Chapter 186: Incident at the Tent Village 1
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun
Illustrations: Posted in discord.
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While it does mean spending a bit more money, the quality of the market on the 35th floor was surprisingly good.
Given that these merchants had set up shop right next to the temple and hired adventurers, it made sense.
Rather than selling shoddy items at high prices, their approach seemed more focused on enticing high-level adventurers to eagerly open their wallets.
"The quality is better than I expected."
"Wow, this fruit is really fresh. It's hard to believe this was bought inside the tower."
From the whetstones, cloth, and sword oil that Katie first purchased to the fruit offered to Irene, all the products were of mid to high quality.
No wonder adventurers didn't hesitate to spend.
Thanks to Han Se-ah's inventory, we enjoy hot soups and stews every meal, but for ordinary adventurers, dried meat and fruit are the norm.
Dried fruit is quite pricey, so lower-level adventurers sometimes resort to soaking hard, brick-like biscuits in water with their dried meat.
Despite it not being mealtime, adventurers gathered around a rugged wooden table in front of a large tent, their faces brimming with joy as they gulped down soup. Perhaps they hunt on the 34th floor and take their ease on the 35th?
"Hmm Still, I think Irene's cooking tastes better."
"Definitely, her cooking is better than what most inns serve."
Passing a general store selling whetstones, oil, and ropes, and a makeshift inn where adventurers were gulping down soup, we noticed a large man in front of a tent, replacing the laces on an old leather armor.
It looked like a makeshift blacksmith shop, offering simple repairs and maintenance.
Has it only been a few days since the 35th floor was opened?
Humanity has only reached the 43rd floor, yet here they are, setting up shop without hesitation on the 35th.
Though it's just a large tent with some wooden boxes and tables...
With a general store, inn, blacksmith shop, and temple, what's the difference from a village?
Adventurers are risking their lives, rushing into a place that's dangerous even for intermediate-level adventurers.
Maybe being a merchant also requires a certain talent.
"Look at that, Katie. They're repairing armor. Shouldn't you go?"
"Considering there's no forge or anvil, it seems they're just offering basic maintenance for old armor. Right now, they're only replacing loose laces. Besides, my sword just has a bit of human oil on it; it doesnt need any major repairs."
As we strolled through the market street, observing the overnight expansion of this makeshift village, a strange feeling began to emerge.
It's frustrating to recall that on the 37th floor, where I quit, adventurers would nibble on a palm-sized piece of dried meat and a fist-sized lump of flour biscuit all day due to insufficient food supply.
Yet here now on the 35th floor, adventurers are slurping hot soup.
Honestly, I'm used to boss monsters causing sudden havoc, and even accepted that mages were crafting magical devices like modern wonders.
-Who knows, maybe those ladies' outfits have higher defense than Han Se-ahs robe
[Red-Light Lantern Thief Han Se-ah donated 10,000 won!]
Where might the criminals be? 1. Bakery 2. Restaurant 3. Red-light district
Seriously, if youre going to steal, why steal lanterns from the red-light district If your donation name matches your nickname, youre getting added to the permanent ban list. The quest might be headed there because of the criminals... But can I stream a visit to such a place? Last time I explored the minimap, I turned off the camera because there were areas that were not suitable for streaming.
-Last time, was it the alley behind the Horseshoe Inn?
-You still remember that, you crazy guy lol
-Those whove played the game know there are some places too sketchy to stream
-Warrior women in barely-there bikinis prowling in alleys
-Minis skirts so short, it seems risky, but they dress modestly in front of the temple
Did Han Se-ah really crawl into every corner of the city's underbelly just to light up the minimap?
Places where scantily clad prostitutes openly wander are more like slums than anything else.
No matter how much the temple helps, the city is shaped by merchants and citizens, not lords and serfs.
In a world devoid of human rights, where only money talks, the reality for those at the bottom is harsh.
In a place without welfare, insurance, or even the concept of human rights, imagine how the penniless survive.
Is that an inn? The open space next to it, filled with adventurers, looks like a spot for those with personal tents. What should we do, rest here for the day and then go up? Or head back to the 36th floor?
My companions, who were eyeing the prostitutes' skimpy outfits, exchanged glances when I asked.
If we go back up, we might face monsters on the 36th floor, risking sleep deprivation.
But it feels a bit too early to rest, with the evening still young.
The party members exchanged glances and nodded slightly before responding.
"Let's rest for the day. We've dealt with a lot of heretics who defied the Goddess's will, so it would be wise to take a break and climb tomorrow."
"Right. Katie also dealt with most of them, so you never know."
"I'm fine, but if we climb now, I doubt we'll get much done."
Han Se-ah's expression subtly brightens at their response.
She probably would have made up excuses to infiltrate the red-light district if we had decided to climb.
But would infiltration be possible, even for a quest?
In this fantasy medieval world, black hair feels exotic.
Just looking at our group, Irene and I have blonde hair, Katie has silver, and Grace has shiny grey hair.
A black-haired exotic sorceress, a glamorous archer, a blonde nun, and a silver-haired noble lady.
If this combination could infiltrate a red-light district, that would be quite the feat.
I wonder if mere robes would suffice for disguise.
