 You can exclusively resell items from other creators and receive commissions. Usable outside the Tower of Babel.
+ Lv.3 You can access unopened floors. You can view the trading ban list.
+ Lv.4 You can limitedly purchase items from the trading ban list.

The moment I confirmed the newly added function on the last line, I swallowed a sigh.
I’d anticipated this would become possible someday, but to think it actually happened.
Of course, the word “limitedly” did give me some pause.
‘I remember screaming about how I could only view it not long ago.’
This is what growth tastes like.
It’s exhilarating.
I barely suppressed the urge to foolishly pat my own head repeatedly in front of Remy.
No matter how delighted I was, I couldn’t afford to behave shamefully before the grave of a nine-year-old child.
I took a light breath and opened the trading ban list.
Still a list long enough to circle the entire Earth.
Just as when I first viewed it, the list remained filled with countless boxes and cryptic words.
No matter how many times I examined it, I couldn’t even begin to fathom the nature or utility of these items.
But now I could actually purchase them with money!
I scrolled rapidly and found the item I’d previously taken note of.

[Collection of Success Cases (???)]

Yes, the Collection of Success Cases—just the name alone made my mouth water!
Without hesitation, I immediately clicked on the collection.
But then.
“…Is this a dream?”

[The price of this item is 52,000,000G.]

I gasped at the staggering price, so astronomical that even my accumulated wealth felt insufficient.
No matter how many times I blinked, the bewildering figure—a sum that rivaled natural disaster—refused to change.
‘If I convert this to Korean currency, how much is it?’
Wasn’t that nearly 500 billion won?
Was this really listed for me to buy right now?
I pressed on the unobtainable item in exasperation.

[This item has restricted purchase eligibility.]

“There it goes again, you crazy bastard!”
I shot to my feet, venting my frustration, then hurriedly sat back down.
“Remy, I was just talking to myself.”
What was I saying in front of a child?
I hastily stroked Remy’s Tomb to shake off the guilt.
Then I leaned back against the tree and exhaled a long, heavy sigh.
No, nothing in my life ever flows easily or the way I want it to.
What on earth is written in that Success Case Collection for the price to be so absurd?
And why can’t I purchase it again?
I don’t have the money anyway, but being outright denied makes me even angrier.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve hoped only to be disappointed like this.
But then it happened.

[⁕ The ‘Success Case Collection’ has restricted purchase eligibility, but this item offers a preview :)]

The window displaying the Success Case Collection automatically revealed a hidden preview button.
“…A preview?”
I murmured, blinking in disbelief.
‘Right, if the price is that steep, they should at least show me what kind of item it is!’
I shifted my posture and quickly sat up straighter.
I didn’t know how many pages it contained, but if a preview was available, I could at least discover what success cases it held.
The moment I pressed the preview button, three windows of varying sizes materialized before my eyes.

[Case 1) Floors 68-70 ‘Signal Flare That Won’t Sound’ (Dimension – Crobrian)
Case 2) Floors 55-56 ‘Applause at the Mob’s End’ (Dimension – Danmang)
Case 3) Floor 62 ‘Informant’ (Dimension – Heiman)
Case 4) Floors 83-90 ‘Carnival of Cheers and Atonement’, ‘Eve Festival’ (Dimension – Paroxiom)
Case 5) Floor 94 ‘Night of the Husk’ (Dimension – Aisine)
….]

The first window appeared to be the table of contents for this book.
Though not obscured by boxes, every Dimension name was one I’d never heard before.
Some had already been reached from Earth, while others remained beyond our reach entirely.
Surely among these, at least one Dimension had climbed all the way to the 100th Floor.
But who could possibly have grasped the stories of other Dimensions and compiled them into a book?
My question was answered immediately in the next window.

[Warning: This record was compiled by a climber ■■ ■■■ ■■ from Dimension – ■■■, who made a deal with ■ and was granted permission to glimpse other Dimensions in exchange for their physical body in life and their soul in the afterlife. The selected cases are non-standard Scenario resolutions that were solved in directions unintended by the Director, and have been objectively recorded with the assistance of that Dimension’s Director and Creator. The cases are described focusing on the Scenario and the Director’s intended resolution method, the resolution method that actually occurred, and the unique rewards resulting from that outcome. (Continued below)]

“Their body and soul as the price….”
I hadn’t expected the concept of reincarnation to emerge here.
So the author of this case collection had abandoned their entire life and afterlife to write this.
What also bothered me was how explicitly the Director and Creator were mentioned.
If that’s true, then our Dimension must have had an intended resolution method that Brother planned.
‘…But I can’t exactly ask about it.’
I briefly thought of Brother, who must be drifting somewhere in the Lost World, then shook my head.
Thinking of Brother’s whereabouts brought back the Broker’s proposal—that they’d find him if I surrendered my Title.
Just thinking about that made me feel unsettled.
“And next is….”
I deliberately murmured as if unbothered and shifted my gaze to the next window.
The final window contained the 53rd Floor Scenario content from Case 1,642.
There was nothing particularly striking about it.
Based solely on the Scenario content, it didn’t seem especially difficult. I was curious why it was considered a unique success case, but only the Scenario content and the Director’s intentions were visible—the rest continued on the next page.
“Hmm….”
Having seen that much, I let out a long sigh.
This case collection I’d been so curious about had dampened my expectations.
Quite significantly, in fact.
It was so bland it almost felt healthier.
While it could certainly be useful, there were none of the incredible pro tips from some stagnant master that I’d imagined.
This was just like a unique strategy archive.
It was merely the hobby of one person so consumed by curiosity about other worlds that they’d abandoned their entire life and rebirth to pursue it.
Well, of course, if the content included strategies for the 90th Floor range, it could help me anticipate difficulty levels and prepare more thoroughly.
‘But every Dimension has different Scenarios anyway, so what can I do about it.’
If every Tower of Babel had the same Scenario on each floor, it might be different.
A success case collection I couldn’t even buy or verify further had become utterly useless to me.
“Ah, my expectations were too high.”
I grumbled and brushed myself off, rising to my feet.
I carefully examined the list to see if there was anything else worth purchasing, but no matter how thoroughly I scanned it, nothing caught my eye.
Besides, they all had such ominous names to begin with—it was only natural that nothing appealed to me.
And on top of that, Manti’s dreams were in complete chaos.
I let out a long, heavy sigh.
“That’s enough, that’s enough.”
Most of the names on the list were already covered in question marks, so it was difficult to even think about purchasing something hastily.
Since the success case collection alone exceeded 500 billion won, it was a reasonable assumption that other items had similar price tags.
In that case, the only thing I could do right now was head to the 100th Floor.
I sent a message immediately.

[Come straight home when you get off work. Get some preparations done before we leave tomorrow.]

Manti had never failed to come straight home after work, but still.
Manti’s message came flying back before my eyes.

[> Middle Manager Message
– I shall follow your words. Ι Manti (Kindness Advantage)]

…Oh, the message is definitely shorter than before.
I’d asked him to keep things brief and to the point, and he seemed to be making an effort.
I stretched languidly and opened a Portal right away.
“Well then, let’s go prepare before Manti gets off work.”
I had about four hours before the separation-anxious cat clocked out.
I’d send a message to the S-rank Hunters who’d been seeking me out lately that I’d be away for a while, give Park Ji-woon a more detailed explanation, and—
I needed to delegate the Kindness Advantage’s proxy duties to Alessandro and Kang Yeon-hee for the time being, so I had to divide up the work as well.
There was more to do than I’d anticipated, so I needed to move quickly.
I gave a light wave toward Remy’s Tomb and leaped into the Portal.

* * *

The next morning.
“Well.”
The white cat, now gleaming with vitality, tilted its head as it looked up at me.
The gesture questioned my sincerity.
I lifted the hem of my Robe once more to assure Manti that I hadn’t misheard.
“Get inside here.”
I was wearing a large crossbag beneath my Shadow Knights Robe.
A crossbag just large enough to fit one cat.
As I widened the bag’s opening with another gesture, Manti respectfully extended a front paw.

-Your offer is appreciated, but do you truly mean it?

“Of course. Manti, we don’t know where we’ll end up, so we need to hide your appearance first.”
At my firm reply, Manti’s pupils wavered.
Perhaps it was the scholar cat’s nature—dignity seemed to matter greatly.
I smiled and added.
“If you’re grateful, get in. Quickly.”
You don’t have any other choice anyway….
Though I didn’t spell it out explicitly, my eyes must have betrayed the thought, for Manti released a long sigh and rose to its feet.
With its characteristic elegant gait, Manti approached and leaped lightly into the bag.
‘Oof.’
Heavier than I expected.
Nothing like the gaunt creature I’d reunited with at the Stall.
Even though Manti still feared separation from me, it was recovering steadily.
I savored the warmth radiating from the bag and murmured.
“Tell me if you’re uncomfortable.”

-Honestly, I don’t think I’m entirely comfortable.

“Then just tell me if it’s truly uncomfortable.”
Manti straightened his expression as if questioning whether I was joking, looking up at me.
I suppressed my laughter and headed toward the entrance.
“Wait, take this with you!”
Alessandro called out urgently from behind, then hurried over and thrust something into my hands.
There was no need to ask—it was obviously a bento box wrapped in cloth.
I accepted Alessandro’s worried gaze and responded.
“Please take good care of Babel Square.”
“You don’t trust me?”
Alessandro puffed out his chest, covered by an apron with a bear pattern, and boasted proudly.
Right—if I couldn’t trust Alessandro, who could I trust?
I chuckled softly and murmured.
“I’ll be back soon.”
Now it was truly time to go.
To the mysterious 100th Floor.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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