episode_0329

The path to the black market is very simple.

The 3rd floor of the largest, old, and shabby building in Building F.

A store that sells products at a slightly higher price than the stores next to it.

When you enter there, you are greeted by a man with a common look that you would see anywhere.

“Welcome.”

An ambiguous greeting that is neither friendly nor unfriendly.

“Look around slowly.”

With those words, I approach the man who has reduced his interest in this area and speak out what I have prepared.

“I’m in a hurry, so let’s use the bathroom.”

This is the first slang to open the door to the black market.

The man looking up with blunt eyes asks.

“The big one or the small one?”

“both.”

At the promised answer, the man steps aside and points to the door behind the counter.

“… “Go in and turn left.”

When you open the closed door and enter, a narrow hallway appears under dim lighting.

And if you walk a little further from here, you will come across two paths dividing into left and right.

“right.”

Here you have to turn again and move in the opposite direction from what the man said.

If you go to the left, you will find a real bathroom.

Another door at the end of the road on the right.

When you go inside, there is a large magic circle carved in the center of the room.

That’s the entrance.

A teleportation magic circle heading to a black market hidden somewhere in Korea.

After putting on the mask I had already brought over my face, I stood in the center of the magic circle.

Scatters magical power beneath your feet.

As a considerable amount of magical power is devoured, the magic circle begins to glow softly.

Shuuk

A world stained black as if all the lights had gone out.

As the light of the world blinks again, the scenery before my eyes changes in an instant.

Gloomy skies 365 days a year.

The faint smell of a gutter passing the tip of your nose.

Alleyways tangled like a spider’s web.

And the dark and gloomy atmosphere that encompasses the whole thing.

finally.

“Buy Scroll! “I have all the scrolls that are useful for running away!”

“Hey, don’t you need a transformation potion? Just looking at his face, it looks like he’s a vicious criminal!”

“I have everything except what I don’t have!” “Just look at the price first!”

The loud solicitation, reminiscent of Dottegi Market, pierces your ears.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been here.”

The last time I came was 3 or 4 years ago, so it’s been quite a while.

Despite this, the black market landscape did not change at all.

what… , in fact, it may be correct to say that it cannot be changed.

This is not a space created naturally, but a space artificially created by someone.

This landscape will not change until the creator changes his mind.

Street vendors occupy every corner of the street.

I walk on the broken asphalt road where their heated solicitation is taking place.

Items piled up on the carpet so dirty that you wonder when they were washed or even if they were ever washed.

It’s full of things that are hard to find from above.

“… “There are so many rats in the world, won.”

Most of these are items whose sale is strictly prohibited by the country or can be purchased through restricted outlets, making the trade itself illegal.

There is only one reason why these items are distributed in large quantities on the black market.

These are people who steal items and take bribes.

They pay extra money from people who laughably ignore the boundaries of the law to take care of their own interests.

The goods obtained in that way are sold for an additional amount on top of the above price.

The rate at which it is blown up like that is at least three times and at most ten times.

Even with such huge profit margins, popular items sell like hot cakes.

If there was no demand in the first place, there would be no way to buy the goods by committing illegal acts.

As I walk quickly past the street vendors, a new road soon unfolds.

“I guess I can survive now.”

The black market is divided into four areas.

The street lined with street vendors that we just passed by is the lowest level.

An area that sells low-value items that are in demand but not too difficult to obtain.

The place we are in now is the lower level.

It is a much more orderly place than the road we passed, consisting of shabby but decent store buildings that can only be assigned to those who have a large amount of rare items.

There are also various convenient facilities such as bars and motels here.

Of course, there are no crazy people here who drink to the point where their noses are twisted or who try to spread it.

Because most people know that there are no compassionate humans here who can warmly embrace those who have lost their minds.

Just quench your thirst, or have sex with a prostitute who roams the black market.

Most of the uses are limited to this level.

“Pass here too.”

Perhaps it was because of the pride of climbing up from the lowest level, which was reminiscent of a battlefield.

The area of those who conduct business in a dignified manner without much solicitation also goes back too far.

The next place we reached was the middle floor.

The dark and gloomy atmosphere is not much different from the entrance, but it is a neat street lined with fairly decent buildings.

This is virtually the end of what an ordinary customer can reach.

There is an upper floor, the top floor, after passing here, but… , you can’t go there without a special pass.

Even when I was Son Si-woo in the past, my steps always stopped here.

If I wanted, I could have obtained a pass to the upper floors, but to do so, my identity would almost inevitably have to be revealed.

Let the rumor spread that national hunters are VIPs who can travel to the black market and even to the upper levels.

It’s only a matter of time before the national hunter becomes a national traitor.

Basically, the higher you fly, the greater the impact when you fall.

anyway.

I can’t go to the upper floors, and I don’t want to go there.

My business today is scheduled to be done here on the middle floor.

“Let’s see… .”

Look around to find a specific store.

I’m sure it was here somewhere, but I can’t remember because it’s been a while.

At that time, I was slowly checking the signs hanging on the building one by one.

“Witch’s jar… .”

It’s here.

The store I was looking for.

I cautiously walk into the building, where a pungent smell continues to waft out.

The interior has a mysterious atmosphere with purple smoke softly covering the ceiling.

While I was momentarily distracted by the mystery.

“Holholholhol… “A guest has arrived.”

An old, grayish voice is heard from inside.

An old woman wearing dark purple robes and a large witch hat of the same color on top of her white hair.

It exactly matches the image of the store owner that remained in my memory.

It definitely matches… .

“… … ?”

The form of magical power emanating from the old woman does not match her appearance at all.

The old woman in front of me looks to be around 80 or 90 with a hunched waist.

However, the form of the magical power she emits takes the shape of a woman with her back straight.

The form of magical power that is implicitly released matches the person’s appearance.

That means.

“Why are you staring at me so intently?”

The appearance of an old woman who is perfect from her appearance to the way she speaks is nothing more than a camouflage.

“… “It’s nothing, grandma.”

I shake my head with a smile, hiding the fact that I found out.

Even in the black market, the fact that they are doing business in secret means that there is a story behind it.

In other words, you get one card for free.

A fairly useful hand that can be used to apply pressure when a deal is not going through easily.

“Hol hole… “What brought you to this old man’s store?”

There is only one reason why I chose to visit the black market and this store.

“I heard that my grandmother is so good at making elixirs, so I wanted to ask you a favor.”

This is to make an elixir.

The old woman asked me a puzzled look at my answer.

“This old lady doesn’t make elixirs for just anyone… “Who did you hear that from?”

Yes.

This old woman does not accept requests from anyone to make elixirs.

There is a strict recommendation system, and in addition, you can only submit a request if you show an ingredient that appeals to you.

Of course I solved both of these.

The person who recommended me here.

“Son Si-woo.”

With the setting being me.

“Yes… ?”

An old woman tilting her head with an expression that made me wonder if I had heard wrong.

It must have been because I heard an unexpected name.

“Son Si-woo… “You mean you came after hearing the story from that guy?”

“yes.”

“Hol hole… , I am a customer of the guy who hides his face every time he comes to the black market for fear of being discovered.”

The first time I made a deal with this old woman was more than 10 years ago.

At that time, I was working hard to strengthen the body of Seoyeon, who was born weak.

While I was looking for and feeding myself anything that was good for my body, I was recommended this store by a colleague and I asked for an elixir.

But they said that if you want to make an elixir, you have to reveal your identity.

So I woke up.

In other words, other than his family or colleagues, he is the only person who knows that Son Si-woo is one of the customers who uses the black market.

The old woman, who had been laughing idly for so long, secretly shows a serious attitude.

“Oh my. “If you received his recommendation, you would know what to do.”

“sure.”

I know very well.

Immediately after answering, the mask with the recognition-impairing magic on his face is removed.

The old woman’s thinly opened eyes widen slightly as if she is slightly surprised by the bare face that is soon revealed.

“this… , an unusual guy recommended an unusual child as a guest.”

Looks like he knows who I am.

If it’s natural, it’s natural.

This old woman has always been able to access information very quickly, which is not appropriate for her age.

no… , wouldn’t it be appropriate to say that it doesn’t suit your age anymore?

Now that I know that you are hiding your appearance.

I asked her, putting the mask back on that I had taken off because someone was watching.

“Are you qualified enough now?”

Then the old woman laughs.

“Hol hole… , you’re hasty. “There’s still one thing left.”

Oh, I did.

As I said before, she only has to bring something that appeals to her to create an elixir appropriate for it.

“Now, let’s take it out to this old lady.”

At a subtle urging, he takes out the things he brought with him when leaving the house and shows them to the old woman.

The petals and stem of a hundred-year evening primrose flattened into a shape that has not changed at all even in a dry state.

“Huh… !”

The old woman sees this and is startled.

“How can I get this precious thing…?” ?”

The 100-year evening primrose is a rare and rare plant that is difficult to find.

It’s surprising that an A-level hunter just took possession of something like that and found it without any hesitation.

“I got it by chance.”

“Wow, I guess I was very lucky.”

“I guess so.”

The old woman, who was gazing at the flower petals on her hand, asked curiously.

“But… “Why do you think there aren’t enough petals?”

“Oh, that’s it.”

It’s already been put to good use.

“I gave it to my girlfriend.”

“… “Did you discover it together?”

“no. “I just gave it to my girlfriend to make her skin better.”

“… … .”

I succeeded in reading one word from the old woman’s cold eyes.

Crazy guy.

That’s definitely what he’s saying.