I had finished reading through the ranking down to fifth place, and so far, I recognized everything on the list. I began to suspect that the items at the very top would be no different.
4th Place: MK Royal
Forget just recognizing it—that was my own product. I was stunned; I never imagined it would beat out the Fruit of the World Tree or Shallow Grande to land a spot this high.
"This tea is the pinnacle of the luxury tea brand 'Nifty.' It is an exceptionally rare blend, with purchase rights granted to only one lucky winner per month via lottery. While it currently holds this rank due to its extreme scarcity, its position will likely settle lower in the future as supply remains steady, albeit limited."
Right, they were factoring in the timing. Considering when this article was likely written, MK Royal had only just launched, making its rarity peak at that moment. Once more people have it, it will probably drop below things like Shallow Grande.
"While Nifty operates on a complete reservation system, that also means anyone can visit if they are willing to wait their turn. Despite its high-end reputation, the shop carries items accessible to commoners who want to treat themselves, so it is well worth a visit. Any purchase at a Nifty store qualifies a customer for the monthly MK Royal lottery. Of course, given its status as a top-tier luxury good, a commoner might find it impossible to actually afford the tea even if they win. However, the rights can be declined or transferred, and since many nobles are desperate for them, a winning ticket could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance at a fortune. We have provided the Magic Power Code for Nifty’s reservation line at the end of this issue."
A Magic Power Code acted like a phone number. You just had to scan it with a Hummingbird Magic Tool to send off a message and book a slot. For those without the tool, reservations could also be handled at the local Commerce Guild counters in any city with a branch.
3rd Place: Phantom Wine K
Then came third place: the legendary wine, K. The article on Shallow Grande had hinted that something sat even higher on the list, but I had not expected it to crack the top three.
"Oenophiles across the globe are currently scouring the world for this elusive vintage. Much like Shallow Grande, it is rumored that Creator God Shallow Vernal-sama was involved in its production. With a flavor profile that dwarfs Shallow Grande and a silver hue that should be physically impossible to produce, it is undoubtedly a Miracle of God. It is believed that only a few dozen bottles exist, and even empty decanters command exorbitant prices as collector's items."
This ranking was probably also a product of timing. Since K was served to everyone at my birthday party, there are technically hundreds of bottles out there now. Its rarity has definitely dipped since this went to print. Still, there is no denying it is a precious vintage personally crafted by Shiro-san.
"Bizarrely, the origin of this wine remains a total mystery. Given the Creator God's involvement and reports of it being gifted to royalty, one would assume it was distributed at a grand state function. However, no such events coincide with the wine's appearance. Furthermore, because the known recipients are all of extremely high status—monarchs, the Six Kings, and their top executives—interviews are impossible to conduct. Even this magazine has failed to uncover the truth."
Since my information is being kept secret, it is being treated like some "phantom wine" with no known source. I suppose nobody would ever imagine it was actually handed out at a housewarming party for my new place. Alice has probably been scrubbing the records too, so it will likely stay a mystery.
Honestly, I prefer it that way. I do not need the attention; I just want to live quietly without ending up in magazines. But so far, I have recognized almost everything on this list. If this trend continues, I can probably guess what first and second place are.
So, what took the silver medal? I scrolled down.
2nd Place: Statue of the Winged Gunrock Dragon
...Wait. Hold on. Give me a second. My brain was refusing to process what my eyes were seeing.
Serious-senpai: "Imagine the feeling of reading a magazine and finding your own cringeworthy black history listed as one of the world's most legendary treasures..."