24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 29

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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 29

Episode 29. Friendly Appraisal (2)

Lee Hwa-yeon.

An S-rank Hunter maintaining 2nd place in the rankings. On top of that, the leader of Baekdan, the 2nd-ranked guild.

Baekdan was also the guild that Park Bo-bae belonged to, who had saved me from the Sudden Gate on the day I awakened.

Lee Hwa-yeon was extremely popular because despite having the ability to control South Korea, she had a carefree personality and acted without any wariness.

Not only that, she was a ‘people person’ who appeared in public much more often compared to other rankers who refrained from appearing on broadcasts.

In other words, she had a very familiar voice that you’d hear whenever you turned on the TV.

How could I not notice this?

I barely managed to hold back a scream.

‘I thought she was incredibly tall for some reason!’

Lee Hwa-yeon’s height was 178 centimeters according to her profile.

It was an unusually tall height for a woman, and even after seeing that, I never once thought to be suspicious.

What should I do with my naive self?

As famous as Lee Hwa-yeon was her main weapon, the ‘Judge of Sacred Light.’

It was the first S-rank weapon discovered domestically, and its appearance was quite extraordinary.

A golden handle that clearly emanated a sacred aura, and a pure white orb that served as the blunt weapon.

The golden aura that always flowed out subtly matched perfectly with her title ‘Agent of Divine Radiance.’

Simply put, she was someone who fought like a paladin.

Tap tap-

At the sound of careful tapping on the table, I startled and looked up.

“Appraiser?”

I still couldn’t see Lee Hwa-yeon’s eyes as she wore her robe pulled down low.

But it was obvious without looking that this person was scrutinizing me thoroughly.

No matter how safe this demilitarized zone inside the Tower was, if I assumed the person sitting in front of me was Lee Hwa-yeon, there were more than a few things to be careful about.

I gulped.

No, what I should be more wary of was the possibility that Lee Hwa-yeon had come here knowing everything.

One of the two businesses that had opened before the 50th Floor even opened.

And the Hidden Ability appraisal skill that Chae Geun-dam couldn’t help but mention.

‘Honestly, that is something to be proud of though.’

Thinking that Lee Hwa-yeon came here knowing nothing would be too stupid and naive.

While I was fiercely fighting my own battle in my head, Lee Hwa-yeon spoke again.

“Appraiser, is it taking long?”

“It’ll be finished soon, just a moment.”

Even if she noticed, let’s not openly say that I know.

I nodded calmly and lowered my gaze.

[‘Judge of Sacred Light’ (S)

A sacred mace that seems to contain fragments of the sun.

Blessed by the gods, it never breaks, and subtle sacred power leaks out.]

Well, bringing her main weapon so openly like this meant she had no intention of hiding her identity from the start.

I spoke in a deliberately calm tone, muttering as if to myself.

“It’s the ‘Judge of Sacred Light.’ It never breaks, and sacred power leaks out, making it glow subtly at all times.”

“Hmm.”

This was clearly a dissatisfied sigh that anyone could hear.

When I unconsciously looked up, Lee Hwa-yeon slowly removed her hood.

Her dark brown hair, no different from any ordinary Korean’s hair, was cut in a calm bob.

In contrast, her Western-style face, drawn with bold lines, matched her tall height very well.

However, I was tense for a different reason.

It was the eyes looking at me.

In her mysterious eyes that were too bright to be brown and too dark to be yellow, sacred power seemed to ripple as if it would overflow at any moment.

How could eyes seem so alive like that…

‘No, eyes originally belong to living people.’

At the stupid thought that suddenly intruded, I firmly grasped my mental composure.

The moment she removed her robe, she revealed an overwhelming presence that seemed like it could crush me if I wasn’t careful.

“I already know that. Isn’t there anything else?”

Though she was speaking in a playful tone, Lee Hwa-yeon’s eyes flashed like an untamable beast.

No matter how much Lee Hwa-yeon laughed and acted carefree, her essence was S-rank.

And now she had completely escaped from the farce of hiding that she was Lee Hwa-yeon.

I gulped.

I wanted to tell her to buzz off and kick her out right away, but as an E-rank, there were some compromises I had to make.

‘Let’s just think of her as an ordinary customer.’

Quietly appraising and sending her away quickly was the best I could do right now.

I reluctantly used my skill.

[Using ‘Appraisal’ skill on ‘Judge of Sacred Light’.]

[10,000G has been deducted.]

With Chae Geun-dam, I was too busy and he was such a gentle person that the mental impact wasn’t that great, but maybe because my opponent was the unpredictable Lee Hwa-yeon.

This time it was quite a blow.

Even if it was an S-rank weapon, an appraisal fee of 100 million was too much.

I felt like crying at this unheard-of amount.

I swallowed my tears and shifted my gaze.

[/Hidden Ability/ Every 10 hits accumulates 1 ‘Purifying Judgment’, and upon reaching a certain accumulation threshold, you can use ‘Purifying Judgment’ to heal others’ status ailments. ‘Purifying Judgment’ can be re-accumulated after one use.]

“Oh……”

It’s long.

But reading it carefully, it was a Hidden Ability that was perfect for Lee Hwa-yeon, who fought based on sacred power.

She said she definitely received it as a scenario clear reward, but getting such an appropriate weapon was quite a skill.

“Why? Is there something good?”

Lee Hwa-yeon asked, leaning forward across the table.

I was about to smoothly recite the Hidden Ability when I hesitated.

‘Come to think of it, I should receive payment upfront for something like this, right?’

I still had a long way to go to become a natural-born merchant who handled things well on their own.

But without showing any sign of that, I casually placed my hand on the table and spoke smoothly.

“I’ll tell you the Hidden Ability after receiving the appraisal fee first. Can you pay with the terminal?”

Lee Hwa-yeon frowned slightly and answered.

“Really? Ah, I didn’t know about that kind of thing.”

Of course you wouldn’t know, since I didn’t mention it.

“How much is it?”

I had already spent 100 million, but how much should I charge to avoid being rumored as a pushover?

Since this was my first appraisal transaction, the amount I set here would become the standard for future deals.

I made up my mind firmly and declared.

“The basic appraisal fee for S-rank weapons is 20,000 Gold, but as an opening special, I’ll do it for exactly 15,000 Gold.”

“What, that expensive?”

“But since you’re also my first customer, just give me exactly 14,000 Gold.”

I originally thought 15,000 Gold was reasonable, but does Lee Hwa-yeon know my heart for suggesting 20,000 Gold just to tell the desperate lie that I’m giving a discount?

However, I’m fully aware of my rarity.

It’s been 10 years since society became one of Awakened. Among them, not once has someone who can appraise Hidden Abilities appeared.

I’m the only one on Earth with such an ability.

So even if I asked for 30,000 Gold here, Lee Hwa-yeon would have had no choice but to pay that amount.

‘This much is already a big concession, well.’

I straightened my head stiffly and took out the hologram terminal.

“Um, I don’t have that much money?”

‘Hah, what a joke.’

I almost let out a hollow laugh from the absurdity.

She’s the Guild leader of Baekdan and the face on every energy drink scattered around convenience stores, yet such a person claims to have no money.

Lee Hwa-yeon looked at me with a grinning face and tilted her head lightly.

‘Is she trying to have a battle of wills now?’

Lee Hwa-yeon seemed to want to continue some meaningless battle of wills against me.

But within this space, I’m someone guaranteed absolute safety.

More importantly, being dragged around just because the other party is an S-rank Hunter doesn’t suit my temperament.

Instead of trembling and bowing my head to Lee Hwa-yeon, I decided to make a sharp gambling move.

“I don’t think the leader of a mega Guild would lack that much money.”

At my words, Lee Hwa-yeon rolled her eyes as if amused.

“Hmm, so you’re coming at me like this? What will you do if I just say I won’t get the appraisal?”

“Then I’ll have wasted my time, and you’ll never know what your Hidden Ability is. Well, I have nothing to lose.”

Rather, if I don’t get more entangled with Lee Hwa-yeon here, that would be a blessing for me.

When I spoke stiffly, Lee Hwa-yeon raised the corners of her eyes and laughed lightly.

‘Huh?’

By the time I felt something ominous, Lee Hwa-yeon had already placed her hand on the terminal.

“Aw, I’m just kidding~ 14,000 Gold, I’ll pay right away. Do I pay with this?”

“Ah, just place your hand on the terminal.”

Lee Hwa-yeon placed her hand on the terminal with a smiling face that contrasted with her cold gaze from moments before.

Blue light flowed from the terminal and enveloped Lee Hwa-yeon’s hand.

The usage of hologram terminals used for payment at repair and appraisal businesses is simple.

The Awakened receiving the service places their hand, and I input the amount into Friendly Market’s system to complete it.

While I input the amount in the air and processed the payment, Lee Hwa-yeon just quietly watched me without saying anything.

It’s incredibly distracting, but I can’t exactly ask her to look elsewhere.

I stubbornly ignored that gaze.

[> ‘Friendly Appraisal’ payment completed

– ‘Judge of Holy Light'(S) appraisal fee 14,000G Ι Client: White Sword (Zone-South Korea)]

Only after the notification appeared safely did I raise my gaze to look at Lee Hwa-yeon.

“Payment confirmed. The Hidden Ability is-“

“Is there really something there?”

What kind of out-of-nowhere reaction is this?

“I didn’t really think there would actually be anything.”

Lee Hwa-yeon leaned back against the backrest and shrugged her shoulders.

‘Then why did you come?’

Don’t tell me I was really the objective?

“The Judge of Holy Light has a weapon-specific Skill called ‘Purification Judgment’.”

“……Purification Judgment?”

Curiosity appeared in Lee Hwa-yeon’s eyes.

“‘Purification Judgment’ can heal others’ status ailments with holy power. Every 10 strikes with the weapon accumulates a certain gauge needed for the Skill, and re-accumulation is possible after using the Skill.”

“Accumulation from 10 strikes, the activation conditions aren’t that difficult?”

Well, Lee Hwa-yeon, who’s always on the front lines, swings her mace around like a wooden stick.

The gauge would accumulate quickly.

“But how do I check how much has accumulated? The expression ‘certain accumulation’ isn’t precise, right?”

She’s right, but what can I do when this is all I can read?

I, who had been disguising myself as a shrewd and unyielding composed appraiser, was momentarily flustered.

That’s when it happened.

[⁕ According to search results from other Open Markets, ‘Judge of Holy Light’ accumulates 1% gauge per 10 strikes. While not the exact usage method, that’s what one seller noted :)]

[⁕ ‘Purification Judgment’ affects a wide range of over 10km radius and is effective against all status ailments below S-rank :)]

‘So sellers could write down things other than basic descriptions.’

This is truly a description that couldn’t be written without actually using it.

After this small realization, I naturally added as if I had known all along.

“1 percent gauge accumulates per 10 strikes.”

“So that’s one Purification Judgment per 1,000 total strikes? Hmm, the cost-effectiveness is too poor. And I don’t even know exactly what Purification Judgment is.”

“Purification Judgment can heal all status ailments below S-rank. The application range is said to be within a 10-kilometer radius.”

At those words, Lee Hwa-yeon made a strange expression then smiled broadly.

She seems to like it.

Even I, reading it, thought it was a Hidden Ability with good compatibility with Lee Hwa-yeon, but from the perspective of actually wielding it in battle, she’d know more certainly.

Anyway, regardless of whether Lee Hwa-yeon has good compatibility or not, my job is done.

I wanted to leave from before this S-rank Hunter with her terrifying presence even when suppressed and return to my cozy home.

“Appraiser, I have something I’m curious about.”

However, Lee Hwa-yeon leaned against the table and asked brazenly.

“You’re a Hunter, aren’t you, Appraiser?”

“That would depend on how you look at it.”

“Hmm, then do you know anything about Friendly Market?”

“……Isn’t it this building?”

I answered calmly, but I clearly sensed that I was screwed.

“Hmm, so that’s how you want to put it. Then you’re an ordinary Hunter who luckily became the owner of the first appraisal business to open in Friendly Market?”

“Of course.”

Damn, Lee Hwa-yeon came here with conviction, not assumptions.

That I’m connected to Friendly Market. No, maybe that I might be the owner of Friendly Market.

Lee Hwa-yeon smiled lightly and added words that were by no means light.

“You know what? S-rank senses are very keen. So we can immediately notice things like accelerated heartbeats when people lie, the sound of nervously swallowing saliva, anxiously shaking pupils.”

I can’t get more entangled here.

“My service ends here. Please leave now, customer.”

After the firm eviction order that I never could have issued if my face was exposed, I quickly got up and opened the entrance.

Silence flowed.

‘Suffocating.’

The tense atmosphere that only I could feel seemed to strangle my throat.

Eventually, Lee Hwa-yeon, who had been sitting quietly, pulled her robe over her head and let out a deep sigh.

“You’re quite cold. Can’t we talk a bit more? It’s not like I’m going to eat you or anything.”

“I’m busy. I have a lot to do.”

Lee Hwa-yeon responded smugly, in a tone as if she understood everything.

“Ah.”

“……Thank you for your patronage.”

“I understand, I understand. But still, to think there really was a Hidden Ability, how fascinating.”

Lee Hwa-yeon obediently stood up and approached the entrance.

‘Finally, time to get off work.’

But then.

“By the way, Appraiser.”

Lee Hwa-yeon, who had stepped on the threshold, stopped walking and turned back to look at me.

Then, with strangely narrowed eyes, she gazed down at me intently and asked.

“Since we don’t know if this Hidden Ability is real or fake, shouldn’t you come with me to verify it?”

……What is she saying?

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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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