Chapter 10 – Store Opening Event (3)

‘Why… are they even selling that?’

I stared blankly into the air, mouth wide open in shock.

“Why are you suddenly like this?”

“Huh?”

“Did getting fired from your part-time job also rip out your brain?”

Even while roasting me with that sharp tongue of his, Gook Min-sung looked at me with a tired, empty expression. His shoulders sagged, his eyes hollow.

‘He really looks like a half-dead corpse.’

And of course, I couldn’t exactly come out and say, “Hey, actually, I can buy that ‘Fallen Falcon’s Last Emblem’ thing.”

I hadn’t said anything about awakening yet, and frankly, I didn’t want to get dragged into whatever hell the #1 guild dealt with every day.

Plus—there were twenty sub-quests. Just because you got one emblem didn’t mean everything would suddenly be solved.

But still… something inside me squirmed.

‘If—just if—’

If the marketplace I can access—the one from other dimensions—was selling all the items needed to clear the 49th floor…

‘Wouldn’t that solve all 20 sub-quests at once?’

My scalp actually tingled.

I had to climb to the 50th floor anyway to find clues about my brother.

If the top hunters couldn’t clear 49F… couldn’t I help them?

Which meant I needed more info on the 49th floor.
But asking Min-sung too directly would make him suspicious.

So I approached more carefully.

“What other items do you guys need besides that emblem? Not that I can help—I’m just curious.”

“That’s confidential, I told you.”

So much for ‘careful approach.’
Min-sung already looked suspicious.

“Why the sudden obsession with the 49th floor?”

“Just curious!”

“You’re not even awakened. Go wash your feet and sleep.”

“…This jerk?”

Before I could snap back, his phone rang.

And the exhausted office-worker aura around him instantly vanished—replaced by the cold, sharp presence of a B-rank hunter.
His aura turned icy.

“They keep calling me on weekends…”

He muttered like a man about to commit murder, then answered brightly:

“Yes, team leader~! It’s Min-sung~!”

“…”

“Of course~! Yes, yes! Oh really? Ah, yesss~! Got it~!”

This… disgusting switch into corporate cheerfulness.
Even after awakening, he was still just a salaryman.

He hung up and stood abruptly.

“I gotta go. Guildmaster wants a meeting.”

His expression was pure despair. I couldn’t help laughing.

“You’re laughing?”

“…”

Oh no. His eyes were halfway gone.
He was about to snap.

“I gave up my precious nap to come eat with an unemployed bum—”

“Do you ever get a break? Even on weekends?”

“…Try awakening. Weekends disappear.”

Pretty sure that had nothing to do with awakening and everything to do with being a corporate slave…

Min-sung waved his hand with a tired sigh.

“Anyway, I’m leaving. If anything happens, call me. And when you move, ask for help. Don’t haul everything alone.”

He grimaced like he embarrassed himself just for saying something nice.

Still, that was Min-sung.
Rude mouth, but the one who supported me through the worst year of my life after my brother died.
We never needed sweet words between us. That’s why no one ever misunderstood our relationship.

We were simply each other’s people.

So I said it casually, as if mentioning the weather:

“Oh yeah. Hey, Min-sung.”

“What?”

“I awakened.”

“…Huh?”

“I’m E-rank. Cool, right?”

“Get lost. We’ll talk later.”

And then he left without even pretending to care.

I expected at least one follow-up question…

‘Weren’t we having a wholesome, emotional moment just now?’

Left alone, I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly.

Fine. I’d go home and dig into 49F info myself.
Sure, Korea wouldn’t give an E-rank like me anything.

But—

‘I’ve got Saemi and Manti.’

My interdimensional network is extensive.

[⁕ I cannot provide any information related to floor scenarios :)]

“Shut up, you psycho.”

I downed the weird yuzu-pearl-whipped-cream drink.
Which… surprisingly tasted good.

***

Later

[New Messages]

I know nothing about the 49th step. I have only climbed up to the 64th myself. If you wish to know, you might ask a warrior who has cleared the 49th floor. — Manti (Dimension-■■)
If you obtain the answer, might you perhaps let me taste another new flavor of ‘Churu’? As a gourmet, I desire an even more diverse feast for my palate. — Manti

“Good cat.”

I guess giving him two flavors of Churu had earned his loyalty.
And he really is smart—he always picks up on what I want to know.

‘Pretty sure the store sells tuna-flavor Churu too.’

And since I was going anyway, I should scratch his neck.
He’d like that.

[⁕ The irregular dimensional market will open in 5 days. :)]

Wow, look at Saemi being useful for once.

‘Is she getting competitive toward Manti?’

I typed back:

[Thanks. I’ll bring a new Churu flavor. See you at the next market.]

I should probably use polite language with him—he’s practically a high-tier lifeform.

Anyway…

“So… how much is that emblem?”

I flopped onto my bed.

Even if I couldn’t get all 20 sub-items, just bringing that emblem might help a lot.
This was pretty much the only way my flimsy E-rank body could support anyone.

‘Isn’t this literally what a top-tier support class does? Supplying items?’

As I was thinking:

[⁕ Displaying the shop selling ‘Fallen Falcon’s Last Emblem’.]

Open Market: ‘Freya’s Fortress’ – Manager: Odd

Fallen Falcon’s Last Emblem—2,300G
Sealed Abyss—14,000G
Knight’s Final Breath—380G
(More)

“…What?”

I blinked.

“2,300 gold?”

That’s ridiculous.
It’s a ruined kingdom’s emblem!
2,300G is literally 2.3 million won in Earth money.

“Is the thing wrapped in gold thread or something?”

A moment ago I was ready to single-handedly uplift Korea’s national power by buying all the sub-items and saving the 49th floor.

But thousands of dollars each?
No, thanks.

I’d go bankrupt before saving anyone.

‘Should I run 36F a few more times?’

Though people must already be suspicious about the sudden spike in Blue Jade Rings…

[⁕ Please complete the ‘store opening’ quest before attempting new tasks :).]

Oh, right. I still hadn’t finished that quest.

I’d have to return to 25F.
That middle checkpoint that I had fled from after feeling guilty about crushing someone’s home.

‘Maybe I should’ve opened the store right away.’

According to Min-sung, every guild—including Aegis—is investigating that building now.

And it’s already been several days since it appeared.

“Ugh… I’m scared for the future.”

If I open the door now, something is bound to happen—and attention will spike even more.

And as a simple civilian, I hate that level of attention.

“What if I just don’t do the quest—”

[⁕ If you do not complete the quest, your growth will be restricted 🙂 Babel may regulate awakening who do not grow.]

“…Fine, I’ll do it.”

Even though I could survive financially without growing, my first goal was to reach the floor where griffons appear.

I needed to grow.
Even if I didn’t get any real stats out of it.

‘But… regulate? Seriously?’

Plenty of awakened people never climb the tower at all.
Would’ve been nice if they’d cracked down earlier—then I wouldn’t have had to sell my brother’s belongings to survive.

I sighed.

“First, I need an item to hide my identity.”

**[Available Item]

Veil of the Fifth Shadow—4,990G] **

… Is this an end-of-season clearance sale?

Fancy name, weirdly specific price.

Since the dimensional market opens in five days and I can run 36F twice…

‘I can earn enough to buy it and finish the quest.’

Time was fine.

[Current Gold: 938G]

… Except my wallet wasn’t.

I muttered bleakly:

“Guess I need to run 36F two more times.”

***

But then there was a problem.

“…I have to fill out what?”

Wearing a cheap mask, I stared blankly at the day-leader of today’s 36F speed-run team—a guy with a rooster-comb hairstyle.

He smiled brightly.

“Starting today, anyone entering 36F has to fill out a registration form!”

He handed me a tablet.

[Babel Management Bureau – 36F Raid Registration Form]

Applicant: Kim Seong-hoon
Type: ☐ Inspection ☐ Training ☑ New Record Attempt
Team Size: 5
Team Members: Write name, awakening rank, title, and guild.