The Genius Perfumer of the Fallen Cult - Chapter 60

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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 60

If you go north while admiring the fountain in the central square, you’ll find the Street of Gods where temples of various deities are gathered. Of course, there’s no Temple of Varin there. The only temple remaining for Varin is the one in Sangbertal.

“We can stay at the Temple of Yulberon! That’s really wonderful. Right?”

Their lodging was the Temple of Yulberon in Castellanza.

When they first left Sangbertal for Castellanza, Luciano had offered to provide accommodation, but suddenly Sebardo intervened and desperately recommended they stay at the Temple of Yulberon.

His passionate reaction was so intense that Luciano unconsciously took a step back. Prim said she could find lodging with the change she received from the Temple of Curresen, but Sebardo spoke firmly.

— You should save money when you can! Didn’t you only sign a one-year sponsorship contract with Aurum Bena? There are countless things you’ll need as you grow as a perfumer!

— If, if Prim wants, not just ten years but even twenty years…

Luciano tried to interject, but Sebardo didn’t even pretend to listen and spoke passionately.

— And wouldn’t the Temple of Yulberon be better for Rozien’s training too? He can train together with other Apprentice Knights there!

Creating an opportunity to gather several Apprentice Knights for joint training was something even Luciano couldn’t arrange immediately.

Of course, Sebardo’s eagerness to have Prim’s group stay at the Temple of Yulberon wasn’t solely for the reasons he stated.

The Perum Rosa he had sensed in the fragrance Prim gave him.

If Prim had truly found Perum Rosa, even though the Yulberon Order didn’t know what to do about it immediately, wouldn’t it be right to treat those who discovered it with the utmost hospitality?

And Prim also had another desire.

The Marseria Priest needed the political power and experience to gain and coordinate the strength of various orders.

To achieve this, she needed to experience the lives and customs of other orders and build relationships with them.

“Even though you have such urgent business, you still took the trouble to escort us to the temple before leaving.”

The Marseria Priest said while checking on the children’s rooms.

Sebardo, who had barely maintained his composure until arriving in Castellanza, guided them to the finest guest room in the Temple of Yulberon, earnestly instructed the parish Bishop not to neglect their hospitality, then immediately departed for Gratia in the south.

He left Rozien with a strict training routine and an enormous amount of swordsmanship texts. Along with instructions to read them all before his return.

He rushed out like a colt with its tail on fire, so fast that no one could stop him. Watching him run off, Prim was somewhat curious about what Elector Gratia would think of that fragrance.

* * *

Until next winter when the examination would be held, Prim traveled around Castellanza with Rozien and Bianna.

The perfumer qualification exam is held simultaneously in four locations—east, west, south, and north—centered around the Bitrelia Islands, the Empire’s capital. This time, Castellanza was chosen as the western examination site. It was quite an unfamiliar place to Prim.

Meanwhile, Rozien, who had grown taller, devoured the books Sebardo had left behind, learned horseback riding at the Temple of Yulberon, and achieved the feat of defeating all the Apprentice Knights.

The Apprentice Knights wept bitterly at their humiliating defeats, yet the next day they would follow Rozien around, begging for another match.

Even though the Temple of Yulberon treated them as honored guests and allowed Rozien to train with their Apprentice Knights, subtle exclusion or distance was natural in any group.

However, the young Training Priests and Apprentice Knights of his age, who had initially shown some territorial behavior and wariness, soon fell completely for Rozien’s wit, hearty laughter, and various skills—where else would the dexterity from pickpocketing go?

To the boys and girls who had grown up quietly within the temple, Rozien was an overwhelming stimulation.

Rozien soon began helping with the stable work, which moved the heart of the priest who also served as Stable Master. Rozien quickly befriended the animals too.

The horses readily followed Rozien, so he learned horseback riding without difficulty, and since he handled horses well, he quickly became friends with the Coachmen who traveled to and from the temple.

As soon as this happened, Rozien took Bianna and Prim on adventures all around Castellanza. The Coachmen who traveled to and from the temple were happy to give them rides just for Rozien helping with odd jobs.

‘Could there really be such a thing as a blessing for moving people’s hearts?’

Prim had this thought while watching Rozien receive apples as gifts from a Street Vendor across the river.

Rozien’s brown hair had already returned to its original burning rose-like red color.

Even people who had initially barely hidden their subtle aversion to that red hair now genuinely smiled and waved whenever they made eye contact with Rozien.

“Prim! Bianna! Let’s eat these!”

Rozien waved his hand. Behind him, the central square’s fountain could be seen in the distance.

Rozien polished the three gifted apples with his handkerchief until they squeaked. Soon the apples began to sparkle like those in fairy tales.

Bianna couldn’t help but giggle when she saw Rozien pick the most sparkling apple and hand it to Prim.

Rozien, not knowing why Bianna laughed, said.

“The lady over there gave them to us.”

Rozien waved enthusiastically at the Street Vendor on the hill by the river. The vendor smiled warmly from afar.

Rozien crunched into his apple and plopped down beside Prim.

Winter was approaching, so the river breeze was quite cold. Though they wore thick coats, both their noses and ear tips were red.

“Can you smell the water?”

Rozien asked, holding out a bowl of river water. The river flowing through the center of the city wasn’t very clean, but it contained all the scents of the city.

The perfumer qualification exam was coming soon. And in that exam, she would probably use fragrances made from things grown in Castellanza and water from this city.

Not all water is the same. Each carries the subtle fragrance of its region. And that fragrance lingers even when it becomes distilled water, floating alongside the essence of fragrance.

“Yes, I think I understand.”

Prim bit into her apple only after finishing her scent test. The crisp crunching sound began cheerfully.

“You think you understand? They all feel the same to me.”

Bianna grumbled while sniffing. Prim shrugged.

“I’m going to become a perfumer.”

When Prim registered for the perfumer qualification exam in Castellanza, her age became an issue.

The fragrances used for this qualification exam were substantial in both quality and quantity. Prim had even considered whether she might need to create the necessary fragrances at the examination site.

Unprepared candidates couldn’t even take this exam. And being too young was easily dismissed as immaturity.

What got her through was the Cardinal’s influence.

Specifically, Varin’s only Cardinal, the Marseria Priest.

— Are you refusing to allow a candidate who has a personal recommendation letter from a Cardinal, is accompanied by her, and even has documents from Count Sanbertal to take the exam?

The Marseria Priest had always thought of herself as merely an ordinary priest, but after the incident at the Silver Aspen Forest villa, she had become fully aware of the various titles attached to her name.

The exam organizers wanted to say ‘Not all Cardinals are the same!’ but held back.

Not only would that be improper and rude, but they feared what this woman might do if the Cardinal of an order with only one Cardinal truly took offense here, as she had no face or honor left to protect.

Her eyes held the passion of someone with nothing left to lose.

Moreover, they succumbed to the strong support of the Aurum Bena Trading Company and the subtle pressure from the Yulberon Inquisitors—why were they even involved in the Varin Temple’s orphan issue!—and gladly permitted Prim’s participation.

Since she was going to take the exam, Prim intended to pass with overwhelming scores.

At first, she thought she should do moderately well. Since she had traveled back in time, wasn’t it natural that she would do better than others?

Just because her body was young, should she surprise the adults? Even though Varin had said something about it, still.

But upon reflection, she realized that the achievements left behind after traveling back in time shouldn’t be mediocre.

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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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