The Wasteland Merchant
The Wasteland Merchantis an isekai adventure novel following Michael, an ordinary salesman struggling with financial hardship in the modern world. One day, he stumbles upon an emerald-green portal in his rundown apartment’s bathroom—a gateway to a desolate, radiation-scorched wasteland (resembling a post-apocalyptic version of Detroit). This lawless land teems with mutated creatures, desperate scavengers, and untold dangers, yet also holds hidden opportunities.
Leveraging the portal’s two-way passage, Michael begins transporting cheap modern-world goods (like expired food and everyday supplies) into the wasteland, trading them for gold, jewels, and other scarce resources to escape his mounting debts. As he navigates this brutal new world, he gradually builds a faction—recruiting allies such as the hulking cannibal Zack and a half-orc barmaid—and rises to become the new mayor of Cindertown. Under his leadership, the town digs wells, erects defenses, and resists raids from marauding bandit clans.
The story intertwines survival struggles, resource management, and territorial expansion, blending gritty realism with light fantasy elements (such as aura combat and magic). At its core, it explores the clash and cooperation between two vastly different worlds, as Michael evolves from a desperate outsider into a cunning leader—one who must balance ambition, morality, and the fragile hope of rebuilding civilization in the ruins.
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic / Isekai / Survival Adventure
Themes: Resource Scarcity, Leadership, Cross-World Trade, Moral Dilemmas
Tone: Gritty yet darkly humorous, with moments of tactical ingenuity and brutal conflict.