NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 117.2
Scent Can Be A Weapon
The next moment, Yuuri let out a foolish-sounding noise. Rooks, who had been bouncing around, froze in place, looking confused. Before their eyes, the slim Leopold effortlessly threw a man who looked to weigh twice as much as he did. Even if he was leveraging his opponent’s momentum, his skill was remarkable.
“I don’t like being rough, you know~?”
Leopold said with a bright smile. He was clearly provoking them. A transparent taunt, plain as day. But the fact that they still fell for it showed how inexperienced these men were. Spurred on by his words, they shouted insults and charged at Leopold.
Ordinarily, one would think it foolish to face so many opponents at once, yet neither Kurresh nor Jake, nor even some of the spectators, showed the slightest concern. No one seemed to sense any danger.
…That’s just how much trust everyone had in this unshakable onee-sama.
Leopold, meanwhile, kept smiling as if he were troubled and deftly flicked his wrist. In his hand was a small vial, as slim as a perfume bottle, that had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
The next moment, the men staggered, their movements slowing visibly. Though they didn’t collapse, their actions were noticeably dulled. Huh? Yuuri tilted his head, puzzled. Jake remained as cheerful as ever, while Kurresh wore a serious expression.
“Jake-san!”
“What is it, Yuuri-kun?”
“Didn’t Leone-san just use perfume?”
“Well, it’s perfume, but it’s combat perfume.”
“…What?”
Yuuri tilted his head even further, genuinely confused. Combat perfume? What could that possibly mean?
Jake’s cheerful smile, however, suggested he wasn’t joking. This somewhat hapless academic might be a disaster in daily life, but his knowledge and insight were impeccable. He didn’t lie.
Thus, Yuuri turned his gaze back to Leopold. The sight of him throwing off-balance men, landing kicks in their stomachs, and sweeping their legs out from under them was almost awe-inspiring. With each of Leopold’s graceful movements, his long braid and skirt-like drape fluttered dramatically. He truly was a work of art in motion.
“They look weaker than before, don’t they?”
“Yes, that’s why I said it’s combat perfume.”
“…?”
Jake’s concise explanation left Yuuri scratching his head in confusion. Then, Kurresh, who had been staring intently ahead, spoke without turning his gaze.
“There are scents that can paralyze or distract, you know. Like monster repellents. And since he’s a master of fragrance, adapting it for combat is second nature to him.”
“Oh, so that’s why you’ve been watching so seriously?”
“Exactly.”
Satisfied with this explanation, Yuuri nodded, and Kurresh grinned back. Kurresh, who fought using chemicals as weapons, specialized in explosive concoctions and stun potions—potent substances ill-suited for urban settings. By his own admission, he relied on such powerful tools because he lacked the physical strength to fight otherwise. Leopold, however, seemed to exist on a higher level of mastery.
Targeting his opponents with weakening aromas while sparing bystanders from harm was a skill that inspired admiration. And what made this elegant onee-sama so exceptional was his ability to follow up with martial prowess to subdue his enemies hand-to-hand.
When all the roughnecks were laid low, Leopold touched his cheek with a troubled expression and began scolding them. Despite his gentle smile and graceful gestures, the sharp glint in his eyes as he looked down at them was downright terrifying.
He admonished, “You shouldn’t needlessly intimidate others; it only reveals your lack of strength,” and,
“You may be new to the capital, but there are customs to follow here,” and finally, “If you don’t know your place, someone far scarier than me might give you a harsher lesson.”
…The men probably wanted to argue that his current scolding was already terrifying enough. But as one of them opened his mouth to protest, a stern voice cut through the air.
“Any excuses will be heard at the guild.”
…Someone must have called them, for the Guildmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild appeared. Resembling an old butler, he wore a monocle and exuded authority, flanked by sturdy guild staff and adventurers.
And so, the unfortunate men, who had bitten off more than they could chew, were escorted off to the guild. It was their own fault, after all.
“Oh, Yuuri-chan, what brings you here?”
“Hello, Leone-san. You’re really strong, aren’t you?”
“Oh my, you saw that? How embarrassing, showing such unsightly behavior~”
Noticing Yuuri, Leopold approached with his usual cheerful smile, completely different from the intimidating one earlier. Though a bit embarrassed by the compliment, Leopold waved it off, vaguely mentioning “some history” that made him reluctant to embrace his old martial persona.
That said, his strength was an open secret, and everyone wisely refrained from pointing it out.
“Your skills are as sharp as ever, Leone.”
“Thank you, but you know, I’m retired now. Praise for that part of me doesn’t make me happy anymore.”
“And yet, that perfume seems to have a different formula from before.”
“…You really notice everything, don’t you? Fine, here, take it. If it’s you, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“Thank you very much.”
Leopold handed over a vial of perfume, clearly exasperated. Jake eagerly examined its contents, asking if he could borrow it for research. Leopold, seemingly resigned to this outcome, agreed with a casual “Sure, sure.”
“Leone-san!”
“Yes, Kurre-kun?”
“…Would you teach me sometime? Even occasionally?”
“For scouting techniques, isn’t Tifaana available?”
“But she doesn’t use chemicals. I’d like to learn how to avoid affecting allies.”
“First, you should work on your martial skills. Ask Brooke to help.”
“…Got it.”
Kurresh accepted the rejection without much protest, perhaps understanding the gaps in his own abilities. Even his usual response to Yuuri’s casual encouragement remained the same.
As for Yuuri, even after witnessing Leopold’s prowess, all he could think was: “Leone-san, you’re really strong, huh~.”