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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24-Hour Friendly Market Specializing in Dimensional Items 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 entered 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 take off my mask, they forcibly removed it anyway.

And 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 suspicion of me though, 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.’

Since he happened to be out on the front lines, it was a bit disappointing that I couldn’t ask about Onak’s life and death… well, his well-being.

Anyway, I succeeded in entering Kona without bloodshed.

I decided to be under house arrest at Clara’s house until Echo arrived.

Clara said she’d been away from home for several years, but for an empty house, it was quite cozy, so it felt 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 fluffy feathers, looking at the scenario window.

At first I didn’t pay attention to it, but as I read carefully, something made me 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 are supposed to be steadily planted so they ripen deliciously when harvested.

Where did Agemor’s erosion, or ‘A-erosion’ for short, 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 situation of being at war, 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 where I was sitting and got up.

Opening the door forcefully, I made eye contact with a wolf beastkin standing there with a menacing expression.

…This is a very negative look, isn’t it?

“What’s the matter?”

Since I’m already in a position of being suspected, I made my tone very soft and gentle.

‘I need to act harmless.’

Filling my face with smiles was also part of the strategy.

Befitting the name of ‘Friendly Market’ manager, 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 until now, would have companions.

Well, strictly speaking, I do have 9 companions bound by the scenario’s ill fate, but since they don’t know me, I played dumb first.

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.

It wasn’t rebellion, but really, isn’t there no reason for me to go with him?

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 until now! But after you came, an intruder appeared. This must all be because you leaked information!”

Oh… one-sided suspicion with absolutely no logic to be found…

I didn’t even feel like refuting it, so I just blinked quietly.

But his gaze continued as if telling me to make some excuse, so I reluctantly said dumbly.

“But I was caught as soon as I arrived?”

“Stop making excuses and follow me! I need to verify this!”

“But 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 indignantly, but his eyes were too extraordinary to butt heads with.

‘Hmm, let’s just keep quiet and follow along.’

Anyway, my life – once I got on the scenario bus, there was no way it would be comfortable.

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 insects in the first place… it would be right that there aren’t any?

The wolf beastkin, detecting my chain of random thoughts, shouted in annoyance.

“Hurry!”

“Yes, yes.”

* * *

Unlike Casabl’s mossy and damp underground prison, Kona’s prison was nature-friendly.

Crossing unstable stairs connecting tree to tree, climbing ladders, and riding ropes that suddenly 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 with so many complaints was talking with an annoyed face toward another beastkin with cute ears.

“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 giant snake’s tail was swaying beneath her skirt hem.

A snake beastkin.

“Even when I threaten to bite, and even 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.

I glanced at my face, wondering if I looked scary compared to those cute ears, and was left speechless.

‘It’s a capybara.’

That gentle, good-natured face with a slightly long snout could only belong to a capybara, said to be the world’s most tolerant animal.

Just looking at it seemed to dissolve all resentment and make my heart feel drowsily relaxed.

‘But wait, how can there be capybaras in this strange dimension too?’

At this rate, shouldn’t there be sloth beastkin as well?

“Wanda, come here quickly and talk to them. 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 seemed incapable of expressing any emotion toward me other than irritation and contempt, shouted angrily.

“I’m a woman, human!”

Damn, I guess I really am a narrow-minded human full of prejudice.

Seeing my confusion, Wanda shook her head and strode forward with large steps.

“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 looked like they wanted to get rid of me as if I were a nuisance, so I followed without complaint.

Most of all, it hurt that James the capybara’s kind face was looking at me coldly.

After crossing a few more tree branches.

“Damn it, so what do you want!”

“…I told you what I want. I already 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, sluggish voice completely unaffected by the other’s anger.

“This isn’t a place you can just sneak into… Agh, seriously!”

Unable to contain their frustration, the beastkin let out a shriek and stomped their feet as if they were going to break the unbreakable tree.

“I don’t think that’s going to break it…”

Oh, same thought as me.

The owner of that powerless voice must also be the type who’s tired of life’s hardships and views everything with cold detachment.

‘But that voice sounds somewhat 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 a fierce-looking eagle beastkin with a thoroughly irritated expression.

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.

The guild leader Han Romi is the only healer among S-rank hunters.

Her skills are also cheat-level, and she’s saved nearly tens of thousands of people when large-scale Sudden Gates erupted, so anyone who doesn’t acknowledge Han Romi must be a spy.

Her title is even ‘Saint of Healing.’

The story of how her hair turned completely white during the process of developing her skills right after awakening her title is still a famous tale.

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 also had large-scale herb gardens and meditation gardens.

Looking at Verdant’s building revealed through 【Hunter Everyday】, it was closer to an arboretum, or rather, a recreational forest.

That’s how it looked from the outside, and the interior of the building resembled 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 person?”

Wolf beastkin Wanda roughly grabbed my arm, making me quickly lift my head.

“Come and check.”

Wanda began dragging me along roughly.

My E-rank body didn’t even have the strength to resist, so I could only be dragged along helplessly as she pulled 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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