Chapter 494 – #104_Perfume Tycoon
#493
1.
Where do high-ranking witches hold their social gatherings?
While they sometimes socialize at places like Count Yesod’s Levana Grand Bathhouse or private invitation parties, one cannot overlook the ‘First Red Roof Salon’ in Ars Magna Town.
Because its full name is too long, everyone calls the red mansion ‘Red Roof Salon,’ or even shorter, just ‘Salon.’ Here, social interactions between witches are very active.
Auctions for various magical supplies and luxury goods are also held here, and even without those, there are always double-digit numbers of witches gathering and leisurely staying.
Some freely discuss and debate magic, others sit by the sunny windows enjoying the folk game of position boards, and still others simply lounge on sofas, reading books and drinking tea…
In short, it’s a social community for the wealthy, time-rich witches of Gehenna.
“Rose Glass, you say? I hear it’s all the rage these days? I even applied for a membership. Their hospitality is quite decent.”
“Oh my? Still, a host bar. Isn’t it a bit… beneath a witch’s dignity? Hohoho.”
“Is that how you see it? I’d say that’s rich coming from a witch who went on a business trip to Greece to find a male escort, ohhohoho.”
“Oh my, you speak so much like a dog’s penis. I told you, I went there for business!”
“Ah, was that so?”
Such refined conversations are common.
“By the way, when is the next auction that Count Adonai is arranging?”
“I heard that the underworld is very chaotic these days, so smugglers are having trouble with their smuggling.”
“Hey, have you heard that rumor?”
Even such trivial rumors within Gehenna circulate.
However, do not be fooled by the gentle laughter, the fragrant scent, the bright smiles, and the fluttering dress hems.
If many beautiful women gather in the same space, competition is bound to arise.
Therefore, this place is a battlefield.
How delicately has one honed their beauty?
How sophisticated are the accessories they wear?
How well-suited is their attire to them?
How gracefully do they display their elegance without violating etiquette?
Everyone is on edge, glancing around and evaluating in real-time.
The noble ladies gathered here willingly step onto the battlefield where that brutal scorecard hangs, thereby re-proving their worth.
Even the witches who casually lounge on sofas, sipping wine, and those who chat behind fans, are actually showing off their best selves.
“…Hmm~ It’s hot.”
For example, the blue-haired witch who has been lounging on the sofa since earlier.
She pretends to stretch, naturally exposing her wrist, or more precisely, the beautiful bracelet on her wrist.
The luxurious bracelet, made of a huge blue diamond and silver, is the ‘Demer Syndrome,’ a limited edition recently released by a craftsman in the mortal realm.
After a fierce bidding war, it was won by an anonymous bidder, and it seems that the blue-haired Baroness Demer was the glorious protagonist.
Several witches, having caught sight of the subtly displayed bracelet, slowly gathered around.
“Baroness! Is that the bracelet that was up for auction recently? I wondered who got it, but it was Baroness Demer.”
“It’s like fate that such a beautiful bracelet has the same name as me. I bought it as if I were possessed, you know?”
“May I take a closer look?”
“Of course, as much as you like.”
“Too bad. I followed the auction until the end, but I unfortunately missed out. Congratulations, Baroness.”
“Really? I feel so bad.”
Sighs filled with suppressed jealousy and envious gazes.
Demer, with her nose held a bit higher, was naturally showing off her wealth and aesthetic sense when she suddenly noticed Countess Albireo.
As one of the wealthiest families in Gehenna and from a countess family, Jemernai is one of the strongest players in the salon.
Whenever she visits the salon, she appears wearing never-before-seen accessories and beautiful clothes, reigning as the salon’s protagonist.
However, not today.
“Countess Albireo, it’s been a while since you’ve visited?”
Demer willingly declared war on Albireo.
Countess Albireo’s attire today was a simple black dress.
Normally, the countess would dominate the room with her elegance like a black swan, but Demer judged that she had a good chance with the bracelet she was wearing for the first time today.
“Yes, how have you been, Baroness Demer? You look absolutely beautiful.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I just put in a little more effort than usual.”
Albireo smiled faintly and gracefully spread out her skirt.
Since Demer had already shown off her bracelet, it was now Albireo’s turn to show something.
However, she only wore a refined smile and showed nothing.
At first glance, it seemed like a humble acceptance of defeat.
And just before Demer, who had won victory over Countess Jemernai in front of many witches, could hide her triumphant smile.
There was a twist.
“By the way, doesn’t anyone smell something nice?”
“Come to think of it…?”
“A rose scent? No, this scent is…”
The witches gathered between Albireo and Baroness Demer sniffed the air.
A lovely fragrance wafted from somewhere.
A scent that was not stimulating, but natural, yet so clearly imprinted that vivid images came to mind.
Just as humans feel a sense of sacredness and reverence when they see a work of art that moves their hearts.
The sensitive witches were naturally astonished by the fragrance.
“This scent is… like a rose that doesn’t show off because it knows its own beauty…”
“It feels like walking through a garden full of geraniums and roses… like bowing down and kissing the queen of roses, the most elegant one…”
“It’s beautiful! This spiciness that pricks the tip of the nose like a thorn, as if it’s not just beautiful in the thick rose otto! Oh, how can such a perfume exist…”
Albireo, who had come wearing a simple dress.
However, perfume, though invisible, is a part of fashion.
The ‘Single Rose’ that Amelia had gifted her was clearly proving its effect.
“Countess, is that the Marigold perfume by any chance? I’ve tried the perfumes of the previous generations, but… it wasn’t like this?”
“You have a keen eye. You do recognize it. I was lucky enough to receive it as a personal gift.”
“It’s a high-priced item, but it’s so expensive that I was hesitant… I should visit the shop.”
While Baroness Demer, who had been pushed to the back, clenched her fists, more and more witches gathered around Albireo.
2.
Therefore, Amelia’s perfume workshop was bustling with witches for three days straight.
From witches who had made reservations in advance after hearing the rumors, to witches who had indirectly experienced the perfume’s excellent fragrance and came to make reservations belatedly.
The tiny shop in a corner of the Malcuth Gallery could not accommodate so many people, so Sophia ended up taking charge of all the reservation procedures.
Amelia sat at the counter on the first floor, identifying customers’ needs and mixing essential oils with high-purity alcohol to create perfumes.
Shiwoo took on the role of bellboy and assistant.
His job was to greet the visiting witches and bring the fragrances and empty bottles that were not available on the first floor from the warehouses on the second and third floors.
If you only heard this, it might seem like Shiwoo didn’t have much to do, but that was not the case.
The fragrance shelf was designed like an organ, with layers to accommodate as many fragrances as possible, but even so, only a few hundred fragrances could be placed on the first floor.
Meanwhile, Amelia used thousands, even tens of thousands of different fragrances, tailored to each individual’s personality.
Even if essential oils were extracted from the same flower, the fragrance would differ depending on the production area, variety, and even the year of production, so Shiwoo had to diligently check the labels and bring them according to Amelia’s orders.
After repeatedly bringing and returning essential oils, he even felt like he had become an SCV.
“Hoo.”
Amelia spent about an hour per customer.
There was a bit of a gap between reserved customers, so now that she had just sent one witch out, it was time to take a breather.
She counted the number of gold coins she had received for selling the perfume and put them in the safe.
The small safe inside the counter was already filled with gold coins that were dazzling to look at.
It was money that would have to be spent to pay off her debt anyway, but it still made her feel good to look at it.
“Assistant Shin Shiwoo, are you having a hard time? I’ll give you special permission to go inside and rest if you want.”
“No, I can’t rest alone.”
“Are you refusing my kindness?”
A monotone voice and an expressionless face that showed no change.
If someone didn’t know Amelia well, they might think that the two of them had a very business-like or even bad relationship.
There was no other way, since Amelia had been acting like that ever since they had formed a relationship while doing role-playing at the academy.
Of course, her attitude didn’t stem from ill will, but rather it was closer to Amelia’s own brand of humor.
She would act subtly high-handed and speak in a stiff tone, but as soon as there was a slight opening, she would suddenly act cute, which was very harmful to the heart.
Especially when they were alone at night after finishing work, she would show a perfect example of a ‘daytime submissive, nighttime dominant’ personality.
It was a gap that she never got tired of seeing, no matter how many times she saw it.
“I’ll make you pay for your rudeness when we finish work today.”
Anyway, Shiwoo felt that Amelia’s distance had been reduced to the point where they could naturally exchange this kind of joke.
He didn’t know why and had never asked her directly, but he wasn’t completely clueless.
Perhaps she was gradually shaking off the debt of the heart that she thought she would never be able to repay, in her own way.
The mistakes that Amelia herself could not forgive, no matter how much Shiwoo said it was okay.
“Why are you staring at me like that? Don’t tell me you don’t like it?”
“I like it. But you said that yesterday and cried your eyes out, are you confident today?”
“Hmph, just be prepared.”
It was something that Shiwoo thought was very good.
It was because he felt that Amelia, who had always been looking at Shiwoo’s face and bending herself to him, was finally standing at the same level.
A relationship where one side felt indebted to the other and clung to them or was always looking at their face.
Someone might like that, but Shiwoo didn’t.
That couldn’t be called a healthy relationship.
Shiwoo leaned his upper body slightly toward the counter while they were joking around.
The curtains were drawn, and as long as no customers suddenly came in, there shouldn’t be any problems.
“Assistant! W-what if someone sees us?”
“Are you embarrassed?”
“Who’s embarrassed?”
“Amelia, who is clearly making an embarrassed face.”
Just as their lips were about to touch naturally.
-Ting!
A cheerful bell sound and a badly timed customer appeared.
And as if she had some kind of ill will, the door opened as if it would break.
“Sorry, did I come too early?”
Dark green hair and refreshing mint-colored eyes.
It was Sharon, dressed up to the nines, not in her usual casual clothes.
Amelia, who had become a startled rabbit, and Sharon, who was staring intently at her.
A strange tension began to swirl between the two.
