chapter 2

The Enemy Country Is Too Warm, That’s the Problem (2)

Before her death, Charmant brought both the life of the Grand Commander of Elium and the life of the Mage Tower Lord of Elium as an offering to her lord.

In the heart of that country.

Was I driven mad after death? Charmant wondered.

Aleksandro, who had been looking at her strangely, seemed to give up and pushed Charmant aside to enter the building.

Despite his incredibly short stature, he handled objects made for average human height with such ease that Charmant wondered if the raccoon beastman even realized she existed. He used a long stick to draw the curtains and dust the place.

“Goodness, look at this dust! Any customers would turn tail and run!”

Charmant followed Aleksandro around the room and muttered quietly,

“I am not Charmant.”

“Huh? What are you talking about now? You’re just saying nonsense because you’re hungry, right?”

“I may be Charmant… but I’m not the Charmant you’re looking for. Is this really Elium?”

Aleksandro suddenly stopped in his tracks and stared at her.

“…”

Charmant bowed politely to the stunned raccoon.

“I don’t know how this happened, but I’ll return as soon as possible. The Charmant you’re looking for isn’t here right now. I promise I won’t harm this body, so don’t worry.”

“…Did you really go crazy now?”

“Excuse me? No, that’s not it. I mean… maybe I have gone mad, as you said…”

The raccoon clicked his tongue.

“You’re always doing weird things with magic all night and then sleeping all day. Always dreaming about growing wings or whatever. That’s probably why this happened. Eat those boiled sweet potatoes and come to your senses! I’m busy, so I gotta go. Don’t waste them!”

He scratched his ear and left.

Thud—!

The wooden door slammed shut behind him, and Charmant stood frozen in place like a statue.

“…What is this.”

But the raccoon beastman was already gone. All that was left was a basket overflowing with boiled sweet potatoes.

“…What should I do.”

If nothing else, one thing was clear:

This was the most serious incident of her entire life.

Her mind was in turmoil, but her attention kept drifting toward the food Aleksandro had left behind.

Charmant, who usually had so little appetite that she barely ate enough to survive, found this strange.

Does this body like food or something? Her hunger kept growing stronger.

With no other option, Charmant awkwardly crouched on the floor and began eating the sweet potatoes while trying to make sense of her situation.

But the moment she took a bite, the confusion clouding her mind vanished completely.

Even when she tried to think calmly, the incredible taste of the sweet potatoes kept dragging her mood into the clouds.

“…It’s sweet.”

How could something be made this sweet?

Even the sweet potatoes she’d eaten roasted after days of starvation on the battlefield didn’t taste this good.

These sweet potatoes were both moist and sugary. The caramelized bits, though boiled, tasted as though they were roasted to enhance flavor—like magic had been used.

Why did they taste so rich and have that caramel sweetness?

She wanted to devour them greedily, cheeks puffing out with every bite.

Charmant took a large bite and her cheeks swelled.

She swallowed and immediately took another. Again and again.

She stared at the dwindling pile with regret, then bit again. Still delicious.

Charmant had awakened in an old antique shop.

A tiny store with the grandiose name: “Charmant’s Secret Antique Shop.” She woke up in the single room attached to it.

The owner’s name was supposedly Charmant Pepe, and judging by her appearance, she was quite lovely.

Sky-blue hair that looked like a cloud-filled sky or the shimmering tail scales of a mermaid.

Depending on the light, her hair sometimes appeared white, sometimes another color.

Unlike her old self with dark brown hair and violet eyes symbolizing magic, this body had bright colors.

Somehow, she had ended up in this body, and the original owner was nowhere to be found.

She didn’t know why or how to return.

But she concluded she had to stay here—at least until the original owner returned to claim the body.

“…Ah.”

That meant she shouldn’t have told the raccoon someone else was in this body.

She regretted it, but Aleksandro was already gone.

Giving up, Charmant closed her eyes and examined her energy.

“…”

Since it wasn’t her body, she couldn’t feel her aura—but her magic power remained.

Her seven-star level magic was still there.

“Is it because my soul remains that the mana stayed with me?”

Thankfully, her powers hadn’t been sealed upon death.

Maybe her disciples had done something. Even if she was killed by their hands under Lakan’s orders, she had trusted them deeply enough not to hold a grudge.

There had to be a reason for their actions.

Or perhaps this body simply had a considerable amount of magic itself.

Come to think of it, the raccoon had mentioned magic earlier.

Though faint, the body’s natural magic was indeed there.

It felt like her own magic was merging with the body’s.

“Well, with this much…”

Even without aura, she had learned swordsmanship with her body. She could protect herself.

Luckily, it didn’t seem like she’d need to kill anyone here.

The real problem was: this little antique shop had no swords in sight.

No magic books, no magical tools, no staffs.

She could still cast magic without them, of course—but using tools would conserve energy.

She looked but found nothing.

To cast magic without tools…

“Maybe this person was more powerful than expected.”

She ate without thinking. Before long, the basket was empty.

“No helping it. I should clean up until the owner returns.”

She had to repay the meal somehow.

The dust in here was thick enough to make her cough just standing still.

“Pepe! Pretty one! Open up! Miya’s here!”

Thud thud!

Not long after, someone pounded on the door.

The old door looked ready to fall apart but somehow clung to its hinges.

Charmant sighed, set down the empty basket, and stood up quickly.

She opened the door—and was stunned again.

Her second visitor was a tall, long-necked woman with snow-white hair.

From her slightly pointed ears and gem-like green eyes typical of elves, Charmant guessed she was a half-elf.

Not tall enough for a full elf, and ears a little short.

Back from the dead, in a new body, meeting a raccoon beastman and a half-elf all in one day.

What a bizarre day.

Was this all really a dream?

“Charmant Pepe! Did you sleep well?”

“…Hello.”

Charmant bowed politely.

The half-elf frowned and waved her hand.

“Ugh, what’s with that greeting? Did you read another weird book? And why are you talking in that low tone? You’re not sick, are you? If you still have the medicine I gave you, take it. Don’t go crying and whining again if you fall ill. Oh, and what you asked for arrived this morning. Here—this is it, right? The thing you said you’d die for?”

Charmant accepted the box and, without checking it, nodded solemnly.

“If this is something important, I’ll guard it with my life.”

The half-elf’s eyes widened.

“Wha—? Oh, well… You don’t have to go that far. I mean, I’m flattered you’re that touched. It was hard to find. I told them to search the whole forest!”

Charmant nodded but then looked urgent.

“If you don’t mind… may I ask just one question?”

“Seriously, what’s with this formal tone today? What do you want to ask? You, speaking politely—it’s like the sun rose in the west.”

“Could you tell me today’s date?”

“The date? It’s May 1st.”

May 1st.

Still feeling like something was off, Charmant asked again,

“Then… what year is it in imperial reckoning?”

“…What’s with you today? ‘Imperial reckoning’? It’s Elium year 192. Anyway, I left my shop open. I’ve gotta run. If there’s any problem with the item, come find me!”

The half-elf gave her a strange look, smiled brightly, waved, and left.

Charmant was left with a ringing in her head from all the chaos.

Elium Year 192.

But Elium had lost the war to Rintbell and collapsed in Imperial Year 1028… which was Elium Year 199.