The Genius Perfumer of the Fallen Cult - Chapter 50

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Genius Perfumer of the Fallen Religious Order Episode 50

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The Temple of Curresen inside Sanbertal Castle wasn’t very large, but it was clean and antique, having been maintained for generations within the Lord’s Manor.

‘It looks like some decorations are missing.’

While being carried by Rozien and looking around, Prim noticed empty spaces where frames or sculptures had once been.

It was probably an emergency measure to raise funds for this matter.

“It’s rather dim…”

A subtle birch tar fragrance drifted together with the scent of violets.

A small cushion was placed in front of the altar. Prim knelt down and placed violet candy on the altar.

Violet candy was Curresen’s favorite delicacy. Since he wasn’t a god who showed such preferences openly, only high priests of archbishop rank or higher knew about it.

Next came the turn to offer the fragrance she had created this time. Rozien quickly pulled something from the pouch at his waist. A brass lamp, a small candlestick, and a tiny water bottle.

He placed the lit candle in the lamp and filled the bowl placed on top with water. Watching the water slowly warm up, Prim took a deep breath.

‘How severe will the time headache be?’

How much would change if she, who couldn’t walk, became able to walk? She couldn’t even gauge it, so fear naturally arose.

Since it was such a big matter that could set Rozien free, she wondered if it would hurt terribly, but she also felt doubtful about whether her ability to walk or not was really such a big deal that it would make any difference from the past.

“Rozien, could you perhaps step out for a moment…”

“No.”

She tried to suggest he wait outside, but was flatly refused.

Prim moved her lips briefly, then just nodded and dropped fragrant oil into the water bowl.

Soon, fragrance began to spread along with the warm steam.

What fragrance would Curresen, god of destruction and restoration, like most?

What is destruction and what is restoration?

Prim knew the answer.

The fragrance of festivals.

From the lamp came first the bitter grass smell of trampled leaves and the scent of moss and earth from wide plains.

Soon after, a very sweet fragrance began to emerge.

In a place like ruins where everything had been swept away after battle, colorful tents celebrating victory were erected.

Clowns and musicians sang, amusing entertainments lined up in rows, and someone melted sugar into threads, distributing expensive sweets fluffy like clouds to those around.

That sweet fragrance was also the fragrance of festivals.

To create this sweet scent, Prim had precisely combined various fragrance materials. She mixed vanilla, tonka bean, and heliotrope in proper proportions. The caramel-like sweetness of vanilla, the sweetness of tonka bean, and heliotrope’s cherry pie fragrance rich with almond cream combined to create a dreamlike sweet scent.

Being too sweet alone wouldn’t create beautiful balance. Jasmine and peony evoked the journey home after enjoying the festival.

And after returning like that, when that sweetness faded a little, the festival would completely disperse.

The tents that had risen to pierce the sky would collapse again, and the gathered clowns and musicians would scatter. The knights who had praised glory would return to their territories, and the battlefield would return to the original plain with only the marks of tent poles remaining.

This was truly restoration and also destruction and restoration again.

Feeling the intended fragrance rise completely, Prim awkwardly gazed at just the altar’s fragrance for a moment.

Come to think of it, this was the first time since returning that she had offered prayers to a god other than Varin.

“Um… Curresen.”

As she hesitated slightly, Rozien, who had been watching the candle, whispered.

“Should I teach you the prayer?”

Prim rolled her eyes slightly, then nodded. Rozien whispered first. Good thing I didn’t leave, right?

“Curresen, who melts winter snow and makes flowers bloom, and also burns flowers and brings green foliage…”

“Who melts winter snow…”

When she had repeated everything Rozien said like a parrot.

Slowly, particles of light sparkling in blue-green began to descend.

At the same time, she heard booming laughter in her ears. It sounded like multiple percussion instruments jingling simultaneously.

— Hahaha! Right in the middle of a festival! Sweet things built their tower in an instant, but how regrettable that they disappear with time! Ahahaha!

The voice that said it was regrettable while laughing loudly seemed very pleased. Prim smiled faintly at that laughter that made her ears ring.

Could there be any greater joy than when someone who eats what you worked hard to make likes it?

Sounds like throwing and catching balls filled with sand as if holding a feast alone, instruments ringing loudly, and plates and trays clashing came rushing like waves, then stopped abruptly.

Fragrance rose dancing into the air, then disappeared without a trace. The nearby fragrance repeatedly faded momentarily then bloomed again. As if someone was devouring the fragrance.

After quite some time had passed, black clothing came into Prim’s view. It was fabric that looked like it was made from crow feathers.

And from those clothes, she could smell the sweet fragrance she had created. Others would be horrified if she said this, but the presence felt like a newborn baby full and content after drinking plenty of milk.

— I ate well after a long time. But hmm, how pitiful. Have you been wrapped in this curse for such a long time? When Varin asked me, I wondered what kind of great curse it was.

At the voice from above her head, Prim’s shoulders flinched.

When she unconsciously looked to the side, Rozien was just staring entranced at the perfume bottle where the blessing was settling, unable to hear the god’s voice.

‘Did you say a long time?’

— Yes, how strange. You’re only ten years old now, yet your curse has lasted twice as long as the days you’ve lived. How can such a thing be?

Prim’s body stiffened.

The reason she couldn’t break this insignificant curse even after becoming a great perfumer was because so much time had passed.

Because removing a curse that had clung to her body for so many years had become more dangerous instead.

But if it had lasted twice as long as the days she’d lived, that meant more than twenty years. If she counted her life before regression, Curresen’s calculation roughly matched.

— But strangely, it also seems like only a few years. What on earth happened?

Sweat formed on Prim’s clasped hands.

This curse wasn’t just her problem. If she couldn’t break it, she couldn’t set Rozien free. Her heart pounded rapidly with anxiety.

— Though there’s an incomprehensible gap in time making it somewhat difficult, fortunately it’s not completely impossible to resolve.

‘…!’

Blue-green particles of light illuminated the perfume bottle transparently, then fell onto the container with violet candy.

— This violet candy contains exactly 100 pieces.

With those words, several violet candies quietly disappeared. Curresen seemed to have gladly savored a few pieces to make it exactly 100.

— If you eat one piece a day for one hundred days, your curse will be broken.

One hundred days.

At that seemingly endless time, Prim moved her lips. It felt like going between heaven and hell.

She had expected it to be resolved immediately, then thought it might be impossible, then thought it would be easily solved, but now it would take a hundred days.

— Even if you’re dissatisfied that it takes a hundred days, be patient. Your curse is strange, so there’s no helping it! The twisted flow of time must be unraveled and the curse resolved over a hundred days.

“Ah.”

— Restoring what was destroyed so you cannot walk is also my power. The first flower to bloom where everything crumbles is the violet. Thanks to you bringing good candy, it was reduced to just a hundred days.

Prim steeled her heart at Curresen’s words.

There had been years when she lived with this curse without ever being able to resolve it. She could certainly wait about a hundred days.

— Ah! And tell Varin to stop around here too. Your words would be faster than mine. He doesn’t listen to what I say.

‘…’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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