diff --git a/src/AcDream.App/Rendering/GameWindow.cs b/src/AcDream.App/Rendering/GameWindow.cs
index 6ca8697f..ea4d06ac 100644
--- a/src/AcDream.App/Rendering/GameWindow.cs
+++ b/src/AcDream.App/Rendering/GameWindow.cs
@@ -1951,24 +1951,33 @@ public sealed class GameWindow : IDisposable
                             if (arrWar.Value[i] is DatReaderWriter.Types.DataIdBaseProperty d)
                                 toolbarWarDigits[i] = d.Value;
                     }
-                    // Empty-slot background digit: property 0x1000005e, stance-independent.
-                    // Retail ref: UIElement_UIItem::SetShortcutNum (decomp 229481) —
-                    // else branch when m_elem_Icon->m_state == 0x1000001c (empty state).
-                    // No fallback constants — if absent, empty slots draw no digit (safe).
-                    if (props.TryGetValue(0x1000005Eu, out var rawEmpty)
-                        && rawEmpty is DatReaderWriter.Types.ArrayBaseProperty arrEmpty)
-                    {
-                        toolbarEmptyDigits = new uint[arrEmpty.Value.Count];
-                        for (int i = 0; i < arrEmpty.Value.Count; i++)
-                            if (arrEmpty.Value[i] is DatReaderWriter.Types.DataIdBaseProperty d)
-                                toolbarEmptyDigits[i] = d.Value;
-                    }
-                    Console.WriteLine($"[D.5.1] empty digit array: {toolbarEmptyDigits?.Length ?? 0} entries.");
                 }
                 else
                 {
                     Console.WriteLine("[D.5.1] digit arrays: element 0x1000034A/0x10000346 not found in LayoutDesc 0x21000037 — falling back to cited constants.");
                 }
+
+                // Empty-slot BACKGROUND digit lives under a DIFFERENT cell composite:
+                // composite 0x10000341 (the UIElement_UIItem-typed variant) carries property
+                // 0x1000005e (plainer digits 0x060010FA..0x06001102 for 1-9, 0x060074CF for the
+                // bottom row); composite 0x10000346 (peace/war, read above) does NOT carry it.
+                // Confirmed by a live dat property dump. Retail: UIElement_UIItem::SetShortcutNum
+                // (decomp 229481/229493) — empty branch (m_elem_Icon->m_state == 0x1000001c) reads
+                // 0x1000005e, stance-independent. No fallback constants (safe: no digit if absent).
+                if (uiItemLd is not null
+                    && uiItemLd.Elements.TryGetValue(0x10000341u, out var emptyComposite)
+                    && emptyComposite.Children.TryGetValue(0x1000034Au, out var emptyScn)
+                    && emptyScn.StateDesc is { } emptySd
+                    && emptySd.Properties is { } emptyProps
+                    && emptyProps.TryGetValue(0x1000005Eu, out var rawEmpty)
+                    && rawEmpty is DatReaderWriter.Types.ArrayBaseProperty arrEmpty)
+                {
+                    toolbarEmptyDigits = new uint[arrEmpty.Value.Count];
+                    for (int i = 0; i < arrEmpty.Value.Count; i++)
+                        if (arrEmpty.Value[i] is DatReaderWriter.Types.DataIdBaseProperty d)
+                            toolbarEmptyDigits[i] = d.Value;
+                }
+                Console.WriteLine($"[D.5.1] empty digit array (0x10000341/0x1000005e): {toolbarEmptyDigits?.Length ?? 0} entries.");
             }
 
             // Cited-constant fallback (UIElement_UIItem::SetShortcutNum, decomp 229465 + dat probe).