24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 93

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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 93

Episode 93. Player Entry (6)

When she drew up her mana, I had a moment where my life flashed before my eyes, thinking she might be about to obliterate me.

But Kim Seol didn’t take any particular action and immediately gathered her mana back.

In Kim Seol’s eyes, which had turned black again, I could feel a different kind of ‘certainty’ from the wariness she’d shown until now.

It seemed like some kind of ceremony to confirm that she had properly verified the problem she’d been suspicious about.

“I have more than a few questions about how you’re here without receiving a scenario, but…”

Don’t ask.

I can’t tell you anything.

“Let’s leave that for later. You were first in contribution points on Floor 51, so you’ll pull your weight here too.”

Just as I was thinking it was fortunate she didn’t ask, Kim Seol turned me into a capable player without even asking for my consent.

Then, without giving me a chance to say anything, she placed her hand on the sandy floor and let pure white mana flow.

The sandy floor, which had been showing gentle wave patterns following the ocean’s flow, began to move unnaturally.

Precise mana flowed between the grains of sand and soon formed letters.

And what soon emerged above the sandy floor was the scenario content for this floor.

[Main Scenario ‘Karma’ (Zone-Laoko Ι Dimension-Nanus)

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Laoko appears peaceful, but it’s a village that has risen from great pain.

The people here try to survive by any means, but unknown monsters periodically appear to threaten their daily lives.

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Scenario Objective: Find the story sleeping in the depths of the sea.]

I stared at the scenario content sparkling silver-blue on the sandy floor for a long while before muttering blankly.

“There are no hints.”

“As you can see.”

Actually, I hadn’t stared for that long.

It was so short that it couldn’t have taken much time to read.

I grumbled with all my heart and sincerity.

“How unhelpful.”

“Same impression.”

Kim Seol sighed and added.

“As you can see, there are no hints. There’s no part that specifically connects it to mermaids either.”

“If it’s a story sleeping in the depths of the sea… wouldn’t the mermaids know something?”

“Maybe they do. Maybe they don’t. That’s how scenarios are.”

Kim Seol sounded frustrated, but I’m a novice with little experience dealing with scenarios.

Until now, I’d managed to solve things just by finding the right answer with what was given.

Of course, compared to the Floor 51 scenario I solved that way, this is surprisingly unhelpful.

No, honestly, isn’t this practically a declaration that they’re going to destroy our dimension?

As I was cursing Babel, I suddenly thought of another possibility.

“Kim Seol.”

“Just call me Kim Seol, please.”

“But could the sleeping story really be a ‘story’? Babel usually likes metaphors. It could be an item or a person.”

“The answer’s the same. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t.”

That last answer was close to irritation.

Just as I was about to feel hurt that my sincere effort to rack my insufficient brain seemed to be rejected.

I remembered the existence of helpers I’d briefly forgotten about.

“Ask the others. See if they’ve found out anything, even something trivial.”

“Ask who?”

Don’t we have that saying in our country?

Even a blank sheet of paper is better when held together.

“You can send shared messages to scenario participants.”

At my words, Kim Seol’s expression hardened again.

There may only be two heads here, but Floor 53 is actually a team battle.

‘That makes six people if I’m included, I guess.’

She looked like she wanted to ask how I knew that, so I pretended not to notice and gestured for her to hurry up and send a message.

Eventually Kim Seol gave up on asking and turned her gaze to empty air.

Seeing her keep her head still while only her eyes moved busily, she seemed to be sending messages.

‘Ah, I want to watch too.’

I smacked my lips in disappointment.

Since I exist here as a merchant rather than a participant, I can’t even watch the scenario, let alone spy on messages.

I wonder if there are any Babel Kid items in the market that would make this possible?

Just as I was harboring vain hopes, Kim Seol spoke in a rather serious tone.

“They say they found out about Laoko’s pain.”

“Oh, what do they say?”

I visibly brightened.

‘Laoko’s pain’ mentioned in the scenario content that had little substance.

I’ll have to hear the details first, but it’ll be a very important clue for solving a scenario that doesn’t have a single decent hint.

Come to think of it, I haven’t even properly checked who’s participating in this strategy team, but whoever they are, they seem to be gathering information efficiently, which is somehow reassuring.

Kim Seol continued while rapidly moving her eyes.

“They apparently found it in documents in the village. About 110 years ago, Laoko village residents set out to subjugate a kraken and were wiped out?”

“Didn’t it say why they tried to subjugate the kraken?”

“It’s a fishing village now, but back then Laoko was a fishing-centered city. But every fishing boat that went out to sea encountered the kraken and sank, so they couldn’t stand it anymore and the city launched a subjugation effort. The final subjugation had 24 casualties total.”

“So the kraken has been alive for over 110 years?”

“Is that what’s important right now?”

“I’m curious.”

When the canary chirped as if responding to my words, Kim Seol squeezed her eyes shut with an irritated expression.

Come on, there’s a kraken that’s been around for over 110 years – isn’t that amazing?

When you hear stories like this, isn’t it natural to wonder how long squids usually live?

Kim Seol shook her head and changed the subject.

“Anyway, after that the city almost reached the brink of collapse. All the people responsible for the community died, so it took quite a long time to recover. The kraken also went quiet for a while, but as soon as they went back out to sea, the kraken appeared again – that’s all.”

I pondered the story of Laoko that I’d heard through Kim Seol.

The current Laoko in the scenario would be focusing all its efforts on survival, but the real Laoko would have been destroyed by the kraken’s influence.

‘The kraken must have been a device to destroy this dimension.’

Then that small village would definitely have a tower that couldn’t be climbed.

I was about to tell Kim Seol to send a message asking about the tower, but suddenly thought I was going too far and quickly shut my mouth.

‘Ugh, saying that much would be giving away too much…’

Unless the Tower of Babel is in a position clearly visible from Laoko village, there’s no need for me to bring up something like that when you can’t even see a trace of it.

If the tower were visible, they would have brought it up first anyway.

And I can secretly search for the tower after parting ways with Kim Seol.

Of course, before clearing the scenario, like in Ganashia!

‘I can’t become a raccoon washing cotton candy again.’

I steeled myself and nodded seriously.

Just then, Kim Seol’s eyes, which had been reading the air, widened greatly.

Just as I felt fear at her wax doll-like appearance with only enlarged eyes, Kim Seol shouted in a rather calm tone.

“They found Park Ji-woon.”

I could barely react properly and just nodded my head.

True to being revered as the number one in rudeness, she just blurted out this and that without any filter.

She seemed quite relieved at the news that Park Ji-woon was safe.

Compared to my first impression, there was even a sense of disconnect.

‘Is she actually the type who’s quite affectionate?’

Looking at it from various angles, isn’t this a typical tsundere vibe?

Her appearance and behavior too, like someone who really jumped out of a novel.

I’d feel a bit disappointed if all the image Kim Seol had shown in the media so far was just image-making.

Well, Kim Seol was known as a guild leader who greatly cherished her colleagues.

Though there was too big a gap from what she showed in the media.

Haebing had the smallest number of guild members among the 7 major guilds, but was known to have the best welfare.

There were even rumors that despite nicknames like Ice Princess or Cold Beauty not fitting her, she memorized all her guild members’ names.

‘No, I just didn’t want to shatter my fantasy about Kim Seol…’

Unaware of my complicated feelings, Kim Seol suddenly stood up and prepared to move.

“How did they find him?”

“He drifted to the shore unconscious. They say he hasn’t woken up yet… He’s being treated in Laoko.”

“Wait, wait, wait.”

We’re in the middle of waiting for Captain Sminyak, where are you going?

…I didn’t need to stop her.

Because Dolipina, who had appeared silently at some point, blocked us with a resolute face.

“You cannot go. The King has finished his preparations.”

Just as Kim Seol frowned and was about to speak, Dolipina opened her mouth once more.

“You must not keep the King waiting.”

What is it with these merfolk having so many things you can’t do?

At the very resolute tone that showed no room for negotiation, a vein popped out on Kim Seol’s straight forehead.

But I also think following Dolipina is the right choice now.

Because there’s no guarantee the merfolk will let us back in here again!

Kim Seol needed to remember the duties of a scenario participant once more.

I whispered in the ear of Kim Seol, who was confronting Dolipina with a fierce expression.

“Let’s meet the King first. This opportunity might not come again.”

Kim Seol bit her lips, suppressed her emotions, and slowly nodded her head.

* * *

“Saving lives that drift in the sea is the mission given to the merfolk of Sminyak.”

My expression naturally hardened at the merman’s words filled with incomprehensible goodwill without rhyme or reason.

We’re 10-year veterans of Babel society.

We’ve learned through experience that there’s no goodwill without reason.

It would be different if he was openly wary like Dolipina, but unconditionally welcoming us with a good-natured smile feels awkward.

Even that imposing white-haired top-knotted merman being the King was no exception.

‘Ah, why is she acting like that?’

I glanced at Kim Seol and squeezed my eyes shut.

Kim Seol, standing with one leg cocked and a face full of suspicion, clearly had an attitude of ‘go ahead and try being kind.’

The only S-rank Hunter under the sea would unfortunately be of no help in this situation, so it’s right for me to step forward here.

I asked carefully.

“Um, so your name is…?”

“I am Nasmith Sminyak.”

“Nasmith Sminyak…?”

“Nasmith, Sminyak.”

Even hearing it again, the shock was the same.

It’s the strangest name I’ve ever heard in my life.

But I can’t openly show surprise in front of the person himself, so instead let me give an awkward smile.

“Seeing your smile makes me think we did well to save you, human.”

“Yes, well… thank you.”

Nasmith was looking at me and Kim Seol warmly with a very benevolent face.

They say you can’t spit on a smiling face, but it’s so burdensome I want to spit and run away.

“What brings you to Sminyak?”

“We were rescued from the Kraken’s territory.”

“What good fortune. The Kraken starts its activities from dawn, so if a little more time had passed, you might have faced great danger.”

“We’re fortunate, that you saved us.”

I, the only socialized human in this 2-person party, smiled awkwardly. The other human, Kim Seol, didn’t even agree.

However, Nasmith was the stronger opponent.

Whether mana flowed in Kim Seol’s eyes or not, Nasmith calmly suggested in a gentle tone.

“I heard you must leave soon, but if you have any questions, I’ll answer them.”

Is your future dream perhaps to be an apple tree?

‘Why is he trying to give so generously?’

His excessive kindness makes me suspicious, but when he says to ask questions, I’m not one to miss the opportunity.

I glanced sideways at Kim Seol, who was still glaring at Nasmith with eyes full of wariness.

“Do you know about the story sleeping in the depths of the sea?”

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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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