Chapter 20: Forbidden Potion (III)

The girl’s eyes were wide open.

The moment the black cat pounced, Aurora even thought some old enemy had come to settle a score.

“Meow! Don’t bite there! It’s going to break! You bad cat, let go right now!!”

She flailed around in her chair like a startled hamster, her arms waving wildly.

Her short golden hair became even more disheveled from the struggle, making her look like a small animal caught by the scruff.

Vanessa watched this little “crazy” creature before her and finally couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

The laughter was very light, but it made Aurora freeze mid-motion.

This laughter…

She felt like she’d heard it somewhere before.

And it sounded just like a certain old customer she’d met in the past!

She looked up blankly.

Beneath her golden bangs, a pair of amber eyes blinked.

Then, she met those flame-colored eyes filled with teasing amusement.

“…Boss Vanessa!”

Aurora was stunned.

The terror on her face shifted at a visible pace.

First disbelief, then sudden understanding, and finally it morphed directly into a fawning smile.

“Oh my! So it’s you, Boss!”

She scrambled up from the chair, dashed over to Vanessa in two or three steps, and casually held up the struggling black cat in her arms like an offering, handing it back:

“Your Vidras is getting cuter and cuter~ That fur color, and those eyes—you can tell he’s been well cared for by you, Boss~”

The black cat turned its head away in disdain, seemingly very dissatisfied with Aurora’s flattery.

Vanessa didn’t reach out to take it. She just looked at the other’s performance calmly.

Aurora awkwardly withdrew her hand, hugged the cat back into her arms, and the smile on her face subsided a little.

“What is it you want this time, Boss?”

Vanessa didn’t answer.

She just slowly walked forward and looked down at the golden-haired elven loli before her, who only reached her waist.

Aurora blinked.

“Aurora.” Her voice was very soft. “You wouldn’t forget something someone ordered, would you?”

“Oh my~ Look at my memory~” Aurora immediately patted her head and said with a giggle. “But how could I not be prepared for Boss Vanessa’s request?”

She put the black cat back on the ground and turned to walk toward the room behind her.

“Just a moment~”

Vanessa stood there and picked up Vidras again as he jumped back into her arms.

But her thoughts drifted elsewhere.

The small figure staring at her in the Outskirts District earlier.

Yiruo wearing a mask and a completely ill-fitting black robe, she had recognized her at a glance.

Those beautiful sapphire-like eyes.

The mysterious vampire girl she had noticed at first sight in the café.

She had been standing behind that pink-haired witch, staring at her with those eyes.

Like a little cat with its fur standing on end.

Wary, on guard…

And now even hostile?

A faint smile unconsciously curved at the corner of Vanessa’s mouth.

And the black-robed figure standing beside her must have been the witch from the café.

Thinking of this, the smile on her face grew more pronounced.

“What a sharp little kitten…”

She murmured softly.

Her flame-like eyes glittered with an unusual light in the dim lamplight.

“I wonder… how far will you struggle in this sweet story?”

Vidras in her arms looked up and cast a helpless glance at his owner with those emerald eyes.

Then he let out a “meow.”

As if to say:

‘There you go again.’

A moment later, footsteps came from the room inside.

Aurora walked out, holding a fire-black casket in her hands.

The casket wasn’t large, but the material was extremely special.

Its surface was covered with dense patterns that flickered in and out of sight under the light, clearly bearing multiple layers of sealing magic.

“Boss Vanessa, take a look~ This is the goods you ordered~”

Aurora walked up to Vanessa and carefully opened the casket.

Inside, several bottles of pink potion were neatly arranged.

The potion color was very light, almost transparent.

But as the bottle turned slightly, tiny specks of light could be seen flowing slowly within, as if some living thing was sleeping.

“This is the latest type of forbidden potion~”

Aurora lowered her voice and said mysteriously:

“Once you drink it, it forcibly amplifies the most primal impulses inside a person, unleashing combat power far beyond the ordinary~”

Vanessa looked down at the bottles, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes.

She reached out, about to take the casket—

“Hey~ Boss Vanessa~”

Aurora suddenly pulled the casket back.

Her other hand opened and stretched out in front of Vanessa.

The smile on her face was still bright, but her eyes had completely switched to merchant mode.

“Five hundred gold coins, no bargaining~ Boss~”

She shook her little pale hand.

“This is a big deal—can’t fish for nothing~”

Vanessa looked down at the little loli before her and didn’t get angry.

“Little profiteer.”

She said softly.

Then, with a flick of her palm, a heavy money pouch landed on Aurora’s outstretched hand.

The weight made her whole body sink down.

“Are you satisfied now?”

Aurora’s eyes lit up instantly.

Such a good sport!!

She hugged the pouch tight, her whole body trembling.

The smile on her face had completely lost control, turning into an almost obsessive expression, like a greedy dragon that had finally stolen a treasure.

“Hehe… I knew Boss Vanessa was the most trustworthy… So many gold coins… Hehehe…”

The girl crouched on the ground, her golden head buried in the pouch, letting out a satisfied, silly laugh.

Vanessa watched her, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.

Then, she extended her fair, slender hand and gently touched the fire-black casket.

Feeling its weight, the smile on Vanessa’s face became even more satisfied.

Then, she slowly turned her head.

Looked at the girl who was completely off guard, immersed in the joy of gold coins.

A strange smile appeared on her face.

She put the casket into her magical storage bag.

Then, her hand slowly touched the half-mask on her face.

Beneath the mask, black magical patterns quietly emerged in her flame-colored pupils.

Mana began to gather.

Several thin black needles materialized silently around her, soundlessly stabbing toward Aurora’s unprotected back.

Just as the black needles were about to lock onto Aurora—

A lazy, amused voice suddenly came from behind: