24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 56

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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 56

Episode 56. The Arrow That Left the Bowstring (15)

Anton collapsed to the ground upon hearing the news.

Unlike me, who just stood there blankly unable to express anything, Anton wailed and pounded the ground as if it were his own tragedy.

That sight seemed to express my complicated feelings on my behalf, so I quietly stayed in place.

Listening to Anton’s crying, I had this thought.

I couldn’t keep my resolve to stay one step back like a spectator.

Remy, to whom I had given my heart in such a short time.

Anton weeping for the departed child, Clara whom I had directly saved, the kind turtle beastkin Gilliard, the rabbit warrior Onak, and Echo who smiled brightly and welcomed me.

‘I never intended for this to happen.’

It seems I’ve already come too far down a path of no return.

After crying for a long while, Anton and I buried Remy’s body properly in a sunny spot.

In the forest where Anton and I had first met.

Since it’s a secluded place with few people, Remy won’t have to hear any more cruel words.

Anton knelt in front of the small mound that was too modest to call a grave and quietly murmured.

“Goodbye, Remy.”

Ah, the greeting “goodbye” seems even sadder because it’s so ordinary.

Anton, whose eyes were swollen from crying, looked back at me with a forced smile.

“If you have anything you want to say, please do, Sir Hae.”

I stepped forward.

Honestly, I wanted to say I would eliminate every human in this dimension.

But making him hear such words even in death seemed too cruel, so I settled for gently stroking the small mound as if patting his head.

It may not be as soft as your hair, but I hope gentle grass grows here.

I swallowed those words silently.

Anton slowly stood up, clasped his hands together, and bowed his head.

“O Oerisa, Mother of Light, please take this small soul into your embrace. Death is not an end but a new beginning, and darkness cannot obscure the light. Though this flesh returns to earth, the soul shall find eternal peace in your embrace. Rest in peace in Oerisa’s light.”

What he murmured in a choked voice sounded like something you’d hear at a funeral mass.

After finishing his words, Anton smiled faintly.

“I wanted to at least do this much. It doesn’t seem like we could hold a funeral at the temple.”

“Do they normally hold funerals at the temple?”

“Yes, but Remy wasn’t affected by divine power… so the priests avoided him.”

That damn divine power.

There was a reason for the priest’s attitude of not wanting to waste time.

Though it was already past, another corner of my heart felt heavy.

Then, struck by a sudden thought, I looked at Anton and asked.

“…Wait a minute. Why wasn’t Remy affected by divine power?”

Since the beastkin also worship Oerisa, it seemed like all races were influenced by divine power regardless of species.

Why only Remy?

Anton, who seemed troubled by this as well, quietly answered.

“I don’t know. They said Remy was like that from when he was very young. But does it matter? When the baby is born, they were going to take Remy to Kona…”

As if tears were about to burst forth again, Anton pressed his lips tight and turned his head sharply away.

He’s probably crying silently even now.

I stepped away several paces, thinking to give Anton some time.

Then I leaned against a large tree nearby and sat down, gazing quietly at Remy’s grave.

Would Remy have lived if divine power had worked on him?

Though there’s no point in hypotheticals anymore, I keep thinking of “what if.”

Maybe it’s because this is the first death among those I remember having conversations with.

…While thinking this, I suddenly tilted my head in confusion.

‘Huh, wait.’

Something seemed about to come to mind.

Divine power.

I felt like I was forgetting something important related to divine power…

Feeling uneasy, I rummaged through my mind.

Let me retrace my steps so far.

Then I remembered the scenario participant sharing message that Ahn Yeon-seo had sent to Han Romi.

[■ Babel System > Scenario Participant Sharing Message

– Han Romi, the raid team is currently at an impasse, unable to find a way to enter the sanctuary. There’s a massive wall of divine power surrounding Prorobel that completely blocks approach. The raid team plans to move to Reikam, a nearby village. Please join us at Reikam instead of Prorobel. -Ι Ahn Yeon-seo (Dimension-Earth I Zone-South Korea)]

“Ah-!”

I suddenly shouted and jumped to my feet.

“Wh-what’s wrong?”

Anton, startled as well, looked around frantically with a frightened expression.

Ironically, it was only after the mixed-blood Remy had passed away that I realized the important hint.

The meaning of the ‘unwithering sprout.’

The wall of divine power surrounding Prorobel.

That means only mixed-bloods unaffected by divine power can break through that wall and enter Prorobel.

* * *

“Wait a minute. What did you say?”

Anton frowned as if he couldn’t understand after hearing my explanation.

Well, I would have made the same expression if I were in Anton’s position.

I explained again calmly.

“Long ago, beastkin and humans made a peace treaty and got along well, but Agemor got angry and spread a fog that destroyed the object that sealed that treaty, which is why their relationship became so bad.”

“…Yes.”

“To restore that object, it needs to be taken to Prorobel to receive the god’s blessing again, but only mixed-bloods unaffected by divine power can enter Prorobel.”

“Yes…”

“Do you understand?”

Anton, who had been immersed in grief just moments before, blinked his eyes as if confused by the sudden influx of vast information.

Well, it’s a conclusion derived from combining the basic scenario information with Gilliard’s story, so it would be quite complex to accept all at once.

Anton, who had been rolling his eyes, finally opened his mouth cautiously after a long while.

“So… you’re saying if Remy had been alive, he could have solved all of this?”

“Exactly. The fact that divine power didn’t work on him actually had great significance.”

“Ah…”

Anton, understanding my explanation, sighed.

Though we didn’t say it, we both probably felt the same way.

Because it was tragic that Remy, who had only suffered in all kinds of cold treatment, was actually someone who could reconcile everyone.

Because it was unbelievable that this situation of killing each other could end in an instant.

Anton muttered bitterly.

“If we had told Remy, he would have definitely been happy. That there was a place perfect for him.”

“That’s right.”

Remy, who had never found his place anywhere and was only ignored, would have definitely been happy.

If we had asked for help, he might have proudly said we could touch not only his head but also his ears.

I muttered with a sinking feeling.

“But now there’s nowhere to ask for help, since the only beastkin-human mixed-blood would be… the baby in Clara’s womb.”

But there’s no time to wait until the baby is safely born and grows up enough.

I steeled myself coldly.

I had forgotten for a moment, but the situation was too dire to spend sufficient time mourning.

Agemor’s erosion is still sweeping across this floor, and if we fail to clear Floor 51’s scenario like this, our dimension will also face a destruction ending.

I needed a Plan B.

Babel must have prepared a way to clear this scenario even without mixed-bloods.

Even if it’s extremely difficult, there’s no other choice.

Then Anton spoke with a puzzled tone.

“There is one.”

“Huh?”

I was so flustered that my words came out strangely.

It was hard to believe, but Anton’s expression was so innocent that I asked stupidly.

“Where?”

“In Kona. That’s why I was trying to take Remi there. I heard there’s a mixed-blood child living happily in Kona.”

“Kona?!”

“Yes, didn’t you know?”

It was even a familiar place name.

I stammered and asked slowly.

“Wh-wh-who is it?”

“What was the name, I definitely heard it…”

Anton touched his chin with a face full of contemplation.

A clue about the mixed-blood child that must remain somewhere in Anton’s memory.

If I could just learn that name that would save both races and this dimension, and furthermore save our dimension too, I could solve half the problems we’re facing.

But the name that came from Anton’s mouth after much thought was completely unexpected.

“Echo… was it?”

I opened my eyes wide and asked in surprise.

“Echo?!”

That small, cute cat beastkin, the adorable Echo?!

At the suddenly familiar name, I couldn’t react easily and stammered.

Anton nodded and continued.

“Yes, from what I heard from Clara, she’s a very lively child. It seems there’s no discrimination in the beastkin village. I thought it would be nice if Kong and Remi could grow up in such a place too.”

He had no idea that I had saved Echo and promised to be lifelong friends.

I stared blankly at Anton’s face, lost in clearly justified wistfulness.

Anyway, my destination became clear.

“I should go meet Echo.”

“Wait, Lee Hae!”

Anton urgently grabbed me.

The hand holding my arm was trembling slightly.

“Are you thinking of taking that child to Prorovel now?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“You can’t make a child do such dangerous work. That child doesn’t know anything…”

“Anton.”

I cut off Anton’s trembling words.

I understand Anton’s feelings completely.

He’s someone who fell in love with a beastkin in a situation where the world incites mutual hatred, and hasn’t lost his caring heart.

He must think of Echo as an ordinary child, not as a key to the scenario.

But reality isn’t so forgiving.

“Remi died because of this situation where beastkin and humans hate each other.”

Unable to refute my words, Anton closed his mouth heavily.

“If this situation continues, Echo, Clara and your child, and other mixed-blood children to be born might face the same fate.”

“……”

“I may not know Remi as well as you do… but if it were Remi, she would definitely have stepped forward to take on this task. Echo would be the same.”

Yes, Echo would definitely do that.

She’s a pure child who, despite being afraid of me as a human, said she didn’t understand why beastkin and humans had to fight.

If she could help stop them from fighting each other, she would clench her small fist and help with anything.

Leaving behind Anton who silently hung his head, I took out the Green Stream from my inventory.

Seeing the Green Stream appear from thin air, Anton startled and stepped back.

“What is that?”

“This is my horse.”

Leaving Anton unable to respond, I climbed onto the Green Stream.

“I’m going now. See you again soon, Anton.”

“…Alright. Take care of yourself, Lee Hae.”

After giving Anton a light farewell, I looked down at the small grave mound.

A crude wooden plank was stuck above the grave that Anton and I had clumsily made.

[Remi rests here]

This wouldn’t be the last time.

Thinking that, I quietly murmured.

“Goodbye, Remi. See you again next time.”

Next time I’ll play with you longer.

I put my foot on the pedal and left without lingering.

Now it was time to return to Kona.

While driving the Green Stream at maximum speed, I forced myself to swallow my guilt.

Guilt for not being able to protect Remi, and guilt for having to burden Echo with this responsibility.

‘Sorry, Echo.’

But it was something only that child could do.

In this continent of hatred where everything is crumbling, the only one who sprouted new life.

Only Echo, the unwithering sprout.

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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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