59) City of Rosemade
...
{3rd Pov}
After several days of continuous travel, their wagon finally reached Rosemade, a city well known for its perfume production.
The region was famous for cultivating a wide variety of flowers, especially dozens of unique types of roses, which is exactly how the city had earned its name.
Rosemade was a border city of the Empire, meaning that security checks were present but comparatively more relaxed than those in the inner regions of the Empire.
Like most Imperial cities, it was governed by a noble who oversaw administration along with a group of appointed officials handling daily affairs.
Naturally, there was also a Guild branch present in the city, as was standard for any major town or settlement.
Their wagon rolled steadily toward the main entrance and passed through the gates without encountering any major issues.
The guards performed only a routine inspection before allowing them inside, likely due to the lighter regulations applied to border regions.
The moment they entered the city, a distinct fragrance filled the air.
The scent of countless flowers which were sweet, fresh, and layered spread through the surroundings, carried gently by the wind.
It was unlike anything one would normally experience on the road.
Athena took a slow, deep breath, clearly enjoying the atmosphere.
“It has been a while since I last smelled such unique floral scents,” she said casually.
Of course, for Athena, that “while” likely referred not to days or months, but to decades or perhaps even hundreds of years.
“Indeed… the scent of this place, combined with the weather, almost makes me want to play a song,” Ember said as he looked around at the calm and pleasant surroundings of the city.
His eyes moved from one side of the street to the other.
Shops were lined up neatly along the road, each one displaying a variety of perfumes, oils, and dried herbs.
Some stalls had small glass bottles arranged carefully, while others showcased bundles of fragrant plants hanging from wooden racks.
The entire place felt peaceful, and refreshing compared to the harsh environments he had recently endured.
Merina glanced around as well before speaking.
“Altena imports a large portion of its perfumes and herbal materials for soaps from this city,” she explained.
Then she turned her gaze toward Athena and let out a quiet sigh.
“I wish we had a place like this back in our nation.”
Hearing that, Athena’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
It wasn’t that she hadn’t considered such developments before.
But in the end, her time and focus were limited.
Even for a Goddess of Wisdom, there were only so many things she could handle at once without becoming overwhelmed.
Unlike in Tenkai, where she existed as a divine being with vast power and awareness, here in Genkai she was bound to a mortal vessel.
Her divine abilities were sealed, forcing her to experience the world just as mortals did.
That meant dealing with hunger, thirst, fatigue, and even sickness.
Of course… there were still some exceptions to mortal limitations like she was free of excreting any waste unlike normal mortals.
Ahem.
Thus, she could no longer multitask at the level she once did back in Tenkai.
In the end, Athena had made a practical decision it simply wasn’t worth investing her limited time and energy into creating luxury industries like perfume production when more critical matters demanded her attention.
Instead, she chose to focus on strengthening her nation and securing its basic necessities such as the food supply, clean water, sanitation, and overall stability.
Even now, due to the constant threat of monster herds, most of her plans had been redirected.
Rather than expanding comfort or leisure, her efforts were concentrated on improving the livability of cities and reinforcing their defenses.
Extra comforts were a luxury they simply could not afford at the moment.
Unlike the Empire, which was the largest nation in Genkai and benefited from favorable geography, Altena constantly had to prioritize survival and security over indulgence.
“Hmph! Forget this party pooper,” Athena said, clearly dismissing the serious topic.
Then she turned toward Ember with a bright expression.
“Tet, why don’t we go explore this place a bit?”
She deliberately used his nickname.
Even the casual term “bro” had to be used carefully in public, as such word could easily reveal her identity as a god, since only Gods used such terms in excess.
Athena wasn’t careless, despite her behavior, she was still the Goddess of Wisdom.
Merina’s eyebrows twitched as she shot Athena a sharp glare.
However, Athena remained completely unfazed.
She simply ignored Merina as if her reaction didn’t even exist.
In her mind, the best way to deal with such resistance was simple, ignore it and move forward and before Merina could properly react or stop them, both Ember and Athena had already slipped out of the wagon, blending into the streets as they began exploring the city on their own.
‘Damn it?! What was even the point of me coming along if I can’t properly guard Lady Athena?!’ Merina thought in frustration, her grip tightening over the reins as she watched the two of them disappear into the crowd.
Her irritation was completely justified.
She had joined this journey specifically to ensure Athena’s safety, especially outside Altena where unknown risks existed.
Yet now, the very person she was supposed to protect had casually slipped away without informing her, dragging Ember along as well.
However, despite how much she wanted to chase after them immediately, she couldn’t.
She still had responsibilities to handle.
Merina forced herself to calm down, taking a deep breath as she looked at the wagon she was driving.
Leaving it unattended in the middle of the street would only create unnecessary trouble and attract attention.
They were supposed to be traveling under the disguise of ordinary merchants.
That meant they had to act like merchants.
And part of that role included actually purchasing goods specifically floral perfumes and herbs from Rosemade.
The wagon was not just for show; it was necessary for both transportation and maintaining their cover.
If she abandoned it now, it would only create suspicion.
Clicking her tongue in annoyance, Merina redirected the wagon toward a proper parking area, deciding to secure everything as quickly as possible before going after the two reckless individuals.
Even so, the situation left her deeply dissatisfied.
Out of all the roles she could have been given on this journey, she had somehow ended up doing the most mundane task parking and managing the wagon while the Goddess she was supposed to protect wandered off freely.
‘This is ridiculous…’ she muttered internally.
…
Meanwhile, completely unaware or perhaps simply unconcerned about Merina’s frustration, Athena was already dragging Ember through the lively streets of Rosemade.
“Tet! Come on, let’s explore!” she said enthusiastically, grabbing onto his sleeve and pulling him forward without hesitation.
Her excitement was obvious.
She moved with energy, looking around at everything with bright curiosity, as if she were experiencing the city for the very first time.
In a way, she was at least in this form, in this world, with her current limitations.
Ember, on the other hand, followed along while observing the surroundings more calmly.
He was curious as well.
The city was undeniably beautiful.
The scent of flowers lingered everywhere, and the variety of shops, people, and products gave the place a unique charm.
However, unlike Athena, he didn’t show that excitement outwardly.
His expression remained relatively composed, though his eyes subtly scanned everything around him, taking in details one by one.
Compared to Athena’s open enthusiasm, Ember’s curiosity was quieter.
Finally, Ember came to a stop in front of a perfume shop.
The moment he paused, his enhanced senses were overwhelmed.
A wide variety of scents rushed into his nose all at once which were sweet, sharp, floral, and layered in ways he couldn’t immediately process.
It felt almost overwhelming, as if his senses were being bombarded from every direction.
The mixture of fragrances created a strange yet pleasant sensation, something close to a subtle euphoria that spread through his mind.
As an Elf, Ember was already naturally more sensitive to scents, especially those derived from flowers.
But with his Falna enhancing his physical abilities including his sense of smell by several times over, that sensitivity had reached an entirely different level.
What would have been a pleasant fragrance to others felt almost intoxicating to him.
He unconsciously took a deeper breath, before taking another one as if he was being addicted.
“Art… why don’t we check out this shop?” Ember said, a faint blush forming on his face without him even realizing it.
Athena immediately noticed it.
More specifically, she noticed the slight redness at the tips of his ears a clear sign for someone observant enough.
She understood the situation instantly.
Suppressing a laugh, she let out a small giggle.
“Sure,” she said casually, her tone light.
“I’ll pick out some perfumes for myself as well.”
With that, the two of them stepped inside the shop together.
As they entered, they were greeted by an elderly woman standing behind the counter.
“Welcome to Rosemary Perfume Shop,” she said politely.
“How may I help you?”
Ember gave a small nod before speaking.
“We’re here to buy some perfumes,” he said, glancing around the shelves.
His gaze moved across several bottles before stopping at one particular spot.
“I smelled something that stood out… Ah, yes. That one.”
He pointed toward an open bottle placed as a test sample.
The old woman followed his gesture and nodded knowingly.
“That is Arasio perfume,” she said.
“It is one of our specialties.”
As she spoke, her eyes briefly shifted toward Ember’s ears.
The elongated shape made it obvious.
‘An elf,’ she realized immediately.
A faint understanding appeared in her expression.
‘No wonder he was drawn to that one,’ she thought.
‘That fragrance is especially appealing to elves.’
“Hm… why don’t we test it?” Athena said as she stepped forward without hesitation.
Before Ember could say anything, she picked up the bottle he had pointed at and lightly sprayed a small amount onto her wrist.
Bringing it closer to her nose, she inhaled slowly.
The effect was quick for a brief moment, it felt as if she had been transported somewhere else entirely.
In her mind, she found herself standing in the middle of a dense, vibrant jungle.
The air felt fresh, filled with the scent of wildflowers, damp soil, and green leaves.
It was both calming and stimulating at the same time a strange mix that made her feel relaxed yet aware.
“It’s… quite nice,” she muttered, clearly intrigued.
The old woman behind the counter smiled faintly, as if she had expected that reaction.
“We also have other varieties,” she said with a knowing expression.
Then she reached for another bottle and handed it to Athena.
“Miss, why don’t you try this one as well?”
Athena didn’t hesitate.
She sprayed the second perfume onto her other arm and brought it closer to smell.
This time, the sensation was completely different.
Instead of greenery, her mind was filled with the image of a vast desert.
Dry heat lingered in the air, yet there was something else, a subtle shift, a change in atmosphere.
Then came the scent of rain approaching, that unique smell of wet earth before the first drop even falls.
The contrast was intense.
It felt refreshing, almost energizing.
Athena blinked slightly, clearly impressed.
“This one feels… lively,” she commented.
Meanwhile, Ember had stepped slightly aside, observing the shelves filled with different perfumes.
Thanks to his heightened senses, he didn’t even need to pick up the bottles.
He could distinguish their scents from a distance.
Each one carried a different tone some sweet, some sharp, some calming, some almost stimulating.
The variety was overwhelming, yet strangely organized.
As he focused, something felt off.
Or rather… something felt too strange.
‘How can someone mix so many different feelings into just perfumes?’ Ember thought, narrowing his eyes slightly.
To him, it didn’t make complete sense.
Even with his enhanced senses, this felt beyond normal craftsmanship.
‘Was my sense of smell in my past life just completely useless… or is this just how things work in a fantasy world?’
The thought lingered in his mind.
Because no matter how he looked at it, this level of sensory manipulation through simple fragrance felt borderline ridiculous.
“Hehe… our specialty lies in crafting these unique perfumes,” the old woman said with clear pride in her voice.
“They are especially appreciated by those with a strong sense of smell, such as adventurers or certain races.”
She straightened slightly as she continued.
“In fact, this is the oldest perfume shop in the entire city. The newer shops mostly sell lighter fragrances meant to simply mask unpleasant odors. But our perfumes are different they are deeper, more layered, and far more alluring.”
Her tone carried a hint of arrogance, but also confidence.
Athena listened carefully being a goddess, even in her sealed state, she could easily tell that the old woman was not lying.
There was truth in her words, even if the way she presented them sounded somewhat boastful.
Still, one detail stood out despite her claims, the shop was completely empty aside from them.
Compared to the bustling stores outside, this place seemed almost forgotten.
Athena noticed it, but she didn’t dwell on it.
She had no intention of involving herself in something like reviving an old business or playing the role of a typical helpful protagonist.
That wasn’t why she was here.
‘Sorry, granny,’ Athena thought casually.
‘I’m sure some other protagonist will come along and save your shop someday.’
Her thoughts immediately shifted.
‘I have more important things to focus on… like getting closer to Tet.’
Her expression, however, remained perfectly normal.
Meanwhile, Ember continued examining the perfumes with genuine interest, occasionally picking out a few that caught his attention.
Athena joined him, selecting several bottles for herself as well.
Before long, they had gathered a considerable number of perfumes.
When the old woman calculated the total, the price was predictably high, extremely high by normal standards.
However, neither of them reacted much to it.
For Ember, it wasn’t a problem.
He was an upper-level adventurer with a decent amount of funds saved up.
Spending on a few luxury items like this was well within his means.
As for Athena…Money was never an issue.
She was the ruler of an entire nation.
If she truly wanted to, she could probably buy the entire city of Rosemade without much difficulty though it would naturally strain her treasury for a year or so.
So the only limitation they had right now wasn’t wealth itself, but rather how much money they had brought along on this particular journey.
After completing the purchase and collecting their items, the two of them stepped out of the shop.
It was at that moment they ran into Merina.
“Mary, perfect timing!” Athena said the moment she spotted Merina.
She walked up to her with a bright smile and immediately handed over a bag filled with perfume bottles.
“We just bought some perfumes and were wondering where to keep them.”
Merina looked down at the bag, then slowly raised her gaze toward Athena.
Her expression darkened.
“Miss Art… this is ridiculous,” she said flatly, her tone filled with clear frustration.
“I am definitely not here to act as your courier.”
She shifted the bag slightly in her hand and glanced toward Ember.
“I am quite certain Tet is perfectly capable of carrying these himself.”
Her words were direct, and her irritation was obvious.
However, Athena didn’t even respond to that.
Instead, she casually reached out, grabbed Ember’s hand again, and in the very next moment she dashed away completely ignoring Merina.
Her reasoning was simple.
Making Tet carry bags during shopping? Absolutely not.
In Athena’s mind, there was an unspoken, universal law men always got tired during shopping, especially when forced to carry things.
If she made Ember handle the bags, it would ruin the atmosphere she was trying to build.
And more importantly, it would interfere with her “plans.”
Of course…
She had no idea that Ember was built different.
Ahem.
“Wait a minute!” Merina shouted, her composure finally breaking as she watched them disappear into the crowd once again.
“You cannot just do this!”
She stood there for a moment, completely stunned.
“Ughhh…!”
This was the second time.
She had been ditched again.
Technically, she could have chased after them immediately.
With her level of strength and speed, catching up would have been effortless.
But there was a problem.
She glanced down at the bag in her hand.
The perfume bottles inside were clearly fragile.
Judging by the quality and the pricing she had overheard earlier, they were also extremely expensive and most likely purchased for personal use rather than trade.
If she ran carelessly and broke even one of them, it would only create more trouble.
Clicking her tongue in annoyance, Merina tightened her grip on the bag.
“They better not push their luck too far…” she muttered under her breath.
And just like that, she was once again left behind holding their belongings while the other two wandered off freely.
Meanwhile, far away from the crowded street, Athena finally slowed down and came to a stop.
She bent slightly forward, placing her hands on her knees as she caught her breath, and then burst into laughter.
“Haha… we got rid of her again!” she said between breaths, clearly amused by what she had just done.
Ember stood beside her, completely speechless.
He didn’t even know how to react anymore.
At this point, he could already imagine what kind of reprimanding they were going to receive once they returned to Merina.
Considering her temper and how seriously she took her responsibilities, there was no way she was going to let this go easily.
But that wasn’t the only thing bothering him.
Athena’s behavior it was becoming increasingly strange.
Before he could say anything, Athena once again locked her arm with his and pulled him forward, dragging him along without hesitation as she led him toward a nearby flower field.
Ember allowed himself to be pulled along, but internally he was far from calm.
‘Does this virgin goddess even realize what she’s doing…?’ he complained inwardly.
This was no longer something that could be brushed off as casual friendliness.
She was crossing boundaries clearly.
The more Athena tried to get physically closer to him, the more uncomfortable Ember felt.
Not because he disliked her, but because her actions didn’t match the relationship he believed they had.
To him, it felt like she was acting as if she liked him romantically and that made no sense.
He still couldn’t accept that possibility.
Even with Aurora, things had been completely different.
It had taken years, actual years before she had come to terms with her feelings for him.
So how could Athena…?
A goddess who had lived for millions of years…
One of the strongest virgin goddesses in all of Heaven…
The literal Goddess of Wisdom…Fall in love with a man she had only known for a few months?
It didn’t add up.
It wasn’t logical and Ember relied heavily on logic.
So he kept repeating the same conclusion to himself.
‘It’s impossible.’
‘It’s just her personality.’
‘She’s just being… weird.’
Before he could continue that train of thought, Athena finally stopped walking.
Ember instinctively paused as well.
They had reached the flower field.
The moment he stood there, his senses were overwhelmed again but this time in a different way.
A vast aroma of flowers spread through the air, far richer and more natural than the concentrated scents inside the perfume shop.
It wasn’t overwhelming, it was expansive, layered, and calming at the same time.
Then he looked ahead and for a brief moment, he froze.
In front of him stretched a massive field filled with flowers tens of thousands of them, spreading as far as his eyes could see.
Different colors blended together naturally, creating a wide and vivid landscape that felt almost unreal.
The sheer scale of it caught him off guard.
Even someone like Ember, who had lived in Alf’s Forest and was used to nature, couldn’t help but feel a slight sense of awe at the sight.
“It’s… beautiful,” Ember said, his voice carrying a mix of awe and surprise as he looked at the vast field in front of him.
Even after everything he had seen in Alf’s Forest, the sight still managed to impress him.
Athena, meanwhile, stepped forward, finally letting go of his hand.
She moved a few steps ahead and then turned around to face him, walking backward with a bright and carefree expression on her face.
She stretched her arms out slightly, brushing her fingers gently across the tops of the flowers as she moved.
Petals bent under her touch and swayed back into place as she passed, the motion natural and unforced.
There was genuine happiness on her face.
Not the exaggerated kind she sometimes showed, but something simpler, more real.
Then she stopped and looked directly at Ember.
“Why don’t we make ourselves flower tiaras?” she asked with a soft smile.
For a brief moment Ember’s thoughts paused.
‘She is… beautiful.’
The thought appeared in his mind without warning.
It was simple, direct, and completely unfiltered.
But almost immediately, he snapped himself out of it.
‘Yes, she is beautiful… but she’s my bro,’ he corrected himself internally.
‘Don’t forget, Ember. She’s a virgin goddess.’
He forced his expression back to normal, mentally reinforcing that conclusion as if repeating it would make it more real.
If anything, he deliberately increased his mental “density” to an absurd level something that would probably put Bell Cranel to shame just to block any unnecessary thoughts.
(A/N: Ember didn't need to be better than OG Mc in everyway, Fr! Fr!)
“I guess so, Art,” he said, keeping his tone casual.
Then his gaze shifted slightly across the field.
“But I doubt the owner would be happy about that,” he added, pointing out the obvious concern.
Athena immediately grinned.
“Hehe… this place is public property,” she replied without hesitation.
“There shouldn’t be any problem if we just take a few flowers for our tiaras.”
Her tone carried a certain confidence.
Too much confidence to be true.
Ember paused for a moment, narrowing his eyes slightly as he looked at her.
That answer had come too quickly and too naturally.
It didn’t feel like a random guess.
It felt like she already knew and that realization brought a new question to his mind.
Had she planned this?
The route… the stops… the timing… even bringing him here specifically?
Was this simply the foresight and calculation of the Goddess of Wisdom?
Or was there something more behind it?
Finally, with a quiet sigh, Ember stepped into the flower field.
As he walked forward, his palms brushed lightly against the tops of the flowers.
The soft petals bent under his touch and swayed back gently, while the natural fragrance filled the air around him.
The scent wasn’t sharp like the perfumes from earlier it was smoother, more natural, almost like a calm lullaby created by nature itself.
It slowly relaxed his mind.
For a brief moment, he simply enjoyed the feeling.
Then, a small smile formed on his face.
“Very well, Art,” he said, turning slightly toward her.
“Get ready to witness the power of an elf over nature.”
There was a hint of confidence in his tone.
Athena raised an eyebrow and smirked immediately.
“Oh? Is that so?” she replied, clearly amused.
“Do you really think you can make a better tiara than me?”
Ember’s grin widened.
“There’s only one way to find out.”
And with that, he moved.
In an instant, Ember dashed forward, his movements quick and precise as he began picking flowers.
His hands moved efficiently, selecting colors and shapes without hesitation, almost as if he already had a clear design in mind.
Athena blinked for a split second before realizing what he was doing.
Then she immediately followed.
Without wasting any time, she began gathering flowers as well, her movements less refined but filled with enthusiasm.
She carefully picked different varieties, occasionally pausing to inspect them before adding them to her collection.
Soon, the two of them were moving across the field, both focused on collecting the most suitable flowers.
It almost turned into a silent competition.
Ember relied on speed, precision, and instinct.
Athena relied on creativity, observation, and determination.
But in the end, there was a clear difference.
Athena, despite being a goddess, was currently in a mortal body.
Ember, on the other hand, was an adventurer.
The gap in physical ability was obvious.
Before long, Ember had already finished assembling his flower tiara.
Athena noticed it but she didn’t stop.
Instead, she worked even faster, refusing to fall behind.
With a focused expression, she quickly arranged the flowers she had gathered and completed her own tiara as well.
When both of them finally stopped and looked at each other’s work they froze.
The two tiaras were almost identical.
The arrangement, the selection of flowers, even the overall design it was nearly the same.
“Damn… this is crazy,” Ember said, clearly surprised.
“I didn’t expect us to end up making identical tiaras.”
Athena giggled softly.
“Me neither,” she lied straight through her teeth.
Then, without warning, she stepped closer.
Ember barely had time to react before she leaned toward him, closing the distance between them.
She moved near his ear and spoke in a low, playful voice.
“But I guess… that’s just how it is between me and my bro.”
Before he could process that she gently nibbled on the tip of his ear.
“—!”
Ember let out a startled yelp, his entire body reacting instantly as he jumped back several meters away in a single motion.
“What the hell was that?!” he exclaimed, completely caught off guard.
“Haha! Look at you!” Athena laughed openly, clearly enjoying his reaction.
“I guess ears really are your weak spot, just like every other elf.”
Ember shot her an annoyed look, still slightly on edge from what had just happened.
“Of course they are, duh,” he replied, rolling his eyes.
Then his tone turned more serious.
“And Art, if you keep doing that, I’m going to sue you for sexual harassment and assault.”
Athena didn’t look the least bit intimidated.
In fact, her grin widened.
“Really?” she said, tilting her head slightly.
“If that’s the case… then maybe I should just go all the way and assault you properly if I’m going to hell anyway.”
Ember stared at her for a moment, completely speechless at her shameless response.
Then he sighed and without saying anything further, he pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped his elongated ear, still feeling a lingering sensitivity from where she had nibbled.
“This woman…” he muttered under his breath.
Meanwhile, at a distance Merina had been observing everything.
Her sharp eyes didn’t miss a single detail.
From Athena’s closeness… to the way she spoke… and finally, that action.
Kissing or even nibbling an elf’s ears was not something done casually.
It carried meaning.
It was a gesture reserved for those who were close on a deeper level either family… or someone bound by romantic affection, of course for Ember who left his nest before even his family thought of teaching him romantic matters or who didn't put much detail into every custom he was unaware of this, something that was ironic considering he was a damn High-Elf.
Merina’s expression hardened slightly as her earlier doubts disappeared.
‘There is no doubt anymore…’ she thought, her gaze fixed on the two of them.
‘The Goddess… is in love with that boy.’
The realization settled heavily in her mind.
What she had suspected earlier was now confirmed beyond question.
And yet Ember himself remained completely unaware of the true extent of Athena’s feelings.
To him, this was still just strange behavior from an overly clingy goddess.
Nothing more, Nothing Less...for now.
To be continued…