Chapter 5
◆ The Results
The results were immediate.
Perfume made with Moonlit Flower oil was on a different level—
rich sweetness suited for nighttime, yet not overpowering.
Sheila declared it worthy of noble clientele, even at double the usual price.
The new perfume “Moonlight” would be released later.
With mass production possible, funds grew steadily.
They hired another assistant to expand cultivation, harvesting, oil production, and sales.
After six months, Yoshio’s presence in Acuria was undeniable.
His perfume brand “Yoshio” became a town specialty, with constant regular orders.
“Moonlight” sold at high prices, attracting nobles and wealthy merchants.
All three plots of the flower field were fully operational, producing stable Moonlit Flower harvests.
The new assistant, Rina, a farmer’s daughter skilled with plants, joined Sheila in managing cultivation.
The workshop established a reliable production line—flowers harvested in the morning were distilled the same day and turned into perfume by the next.
Monthly income exceeded 1.5 million G, and his savings approached 10 million G.
◆ Expanding Sales to the Royal Capital
Sheila closed the ledger.
“Master, isn’t it about time we expanded beyond this town?
If we open a sales route to the royal capital, we could reach a much larger market.”
The royal capital was far away, but as a sales frontier, it was promising.
Yoshio decided to send samples with an assistant and try selling at a street stall.
The royal capital Valdia was five days away by carriage.
Acuria couldn’t compare—Valdia was a massive metropolis said to have a population in the hundreds of thousands.
Naturally, perfume demand was enormous.
But competition was fierce, with major brands dominating the market.
So they chose to test the waters with street‑stall sales first.
They had the funds to open a shop immediately, but Yoshio wanted to see customer reactions.
He prepared samples:
Relax – 30 bottles
Moonlight – 10 bottles
Forest – 20 bottles (a fresh, woody scent aimed at male customers)
A total of 80 bottles, packed into wooden crates and entrusted to Rina.
Dario’s party handled escort duty.
Rina and the three guards left for the capital three days earlier.
During that time, Yoshio and Sheila continued regular business and fulfilled pending orders.
■ Five Days Later
In the evening, the inn’s door burst open.
Rina rushed in, breathless.
“I’m back! And it was a huge success!
We sold everything on the first day!”
Her report was excited but detailed.
When she set up the stall in Valdia’s central square, crowds gathered immediately—rare perfumes drew attention fast.
“Moonlight” especially captivated noblewomen, who bought it even after hearing the price.
“As expected of the royal capital,” Yoshio thought.
They decided to increase the next shipment.
They also planned to leave a minimal guard force at the stall and send more samples and escorts to the capital.
By then, the name “Yoshio” would begin spreading through Valdia.
■ The Second Shipment
The following week, they sent the second shipment:
Relax – 50 bottles
Moonlight – 20 bottles
Forest – 30 bottles
White Tea – 20 bottles (a new fragrance capturing the clarity of white tea)
A total of 140 bottles, escorted by four guards.
From then on, they shipped to the capital twice a month.
Within three months, the name “Yoshio” became known in Valdia.
Regular customers began visiting the stall, and wholesalers even approached them for direct deals.
■ Half a Year Later – A Major Decision
Six months later, Yoshio finally decided to open a directly managed shop in the royal capital.
He rented a small storefront in a back street of the commercial district and appointed Sheila as the store manager.
The product lineup was more extensive than in Acuria, and the shop operated strictly by reservation.
The clientele, being from the capital, consisted mostly of upper‑class customers—
noble servants buying on behalf of their masters, or young noblewomen visiting incognito.
The shop’s reputation soared.
Thirty percent of total sales now came from the capital, and monthly revenue approached 2,000,000G.
Chapter 5
◆ Princess Anneliese
One morning, while Yoshio was reviewing the ledger at the inn, a sealed letter arrived.
The wax seal bore the royal crest.
Inside was a request from the princess herself.
The letter was written on fine parchment in elegant handwriting.
The message was simple:
Princess Anneliese had tried Yoshio’s perfume at the royal capital shop and loved it so much that she wished to receive regular deliveries.
Additionally, she requested that Yoshio visit the royal palace to personally explain the perfumes to her.
At the end was the signature of the palace maid in charge, along with the requested meeting date—three days later.
Sheila peeked over his shoulder.
“Chosen by the princess herself… Master, that’s incredible!”
It was a tremendous opportunity.
Becoming a supplier to the royal family would elevate the brand’s prestige immensely.
But Yoshio also needed to be cautious—this was royalty.
A single misstep could cost him dearly.
The perfume quality was not the issue; what mattered was how he behaved and what he said during the audience.
They needed to prepare—proper attire, etiquette, and formal manners.
Yoshio and Sheila studied court etiquette and purchased the finest tuxedo and dress available in the capital.
On the appointed day, they visited the royal palace, walking with confidence despite the noble gazes upon them.
The palace gate was magnificent—white marble pillars lined both sides, and the iron doors were adorned with intricate carvings.
After showing the letter to the gate guards, they were eventually escorted into the courtyard.
Beyond the rose garden, they were led to a reception room.
Every piece of furniture looked worth more than a commoner’s yearly income.
After a few minutes on the leather sofa, the door opened.
A young woman in her early twenties entered, accompanied by two maids.
Her pale blonde hair was loosely tied, and she wore a soft blue dress—elegant without being ostentatious.
Her blue eyes met Yoshio’s and Sheila’s, and she smiled gently.
She didn’t sit.
Instead, she walked toward them.
“So you’re the perfumer behind ‘Yoshio’?
I’m delighted to meet you.
All your perfumes were wonderful, but Moonlight… I simply can’t forget it.”
She was far more approachable than Yoshio had imagined.
Her curiosity for perfume outweighed any stiff formality.
The maids served tea, and Anneliese sat across from them, leaning forward with interest.
“Nice to meet you. I am Aizaki Yoshio, and this is my assistant, Sheila.
Thank you very much for enjoying our perfumes.”
The princess waved her hand lightly.
“No need to be so formal.
I dislike stiff manners.
Come, sit closer.”
She stood and approached them.
“Actually… Prince Leohart of the neighboring kingdom will be visiting soon.
I want to attend the banquet wearing Moonlight.
Do you think he’ll like it?”
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
This was not just diplomacy—there were personal feelings involved.
Prince Leohart, first prince of the neighboring kingdom of Verdia, was known as a handsome and accomplished man.
Though the visit was political, for a young princess, it clearly meant more.
Sheila whispered:
“Master… this is a business opportunity.
You should propose a special banquet blend.”
Yoshio nodded.
“Moonlight suits Your Highness beautifully.
For the banquet, I have prepared a special blend—Gorgeous Moonlight.
I would be honored to provide it.”
Anneliese’s eyes sparkled.
“You’ll make a special blend just for me?
Wonderful!
May I smell it now?”
They needed permission to retrieve the sample from Infinite Storage—magic use was often restricted in palaces.
But Sheila whispered:
“I’ll take it from my magic pocket.”
She produced the finest Gorgeous Moonlight and handed it to the princess.
Anneliese opened the bottle and sprayed a little on her wrist.
She closed her eyes.
“…Oh my.
Deeper than Moonlight, yet not heavy.
Perfect for a banquet.”
She let her maids smell it.
“What do you think?”
One bowed respectfully.
“It is exquisite, Your Highness.
Elegant and radiant.”
Anneliese smiled with satisfaction.
“Then I’ll take one hundred bottles.
And please continue supplying the palace regularly.
I’d like an exclusive contract.”
One hundred bottles—one hundred times the usual order.
At 2,000G per bottle, that was 200,000G.
And an exclusive royal contract meant Yoshio would become Royal Court Perfumer.
It was an extraordinary offer.
But details needed discussion—delivery schedule, payment terms, quality guarantees, and whether exclusivity restricted other sales.
Still, Yoshio bowed.
“Thank you very much.
I look forward to serving you.”
They left the palace.
◆ Exclusive Contract
Leaving the royal palace, Yoshio and Sheila walked silently along the stone-paved street.
Reality finally caught up with them once the noise of the capital returned to their ears.
Sheila covered her mouth with both hands.
“One hundred bottles—one hundred! And an exclusive contract!
Master, do you realize how much our monthly revenue will be now!”
On the carriage ride home, she remained unable to calm down.
Once they returned to Acuria, the two immediately began expanding their production system—
enlarging the Moonlit Flower fields, adding more distillation equipment, and increasing staff.
Rina and the newly hired assistant were barely enough to keep up.
The contract with the princess was completed.
Its contents were as follows:
Monthly delivery of 100 bottles of Moonlit Flower essential oil
2,500G per bottle
Sales outside the royal family require the princess’s permission
Contract duration: one year, renewable upon mutual agreement
Annual revenue would reach 30 million G—over a hundred times the original business.
Commercially, it was a massive success.
But rapid expansion carried risks:
farm management, quality control, manpower—none were guaranteed to keep pace.
Yoshio opened his skill window again.
New entries had appeared, and existing skills had increased in level due to recent activities.
The updated list was:
Updated Skills
Infinite Storage (Medium)
Storage capacity greatly increased—enough to hold the contents of an entire house.
Perfumery (Intermediate)
Improved blending precision; intuitive understanding of new scent combinations.
Business Talent (Intermediate)
Enhanced negotiation ability and market insight.
Appraisal Eye (Beginner)
Able to discern the quality and approximate value of items.
Universal Language Understanding
Can naturally understand and speak all languages of this world.
Additionally, 5 skill points had accumulated—usable for strengthening existing skills or acquiring new ones.
◆ Acuria Institute of Perfumery
With perfume now being produced in large quantities, quality control had become essential.
Yoshio could no longer handle all blending alone.
To maintain consistency—especially for royal deliveries—he needed more trained perfumers.
That meant establishing a school.
A dedicated perfume academy—something that did not yet exist in this world.
Acuria was the ideal location: a port town with active trade and a constant flow of people.
If he spoke with the town’s influential merchants, securing land would be easy.
Funds were plentiful.
The problem was teachers.
Should Yoshio teach himself?
Should he find experienced perfumers?
Or perhaps use skills to summon someone suited for instruction?
He decided to consult Sheila first.
“Sheila, I’m thinking of establishing a school to teach perfumery.”
“It will start small. You and I will teach—
I’ll handle the luxury blends, and you’ll teach the standard blends.
What do you think?”
Sheila thought for a moment.
“I think it’s a great idea.
But… I’m not sure I’m ready to teach standard blends.
I’ve learned a lot from watching you, but I’m still inexperienced.”
Her honesty was admirable, but it meant she couldn’t shoulder the role alone.
She continued:
“What if we hire one or two experienced perfumers as assistant instructors?
In the capital, there must be people who worked in small workshops—
talented but lacking funds or opportunities to go independent."
lt was a solid suggestion.
There were indeed perfumers in the capital considering closing their workshops due to succession issues.
Recruiting them could provide immediate expertise.
A potential school building had already been found:
a vacant two‑story structure on the edge of the commercial district.
It used to be an herb shop, and still had mixing equipment inside.
With some renovation, it could become a classroom.
Sheila raised another point:
“And we’ll need students.
If we offer salaries, people will apply, but ‘perfumer’ isn’t a known profession here.
We have no idea who we’ll attract.”
Yoshio began recruitment in both Acuria and the capital.
He also created illustrated textbooks explaining flower properties and perfume creation.
Requirements were simple:
interest in perfumery and basic literacy.
Salary: 80,000G per month, with deductions for lodging if living on-site.
After one month, twelve applicants appeared.
Four were selected:
Elza – daughter of an herbalist; sharp sense of smell and strong botanical knowledge
Kyle – former adventurer; retired due to injury, seeking work that uses his dexterity
Mina – third daughter of a flower farmer; skilled in handling flowers
Rico – son of a fallen noble family; well‑educated and articulate
Each had quirks, but all showed promise.
The textbook was complete—clear and fully illustrated.
The school was named Acuria Institute of Perfumery.
Four students, two teachers.
A small beginning, but a meaningful one.
■ Opening Day
The four students sat in the classroom, looking up at Yoshio with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
“Welcome, everyone, to the Acuria Institute of Perfumery.”
“For the next month, you will study perfume blending.
After that, you will work in our workshop as apprentice perfumers.”
“We look forward to working with you.”
Elza stood immediately.
“Thank you! I’ve learned a little from my father, but this is my first time studying systematically!”
Kyle bowed curtly.
“Yeah. I’m good with my hands—expect results.”
Mina beamed.
“It feels like a dream to work with flowers!”
Rico spoke calmly.
“I humbly ask for your guidance.”
Their reactions differed, but their motivation was clear.
■ Training
The first week was theory:
flower types, aromatic components, extraction methods, base selection, and blend ratios.
Yoshio and Sheila alternated lectures using the textbook.
Elza took notes eagerly.
Kyle copied diagrams silently.
Mina looked forward to hands‑on practice.
Rico asked precise questions to deepen understanding.
The second week moved to practical training.
They began with basic blends using Moonlit Flower and lavender.
By the third week, each student was tasked with designing an original perfume.
■ Graduation
After one month, the four were assigned to the workshop as apprentice perfumers.
They were still far from Yoshio or Sheila’s level, but they were now reliable hands supporting the “Yoshio” brand.
Perfume production ran at full capacity every day, and flowers were constantly in short supply.
◆ The Warming Device
Winter struck harder than expected.
Flowers were weak against the cold.
A warming system was needed.
This world had no concept of greenhouses.
So—what could be done?
Even though Acuria was relatively warm, temperatures dropped to single digits from December to February.
Moonlit Flower was vulnerable to frost; its leaves were easily damaged.
Current countermeasures were barely effective.
Damaged Moonlit Flower produced lower‑quality essential oil, and compensating for that required using even more flowers—a vicious cycle.
Yoshio organized the possible solutions.
First option: switch to a cold‑resistant species.
But no substitute for Moonlit Flower had been found.
Second option: build a greenhouse.
Glass walls could trap heat, but glass was extremely expensive, and covering an entire structure would cost a fortune—and structural strength was questionable.
Third option: use magic.
Fire magic could warm the soil, or fire‑attribute magic stones could maintain surface temperature.
Cost depended on maintenance, but with creativity, it might be affordable.
Sheila might know something.
Yoshio asked her about magic stones.
Sheila paused her work.
“Magic stones? Fire stones are pretty common.
Small ones from salamander nests show up in the market.
About 500G each.”
She continued:
“Salamander stones store fire‑attribute heat.
If you crush them and bury them in the soil, the ground warms gently.”
“Some farmers use them.
But the heat spreads slowly, so you need a lot to cover an entire field.”
She counted on her fingers.
“For 100 square meters, about fifty stones.
Your Moonlit Flower fields total around 300 square meters…
So about 1,500 stones.
That’s 750,000G.”
It sounded expensive, but Yoshio’s annual revenue was in the tens of millions.
A thousand stones was negligible.
The real concern was how long the heat lasted—and whether stones needed constant replacement throughout winter.
Yoshio decided to refine the 1,500 stones into a single large magic stone.
At the center of the workshop stood a massive floating crystal furnace, glowing with pale blue magical flame.
The flame emitted not heat, but a “life temperature” that stabilized the surrounding climate.
However, magic stones in this world were considered single‑use.
Yoshio wondered:
Could magic stones be recycled?
If he infused spent stones with magic, perhaps they could be reused.
Sheila’s eyes widened.
“That’s actually interesting.
Magic stones turn into plain rocks when empty, but I’ve heard they can be recharged with magic.”
Normally, recharging required a professional mage.
But Yoshio’s mastery of perfumery—layering and manipulating subtle energies—might allow him to infuse magic himself.
He picked up a discarded magic stone.
It still held a faint warmth.
Even an empty stone retained its structure.
He imagined pouring magic into it…
Layering magic like aromatic notes, he wrapped the stone in a thin membrane of energy.
The stone glowed faintly red.
Warmth spread into his palm.
Sheila leaned in.
“You did it!
This might actually work!”
Efficiency still needed testing, but if viable, magic stone costs could drop dramatically.
They needed expert advice.
Yoshio visited the Adventurers’ Guild tavern and approached a mage.
A middle‑aged man with cropped silver hair—Gald the Flame Spear, a veteran.
Three empty mugs sat on his table, but he agreed to talk.
He stroked his beard.
“Recharging magic stones?
Never done it, normally.”
He folded his arms, thinking.
“But the logic checks out.
Magic stones are basically conduits for magic.
Even when drained, they don’t break.”
“Pour magic into an empty vessel, and it fills.
Makes sense.”
He lifted a mug.
“The problem is efficiency.
You can’t just leave them out—they won’t recharge naturally.
And if you shove too much magic in, the stone cracks.
You need control.”
Yoshio’s method was correct in principle, but fine control was needed.
Gald seemed intrigued.
“I’ll help when I’ve got time,” he offered.
His expertise in magic manipulation would be invaluable.
Thus, magic stone recycling became possible, drastically reducing the cost of the warming system.
Moonlit Flower cultivation stabilized, and perfume production increased.
To Yoshio’s delight, his base mana level increased from 1 to 2.
◆ Efficient Essential Oil Extraction Methods
To further increase production, Yoshio began considering a more efficient method of extracting essential oils.
The distillation equipment needed improvement.
Thanks to recycled magic stones, the warming system’s operating cost had dropped to one‑tenth of the original estimate.
Moonlit Flower now grew steadily even in winter, and essential‑oil output had doubled.
However, no matter how much raw material increased, the bottleneck remained the distillation process.
The current distillation device was a simple single‑stage model—boil, cool, separate.
A classical method with clear limitations.
Yoshio identified two possible directions for improvement:
Continuous Distillation System
A circulating pipe system that repeatedly distills and cools.
In theory, production could increase dramatically.
High‑Pressure Steam Distillation
By raising steam temperature and pressure, only low‑boiling aromatic compounds could be extracted efficiently.
Both methods were unheard of in this world.
A dwarven blacksmith might be able to design and prototype such equipment.
It would cost money, but considering “Yoshio” brand’s revenue, it was a worthwhile investment.
■ Consulting the Dwarven Blacksmith
Yoshio traveled half a day by carriage to the mining town of Dork.
There, he visited a workshop called Ironfire Forge, known for its skilled dwarven craftsmen.
The constant sound of metal striking metal echoed through the air.
A short, red‑haired dwarf emerged—stocky build, thick arms, soot‑covered face.
His name was Gord.
Wiping sweat from his brow, Gord grunted:
“What’s this? A lanky fellow coming all the way up here.
Looking to order a weapon?”
But when Yoshio showed him the distillation design, Gord’s eyes changed—
the eyes of a true craftsman.
He traced the diagram with thick fingers, muttering.
“Well now… never seen a structure like this.
Boiling water to squeeze oil out of flowers, huh?”
He pointed at one part of the design.
“This cooling section—can be more efficient.
Make it double‑layered.
Run water through the inner pipe, cool the outer pipe faster.”
Gord immediately began scribbling on the diagram.
He seemed to like the challenge.
“Give me three days. I’ll make a prototype.”
His mind was already assembling the parts.
“Please do. If it works, I’ll order several units.”
Gord grinned.
“Several? Might not be enough.
This is interesting work.”
■ The Prototype
Three days later, Gord contacted Yoshio.
At the forge, a compact prototype sat on the workbench—
iron and copper pipes intertwined, with an evaporation tray at the base.
When tested with Moonlit Flower petals, essential oil dripped out at a speed incomparable to the old device.
The double‑pipe cooling system was extremely effective—
heating and cooling time had been cut to less than half.
However, there were issues:
Continuous operation caused oil residue to build up inside the pipes
Regular cleaning was necessary
The prototype cost 500,000G
Before mass production, Yoshio needed to test the oil quality.
■ Quality and Cost Analysis
Using his Appraisal Eye, Yoshio compared essential oils from the old and new devices.
Results:
Quality difference was minimal
New device produced slightly higher purity, but not enough to affect perfume value
Cost analysis:
Old device: ~15 bottles of essential oil per hour
New device: ~30 bottles per hour
With magic‑stone recycling, operating cost dropped to one‑third of the old device
Gord also promised further improvements—
eventually one device could produce 50 bottles per hour.
If Yoshio installed five units, production would be 15 times the old output.
Investment: 2,500,000G for five units.
Given that one Moonlit Flower plant produced essential oil for ~20 bottles,
the profit per plant would quadruple under the new system.
The conclusion was clear:
Switching to the new device was extremely rational.
Yoshio formally ordered five units.
Gord thumped his chest.
“Leave it to me. Ten days and they’ll be done.”
■ Full Installation
Ten days later, Ironfire Forge delivered the five machines.
Gord personally oversaw installation and fine‑tuned the piping.
His craftsmanship was impeccable.
By the third day of operation, the Moonlit Flower fields looked entirely different.
Tasks that once required several workers were now automated and far more efficient.
Freed personnel could focus on quality control and shipment preparation, raising overall productivity.
The results were immediate:
Apprentice perfumers at Acuria Institute could produce their own brand reliably
Monthly output exceeded 1,200 bottles
Even after royal deliveries, monthly revenue approached 900,000G
Walking through Acuria’s port town, Yoshio noticed people wearing faint traces of his perfumes.
The “Yoshio” scent had become part of the town’s atmosphere.
But increased production brought new challenges—
and Yoshio knew he had more problems to solve.
◆ Reducing Transportation Costs
As perfume sales continued to rise, transportation costs became impossible to ignore.
Cost reduction was necessary here as well.
The problem was simple:
No matter how much production increased, the cost of transporting goods from Acuria to the royal capital was beginning to eat into profits.
A carriage trip took five days one-way, ten days round-trip.
During that time, perfume quality degraded, so high-end products had to be transported with magical cooling—an expensive requirement.
Current transport cost: about 50G per bottle.
Shipping 1,000 bottles meant 50,000G, roughly 5% of total revenue lost to transport alone.
If Yoshio could secure his own transportation method, costs would drop to only labor and fuel.
And if he could transport at room temperature without cooling magic, expenses would fall even further.
Two options were possible:
Organize an in-house transport team
Use scheduled ships on the port’s trade routes
The second option could drastically reduce costs depending on negotiation.
A ship from the royal capital happened to be docked at the port.
It was a good opportunity to speak with the port authority while meeting the envoy.
■ Meeting the Port Authority
Yoshio visited the port office, where a stout middle-aged man greeted him—
Bald, the port master.
Bald pulled out documents.
“Perfume transport, huh?
The regular ship to the capital arrives in three days.
Much faster than a carriage.”
He clicked his abacus.
“For a contract in units of twenty bottles, the shipping fee is 15G per bottle.”
“But since it’s fragile cargo, you’ll need careful packing.
If bottles break due to ship movement, compensation costs extra.”
In other words, with a regular contract of twenty-bottle units, transportation cost would drop to 15G per bottle—
less than one-third of carriage transport.
And since ships didn’t require magical cooling, refrigeration costs would disappear.
However, there were limitations:
Current scheduled ships departed twice per week,
meaning eight departures per month.
Yoshio shipped over 1,000 bottles per month,
so the number of departures was insufficient.
Chartering an entire ship would cost over 1,000,000G per month.
He would need a large-volume contract with a dedicated cargo allocation.
For now, Yoshio decided on a hybrid plan:
Use both land and sea transport while preparing to build a perfume factory in the royal capital.
◆ Establishing a Shop and Workshop in the Capital
The idea of building a factory in the royal capital was the best solution to the transportation problem.
Producing locally meant zero transport cost and no need for cooling magic.
But it required enormous funds and political backing.
First came the initial investment estimate.
Land in the capital cost several times more than in Acuria, and industrial land was even pricier.
Construction, equipment, staffing—at least tens of millions of G.
Next was politics.
Doing business in the capital required royal permission.
The envoy waiting at the port might be connected to this matter.
Yoshio went to confirm whether permission for a perfume factory could be granted.
■ Meeting the Royal Envoys
In the port’s waiting room sat two men:
a dignified older man with graying hair, and a young clerk.
The clerk introduced himself as Leonard, and the older man as Gustav.
Gustav spoke gently:
“Forgive us for calling you here.
We have a request from the royal family.”
He produced a letter sealed with the royal crest.
“Her Highness Princess Anneliese is extremely fond of your perfumes.
Even her maids speak highly of them.”
“Thus, Her Highness wishes for you to establish a store and workshop in the royal capital.”
It was not merely permission—
it was an invitation from the princess herself.
A perfect opportunity.
Gustav continued:
“The land and building will be provided by the royal family.
However, there are conditions.”
He read the terms:
A portion of sales in the capital will be paid as tax
The shop must display the royal warrant
New products must be offered to the royal family first
In short:
“We grant you prestige; in return, give us benefits.”
It was a very favorable deal.
If land and buildings were free, Yoshio saved tens of millions of G.
“I accept. Please convey my gratitude to Her Highness.”
Gustav bowed deeply.
“She will be delighted. We will begin preparations immediately.”
Everything progressed smoothly.
The envoys promised to secure land and a building within a week.
■ Back in Acuria
When Yoshio returned with the news, the workshop erupted.
Sheila’s eyes widened.
“A workshop in the capital!?
Master, when did this happen…?”
She grew excited.
“With the capital’s population, the market will explode!”
But they couldn’t celebrate forever.
They needed staff for the capital workshop, meaning they had to select from academy graduates.
Managing two locations—Acuria and the capital—would require careful coordination.
Yoshio decided:
High-end perfumes → produced in the capital
Standard perfumes → produced in Acuria
Capital staff: Yoshio and Elza
Acuria staff: Sheila, Kyle, Mina, Rico
They would rotate periodically to prevent skill gaps.
New workers were recruited, and the academy continued training.
Within three months, both workshops were running smoothly.
Rotation worked well—capital staff returned to Acuria to teach, then went back again.
Sales soared.
High-end perfumes sold rapidly among nobles in the capital,
while Acuria’s standard perfumes became popular among commoners.
Monthly revenue:
Capital workshop: 400,000G
Acuria workshop: 300,000G
Total: 700,000G
The “Yoshio” brand had become Acuria’s largest industry.
■ A Sudden Letter
One day, a letter arrived from Gustav.
“Please meet me urgently.”
“Is this from the princess?” Sheila wondered.
The following week, Yoshio traveled to the capital alone.
Elza managed the workshop without issue.
At the capital workshop, Gustav greeted him—
but his usual calm demeanor was gone.
He looked troubled.
He lowered his voice.
“Yoshio… we have a problem.”
■ The Problem
Recently, a delegation from a neighboring country visited the capital.
They encountered Yoshio’s perfumes and were captivated.
One delegate bought a large quantity as a gift for his queen.
Others heard about it and began buying as well.
Now, the capital’s inventory was nearly depleted.
Worse, the rumor had spread beyond the border.
Orders were pouring in from nobles and wealthy merchants across multiple countries.
Gustav handed Yoshio a sheet listing the orders—
dozens of names, including nations from the far side of the continent.
“These are only the confirmed orders.
More will surely come.
What will you do?”
Yoshio folded his arms, thinking deeply.
More orders were good—but production could not keep up.
Flower supply was limited.
He could not answer immediately.
“I will give you my decision later.”
Gustav nodded.
“Of course. But please understand—we cannot wait too long.”
■ The Crisis
Walking through the capital, Yoshio saw women wearing his perfumes,
and shops displaying his brand.
The idea that this might spread across the continent felt unreal.
Back at the inn, he organized the issues:
Production capacity
Capital workshop: 400 bottles/month
Increasing requires expanding Moonlit Flower fields.
Manpower
Only six trained perfumers available.
Academy output too slow.
Flower supply
Moonlit Flower is rare and difficult to cultivate.
Alternatives or new methods are needed.
He worked late into the night, unable to find a solution.
■ Emergency Meeting – Acuria Workshop
The next day, Yoshio flew back to Acuria and gathered everyone:
Yoshio, Elza, Sheila, Kyle, Mina, Rico, and the new worker, Liene.
The topic:
“Develop perfumes that do not rely on flowers.”
Sheila spoke first.
“If not flowers… maybe fruits or resins?
I’ve heard of ambergris from whales in eastern islands.”
Elza took notes.
“But that’s hard to obtain. Not available here.”
Kyle crossed his arms.
“Resins might work. Forest trees produce camphor-like scents.”
Liene raised her hand timidly.
“Um… instead of recreating flower scents,
why not try completely new directions?
Citrus, or woody scents for men?”
Ideas flew across the room.
A breakthrough emerged:
They didn’t need to cling to flowers.
Perfume was an art of scent—
any material could be used.
Yoshio stood.
“Citrus fruits—lemon, mandarin, peach.
Everyone, search for every possible scent.
This is your time to create.”
The workshop ignited with energy.
Eight people leapt to their stations, eyes shining.
The exploration lasted three days.
◆ Expectation for Tomorrow
Sheila and Kyle ran to the port, opening every crate of fruit arriving from various regions.
Lemons, oranges, grapefruits, limes, kumquats, summer oranges, pomelos, navel oranges, and even out‑of‑season peaches.
Strong scents, weak scents, sour, sweet—
dozens of citrus fruits lined the workshop tables.
Elza and Liene scoured the capital’s markets, buying large quantities of dried citrus peels.
Dried peel had a different aroma from fresh fruit—deep, almost herbal, like traditional medicine.
It might add new dimensions to their blends.
Mina and Rico ventured into the forest, collecting bark, resin, and leaf sap.
Trees with hinoki‑like freshness, heavy cedarwood tones, and materials that captured the very air of the forest.
By the evening of the third day, eight notebooks lay before Yoshio—
each filled with records and impressions of experimental scents.
That night, Yoshio stayed alone in the workshop, comparing the prototypes.
A refreshing blend based on lemongrass,
a soft, sweet peach fragrance,
a calm hinoki‑based scent.
All completely different from Moonlit Flower, each with its own personality.
■ Presentation
The next morning, everyone gathered for the presentation.
“Thank you, everyone.
Thanks to your efforts, we now have a wide variety of samples.
Let’s discuss how we can develop perfumes from these materials.”
Sheila raised her hand first.
Her notebook was filled with citrus‑peel experiments.
“I focused on dried kumquat peel.
It has a sweet, heavy scent with a faint bitterness—totally different from Moonlit Flower.
I think it could be the base for a perfume aimed at young women.”
Elza stood next.
“Liene and I tried bergamot.
It’s an essential oil extracted from orange peel—elegant and bright.
It works for both men and women.
It could become a new flagship scent for the Yoshio brand.”
Kyle rubbed his nose.
“The resin from one of the forest trees was interesting.
It smelled like smoked pine—deep, almost like tobacco, but not unpleasant.
I think it would suit hunters or craftsmen.”
Mina and Rico exchanged glances before speaking.
Their notebook contained blends of forest materials.
“We mixed three forest ingredients—cedarwood, hinoki, and leaf sap.
It smells like being in the forest.
Simple, but calming.”
Finally, Liene raised her hand timidly.
“Um… mine isn’t very refined yet, but…
I combined lemon and grapefruit, and it became really refreshing.
Maybe good for summer.”
Yoshio nodded.
“Thank you, everyone.
These could be used not only for perfumes, but also for room fragrances or air fresheners.
Some might even work as sleep‑aid scents.”
“Let’s develop them together.
And let’s give the princess a good answer.”
The workshop erupted with excitement.
A new market—fragrance products beyond perfume—might be opening.
Everyone’s eyes shone with possibility.
■ Two Weeks of Creation
The following days were a whirlwind of development.
Sweet scents, forest scents, citrus scents filled the workshop from morning to night.
Numbered tags lined the walls.
Failures piled up, but each failure brought new discoveries.
Two weeks later, six new products were complete:
Amber Drop – sweet, heavy kumquat‑based fragrance
Moonlit Smile – elegant bergamot blend
Pride of the Deep Forest – smoky pine resin scent
Forest of Peace – pure forest aroma
Whisper of Cool Breeze – refreshing lemon & grapefruit
Cradle of Sleep – lavender & hinoki sleep‑aid blend
“Cradle of Sleep” was an unexpected breakthrough.
Just a few drops near a pillow brought the calm of a forest at night.
Sheila once overslept after testing it, waking up saying, “Is it morning already?”
They bottled the six fragrances and headed for the royal capital—
carrying Yoshio’s answer for Gustav.
"Please let me know if there are any mistakes in the translation."