The bell rang.
Again.
But this time, it didn't ding—it roared. As if the universe itself had just clocked in for its shift.
The automatic doors hissed open, and a gust of multiversal wind rushed in, carrying with it the smell of ozone, sakura petals, gunpowder, and heartbreak.
A golden scroll unfurled from the ceiling. Glowing letters appeared midair:
"THE CELESTIAL CLEARANCE SALE HAS BEGUN."
All items. All realms. All consequences.Half off. Full price paid in soul, memory, or meaning.
Vahn blinked, still groggy from the pseudo-peace he'd tasted in Chapter 40. "Already? I just sat down."
Before he could even stretch—
BOOM.
Gojo Satoru landed in the produce aisle like a comet with swag. Sunglasses gleaming, Infinity humming, six apples floating around him in perfect orbit.
"Yo," Gojo grinned. "You got any mochi-flavored sadness?"
Vahn didn't miss a beat. "Aisle 9. Next to the existential dread popsicles."
"Lit."
Then—
BOOM BOOM.
Two more portals exploded open. Out stepped:
Yuno Gasai, pink hair flowing like a corrupted romance novel. Knife tucked neatly into her Hello Kitty purse.
Ainz Ooal Gown, robes billowing, death aura muted (store policy), holding a coupon the size of a coffin.
Vahn frowned. "This isn't a sale. This is a trap."
Yuno walked up, leaned against the counter, and smiled sweetly—dangerously. "You're cute when you're pretending not to unravel."
Ainz hovered forward, eyes glowing red beneath the cowl. "Storekeeper… today, I intend to redeem what was never meant to be bought."
The receipt printer coughed. It was already overheating.