I turned away from the sinking sun. Half the day was already gone, golden light stretching long shadows across the street.

  “Hey, Zarra.”

  “Hm?”

  “The day’s ending,” I said quietly. “Let’s talk about something serious.”

  She nodded once. “Yes. I enjoyed the rest, but you’re right. Then—”

  “I don’t have any proper currency.”

  She instinctively moved a hand toward her chest with slight disappointment. She most likely thought of me as a basement-dwelling parasyte, yet she was preparing to offer payment again. Was that because she was in charge with my surveillance? Didn't matter. I gently stopped her wrist before she could finish the gesture.

  "That's not what I meant."

  She blinked.

  “I can’t accept debt.”

  In my previous world, debts disappeared when someone died. Laws cleared them away like they never existed. But it still sat in the back of my mind; a negative emotion waiting for the right moment to torment my soul—that's the kind of person I was; and still am.

  I gestured toward the kunai and shuriken that had finally been returned to me.

  “Do you think I could sell these?”

  Zarra studied them carefully, turning one of the blades between her fingers. Her expression shifted from curiosity to professional assessment.

  “Hm… I believe so,” she said. “I have never seen weapons like these before. You would need to visit a weapons merchant and demonstrate their use. ”

  She paused, calculating.

  “You could likely receive four gold coins. Possibly more.”

  Good, she understood what I was really asking.

  “Thank yo—”

  “I will guide you there,” she interrupted calmly.

  I blinked.

  “You are still under supervision,” she added. “Though… I am beginning to trust you. A little.”

  “Ah, I apprec—”

  “But I am careful with trust.”

  Another interruption. Her gaze was quite intense, scary even.

  “Betrayal is a language I speak well.”

  Ah, so someone had taught her that lesson personally. That explained a lot. A strange girl who didn’t understand classes yet created strange weapons… anyone sensible would remain cautious.

  I nodded slowly.

  “I understand,” I said. “Then I’ll earn your trust over time.”

  And I meant it. I liked her. Naturally, I’d watch her back — even if she outleveled me so badly it was almost embarrassing.

  She glanced at me briefly, measuring something unspoken.

  (? - ? -)

  The walk to the weapon shop didn’t take long.

  My condition had stabilized a while ago. Not really surprising, the use of dreamrot alongside my natural recovery and the ridiculous system I’d been gifted allowed me to postpone further healing — at least until I actually had money to pay for it.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  I wasn't in a hurry this time, and it felt nice.

  I was, however, in a hurry for food. Not because I was starving. The Morph skill seemed perfectly content rewriting my DNA behind the scenes, quietly suppressing hunger like an obnoxious manager. Thirst, however? Very real. And this world had coffee. Every good world has coffee! I could absolutely get behind a plate of light meat, a mug of cold water, and a steaming cup of coffee.

  Maybe two.

  And I’d seen people at cafés eating croissants.

  Croissants.

  I wanted one.

  No — I needed one.

  ?? ??? ?? ??? ??

  There I was, face-to-face with said weaponstore.

  And it was… immaculate, not a speck of dust anywhere.

  The building wasn't different from any of the stores I've noticed so far. Tall, old wood reinforced with bricks and steel, keeping it stable. The rooftop was also made of bricks, prepared for rainy days. The front was simple screaming nothing but simplicity and minimalism. Just below the main window, blades rested in perfect symmetry on polished racks, metal surfaces shining so brightly they reflected the sleepy afternoon sun straight into my sight.

  “—Ow.”

  I turned away quickly, rubbing my eyes, only to notice an armor shop across the street.

  Equally pristine. Identical symmetry. Matching minimalism. Same obsessive cleanliness. Even the foggy window was there!

  “Interesting,” I murmured.

  This district seemed to take craftsmanship very seriously.

  The moment I stepped closer to the displays, my status window completely lost its composure.

  ? Weaponry Discovered!

  【 Halberd 】

  ? Weaponry Discovered!

  【 Bastard Blade 】

  ? Weaponry Discovered!

  【 Spade 】

  ? Weaponry Discovered!

  【 Sirius 】

  ? Weaponry Discovered!

  【 Serpent Blade 】

  ? Weaponry Discovered!

  【 Lion Slayer 】

  ? Weaponry Discovered!

  【 Spider Lance 】

  ? Weaponry Discovered!

  【 Magnetic Blade 】

  ? Weaponry Discovered!

  【 Zodiac Slasher 】

  My Weaponry tab was throwing a full-scale celebration, like a teenager whose parents had just left town for the weekend.

  I didn't really mind it. Mainly because my gaze lingered on two weapons in particular — the Sirius sword and the Lion Slayer spear.

  They felt… different. Like objects with stories attached to them.

  ...important.

  Curiosity nudged me toward the Magnetic Blade and the Spider Lance next. Their designs were mesmerizing.

  A massive, ridiculously oversized, flat greatsword. Clearly designed for blunt damage. The middle of the blade was hollow and sharp, as if it was designed to catch limbs with it and slice them. Gory stuff...

  The spider lance was no better. As it's name implies the metal was shaped like an aggressive arachnid. A spade with 3 steel legs on each side, ready to pierce whatever enemy tried to catch it. Cool...

  I flipped the price tags, out of curiosity—and immediately was slapped across the face by lady-reality.

  “…Later,” I whispered to myself. "Definitely later."

  Right now, I had to sell the assassin tools.

  I straightened my posture, adjusted the kunai at my side, and walked into the shop with the confident stride of someone who absolutely knew what she was doing.

  (I did not know what I was doing.)

  ════════════════

  ? VITALS ?

  ════════════════

  Health: Don’t Die ?

  Mana: 50 / 50

  Mana Regen: 3 / Min

  SPD: 17Km / H

  ════════════════

  ════════════════

  ? KNOWLEDGE ?

  ════════════════

  ? Weaponry??≡

  ════════════════

  ?? Sword (Swordsman)

  ?? Spear (Lancer)

  ?? Knife (Rogue)

  ?? Scythe (Executioner)

  ?? Bow & Arrow (Archer)

  ?? Claws (Savage)

  ?? Shield (Tank)

  ?? Guillotine (Executioner)

  ?? Trident (Lancer)

  ?? Kunai (Rogue)

  ?? Shuriken (Archer)

  ?? Halberd (Lancer)

  ?? Bastard Blade (Savage)

  ?? Spade (Lancer)

  ?? Sirius (Swordsman)

  ?? Serpent Blade (Lancer)

  ?? Lion Slayer (Lancer)

  ?? Spider Lance (Lancer)

  ?? Magnetic Blade (Executioner)

  ?? Zodiac Slasher (Swordsman)

  ════════════════

  Sirius

  Lion Slayer

  Magnetic Blade

  Spider Lance