I’ve now finished reading up to the 5th-ranked item on the Phantom Items Ranking, and so far, I’ve known all of them. It’s possible the rest of the ranking might be items I’m familiar with too.

“4th place: MK Royale”

Not only do I know this one, it’s one of our products…… I never expected it to beat out things like the Fruit of the World Tree or Shallow Grande and make it into the rankings. That’s a surprise.

“This is the highest-grade tea from the luxury tea brand Nifty, and only one person per month is granted the right to purchase it via lottery, making it an extremely rare tea. While the current ranking reflects its rarity at this moment in time, since even one person a month will be able to purchase it moving forward, its ranking will likely fall in the future.”

Ah, I see, they’re taking period of time into account as well…… Considering the likely timing of this magazine article’s release, it makes sense. Back then, MK Royale had just launched, and its rarity was indeed quite high.

If the supply stabilizes over time, I imagine it’ll settle somewhere below Shallow Grande in the rankings.

“Nifty’s store operates on a strict reservation-only system. That said, as long as you’re willing to wait your turn, anyone can visit. Though it’s a high-end shop, some of their commodities are affordable enough that ordinary citizens can buy them if they stretch a little. Making a purchase even once at a Nifty store will make you eligible for the monthly MK Royale lottery. Of course, since MK Royale is a top-tier product, it’s unlikely the average citizen could afford to buy it even if they win the purchase rights, but those rights can be declined or transferred, and there are many nobles vying for them. So if you do win, it might just be your ticket to a fortune. A magic code for Nifty’s reservation application is included at the end of this issue, so if you’re interested, give it a try.”

The "magic code" is sort of like a phone number. You can scan it using a Hummingbird magic tool, which lets you send a Hummingbird message to apply for a reservation.

Incidentally, For those who don’t own a Hummingbird, you can instead apply through the commercial union offices in the cities where Nifty’s stores are located.

“3rd place: Phantom Wine K”

And here it is, Wine K taking the third spot. Its placement higher than Shallow Grande was hinted at earlier, but making it into the top 3 huh……

“Right now, wine lovers all over the world are desperately searching for this rare wine. Like Shallow Grande, it is said to have been created with the involvement of God of Creation Shallow Vernal-sama. Its flavor far surpasses even that of Shallow Grande, and its silver hue, impossible to achieve through normal means, makes it unquestionably a miracle of the Gods. Only a few dozen bottles are believed to exist in the world, and even the empty containers fetch high prices as reference materials.”

In a sense, this item’s 3rd-place ranking may also be due to timing. At the recent birthday party, Wine K was distributed to the guests, so now there are several hundred bottles in existence. Compared to back then, its rarity has definitely decreased.

Still, there’s no denying it’s a precious wine personally crafted by Shiro-san……

“And curiously, the origin of this wine remains unknown. It is said to have been created with the involvement of God of Creation Shallow Vernal-sama and distributed to prestigious individuals such as the Rulers. Because of this, it’s believed to have been handed out during an appropriately prestigious occasion. However, at the time when rumors of this wine first began circulating, there were no notable major events, and so the exact circumstances of its distribution remain unclear. Additionally, the recipients included the Rulers, the Six Kings, and the Six Kings' Executives, individuals of such high standing that interviews were impossible. Even this magazine has been unable to uncover any further details.”

So it’s being considered a “mystery wine of unknown origin” because my involvement has been kept secret…… Well, yeah. No one’s going to imagine it was distributed at a housewarming party for my new place. That’d be unthinkable. Alice and the others have probably also helped with information control, so it makes sense that the details are staying vague.

Well, that’s honestly a relief. I’d rather not cause a stir or have personal details about me published in a magazine. I hope things stay this way.

Anyway, I do seem to know most of the items so far, and at this rate, I might be familiar with whatever’s in 2nd and 1st place too.

Now then, what could 2nd place be……?

“2nd place: Statue of the Winged Gun Rock Dragon”

…………………………Ahh~~…… errr…… hold on a second. My heart’s not ready to process this reality just yet.

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Afterword

Serious-senpai : [What could possibly go through your mind when you’re casually reading a magazine and suddenly see one of your own cringey creations from the past listed as a phantom item……]