24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 75

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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 75

Episode 75. The Flower Language of Reconnaissance is Regret (1)

Exactly two days remain until Floor 53 opens.

I yawned so wide my mouth nearly split as I checked my inventory.

Since Friendly Market was thriving in business, quite a lot of gold had accumulated, and I had become an adult with the financial power to buy whatever I wanted.

So what was filling my inventory?

‘Isn’t this just a wilderness adventurer starter pack?’

In addition to the existing Nokgacheon and potions, there were items like spare clothes, a tent, sleeping bag, flashlight, and such.

Because today is the day I go on the preliminary reconnaissance of Floor 53 that I promised Park Ji-woon!

During the time Babel explicitly designated for rest, I have to take a different path from others.

“Ugh, I don’t want to go…”

They say hardships endured in youth create chronic ailments in old age.

I certainly decided this after deep consideration and don’t regret that decision, but now that it’s upon me, I can’t help but sigh deeply.

Most of all, I’m a bit scared.

On Floor 51, when I turned off Merchant’s Mark to check the scenario, how many times did I see my life flash before my eyes?

This time I absolutely won’t turn off Merchant’s Mark, no matter what happens.

‘But there are “what-ifs” in this world.’

Though I hope not to use it, I also purchased an expensive item in case I’m exposed to danger.

First, for defense, there’s one brooch that’s so flashy I absolutely don’t want to wear it around.

[Guardian’s Mirror Brooch (A)

A magic brooch that detects attacks toward the wearer and automatically generates a mirror shield, reflecting attacks back to their original position.

After 3 uses, cracks appear in the mirror and it breaks.]

The dazzling golden brooch carved with someone’s unknown face looks uncomfortable just to look at, but it was quite a popular item.

It ranked high in market search results when I applied the ‘best sellers’ filter.

For someone like me who sorts by most reviews when online shopping, it was a pretty good reference point.

[■■■ Magic Tower Scroll Department Attack Magic Scroll No. 113425 (A)

Self-defense attack magic scroll. When used, the 5th Circle basic magic ‘Ice Arrow’ activates. Can be recharged when mana is depleted.

/Hidden Ability/ Crafted in ring form for convenient carrying.]

Originally I wanted to use something like Fire Ball, a passive magic from fantasy worldviews.

But since Fire Ball was 3rd Circle, I chose something that looked more powerful.

Well, I’ll be using it when my life is hanging by a thread, so the higher the number, the better it should be.

I haven’t tried either item so I have no idea what they feel like, but at least I won’t get instantly killed.

‘Right?’

Suddenly feeling like I’d raised a flag, I shook my head.

Since I won’t be turning off Merchant’s Mark anyway, I won’t have occasion to use these items.

Still, my anxiety probably comes from the vague fear of not knowing what kind of place Floor 53 is.

As I let out a deep sigh drawn from the depths of my core in lamentation, Alessandro asked with concern.

“Do you really not want to go that badly? Then couldn’t you just not go?”

“It’s not that simple a problem.”

“I’ve been living in this world for quite some time now, but I still often find it difficult to fully understand your thinking.”

For someone saying that, he seems to have adapted pretty well.

Still, since he’s someone who worries about me, I decided to be a bit kinder.

“To be precise, I don’t want to go.”

“…Isn’t that the same thing in the end?”

This old man will never know how heartbreaking it is when kindness gets ignored.

Leaving behind Alessandro who couldn’t understand my sincerity, I straightened my clothes.

It was time to go.

“Make sure to pack your lunch properly.”

“I packed it.”

“Just in case, I also prepared a snack bundle for when your mouth gets bored.”

Alessandro hurriedly thrust forward a small pouch that had been on the dining table.

Isn’t this totally like a mom packing food for her high school senior?

Where did the dignity of a knight commander go? Alessandro had become just an uncle worrying about his nephew’s meals, and somehow that seemed pitiful.

Still, I should accept what’s given.

I took the ornate floral-patterned bundle of unknown origin and put it in my inventory.

Reassuring.

Alright, now I’m mentally prepared!

They say when a cup is half full of water, you should say it’s half full, not half empty.

I’m not completely prepared, but I’m about half ready, so I’ll just vaguely think I’m prepared and head out.

Perfection isn’t my style.

‘Let me send a message first before departing.’

[I’m going now. I can be contacted from inside too, so if anything happens, please contaact me]

“Argh!”

“What’s wrong!”

“I made a typo!”

Perhaps the momentary tension was pointless given my answer, as Alessandro shook his head.

I glared at the message window, resenting my finger that had pressed the send button without giving me time to fix it.

After deciding to establish a close cooperative relationship with Park Ji-woon, I had kindly promised to report before the reconnaissance.

So I had him purchase items through Friendly Market and even generated transaction records.

Anyway, it was the historic moment of sending the first message.

‘A typo of all things.’

I acted so competent and mature in front of Park Ji-woon!

This one typo won’t ruin my image, will it?

[> New Message

– If a dangerous situation arises, you may come out immediately. Have a safe trip. Ι Manager Park Ji-woon (Dimension-Earth)]

It was a businesslike reply that made my worry seem pointless.

Park Ji-woon’s Babel nickname is also ‘Manager Park Ji-woon.’

Really, should I say he’s upright for being so unchanging, or boring?

Anyway, I took a deep breath and said.

“I’ll be back.”

“Come back without getting hurt.”

Alessandro casually patted my shoulder a couple times.

Then he rolled his eyes around awkwardly, and since that didn’t suit his build at all, it seemed to ease the tension in my shoulders.

I responded with a voice mixed with laughter.

“Let’s go out together.”

“…Me, why me?”

I looked at Alessandro who was suddenly flustered, then added in an incredulous tone.

“You need to go to your house, Alessandro.”

Since our house is spacious, he eats there, works there, and even does settlements there, so Alessandro seems to have lost the concept of landlord and tenant.

Alessandro completely wiped away his worries and sighed blankly.

“Ah.”

* * *

The tired-looking Babel official returned my license and uttered the customary greeting.

“May you have a successful conquest.”

It didn’t sound like a voice that genuinely wished for success at all.

Well, this employee is just a shrimp caught in the crossfire due to the sudden appearance of ‘Lee Hae’, so I can’t blame the staff.

Since I’m the real culprit.

I deliberately put on a kind and gentle smile as I received my license.

Ever since Park Ji-woon said he’d handle the Tower of Babel entry record management, I’ve been able to use the Warp Gate quite confidently.

Though presenting my Hunter License to the Babel officials standing guard in front of the Warp Gate was still nerve-wracking.

But that’s nothing compared to what I’m about to do.

I took a calm deep breath and stepped into the Warp Gate.

‘Maybe some kind of empire. Or a village of different races like Kona?’

I think I briefly wondered what the scenery of the 53rd floor would look like after passing through the blue light.

However, the moment the blue light faded and I arrived at a completely unfamiliar place.

“Huh?!”

What is this sound.

“What is this!”

It was Lee Hae-won’s voice, losing her sense of reality as she panicked at the water that had risen up to her chin.

A floor that I could barely reach by standing on tiptoes, and waves rippling below my chin.

The fluffy clothes that Alessandro had carefully washed became soaked and damp.

The fairly cold water seeped through the gaps in my clothes, spreading a chilling coldness.

I couldn’t even see anything in front of me.

It was so dark that it was hard to distinguish anything except for the unpleasant humidity.

And suddenly something soft, thin, and elongated touched my lips.

“Ugh, pfft. Eww!”

I didn’t want to digest something I didn’t even know what it was, so I shook my head violently.

I almost lost my balance in the process, so I frantically grabbed onto my core.

Fortunately, I didn’t fall into the black water, but my patience diminished a bit more.

“I really hate this.”

I wanted to run away immediately without even guessing where this place was.

Barely suppressing my desire, I comforted myself and opened my inventory.

‘Flashlight, flashlight.’

I was glad I brought the wilderness adventurer starter pack.

I raised my hand high and took out a flashlight.

It was regrettable that I didn’t bring a waterproof flashlight, but this was my only lifeline right now.

When I clicked the flashlight switch, the space I was in came into view at a glance.

“…What?”

At first I thought it was a cave.

However, it didn’t take long to realize that it wasn’t a bumpy stone ceiling, but a tilted ceiling made of dark wooden materials.

The rafters of the ceiling, which were clear traces of civilization, looked precarious in various ways as if they had absorbed moisture for a long time.

I began to calmly look around.

The place where I was barely standing was a very small room.

But it wasn’t a place with enough hints to guess anything else.

Just broken wooden planks, a single light bulb fixture hanging from the ceiling, and some seaweed floating around.

‘Huh? Seaweed?’

…I guess it would have been fine to just digest it.

Anyway, this place was definitely originally an empty room.

Unable to find anything in particular, I turned my head to look for other clues.

What caught my eye was a door with a round window.

Through the half-open door, only pitch-black darkness was visible.

However, the moment I saw the door, I had an intuition.

“No way.”

I hurriedly headed outside the door.

No, to be honest, it wasn’t enough to say I moved hurriedly.

Not only was it impossible to walk quickly due to water pressure, but I’m not a seal either.

I felt like using the ‘Selkie’s Hide’ that I had once discovered in the market.

Swimming was impossible in the first place because of the unidentifiable objects bumping into my body under the murky water.

It’s not that I can’t do it.

It’s just impossible.

‘Really.’

Carefully stepping with my toes and looking outside the door, I discovered a corridor stretching long on both sides and identical doors.

And straight ahead.

“…Crazy.”

A small window that I could barely look through by standing on tiptoes.

What I could see beyond it was a strange landscape.

Rough reefs scattered randomly, coral reefs of murky colors soaked in darkness, and a school of sardines passing by the window.

I asked the air in an absurd tone.

“Am I underwater?”

There’s no one to answer, but I don’t really need it anyway.

The setting of the 53rd floor is the sea.

No!

It was underwater.

You’d be an idiot to deny this after seeing it.

Old-fashioned doors with round windows, and the scenery outside the windows.

Just combining these two things makes it clear where I am.

‘A sunken ship.’

I blankly watched an unfriendly-looking unidentified fish pass in front of me without batting an eye and muttered.

“…I’m screwed.”

I’ve been screwed in most situations so far, but this time there are personal circumstances.

Let me correct what I said earlier.

I can’t swim.

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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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