Chapter 4
◆ Assistant Sheila Aria
Marta laughed and patted Yoshio’s shoulder.
Beside her stood a woman with long blonde hair tied up neatly.
Her apron made her look like an apothecary.
“She rattled off everything she needed so fast it surprised me.
And you said you needed an assistant?
Well, I brought just the right person.”
The woman bowed deeply, her voice calm and gentle.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Sheila Aria.
I’ve come to work as your assistant, Yoshio.”
Sheila looked to be around twenty, slender with perfect posture.
Her blonde hair was tied in a single knot behind her head, and her pale blue eyes regarded Yoshio quietly.
She held a thick notebook and a fountain pen.
Marta leaned close to Yoshio’s ear.
“She used to apprentice as an apothecary.
She’s good with plants, sharp with numbers—perfect assistant material.
She’s like a distant granddaughter of mine, so her background is guaranteed.”
Sheila opened her notebook.
“Marta told me you were looking for someone to manage essential oils and keep shipment records.
If you’ll have me, I’d be happy to help.”
It was exactly what Yoshio needed.
Managing essential oil inventory, tracking shipment numbers, sorting labels, arranging transport—
He was reaching the limit of what one person could handle.
And with Marta’s recommendation, Sheila was someone he could trust.
Marta grinned.
“Discuss her pay properly.
And don’t you dare work her to the bone for cheap.”
“Sheila, I’m Aizaki. It’s a pleasure to work with you.”
They discussed wages and divided responsibilities.
Sheila was highly capable, and she began helping immediately.
They settled on 800G per hour—far above the usual 500G day‑labor wage in this world.
Sheila accepted without hesitation.
That very day, Sheila got to work.
She frowned the moment she saw Yoshio’s room at the inn.
Pointing at the pile of essential oil bottles stacked in the corner:
“…If an earthquake hits, this will be a disaster.
We need shelves. There’s a carpenter in the shopping district.”
By evening, a simple wooden shelf stood against the wall, with essential oils neatly arranged by type.
She had also finished a shipment schedule, inventory records, and draft delivery slips.
Marta’s praise had not been exaggerated—Sheila was truly excellent.
The next day, perfume production became a two‑person operation.
Sheila measured the essential oils; Yoshio blended them.
She handled bottling and labeling.
With a proper workflow, production speed nearly doubled.
There was one week left before departure for the port town Acuria.
The 80 bottles for shipment were already secured.
Now they needed 150 bottles for the event.
At this pace, they would finish with time to spare.
One evening, while eating a light meal at a food stall in the central square—
Sheila sat beside him.
“Yoshio… may I ask you something?”
“Of course. Anything.”
She sipped her soup.
“Do you plan to stay based in this town long‑term?”
It sounded casual, but her profile looked unusually serious.
Yoshio set down his spoon.
“No, I don’t mean anything strange.
It’s just… I’ve been hearing rumors about you.
‘The foreigner selling perfume in the central square,’
‘He’s expanding to the port town,’ things like that.”
“Everyone is impressed, but also a little worried.
There are people who leave town and never come back.”
Faces of his regular customers flashed through Yoshio’s mind—
The woman who said her morning wouldn’t start without seeing him,
The guard who bought two bottles every time.
He had built a small but real circle here.
“Thank you for worrying about me.
I’m not planning to leave this town.
This place is my home.”
“I can live off perfume for now, but someday that might change.
That’s why I’m saving money little by little.
As long as people here enjoy the perfumes I make, I’ll stay.”
Sheila blinked, then smiled softly.
“I’m glad. That’s a relief.”
The sunset dyed the central square orange.
The fountain sparkled in the evening light.
The familiar scenery, the familiar time—
For Yoshio, that “ordinary” had become a precious treasure.
Sheila seemed about to say something, then closed her mouth and finished her soup instead.
The faint blush on her cheeks wasn’t just from the sunset, but since she didn’t mention it, Yoshio didn’t press.
Over the next few days, the two worked tirelessly.
By the evening before departure, all 150 bottles were complete.
The rows of small bottles lined across the desk were magnificent—
He imagined how beautiful they would look in the morning sun.
◆ Perfume Flash Sale
The next morning, the carriage arranged by Rina was waiting in front of the inn.
“It’s time.
Blender Aizaki’s perfumes are finally going out into the world.”
The carriage swayed for two days.
The wheat fields along the road gradually gave way to the smell of the sea, and beyond the hills, a wide blue ocean appeared.
The port town of Acuria.
White‑walled buildings lined the sloping streets, and several sailing ships were moored at the harbor.
Sea breeze swept across the stone pavement, carrying a mix of dried fish and fruit—Acuria’s unique scent.
Rina’s shop stood on a main street slightly inland from the port.
A large three‑story building with a sign reading “Rina Fragrance & Sundries.”
Through the glass windows, rows of perfumes and cosmetics glittered.
When Yoshio entered, Rina greeted him with open arms.
“Welcome to Acuria!
You must be tired from the long trip.
Stay on the second floor tonight—tomorrow is the real event.”
Behind the shop, a spacious workbench had been prepared, along with a simple sales counter.
It was Yoshio and Sheila’s temporary storefront.
A handwritten poster on the wall read:
“New Release by Blender Aizaki!”
Rina’s enthusiasm was unmistakable.
The pop‑up shop opened.
Sheila stayed at their booth, while Yoshio began selling the new perfumes at Rina’s main store next door.
The price was set at 1000G—a bit high, but fitting for a premium product.
By evening, Rina rushed into Yoshio’s sales space, breathless.
“This is incredible!
Forty bottles sold on the first day!
My shop is flooded with inquiries about your new perfumes!”
Sheila had also been overwhelmed at the booth.
Crowds gathered around the poster, and people constantly asked for samples.
Questions like “Where can I buy that perfume?” echoed everywhere.
Wiping sweat from his forehead, Yoshio said:
“I didn’t expect this much.
Especially the two‑flower blend—it’s the most popular.
‘Unisex’ seems to be a novelty here.”
“Tomorrow, let’s put out the remaining forty bottles—and anything extra we can produce.”
Once everything sells out, they could explore the surrounding flower fields.
There might be flowers suitable for new perfumes.
◆ Concept for a New Fragrance
Rina widened his eyes.
“Going on a walk… in the middle of business?
Well, merchants are always searching for new seeds of opportunity.
I won’t stop you.”
■ Second Day of the Fair
On the second day, Yoshio sold perfume at full force from morning.
The remaining forty bottles sold out by early afternoon.
On the third and final day, he lined up the extra stock at opening, and within two hours the shelves were empty again.
Total sales over three days: 200 bottles.
Revenue: 200,000G.
A tremendous success.
Sheila had kept meticulous records.
When Yoshio looked at the ledger, the daily sales formed a beautiful rising graph.
■ Asking About Local Flower Fields
That evening, after packing up the last of the goods, Yoshio asked Rina about flower fields in the area.
Rina returned a key to the shelf and said:
“Oh yes, if you go a bit south from here, there’s a hilly region with wildflower clusters.
Besides lavenderna, you should find chamomile, roses, and wild briar.”
“But I’ve heard rumors that monsters have been appearing there recently.
Be careful.”
“Monsters?
It would be ideal if I could hire a guard.”
Rina touched his chin thoughtfully.
“A guard…
This town has an Adventurers’ Guild.
Go out the street, turn right, and at the end you’ll see a red‑roofed building.”
“For a one‑day escort request, they’ll take it for a few silver coins.
If it’s just low‑rank monsters, even beginner adventurers are enough.”
■ Monsters in This World
Monsters—something that didn’t exist in modern Japan, but here, they were part of daily life.
Some were wild animals that had grown aggressive, others were creatures mutated by magic.
Their types varied widely.
◆ Request to Adventurers
The next morning, before heading out, Yoshio visited the Adventurers’ Guild.
Inside, it looked like a tavern combined with a reception hall.
Adventurers in leather armor lounged around, and several young men crowded in front of the quest board.
A receptionist noticed Yoshio and approached with a bright smile.
“Welcome. Are you here to place a request?”
“I’d like to hire two or three guards.
I’m heading to the hill region.”
She wrote on a form as she spoke.
“The hill region, understood.
Goblins have been sighted there recently, so escorts are required.”
“For a one‑day trip, two guards is the usual.
Three would cost eight silver coins.”
Eight silver coins—8000G.
Considering the travel time, it was a reasonable price.
When the receptionist posted the request on the board, three adventurers immediately stepped forward.
They looked to be around twenty, forming a party together.
Leather chest armor, swords, and shortbows—standard beginner gear.
One of them stepped forward, bowing his short red hair.
“I’m Dario.
The three of us will take the job.
We’ve done flower‑picking escorts in the hills before.”
The receptionist added that all three were D‑rank adventurers—not highly experienced, but known for reliable work.
Dario, the leader, had a sturdy build, and his sword was well maintained.
He looked between Yoshio and Sheila.
“Just the two of you going?
It’s a dangerous time for flower gathering.
Hiring guards is the right call.”
As Yoshio paid the fee at the counter, something behind the receptionist caught his eye—a row of small bottles.
“What are those?”
The receptionist replied:
“These are potions.
Stamina recovery, mana recovery, and healing recovery.
Adventurers always carry them.”
Yoshio purchased one of each.
◆ Skill Check
Yoshio suddenly remembered his skills.
They had all been level 1 at the beginning—but what were they now?
He focused inward.
When he arrived in this world, he had been granted several skills, including one that allowed him to check his status.
Closing his eyes, a translucent window appeared.
【Yoshio Aizaki】
Basic Status
Lv. 7
・Base Stamina: 7/100
・Base Mana: 7/100
Skill List
・Creativity Lv.5
・Fragrance Blending Lv.5
・Perfumer’s Sense Lv.4
・Perfume Creation Lv.4
・Infinite Storage (Small) Lv.2
・Appraisal Lv.2
・Healing Ability Lv.1
・Calculation Lv.2
・Memory Lv.2
His Perfumer’s Sense and Perfume Creation had increased.
Daily practice had pushed the levels upward.
Infinite Storage had also expanded slightly; when he probed the space, he felt it was larger than before.
Level 7.
He wasn’t sure if that was high or low, but it seemed he was finally moving past the “beginner” stage.
Many of these skills were clearly tied to Creativity.
Calculation, memory, and healing ability were still developing.
The mechanics of skills were becoming clearer.
Fragrance Blending and Perfume Creation gained experience through hands‑on work.
Sense and Appraisal increased with frequent use.
Meanwhile, Calculation and Memory seemed to grow through daily life rather than skill experience—thus they had no level indicator.
In other words, there was no convenient skill that instantly made him smarter.
Still, Fragrance Blending Lv.5 was significant.
He could now distinguish subtle differences in essential oils more clearly.
Perfume Creation Lv.4 allowed him to produce multiple perfumes simultaneously—up to five bottles at once.
That was a huge help.
Then he realized something:
He had no combat skills.
Up until now, he had survived purely through perfume and craftsmanship.
But if he planned to enter areas with monsters, he needed at least minimal protection.
He decided to add Combat Enhancement and Defense Enhancement.
Both started at Lv.1.
It wasn’t much, but it would make him better than a complete novice.
Next, he visited the weapon shop attached to the guild and bought two swords—one for himself and one for Sheila.
Iron one‑handed swords, 2500G each, totaling 5000G.
The blades were about 60 centimeters long, stored in leather sheaths.
When he handed one to Sheila, she looked troubled.
She accepted the sword with both hands.
“I’ve never used one… but even with guards, it’s better to have it.”
He also requested adventurer registration at the guild.
He would start at E‑rank.
◆ Encounter with Goblins
Yoshio and Sheila met up with Dario’s party, and the five of them headed toward the hilly region.
Beyond the town stretched wheat fields, and soon they entered gentle grass-covered hills.
The wind shifted—from sea breeze to the scent of grass and soil.
After about an hour of walking, they found the wildflower clusters Rina had mentioned.
Lavenderna’s purple blanketed the hills, with chamomile’s white flowers beyond, and further still, rose bushes.
But at the same time, something moved in the shadows of the rocks along the slope.
Distracted by the flowers’ fragrance, Yoshio only noticed the presence when it shifted.
He placed a hand on his sword.
Dario quickly stepped in front of him, drawing his blade.
The archer behind him aimed over Yoshio’s shoulder toward the rocks.
Sheila also reached for her sword, but Yoshio stopped her and stepped forward himself.
“Goblins. Two of them hiding.”
Tension filled the air as two goblins emerged from the rocks.
Green skin, pointed noses, ragged bandit-like clothing.
Each held a club and glared at Yoshio’s group with clear hostility.
Dario lowered his stance.
“Two? Easy. I’ll take the front—stay back.”
The archer released an arrow.
A sharp whistle, then the arrow pierced the first goblin’s shoulder.
It screamed and staggered, and Dario rushed in, slashing its torso.
Blood splattered across the grass.
The remaining goblin roared and charged, but the archer’s second shot struck its temple.
It collapsed instantly.
The entire fight lasted no more than thirty seconds.
Dario wiped his blade with a cloth and shrugged.
“Told you. Barely a warm‑up.”
The hills returned to silence.
Wind rustled the lavender stalks, spreading their sweet scent.
It was perfect weather for flower gathering.
They safely collected various flowers and began the return trip.
The way back was peaceful.
They gathered lavenderna, chamomile, roses, wild briar, and several small white flowers Yoshio didn’t recognize.
Thanks to Infinite Storage, the load was minimal.
Dario’s party handled the goblin corpses.
They arrived back in Acuria at sunset.
At the guild, Yoshio completed the escort request paperwork and paid the silver coins.
Dario and his companions left in high spirits.
◆ The Original Moonlit Fragrance
Back at the inn, Sheila helped sort the collected flowers.
They spread them across the desk and separated them by type.
Among them, Sheila pointed at the small white blossoms.
She lifted one petal.
“I’ve never seen this flower before.
The scent is… sweet, with a hint of spice.
What could it be?”
Yoshio used his Appraisal skill.
Information surfaced in his mind.
“Original Moonlit Flower.
An extremely rare species containing the foundational aromatic components of modern moonlit‑flower perfume.”
Moonlit‑flower perfume—one of the signature fragrances of modern perfumery.
And this was its original wild ancestor.
If he could extract essential oil from it, he might create a perfume truly unique to this world.
If he could cultivate Moonlit Flower, his perfumes would reach an entirely new level.
Sheila’s eyes sparkled.
“Is it really that amazing?
If we can grow it, I’d love to try.”
Moonlit Flower normally preferred warm, almost tropical climates.
But the fact that this white blossom grew naturally in the hills meant it might be possible to cultivate it here with the right conditions.
The challenge was the cultivation method—
Should they grow it from seeds?
Transplant the entire plant?
What soil did it need?
How much drainage?
How much sunlight?
The next day, Sheila began researching.
She studied botanical encyclopedias and agricultural manuals, and even visited local florists for information.
Within a few days, she had compiled her findings.
◆ Flower Cultivation
She spread out her notes.
“Based on what I found, it needs a sunny location with good drainage.
But the soil must be mixed with fertilizer, or the roots weaken.
Also, the seeds are tiny—they can easily blow away in the wind.”
Comparing her research with Yoshio’s appraisal, the best location seemed to be a sunny vacant lot south of town.
The problem was securing and maintaining the land—either owning a field or renting one.
Either way, it required money.
They searched for land with good sunlight and access to water from the nearby river.
After walking around town, they found a suitable plot on a small hill just outside the south gate.
It had once been an orchard, with three stone‑walled sections.
South‑facing, good airflow, and water could be drawn easily from a nearby stream.
The real‑estate broker was located near the port.
Inside the shop marked “Morris Trading Company,” a stout middle‑aged man greeted them.
He dropped into a chair.
“Welcome. Looking for land?”
After hearing Yoshio’s request, Morris stroked his beard and flipped through a ledger.
He opened a page.
“Oh, that place. Good sunlight, yes.
But the stone walls are old—you’ll need repairs.
And if you want a water channel, that’s extra.”
“Monthly rent is 3,000G.
Annual contract is 36,000G—one month discount.
Which will it be?”
“Monthly contract, please.
And can you arrange a water‑channel worker?”
He nodded.
“A stonemason nearby can do it.
2,500G including labor.”
“So total 5,500G.
Annual contract would be 35,500G.
Pay now?”
Annual was cheaper, but monthly gave flexibility.
If cultivation succeeded, perfume material costs would drop dramatically.
It was a reasonable investment.
◆ Flower Cultivation
The next week, the stonemason completed the water channel.
A branch from the stream flowed through the stone walls, supplying water to the plots.
Repairs were finished, and the land was ready.
They had collected Moonlit Flower seeds—tiny white grains that rolled across Yoshio’s palm.
Sheila picked one up.
“It’s amazing that something this small becomes that flower.”
They planted each seed carefully.
After about a week, sprouts appeared.
A month later, white buds formed across the first plot.
Daily observation paid off.
A few days later, the first flower bloomed—its rich sweet fragrance drifting on the wind.
“You did it, Master!
Moonlit Flower has grown!”
The blossom was fist‑sized, its white petals glistening with morning dew.
The scent was overwhelming—sweet, exotic, almost sensual.
The plants were still small, but someday the entire plot might be covered in Moonlit Flowers.
They sowed seeds in the remaining two plots.
Germination rate was about 80%, with Moonlit Flower making up around 60%.
Lavenderna and chamomile also took root.
A stable cultivation base was forming.
◆ Expanding Sales Routes to the Royal Capital
Extracting Moonlit Flower oil required care—too much heat would ruin the scent.
Low‑temperature distillation was essential.
The inn room was too limited.
Sheila peered into the distiller.
“It smells wonderful… but the yield is tiny.
Only a few milliliters per flower.”
Moonlit Flower produced very little oil—excellent for luxury perfume, but difficult for mass production.
The next day, Yoshio returned to Morris Trading Company and rented a small vacant lot next to the inn for an essential‑oil workshop.
Annual contract: 48,000G.
his meant two ongoing expenses—5,500G monthly for the field and 48,000G yearly for the workshop—but he accepted it as investment.
He opened his skill window and upgraded Infinite Storage (Small) to Infinite Storage (Medium) for 5,000G.
Storage capacity increased dramatically.
He also purchased a “Essential Oil Refining Equipment Set” for 20,000G—
a compact professional distiller, cooler, and fractionation apparatus he could summon from storage.
It took two weeks to set up the workshop and establish a daily cycle between the flower field and distillation.
"Please let me know if there are any mistakes in the translation."