Chapter 6
◆ Potions
Among the books he had borrowed from Marta, one particular passage caught Yoshio's attention.
It was a description regarding potions.
He decided that once he reached the royal capital, he would investigate the matter further.During the journey to the capital, inside the swaying carriage, Yoshio found himself reflecting on Marta’s texts.The thick, leather-bound volume contained not only the history of perfume but also records concerning potions and magical elixirs.
One specific passage had stuck obstinately in his mind.
"Scent and magical energy are two sides of the same coin. It is said that the perfumers of old infused fragrances with mana to create medicinal scents capable of healing wounds."
While no concrete recipes were provided, the concept of making a scent function magically was fascinating in itself.
If such a thing were possible, it would give rise to a product entirely distinct from standard luxury perfumes.A fragrance that healed wounds, or a scent that recovered fatigue.
There would surely be a high demand among adventurers and the knight order.Upon arriving at the royal capital, Yoshio first gave a presentation of his six new creations to Gustav.Gustav, applying a drop of "Amber Drops" to his wrist, narrowed his eyes in admiration.
"With this, we can easily sell it even without the actual flowers,"
he assured him, giving his stamp of approval.He also agreed to the production increase, allowing Yoshio to breathe a sigh of relief, knowing they could now meet the incoming orders.
As soon as the business meeting concluded, Yoshio headed straight to the capital's Grand Library.He needed to find corroborating evidence for the passage he had discovered in Marta's book.
Ransacking the shelves of pharmacy and magic one after another, he began searching for literature regarding "Scent and Magic."Through his research, he learned that by infusing magical energy into potions, both the scent and the mana would effectively manifest their powers.He then sought counsel from a mage in the capital.
The written records were indeed correct.
Mixing specific fragrant herbs into a potion and pouring magical energy into it would amplify its effectiveness.
However, the text also noted that the process of infusing mana required both master-level blending techniques and a natural aptitude for magic. Individuals possessing both qualities were exceedingly rare.
◆ The Old Mage, Galdos
The following day, Yoshio visited the Mages' Guild in the royal capital.
The interior of the heavy, stone-built structure was dimly lit, filled with a distinct ambiance reminiscent of burning incense.
After explaining his situation at the reception desk, he was shown into a back room. Following a short wait, an old, white-haired mage appeared.His name was Galdos.
He was said to be a grand mage serving as an advisor to the guild.In a raspy voice, Galdos spoke.
"So, you wish to imbue scents with magical energy? What a peculiar notion for a youth to conceive."
Galdos stared at Yoshio as if sizing him up, then pulled an ancient book from a desk drawer.
"These are the records of those once known as 'Aromatherapeutic Healers.' They were a group who utilized fragrance as a medium for healing and enhancement. The very last of them passed away over a century ago."
Opening the volume, it revealed detailed illustrations of intricate magic circles alongside various aromatic blends.
Galdos continued his explanation while turning the pages.
"The theory remains, but there is no one left who can put it into practice. Controlling both magical energy and scent simultaneously requires talent in both fields."
"...Though, I cannot say whether you possess such an aptitude."
"I would like to give it a try. My olfaction level is 4, and my magic level is 2—but actions speak louder than words. There is nothing to do but practice."
Galdos raised an eyebrow.
"Ho, an olfaction level of 4? That is quite impressive. In that case, you may well give it a try."
Galdos guided Yoshio to a laboratory in the back. In the center of the spacious, stone-walled room stood a workbench lined with glassware and bundles of fragrant herbs.
It appeared that the equipment used over a century ago had been preserved exactly as it was.First, Galdos taught him the basics.
One must add the herbs while channeling magical energy into the potion.
The flow of mana had to be thin and delicate, like drawing a thread from the palm of one's hand.If it were too strong, the vessel would shatter; if it were too weak, it would have no effect.Demonstrating the process with a simple recovery potion, a faint light flowed from the old mage's hand, causing the liquid to glow softly."Now, show me what you can do.
◆ Infusing Perfumes and Potions with Magic
A potion and a bundle of fragrant herbs were placed before Yoshio.
He would begin with the basics: adding Lavender-na, an herb with analgesic properties, into a rudimentary healing potion.
The practice was conducted with a clear scenario in mind—making a small cut on the back of his hand and applying the potion to it.
He picked up the potion. He channeled his mana.
Then, he would add the lavender herb and blend them. He had to control all three elements simultaneously.
"So, I just need to restrict the intensity of my magic... while adding the herbs, correct?"
Channeling his magical energy into the potion with the delicate precision of spinning a fine thread from his palm, he added the Lavender-na.
Then, he began to blend.The moment the thread of mana touched the potion, the liquid trembled slightly.
Calibrating the strength was incredibly difficult.It felt precarious, as if the slightest excess of force would shatter the container.
While maintaining that delicate balance, he prepared the Lavender-na, adding the pieces to the mix without letting his hands stop moving.After a few seconds of focused effort, the potion emitted a faint, pale blue glow.It was a success.
Though the color of the light was weak compared to Galdos's demonstration, magic had undeniably taken root within it.
He tested a small amount of the mixture on the minor scratch he had prepared for the experiment.
A soothing, warm sensation spread across the area, and the mark began to fade.
It worked conspicuously faster than a standard potion.Galdos narrowed his eyes.
"...To succeed on your very first attempt."
The old mage could not hide his astonishment.
It had taken a mere few minutes from hearing the theory to putting it into practice.
Normally, this was a process that would take at least a week to master.
"Your mana control is unrefined, but your instincts are excellent.
The rest comes down to the combinations of herbs. Some pairings clash, while others yield results beyond imagination.""There is nothing for it but trial and error.
"For the next three days, Yoshio spent his time in the guild's laboratory.
As he experimented with various combinations of fragrant herbs and potions, he was steadily taking his first steps as an Aromatherapeutic Healer.
He checked his magic level, driven by a desire to see the quantifiable effects on his creations.Upon reviewing his status, he found that his magic level had risen to 3.
The three days of intensive training had evidently paid off.Combined with his olfaction level of 4, it was concrete proof that his dual mastery of perfume blending and mana control was progressing steadily.
Next, Yoshio decided to compare the efficacy of his newly crafted potion against a standard perfume.First, the potion.
The lavender-infused mixture meant for recovery demonstrated approximately 1.5 times the effectiveness of a normal potion.
While there was still ample room for improvement, his direction was undoubtedly correct.Next, the perfume.
When he inhaled his existing Tuberose perfume, its stabilizing effect on his mind felt no different from its usual usage.
In other words, standard perfume carried no magical energy; it simply smelled pleasant.
What would happen if he used his skills as an Aromatherapeutic Healer to infuse it with mana?As an experiment, he channeled magic into the Tuberose perfume.
A pale blue light enveloped the liquid inside the bottle.Though its appearance remained unchanged, the difference was unmistakable upon taking a sniff.
The moment the scent reached his senses, the magic permeated his body, providing not only mental stability but also a faint surge of vitality.This was an entirely different result.
A perfume crafted by an Aromatherapeutic Healer exerted both olfactory appeal and magical potency at the same time.
It was more portable than a potion and much simpler to use.
There was no question that it would be in high demand among adventurers and travelers alike.For now, he had confirmed that magic could indeed be transferred into perfume.The following day,
he resolved to seek an audience at the royal palace.
◆ “Rejuvenation, you say?”
The next morning, Yoshio, having dressed himself neatly, headed to the royal palace. Both his new perfumes and the techniques of the incense healer were achievements worthy of reporting to the royal family.
When he gave his name at the gate, he was immediately allowed through—apparently the palace had already been informed of his visit.
He was guided not to the audience chamber but to the princess’s private room. It seemed she preferred to hear his report in a relaxed setting rather than a formal one.
Upon entering, Princess Martina greeted him with a warm smile. A maid prepared tea, then quietly withdrew, leaving the two alone.
“It has been a while, Lord Yoshio. You look well, I’m glad. So then—what sort of surprise have you brought me today?”
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. Just like during his previous visit, when she discovered his innate talent for scent, she was clearly expecting another new revelation.
“In addition to the matter of selling perfume to the neighboring kingdom, I’ve brought prototypes of new fragrances, as well as trial versions of perfumes infused with magic.”
The princess leaned forward.
“Oh my, magic‑infused perfume?”
Yoshio opened the box he had brought. Inside were three small bottles: Amber Droplet, Moonlit Smile, and a lavender‑based magical perfume. He also included the ancient incense‑healer manuscript he had borrowed from Gardos.
Martina first applied the two new perfumes to her wrist and tested their scents. A rich fragrance based on kumquat, and a refined bergamot after‑scent.
Both were so different from existing floral perfumes that her eyes widened.
“These are wonderful. To think such fragrances can be made without flowers… And this one?”
She reached for the third bottle and, instead of her wrist, dropped a single bead onto her handkerchief. Her expression changed instantly. She looked at Yoshio with a mixture of astonishment and admiration.
“This… this is no ordinary perfume. It feels as though something is seeping deep into my body. Not only mental calm—there’s vitality as well.”
She picked up the ancient manuscript and flipped through the pages. After reading the section on incense healers, she looked back at Yoshio.
“Lord Yoshio, this is an extraordinary invention. If this technique spreads, it could even influence our nation’s military strength.”
“I’m honored by your praise. I would like permission to sell it domestically. For now, the magic that can be infused into perfume seems limited to mental stabilization and fatigue recovery.”
“And also—this.”
He took out another glass bottle, identical in size to the perfume bottles. Inside was a clear liquid.
The princess held it up to the light.
“And what might this be?”
The transparent liquid looked like plain water. But since Yoshio had brought it, it was clearly another invention.
Martina showed no sign of caution—only pure curiosity.
“This is a healing potion. It works on injuries and illnesses. It also appears to have effects on beauty, health, and rejuvenation.”
Her eyes widened.
“Rejuvenation!?”
The word “rejuvenation” made her reaction jump an entire level. For a woman, it might be a word with more magic than actual magic.
She hurried to compose herself, trying to restore her royal dignity, but the flush on her cheeks could not be hidden.
“…My apologies. And—how strong is its effect?”
Her voice was calm, but she gripped the bottle tightly. She was clearly eager.
Even a princess in her mid‑twenties was not immune to the allure of beauty and youth.
“It is still in the testing stage, so to confirm its effectiveness, I would like many men and women to use it and share their impressions.”
The princess grew serious.
“So you mean… test subjects are required.”
Yoshio could practically see her mind spinning at high speed. After a few seconds of silence, she smiled brightly.
“We shall have the palace maids cooperate. There are about twenty of them. They all adore cosmetics and beauty. And also…”
She hesitated slightly.
“I would… that is… may I volunteer as one of the test subjects as well?”
Her final words were barely above a whisper. The pride of royalty and the honest feelings of a woman were clearly at odds within her.
She had offered her maids—she couldn’t very well leave herself out. A very human motivation.
“Understood. I will prepare ten test bottles. Please have everyone in the palace use them for about a month. Effects differ from person to person, so I will confirm them in interviews afterward.”
The princess could not hide her delight.
“One month, yes. Very well. I shall certainly attend the interviews myself.”
◆ Royal Palace Trials of the Healing Potion
And so, the royal palace’s trial of the healing potion began. The following week, Yoshio delivered ten bottles of the potion to the palace, just as promised.
He explained the usage to the head maid, asking that it be tested on cuts, minor ailments, and skin troubles.
Each bottle contained one hundred milliliters; using it once a day—either by sprinkling it on the body or drinking it—would bring out its effects.
The head maid was skeptical, but she obeyed without complaint, saying, “It is Her Highness’s order, after all.”
Meanwhile, Princess Martina had spoken to the king regarding domestic sales of the incense‑healer perfumes and the potion.
With the royal family’s official endorsement, distribution within the kingdom was expected to accelerate rapidly.
However, due to concerns about potential military applications, Yoshio was required to report the quantities sold and the destinations of use.
This was within his expectations.
Negotiations for export to the neighboring kingdom were also progressing steadily under Gustav’s guidance, and a diplomatic mission was soon to depart.
Yoshio’s business in this other world continued to expand smoothly.
The healing potion became so popular within the palace that the supply ran out and needed replenishment.
Princess Martina herself visited the Gustav Company’s office.
Yoshio and the princess met in the reception room.
“Your Highness, it is a pleasure to see you. What brings you here today?”
The princess hid her mouth behind her fan.
“A pleasure to see you as well, Lord Yoshio… I shall be direct. I would like to request additional healing potions.”
She sat down on the sofa and lowered her voice.
“They have become quite the sensation among the maids.
Cuts have healed without leaving a trace, long‑standing headaches have vanished, skin has regained its luster… They are all calling it a miracle.
Even I—my stiff shoulders feel completely relieved.”
Her complexion was clearly better than before. The dark circles under her eyes had disappeared.
Ten bottles shared among twenty people over a month—apparently the effects were genuine.
“And… now we come to the main matter.”
Martina straightened her posture, placed her fan on her lap, and looked directly at Yoshio.
“His Majesty is very interested. He wonders if it could be used for soldier training or expeditions. And… he wishes to secure it exclusively before other nations learn of it.”
The air in the reception room tightened slightly. This was a matter on a different level than perfume or trade.
Yoshio smiled at the princess leaning forward.
“Of course. Since the healing potion comes with Princess Martina’s recommendation, I will do everything in my power to meet the request. How many bottles will you require?”
The princess exhaled softly, relieved.
“Thank you. His Majesty wishes to begin with one hundred bottles. And he is also considering establishing a system for continuous supply.”
One hundred bottles—manageable with current production, though securing stable raw materials would become a challenge if supply continued.
Magically infused potions required more effort than ordinary mixtures, and the procurement routes for herbs were limited.
“And… one more thing.”
Martina lowered her voice further. She gestured for the attendant outside the door to leave, making the room private.
“It was I who brought this matter to His Majesty’s attention… but I also have a personal request.”
Her fingers traced the edge of her fan unconsciously. She hesitated, unsure whether to speak, but eventually made up her mind.
“That healing potion… its effects on the skin are remarkable, are they not? I was wondering if you could create a version… specifically for beauty.
Without telling His Majesty.”
◆ Beauty Potion
Yoshio began developing a variation of the healing potion—one specialized for beauty. By narrowing its intended effects, the goal was to amplify its potency even further.
It was not something he could accomplish alone. He needed Gardos’s knowledge and cooperation.
Yoshio accepted Princess Martina’s request, but creating a beauty‑focused potion was beyond what he could handle by himself.
He informed her, “It will take time to develop, but I will certainly report back,” and decided to prioritize delivering the one hundred bottles first.
The next day, Yoshio and Martina visited the Magician’s Guild together.
Gardos was startled by the sudden visit—especially with the princess accompanying Yoshio—but he led them to the reception room and served tea.
“…So, what business brings you here? And with Her Highness, no less.”
Yoshio explained the situation: the development of a beauty‑specialized version of the healing potion, and the idea of boosting its effectiveness by focusing its application.
Gardos listened with his arms crossed, then let out a low groan when Yoshio finished.
“The logic makes sense. If you take a universal remedy for wounds and illness and narrow it down to beauty, the ingredients would concentrate and the effects would likely skyrocket. But…”
The old mage shot Yoshio a sharp look.
“Specializing means stripping away unnecessary effects. If you misjudge the balance, it could become poison.
And the very concept of infusing magic into beauty is outside my expertise. What exactly defines ‘beautiful skin’?”
“Clear skin. Luster, firmness, translucence, cellular activation, breakdown and removal of waste, tightening of pores. I want to target effects that maintain skin beauty.
Applying it as a potion would be easiest. Creating lotions or creams is beyond me—but a potion is simply an adaptation of a universal remedy.”
“How about it? Can you do it?” Yoshio asked, arms folded.
Gardos stroked his beard.
“Hm… you’re quite specific. Abandoning universality to specialize in skin, eh? Not a bad idea. And if it’s in potion form, my knowledge of mixtures will be useful.”
He stood up and pulled an old book from a shelf. The leather cover was faded, but the contents were well preserved.
“A document from an incense healer one hundred fifty years ago. There are a few records on beauty here. Read.”
Yoshio opened the pages. Written in ancient script were descriptions of herbs that promoted skin regeneration: white lotus and moon dew grass.
These two herbs were to be dissolved into a potion, then activated with magic before being applied to the skin.
The theory was to accelerate cellular metabolism, expel waste, and draw out the skin’s natural beauty.
But there were warnings as well: if the magic was too strong, the skin would not withstand it and inflammation would occur.
“In short, it depends on your skill. Make one trial bottle first. White lotus can be bought at the capital’s herb shops. Moon dew grass… is a bit troublesome.”
Martina’s eyes sparkled.
“Moon dew grass is available in the royal greenhouse!”
So both white lotus and moon dew grass could be obtained. They would need to be distilled, mixed, and infused with magic.
Then test subjects would try it, and the effects would be evaluated. Easy to say—far harder to execute.
Yoshio decided to consult the workers at his workshop first.
◆ Effects of the Beauty Potion
A few days later, Yoshio returned to the workshop. He gathered Sheila, Finn, and Belk, and revealed the new development plan.
The idea of a beauty potion—an entirely unexplored field—brought three very different reactions.
Sheila said, “Infusing magic into the skin… I’ve never even imagined such a thing.”
Finn replied, “Leave the distillation to me. I’m familiar with extracting essential oils from plants.”
Belk laughed heartily. “If you need test subjects, the women in the workshop will jump at the chance. My wife’s eyes lit up the moment she heard ‘new cosmetics.’”
Belk’s booming laughter eased the atmosphere, and the team immediately began gathering materials.
Gardos provided them with white lotus rhizomes and moon dew grass petals, while Finn prepared the distillation apparatus.
The women of the workshop volunteered on their own, and more than twenty test subjects were quickly assembled.
Two weeks later, the first prototype was completed—a clear liquid with a faintly sweet fragrance.
Finn had carefully extracted the components of white lotus and moon dew grass, and Yoshio infused it with magic to finish it.
It looked beautiful, but its effects were still unknown.
The first test subject was Sheila. The moment she nervously rubbed it onto the inside of her arm, her skin glowed faintly.
The next morning, Sheila’s skin was astonishingly smooth.
With results like this, the beauty potion’s effectiveness was beyond doubt.
Yoshio decided to have Princess Martina try it and hear her impressions before moving on to mass production.
The label bore its simple name: Beauty Potion.
Carrying the first bottle, Yoshio headed to the palace. When he handed it directly to Martina, she cupped the small vial in both hands as if it were a treasure.
“Oh my… this is it. May I try it immediately?”
Without waiting for an answer, Martina called a maid and disappeared into her bedroom.
When she returned, Yoshio involuntarily drew a sharp breath.
Her skin was smooth like porcelain, with a translucence that made her look ten years younger.
“…Lord Yoshio. When I looked in the mirror, I nearly cried.”
It wasn’t exaggeration—she spoke from the heart. Her eyes were faintly moist.
The princess’s personal maids also tried the potion afterward, and every one of them praised it.
“My skin feels reborn.”
“I can’t live without this anymore.”
They were already hopelessly captivated by the beauty potion.
Thus, mass production of the beauty potion was decided.
Its cost per bottle was higher than that of the healing potion, but demand was guaranteed—and with the princess as the ultimate advertisement, success was assured.
Yoshio’s workshop had gained yet another powerful pillar.
"Please let me know if there are any mistakes in the translation."