Chapter 553: A Magic Trick, The Woman Who Was Fooled into Self-Isolation
The handsome woman stared at the massive portion of fruit salad resting before her, momentarily stunned by the sheer volume. Picking up a silver fork, she prepared to toss the ingredients, only to pause. The vibrant cubes and slices were already perfectly coated and mixed.
Glancing up, she caught sight of Ren across the counter. He was casually teasing Lucifer. The fallen angel flashed a brief, imperious scowl, radiating dissatisfaction, only for Ren to murmur a single word that instantly smoothed her ruffled feathers back into a state of quiet, pleased compliance. Watching the effortless display of affection, the handsome woman allowed a faint smile to touch her lips.
Returning her attention to her bowl, she realized this was no ordinary assortment. A quick visual inspection revealed an extravagant mosaic: translucent cubes of fragrant pear, ruby-red strawberries, golden chunks of mango, striking pieces of both red and white dragon fruit, and the elegant, elongated shapes of Lady Finger grapes, alongside several exotic varieties she could not even name.
"What a decadent plate..." she murmured, her gaze lingering on the velvety white dressing clinging to the fruit. "This isn't standard salad dressing. Yogurt? Or maybe coconut milk?"
Curiosity piqued, she speared a piece of fruit and brought it to her lips. The moment the flavors bloomed across her tongue, she froze. 'Is this really just fruit salad? How can it be this rich?'
"Can dragon fruit actually taste this good?" she whispered to herself.
Abandoning any further commentary, she surrendered to the bowl. The crisp sweetness of the fragrant pear captivated her one second, only to be entirely eclipsed by the tart explosion of a strawberry the next. She chased the contrasting flavors back and forth, utterly unable to stop her fork.
A few seats down, Riven was steadily working her way through her own meal. Despite her rapid, efficient pace, the portion was substantial enough to demand a long, focused effort.
"Shopkeeper Ren," Riven called out, her tone entirely unapologetic. "Another bowl of rice."
Ren approached, a dry amusement in his eyes. "Looks like you have quite the appetite."
Riven offered no excuses. When her body demanded fuel, she ate until she was satisfied. Besides, compared to the bottomless pits that were Cerberus and Nakiri Mana, her intake was perfectly reasonable.
Returning to the counter, Ren paused. The handsome woman was staring intently at the complex latte art floating atop her hot cocoa. After a prolonged silence, she nudged her small spoon toward the foam, shifted it a fraction of an inch, and retreated. She was hesitating. Unwilling to destroy the delicate design, she resorted to lightly poking the edges, treating the beverage like a fragile artifact.
Catching Ren's gaze, a flush of embarrassment heated her cheeks. Her childish reluctance had been thoroughly exposed.
She quickly ducked her head, breaking eye contact. Ren merely smiled, shaking his head as he slid a fresh, steaming bowl of rice in front of Riven.
"Aren't you going to try the chicken soup?" he asked the exiled warrior.
Riven glanced at the golden broth and shook her head. "I haven't tasted it yet, but it feels like something that should be saved for last."
"A wise choice," Ren noted, his voice dropping to a quieter, more contemplative register. "It seems you are very suited for a peaceful life, Miss Riven."
She blinked, her chopsticks hovering in mid-air. "Why do you say that?"
"Perhaps because those who have wandered the longest are the ones who truly know what they need."
Riven sat in stunned silence for a few heartbeats. Lowering her gaze, she quietly resumed eating, the subtle tension in her shoulders easing.
The handsome woman watched the exchange, her sharp eyes studying Ren's profile. This man was fundamentally different from every target, every man she had ever slaughtered in her past. A dark, amused smile curled her lips. 'Interesting.'
Catching her gaze, Ren shifted his attention back to her. "That latte art," he began, his tone light. "It's actually a little magic trick."
She blinked, her guard instantly rising. She looked from the foam to Ren's calm expression. "A magic trick? What kind of magic? Shopkeeper Ren, you aren't trying to make a fool out of me, are you?"
Ren chuckled softly. "You live life on such a razor's edge. Relax. This is just a restaurant. There are no threats here. Besides, you've already noticed your powers are heavily suppressed in this space. There is absolutely no need for you to be so tense."
Exhaling a slow breath, the woman let her posture soften. "Alright then, Shopkeeper Ren. Please, begin your performance."
"Pick up your spoon and follow my instructions," he directed.
She nodded, gripping the slender silver handle.
"First, place the tip of the spoon on the far right, pressing it gently against the inside of the cup. Good. Now, draw a line diagonally downwards."
"Like this..."
"That is just the beginning. From that bottom point, draw a line straight up."
"And then..."
A faint prickle of suspicion tickled the back of her mind, but Ren's voice was so steady, so utterly convincing, that she pushed the doubt aside and trusted the process.
"Finally," Ren instructed, his eyes gleaming with hidden mirth, "draw a five-pointed star. Once you finish, something magical will happen."
Swallowing hard, the handsome woman focused entirely on the cup, carefully tracing the shape of a star through the foam. She finished the final stroke and waited.
Nothing happened. No flash of light, no hidden flavor bursting forth. The liquid remained perfectly still.
Bewildered, she looked up. "Hm? So? Where is the magical part?"
"The magic," Ren said smoothly, "is that you've finally stirred your hot cocoa."
A chorus of muffled snorts and sudden giggles erupted down the counter. Yakumo Yukari and the others, save for the ever-stoic Yuuka Kazami, burst into outright laughter. They had all been eavesdropping, leaning in with genuine curiosity to witness this supposed magic trick, only to witness the punchline.
The handsome woman sat frozen, utterly dumbfounded. She stared down at the swirling, muddy ruins of the latte art she had just personally destroyed. The vibrant colors of the restaurant seemed to drain away, leaving her in a gray void of deep embarrassment. She felt like an absolute idiot.
"Miss," Ren asked, his smile gentle but persistent. "Do you remember what this drink is called?"
She narrowed her eyes, her tone dripping with sudden caution. "Hot cocoa... What about it?"
Her assessment of him shifted once again. He wasn't just different from the men she used to kill; he was cunning. Dangerously so.
"Exactly. Hot cocoa," Ren explained, his voice losing its teasing edge, replaced by a quiet sincerity. "It is meant to be consumed while it is hot. Food has a lifespan, and that lifespan varies from dish to dish. The life of hot cocoa ends the moment it goes cold. If you wait until it loses its heat, the flavor dies with it. The latte art is beautiful, yes, but it is still just a part of the cocoa."
He leaned slightly against the counter. "If you choose to just stare at it, the drink will eventually cool. It will be poured down the drain or repurposed, and the art will be lost anyway. No matter how gorgeous a sculpture of ice cream might be, there comes a moment when it melts. You have to do the right thing at the absolute best time."
The handsome woman stared at him, the lingering sting of the prank washing away under the weight of his words. She let out a long, quiet sigh. "Shopkeeper Ren... you really are entirely different from the other men out there."
"Oh? How so?"
"For one, you are exceptionally good at talking to women."
Ren feigned a dramatic sigh. "And here I thought you were going to praise my culinary skills, or at least tell me I am handsome."
She froze for a split second before a genuine, throaty laugh escaped her. "Yes," she conceded, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Shopkeeper Ren is indeed very handsome."
"You have excellent taste."
"I like to think so," she murmured, resting her chin on her hand as she studied him. "Seriously... how can a man be this interesting?"
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