When hawking their wares, the shadowy figures either sat or stood, leaning against tombstones. The mounds of earth before them served as natural stalls, dividing the area into different sections...

’How should I describe this trading spot?’

’It makes one feel surprisingly at ease—like hell it does!’

Another thing that Wei’en found strange was the shadowy figures themselves.

The one hawking a flintlock was identifiable as a Mechanical Transformer with only an upper body. A large "3" in the Gonzalez language was inscribed on his forehead.

As for the one selling the Developing Potion, it was an extremely blurry figure whose silhouette could only be vaguely discerned.

’Yep, a fish with legs.’

He also had a number on his forehead—5.

As for the one collecting the bodies of Holy Professionals... the Wizard from the Blood Spirit School, he was nothing but a dark shadow, presumably clad in a long robe.

The number on his forehead was 18.

Wei’en quickly looked down, breathing a sigh of relief only after discovering that he, too, was just a blurry blue shadow.

’Huh?’

’Everyone has a number on their head, so mine is—22??’

’That number seems familiar...’

Wei’en mused, ’Could this be the same as the Origin Power value I saw before?’

"Hey, we’ve got a 22 over here..."

However, when Wei’en heard his voice and looked over, a faint red glow flashed on the blurry head of the upper-body-only Mechanical Transformer, who quickly waved his hands.

"Uh, please don’t look at me. I was just expressing my surprise. No offense intended."

Only the Wizard suspected to be from the Blood Spirit School acted somewhat normally.

"Good morning, esteemed sir. Please forgive me for not being able to share my real name. However, you may call me Flanta here."

’Is he talking to me?’

"Good morning, Flanta," Wei’en replied.

"How may I help you? Judging by your appearance, this must be your first time in the Nightmare Realm."

"It is indeed my first time."

Although he was unsure why these people were reacting this way, Wei’en decided to pretend he was a real big shot.

He then saw the dark shadow draw a bit closer. Where its head should be, he could only make out a blurry white smear and two blood-red orbs...

’A mouth and eyes?’

"If you don’t mind, I can give you a brief introduction to this place."

Wei’en remained guarded. "Of course."

Still, he recalled Clelia’s description of the Nightmare Realm and figured there probably wouldn’t be any danger.

"Please, this way..."

With that, the two of them passed through the somewhat crowded gathering and walked toward the edge of the area.

What caught Wei’en’s attention, however, was what he overheard as they passed the blurry shadows with single-digit numbers.

"22? A Captain-level... MMPH! I didn’t say anything, please don’t look at me..."

"What do you mean, Captain-level? With an Origin Power boost of 220%, even if he’s just an Advanced Wizard Apprentice, his actual strength is already approaching the Captain-level threshold."

"If he’s already Captain-level to begin with, then he’s definitely a top-tier expert, someone who could even make a name for himself in a major city-state..."

’An Origin Power boost of 220%?’

Wei’en belatedly realized, ’Does this mean that what I thought was weakness before wasn’t actually weakness at all?’

’With the boost from my Origin Power, am I already comparable to someone at the Captain level?’

’Looks like I’ll have to ask Lisi for confirmation once I get to the Secret Investigation Department.’

Just then, Flanta spoke up. "Since this is your first time here, you’re probably unaware of how the Nightmare Realm’s areas are divided, correct?"

Wei’en nodded slightly. "I’m not entirely clear on that, no. Would you be so kind as to explain in detail?"

’The number on Flanta’s forehead is 18,’ Wei’en thought. ’That means he must be quite powerful—at least far more genuinely so than my own charade.’

"I believe the person who gave you the entry ticket told you this is a place specifically for heretics to trade, correct?"

"That’s right."

Flanta chuckled. "But I’m certain he didn’t tell you that this place actually has a strict regional division."

"Oh?" Wei’en asked quizzically. "How so?"

"It’s divided by the numbers," Flanta said, pointing to his own forehead rather than Wei’en’s. "Below 10 is the initial area—this cemetery, basically."

"From 10 to 20 is the Transfer Area, which is where we’re headed now. Unlike here, it’s much quieter."

"From 20 to 50 is the exclusive area for the Captain level. Only powerful individuals such as yourself are permitted to enter."

"As for what it’s like above 50, I wouldn’t know..."

Wei’en nodded pensively. "I see."

Before long, the two of them walked out of the cemetery, and Wei’en felt the scene before him abruptly transform.

"We’ve arrived. This is the Transfer Area—the Tower."

If the initial area was a barren ruin, then this place called the Transfer Area seemed far more high-class.

A tower that soared into the heavens came into view. Its cylindrical body showed faint signs of damage, as if it had once endured a great battle.

Dark shadows, identical to the ones in the cemetery, moved in and out of the tower’s entrance.

Wei’en gazed at the structure before him, tilting his head up, then further up, and then craning his neck all the way back...

’What kind of tower is this? How can it be so tall?’

"This place... um... how many floors does it have?"

"You jest, sir. I am merely a Junior Mage. I can only access the lowest fifty floors. You will have to proceed alone if you wish to go any higher."

A hint of envy seemed to flash across Flanta’s blurry face. "I forgot to ask, are you here to buy or to sell?"

Wei’en touched his nose. "Sell."

’Huh?’

’Just a soft, yielding sensation?’

’So it seems that while the scenery in this part of the Nightmare Realm looks real, it’s actually just an illusion?’

’Still, it’s a little too real.’

"Oh?" Flanta asked, his interest piqued. "I wonder what you’re selling. Perhaps you have something I need."

"Uh, just some Magic Potions. I don’t have the corpses of Dawn Church Holy Professionals that you’re looking for."

’Wizards from the Blood Spirit School are really obsessed with those Holy Professionals,’ Wei’en mused. ’You see them trying to acquire corpses everywhere...’

"Of course, of course. The people from the Dawn Church are quite troublesome... Uh, I’m not questioning your strength, of course."

"Don’t worry about it."

Flanta seemed to let out a sigh of relief, then added with a hint of regret, "Still, any Magic Potion that a powerful expert such as yourself would specifically sell must be far beyond what I could hope to afford."

"Uh, that’s not exactly the case."

Wei’en felt a bit awkward. ’Good thing my face is hidden by shadows,’ he thought, ’or he might have noticed something from my expression.’

"Oh?"

"At the moment, I’m only selling Enlightenment Potions, Healing Potions, and Spirit Defense Potions..."

On Flanta’s shadowy face, his two blurry eyes conveyed confusion and bewilderment. ’Just basic Magic Potions?’

"May I ask... what grade are you selling?"

Wei’en noticed the look in his eyes and replied with feigned calm, "Perfect."

"Perfect-grade Enlightenment Potions?"

"Mm-hm."

Flanta’s eyes suddenly lit up. "I knew a powerful being like yourself wouldn’t be selling something so simple!"

"Perfect-grade Enlightenment Potions, 3 gold pounds a bottle! I’ll buy as many as you have!"

"You need them?"

"...Sir, have you perhaps been cooped up in a laboratory all this time, not getting out much?"

"Mm, you could say that."

’A strange misunderstanding, but a welcome one,’ Wei’en thought, happy to go along with it.

"It’s like this. Don’t be fooled by the fact that the Enlightenment Potion is a basic-level Magic Potion that even a Wizard Apprentice can brew. Creating a perfect-grade version is no simple matter."

Flanta, truly treating him as a secluded Master of Magical Potions, spoke respectfully, "Even High-level Wizards have a significant failure rate when trying to consistently produce a perfect-grade Enlightenment Potion."

"Therefore, a Magic Potion like this, one that can restore Spiritual Power, is extremely popular here."

Wei’en nodded. "I understand now."

He understood the principle of supply and demand for rare goods.

’This will make my plan to sell the Magic Potions go even more smoothly.’

"How do we make the trade?"

Flanta was taken aback. "You agree?"

"Yes. I don’t have much time; I need to be leaving soon."

"Of course, of course! For a Master of Magical Potions like yourself, completely dedicated to your research, time is indeed precious."

As he spoke, Flanta extended a hand into the empty air and said, "Requesting transaction."

’Huh??’

Before Wei’en’s astonished eyes, a bizarrely-shaped creature suddenly appeared.

This creature wasn’t a blurry shape; it was perfectly clear, just like the surrounding scenery.

Six slender, spider-like appendages propped it up. It consisted of little more than a spherical head, upon which sat a single eye and a single mouth...

"Transaction amount."

Flanta looked at Wei’en. "Pardon me, how many bottles of the Enlightenment Potion do you have?"

"...One bottle,"

Wei’en knew it was a small amount, so he quickly added, "There will be more to follow, but I’ve been busy lately. They’ll be ready in a few days."

Flanta: "..."

’Is a Magic Potion Master with only a single bottle of perfect-grade Enlightenment Potion truly a master?’

PS: Thank you to the generous reader, Strong Heart 1, for the tip. Thank you.

I have no way to repay this kindness but to release more Chapters.