Chapter 442: Chapter 439 – Return To The Market

Sylvia finished her warm milk until the cup was completely empty, letting the soft sweetness and warmth of the liquid linger on her tongue for a moment. The white porcelain plate in front of her was completely bare, leaving only crunchy whole-wheat breadcrumbs and a slight stain of dark red berry jam that had begun to dry on the rim. It was a simple breakfast, yet somehow felt incredibly luxurious after long, exhausting days inside the dimensional rift.

On her lap, a cat with shimmering golden fur looked up. Its round eyes, resembling amber gemstones, stared straight at Sylvia, blinking once slowly as if asking a silent question about whether there was any extra food to be had this morning.

Sylvia smiled faintly, a curve of the lips very rarely shown to the outside world. Her slender fingers moved to the edge of the table, picking up the last small piece of smoked meat she had intentionally set aside from the beginning.

"This is the last one, don’t be greedy," Sylvia murmured in a low, cold voice, yet carrying a hidden tenderness.

The golden cat welcomed the piece of meat with a swift but graceful snatch. It chewed ravenously, while its long, thick tail flicked rapidly from left to right across Sylvia’s knees, a universal indicator of profound satisfaction. Its fur, as warm as sunlight, felt incredibly comforting beneath Sylvia’s palm as she occasionally stroked the small animal’s back.

Morning at the Silver Moon Inn felt deeply peaceful, presenting an extreme contrast compared to the darkness and horror of the underground dimension they had explored yesterday. The steady footsteps of the servant sweeping the wooden floor, the delicate clinking of porcelain cups being washed, the rich aroma of black coffee wafting from the kitchen, and the morning sunlight growing brighter as it crept through the panes of the large glass windows; all of it created a nearly perfect visual and auditory symphony. This place felt like a true sanctuary.

However, peace often brought an uninvited ally for people like Sylvia: boredom.

The after-effects of a very sound sleep on a plush bed had fully restored Sylvia’s body to peak condition. Her vitality had returned, and when her body was too refreshed, her mind refused to remain idle for long. Sitting quietly without doing anything began to feel like an invisible torture for a hunter accustomed to being on the move.

"Let’s go out," she murmured softly, more to herself than to the cat on her lap.

With a fluid motion, she scooped the golden cat into her arms. The cat’s body fit snugly against her chest, like a warm, living pillow. Sylvia rose from the wooden chair, slightly adjusting the loose gray hoodie she wore. Before stepping away, she placed several silver coins on the clean wooden table, a payment more than enough for an extraordinary breakfast and the morning hospitality of the inn.

When the front door of the Silver Moon Inn opened, the morning air of Silvermist city immediately welcomed her with a crisp freshness that pierced the pores. The air was rich with layers of scent: a blend of buttered toast from the early morning stalls nearby, the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans, and the distinct smell of damp earth left behind by the evaporation of night dew clinging between the cobblestone streets.

The city streets had already begun to show their pulse. The morning bustle in Silvermist always possessed its own charm. Local merchants were busy setting up their cloth canopies and unlocking iron stall padlocks, while logistics carriages passed by with the rhythmic, constant thud of horses’ hooves on the cobblestones. In another corner, small children from local families ran through the alleys, their cheerful laughter breaking what remained of the morning silence.

Sylvia walked at a leisurely pace, not rushed at all. She held the golden cat to her chest with one arm, while her other hand was tucked into her hoodie pocket. The animal’s warm fur continued to provide a soothing sensation against her chest. However, as her eyes swept across the rows of stalls beginning to operate and saw how the city’s economic interactions unfolded, a spark of an old idea that had been buried suddenly resurfaced in her mind.

Let’s sell things again.

It was a tantalizing thought. True, their identity as the ’three beautiful and mysterious merchant girls’ had been dramatically exposed yesterday. Every corner of Silvermist city, from the guild masters to the beggars on the streets, now knew the staggering truth: that the three teenage girls who days ago sat in the market hawking cinnamon and black pepper were actually extraordinary Rank A hunters or perhaps even legendary Rank S existences. News of how they had successfully brought out a complete topographic map from an uncharted dimensional rift had spread like wildfire blown by a tempest.

Yet, to Sylvia, such a commotion was no big deal at all. The corner of her lips curled into a faint, cynical smile. Let them speculate about her combat power. For her, the most crucial fact was that her most fundamental secret identity as the Nocture Queen, the dreaded ruler of the undead, remained safely hidden behind a shroud of mystery. As long as the entire population of this city merely thought they were a group of powerful adventurers with an eccentric hobby of masquerading as traveling merchants, everything remained under her absolute control.

Making a swift decision, Sylvia altered her course. Instead of heading toward the city square, she turned toward the large stables located at the back area of the Silver Moon Inn.

The stables were relatively quiet. In the furthest corner, inside two specialized compartments isolated from ordinary horses, Sylvia’s two zombie horses stood with a mystical stillness. Their blood-red eyes glowed faintly in the dim darkness of the stable, exuding an unspoken sense of dominance. Physically, thanks to high-level necromancy magic that had been perfected, the outward appearance of these two creatures almost perfectly resembled magnificent, pitch-black stallion horses. Their coats gleamed healthily, and their muscles were dense. It was just that they had no heartbeat, required no breath, possessed an aura of intimidation that made other animals around them uneasy, and most importantly: possessed limitless stamina that would never deplete.

Sylvia stepped closer. The golden cat in her arms let out a low hiss upon seeing the two undead creatures, but quickly calmed down after Sylvia patted its head gently. Sylvia stroked the sturdy necks of the two zombie horses in turn. Their skin felt cold yet hard as steel.

"Time to work," Sylvia whispered.

With the composure of an expert, she led both horses out of the stable simultaneously. Outside, in the vast carriage parking lot, their merchant carriage was still neatly parked under a wooden roof. The carriage was designed with a simple-looking exterior so as not to attract the attention of highway bandits, but it was actually constructed from choice ironwood that was incredibly sturdy and equipped with magical suspension to dampen shocks.

With swift, tactical, and highly trained movements, Sylvia fitted the iron-lined leather harnesses onto the bodies of the two zombie horses. The beasts stood tall without moving an inch, obeying every mental instruction sent by their master through their soul bond.

Once the carriage was perfectly hitched, Sylvia took two steps back and waved her right hand gracefully through the air. A very subtle spatial fluctuation occurred. From within her system storage an infinite and sterile pocket dimension she began to extract the merchandise one by one in sequence.

First, large burlap sacks filled with sharp, enticingly aromatic spices were extracted into reality. There was premium quality black pepper with deep black grains, perfectly rolled dried cinnamon sticks, dried cloves emitting a warm aroma, as well as specialized spices that only grew within Nocture’s domain, a spice with dried purple petals that possessed properties to enhance mental focus.

Next came rolls of incredibly soft wool fabric in various elegant autumn colors, followed by kitchen utensils forged from choice iron, and ceramic tableware with fine glazes that gleamed beneath the sun. Lastly, Sylvia brought out several woven baskets filled with fresh fruits whose surfaces were still glossy as if just plucked from the tree: rosy red apples that were large, thick-skinned oranges that invited appetite, and several exotic tropical fruits rarely or even never encountered in a cold northern region like Silvermist.

All the goods were arranged with mathematical precision inside the spacious compartment of the merchant carriage.

Once everything was ready, Sylvia leapt up to the high driver’s seat with a very light movement. She held the leather reins casually in her hands, relaxing her body. The golden cat, which had been watching her from below, leapt with high accuracy, landing right on the empty seat beside Sylvia. The creature wrapped its thick tail around its furry paws, sitting upright with a highly regal expression.

"Well... let’s begin this little show," Sylvia murmured in a lazy tone.

She flicked the reins with a subtle vibration. The two zombie horses in front of her responded immediately, stepping forward in unison with a stable, rhythmic, and powerful stride. The wooden carriage creaked softly as its wheels, coated with magical rubber, began to roll over the cobblestone surface of the city streets.

The short journey toward the heart of the market felt highly enjoyable to Sylvia. The dewy morning breeze blew through her hair, bringing a freshness that banished any remaining traces of sleepiness. Along the way, an interesting sight began to unfold. Several townspeople and adventurers on foot recognized the figure of the girl sitting in the driver’s seat. They stopped dead in their tracks by the roadside, glancing with a combination of deep admiration, swelling curiosity, and suppressed envy. After all, this teenage girl in front of them was the very figure who had thrown all the guild higher-ups into a frenzy yesterday.

However, the memory of how terrifying their hunter aura ensured that not a single person dared to approach within a five-meter radius of the carriage. They only whispered behind their palms.

Upon arriving at the main market area of Silvermist city, the location of the stall they had previously rented was found to be in excellent condition. It seemed the market management, whether out of respect or fear, had ensured that the place remained empty and well-maintained, not allowing any other merchant to occupy it even though the trio had disappeared into the dimensional rift for several days.

Sylvia got down from the carriage and began to unload. With incredible efficiency utilizing her physical strength which was far above that of an average human she lowered the merchandise without breaking a single drop of sweat. She arranged the sacks of spices on the front shelves, intentionally loosening their ties so that the exotic, fragrant aroma would immediately waft with the wind and entice the senses of anyone passing by. Rolls of wool fabric were hung neatly on wooden display poles, showcasing their premium texture. Iron kitchen utensils and ceramics were arranged by size on the main table, while baskets of fresh fruit were placed in the most prominent positions to feast the eyes of buyers.

The golden cat did not idle about. It leapt onto a small wooden table located beside the spice rack. There, it sat quietly with its back straight, its head held high with a sharp yet calm gaze, guarding the stall with an elegance that made it look like a golden statue sculpted by a maestro artist.

Once the entire setup was complete and the stall’s visuals looked perfect, Sylvia walked behind the main vending table. She pulled up a simple wooden chair and sat on it. She leaned her weary back against the chair’s backrest, crossing her legs in a very relaxed and nonchalant manner. The zipper of her gray hoodie was intentionally lowered a bit, revealing a plain white t-shirt inside that contrasted with her porcelain-white skin.

Seeing a comfortable gap, the golden cat immediately leapt from the small table and landed smoothly on Sylvia’s lap once more. It turned around twice before finally curling into a warm ball of golden fur, letting out a soft purring sound a sign of absolute comfort.

As time went on, the Silvermist market gradually transformed into an increasingly dense sea of people. The voices of merchants calling out to promote their wares created a noisy yet lively background din. The aroma of street food such as savory grilled pork sausages and thick potato soup billowing smoke began to dominate the air, blending uniquely with the spice aroma from Sylvia’s stall.

Many people passing by in front of their stall began to notice the return of this ’mysterious merchant’. Group after group of people stopped not far from the stall, pointing and whispering with expressions of disbelief. They did not expect that the formidable hunter who was currently the talk of the town would return to the market to perform such secular work.

After a few minutes of that awkward atmosphere filled with hesitation, someone finally found the courage to break the ice. A middle-aged woman, who seemed to be one of Sylvia’s loyal spice customers from last week, stepped closer with a wide, friendly smile filling her warmly wrinkled face.

"My, Lady Merchant! You’ve finally returned to sell things?" the woman exclaimed with a voice full of enthusiasm. "Yesterday, this entire market was in an uproar! I heard news from my husband who works at the city gate that the three of you are heroes who brought out a complete map from that dangerous dimensional rift! How wonderful, goodness, young people nowadays are truly extraordinary!"

Sylvia looked at the middle-aged woman. Instead of giving an exaggerated or arrogant response, she only offered a very faint, thin smile. Her voice when answering sounded calm, leaning towards cold, yet still maintaining the boundaries of a merchant’s politeness.

"It was just a coincidence, Madam. We were merely lucky to make it out in time," Sylvia replied flatly, tactfully shifting the focus of the conversation. "Would you like to look at the spices today? I’ve just brought this stock out. The aroma is much stronger and it’s perfect for a winter meat stew."

Seeing Sylvia’s attitude remain grounded without showing the haughtiness of a high-level hunter, the middle-aged woman’s anxiety evaporated instantly.

"Oh, really? What a coincidence! Please give me two ounces of black pepper and a handful of that cinnamon. My husband wants to have warm soup tonight!"

"Alright, wait a moment," Sylvia said. With efficient hand movements, she weighed the spices using a small brass scale, wrapped them in thick brown paper, and tied it with a hemp string in less than thirty seconds.

The success of that first transaction acted like a green light for the other people who had been watching from afar. Their fear collapsed, replaced by immense curiosity and a desire to interact with Silvermist city’s newest ’celebrity’. Slowly but surely, buyers began to arrive, forming a small queue in front of the stall.

The crowd was highly diverse. There were housewives crowding to buy high-quality spices for their home cooking; there were local artisans drawn to the premium softness of the wool fabric Sylvia brought; and quite interestingly, there were several groups of young adventurers awkwardly purchasing spare kitchen utensils like iron pots or chopping knives most likely an excuse made up just so they could catch a close-up glimpse of this legendary, beautiful hunter.

Sylvia served them all with a constant rhythm and extraordinary composure. Her movements were highly tactical, efficient, and completely no-nonsense. She did not talk much, only stating the price, accepting the coins, and handing over the goods. Yet, it was precisely that cold and mysterious aura that left the customers fascinated. The golden cat on her lap occasionally opened one eye, purring softly as if it were a little supervisor helping to ensure that not a single customer tried to cheat or defraud its master’s stall.

Amidst that repetitive, small hustle, a strange feeling of satisfaction slowly crept into Sylvia’s heart. Selling in a market like this turned out to provide a luxury she rarely obtained in the harsh world of adventurers: free time to think clearly without pressure.

While her hands moved mechanically to serve customers, Sylvia’s sharp eyes occasionally glanced toward the dynamic market crowd. Beneath her relaxed appearance, her hunter instincts remained active at a subconscious level. She scanned every passing face, analyzing people’s body language, ensuring there were no suspicious ripples of magical energy or hidden threats lurking from the shadows.

However, the results of her observation yielded a comforting conclusion. Silvermist city at this moment was truly in a very safe condition. The news of their team’s success in exploring the dimensional rift yesterday seemed to have injected a massive wave of optimism across all layers of society. The city was in a phase of collective euphoria; the discovery of a new path inside the dimension meant a supply of new magical resources and materials would soon flow, which would ultimately boost the city’s economic wheels to a higher level. Everyone seemed happy, or at least, possessed new hope for the future.

The sun had now climbed higher, leaving the eastern horizon and beginning to approach its peak in the clear, cloudless blue sky. The atmosphere inside the market grew even more lively and noisy. The air temperature, which had been bitingly cold earlier, turned into a comfortable warmth on the skin.

Sylvia remained sitting quietly in her wooden chair behind the vending table, where some of the goods had now begun to dwindle. Her free left hand occasionally moved with a slow rhythm, stroking the golden fur of the cat on her lap, which had now fallen fast asleep, enjoying the warmth of Sylvia’s body and the midday sun. Meanwhile, her right hand continued to serve every arriving customer with highly trained and precise movements.

Sylvia took a long breath, letting the warm air fill her chest. She knew that today would likely be a very long day for their small stall, but at least, this was the quiet and peaceful day she deeply needed. A perfect pause from the routine of bloodshed.

Yes, at least this peace will last until this afternoon, Sylvia thought to herself while glancing at the position of the sun, ...until Stacia and Alicia wake up from their sleep and decide to catch up with me here with the usual commotion they bring.