diff --git a/apps/api/src/database/seeds/vertical-slice.seed.spec.ts b/apps/api/src/database/seeds/vertical-slice.seed.spec.ts
index df32221..102f561 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/database/seeds/vertical-slice.seed.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/database/seeds/vertical-slice.seed.spec.ts
@@ -419,4 +419,49 @@ describe('seedVisibleVerticalSlice', () => {
     );
     expect(characterItemRepository.rows).toHaveLength(1);
   });
+
+  it('reuses a naturally-looted starting sword instead of inserting a duplicate CharacterItem', async () => {
+    const locationRepository = new InMemoryRepository();
+    const connectionRepository = new InMemoryRepository();
+    const characterRepository = new InMemoryRepository();
+    const monsterRepository = new InMemoryRepository();
+    const locationMonsterRepository = new InMemoryRepository();
+    const characterItemRepository = new InMemoryRepository();
+    const characterEquipmentRepository = new InMemoryRepository();
+    const dataSource = createDataSource(
+      locationRepository,
+      connectionRepository,
+      characterRepository,
+      monsterRepository,
+      locationMonsterRepository,
+      new InMemoryRepository(),
+      new InMemoryRepository(),
+      new InMemoryRepository(),
+      characterItemRepository,
+      characterEquipmentRepository,
+    );
+
+    // Simulate the demo character having already looted a worn-short-sword
+    // naturally, under a DB-generated id that differs from the seed's
+    // stable literal constant.
+    const naturallyLootedItemId = 'naturally-looted-sword-item-id';
+    characterItemRepository.rows.push({
+      id: naturallyLootedItemId,
+      characterId: DEMO_CHARACTER_ID,
+      itemDefinitionId: ITEM_IDS['worn-short-sword'],
+      quantity: 1,
+    });
+
+    await seedVisibleVerticalSlice(dataSource);
+
+    expect(characterItemRepository.rows).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(characterEquipmentRepository.rows).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(characterEquipmentRepository.rows[0]).toEqual(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        characterId: DEMO_CHARACTER_ID,
+        slot: 'WEAPON',
+        characterItemId: naturallyLootedItemId,
+      }),
+    );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/apps/api/src/database/seeds/vertical-slice.seed.ts b/apps/api/src/database/seeds/vertical-slice.seed.ts
index 8af98bc..febeb07 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/database/seeds/vertical-slice.seed.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/database/seeds/vertical-slice.seed.ts
@@ -218,8 +218,11 @@ export async function seedVisibleVerticalSlice(
   const characterEquipmentRepository = dataSource.getRepository(CharacterEquipment);
 
   const existingStartingSword = await characterItemRepository.findOneBy({
-    id: DEMO_CHARACTER_STARTING_WEAPON_ITEM_ID,
+    characterId: DEMO_CHARACTER_ID,
+    itemDefinitionId: ITEM_IDS['worn-short-sword'],
   });
+  const startingSwordItemId =
+    existingStartingSword?.id ?? DEMO_CHARACTER_STARTING_WEAPON_ITEM_ID;
   if (!existingStartingSword) {
     await characterItemRepository.insert({
       id: DEMO_CHARACTER_STARTING_WEAPON_ITEM_ID,
@@ -238,7 +241,7 @@ export async function seedVisibleVerticalSlice(
       id: DEMO_CHARACTER_STARTING_WEAPON_EQUIPMENT_ID,
       characterId: DEMO_CHARACTER_ID,
       slot: EquipmentSlot.WEAPON,
-      characterItemId: DEMO_CHARACTER_STARTING_WEAPON_ITEM_ID,
+      characterItemId: startingSwordItemId,
     });
   }
 }