Chapter 26 – Scent Party

Doug’s voice was heard in the rattling wagon.

“I can see Antsy.”

Ed opened his eyes. Arin, who was sleeping on his shoulder, woke up and turned her head while wiping her mouth.

“You awake?”

Ed looked out the window of the wagon. The long wall caught his eye, and he could see the sun was going down.

“It’s been a while.” “But I’m glad we arrived before sunset. No matter how much Nefthael wants to disturb your night sleep, it’s hard to send beast or demons beyond the walls, so we can relax today.” “So I guess we don’t need to go back to sleep. Let’s go visit the Grant Elder first.” “I don’t think that’s necessary. The Grant Elder and his third wife entered their castle today.”

He knew they were getting information, but he was wondering how they found out about the carriage heading for Antsy. He thought it would be hard to meet him right now if they were in the Castle. With Ed’s ability now, he can kill the Grant Elder behind everyone’s back. No, if he was determined, he can kill the Grant Elder and all those who try to stop him. But he might be wanted for the rest of his life. If the Grant Elder is killed, the kingdom will pay a bounty and chase him until he dies, but it is possible for Ed to survive if he accepts the hassle. However, he wasn’t that bad to break the laws of this world. Thane said with a smile.

“So let’s take a rest today. It’s not that we can’t enter Castle for good. But since the nobles will hold a banquet today, shouldn’t we stay low?” “That’s right.”

He knew enough about the nobles now. They are people that needed to be avoided.

“The city of Antsy is so powerful and is run by the Grant Elder. They mainly produce a lot of perfume, but they are good at making alcohol and cigarettes too. Among them, I like a drink called Pretian, which smells like a prean flower.”

Come to think of it, the city of Antsy is a place you don’t stop by during the demon’s Age 1, but there’s a drink called Pretian. Ed had a chance to try Pretian thanks to Thane. In fact, he rarely drank in real life. He only enjoyed champagne, but now that he was here, he doesn’t have many things to enjoy, so he was enjoying drinking. As Ed nodded, Arin said, warming up lightly.

“Then I’ll stop by the church and report on Nefthael’s work. Where do you think you’re going?” “Come to the place where the ‘sun never goes down’. It’s the tallest building in the city of Antsy, so it won’t be hard to find.” “I’ll do that.”

After passing through the gates of Antsy, Arin briefly left her party. They didn’t worry because they knew the ability she had. At least she won’t be in danger in the castle. Ed got off where the carriage and looked at the seven-story tower. He thought they put too much effort into making that tower.

“It’s a favorite place for aristocrats. Let’s go.”

Thane was right. It was different from normal inns. A woman in a maid’s uniform approached. The maid’s uniforms found in the Castle looked refined. Ed smiled at the maid’s short skirt because it reminded him of a Maid’s Cafe.

“The higher the floor, the more expensive it is.”

Then Thane walked up the stairs without hesitation. Ed followed him and did not look out the window until he reached the highest point. Over the wall, he saw the sunset leaning far into the field. A woman in a dress approached Thane on the seventh floor. It was a woman with a blue dress and a fan covering her mouth. The woman approached and held out her left hand to Thane. Thane kissed her left hand.

“Long time no see, Mrs. Grant.”

Green eyes and sharp ears. Is he married to a fairy? He said Grant had three wives. Ed guessed he was not an ordinary man.

“What brings you here? Did you find any sign of the demon?”

Mrs. Grant’s question only gave Thane a smile.

“I’m just looking for a trace. Mrs. Grant, you haven’t changed even after 16 years.” “I guess it’s because I have peace in my mind since I’m in a solo battle.”

Are you kidding me? Elves basically live a long life in their 20s. The setting is to grow fast and live more than 200 years with a 20-year-old body. It was ridiculous for her to make such a joke, but the woman’s eyes turned to Ed.

“When are you planning on introducing me to him?”

Thane introduced Ed.

“This is my friend named Ed. He’s so good that he’s called a demon hunter.”

Ed looked slightly down.

“I’m Ed.” “Nice to meet you. I’m Meryl Grant, the Grant Elder’s first wife.”

Ed stared blankly at Meryl’s greeting, sticking out his left hand. She’s not asking him to kiss her where Thane kissed her, is she?

“Stop fooling around.”

Meryl burst into a clear smile and offered him a seat.

“Sit comfortably.”

When Thane and Ed sat down by the window, Meryl sat down and gestured. An employee in a maid’s suit brought alcohol in a purple bottle. Thane was pleased to see it.

“A 17-year-old Pretian.” “We have a nice guest, so I must offer a nice drink.”

Meryl opened the cap of the bottle herself and the fragrant scent of flowers spread through the hall. It’s been a long time since he smelled something so nice. She filled the glass with alcohol and handed it to Ed, who savored the scent. It was a scent that conveys the thrill of a tingle. Meryl put down the glass and said.

“If you drink this and kiss someone, that person will get drunk on the scent.”

Ed was amazed to see her mouth smell like flowers. His mouth was smelling the same. Was she trying to make him drunk and smell like flowers? Ed held out more cups without saying a word, and Meryl smiled and filled them. He was also satisfied with emptying the glass without any side dishes. It was such a good alcohol that side dishes would interfere with the taste of alcohol. While Ed was sober, Thane touched the glass and asked.

“I heard the Grant Elder has a third wife now.”

Meryl burst into laughter.

“Your ears are still bright.” “What kind of woman is she?” “A woman with red hair and passion. Grant’s wife, who is well versed in perfume manufacturing. She rarely comes out because she is busy developing a new perfume.” “A new perfume?” “Yes, the new product was successful and Grant invited a local aristocrat to present the product.”

Ed put down his glass and stood up. When Meryl looked back at him, Ed raised his hand as if he was okay and said,

“I thought of something to do for a while.”

When Ed and Thane made eye contact, he nodded slowly and replied.

“I’ll be drinking here, so go do your business.” “Sure.”

Ed bowed to Meryl and left. Ed came out and looked at the castle. Perfume made by a suspected demon. And today the scent party. Something smelled. Ed headed straight for the Castle. Ed his silently into the shadows of the building on the street as the sunset set. Ed wore a black leather coat and ran without making a sound of footsteps, and leaned against the Castle wall, where people couldn’t see him. Ed was not easily seen hiding in the shadows. Ed looked briefly at the castle wall. Some of the lords live in large mansions, and others live in castles with separate walls. Usually, people living in castles are particularly demanding lords. Those who value pedigree and who don’t want other aristocrats constantly looking down on them.

Ed waited there for a moment, catching his breath. The sunset was long, but as it went completely westward, and there was a deep darkness. Ed climbed up the ground, put his finger on a stone protruding from the wall, and jumped up to the wall. Ed lowered his posture and looked around. Those who were patrolling with torches along the wall caught his eyes. Considering the distance from the torch, now was a good time to infiltrate. Ed did not hesitate to jump off the wall and pass the training ground. Then he listened with his back against the wall of the castle. The structure of castles are mostly similar. If the nobles were to be invited to an event, they would be in a banquet hall. Ed looked around the castle and began to find a place to look around the banquet hall. When Ed found an open window on the second floor, he jumped in and listened to the wall in the hallway. His senses were naturally rising as his levels rose. He could see farther away and hear smaller sounds. Ed, awakening his senses, found the most tumultuous place. When Ed heard a distant sound, he moved on. A two-story hallway overlooking the banquet hall was found, but a soldier was standing in front of it. Ed agonized for a moment and then rushed at him. All it takes is to jump out of the shadow of the corridor and reach the soldier. Ed reached him. He was already slapping the soldier on the chin as he turned his head. Ed opened the door and went in after hitting the soldier, whose jaw shook and eyes relaxed. Then, he hid him in the corner of the hallway without making a sound.

He was in the hallway on the second floor overlooking the banquet hall. Ed looked at those who were gathered there. They said they gathered the nobles, and the men were gathering on one side and smoking cigars with alcohol, and on one side, women were gathering and laughing and talking with their mouths covered with fans. The atmosphere was good to see. It looked like the scent party had started yet. Ed examined the state of alert. Standing at the entrance to the banquet hall were knights, and knights in armor stood behind the aristocracy in two. Even if they are a rural knight, 20 of them are gathered. Ed listened attentively to their stories. There must be Grant and his third wife among them. There was a man standing at the center of the story of men smoking cigars. A man named Grant. They said he had three wives, so Ed wondered what was special about him. But he was just a middle-aged man with a smiling face, and there was nothing particularly different. After identifying the Grant Elder, Ed turned to find Mrs. Grant, who was suspected of being a demon. Having remembered that she has red hair, Ed was able to quickly find her while looking at the place where the women gathered. The woman who is leading the story of the ladies with her hair up and her neckline exposed. Every little gesture and eye contact could be seen. A woman who attracts both men and women.

There is a name that comes to mind. Philia, the demon of fascination. An intermediate demon who fascinates people and extorts their vitality. But Ed wasn’t sure. When he was thinking about what to do, Grant got up from his seat and tapped the champagne glass lightly with a teaspoon. As everyone’s eyes were focused, Grant said with a smiling face.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lord Amet for lending me the banquet hall for the scenting of our new product, which will be released at the top of our list.”

Grant looked down at the man. An aristocrat called Lord Amet. Ed could tell by his face what an obstinate aristocrat he was. It is certainly a great thing that such a nobleman lent them the banquet hall.

“I’d like to introduce our guests to the ‘Preas’, which is made by concentrating the fragrance of the Prean flowers and a total of 36 flowers.”

Grant gestured and his third wife approached and stood next to him. At the entrance to the banquet hall, accompanied by two knights, the chief was carrying a small bottle of crystal on the tray. Inside, Ed looked at the amber liquid and thought for a moment. If she’s really a Philia demon and she’s made that perfume, she must have put something else in there too. If Ed couldn’t stop this scenting party, something bad was going to happen. Ed quietly prepared an arrow on his bow. It would have been nice to bring Arin, but even if he didn’t, he decided to trust his instincts. Ed looked at Mrs. Grant with his bow pulled to the full. Her eyes were on the perfume bottle. But she was also smoking cigars at the place where she was having a scenting party. Does it mean that the perfume is strong enough to overpower the scent of cigars? Or does she have an ulterior motive? Ed read Mrs. Grant’s lust in her eyes and fired an arrow at her just because of his gut feeling.