The Genius Perfumer of the Fallen Cult - Chapter 67

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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 67

Like waves sweeping through, gasps and murmurs spread out.

With everyone’s gaze fixed on her, Prim touched her cheek. Now Prim had made up her mind to forgive all the juniors, perfumers, and disciples from her past life who had passed through her tutelage.

She could now understand why they had been so dull and ignorant in the face of fragrances.

They hadn’t pretended not to know to mock her, nor had they insulted her, they just… just couldn’t do it.

‘So normally everyone can’t do it.’

Normally everyone doesn’t know and can’t do it…

Mennellik quickly announced the other successful candidates and looked at Prim who was busily packing her things.

“Prim, you were the only one among them who even suggested improvements.”

“Ah, yes.”

Prim looked up at him while holding her scarf in her hand. Mennellik had an expression filled with strange passion.

“With such achievement, it’s only right to give you additional points.”

“Yes?”

“Is there anything you want?”

Actually, at first she had thought he was a bit strange.

He was a perfumer whose face she had no memory of seeing, yet he boldly presented a perfume with gaps, and whenever he heard something, he would repeatedly grab his forehead, then bow his head.

But asking if there was anything she wanted?

Prim was completely convinced that he was a good person.

She could feel everyone holding their breath. And Prim had never missed an opportunity when an unexpected chance came her way.

“I… there’s something I want to try making perfume for right away, but it’s impossible with my current circumstances. I was wondering if there’s somewhere I could try…”

“Hmm…”

Mennellik let out a thoughtful sound.

It was an unexpected request.

He belatedly remembered that this child was from a poor orphanage in Sangbertal Territory. Usually it would be difficult to create one’s own work when visiting a foreign place.

“Then would you like to come see my perfume organ? You can make whatever you want there.”

However, even as he readily agreed and made the offer, an inexplicable uneasiness arose in Mennellik’s heart.

‘But why? Why do I feel uncomfortable?’

It felt strangely ominous, like when his master said he would tour his workshop. Even though he was the one extending the invitation.

So it would be ridiculous to say no now.

“Thank you!”

Prim smiled faintly and bowed her head.

‘I can make a fragrance to offer to Levitia in Mennellik’s workshop.’

The murmuring around them grew louder. Soon the exam proctor opened the door and said something quietly, then the red-haired boy entered.

The girl packed her things into a small cloth bag and got on the boy’s back. The boy adjusted his grip on the girl and bowed to Mennellik and the proctor. Only then did Mennellik notice that the girl’s feet were bare.

Barefoot in the middle of winter.

Mennellik fingered the correct perfume remaining on the desk while quietly watching the backs of the girl and boy.

* * *

Julian Schneider headed to the perfume laboratory set up in his villa in Castellanza. The servants greeted him, but he had no time to acknowledge them.

His passing the second stage of the perfumer qualification exam was perhaps a natural thing.

So he thought he would be enjoying subtle pleasure by now. Even if something was natural, completing it should feel refreshing.

Not feeling this sense of defeat.

— Bergamot, grapefruit, pink pepper. And there’s a leather accord composed of patchouli, labdanum, cistus, vetiver, benzoin, thyme, saffron, and birch tar. And cacao, tonka bean, ambergris… these went in.

That calm girl’s voice kept ringing in his ears.

He sat at the perfume organ and began creating perfume with the ingredients he had memorized. As he added ingredients one by one, he stiffened momentarily when picking up the birch tar bottle.

Every fragrance material has its own intense and rich scent. He could name all the fragrance materials positioned on this perfume organ with his eyes closed.

However, it was difficult to detect such minute amounts mixed into a completed fragrance.

Finally, all the perfuming was finished, but it didn’t produce the ‘correct’ fragrance. The proportions were wrong.

Julian tore paper to write down the proportions of ingredients used, made tags and attached them, then took out a new bottle. Only after making about a dozen bottles did he achieve a completely similar fragrance. He compared this ‘correct answer’ with his own creation.

“…”

There was no difference. If there was any difference, it was only in ‘depth.’

The depth of fragrance.

That abstract concept he didn’t even know existed clearly existed between the two fragrances, creating a difference in class.

That tiny bit of birch tar…

He stared at the two bottles with a dazed expression for a long time. And he recalled that child’s clear face. The face that made the entire process of smelling fragrances, distinguishing what was inside, and reassembling it all seem as natural and easy as breathing.

He had thought he was a genius. He was certain he would become Vittorio Alquezia’s second disciple. How delighted he had been when he heard that Mennellik, the first and only disciple, was coming to this exam!

But Mennellik’s attention was focused solely on one girl. A child who looked not even ten years old.

He would have done the same. If there was someone who completely understood everything he made, someone with the ability to faithfully reproduce it, another talent with whom he could share what he felt.

The young man’s face sank into darkness as he finally realized that all the light in the world didn’t shine only on him alone.

* * *

Mennellik thoroughly cleaned his manor’s perfume laboratory.

He threw away all the musty boxes and rancid fragrance materials he had forgotten to dispose of, and filled them with new materials.

He organized the perfuming notes scattered everywhere, and dusted off the wall cabinet displaying the perfumes he had made so far. Only after staying up almost all night organizing everything did he slump back in his chair.

“M-Master, the one coming today is… didn’t you say it was a perfumer aspirant?”

Since servants weren’t allowed to enter and exit the perfume laboratory, Mennellik had completed all this cleaning by himself.

Usually he cleaned like this only when his master Vittorio Alquezia visited. Even though he had been an adult for quite some time, he would frantically clean like a child in front of his master, worried about getting scolded.

“Oh, right. About ten years old? Around that age. Did I tell you to prepare food that children would like?”

Since they said there were friends who came together from Sangbertal, he had told them to come along, so about three would be coming.

“Ah, yes. The head chef put in effort today, so you don’t need to worry.”

The butler nodded while thinking of the cute gingerbread the head chef had baked. He hoped the little guests would like the sweet cookies with tiny chocolate chips representing buttons…

Not long after, they announced that guests had arrived outside. Mennellik, who had been slumped in his chair exhausted from the long cleaning, jumped up and headed outside.

Three children and one priest were getting out of a carriage that had stopped in front of his manor gate.

“Welcome to my manor. I’m Mennellik.”

“I heard you invited us, Mr. Mennellik. Thank you. I’m called Marseria. I came along as the children’s guardian.”

“May… Varin’s glory be with you. I have the joy of paving the way for talented successors, so please don’t mention it.”

‘Like a chihuahua bitten by a werewolf? But she’s such a dignified priest?’

From what he heard, she was the only priest of Varin, so she automatically became a cardinal, and despite her young age, she was said to be someone who feared nothing, but that wasn’t the case at all.

Mennellik quickly erased his preconceptions about the Marseria Priest and lowered his assessment of those who had gossiped about her as he looked at the three children.

Prim, quietly nestled in the Marseria Priest’s arms, bowed to him in greeting.

“Hello, teacher.”

“Oh, yes…”

“Hello. I’m Bianna.”

“Hello. I’m Rozien.”

“Mm.”

Mennellik was a bit surprised looking at the two children. They had no smell that would normally come from children that age, instead having a clean soap scent.

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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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