Though he’d been in this world for about ten days, this was the first time Wei’en had eaten roasted meat. It was so good it could make him cry.

The firm texture of the meat and the sweet flavor of the fat gliding over his lips filled him with complete and utter satisfaction.

"Good, isn’t it?"

"Mmm-hmm..."

"If you like it, have some more. Here, let me add a little of my special seasoning~"

Clelia showed none of the self-awareness you’d expect from a high-ranking member of the Eternal Life Association. Like a doting young wife serving her husband, she enthusiastically sprinkled some powder onto the roasted meat.

"Mmm-hmm, hmm?"

Wei’en stopped eating and looked at her suspiciously. "Is... is there something you need me to do?"

’First the roasted meat, now she’s serving me personally... This is actually a little scary.’

"Oh, you noticed? I thought all your attention was on the meat~"

"Stop acting. It’s not like you were hiding it..."

"There is indeed something I’d like to ask of you again," Clelia said, licking her lips and giving him a seductive look. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"...Go on."

Wei’en dutifully put down the meat. With her acting like this, how could he possibly keep eating?

"I want to live here with you for a while..."

"No!"

"Don’t be so quick to refuse. Why not hear my conditions first?"

"Absolutely not," Wei’en insisted, shaking his head.

’Is she kidding? Setting aside her status as a member of the universally-hunted Eternal Life Association, just her power alone makes her a hidden danger in my home.’

’Besides, I don’t even want to bring Tina back here. How could I possibly let Clelia stay and disrupt my studies and my life?’

"Oh?" Clelia winked flirtatiously. "Do you really have the heart to refuse?"

[You have been targeted by the Magic - Charm Attack cast by Clelia Yuli Biondini’s puppet. Your Spirit level exceeds 90, resulting in a successful save. Special Reward: Survival Points +3, Spirit Level +1.]

’Charm??’

An idea struck Wei’en. His expression went vacant, and mimicking Miss Zombie, he replied stiffly, "I do. Because I don’t like women."

"Hmm??"

Clelia was stunned for a moment. ’Is that the truth?’

"...Stop pretending. You were just staring under my skirt."

[You are being targeted by the killing intent of Clelia Yuli Biondini’s puppet. Evaluation: It’s just a puppet. Strongly recommended you take her on. Reward: Survival Points +2.]

"..."

’Take her on? What’s there to take on?’

’Besides, it’s just a puppet. Who knows if the real person is a man or a woman...’

Clarity returned to Wei’en’s eyes. "I don’t understand. With your power, why are you so fixated on a mere Wizard Apprentice like me?"

"Because I’ve taken a fancy to your body~" Clelia said with a flirtatious laugh. "Is that reason enough?"

"...You sent a puppet over. Do you really think I’d believe that?"

"So you really can tell the difference. That just makes me more curious about you~"

Wei’en couldn’t be bothered to argue the point. He waved his hand dismissively. "Just get to it. What do you want from me?"

’It’s just a puppet. With my strength, I can handle it.’

’And so what if her real body showed up?’

’We have a contract. The worst that could happen is a severe beating. Death is out of the question...’

"Then I’ll get straight to the point,"

Clelia’s eyes flickered for a moment. Then, she snapped her fingers, and a gray shadow expanded out from between them.

[Because your Spirit level is lower than Clelia Yuli Biondini’s (main body), you have been pulled into the Magic - Mirage Illusion Realm. Evaluation: This magic is very suitable for use in the streets... Special Reward: Survival Points +2, Spirit Level +1.]

’Her real body is here?’

Wei’en quickly straightened up his attitude. "Please, go on."

Clelia leaned back on the sofa, scrutinizing him. "Can I trust you?"

"Why do you ask?"

"The favor I’m asking this time is very important, and no one can know about it."

"Then let’s just forget it. With my meager power, I’d only hold you back."

’Just from her opening, Wei’en already wanted to stop listening.’

’It was obvious that anything capable of troubling Clelia had to be either extremely difficult or incredibly dangerous...’

"Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to go on an adventure. I just need you to hold onto something for me."

"No danger?"

"Absolutely none."

Wei’en stared at her for a long moment. "Tell me. What is it?"

"This,"

Clelia pulled a necklace from her bosom and handed it to him. "I need you to hold on to it for me for a while."

"That’s it?"

Wei’en looked at the necklace in his hand. Its silver-white chain wasn’t ornate, and the pendant was a dull, lusterless black Gemstone.

"Yes, it’s that simple!" Clelia nodded with great certainty.

’Is it really that simple?’

Wei’en frowned. ’The panel isn’t giving me any notifications, which means the necklace isn’t imbued with any corrupting Extraordinary properties.’

’But as for whether Clelia’s words were true or not, he’d have to judge for himself...’

"There must be people from your Eternal Life Association in Caster, right? Why not go to them?"

Clelia leaned closer, revealing a deep white chasm. "Because none of them are as reliable as you~"

"AHEM, ma’am, can you please speak normally?"

"But I am telling the truth," Clelia said, covering her mouth with a chuckle. "Many people would be willing to do me this favor, but they all hide their true thoughts. Only you wear everything on your face~"

"..."

’For some reason, that was surprisingly irritating to hear...’

"Hee hee... I’ll stop teasing you. The main reason is that we’re bound by a contract and can’t harm each other. Besides, your level of strength also makes me feel very safe~"

’So you’re just saying I’m weak and can’t beat you, huh?’

Wei’en rolled his eyes. "I can agree to hold onto it for you, but this counts as a transaction, right?"

"Gold pounds?"

"No. This time, I need a channel to sell Magic Potions."

He had just acquired a large sum of gold pounds, but what he wanted more was a channel that could protect his identity and provide long-term income.

Clelia looked him up and down. "You... know how to make Magic Potions?"

"Voilà," Wei’en said, pulling out a bottle of Fine-grade Enlightenment Potion and giving it a little shake.

"Fine-grade. Not bad."

"Do we have a deal? I need a stable channel, one that can’t be traced back to me by anyone."

Clelia gently tugged at the hem of her skirt and asked in a delicate voice, "Are you sure that’s your request? You know, something a little more... excessive... wouldn’t be out of the question, hmm?"

"Of course. Don’t tell me you can’t do it."

Wei’en silently cursed the vixen and turned his head away to stare at the roasted meat on the table. ’So big and so white...’

"Such a boring man~"

Clelia straightened her skirt and placed something on the table. "Then take this Nightmare Realm Entry Ticket."

"A Nightmare Realm Entry Ticket?"

"It’s a little gadget created by the Nightmare Sect. It’s only used among us ’heretics,’ as the True God Church calls us. Of course, some academic Wizards use it too."

Wei’en took it and saw that it was a metal card etched with the image of a figure in black robes holding the Scythe of Death. It looked quite exquisite.

"How do I use this?"

"Place it on your forehead, and it will take you to the Nightmare Realm. Once there, you can trade with other people."

"...You’re saying there are other people in the Nightmare Realm?"

’This world has something so advanced?’

"Don’t worry. Everyone’s appearance is changed when they enter, so no one will know your identity. And once you’ve confirmed an item for sale or purchase, it’s like this,"

Clelia tapped a spot on the card. A corner popped out, flew into the air, and expanded until it became a box the size of a coffin.

"All transactions are completed through this box. You Specters have something similar, don’t you?"

Wei’en had a flash of realization. ’Isn’t this just like the blue and white box?’

"We do have something like that... But how do you confirm the other party has received the item?"

"You’ll find out when the time comes,"

Clelia looked at him with an unreadable smile. "But I should warn you, the things inside aren’t cheap, and there are a lot of fakes."

"If you get cheated, don’t blame me."

"I’m going there to make money, not to buy things."

"Is that so? I’m just afraid you’ll run into something truly good and won’t be able to tear yourself away."

Wei’en thought to himself, ’You clearly don’t know what I’m capable of. Perfect-grade Magic Potions! Why would I be worried about that?’

"Alright, business is done, so I should be going. I’ll leave the roasted meat for you."

Clelia stood up, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, her breath warm and fragrant, "Be sure to take good care of the necklace. And remember, don’t let anyone else know about it."

"I know." Wei’en flinched back slightly. This vixen was really hard to handle.

Clelia’s lips curved into a brilliant yet seductive smile. "See you next time, Wei’en Mage~"

As she vanished into the shadows, the ambient sounds of his surroundings returned, and only then did Wei’en let out a long sigh of relief.

Every time he met Clelia, he was on edge.

He could never figure out what that woman was thinking, and on top of that, her power was immense...

’What a handful...’

"Ah, whatever. Improving my strength is what’s most important."

Wei’en looked at the necklace and the card in his hands when a strange thought suddenly popped into his head.

’This isn’t some kind of love token, is it?’

’Now that I think about it, it kind of feels like one...’