"So, uh... what exactly are these?"

Several women crowded around the purchased goods, studying the stacks intently.

The reason for their confusion was simple.

What made up those stacks were comparatively small, uniformly shaped objects unlike anything they had expected to receive. They couldn’t even compare them to weapons despite the smooth surfaces and metallic sheen, yet they were equally certain these weren’t the same wondrous provisions they’d anticipated when the purchasing began.

Instead of the golden nectar or the group’s new favorite fruit they thought they’d see, what they were now gawking at were sturdy items likely crafted by an experienced smith.

Unfortunately, the shop listings themselves weren’t particularly helpful either, since they couldn’t quite make sense of what they assumed were the descriptions.

Actually, the dilemma started the moment the listings appeared.

While two products stood out immediately for the eye-catching images, for the first time since the bridge opened, three separate listings had looked almost exactly the same.

Three rectangular metallic objects.

Seemingly with the same shape and size.

But surprisingly, the prices were different, as were the symbols beneath them, despite the images looking nearly identical.

Naturally, that hadn’t stopped anyone from purchasing them.

Maybe it was some sort of test? Who knows?

But at this crucial turning point, if Store H-9241964 decided to sell polished rocks, there was a very real chance someone would still buy them first and ask questions later.

So they purchased everything they could.

Only afterward did they realize they had absolutely no idea what they’d just bought. Not that things had been much different before, but at least back then they could tell the products apart. Now, if someone mixed everything together, they wouldn’t even know which item was which.

In hindsight, it was actually a minor oversight on Luca’s part.

The dungeon owner had been in such a hurry that he never considered how the bridge generated product images in the first place.

When it came to their other stores, that had ceased becoming a problem he had to take care of, as they already had established marketing practices.

Selling things had been remarkably easier for him now because all he had to focus on was actually conceptualizing or making the product. After that, there were always people ready to help with everything else.

Steward Han and the Elders were exceptionally capable in that regard, and even Marquis Mylor had generously lent his expertise without asking for anything in return.

More importantly, there were people like Owen Mylor, whose crafty hands somehow had the uncanny ability to make anything look desirable. Sometimes, even a little too desirable!

The bridge, however, appeared to derive its images directly from whatever was being shipped.

Meaning that if an item was sealed inside a tightly closed container, then the displayed image would simply be...

The container.

It hadn’t been noticeable when honey was sold because the jars were transparent.

Likewise, the apples arrived inside open crates.

This time, however, unbeknownst to the waiting dungeon owner, his customers were experiencing something of a collective crisis all because he’d put the labels under each lunch box.

But how could he not do so when he himself was familiar with the woes of removing stickers from containers?!

Moreover, he didn’t imagine they’d come up simply as metal lunchboxes!

Understandably, the buyers were collectively thinking, ’just what exactly had we purchased?’

The answer came surprisingly quickly as several brave souls eventually volunteered to investigate.

After all, there was only so much staring one could do before curiosity won.

One woman tried to carefully pry the metallic lid open while everyone gathered closer.

And somehow even closer in anticipation.

The moment the seal finally gave way, the crowd collectively sucked in a breath.

It almost looked as though light was spilling out from the moment the container opened.

An exaggeration, certainly.

Though perhaps not by much, especially since elsewhere, a certain blonde was experiencing much the same reaction despite knowing perfectly well what such containers usually held.

Because the instant the lid was lifted, a rich aroma escaped into the air, while the sight that greeted them nearly blew everyone away.

"...!"

Bodies jolted one after another in startled delight.

Then, almost instinctively, everyone leaned in even closer toward the source. At this point, they might as well just glue themselves to each other as they crowded around the brave woman.

Now said hero who had opened the container briefly forgot how to breathe.

Beside her, another person’s eyes widened and a chorus of astonished noises quickly followed.

"Ooooh..."

"Ahhh..."

"What is that?!"

Then, as if delivering them from their collective agony, someone gasped as they found the heartfelt labels placed under the boxes. And from there, a projection similar to the first one appeared before their eyes.

"!"

Only this time, instead of a series of images they needed to painstakingly decipher, this one came with an actual clip.

A video!

On the projection was a person whose upper face had been cropped out of the frame. But with skilled and experienced fingers, the figure casually flipped open the lid, retrieved what appeared to be eating utensils from a separate compartment, and then dug into the enticing contents housed inside what was now unmistakably a container.

Then the figure, without much fanfare, lifted a portion of it and placed it into their mouth.

"!!!"

"!!!"

Edible!

This was food too!

Ones that, from the looks of it, wouldn’t even survive past the day this time around.

But strangely enough, of all the questions racing through the minds of the bewildered customers, one stood above the rest.

Just how was that person able to stay calm and collected after taking a bite of that?!

Because when they thought back to their own experience, the reactions had been considerably less dignified.

Alleged powerhouses collapsed in a wave.

Others spoke in unintelligible words as crazed ramblings could be heard everywhere.

It was practically a mass defeat.

They most definitely wanted to save the goods for their families, but doing that...

Doing so with this was impossible.

Because the moment the aroma reached them and the first bite touched their tongues, they couldn’t even remember what happened afterward.

One moment the containers had been full.

The next—

"..."

They were empty.

Then, as if under an encompassing spell, no one could remember how they inhaled what had been in those containers!

JUST WHERE DID IT ALL GO?!

Well, certainly not in the inventory...

"..."