24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 46
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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 46
Episode 46. The Arrow That Left the Bowstring (5)
So, entering Kona itself wasn’t a problem.
Of course, as soon as I stepped into the village entrance, all the beastkin pointed their swords, spears, and bows at me while shouting “It’s a human-!”
Even when I said I had trauma and absolutely couldn’t remove my mask, it was forcibly torn off.
I did hear the sad insult that “humans are an untrustworthy race.”
‘This person risked his life to save me!’
Thanks to Clara’s tearful plea, I was able to buy enough time to explain that I had ‘saved Clara, previously saved Echo, and was acquainted with Onak.’
That didn’t completely remove their suspicions about me, so someone had gone to fetch Echo.
I was curious about how she was doing, but I never expected to see her again in such an unexpected situation.
‘I hope Onak wasn’t hurt.’
It was a bit disappointing that I couldn’t ask about Onak’s well-being… not life or death, since he was apparently out on the front lines.
Anyway, I succeeded in entering Kona without bloodshed.
I was to be under house arrest at Clara’s house until Echo arrived.
Even though Clara had been away from home for several years, for an empty house it was quite cozy, making it feel more like an amazing vacation than house arrest.
Anyway, Clara also left to request a visit from the turtle beastkin.
I was lying sprawled on a bean bag filled with soft feathers, looking at the scenario window.
At first I didn’t pay attention to it, but as I read carefully, something became curious.
‘Where exactly did Agemor’s erosion begin?’
Seeing how the scenario was urging me to properly conclude the story’s ending, ‘Agemor’s erosion’ probably wasn’t just a simple one-time event.
Plot threads should be consistently planted so they ripen deliciously when recovered.
Where did Agemor’s erosion, shortened to ‘A-erosion,’ begin, why did it occur, and who caused it?
“If I uncover those things one by one, maybe some answer will emerge…”
I drew out the end of my words as I buried myself in the bean bag.
My body felt drowsy and sleepiness was washing over me.
Despite the surrounding wartime situation, it was a very peaceful afternoon.
It would be perfect to sleep just until Clara comes back…
Bang bang-
“Ah, seriously!”
Even when I try to rest a bit, there’s not a single person, no, beastkin to help me out.
I irritably kicked off from my spot and stood up.
Opening the door forcefully, I made eye contact with a wolf beastkin standing there with a menacing expression.
…This is quite a negative look, isn’t it?
“What’s the matter?”
Since I’m already in a position of suspicion, I made my tone very soft and gentle.
‘I need to act harmless.’
Filling my face with a smile was also part of the strategy.
Befitting the name of ‘Friendly Market’s’ administrator, the wolf beastkin flinched at my kind reaction.
However, the wolf beastkin didn’t forget his duty, hardening his expression sharply as he spoke.
“Did you by any chance bring companions?”
“…Uh, no?”
It was such an unexpected accusation that I stumbled over my words a bit.
There’s no way someone like me, who has solved all trials alone, would have companions.
Well, strictly speaking, I do have nine companions bound by the scenario’s twisted fate, but since they don’t know me, I played dumb from the start.
The wolf beastkin frowned at my confident answer and seriously informed me.
“A human rummaging through the herb garden was caught. You need to come with me right now.”
“Why do I have to…?”
I reflexively asked back.
Not in defiance, but really, isn’t there no reason for me to go along?
Just because a human from this place was caught doesn’t mean Lee Hae-won, a good Samaritan… no, a Korean, needs to get involved.
But perhaps my pure and reasonable question irritated him, as the wolf beastkin scrunched up his expression and growled fiercely.
“Never once has a human infiltrated Kona before! But after you arrived, an intruder appeared. This must all be because you leaked information!”
Oh… completely one-sided suspicion with no trace of logic…
I didn’t even feel like refuting it, so I just blinked quietly.
But his gaze continued as if demanding some explanation, so I reluctantly said awkwardly.
“But I was caught as soon as I arrived?”
“Stop making excuses and follow me! I need to verify this!”
“I’m under house arrest so I can’t go out?”
It was an innocent answer, but the wolf beastkin scrunched up his expression.
“I’m the one who ordered that house arrest, you idiot!”
“Idiot?”
Hey, when did you even meet me to treat me like an idiot?
I glared at the wolf beastkin in indignation, but his eyes were too extraordinary to butt heads with.
‘Hmm, let’s just keep quiet and follow along.’
Anyway, in my life, once I boarded the scenario bus, there was no way it would go smoothly.
I swallowed a sigh and gathered my things.
Perhaps my reluctance showed, as the wolf beastkin snapped irritably.
“You’re not a slug, so hurry up.”
‘Isn’t that slug discrimination?’
I guess there are no slug beastkin in this world.
Since slugs are mollusks anyway… it would be right that there aren’t any?
The wolf beastkin, sensing my rambling thoughts again, shouted in annoyance.
“Hurry!”
“Yes, yes.”
* * *
Unlike Casabl’s mossy and damp underground prison, Kona’s prison was nature-friendly.
Crossing unstable stairs connected between trees, climbing ladders, and riding ropes that inexplicably hung down between trees.
Anyway, after climbing high enough that anyone with acrophobia absolutely couldn’t come, we arrived at the top of a massive tree that must have grown for over a thousand years.
Cage-like prisons hung from ropes on each thick branch.
As I stood there with my mouth agape at this completely unimaginable sight.
Two figures were visible beyond the branches.
One beastkin was talking to another beastkin with cute ears, face full of irritation as if having many complaints.
“I brought him, Vespa.”
At the wolf beastkin’s words, the beastkin called Vespa whipped around and shouted.
“Why are you so late? That crazy human won’t listen!”
As Vespa spoke, a massive snake’s tail was swishing beneath her skirt.
A snake beastkin.
“Even when I threaten to bite, or when James tries persuasion, nothing works.”
“What? James stepped in but couldn’t find out anything?”
The beastkin who had been quietly listening to complaints was apparently named James.
Compared to those cute ears, I wondered if the face looked scary, so I sneakily checked and was left speechless.
‘It’s a capybara.’
That warm, good-natured face with a somewhat long snout could only belong to a capybara, said to be the world’s most gentle animal.
Just looking at it seemed to dissolve all resentment and make my heart feel drowsily relaxed.
‘No, but how can there be capybaras in this strange dimension too?’
At this rate, shouldn’t there be sloth Beastkin too?
“Wanda, come here quickly and talk. That human over there might figure something out.”
“……Wanda?”
At the name Wanda, I doubted my ears and turned to look at the wolf Beastkin.
The wolf Beastkin, who knew how to express nothing but irritation and contempt toward me, shouted sharply.
“I’m a woman, human!”
Geez, I guess I really am a narrow-minded human full of prejudice.
Seeing my confusion, Wanda shook her head and strode forward.
“Follow me.”
Could you go a bit slower? Aren’t you overestimating human legs too much?
I wanted to grumble, but both Wanda and Vespa seemed to want to get rid of me like I was a nuisance, so I followed without complaint.
Most of all, it hurt that James the capybara’s kind face was looking at me coldly.
How many more tree branches did we cross?
“Damn it, so what do you want!”
“……I told you what I want. I said it, but you keep asking……”
“That’s all? Then explain how you snuck in here!”
“I just…… came in……”
Two voices could be heard from somewhere.
One seemed to be going crazy with frustration, while the other was a powerless, slow voice completely unaffected by the other’s anger.
“This isn’t a place you can just sneak into…… Agh, really!”
Unable to contain himself, the Beastkin let out a shriek and stomped his feet as if he’d break the unbreakable tree.
“I don’t think that will break it……”
Oh, same thought as me.
The owner of that powerless voice must also be the type who’s tired of life’s storms and views everything coldly.
‘But the voice sounds kind of familiar.’
“This way, human.”
I, who clearly have the name Haewon, followed the wolf Beastkin’s unfriendly guidance and slowly walked toward where the voices were coming from.
And the moment I saw the face of the captured person.
‘Crazy.’
“Don’t they give water here……? I’m a bit thirsty……”
That woman casually asking for water from the fierce-faced eagle Beastkin who was seething with anger.
Pure white hair flowing down to her waist, and pale skin.
Indifferent eyes as if she had no interest in the world.
I stood there with my mouth agape.
‘It’s Han Romi.’
Han Romi, the leader of Guild ‘Verdant’, was trapped inside a wooden cage.
* * *
Guild ‘Verdant’.
Unlike other guilds that boasted overwhelming offensive power, this guild secured 6th place in guild rankings with only supporters.
Guild leader Han Romi is the only healer among S-rank hunters.
Her Skills are cheat-level, and she’s saved nearly tens of thousands of people during major Sudden Gate outbreaks, so anyone who doesn’t acknowledge Han Romi is a spy.
Her title is even ‘Saint of Healing’.
The story of how her hair turned pure white during the process of developing her Skills right after awakening her title is still famous today.
Since the guild leader is an S-rank supporter, Verdant under her command is also a group filled with dozens of healers, Alchemists, healers, and other supporters.
Perhaps because of this, the guild building even had large-scale herb gardens and meditation gardens.
Looking at Verdant’s building revealed through , it was closer to an arboretum, or rather, a recreational forest.
That’s just the exterior, but the interior of the building looked like a large-scale yoga center.
Anyway, seeing the leader of such a large guild trapped in a cage was quite shocking……
“Hey, do you know this guy?”
Wolf Beastkin Wanda roughly grabbed my arm, making me quickly raise my head.
“Come and check.”
Wanda began roughly dragging me along.
My E-rank body had no strength to resist, so I could only flutter along as she grabbed and led me.
Then I suddenly realized something.
‘Wait a minute.’
I’m showing my bare face right now?!
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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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