Tollu. Gazing upon the Latulle cave path, encircled by the city's well-built thick walls and the towering, sturdy watchtowers, it appears like a fortress that has guarded the kingdom's borders for ages.
The entrance to the Latulle cave piercing through the Norwan Mountains is bathed in lights that illuminate the night, and before the cave mouth lies a wide clearing transformed into a market lined with wagons and stalls. Shops selling a diverse array of goods catch the eye. The stalls are mostly set up with tents or wooden stands, welcoming customers.
Stalls abound with fresh fruits and vegetables, spices, handicrafts, and furniture. The wagons are spaced among the stalls, serving as cart‑borne stalls that greet patrons directly.
The booming voice of a Dawi merchant echoes vibrantly to draw in customers, making one forget the late hour as the market gleams brightly with lanterns, mana stones, torches, and more.
At the market's center stand a few small taverns and teahouses, where visitors can take a brief respite. Among these taverns, in one with a wide tent where a burly Dawi owner with gray fur-covered, thick hands serves drinks and dishes to patrons, sat Gravel's party along with Mau and Dallen.
"How about it, Gravel? Your thoughts on seeing the entrance to Latulle firsthand?"
Pointing toward the distant massive cave entrance with the tip of fully extended wings, Dallen asked Gravel.
"I imagined a cave just big enough for wagons to pass through, but I never expected it to be this enormous."
Turning his head to gaze at the distant entrance of the Latulle cave path, Gravel replied.
"Hehe! It's 400 cubits (200m) high and 300 cubits (150m) in diameter. Large enough for an army of giants to march through! But that size doesn't extend all the way to Aquiln on the western end. There are narrower sections and branching paths along the way."
"I see."
To aid the listeners' understanding, Dallen materialized a glowing ethereal hand to shape an image of the Latulle cave path traversing the mountains.
"You'll be in for even more surprises when you see it for yourselves tomorrow. By the way, the three of you haven't booked lodgings along the Latulle path, have you?"
"Lodgings? Ah... No, we haven't made any reservations..."
"Hmm... Well, since you mentioned this is your first time, that makes sense. If you'd like, how about staying at the place Mau and I have reserved? It's not too pricey, and the rooms are clean."
"The food's good too. No need to go out to other taverns for meals."
After taking a swig from a beer mug overflowing with frothy bubbles, Mau wiped his mouth and added to the conversation.
"Then we'll take you up on that. My party and I are new to this journey to Damu, so there's much we don't know."
"Yes. Tomorrow at the entrance, we can send a courier bat, and there shouldn't be any issue with booking the lodgings."
"Thank you."
"Appreciate it."
Gravel bowed his head in gratitude toward Dallen. At that moment, all eyes turned to the wide platter brought by the tavern owner, topped with a round, flat grilled fish.
"It's freshwater pompano caught from the river! Enjoy!"
The pompano, grilled to a crispy golden hue, had flesh that looked tender and moist, with translucent oil seeping from its crunchy skin. Fresh herbs adorned it, enhancing the flavor of the fish, and the colors blended harmoniously with the grilled vegetables on the side.
With deft skill, Mau used two forks in hand to portion the fish's flesh, distributing pieces onto the plates of those seated at the table.
"Eat up! Tomorrow's a long trek through the cave path!"
Dallen's voice went unheard by Mau and Nia, but that day the two devoured eight pompano.
< Iolanta smollen >
Iolanta Smollen — born into House Smollen, the noble line that guards Tollu — has led a life far removed from that of ordinary women. Though barely past twenty, she has forged a towering reputation as a dungeon pioneer, exploring the vast labyrinth beneath the Norwan Mountains.
As the wielder of the enchanted sword Vera, discovered deep within the labyrinth, Iolanta is better known by the moniker "Scarlet Sword." Her fame as an adventurer was forged more in Aquiln, at the labyrinth's entrance, than in her House's city of Tollu.
Tales of the Scarlet Sword—who vanquished a horde of fifty skeleton warriors and a lich that had undead-ified itself in pursuit of an immortal body—have become so renowned in Aquiln and the western regions of the Esteta Kingdom that bards have composed songs about them. As a member of an adventurer group delving into the dungeon's depths, she spent most of her time in Aquiln, yet for some reason, she now found herself in the audience chamber of the Smollen baronial keep in Tollu.
The room featured a high ceiling, murals on the walls depicting valiant knights charging forth, and portraits of Smollen family members scattered throughout.
Iolanta was staring at her own portrait, clad in a deep green dress that she felt clashed with her red hair.
"Hmm, a dress that doesn't suit me at all..."
She snorted at the sight of herself in the painting. Then, with a clank of metal, she uncrossed her arms and glanced down at the armor she wore.
Sturdy leather reinforced with light metal plates—this was the armor Iolanta had favored for years, with metal attached at the chest and shoulders for basic protection while maintaining flexibility. The plates were made from a metal found in the dungeon's depths, bearing a dark teal hue.
"Come to think of it, this armor is deep green too... huh?"
Looking at the metal plate on her forearm, Iolanta smiled at the sight of herself in matching colors but different attire.
"Lord Labil would probably prefer that dress over... this armor, right?"
With a short sigh, Iolanta murmured to herself. Soon after, a knock echoed at the door.
"Lady Iolanta, the Dawi merchant Mau and the Muwa merchant Dallen have arrived."
"Hm? Finally here! Let them in."
In contrast to the smile that had lingered on her face moments before, Iolanta's eyes sparkled as her expression shifted to a bright grin.
Responding to Iolanta's voice, the audience chamber door opened, revealing Mau and Dallen.
"It's been a while, Lady Iolanta!"
Dallen greeted with a flutter of wings.
"Ah! Yes, it's been ages, Dallen. You too, Mau! Have you grown taller, Mau? Weren't you about 6 cubits (3m)?"
Welcoming them with open arms, Iolanta approached as she spoke.
"I'm not quite 6 cubits yet... Lady Iolanta..."
"Hahaha! Was that it? The goods? Did you get what I asked for?"
"Uh... well."
"Ah, right. We should sit first? I got ahead of myself. Let's sit—there's a large chair for Dawi, so come on
Iolanta gestured toward the deep-hued walnut table at the center of the audience chamber, inviting Dallen and Mau to take seats.
Once Mau and Dallen were seated, Iolanta settled across the table from them.
"Ahem. So, continuing—did you get the perfume? You said you might not stop in Mukara."
Leaning forward with such intensity that she seemed ready to leap onto the table, Iolanta questioned Dallen.
"Calm down first, Lady Iolanta... We did get the Mukara perfume. Only two bottles, but we managed."
"Two bottles? Well done, Mau, Dallen! Hahat, 'only' two bottles! You brought a whopping two! I'll pay up—here!"
Grinning at Dallen's words, Iolanta reached to her waist, unfastened a pouch from her belt, and placed it on the table.
"Phew~ We don't need this much... Well, let's confirm the items first."
After verifying the gold pieces in the pouch with a materialized ethereal hand, Dallen summoned another hand to retrieve two glass bottles wrapped in white cloth from the bag on his back and set them on the table.
"Oh... So this is the famous Mukara perfume..."
From the transparent bottles Dallen placed down, containing golden liquid, an intense fragrance enveloped the table area.
Despite being sealed with brown corks and waxed over, an entrancing scent—hard to describe as anything but rapturous beauty—wafted forth.
"May I open it?"
Holding one of the perfume bottles, Iolanta met Dallen's eyes and asked.
"Of course. These two bottles from Mukara are yours now, Lady Iolanta."
"In that case... Take what you deem a fair price from that pouch over there. I trust you that much."
With a nod toward the gold-filled pouch on the table, Iolanta uncorked the perfume bottle.
"Hmmmmm"
As the cork came off, the perfume's fragrance spread to the three around the table.
The initial note brushed past delicately, like a strand of wind swirling by. Then, upon inhaling, it spread slowly, like faint moonlight emerging from dark clouds to softly tint the night.
Inhaling once more, all sounds seemed to cease, and around Iolanta, only that fragrance dominated the air. In that moment of scent, Iolanta no longer stood in reality; eyes closed, immersed in ecstasy.
"Lady Iolanta?"
"..."
"Lady Iolanta? How is it? A fine fragrance, isn't it?"
"Mm! Yes. A very fine fragrance. I like it."
Hastily recorking the bottle, Iolanta replied.
"I'm glad it pleases you."
"What on earth is it made from... this perfume... It clouded my mind."
Gazing again at the golden liquid in the bottle, Iolanta said.
"From what I know, it includes olibanum and agarwood-derived oud, plus civet extracted from civet cats."
"Distillation? And something about rose petal oil obtained that way, right Dallen? And Mukara's secret spices too."
"Ah? Yes, that's right. Anyway, those are the ingredients I've heard of."
"Cats? So there are cats that smell good?"
"Well... Not quite as pleasant as this perfume, but the Mukara perfumer said civet is essential as a material."
"But Lady Iolanta, what do you plan to use the perfume for? In the dungeon depths, you can't bathe for long stretches, so maybe...?"
Still sniffing the lingering fragrance around the table with flared nostrils, Mau asked Iolanta.
"What... are you imagining, Mau!"
"It's... a joke, Lady Iolanta. Mau's sniffing just now was because the perfume's scent is still so pleasantly lingering."
As Iolanta reached for the sword Vera at her waist, Dallen quickly materialized hands to wave them dismissively, trying to calm her.
"Hmph! I heard from someone I met in the dungeon that Mukara perfume is famous, so I asked you to bring it out of curiosity. Just curiosity."
"Ah~ I see. I thought maybe for someone you fanci—Oof oof!"
"Yes, glad your curiosity is satisfied."
Dallen swiftly used a magical hand to clamp Mau's mouth shut.
"Anyway, you two are heading back to Damu, right? Since we've met, how about staying for a meal?"
Wrapping the glass bottles of perfume back in white cloth on the table, Iolanta asked.
"Uh... Well, we have a party we're traveling with to Damu. We need to go now."
"Oh? That's a shame. Then next time you're heading to Rathu, we can meet in Aquiln. We'll postpone the drinks and meal until then."
"Yes. That works, Lady Iolanta. But you mentioned you're not going to Aquiln? That's why you asked us to bring the perfume here to Tollu by today."
"Hm? Yes. It's been a while, so I'm thinking of visiting my brother Witold and heading to Valla-Glas. To pay respects to Count Tould together... Hm? What? Why?"
Mau and Dallen couldn't bring themselves to voice, "So the poor Baron Smollen is being used just to see Lord Labil's face." Nor did the words, "As expected, the Mukara perfume... was to impress Lord Labil," escape their lips—thanks to Dallen's quick intervention, the scarlet blade of the Vera remained unseen before them.
"It's nothing. We'll see you next in Aquiln, then."