Chapter 8
It was already past three in the afternoon.
Thankfully, what she had feared hadn’t happened.
Contrary to her worries, there were barely any customers.
Charmant sat at a small desk that barely qualified as a counter, resolutely waiting for someone to show up.
Unlike in the morning, when two people had burst in, no one came through the door in the five hours since she opened.
She thought about going out briefly to buy clothes but gave up quickly, afraid someone might show up the moment she stepped out.
“……”
But the occasional breeze, the chirping of birds, and the distant sounds of people became another sort of temptation.
As the fresh air flowed in through the door and window, Charmant slowly nodded off.
Maybe it was because her mind was still exhausted from the long years of war.
Charmant couldn’t resist the temptation and collapsed over the desk, falling asleep.
“…m!”
“……”
“Master! Master Charmant!”
She opened her eyes to a familiar voice and saw the summer sky above, peeking through branches and leaves.
The scent of deep summer, the buzzing of cicadas, and the cool weather that kept sweat from forming on her forehead despite the season.
This was Rintvel—her homeland and her sanctuary.
And apparently, she had dozed off leaning against a tree trunk.
‘Ah, it was a dream. I should’ve known. But how could I have such vivid dreams one after another?’
Charmant rubbed her face and stood up.
Under the shade of the tree and surrounded by lush scenery stood her first disciple, Felix Crason.
Felix waved at her.
“At your age, why are you waving around like a little kid?”
“And why do you speak like an old person when you’re younger than me, Master?”
Charmant blinked, dumbfounded. He wasn’t wrong.
“…True.”
At that moment, the green leaves scattered on the ground whipped up into a sudden whirlwind and battered Felix.
“Ack! Master! I’m sorry! I was wrong! Ow, that stings!”
As Charmant chuckled and dispelled the magic, Felix pouted.
His long blond hair—grown to imitate his master—was covered in leaves.
Felix Crason was three years older than his master, Charmant Noel Kenders.
He was a head and a half taller and nearly twice her size.
Charmant lightly leapt down from the tree like a fluttering bird.
Felix’s golden-blond hair, reddish-brown eyes, and well-tanned skin gave him a healthy, even slightly intimidating presence.
He had already looked large from above, but from the ground, looking up at her student didn’t feel great.
“Bend down.”
“Should I kneel?”
Charmant clicked her tongue, quickly losing patience.
“Have you no pride?”
“If it’s pride that I have to keep from my Master, I’d rather throw it away.”
“Say that to your lover instead.”
“I don’t have a lover.”
“Well, you’re handsome enough—go find one. According to Shard, girls line up every day just to watch your training.”
Regardless, Felix stuck close to her side.
A shadow fell over Charmant’s head.
“What now?”
She stopped walking and looked up.
Felix’s large hand was blocking the sun like a shade over her head.
“I thought the sun might be too strong for you, Master.”
“Really? If your arms are still working, maybe you haven’t trained hard enough.”
Felix groaned and quickly pulled his hand back.
“What’s your type, Master?”
“Someone shorter than me, slender, younger, short-haired, and full of pride.”
“You definitely have a sword in your mouth, Master.”
“Thanks for noticing.”
Charmant replied coolly and began heading toward the imperial palace.
“…You’re so harsh.”
Charmant smiled quietly to herself.
“So, why were you looking for me?”
Felix’s expression darkened slightly.
“His Majesty is looking for you.”
Charmant paused.
“So, he’s made up his mind.”
“Is His Majesty really going to start a war? And with you at the front?”
“If that’s what His Majesty says, then yes.”
Rintvel’s Emperor, Lacan Deviki Rintvel.
Both Felix and Charmant knew well that he was preparing for war against the continent.
And once he made up his mind, there was almost no chance of stopping him.
He would put Charmant at the forefront.
Because she was his pride. His treasure.
Felix knew that, and he wished he could block the path his master was walking.
“His Majesty is being too greedy. Conquering the continent? That’s absurd.”
“There are ears everywhere in the imperial palace—both in heaven and on earth.”
“Master.”
At the sound of her name, Charmant stopped in place.
She turned around to face Felix, who looked down at her with a firm expression.
When she raised her hand, Felix naturally bowed his head.
Despite the height and size difference, he had no hesitation.
She roughly ruffled his hair.
“You worry too much.”
Felix looked up, the tips of his ears bright red.
His neatly tied dark-brown hair, clear violet eyes with an upward slant like a cat’s, a tiny scar beneath the left eye that looked like a teardrop, and a slender frame that held tremendous power.
These were just some of the countless reasons he couldn’t help but follow her.
“I’ll come with you.”
Charmant gave a soft smile.
“You have a family. You should protect them.”
“You’re more important to me than family.”
A cloud briefly covered the sun.
The loud cicadas quieted, and a cool breeze swept by them, like a moment of reflection.
In that silence, Charmant spoke.
“Felix Crason.”
Felix flinched.
“…Even if you call me like that, I’ll follow. I’ve already spoken with Radi and Eltine, too.”
Charmant looked baffled.
“I told you all to grow stronger, and all you did was grow more stubborn?”
“If we didn’t, you’d just shoulder everything alone again. And frankly, I hate hearing you always say you’re alone.”
Charmant was at a loss for words.
Felix’s tone sounded like he was finally venting the resentment he’d bottled up.
‘Did I show them such weakness?’
Though they all came from different walks of life—Felix Crason, noisy Radi Pizertha, and picky Eltine Shire—they were all precious to her.
Bring these fools with her?
She had trained them, sure—but never intended to drag them into the jaws of death.
But looking at those stubborn eyes, she realized—refusing here wouldn’t change a thing.
They were the kind to chase her down no matter what.
And among them, Felix was the most bull-headed.
Charmant had first met Felix at an academy Lacan had sent her to.
He’d been large even then, a headstrong boy nearing adulthood.
After just one sparring match, he clung to her like glue and insisted on becoming her student.
He eventually achieved his goal, and years had passed since.
Aside from Charmant, there was no one on the same level as him. Yet he remained as stubborn as ever.
After a brief thought, Charmant smiled and rubbed her chin.
A rare smile. Felix stared at her, dazed.
“Can I trust you with my back?”
Felix snapped back to his senses.
Realizing what her words meant, his face lit up.
He placed a fist over his heart and knelt down on one knee.
“I will protect you with my life.”
“It won’t be short.”
“I’m prepared.”
“Then let’s see if I can really trust you—how about a sparring match for old time’s sake?”
Felix flinched visibly, but didn’t run or step back.
Charmant picked up her pace again.
“If you beat me, what do you want?”
“Intensive training.”
“…Ah.”
Felix let out a long sigh but continued to follow behind her like a shadow.
The summer breeze, thick with the scent of green, chased after them.
Clatter!
A loud crash startled Charmant awake.
“Ah…”
She was startled for just a moment, but reality came crashing down like a wave, and she groaned into her hand.
So that hadn’t been real. The dream—the memories—were fake.
Her once-scarred hands were now smooth and pale again.
She couldn’t believe she had dreamed of one of the few happy moments from her past.
She never used to dream. She must have been deeply confused.
She remembered Felix’s face from the last time she closed her eyes before waking up in this body—he had been crying, his face more pained than her own.
What had happened to them now?
‘If I disappeared, they’d search for me… But if we swapped bodies…’
“Hm.”
She tried to picture the owner of this body walking around with her face—but couldn’t imagine it at all.
Quickly collecting herself, Charmant stood up.
A piece of antique decor had fallen from the long dresser against the wall.
She bent down and picked it up.
