24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 9

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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 9

Episode 9. Opening Event (2)

[⁕ You have not completed the Store Opening Quest. The Quest will be completed when you open the store door and enter :)]

I can’t do it right now.

No matter how shameless I might be, I don’t have thick enough skin to brazenly push through all those people and enter the building.

I turned around and moved as far away from the building as possible.

I didn’t have the courage to stay any longer at the scene of human persecution that Sam-i had caused.

“Not today, absolutely not.”

Hiding behind a relatively secluded pillar and observing the situation, I realized that completing this Quest today was hopeless.

People had gathered densely around the low two-story sky blue building, and from the rooftop came the sound of broken potion bottles being picked up, mixed with crying sounds.

‘To think I’d cause trouble even before opening.’

Just as I was covering my face with both hands and sighing.

[A new message has arrived. Would you like to check it?]

“Wow, so this is how you write messages too.”

An elegant tone that contrasted with the delicate crying voice.

It was a reply from Manti, to whom I had sent a message hoping they might know information about the 50th floor and above.

‘They didn’t eat the churu with such dignity though.’

Right, even if today’s official reason for coming here was the offline market opening.

‘I also need to find out the truth about the Gryphon Feather.’

I pretended not to hear the wailing from the rooftop and registered churu in the market sales slot.

[Open Market ‘Friendly Market’ Ι Manager ‘Lee Hae’]

Less than 10 seconds after listing the items, a notification rang that all the churu had been sold.

Then Manti’s reply also arrived.

[- This has a different character from salmon. This taste that subtly yet intensely embraces the tongue… truly fascinating. Your discernment is indeed excellent. Ι Manti(Dimension-■■)]

“…”

Getting shocked every time I receive a reply is unavoidable.

I tried to suppress the shock and quickly typed a reply.

[I have something I’m curious about. Do you also have a Tower of Babel where you are? How many floors have you cleared?]

‘Does this mean they’re climbing the 64th floor?’

When humans are struggling at the 49th floor, cats fought their way up to the 64th floor…?

Could species differences really be this significant?

[That’s amazing. Have you ever encountered a griffin on the floors you’ve cleared?]

Sam-i’s words weren’t wrong.

I don’t know which dimension Manti is from, but griffins are monsters that only appear from the 55th floor, right?

It would be good to get confirmation from more beings.

[Do you happen to know any beings from other dimensions?]

“Ah.”

Right. I didn’t only meet this one inside the Gate.

I almost cut ties thinking they were talking about meeting in a Sudden Gate.

Come to think of it, Manti’s words might be the right answer.

The Irregular Dimensional Market I went to from the Tutorial Floor was full of beings I’d never seen before.

[⁕ System check results show that the Irregular Dimensional Market is scheduled to open in one week :)]

Sam-i provided a well-timed assist.

I thought they only caused me trouble, but they also bring useful information. Seems like they matured in 5 minutes.

So the 75th floor access privilege wasn’t only used on the Tutorial Floor.

One week gives plenty of time too.

‘I definitely need to visit the Dimensional Market next week.’

[- If you obtain any new flavors, be sure to inform me. I shall eagerly await that day. Also, if I could see you again at the next irregular market, it would be most delightful. Ι Manti(Dimension-■■)]

After I sent a thank you reply, no more messages came from Manti.

“So it appeared on the 55th floor.”

I couldn’t confirm what other dimensions were like, so it’s not certain, but at this point my goal became clearer.

Brother, who possessed a feather from a monster no Earthling had ever seen.

If Sam-i’s claim that I’m the only being on Earth who can buy and sell items from other dimensions is true, this is a very suspicious situation.

How did Brother obtain items from other dimensions?

If Brother had a title that gave him the authority to buy items from other dimensions.

…If Brother could go to other dimensions.

‘I need to reach the 50th floor range.’

Everything ultimately comes down to the problem of climbing the Tower.

But South Korea is still stuck at the 49th floor.

It’s not like I, with my weak body, can merrily climb the Tower, so I can only hope that the top rankers occupying positions in our country will clear the way.

In that case.

“I need to find out exactly why they can’t break through the 49th floor.”

I muttered seriously while stroking my chin.

[⁕ Manager, aren’t you going to clear the Quest?]

“You keep your mouth shut.”

I snapped sharply and started walking.

“Hueng, my potions…”

Behind me, the Alchemist’s crying echoed like background music.

I’m really sorry, unknown Alchemist.

Please wait just a little.

Once I level up my Dimensional Door skill… I’ll definitely get you an exclusive contract at our store…

* * *

Surprisingly, I do have friends.

Very close friends who know very well about how the Tower operates.

“Why are you so late?”

“The princess has arrived.”

I replied dryly and plopped down across from him.

For reference, I don’t have princess syndrome – it’s my nickname.

Combining my sharp tongue with “princess” to make Lee Princess, or in English, Dis Princess…

A nickname from my imaginative high school days that still follows me around.

“You said you wanted anything, so I added pearl and whipped cream to yuzu tea?”

“Creative, dude.”

Skin darkened from being obsessed with soccer throughout high school and short-cropped hair.

And that disgusting face that always grins mischievously when looking at me, full of playfulness.

The bizarre drink order is a bit annoying, but I’m still glad to see him.

I grinned and asked.

“Guk Min-seong, what have you been up to?”

B-rank Hunter Guk Min-seong, working in the Strategic Planning Team at Aegis, the top guild.

This crazy bastard got a job at the Babel Management Bureau saying he’d live up to his patriotic name, then couldn’t stand the civil servant life with no overtime pay and ran away.

He was in the same class as me for three straight years, and during college, we drank together once a week – my closest friend.

Since it was his day off, he lured me out saying he’d buy me coffee.

Guk Min-seong let out a deep sigh first before opening his mouth.

“These days, well, overtime work. Hey, did you see that building that appeared in Ba-man-jang? The video went viral, right?”

“…Oh, I saw it.”

I feel guilty. Very guilty.

I unconsciously start fidgeting with the ends of my hair.

I asked back nonchalantly, pretending nothing was wrong.

“Wh-what’s that about?”

“The higher-ups are making me suffer trying to figure out what that thing is. We try to go in but the door won’t open, and even when we attack it, it’s perfectly fine. I’m wondering if Babel is doing some kind of event or something.”

That’s actually the Friendly Market, my store…

I just gulped and pretended not to notice Guk Min-seong’s serious expression as he muttered.

“Even though it looks like people are selling stuff randomly in Ba-man-jang, the Management Bureau assigns and manages all the spots. We need to maintain order. The Alchemist who was in that spot where the building appeared is now holding a one-man protest in front of the Management Bureau.”

I… I see.

If you could just wait a little, I could set up a proper store for you…

I tried to soothe my guilty conscience and changed the subject.

“Hey, but why can’t our hunters clear the 49th Floor?”

“Hah…”

Oh, that sigh was even deeper than before.

Questions related to the 49th Floor seem to be a story that makes him sick no matter how many times he hears it.

“This is classified, so you can’t tell anyone.”

The Tower conquest status of each country becomes one criterion for measuring national power.

Our country also has many guilds that have entered the 49th Floor, but information about what kind of scenario is given on the 49th Floor is absolutely not leaking out.

While conquest methods for the 25th Floor and below are scattered everywhere, from the 40s onward, it’s completely sealed with National Intelligence Service-level security.

But this guy is my friend Guk Min-seong.

“Hey, what’s the point of having friends? This is where you should vent your frustrations.”

Guk Min-seong’s advantage is that he has a loose tongue and trusts people easily.

Especially if it’s me, who’s maintained a relationship with him for over 10 years.

“That’s true too…”

After hesitating for a while, Guk Min-seong lightly flicked his finger.

At that moment, the voices of other people sitting around us disappeared without a trace.

He has the ability to freely control sounds within a 100-meter radius, especially specialized in creating sound barriers.

This means he’s ready to spill everything without me having to coax him further.

“The 49th Floor scenario is capital recapture.”

“Capital recapture?”

“Recapturing the capital of the old Kingdom of Falkon that was conquered by a dark mage.”

“Recapture? Our country’s hunters are strong, aren’t they? Even Aegis challenged it, so why can’t they clear it?”

At my innocent question, Guk Min-seong sighed once more.

“First problem is endless monster waves. Not small fry, but only A and B-rank monsters. Sometimes monsters rivaling S-rank appear too.”

“Damn.”

That means S-rank hunters can’t leave the front lines.

Moreover, if it’s monster waves, there would be at least dozens of them, meaning more than half the forces can’t leave the battlefield.

“And the second problem – only 15 people can enter. We’re already struggling just to block the monster waves. But the biggest problem is separate.”

“What is it?”

Guk Min-seong pressed his forehead as if just imagining it was annoying.

“You have to receive and solve 20 sub-quests from NPCs.”

“Sub-quests? What’s that?”

“Each NPC wants completely different things. There’s an NPC asking for forgotten Kingdom Relics, another NPC telling you to offer relics at some temple and bring back the Sword that comes out, NPCs asking for Magic Materials, NPCs asking for escort…”

“Uh, hmm…”

“They’re all fucking annoying.”

Yeah, that’s annoying.

“Finally, the monsters have Stat Absorption abilities.”

“Crazy.”

“That’s the real worst variable. The longer the battle goes on, the weaker hunters become and the stronger monsters get. So a monster that started as B-rank runs away and comes back as S-rank in the next wave.”

What kind of damn scenario is this?

I immediately understood why Guk Min-seong, who’s treated as somewhat of an elite in the Strategic Planning Team that handles Tower conquest, looks like this.

“So even Seo Jae-hyuk can’t last until the end. He can’t maintain S-rank until all the NPCs’ sub-quests are cleared.”

Guk Min-seong frowned deeply and drained his coffee in one go.

My impression was simple.

“No wonder they can’t clear it.”

“Right.”

Who would have known that the curse of nine would apply in the Tower too?

Having spilled all the top-secret information, Guk Min-seong started rambling complaints.

“I mean, if a kingdom fell, then it fell. ‘Last Emblem of Fallen Falkon’? How are we supposed to find something like that, seriously.”

I nodded and sympathized with the pitiful office worker’s complaints.

To advance beyond the 50th Floor, our country’s hunters have no choice but to develop and grow to achieve prosperity and military strength.

How long do we have to wait to enter the floors where Griffin appears?

No matter how unique a title I have, there’s nothing I can do right now.

Ding!

[⁕ Open Market ‘Freya’s Citadel’ is selling ‘Last Emblem of Fallen Falkon’ :)]

“…Huh?”

If only Sam-i hadn’t suddenly brought this new information out of nowhere.

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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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