Extract from the -{ Tome of the ‘Forgotten One’ }- Divine scripture of the Church of the ‘Forgotten One’.

"As the tide of deceit sweeps nations into turmoil, glimpse the ancient betrayal that seeded the falsehood now leading to ruin. Seek the roots of treachery, and unearth the harbingers of salvation." (The Abyssal Prophecy 3:2)

................................................................................................

The dim, musty shop suddenly came alive with a theatrical clearing of the throat. "Ahem ahem, Greetings Customer."

Asher's eyebrow quirked up, more intrigued than startled by the small figure's abrupt change in demeanor. The air seemed to thicken with an otherworldly energy, but rather than feeling unnerved, Asher found himself leaning in slightly, curiosity piqued. He decided to play along, waiting to see where this strange encounter might lead.

"I am your host and owner of this shop, Mr. Midnight Mystique," the figure announced, its voice carrying an odd mix of gravitas and mischief.

As the diminutive being rose to its full height – which wasn't much – Asher couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and interest. Books and papers rustled as the creature tidied its workspace, the soft whisper of parchment filling the silence. A glint of gold caught Asher's eye, drawing his attention to one particular tome: 'How to Run a sucessful Casino'. His lips twitched in a half-smile, a mixture of curiosity and skepticism coursing through him.

The shopkeeper's appearance was a study in contradictions. Despite its small size, it exuded an aura of mystery that seemed to expand, filling the cramped confines of the shop. Shadows danced at the edges of Asher's vision, as if responding to the creature's very presence, but rather than feeling threatened, Asher found himself increasingly fascinated by the spectacle.

"I believe a brief introduction on my part would smoothen things along for both of us," Mr. Midnight Mystique continued, its glowing eyes flickering like distant stars. "I am a night spirit from the lower realms, a businessman by trade. Due to my business, I have had for years to travel to the lower realms to look around for opportunities. And one such opportunity has brought me here to the upper realms."

The figure leaned in close, its voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. The scent of old books and something vaguely sulfurous wafted over Asher, making him wrinkle his nose before he realized it was just phantom sense as he was not truly with the figure in its room. "Rumor has it the beings of the upper realms find the wares from the lower realm quite exquisite and often pay hefty for it. Hearing such, I had set about for my quest, unfortunately..."

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the shop grew heavy, and oppressive. Shadows seemed to writhe and twist in the corners as the figure's form began to quiver with barely suppressed rage. "Those stupid shadow-forsaken bandits stole most of my goods," it spat, its voice taking on an otherworldly timbre that would have sent shivers down Asher's spine if the figure didn’t look so comical. "Dear sweet nightmares give me strength..."

As the creature muttered strange incantations under its breath, Asher found himself torn between fascination and the urge to poke fun. He stood his ground and controlled himself, his curiosity winning out.

"Anyways," Mr. Midnight Mystique continued, its composure returning as suddenly as it had vanished, "I didn't lose hope and made it to the upper realm. And as Lady Fortuna had it planned, I received a quest from the system for a virtual shop. Hence, here we are."

The figure drew itself up proudly, its oversized robes cascading off the edges of the chair it stood upon. Asher couldn't help but notice the incongruity between the creature's grandiose manner and its clearly novice status in the world of business. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he considered the possibility that this supposedly ancient being might be little more than a eager but inexperienced entrepreneur.

"Umm, it's a pleasure to meet you, uhh, Midnight," Asher ventured, his voice echoing slightly in the cluttered shop behind the figure. "I am Asher."

The glowing orbs that served as the creature's eyes curved into what Asher assumed was a smile, though the effect was more unnerving than reassuring. "Well then," it purred, "I believe I should tell you about the services available, like all good business owners do."

Asher's skepticism must have shown on his face, for the creature's next words carried a hint of defensiveness. "Currently, due to certain limitations and hidden rules, I cannot provide you with a lot of my ware, but there are also other conditions you should be aware of."

As Mr. Midnight Mystique launched into an explanation of the shop's offerings, Asher found his attention divided between the creature's words and the constantly shifting environment of the shop. Shadows seemed to dance in tune with the shopkeeper's voice, while unseen whispers echoed from the darker corners of the room.

"At the current access limit, the shop can only provide you with limited items in the category of consumables, general items, and discounted items," the figure explained, its tone oscillating between pride and frustration. "Each category will have 3 items which will be replaced every 3 days. You, as the host, can ask to keep certain items if you don't want me to replace them, but don't cry about it if you don't tell me and I change them."

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

The creature's hip-holding posture would have been otherworldly if not for the comical aura that continued to permeate the shop. Asher found himself hanging on every word, his mind racing with possibilities and questions.

"The items I can sell to you are also not that amazing, if you ask me, as your access tier is too low," Mr. Midnight Mystique continued, a note of disdain creeping into its voice.

Asher's mind flashed back to the system prompt he'd received earlier, informing him of his Tier 1 access. He opened his mouth to ask about upgrading, but the shopkeeper barreled on.

"Anyways, the system shop only trades with system points, so don't bother bribing me with gold or anything like that."

Despite the creature's attempts at nonchalance, Asher couldn't help but notice the way it fidgeted, betraying what seemed to be a keen interest in the possibility of alternative payment methods.

"You can earn system points from completing the given quests, so do try your best to earn as many as you can so you can spend them with me and only me," the shopkeeper added, its tone now dripping with smug superiority.

Asher raised an eyebrow at the creature's presumptuous attitude but held his tongue. He'd play along for now, curious to see what this strange being had to offer.

"All right then," Mr. Midnight Mystique declared, rubbing its tiny gloved hands together with barely concealed glee. "It's time I show you the catalog of my wares."

With a dramatic flourish, a shimmering catalog materialized before Asher's eyes. As he perused the offerings, his mind whirled with possibilities. The limitations became apparent – only three items per category, with restrictions on usage and effectiveness. Still, the potential benefits were intriguing.

Asher's attention was drawn back to the shopkeeper as it began to ramble, half to itself and half to him. "It is very unfortunate I cannot provide you with my specialty wares from the lower realms. Nightmare whispering stones, living masks, ghosts in jars... peculiar meats, or pets like nether beasts... Well, maybe if you increase the access tier, I can slip a few in the catalog, hehe."

The creature's words caused his curiosity to pique. What manner of bizarre and potentially dangerous items might become available at higher tiers?

After careful consideration, Asher decided to purchase three healing potions, reasoning that they might prove useful in the challenges ahead. As he confirmed the transaction, the shopkeeper's eyes lit up with an almost predatory gleam.

"Glad to do business with you," it purred, rubbing its hands together once more. "That will be 150 shop points, and the items will be sent to you shortly. Would you like anything else?"

"No, thank you," Asher replied, preparing to close the shop screen. "That'll be all."

Just as he was about to exit, the shopkeeper's voice rang out once more, tinged with a hint of desperation. "Before you go, you should check out the daily lucky wheel."

Asher paused, folding his arms as he waited for what he suspected would be an elaborate sales pitch. He wasn't disappointed.

"Fortune is a thing that is attracted towards those worthy," the creature began, its voice taking on an almost hypnotic quality. "A man such as you is most definitely one such figure, seeing as how much the system loves you. I have devised a new category of goods for such heavenly figures like you. It is called a lucky wheel. Buy a ticket for 50 points and spin the wheel. Who knows? You might just win the grand prize."

As the shopkeeper continued its pitch, Asher found himself torn between amusement at the obvious manipulation and a growing curiosity about the potential rewards. The mention of a rare artifact as the grand prize and a beginner's set containing a shadow cloak piqued his interest.

"The odds of winning a prize are 1 to 10," Mr. Midnight Mystique concluded, its eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Surely a man as lucky as you wouldn't waste a chance like this to test your fortune."

After a moment's hesitation, Asher decided to humor the creature, purchasing a ticket with a small smile. The shopkeeper's eyes curved into crescents once more, a gesture that was becoming no less unsettling with repetition.

"Thank you for your generosity," it crooned. "Would you like to use this now or later?"

"Now," Asher replied, bracing himself for disappointment.

"Hehe, okay," the creature chuckled, its voice dripping with false innocence. "May the odds be in your favor."

As a golden wheel materialized on another screen, accompanied by the sound of a spinning roulette, Asher found his attention drawn not to the wheel itself, but to the shopkeeper. The creature's nonchalant expression spoke volumes, confirming Asher's suspicion that the game was rigged.

'So it is rigged... Guess I got scammed,' Asher thought, a twinge of regret coloring his mood. Still, he reasoned, the experience had given him valuable insight into the shopkeeper's character and the nature of this strange, mystical business.

However, contrary to his expectations, the wheel suddenly began to glow with an intense, golden light. The words "You Won" appeared in shimmering letters, accompanied by the sound of triumphant fanfare.

Mr. Midnight Mystique's reaction was immediate and exuberant. "CLAP CLAP! Congratulations on your win!" it exclaimed, its tiny form practically vibrating with excitement. "When I first saw you, from that moment I had known you had heaven-defying luck. Too bad you only won a beginner's set, but that is not bad at all. After all, you got an uncommon item."

As the creature's voice betrayed a mix of fake surprise and barely concealed excitement, Asher found himself more perplexed than ever. He had won against the odds, yet the victory felt hollow, tainted by the suspicion that he was merely a pawn in some greater game.

The beginner's set materialized before him, the shadow cloak shimmering with an otherworldly energy that seemed to absorb the light around it. As Asher reached out to claim his prize, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had forgotten about something.