Chapter 11
When it came to wariness, no one on the continent surpassed the dwarves.
They were even more difficult than the elves, who rejected anything they didn’t identify with.
Charmant had already once failed to communicate with them.
To be precise, she had approached them for a deal under Lakan’s orders, but it had ended in miserable failure.
In the end, she’d had to resort to force just to fulfill her mission. That memory now came back to her.
‘I really used to be so reckless. What was I thinking back then?’
As she lowered her head in shame, wanting to bury herself underground, she heard the dwarf’s footsteps approaching again.
Charmant jumped to her feet.
“There’s something on the floor—take a look. You’ll like it.”
He was carrying a safe as big as his own body.
Charmant marveled at the finely crafted safe and nodded enthusiastically, like a puppet on a string.
‘It’s just a safe, but it’s made with such intricacy!’
Her mouth dropped open in awe. The dwarf beside her burst into laughter.
“You sure don’t hide your feelings well! If you want a lock on it, we’ll have to install it tomorrow. I’ll bring it by in the morning unless something comes up. Your store’ll be open then, right?”
“Yes. Oh, I mean—yeah. Did you… make this yourself?”
At that, the dwarf scowled.
“Did you eat moldy bread or something? Of course I did! What around here isn’t made by me? Even Alessandro said it looked like you got struck by lightning, and I see he wasn’t wrong!”
Charmant winced again at the mention.
“I, uh… fell out of bed and lost a bit of memory.”
“Idiot! Have you at least seen a physician?”
Startled, Charmant looked at the dwarf with a shocked expression.
No one had ever spoken to her that bluntly before.
Sure, people who lived on battlefields often developed rough tongues to match their tough lives, but in front of her, they’d always turned into sheep.
Charmant blinked, quickly pulling herself together. Then she remembered—Charmant Pepe liked money.
“My math is still fine, so I’m good.”
The dwarf clicked his tongue, eyed her up and down, and shook his head.
“Well, I guess you’re fine then. Typical you. But still, don’t try to save money on your health. You’ll pay for that when you’re old.”
“Y-yeah, I was going to…”
Another lie slipped out like a reflex.
Who would’ve thought a dwarf would be the one worrying about her?
He went on nagging, wrapped in the guise of concern.
Charmant ordered a new safe and lock, then moved quickly to other shops.
She bought wood and tools to adjust the chair legs, and more paper.
Perhaps because the kingdom was a melting pot of races—mages, beastkin, dwarves—Ellyum was filled with quality goods and skilled artisans.
What felt strange was being welcomed wherever she went.
Seven years ago, even in Ellyum, Charmant Noel Kendus had not been a welcome figure. If anything, she had been hated.
Even before the continental conquest, Lakan had always sought out the best of the best.
And Charmant had constantly moved to fulfill Lakan’s greedy desires.
Only in Ruentbell had she been praised. Elsewhere, she was infamous—dreaded and unwanted.
As night fell, shopkeepers busied themselves lighting lanterns.
The elaborate lamps—rarely seen in Ruentbell—and the fact that water could be drawn from anywhere in town amazed her.
If war had not broken out, this kingdom would surely have risen to become one of the continent’s greatest powers.
“….”
Seven years from now, how could she stop the war?
She had once entertained vague hopes of preventing it, but now realized she had no concrete plan.
As long as Lakan remained in Ruentbell, he would dream once again of conquering the continent.
And Charmant never again wanted to see her disciples sacrificed.
Though they had killed her, it was still she who had led them into that hell.
‘I’m tired of blood.’
As she walked, lost in thought, she eventually found herself in the alley leading home.
Thankfully, she hadn’t run into anyone else who recognized her as Charmant Pepe on the way back.
Just as she felt a sense of relief, she saw someone standing in front of the store.
‘The store’s already closed…’
The man in front of the shop turned his head, sensing her presence.
Charmant froze in place.
It was Ahil Durf again.
He casually pulled off his robe’s hood and tilted his head.
“Came to place a request.”
His nonchalant tone left Charmant speechless.
She had heard the clock strike seven earlier—closing time was six.
He was already difficult to face as it was, and this wasn’t helping.
“The store’s already closed for today.”
Ahil Durf tilted his head again, as if to say, “So what?”
He stared at her for a moment, then took out a pouch and shook it. The heavy clinking of coins echoed from within.
“You said as long as I brought money, it didn’t matter. That’s always been the rule. Why the sudden change?”
Charmant was momentarily confused but quickly remembered the shop’s rules—and shook her head firmly.
Only Alessandro was the exception.
“The shop’s closed. If you need something, come back tomorrow.”
“I brought the money.”
“I said the shop closes at six. Come back—”
“You took requests at dawn last time. Why not now?”
“That—I mean, I don’t remember that. Not at all.”
“That’s not an excuse. I don’t have time for jokes. This is urgent.”
“Then come back at 10 a.m. tomorrow and I’ll take your request immediately.”
They stood in front of her house, arguing back and forth.
Charmant insisted it was past six, come back tomorrow.
Ahil insisted he had money, it was urgent, he couldn’t return tomorrow.
No, go back.
Take the job. I’ll pay as much as you want.
No, go back.
They exchanged the same lines dozens of times until both were nearly out of breath.
“Haah…”
“Phew…”
Even in the dark, Ahil’s eyes were full of frustration, while Charmant looked worn out.
Ever since she became “this person,” she felt like she was talking way too much.
Ahil, clearly irritated, ran a hand through his hair.
What kind of request could be so urgent that he was being this stubborn?
Just as she was about to send him away again, Charmant found herself curious.
“What kind of request is it, anyway?”
“I need a way to reach Hallslake. Find something they’ll like. I hear they’re into old things.”
Ahil finally spilled it, as if he’d been waiting.
Hallslake.
The mysterious floating island every nation desired.
They were mages, but different from ordinary ones—bearers of special power—and they remained neutral, never aligning with any kingdom.
But before her regression, one person had succeeded in securing their cooperation.
That unprecedented event had shaken the entire continent.
“Hallslake… why?”
Charmant needed to confirm what she was thinking.
“I need a mana amplifier.”
As expected.
Charmant slowly opened and closed her eyes.
Ahil Durf didn’t need a mana amplifier—not for himself. He was said to be one of the top magic power holders in the Empire.
Rumor had it there wasn’t a single person who could match his mana levels.
Not only did he wield 9-star magic, but he was also aiming for the mythical 10-star level—the realm of immortality no one had reached.
Charmant herself had 7-star high-class magic, but the difference between 7 and 8 stars, and 8 to 9, was like heaven and earth.
If anything, what he would need was a mana suppressor.
The stronger the magic, the more strain it put on the heart.
No matter how strong a human, unless they were a mutant, the heart could only endure so much.
The mana amplifiers made in Hallslake were capable of boosting mana without placing any burden on the user’s body.
They could even awaken the power of those who didn’t realize they possessed mana, or who had such little power they never discovered it on their own.
Ellyum and Ruentbell both had mana enhancers too, but they were potions—not devices—and consuming them put strain on the heart.
And their effectiveness didn’t compare.
That made Hallslake’s mana amplifier more powerful than any weapon.
Ellyum had tried to secure one before Ruentbell—sending even the king—but failed.
It wasn’t until just before the war that Ruentbell succeeded in making a deal.
No—not Ruentbell.
One person.
Charmant Noel Kendus—herself.
The reason was simple.
Ruentbell had what Hallslake wanted, and Hallslake had what Ruentbell wanted.
Her heart.
In the past, she had been called a monster. A mutant.
The only person in the world with a heart that held two conflicting powers at once.
There were many magic swordsmen in the world, but none who possessed both aura and high-class magic.
Charmant had not only wielded both, but had developed a unique swordsmanship that combined the two—and her heart had withstood it.
Hallslake had wanted that heart of hers.
Charmant had known exactly what they meant—but had accepted their offer without hesitation.
Because her lord had ordered her to bring back a mana amplifier. At any cost.
