Chapter 13 — BaMan Branch (2)

[⁕ Good morning, Administrator. Today is the day of the irregular Dimensional Market :)]

The moment I opened my eyes, Saemi was already nagging me.

“I know, I know.”

I kicked off my blanket with a grumpy stretch.

‘I just wanted ONE day to sleep in…’

Yesterday I ran around from the 1st floor all the way to the 12th.
I was exhausted to the point of death.

All because of that cursed title advancement quest.

From the moment I awakened, I should’ve known—
Babel Tower knows nothing about “taking it easy.”

And yet they expected ME—someone who only has “Trader’s Mark” to rely on—to visit every floor from 1 to 48.

‘Having to start from the 1st floor—wasn’t that a bit much?’

Do you know how hard it is to convince newbies who are fresh off the tutorial that I’m not suspicious and they should buy ONE potion from me?

Very hard.

***

[⁕ The Dimensional Market opens in 2 hours. Please move soon so you won’t be late :)]

“I SAID I know!”

I snapped back and grabbed my toothbrush.

Outside the bathroom window, I could see—

‘Wow. It’s already chaotic this early.’

A huge blue warp gate standing like a giant pillar—
That was the view from the BaMan Branch.

Three days ago, I moved into the second floor of the Friendly Market’s new sky-blue building.

I still wasn’t used to seeing hunters wandering around outside in all kinds of strange outfits.

Well, at least I no longer had to pay rent—that was a plus.

I washed up quickly, tied my hair back, threw on my robe, and headed downstairs.

I yawned loudly when I reached the first floor—

“Ah! Administrator!”

The workshop door burst open with a bang, and the alchemist wearing a stain-covered apron popped out.

Her bright and cheerful greeting caught me completely off guard.

“Good morning, Ms Kang Yeon-hee.”

“You didn’t go home today?”

She beamed at me, waiting for my answer.

Was this really the same woman who had cursed out the management bureau and protested with a truck?

The day I’d shown her the building and offered her a shop space, she signed the contract on the spot.

And the very next day, the terrifying, furious alchemist I’d met at the Bureau appeared in front of my building looking like a completely different person.

Apparently, her natural face was quite gentle.

‘When her rage meter fills, she transforms.’

Since I didn’t answer right away, she asked again cheerfully:

“Where are you going? Going home?”

This was my home.

But since I hadn’t told her I lived on the second floor, she probably assumed I’d stayed up all night.

No need to explain it, so I casually said:

“Yes, I have work today.”

“Oh! The potions you wanted—I sorted them in the back!”

With morning energy that could power a city, Yeon-hee opened the workshop door and pointed at the stacked boxes inside.

I had placed an order beforehand since I needed things to sell at the Dimensional Market.

Basically… wholesaling.

But the problem was the QUANTITY.

I said 10 would be enough—but this looked like… nearly 100.

“All of these are B-rank! They’re my newest formula—they work GREAT! I used a new ratio this time!”

Her confidence was loud—but her hands were also trembling slightly.

So she WAS nervous.

Well, today was the official opening of her new shop after all.

Still, that didn’t mean I could do anything to help.

***

[⁕ Administrator must leave for the irregular Dimensional Market today :)]

‘YES, I KNOW. STOP.’

How many times must Saemi remind me?!

I loaded the potions neatly into the market’s sales slots.

Then, in the tone of a kid sayin, “I’ll go to school now,” I said:

“I’ll head out for a bit.”

“Yes! Have a good trip!”

Yeon-hee replied calmly while attaching price tags to potion bottles.

A new message window popped up.

[⁕ You may visit the 75th Floor’s irregular Dimensional Market using ‘Trader’s Mark.’
Would you like to go?]

I nodded, opened the back door, and stepped out.

Come to think of it…
It had been a long time since someone told me, “Have a good trip.”

***

75th Floor — Irregular Dimensional Market

I’d expected it to be empty like last time, but—

The moment I arrived, my ears were attacked by noise like a bustling flea market.

Guess because I’d already opened a market here once, they didn’t give me time to prepare mentally.

Following the golden arrow, I reached a shabby stall—very different from the Friendly Market building.

‘Well, it IS a street stall.’

It wasn’t open every day, and you never knew when it might appear, so I couldn’t complain.

A tattered cloth sign read:

[Friendly Market]

Right then, I realised—
BaMan Branch didn’t have a sign.

“I guess I should put one up later.”

Muttering to myself, I ducked into the stall—

“Mya.”

—It is truly delightful to see you again. How have you been?

A pair of bright blue eyes sparkled up at me.

“Minty!”

I practically shouted with joy.

The cat was lying under the counter, clearly waiting for me.

His fur was a little squished—cute in a way that contradicted his dignified manner of speaking.

“Were you waiting for me?”

—A deep friendship transcends words, does it not?

‘Yeah, right.’

More like a deep friendship built on premium tuna cat treats.

But my hand was already pulling a tuna-flavoured treat out of my inventory.

Minty’s tail twitched as soon as he saw it.

After sniffing it dramatically, he finally began licking it with delicate care.

He might speak like a pompous ancient sage, but in front of a cat treat, he was just… a cat.

“Myaaaaa—”

—A faint, ocean-deep flavour spreads beautifully. Different from the salmon treat before.
A masterpiece that may even surpass the previous one.

“Glad you like it.”

If he knew these were sold at human convenience stores for a couple of dollars, he’d probably break into our dimension in an instant.

While I watched his swaying tail, I asked:

“Minty, did you get the list I asked for? The 49th floor sub-items?”

“Mya.”

—Naturally. I went through considerable effort for you.

Minty pointed at my feet with a paw still sticky from the treat.

There was a small scroll there.

I scratched his chin gratefully.

“As expected. You can have the whole treat as thanks.”

“Mya—!”

—Such generosity moves me deeply. Our bond grows yet stronger.

“Yeah, yeah.”

Our bond = cat treats.

Nothing deeper.

I unrolled the scroll.

This list was essential—
I needed the 49th floor cleared so I could get to the 55th.

[Items Required for 49F]

• The Last Crest of the Fallen Falcon
• The Sealed Ring of the Dark Sorcerer
• The Ruined Temple’s Altar Stone
• The Royal Library’s Key
• The Ninth Prophet’s Crystal Orb
• The Bloodstained Prayer Scroll
• …

“…”

I was beginning to rethink this plan entirely.

There were TWENTY items.

I always assumed it was a lot, but seeing the list made it feel even worse.

“How am I supposed to find all these?!”

These weren’t the kind of items you could farm in one place.

“Mya, mya.”

—According to the warrior who climbed that floor, the difficulty was unprecedented.
They succeeded only after more than forty attempts.

“So it’s THAT bad?”

I’d never been to the 49th floor, so I could only rely on rumours.

“…What ARE you, Minty? How did your kind clear these floors?”

Minty ignored me and pressed the empty treat packet with his paw.

Right.
Maybe it was my human arrogance that assumed my species was superior.

Still, how did a four-legged creature manage that?

I opened my mouth to ask more—

“Hmm…”

A low voice made me turn.

A new customer stood in front of the stall.

“Oh! Welcome!”

I stood up instinctively.

‘Dog…? No, wolf?’

A pointed snout, sharp fangs, glowing yellow eyes.
Fur-covered arms ending in claws.
Constantly twitching ears scanning for danger.

‘A werewolf…?!’

My throat went dry.

Doing business with a non-human species was completely new territory.

Minty looked like a normal cat, at least.
This guy looked like he could eat me in one bite.

‘He won’t bite me if he doesn’t like the product… right?’

An E-rank body like mine would be nothing but a snack.

I needed to be confident.

“Are you looking for something?”

The werewolf didn’t answer—instead, he picked up a potion bottle and inspected it.

His yellow eyes shone as he held it to the light—
Not browsing.
Evaluating.

‘If he thinks it’s bad, he’ll smash it… I KNOW he will—’

I forced a polite merchant’s smile.

The werewolf growled low.

—Where did this potion come from? I’ve never seen it.

“It’s from my dimension. Made by an alchemist under exclusive contract.”

God, even his breathing sounded threatening.

—The fragrance is good. A health potion?

“Yes, B-rank health potion. Very popular where I come from—usually sells out fast.”

The werewolf seemed to smile—
Then abruptly stopped.

That faint smile still packed the lethal aura of a predator.

He stared at me so intensely I swallowed hard—

—I’ll buy them all.

A system alert popped up:

**[> Transaction Complete

• 100 × B-rank Health Potion sold.
  Buyer: Khan (Dimension – ■■■■)]**

He bought EVERYTHING.

The instant he touched the counter, all the potions vanished.

And—

[Current Gold: 3,198G]

The gold appeared instantly.

A huge spender.

My anxiety evaporated in one second.

“Thank you, sir!”

He could probably rip me apart in two seconds, but money is money.

Big spenders are ALWAYS welcome.

[⁕ Anyone who can access the 75th floor can also use the Open Market.
Please hand them your business card to advertise :)]

Business card?

‘I have business cards?’

The moment I thought it, one materialised in the air.

While I stared blankly at the Friendly Market logo, the werewolf held out his hand.

Before I could think, I placed the card in it.

—I will remember Friendly Market.

He walked off without hesitation.

Only after he disappeared did I let out a breath.

“Wow…”

I really just traded with someone from another dimension.

And SOLD OUT completely.

‘Today is a good day.’

Way better than waking up in pain after climbing twelve floors.

“Maybe…”

Then I heard another customer.

“Got any health potions?”

The next customer looked human.

I almost cried in relief, but kept my merchant dignity.

“Sorry, I’m sold out.”

He sighed deeply.

“I see.”

He looked exhausted. Something must’ve happened.

But with nothing left to sell, I couldn’t help him.

He turned slowly to leave.

His cloak fluttered from a sudden breeze—

And that’s when I saw it.

“Excuse me!”

He stopped and looked back tiredly.

“What is it?”

No potions? No problem.

I could buy more from another stall later.

I had to stop him.

“Could I talk to you for a moment?”

Because on the back of his cloak—

Was the exact emblem listed under
“The Last Crest of the Fallen Falcon.”