Chapter 44

Everyone's favorite (or so they say) Leone-nee is here! ←

Thanks to being featured in "Today's Book," it quietly made it to 7th place in the genre's daily rankings.

Yay, yay. Thank you so much!

"Nice to meet you."

"Welcome."

Leopold, the queen of the scene, smiled at Yūri, who bowed his head. Those who know that he gets angry if not called Leone call him by that name. The only ones who continue to call him Leopold are Ali and Brook.

This is the workshop attached to the back of the perfume shop, *Seven-Colored Droplets*, which Leopold runs. The second floor of the shop is his living space, and he lives there. He also performs the perfumery for the perfumes he sells in the shop and those he takes as custom orders in this workshop. Not many people are allowed to enter here. Yūri is allowed because he is here as an apprentice today.

A few days ago, Yūri spent a day in Bright's workshop to get used to the blacksmithing skill. Thanks to that, he got used to the skill and somewhat understood the meaning of blacksmithing in this world. Today, under Leopold's guidance, he is going to try using the alchemy skill.

If blacksmithing is the basic skill for making things, alchemy can be considered the basic skill for mixing liquids and powders. Among the derivatives of alchemy are perfumery, which Leopold excels at, and the pharmacy, which he used to work in. In extreme cases, if the materials are liquid or powder, the alchemy skill comes into play.

"So, today we'll practice alchemy."

"Yes."

"Yūri, have you ever done perfumery before?"

"I haven't made perfumes, but I've helped make things like essential oils, shampoos, and soaps."

"Oh, you've done quite a lot."

"Because my family liked it."

He smiled innocently, but normally, a high school boy wouldn't make such things. He used to make them with his mother and sister when they were into natural, homemade products. However, that was only possible in modern Japan, where materials and tools were readily available, and they could easily make them by following online instructions. In this different world, Yūri thinks it would be impossible to recreate them. The materials wouldn't be available.

"Well, today, think of it as making scented water rather than perfume. I don't intend to have a novice do perfumery."

"I understand. I was just told to try using the skill."

"You have the alchemy skill, yet you're pushing it onto me... That's so like Ali..."

Leopold sighed, but his face was relaxed. His words sounded exasperated, but his expression was very gentle. Yūri, who had been wondering about something, decided to ask.

"Leone, how did you and Ali meet?"

"Oh, you haven't heard anything?"

"No."

Leopold was surprised at Yūri's honest nod. "That idiot hasn't said anything, huh?" His tone was harsh, but his atmosphere, voice, and everything else were very soft, even affectionate.

Leopold chuckled and arranged the water jug and small bottles containing the perfume ingredients on the table. As he moved his hands, he spoke cheerfully.

"Long ago, I was an adventurer with Ali and Brook."

"Really? Leone, you were an adventurer?"

"Yes. Back then, I was a pharmacist, gathering materials and making recovery potions to distribute to my companions or sell. Brook was the front-liner, and Ali was the scout."

"Leone, you were amazing."

"Hehe, I was just decent as an adventurer."

Yūri smiled, his doubts cleared. The reason for Ali's blunt attitude towards Leopold and their seemingly unlikely but close relationship was now clear.

"So, Leone, you were also a member of *Crimson Lynx*?"

"No, Yūri. We formed a party before Ali and Brook joined *Crimson Lynx*."

"Huh?"

"Ali lost an eye and had to step down from the front lines. So, I decided to open the perfume shop I had always wanted to, and Ali was invited by the previous leader of *Crimson Lynx* to join, and Brook followed."

So, to the clan, I'm just an outsider, Leopold smiled. His unique position was something he enjoyed, as his words clearly showed. Yūri, thinking that this explained why they were close, felt it was a natural conclusion. He's not the type to worry much about others' pasts.

Following Leopold's instructions, Yūri began to check the scents of the small bottles containing the ingredients. The natural scents were gentle and pleasant. Occasionally, he frowned at some strange scents, which Leopold explained were to repel monsters. The scents that monsters dislike are not necessarily unpleasant to humans, but they were new to Yūri.

In simple terms, it's a mix of various good scents, stopping just short of being overwhelming. Yūri thought it would be incredibly difficult to make. He wasn't wrong. In the capital, only Leopold can make monster-repelling perfumes, based on his knowledge and experience as a former adventurer, which other craftsmen can't replicate.

"Done!"

"...You really are exceptional, aren't you?"

"Huh?"

Leopold looked genuinely amazed at the small bowl Yūri presented with a casual "pa-ka-pa!" The task was simple: mix the scent into the water to create a pleasant smell. Creating a specific scent by mixing the ingredients is difficult, which is why he made it a simple scented water. However, Yūri somehow managed to reach the acceptable level quite easily. His alchemy skill being at level 50 was probably the reason. It was the same pattern as with blacksmithing. Yūri, being exceptional in everything, didn't realize it was abnormal. To others, he was a prodigy.

...It's a waste of such high specs, no matter how you look at it.

Leopold was at a loss, as the lesson ended so quickly. But being the forward and strong queen she is, she quickly decided not to worry about it. Watching Yūri happily mix the water and scents, Leopold noticed his roughened fingertips. Yūri, who handles cooking, cleaning, and laundry, inevitably has rough hands.

"Yūri, use this."

"What is this?"

"It's hand cream. Your fingertips are rough from all the water work. You need to take care of them or they'll get damaged."

"Wow, thank you. When I go to the pharmacy, they only have recovery potions and medicines for injuries, not hand creams..."

"That's right. They're not really sold in stores."

Because they don't make much money, Leopold said bluntly. When Yūri tilted his head, Leopold explained. These kinds of ointments are usually passed down in families. Each family has its own recipe. Yūri, thinking of homemade miso or a grandmother's aloe, wasn't wrong. It's similar.

"...But, since Leone makes it, this hand cream must be really good, right?"

"Of course. I don't compromise on things I use. When I give samples to customers, they love it."

"Why don't you sell it?"

"Yūri, everyone makes their own hand cream, so they don't buy it much."

"No, add a scent."

Leopold was taken aback by Yūri's casual suggestion. For a moment, his male side showed, and his voice dropped a bit, but Yūri didn't notice. He thought it would be rude to point out a queen or a new half's accidental slip. So, Yūri pretended not to notice. He usually doesn't read the room, but he can be considerate.

"Yūri, what did you just say?"

"Um, I mean, when making hand cream, add scents. It could be a good advertisement for your shop..."

"Oh my, why do you always come up with such amazing ideas!"

"Wha!?"

Yūri, who was suddenly hugged and pressed against Leopold's surprisingly strong chest, let out a silly sound. But Leopold, overwhelmed with emotion, didn't notice. He kept hugging Yūri, saying "amazing, amazing." Yūri, finding it hard to breathe, patted Leopold's legs. It seemed to work, and he was released.

"Sorry, I got a bit carried away."

"It's okay... So, um..."

"Of course, I'll try making it. Scented hand cream. It might attract more customers who like my perfumes."

"Please let me know when it's done. I'll come to buy it."

"Of course, I'll give you the samples, including the test ones."

Leopold smiled, and Yūri, surprised, thought, "Of course?" He remembered getting the aromatherapy pendant in a similar way. The scented hand cream would probably be the same. While it might be modest to decline, Yūri, who often received food from older people, simply thanked her. He was genuinely happy.

Later, the scented hand cream, which didn't exist before, became a popular luxury item among women.

Thinking about the scented hand cream as a small luxury...

Leone knows that talking to Yūri often leads to new ideas.

Queens and gentle boys get along well. Yes.

I look forward to your comments and feedback.