24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 96

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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 96

Episode 96. Lost Puzzle Piece (2)

Without hesitation, I took off the ring and shoved it into my inventory before sitting obediently on the chair beside the bed.

I sat by the bedside to examine Park Ji-woon’s condition in detail, but I couldn’t concentrate at all.

All my nerves were focused elsewhere.

“Asmodeus, could you please move away a bit?”

“I don’t want to.”

A voice full of mischief that was both provocative and seductive.

Asmodeus was sitting on the floor with that fantastic face resting on my knees.

When I glanced down, those long eyelashes tried to steal my gaze once again, so I hastily looked away.

‘Am I crazy, seriously.’

This woman really doesn’t know how scary women can be.

And a three-piece suit that fits perfectly too – where on earth did she learn to wear something like that?

‘Get it together, Lee Hae-won!’

I barely managed to pull myself together.

I’m not particularly weak-willed, but whether it’s due to Asmodeus’s ability, I keep spacing out.

Still, I can’t just keep avoiding eye contact forever.

Asmodeus, who’s always attached to him, should be able to explain why Park Ji-woon ended up like this.

“You could talk like earlier, hehe. It was cute seeing a new side of you.”

“I absolutely won’t do that.”

“Hmm, what a shame.”

Asmodeus lightly pushed off my knees and floated into the air.

Floating in mid-air with legs crossed as if sitting on a chair, Asmodeus’s face still held traces of laughter.

However, the seductive fragrance that had been rising without restraint just moments ago had slightly subsided.

It seemed like now was the time for conversation.

“Why can’t Director Park Ji-woon regain consciousness?”

Of course, I couldn’t properly make eye contact with Asmodeus.

Good grief, I should buy a mental barrier item from the market.

As if having no intention of answering, Asmodeus smiled while narrowing those eyes.

Even so, it’s not like I have no guesses.

“Is it a penalty?”

“As expected, our Hae-won is so smart.”

I don’t know when I became gloriously part of Asmodeus’s ‘our,’ but my guess was correct.

This suspicious purple aura surrounding Park Ji-woon can’t be appraised.

If that’s the case, this didn’t occur within the scenario, and there’s a high possibility it’s related to a situation involving the hunters including Park Ji-woon.

But if this purple aura was caused by an item, it would naturally have been appraised.

‘The only things I can’t appraise are abilities of otherworldly beings like Asmodeus’s fragrance.’

I glanced at Asmodeus.

Perhaps having lost interest since I didn’t properly respond to the comment, Asmodeus was looking at me with a bored expression, but there didn’t seem to be any particular malice.

Asmodeus, one who has climbed the entire Tower.

Since even Park Ji-woon deals with this being carefully, I should also approach cautiously, but.

‘For now, let’s resolve my curiosity first.’

“What kind of penalty?”

At my question, the demon of lust shrugged and answered.

“There are various types of contracts. There are contracts that borrow the existence itself like me, and there are also contracts that only borrow abilities when needed. For reference, this is the latter. And I’m not the main party of this contract.”

“Then whose…?”

So Park Ji-woon had contracts with other beings besides Asmodeus.

Asmodeus was just the only one shown to me.

‘This old man didn’t show me everything either.’

Just as doubt began to well up about the contract I thought was formed through deep trust, Asmodeus continued.

“The ‘Musician of Sorrow.'”

“I don’t know who that is.”

“Hmm, well, both you and Ji-woon would be more familiar with another name. If you know the story of the underworld about the one who played the lyre to calm storms and led expeditions to victory, the one for whom all punishments stopped just to hear his performance.”

My eyes widened involuntarily.

Though I dropped it when the art style changed from volume 19, it was definitely a character from that manga any South Korean child would have seen at least once.

I raised my hand high like a student who knew the answer and replied.

“‘You ruined all the fun, take responsibility!’ right?”

“…No, what’s that? That’s scary…”

Even Asmodeus, who takes interest in all sorts of things, doesn’t know much about memes.

I felt unnecessarily embarrassed.

Asmodeus wiped away the bewildered expression and began explaining again.

“Anyway, the Musician of Sorrow calmed the storm, and Ji-woon received the penalty of falling into deep sleep as the price. Leaving without even a greeting after just working – what a boring guy.”

As if the very thought was tedious, Asmodeus shook her head and let out a short sigh.

Then she slipped her fingers through the rippling purple aura and stroked Park Ji-woon’s jawline.

At that truly satisfied smile, I flinched, worried about what Asmodeus might do.

“Compared to that, Ji-woon is really interesting. You know what? This is the first time I’ve seen Ji-woon sleeping like this. Hehe, isn’t it interesting? The sight of a hero who supports an entire nation sleeping so helplessly.”

That seems like a really dangerous preference?

Since I couldn’t bring myself to ask that, I nodded awkwardly.

I’ll probably never understand the thought process of a being that only pursues fun.

Asmodeus, who didn’t notice my complicated feelings, answered in a much softer tone.

“Anyway, it’s not dangerous enough to worry about. If it were that kind of situation, I would have stepped in long ago.”

“When do you think he’ll wake up?”

“The color of the aura has faded quite a bit. He should wake up soon.”

Asmodeus smiled while brushing back her hair.

I want to receive care from a woman like that too.

No, that’s not it… Anyway, it’s such a relief that Park Ji-woon just fell into sleep.

Though it’s a bit disappointing that the potions I brought after thoroughly shaking down Kang Yeon-hee became useless.

I stared blankly at Park Ji-woon, who was unconscious and deeply asleep.

To me it looks like a very deep purple, but since Asmodeus says it has faded considerably, I have no choice but to believe it.

‘It’s unfortunate that I don’t know the exact timing of when he’ll wake up.’

Once Park Ji-woon wakes up, I need to share the current situation and ask him to coordinate our stories.

Just because Kim Seol agreed to coordinate stories doesn’t mean I can feel at ease.

That’s when it happened.

Knock knock knock-

At the light knocking sound, I turned my head with heightened alertness.

“Well then, see you later.”

The moment Asmodeus transformed into a red butterfly and disappeared somewhere.

Kim Seol, who opened the door without waiting for an answer, got straight to the point.

“Come out. The village chief has come looking for us.”

“Why?”

“He came to ask for help. If we ignore a request for help when we haven’t even properly grasped the scenario content, it’s grounds for hunter license revocation.”

Kim Seol, who rattled off words like a machine gun, immediately left the room.

As I reluctantly got up to follow, Kim Seol stuck her displeased face through the doorway and muttered as if she really hated it.

“Ah, and put on that damn ring.”

* * *

The village chief of Laoko was an elderly man with a hunched back, probably not even 120 centimeters tall.

But the person standing behind the chief had a strangely familiar face.

“…Hmm? There’s a new companion!”

The man didn’t seem wary of me, the newcomer, and greeted me with a bright smile and a light bow.

My face twisted slightly in bewilderment, but thanks to the Palm Report’s effect—that is, my right hand continuously covering my face—I managed to hide my expression.

That large frame was impossible to forget even if I tried.

The person who rescued me on the day I awakened, when I got caught up in that Sudden Gate.

‘Well, if I think about it, calling it a rescue is a bit much.’

The person who encountered me walking on my own toward the Warp Gate guided by Manti and told me to keep walking straight.

A kind impression that contrasted with his massive build.

‘It’s Park Bo-bae.’

I should have properly checked the raid team roster!

Park Ji-woon and Kim Seol’s presence was so overwhelming that not properly checking the other Hunters was a mistake.

Since I’m wearing Brother’s face now, he probably won’t recognize me, but that’s a separate matter.

It’s just uncomfortable that I’m facing someone I’ve encountered before again.

Whether I was uncomfortable inside or not, Kim Seol pointed at me with a calm expression.

“This one is a merman… dispatched… I vouch for him. His name is…”

“My name is Orphe of the Abyss. I have appeared from the depths of the primordial sea to break the chains of fate that bind weak beings.”

This is maddening.

I was trying to say exactly ‘I’m Orphe, and I came from under that sea to help humans!’

At least I was lucky not to panic and blurt out weird names like Chun-ja or Black Flame Dragon.

The reason the improvised name sounded plausible was because I hastily borrowed it from the name of the being that supposedly put Park Ji-woon to sleep.

Park Bo-bae, who heard my answer, asked with a strangely serious expression.

“Do mermaids also get chuunibyou?”

“Don’t mind him. He’s crazy.”

Kim Seol’s casually thrown words almost made me tear up, but I maintained my concept and giggled.

Nothing is more absurd than giggling but having it come out as a sinister chuckle.

Park Bo-bae stared at me with disbelief for a moment, then subtly averted his gaze.

He seemed like he didn’t want to pay more attention to me, who was obviously strange.

‘How sad.’

Park Bo-bae politely changed the subject by gesturing toward the village chief.

“Anyway, what the village chief said during our inquiry seemed serious, so we brought him here.”

Park Bo-bae, Baekdan’s White Shield, was indeed famous for rescue activities—every word he spoke was that of a true Hunter.

The raid team members’ expressions grew serious at Park Bo-bae’s words.

“I am Minotayo, the village chief of Laoko. Uh, I heard you folks would help us, so I came here like this.”

The chief, who spoke like a principal giving a long speech, looked like he could barely stand properly.

Park Bo-bae carefully supported the chief and seated him at the table in the center of the inn.

“Uh, there’s something you folks need to know. This is, well, I’m not certain about it.”

“Yes, please tell us.”

“There’s a ship that the Kraken uniquely doesn’t attack, but, uh, it only happened once so I’m not sure…”

“Please speak.”

“My memory is hazy, so I don’t know if it’s right or wrong, uh.”

“Just say it.”

Only after seeing Kim Seol’s hair rippling in the wind pressure of magic—her patience having run out—did the chief finally speak.

“The Kraken, uh… doesn’t attack pirate ships.”

The Hunters showed curious expressions, as if this was news to them too.

Park Bo-bae, who had naturally taken a seat next to the chief, added a follow-up question.

“Pirate ships?”

“About 40 years ago, I think, there were pirates back then. Now they’ve dried up, but until then there were many pirates. In the old days, just to go out fishing once, well. It was really hard…”

“…Yes, and then?”

Kim Seol replied in a cold tone.

If he dragged his words out just a little more, she looked like she couldn’t hold back and would freeze the chief.

The chief scratched his chin with a trembling arm.

“I heard about it, but I don’t remember well. Yeah, a pirate who survived back then said this.”

“Please speak, I beg you.”

Hong Jae-in squeezed his eyes shut and urged him on.

The Hunters’ patience was reaching rock bottom after just a few words.

“What that pirate said back then was, uh… the important thing is, you see, the Kraken…”

Just when even I, absorbed in my Black Flame Dragon concept, was losing my composure and considering whether to make threats.

The chief nodded his head and spoke.

“He said it rummaged through the inside of the pirate ship. Uh, like it was looking for someone… like it was looking for something, that’s what he said, uh.”

“…The Kraken was looking for someone?”

The Hunters’ faces all hardened coldly.

What we realized was just one thing.

The Kraken doesn’t attack randomly.

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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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