Devilfish were a peculiar deep-sea species. Adult specimens were only the size of a palm.

Unlike ordinary fish, they were born with hideous faces, strange twisted patterns across their skin, and a row of sharp, blade-like spines along their backs.

Most unsettling of all, their eyes did not grow on either side of the head. Instead, one eye stood in the exact center of the forehead, connected by a soft fleshy stalk like a lighthouse.

When the eyeball turned, it looked especially frightening, like the eye of a demon from an adventure novel.

That was where the name Devilfish came from.

The flesh of this fish was unbearably fishy and astringent, with a rough texture. Since it was also extremely easy to catch in the deep sea, its market price had always been pitifully low.

Fishermen even used it as a throw-in with better catches, forcing it onto customers.

Roland had obtained this information before setting out for Far Harbor by repeatedly confirming it with more than a dozen guards and servants who had lived along the coast.

For precisely this reason, when he heard the price of one silver and twelve copper, Roland froze for a moment, then frowned.

With Darco's small treasury supporting him, he no longer had to worry about money for the time being. That did not mean he was willing to let a merchant fleece him.

"Buy it or don't! I said one silver and twelve copper! Why are you..."

The fish-selling auntie heard the doubt in Roland's tone and raised her head impatiently.

But when she saw Roland's face clearly, her tone softened at once. The impatience on her face turned into a friendly smile.

"Young man, you're here to buy Devilfish?"

"That's right."

Roland nodded, his gaze falling on the strange fish flopping across the wooden board.

They matched the information he had learned. These were indeed Devilfish.

"But this price..."

"You don't know the situation, young man..."

The fish-selling auntie wiped the fish blood from her hands on her apron, her eyes bright as she looked at Roland.

"Devilfish weren't worth much before, but a few months ago, a group of people in white robes suddenly came and started buying them in batches."

"On top of that, for some reason, these ugly things suddenly got clever lately. The fishermen all say that now, nine nets out of ten come up empty."

"With demand higher than supply, of course the price went up. And..."

She lowered her voice and leaned closer.

"My price is still cheap. Look at the stall next door. They're eight copper more expensive than me!"

White robes?

People from the Church of Truth?

Remembering the mysterious figures he had encountered in Dawnlight Territory, Roland fell into thought.

Did they also need Devilfish to refine potions?

Aside from that, Roland truly could not think of another possibility.

Surely they were not buying them to improve their meals.

Seeing Roland remain silent, the fish-selling auntie spread her hands helplessly.

"If you think it's too expensive, you can go catch them yourself. But..."

She pointed toward the harbor.

Small boats flying shell flags were patrolling back and forth across the sea, surrounding the nearby waters so tightly that not even a drop seemed able to slip through.

"The nearby waters have all been contracted by Black Shell Trading Company. If you want to fish, you can only try your luck outside Far Harbor..."

Try his luck?

He did not have that much time to waste.

Besides, deep-sea fishing was not simple work. Without rich experience and reliable helpers, extreme weather would make it no different from suicide.

Noticing that Roland was still hesitating, the fish-selling auntie said no more. She merely tapped Roland's sturdy chest with a rough finger, and her already-soft voice turned syrupy sweet.

"If you don't believe me, young man, you can check the nearby stalls. But..."

She paused meaningfully.

"I can hold these Devilfish for you for now."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"Just call me Jenny."

The wrinkles on her face squeezed together in a smile.

Roland nodded in thanks, then turned toward the other fish stalls.

Facts proved that Jenny had not lied to him.

The nearby vendors gave the same explanation, and their prices were all considerably higher than hers.

After circling the market, Roland returned to Jenny's stall.

Looking at the Devilfish still flopping on the wooden board, he gritted his teeth.

"Miss Jenny, how many Devilfish do you have here?"

"Eleven left, young man."

Jenny's eyes lit up.

"I'll take them all. How much?"

"All of them?"

Jenny's hands immediately became nimble. As she deftly packed the fish into a pouch, she smiled and said, "I'll give you a discount... eleven silver, please."

That was her idea of a discount?

Roland's gaze turned subtle, but in the end, he said nothing. He counted eleven silver coins from his pouch and placed them in Jenny's palm.

Although the contact lasted only an instant, Jenny's face flushed at a visible speed.

After confirming that the number of Devilfish in the pouch was correct, Roland smiled faintly, then turned and left.

Once Roland disappeared at the end of the alley, the plump auntie selling oysters beside Jenny suddenly shouted at the top of her voice, "Oh my, Jenny, that discount of yours was generous enough to make the tide turn back!"

Her greasy apron squeezed three folds around her waist.

"Last time I asked you for two fish, you wouldn't even knock off half a copper!"

The one-eyed old man at the stall opposite immediately joined in, tapping the wooden board with a fishhook as he heckled her.

"That young man's silver must've been dipped in honey. Even our stingiest seller went sweet on him!"

Several fishmongers burst into laughter, their dirty leather boots slapping wetly against the damp floor.

Jenny grabbed a long fish and slapped it onto the chopping board with a smack. Blood from the fishtail splashed onto the one-eyed old man's red drinker's nose.

"Old Nilen, keep running your mouth and tomorrow I'll tell the sheriff about you swapping in dead fish!"

She turned and waved fish-scale-covered scissors at the plump auntie.

"And you, Martha. Who took three baskets of clams from you last month and never paid? Do you want me to..."

"Oh, don't be angry, Jenny dear."

The curly-haired owner of the seafood shop cut in with a strange tone, twirling a lock of hair around her finger.

"We're just jealous of you. After all..."

She imitated Jenny's sugary tone from earlier.

"Just call me Jenny..."

Jenny's face instantly turned redder than a boiled crab, and she grabbed an octopus and hurled it over.

Naturally, Roland knew nothing of the commotion in the fish market.

Carrying the heavy pouch, he quickly returned to the inn, bought some food to fill his stomach, specifically instructed the attendant not to let anyone disturb him, and shut himself in his room.

After locking the door, he opened the bag he had brought from the estate, took out the tools and herbs needed to refine the Consciousness Shoal awakening potion, sat before the wooden table, and closed his eyes.

"Awakening Potion..."

With his low murmur, the [Focus] trait quietly activated.

In his mind, the Awakening Potion formula he had long since memorized flowed like living water. Every step and every detail surfaced with perfect clarity.

When he opened his eyes, his hands were steady and precise. He began processing the materials in an orderly manner.

Before long, the wooden table was filled with herbs prepared in various forms.

The clean water in the crucible also began to boil, sending up wisps of white steam.

Refining a difficult potion like the Awakening Potion was challenging from beginning to end because some descriptions in the formula were far too abstract.

For example, the refining process required precisely timed additions of processed herbs into boiling water one after another. Even a difference of a few seconds was unacceptable.

Yet that key timing was also closely related to the state in which the herbs had been ground.

If they were ground too finely, the time had to be shortened. If the particles were slightly coarse, the time had to be extended.

All of this required the alchemist to observe the potion's state with care before making a judgment.

In addition, after adding Devilfish Eye Fluid, the crucible had to be maintained at as constant a temperature as possible.

The slightest mistake would ruin the entire refining process.

But the formula was vague about exactly what that temperature should be, so the alchemist could only rely on personal perception.

Roland shook his head, reviewed the refining steps in his mind once more, and began.

He added all the herbs into the crucible in sequence and stirred.

When it was time to add the final ingredient, Roland reached into the pouch by his feet and took out a lively Devilfish.

His finger flicked the fish's head, and the Devilfish instantly stopped moving.

Immediately afterward, he drew the dagger at his waist and precisely cut open the protruding eyeball on the fleshy stalk atop the Devilfish's forehead.

At the instant the iris contracted, a drop of amber mucus seeped out.

This was the core material for refining the Awakening Potion, Devilfish Eye Fluid.

The moment fine bubbles appeared on the water's surface, he dripped that precious eye fluid into the crucible.

The next second, the mixture churned violently and congealed into lumps. A rotten seaweed stench spread through the room.

"The temperature was too high..."

Roland frowned and poured the failed potion into the waste bucket.

For the second attempt, he adjusted the temperature.

This time, not only was the temperature too low, but the powder of one herb had also been ground too finely, causing the potion liquid to merge too quickly and throwing off the timing for later herbs.

The final product was murky, with a strange oil film floating on the surface. It was clearly unusable.

Over the next several days, aside from necessary eating, sleeping, and going out to purchase Devilfish, Roland did not step out of his room again.

He remained immersed in potion refinement, continuously adjusting his method based on each failure.

Before he knew it, five days had passed.

When sunlight once again shone into the room, Roland rubbed his bloodshot eyes and examined the thick stack of parchment in his hand.

The pages were densely covered with writing, recording in detail every point that required special attention during the potion-refining process over these past few days.

"Grinding the herbs until they still have slight graininess helps me grasp the timing... then the Devilfish Eye Fluid..."

After his thoughts ran through the process, he began another attempt.

With the experience he had gained, the early steps of refining the Awakening Potion proceeded unusually smoothly, without the slightest pause.

When the color of the potion in the crucible began to change, Roland took a deep breath and immediately used the [Furnace Heart] trait to precisely adjust the flame to the temperature he had previously recorded.

Then he grabbed a struggling Devilfish from the pouch and cut open its protruding eyeball without hesitation.

"Drip."

With a soft sound, that drop of amber mucus fell into the potion liquid.

The mixture inside the crucible boiled violently.

Roland narrowed his eyes, held his breath, and watched every tiny change within.

A moment later, the boiling calmed. The potion finally changed from murky to a deep blue-green, and fine, mysterious phosphorescence floated across its surface.

[You have successfully refined a finished potion. Basic Alchemy Experience +1]

Looking at the golden text before him, Roland extinguished the flame and released a long breath.

"It worked..."

After carefully pouring the potion liquid from the crucible into the glass bottle prepared in advance, Roland did not drink it immediately.

According to Bronson, the Awakening Potion, as a potion that forcibly awakened the Consciousness Shoal, would certainly cause a powerful shock to the mind.

Although it would not endanger his life, if the awakening of the Consciousness Shoal failed, he would not be able to try again in the short term. Otherwise, it might lead to mental collapse.

And in order to refine the Awakening Potion, Roland's schedule over the past few days had long since become chaotic. His mind had remained overdrawn for a long time.

If he recklessly drank it now, the chance of failure would be very high.

"I should rest properly first..."

With that thought, Roland carefully put away the Awakening Potion. He did not even bother washing up before collapsing headfirst onto the soft bed.

Before long, tired but even snores sounded from the room.

Time slipped by quietly in sleep.

When the next day's sunset spilled its afterglow into the room, Roland opened his eyes.

He stretched his somewhat stiff body. After his mind fully cleared, he rose and went downstairs, spending coin on a hearty meal.

Once he confirmed that his mental state had adjusted to its best, Roland returned to his room.

Only after pouring a cup of hot water and moistening his throat did he take out that bottle of Awakening Potion.

Staring at the blue-green liquid flowing inside the bottle, he took a deep breath, tilted his head back, and drank it in one gulp.

The next instant, icy liquid slid down his throat.

Immediately afterward, it felt as though a bolt of lightning exploded from his stomach. Tingling numbness pierced through his entire body.

Roland's pupils contracted, and everything in his vision began to twist and dissolve.

The walls melted like wax, the floor turned into flowing ripples, and his consciousness seemed to be dragged by some invisible force into the deep sea, sinking, sinking...

"So this is... the Consciousness Shoal?"

When light returned to the pitch-black vision, Roland discovered that he was standing on a gray, dim beach.

The sky was an oppressive leaden gray. The sea was black as ink, and the churning waves glowed with an eerie blue.

The air was filled with the smells of salt and decay. Every breath felt like inhaling icy mist that stabbed his lungs.

In the distance, waves struck the shore, and every wash brought up broken things.

Twisted metal fragments, half-rotted books, and even... incomplete human-shaped bodies.

They were washed ashore, then dragged back into the deep sea with the receding tide, locked in a horrifying cycle.

Roland lowered his head and found that his feet were sinking into the sand.

No, that was not sand.

It was countless tiny, writhing black grains, like living things trying to devour him completely.

"So this is... a hallucination? If that's the case..."

At the sight, Roland did not panic. Instead, he frowned in thought.

At that moment, the sea surface churned violently, and a huge shadow emerged from beneath the water.

It was a blurry human face, so enormous that it could cover the entire horizon.

Its eyes were hollow black, and its mouth opened, releasing a soundless scream.

A sharp pain instantly stabbed through his eardrums. Roland felt as though countless fine needles had pierced into his brain.

Fragments of memory flashed like a lantern show.

They were torn apart and reassembled by some force, finally transforming into sharp blades that stabbed into his soul.

"Hiss!"

After sucking in a cold breath, Roland's body began convulsing violently, and cold sweat soaked his clothes.

His fingers dug deeply into his palms, blood dripping through the gaps, yet he seemed completely unaware.

Right then, a cold, solid power surged from the depths of his soul.

The gray sky froze, and the surging black sea became a frozen mirror.

The huge face that covered the sky shattered like fragile glass the instant it touched Roland.

The soul-deep stabbing pain from earlier fell into nothingness along with countless fragments.

"Looks like [Steel Will] took effect..."

Looking at the collapsing scene before him, Roland shook his head, curiosity appearing in his eyes.

"I just don't know whether this phenomenon caused by the Awakening Potion counts as mental control or a mental attack..."

The black sand beneath his feet was still writhing, trying to drag him into the Abyss, but his feet stood firm, as though cast from steel.

Staring at the black grains trying to crawl up his arms, Roland's mouth lifted slightly. He raised his hand, then abruptly clenched his fist.

"Disperse."

The moment the word fell, the entire Consciousness Shoal trembled violently, suppressed by an irresistible will.

As the waves rolled backward and the sky cracked, the broken things washed onto the shore collapsed one after another, turning into dust and scattering.

Roland in reality opened his eyes.

His breathing was steady as usual, his heartbeat had not lost its rhythm, there was no cold sweat on his back, and his palms were completely unharmed.

Looking up, he saw that the cup of hot water he had just drunk from on the table was even still steaming faintly, proving that everything had happened in only an instant.

After hesitating for a moment, Roland carefully sensed the changes in his body.

Aside from a cool feeling in his mind, there was nothing unusual.

"Does this mean... I successfully awakened the Consciousness Shoal?"

At that moment, a line of dazzling golden text appeared before his eyes.

[Upon inspection, Host has successfully awakened the Consciousness Shoal. You qualify for the upper occupation: Juggler]

[Requirements: Strength 3, Agility 6, Spirit 5, master 0/3 cantrips of any level, cast cantrips a total of 0/100 times]

[Host does not satisfy the job requirements]

"It really did unlock a new occupation... But Juggler? Like a circus clown?"

Roland rubbed his chin, and the funny image of a white face and red nose appeared in his mind.

"Strength and Agility both meet the requirements. As for... right!"

After seeing the Spirit attribute requirement, Roland immediately called up the occupation panel.

He saw that his Spirit attribute, originally displayed as 1.8, had now leaped to 2.8.

"My Spirit attribute directly increased by one point? Then if I continue drinking Awakening Potions..."

No sooner thought than done.

Roland rose from the bed and came to the wooden table covered with alchemy tools.

With his previous experience, this refining process was unusually smooth. The only thing that surprised him was...

"Is this thing's vitality really that tenacious?"

Because of his many previous refining failures, Roland had gone back and forth to the fish market several times to purchase Devilfish, and he had even become familiar with the fishmonger auntie named Jenny. The price had also dropped again and again.

The Devilfish in his hand was one he had bought the day before yesterday.

Even after surviving for two days without water, it was still wriggling now.

"Come to think of it, it's strange. How does Auntie Jenny have stock every time? Didn't they say Devilfish have been hard to catch lately..."

Shaking his head and throwing aside these stray thoughts, Roland drew the dagger at his waist and neatly extracted the fish-eye essence.

The solution changed color, was bottled, and he drank it with focused calm.

Perhaps thanks to the improvement in his Spirit attribute, the hallucination's impact was far weaker this time than the first. Combined with the protective effect of [Steel Will], he broke free of the hallucination before he even fully reacted.

On the occupation panel, the value of his Spirit attribute jumped once more.

It rose from 2.8 to 3.4.

"Looks like, just like the Mithril Body Tempering Method, the medicinal effect weakens with each use."

"But that doesn't matter..."

As Roland thought this, he took out his money pouch and counted the coins inside.

"The remaining money should be enough for me to refine a dozen or so Awakening Potions. After drinking all of them, I will definitely meet the Spirit attribute requirement for taking up [Juggler]."

"By the time I return to the estate, Mr. Bronson should have finished engraving that bone as well. It will line up perfectly. I can study cantrips while completing the requirement of casting cantrips a hundred times..."

"And since Juggler is an upper occupation, its trait should not be bad. Added to that, it can also trigger Occupation Resonance with [Warrior] and [Blacksmith]..."

While he was happily imagining the future, a burst of noise came from outside the window.

Hearing the sound, Roland frowned.

Although the inn he had chosen stood beside the main road, it was usually very quiet.

During the time he had stayed here, there had never been such commotion.

With doubt in his heart, Roland raised his head and looked outside.

He saw the residents of Far Harbor happily surging toward the city gate.

"King Morne is arriving!"

"Heavens, why would such a great person come to Far Harbor?"

"Why think so much? Hurry, let's go see!"

"I never thought I'd get to see the legendary hero with my own eyes in this lifetime!"