Suji slowly counted the number of display cases.

The separately placed display cases were arranged in 10 rows and 10 columns. And an additional 2 more.

There were a total of 102, and among them, 101 contained 〈Deviation〉.

Those numbers felt quite familiar. 101, 102.

And while looking around, she noticed that 〈Deviation〉 also had a price listed.

3,000,000F per item.

It was an absurd amount, as if it wasn’t meant to be purchased in the first place.

Suji stared intently at the neatly aligned items and became lost in thought.

‘Riena clearly said that 101 〈Deviation〉 items were consumed. But there are exactly 101 displayed here. What could that mean?’

Does it mean that used items come to the store?

But then, what about the other 10-tier items on display here?

Does it mean that someone has already used all of those as well?

Absorbed in thought, Suji abruptly turned her body around and looked behind her.

Dozens and hundreds of display cases emitting a faint, sparkling light came into view.

The main weapons favored by Pieces and Saints were clearly absent. She had simply thought it was a pity that the store didn’t have a diverse selection of items, but…

Suji approached the area where the equipment was displayed once again and stood there.

She had already known from last time that there were particularly many of the main weapons and equipment sets that she frequently used, including the 〈Shackles of the Perished〉.

Of course, there were also many items that could be freely swapped depending on the enemy, such as auto bows, barrels, and shields… But strangely enough, they were also all items that Suji often used.

Still, she had brushed it off because it was common for stores to lack diversity in their equipment selection, and there were also shields and main weapons that Riena frequently used. She had thought it was just a coincidence.

Her heart raced rapidly.

“You know what.”

− Huh?

The ‘great beings’ replied indifferently, unaware of how trembling Suji’s heart was as she opened her mouth.

She bit her lower lip and asked,

“Where do the items here come from?”

− You seem to be asking even though you already know. Do I really need to answer?

They always said they couldn’t tell her, but their repertoire of refusals was quite diverse.

Suji approached one of the items she had previously marked, the 〈(Incandescent) Shackles of the Perished〉, and placed her hand on the display case.

“I’ll purchase it.”

[Do you want to purchase the 〈(Incandescent) Shackles of the Perished〉?

3,000F will be consumed.]

“Yes.”

[〈(Incandescent) Shackles of the Perished〉(Tier 10) has been successfully purchased.]

Ding.

With the sound of the payment being processed, the shimmering rapier inside the display case disappeared.

It seemed to have entered her inventory.

Suji opened the status window to check the item.

[〈(Incandescent) Shackles of the Perished〉(Tier 10)

It contains the breath of the goddess who vowed to never breathe again.

It possesses the attributes of light and electricity.

Crafted by the hands of a blacksmith.

Luck +7 Strength +30 Skill +3 Vitality +23 Attack Power +23,100 Critical Hit +276

Set Effect: When targeting a monster with the darkness attribute, strength and speed are increased by 1.9%.]

There were slight differences in the detailed stats compared to the one she currently possessed, but the performance was nearly identical. Even the description “Crafted by the hands of a blacksmith” was the same.

The set effect seemed to apply when worn on both hands along with the sword she was currently equipped with.

Despite being undoubtedly a better effect than expected, she wasn’t immediately delighted due to her fluttering heart.

“Check durability.”

At her calm voice, the window in front of her changed.

[Total durability: 91.

Current durability: 55.

Durability can be fully restored in the resting area, and equipment can be repaired even during combat.]

Other than the worn-out durability, there were no other notable characteristics, but that point was extremely unusual.

There were no cases where a newly purchased item had worn-out durability.

Suji summoned the newly bought 〈(Incandescent) Shackles of the Perished〉 from her inventory and touched the blade with her fingertips as if feeling it.

The ‘total durability’ was the value when the durability was completely restored, represented as a percentage.

It wasn’t easy to wear out the total durability of a 10-tier sword by 9% through reckless use. That’s how good of an item it was.

Unless facing an EX-grade monster or one of an even higher grade.

Shields were relatively prone to durability wear, but swords were not.

The mere few letters stating ‘current durability 55’ automatically painted a picture of an extremely fierce battle.

No matter how much she thought about it, it was unusual for someone capable of wielding a weapon of this caliber to sell it to a store with a durability of 55.

No one who uses a 10-tier sword would neglect it. Without even repairing it?

Moreover, it was even stranger for the store to receive it as is and display it.

‘In what case would a sword in such a tattered state be circulated?’

Not in the market, but only in the store of the ‘great beings’.

The answer was practically evident at this point after seeing the 〈Deviation〉 items.

Upon death.

If the owner of the sword dies, it would circulate in this state.

Even without buying and examining other items, she was confident in her conclusion.

Although the initial rewards for climbing the tower were plentiful, the team members each chose weapons that suited their preferences.

Compared to other weapons of the same grade, a rapier tended to deal less impact with each swing. And since the blade was short, it required engaging in close combat, making it not a highly preferred weapon.

However, Suji clearly recognized that her role was to attract aggro and rampage, and there was no sword more suitable for that than this one.

The main target of monsters changed based on dealing high damage in a short time.

In other words, there was a need to strike quickly and retreat.

She didn’t prefer long-range weapons or cumbersome greatswords.

So, someone who would like this kind of weapon…

“…When I asked you to open the store, you mentioned something about an inheritance.”

− That’s right.

“This… is what I used to wield?”

Suji’s question echoed hollowly in the still void.

The answer didn’t come back swiftly.

The meaning of that brief pause was too obvious.

‘…It really was what I used.’

She swung the rapier a few times.

It was probably the one her past self, mentioned by Riena, had held.

‘Did I really reverse time a hundred times?’

However, thinking about it was pointless.

Such memories weren’t retained at all.

But she thought it could really be true.

From the moment she first used ‘Deviation’, she had taken the wrong path.

Since she had the memories, she must have judged that it would be most efficient to reverse time again and again herself. In reality, the efficiency must have gradually improved.

It was easy to guess what she had been thinking.

However, judging from the fact that 10-tier was the limit for weapons, there must have been a limit to the increase in efficiency as well.

Holding an item that her other selves from different timelines had possessed evoked a very complex sentiment.

In reality, it was just a pristine sword, but it somehow felt as if sticky blood was smeared on it.

It was a different feeling from when Riena had explained everything with words.

Because this sword proved that her other selves had relied on it for everything and failed to achieve their goals.

Facing this was an extremely unpleasant and fearful experience.

“Now I understand pretty much everything.”

She muttered as if talking to herself.

“I wondered why you would create a hunter system and build a tower, finding it so amusing that you would bet on the extinction of humanity.”

There was no response, but Suji continued speaking without minding.

“But how entertaining was it to watch a human struggling and trying to overcome an impossible barrier? Did it become a pleasure to observe?”

− That… We were just providing options.

Their voice sounded somewhat unpleasant.

“But you created an item that lets you turn back time. Were there any other options?”

− …There is a time limit for using the store. If you’ve finished purchasing, it’s best to leave now.

It was amusing how blatantly they tried to change the subject.

Suji stared intently at the display cases spread out before her.

“Alright. I’ll do that. But let me ask just one more thing.”

− What is it?

“This store, here. Among the many timelines, how many times have I reached this point?”

Instead of an answer, only a sound resembling a sigh echoed in her mind.

Suji quietly waited for a response while gazing at the log.

For quite a while, no answer was heard in her head.

Instead, the window displaying the log moved.

[Νύμφη laughs at your actions.] [απόγευμα laughs at your actions.] [νόμος remains silent at your actions.] [σκιά raises a hand and indicates the number 1 at your actions.] [νόμος objects to σκιά.] [σκιά’s unauthorized interference results in a penalty of 10,000 days. The connection with σκιά is severed.]