IWHERSFL 37

~Chapter 37~

I looked at Rician and parted my lips.

The longer I hesitated, the stiffer his expression became.

I couldn’t honestly tell him about the hidden shop.
It was too complicated to explain.

So the best choice was to make up a vague but believable excuse.

“God… um… gave me a mission.”

“A mission?”

“I have to go alone. Don’t worry, it’s not dangerous.”

The hand gripping my arm slowly loosened.

He wrapped his hand around mine instead.
The warmth against my bare skin made my heart churn for no clear reason.

“Can’t I go with you?”

“Um… that would be difficult….”

“Really not allowed…?”

Rician stared at me with those Puss in Boots eyes.

I squeezed my eyes shut.
That expression was cheating…!

‘But no means no….’

Just then—

The door will close soon. Please enter quickly.
10, 9, 8…

What the hell?! There’s a time limit too?!

With no choice, I shook Rician off and shouted,

“I really have to go! I’ll see you later! I’ll be right back!”

“Muriel!”

“M-Masterrr~!”

I heard their desperate calls, but I had no time to answer.
I rushed through the closing door.

5, 4…

Welcome!
You have entered the Hidden Shop of the Outer Space Rift.

Bang.

The door closed behind me.

I reflexively turned around, confirmed it was firmly shut, then looked forward again.

The sight before me—
was nothing short of another world.

‘What… is all this?’

The scenery was overwhelming.
“Magnificent” wasn’t even enough to describe it.

This place felt like an island.
Soft-looking grass covered the ground, and it was filled with dozens—no, hundreds—of different flowers.

At first glance it looked like a garden, but pure white fountains, statues, and resting structures were scattered around.

Beyond the island was endless void.
Indigo and violet space stretched out, with colorful galaxies drifting slowly by.

There was even a transparent rainbow, sparkling like crystal, hanging in the air.
I had no idea how physics worked here.

“How is this a hidden shop…?”

I let out a hollow laugh.
No matter how I looked at it, this place was nothing like a shop.
It felt more like a playground of some god.

“So… how am I supposed to shop here….”

The item I needed was definitely Fate Distortion.
I didn’t know what it looked like or how much it cost.

I followed the straight white crystal path ahead.
The milky crystals shimmered beautifully in the light.

I was walking while staring at the ground when I suddenly looked up.
At some point, the decorations along the path had changed.

The flowerbeds were gone.
Instead, strange objects sat on marble display stands.

“…?”

I carefully examined them one by one.
Every single one looked bizarre, and I had no idea what they were used for.

An Egg That May Birth Anything
Price: Please inquire.

It looked relatively normal, but its color was disturbing.
Green and purple swirled together, giving off an ominous feeling.

‘Whatever it is, I shouldn’t touch it.’

A Fragment of the Night Sky of a Destroyed World
Price: Please inquire.

‘This is….’

It was a cube-shaped fragment, about the size of an adult man’s fist.
Against a pitch-black background, a strange red light flickered.

As I stared at that hypnotic red glow—

A blood-red eye suddenly snapped open in the darkness.

“Aaah!”

I was so startled I nearly fell backward.

The grotesque eye stared at me for a moment, then slowly closed again.

Clutching my pounding heart, I gasped for breath.

Why would they even sell something like this?
What could it possibly be used for…?

‘Isn’t there anything normal?’

As I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead and looked around, a chilly silver light caught my eye.
I narrowed my eyes and walked toward it.

A Silver Goblet That Grants Wishes
Price: ?

‘Oh? This one looks kind of normal. And it grants wishes?’

But when I leaned closer to look carefully, a horrific scene was engraved on the goblet’s surface.

‘W-What is this…?’

I staggered back, putting distance between myself and the goblet.

People were carved into the surface, faces twisted in agony, screaming as they struggled, arms outstretched as if trying to escape.

“……”

Now I was scared.
What is this “shop,” exactly…?

‘I-I need to find Fate Distortion fast!’

After that, I ignored every item I saw.
I searched only for those four words—Fate Distortion.

The island was wider than it looked.
Maybe because it wasn’t a normal place, but the farther I went, the more the space seemed to stretch endlessly.

“Where is Fate Distortion, seriously…!”

I got tired quickly from all the walking.
I approached a bench that came into view and plopped down.

The bench was white too, made of some strange material I couldn’t identify.

I clasped my hands like I was praying and muttered,

“System God, please act like a navigation app or something. I need to find it quickly and go back…. Rician and Ninabel are worried….”

Maybe my plea worked.
The system displayed [Please wait a moment.], then soon showed another message.

You can summon a shop guide for 50 coins.
Would you like to summon one?
YES / NO

Fifty coins was nothing.
It was ridiculous that even a guide cost money, but still.

I nodded and pressed YES.

At once, jingle jingle—the sound of coins pouring out played, 50 coins were deducted, and pop! fireworks exploded in the air.

Well, not real fireworks—just the effect.

Amid the flashy display, the “guide” appeared.

It was a small white puppy.

Tiny angel wings fluttered on its back, and it wore a blue scarf around its neck.

Staring blankly at its unexpectedly adorable appearance, my chest suddenly filled with emotion.

‘So cute…!!’

I covered my mouth with both hands and stared at the puppy with shining eyes.

The puppy tilted its head, fluttered into the air with its little wings, and spoke cheerfully,

“Helloo, customer! I’m this shop’s guide, Milk!”

Yes.
It actually talked.
A puppy!

And its way of speaking was strange too.
If a human talked like that, I’d give them a look—but since it was a puppy, it worked.
It was adorable.

‘Fluffy… cute…! I want to pet it!’

My hands twitched with the urge, but touching a stranger’s dog without permission would be rude.

So instead, I gently held out the back of my hand toward its nose.

“…? What are you doing…?”

“…….”

I was just… greeting you….

‘Is that not it?’

I scratched my head and pulled my hand back.
As I smiled awkwardly, Milk spun once in the air and said,

“Customer, if you’re looking for something, please tell me! Milk will find it for you!”

Right—its name was Milk.
Simple, fitting, and perfect. Whoever named it had good taste.

I cleared my throat.

“I’m looking for an item called Fate Distortion. Do you have it?”

“Yesss! Fate Distortion! Please wait just a moment!”

Milk pulled out a scroll from somewhere, shrrrk, unrolled it, and traced along it carefully with its fluffy front paw.

After a moment, Milk rolled it back up, lifted its head, and declared loudly,

“Found it, customer! Please follow me!”

I followed the trotting white puppy, feeling like my heart might explode.

After about twenty steps—

Milk stopped in front of a transparent glass display case and pointed decisively with its paw.

“Right here it is! Fate Distortion!”

I carefully stepped closer and looked inside.

The first thing I saw were those four words:

Fate Distortion

Below them, it read—

Atropos’s Scissors

That’s right.

The item called Fate Distortion…
was a pair of sharp, silver scissors.