“At that time, I investigated the perfume. Although I couldn’t find out everything because it was made with special methods and contained various ingredients, I confirmed that it was a scent designed to make hypnosis easier.”

When the story about Rufilmo came up, memories of the inexplicable buzzing sounds and the perfume that made me distant flooded back.

The perfume that made hypnosis easier, even though the ingredients and the method of making it were not fully understood.

I couldn’t help but feel uneasy, recalling the time when I barely maintained my sanity after injuring my palm. It was a memory that was amusing but not pleasant enough to want to experience again.

Unintentionally, my expression became serious, and Askan, noticing that, gently covered my face with his large hands.

“Don’t worry. I haven’t figured out how to make this perfume and how it can hypnotize, but I’ve found a way to counteract it.”
“Countermeasure?” Askan nodded and pointed to the perfume bottle he had presented a little while ago. “Get used to this scent. Then you won’t be affected by the perfume Viscount Manoco uses.”

“Ah…” I looked at the perfume bottle with a renewed gaze. Askan’s explanation was short, but I instantly understood what he was saying. It was like gradually eating poisonous herbs to build immunity. Preventing the phenomenon of becoming mentally hazy by smelling the fragrance in advance.

The perfume Askan gave me seemed to be a scent that could enhance immunity to avoid falling under hypnosis.

“When did you make something like this? It’s truly an unexpected gift.”

As I looked at him with a bright face, he seemed satisfied.

“I can’t guarantee that the Manoco family will give up on you just because you rejected the Emperor’s proposal. I can’t help worrying about a situation where I’m not around, even if it’s unlikely.”

“Thank you. I’ll use it well.”

I cherished the perfume bottle that Askan had given me as a gift. But suddenly, a thought crossed my mind, and I looked at him again.

“What about you? Don’t you need to get accustomed to the scent in advance too?”

“I’m okay. You saw that I wasn’t affected by the scent Andro sprayed last time. I don’t know exactly when it started, but I haven’t been influenced by such things.”

“I see.”

I felt relieved again.

Askan might not know, but I learned back then that what Andro sprayed was a tranquilizer.

Although the tranquilizer and the hypnosis scent were different, I couldn’t be sure what kind of immunity Askan had developed during his experimental life since childhood.

“In fact, I got the idea for this perfume from the Emperor. After joining hands with the Manoco family, the first thing the Emperor received from them was an unidentified fragrance.”

Come to think of it, Helcyon also needed some countermeasure to avoid Manoco family’s hypnosis.

Helcyon had a meticulous personality, so he might have been building immunity to the hypnosis scent from an early age.

Askan casually mentioned it, but noticing such a fact was impressive. It was remarkable that he sharply discerned something that could be easily overlooked.

“Thanks to you, I’m no longer afraid of the Manoco family. But did you come all the way to the workshop to give me perfume?”

“I told you. I came to see you.”

“But the perfume…”

“I was planning to give it to you when I met you, but it’s not the only reason I came. I just regained my senses and found myself here.”

It was more touching than any other words. The fact that he came just because he wanted to see me without any particular reason was why it felt so heartwarming.

“Have you… eaten?”

Askan faintly smiled in response to my question and lowered his head. “No. Even if I ate, I would say I haven’t.”

“Where did you hear such a thing?”

“You invited me to have dinner together, didn’t you? So I’m saying I haven’t eaten.”
It would have been fine to simply answer that you didn’t eat, but the way he expressed it so sweetly seemed to indicate that he understood women’s hearts well. I playfully remarked to Askan, “What’s up with being so smooth?”

“Why not? I’m currently contemplating how to receive compliments from you,” he replied with a mischievous expression.

“You don’t have to make that kind of effort; you’re already stunning.”

“Really?”

Seeing Askan sincerely close his eyes as if pleased, I couldn’t help but feel uplifted.

I knew that no matter how much I cared, it wouldn’t change the situation with the interrupted communication from Orland. However, thanks to Askan, I could clear my mind of the lingering worries.

“Alright, I’m in a good mood. I’ll treat you to something delicious for dinner tonight.”

Askan looked at me with surprise, then responded with a playful expression, “We should go for something expensive.”

“Of course. Feel free to choose.”

The profits earned from the magical engineering weapons I had collected so far were considerable. I had saved money for days like today.