System of the Beast Slayer [litrpg Adventure]
Copyright© 1999 by CaffeinatedTales
Chapter 319: Traces of Magic in the Shadows
Winter was drawing near. The damp, cold sea wind blowing in from the estuary made men shiver.
Yarin stood behind the counter of Lucky Cat Flower Shop, struggling to keep her eyes open. Inside the shop, the bright jasmine, lilies, and water lilies had all been blown limp and listless by the wind, much like their owner.
The young woman was far too sleepy. Carelessly, she failed to hold it back. Her nose twitched, and she let out a soft snore like a cat’s mew. Her eyes were half open, half shut, and her petite body toppled sideways beyond her control. The next moment, she cried out, “Ow.”
She widened her watery eyes, faint dark circles beneath them, and clutched her forehead in grievance. A hard wall had left a glaring red swelling there.
“Ah, if only Aisha were still here.” She lowered her head and muttered to herself, then thought again of that good employee, that good little sister.
When Aisha was still around, the two sisters had taken turns watching the shop. Life could hardly have been more comfortable.
But ever since she vanished without word two months ago, the burden of work had fallen entirely onto Yarin’s shoulders.
Lucky Cat Flower Shop mainly served the city’s wealthy, and its standards for an employee’s appearance were high. Finding a qualified replacement in a short time was no easy thing.
She would have to hold out alone for at least another month.
At the thought, Yarin could not help feeling downcast. Worrying over her sister had already ruined her sleep of late, and now even the chance to doze had been taken from her. She felt she was close to breaking.
“Aisha, come back and save your sister. Please don’t let anything have happened to you.”
Knock, knock. A hand suddenly entered Yarin’s field of vision and rapped twice on the counter before her.
She was startled badly enough to nearly jump in place. She had not heard footsteps, nor any other sound.
“What a mysterious guest.”
By the time Yarin raised her head, she had already composed herself. The corners of her mouth curved into a practiced sweet smile, and she saw a completely unfamiliar young face.
Dark-gold pupils, a sharp gaze full of a beast’s aggression, a lean frame, gray-black armor over his whole body. He did not resemble most wealthy men she served. He looked more like...
A flicker of fear crossed Yarin’s bright black eyes. She had noticed the two sword hilts rising behind his shoulders.
“Welcome, honored guest. Is this your first time at Lucky Cat Flower Shop? Are you choosing a gift for your wife? Lucky Cat Flower Shop has the fullest range and finest quality flowers in all Novigrad,” Yarin forced a smile, trying to avoid the young man’s cold, sharp gaze, her tone faintly ingratiating. “If you don’t mind, tell me what you need, and I’ll offer some suggestions. I’m sure I can satisfy you.”
“Sorry. I’m not interested in flowers ... flowers other than roses.” Roy casually looked over the flower shop. It was small, but finely decorated, its colors soft and tasteful.
As soon as a guest entered, the nose and mouth filled with pleasant floral fragrance. It made one feel comfortable, relaxed.
At the moment, aside from this young woman, there was no one else inside. He gave a glance to Letho’s burly figure outside the shop.
“What, what do you want?” Yarin noticed the Witcher’s small gesture and realized something was wrong. She pressed herself hard against the wall, trembling.
Then, very sensibly, she took a pile of scattered copper coins from the drawer. “Please, don’t hurt me, all right? I’ll give you all the money.”
“My flower shop is under Lord Olof’s protection. You don’t want to offend someone like him, do you?”
...
“What do you take me for? Put the money away.” Roy shook his head. He loved coin as much as his own life, but he had not fallen so low as to rob women. “Don’t be nervous. I have a few questions for you ... simple ones. Cooperate, and you won’t be hurt.” Once the Witcher finished, he ignored the girl’s pleas. In an instant, his five fingers moved before her, tracing a shifting curtain of light and shadow.
An inverted triangular Sign sank into her pupils. Yarin lost her senses at once. Her eyes dulled, her head lowered, like a marionette dangling from strings.
“Name. Age.” Roy leaned back into the wicker chair behind him and crossed one leg over the other, comfortable. He really did prefer this simple, direct method of questioning.
“Yarin. Twenty-five.” The woman’s thin lips moved as she answered mechanically.
“You’re the owner of this flower shop, then. You should know how many people have worked at Lucky Cat Flower Shop in the past half year.”
“Two. Me and little sister Aisha. Because she suddenly disappeared two months ago, I’m the only one left in the shop, both owner and clerk.”
“And how was your relationship with Aisha?”
“Like sisters. We ate and lived together.”
The Witcher nodded. Yarin’s current account matched Todd’s. It seemed this flower shop owner was not much of a suspect.
“As far as you know, did Aisha have any other acquaintances in Novigrad? What were their relationships like?”
The woman froze for a few seconds. Though the Sign had taken her mind, she still instinctively searched her memory.
After a moment, she shook her head.
“Aisha had worked at Lucky Cat Flower Shop for less than half a year. She was shy. Apart from customers at the shop, she rarely spoke to anyone else. Also, her range of movement was small. Most of the time she stayed at Lucky Cat Flower Shop, or the dormitory, and the area between them.”
“A simple life.” Roy tapped his temple with his index finger. “A girl as pretty and innocent as Aisha would surely have had ill-intentioned customers courting her, harassing her, yes?”
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