24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 25

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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 25

 

 

Episode 25. A Bolt from the Blue (2)

 

 

It took exactly 5 days to create the ‘shopping district’ I had envisioned.

First, two days to adapt to the unheard-of hologram technology while conceptualizing, one day to hide and observe the movements while avoiding the suddenly appearing Wolpae, and another two days to modify the building blueprints here and there.

Tomorrow was already the opening day of the 50th Floor.

Today too, I went out busily from the morning to confirm whether Wolpae was conducting reconnaissance, and only after that could I enter the 50th Floor with peace of mind.

Until now, Wolpae had consistently mentioned in interviews that ‘there’s nothing but vast grasslands on the 50th Floor,’ and I was determined to shatter the expectations of people who would believe those interviews.

“Just finish this and let me go home, please.”

I muttered complaints that no one could hear into the air as I took my position.

It had already been 5 days since I couldn’t return to my comfortable home on the 25th Floor.

“Now, let’s take a look.”

In front of me was the hologram laptop I usually used for management work.

The difference from usual was that I had opened a bird’s-eye view of the shopping district instead of the market management window.

A hologram painstakingly created by someone who wasn’t even a specialist, a complete architectural novice, flickered in front of the laptop.

After examining the bird’s-eye view for a while, I looked away from the laptop and spoke with a confident voice.

“I’ll build it here, Sam-i.”

Where I stood was in front of the blue Warp Gate that allowed movement between floors.

This Warp Gate, which simply stood tall and shone brightly in the middle of the cave in Ba-man-jang, would become the landmark of my shopping district on the 50th Floor.

 

[⁕ Would you like to build the shopping district here?]

 

“Oh, you even ask for confirmation when I told you to confirm.”

You’ve improved, my free AI!

“Build it here.”

As soon as I nodded and answered, everything around began to shine brightly.

Intense light that made it hard to even open my eyes enveloped me.

Something was definitely happening.

And when I opened my eyes that I had closed.

“…Whoa?”

I was standing inside a building.

Light blue exterior walls identical to the Bamanjang Store on the 25th Floor surrounded me on all sides.

Even the open ceiling showing the clear blue sky was exactly as I had imagined.

“This is really well done.”

I walked slowly while admiring it.

With this much, the other awakened ones entering the 50th Floor tomorrow would be shocked and amazed.

I felt sorry for Wolpae who had unintentionally ended up lying, but I was extremely satisfied with the ‘shopping district’ I had created.

At the center of the shopping district stood the Warp Gate.

I don’t know if there’s anyone else who thinks the same as me, but I placed the gate right in the center of the market building.

People arriving at the 50th Floor through the gate would immediately enter the Friendly Market building.

There was no need for promotion.

With the market placed right in front of their noses, there’s no way they could miss it.

I muttered satisfactorily while looking up at the sky.

“The sunlight comes in really well too. Nice, very nice.”

I had left the ceiling open.

The square-shaped three-story building built to surround the portal like a courtyard didn’t block the open sky of the 50th Floor.

The sight of sunlight pouring into the building was peaceful beyond words.

Add to that the blue light rippling from the Warp Gate.

‘Just as I imagined.’

I headed toward the stairs I had designed to be visible immediately upon exiting the Warp Gate.

I planned to have stores open on the 1st and 2nd floors of this building.

Unlike the Bamanjang Store that was packed full with just Kang Yeon-hee’s potion stall and workshop, I built this large enough to accommodate over 50 shops.

On top of that, I even laid out roads extending in a cross shape.

I thought they’d charge gold for laying roads, but when they said it was free, I couldn’t help myself.

More is better, isn’t it?

‘It’s definitely not because it was free.’

I made excuses to myself as I climbed up to the rooftop.

I only built the building up to 3 floors because the open fields outside looked pretty.

Well, I did build it embarrassingly large considering how much I’d admired natural scenery until now, but what could I do about something already built?

Money makes the world go round.

This isn’t even a greenbelt area!

The stairs leading to the 3rd floor had transparent walls.

It was set as a restricted area so other awakened ones couldn’t enter.

Of course, there’s a reason for everything.

When I saw a door at the end of the clean corridor, I smiled brightly and shouted.

“Home!”

Because this would become my new home!

Opening the door and looking inside made my heart feel even more abundant.

A spacious and cozy three-room house, perfect for living alone.

The sunlight pouring through the living room window was dazzling.

Though still empty, with good lighting and a great view, it was truly a dream house for someone like me who had barely scraped by.

“How do I move my stuff from the 25th Floor here?”

 

[⁕ If you wish, immediate transfer is possible. Shall I proceed? :)]

 

“Of course!”

As I answered while unconsciously stamping my feet, the surroundings were enveloped in blue light.

And when I opened my eyes again, my belongings full of life had filled the entire house.

The high-performance Sam-i had even organized everything in the right places.

Since I had so few possessions, it didn’t feel packed, but I was still delighted.

Honestly, the house at the Bamanjang Store was cozy too, but it couldn’t compare to this place.

I felt like a child who had received a new toy as I opened doors to various rooms.

In the largest room at the back was the bed I had missed so much during the past 5 days when I couldn’t come home.

In the small room next to the entrance was a desk equipped for a workspace.

And…

“As expected, you left this one empty.”

 

[⁕ I proceeded according to the blueprint :)]

 

One empty room next to the kitchen.

This room had an owner.

‘I should be able to find him.’

My missing brother’s room.

I had naturally thought of my brother’s room during the design phase.

Since I had entered the 50th Floor Range, I held the expectation that I would soon find traces of my brother.

Hope shows the way to those who don’t give up.

I closed the room door.

Now, until the owner of this room returns home, I probably won’t be opening this door again.

“Come on, let’s hurry up and complete the Quest.”

Getting sentimental isn’t Lee Hae-won’s style!

I asked with forced cheerfulness.

“Sam-i, how many Quests have I completed?”

 

[⁕ You haven’t completed any of the 5 :)]

 

“……Oh, really?”

I was getting all emotional and sentimental, but Sam-i just poured cold water all over it.

Feeling awkward for no reason, I scratched my cheek and brought up the job Quest window.

 

[Title Job Quest (6)

Establish Market Branch 2 on the 50th Floor of the Tower of Babel and complete the following:

1) Install a sign at the Offline Market.

2) Set up a repair specialist business.

3) Set up an item appraisal specialist business.

4) Designate an intermediate manager for the Offline Market store.

5) Fill all stores within the building.

Reward: Additional sales slot opening, ‘Open Market’ function activation]

 

“That’s right.”

I really didn’t do anything.

After struggling so hard for 5 days.

“I already put one up here, and I can go install one at the Bamanjang Store later.”

Since I had decided on the sign locations from the design stage, there was nothing more to do on the 50th Floor.

I looked up at the empty space beyond the living room’s glass window.

Huge arrow signs with ‘Friendly Market’ written in door-sized letters stood at every corner of the roads extending in all directions.

“Is it… too much?”

I expected it to be big, but having signs the size of the Bamanjang Store was a bit excessive.

Since I have no aesthetic sense, I never anticipated it would turn out like this.

After some self-reflection, I soon shook my head.

Still, I had to do it this way so everyone would immediately see it and think, ‘Ah, this is the Friendly Market!’

 

[⁕ Would you like to name the Friendly Market’s ’50th Floor Intermediate Station Branch’ as well?]

 

After staring at the window that appeared for a while, I shook my head.

“Hmm… let me think about it.”

When naming the Bamanjang Store, it was easy because there were many people coming and going and there was already the name ‘Bamanjang’, but this place is too much of a blank slate.

I want to take the easy way out and slack off, I don’t want to worry about this anymore.

‘I struggled too much for 5 days.’

“Alright, and next.”

I stared at the Quest window again.

“The Bamanjang Store only has the building entrance for signs, and for numbers 2 and 3, I’m the owner anyway, right?”

Repair specialist business and item appraisal specialist business.

Anyone could see this meant creating shops that use my skills.

Come to think of it, unlike the ‘Dimensional Door’ skill I’ve been using consistently, I hardly had any occasion to use ‘Repair’ and ‘Item Appraisal’.

Whether it was repairing Manti’s feather or appraising Chae Geun-dam’s great sword, both times I received heartfelt gratitude, so it didn’t feel bad.

And since I’m the only one in South Korea with such skills, well…

I guess you could call it a sense of responsibility.

Even someone like me, insignificant as I am, has something like that.

I quickly leaned against the railing and pointed to two stores on the 1st Floor.

“Then I’ll use those two spots that are directly visible from the Warp Gate.”

The advantage of being a building owner is being able to claim the prime locations.

These kinds of businesses need to be in high-traffic areas to spread word quickly.

Watching the two spots I pointed to get enveloped in blue light, I muttered absentmindedly.

“Do I need to name the repair shop and item appraisal business too?”

 

[⁕ If you’d like my recommendation, please let me know :)]

 

“You stay quiet.”

I need to think about this more too.

Rather than leave it to someone with worse naming sense than me, it’s a hundred times better to think it through and come up with something myself.

Then I looked at item 4 on the Quest window with a serious expression.

“And next is the intermediate manager.”

‘Intermediate manager.’

Just hearing it sounds like an important job.

For the 25th Floor, there’s only one person I can entrust it to.

The Alchemist Kang Yeon-hee from the potion shop, the only business in the Bamanjang Store.

She spends much more time at the Bamanjang Store than I do, and she managed the building well while I was away.

I can’t be certain yet if she’s trustworthy, but my judgment was that she’s definitely not untrustworthy.

“What does an intermediate manager do?”

 

[⁕ They manage the Offline Market. Their duties include inventory restocking, handling various inquiries, and operating the Offline Market. With the manager’s permission, they can also use some of the manager’s authority :)]

 

…They can use some of the authority?

This really isn’t something I can entrust to just anyone.

But since there’s no one else I can ask for this favor, I ultimately settled on Kang Yeon-hee as the manager of the Bamanjang Store.

‘I should stop by the 25th Floor and tell her.’

While I’m at it, I should let her use the 2nd Floor house that became vacant.

Then the problem now is the manager for the 50th Floor.

“This place is too big.”

It got bigger because of my greed, but this is a large building that can accommodate over 50 businesses.

Unless someone has experience in building management or commercial district operations, it would be difficult to manage.

I scratched my chin with a troubled expression.

Having lived such an isolated life with only one friend, Guk Min-seong, there was no way I could think of anyone.

I went through every memory of my short life.

Did I really know so few people?

“None.”

I suddenly missed my brother even more, not even knowing where he was.

I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head.

The only trustworthy person would be family, but my one and only brother is missing.

‘Isn’t there really anyone suitable?’

Someone who seems capable and trustworthy.

After searching through my memories for a while, I suddenly opened my eyes wide at a memory that came to mind.

“…There is someone.”

Someone who was in a high position so they’d have good judgment, probably has management experience, and likely has plenty of experience with paperwork and such.

They were even someone who had nothing, so they’d never betray me.

“Hmm, but would it work?”

But if there’s a problem, it’s that they seem like they might be a bit much to handle.

I frantically racked my brain and asked Sam-i.

“Is it possible?”

 

[⁕ It’s possible 🙂 When designating a middle manager, some administrative privileges can be granted with limitations, so we can proceed according to your intentions. Would you like to do so?]

 

“No, no. I need to ask them first.”

I summoned the hologram laptop I’d been staring at for the past few days.

What I opened was the transaction history.

The ability to send messages only to those with transaction records is really a great feature.

After finding my target among the countless accumulated transaction records, I quickly typed a message.

 

[Do you happen to need a job?]

 

The reply came quickly.

 

[> New Message

– Could I hear the details?]

 

* * *

 

And at that moment, at the Babel Management Bureau.

Unfortunately for Haewon, Friendly Market was being dissected in detail at a secret meeting where all the heads of the seven major guilds had gathered.

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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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