The Problem Is That the Enemy Country Is Too Warm

In a state of heightened sensitivity, Charmaine moved silently.

Those who have fought numerous wars are prone to emotions bordering on madness, as they have soaked themselves in so much blood.

Charmaine’s mind wasn’t weakened to the point of madness, but the prolonged battles had left her nerves on edge.

That’s why she could sense someone lurking around the entrance of the shop.

‘…Is it a thief? Or an ambush.’

The lurking presence nearby was not ordinary. She could feel a strong aura that sent shivers down her spine.

It’s rare to encounter someone with such power…

“I don’t have a sword.”

All she had was a dull kitchen knife in the kitchen.

It was an oversized knife not even sharp enough to properly cut a tomato.

Reluctantly, Charmaine took it and approached the door.

“Charmaine Pepe, open the door. I’ve come to pick up the requested item.”

Even though she suppressed her presence, the other person called out to Charmaine without hesitation, as if sensing her presence.

‘A client?’

Charmaine held her breath. Then she concealed the knife under her arm and unlocked the latch, opening the door.

“I see you’re still awake. I should have come this morning to pick it up, but I got caught up in my research and lost track of time. I’ll make it up to you with a generous reward.”

Simultaneously, the man’s voice became clearer.

Strangely enough, she thought the voice was familiar. When she raised her head and locked eyes with him, her legs almost gave way, and she swayed.

Standing before her was Ahil Duff, the Archmage of Elium, whom she had killed with her own hands on the battlefield.

***

tl/n: this is in the past.

“Now the continent is completely under Lunteubel’s control. Congratulations. But why do you have that look on your face?”

Charmaine looked down at the man who was speaking nonsense while leaning against a rock, breathing heavily.

Both he and she were in a state of exhaustion and had sustained fatal injuries.

The man, who knew nothing of swordsmanship but possessed stronger magic than her, had gray-blue eyes.

Despite the cloudy weather, those eyes, which revealed an indiscernible emotion, shone intensely and vividly. Even when facing death.

His jet-black hair, matted with sweat, appeared as dark as the shadows.

His disheveled hair and distinct eyes with light double eyelids were captivating.

How could a person’s appearance be so beautiful?

Charmaine thought that on the day she first met him.

Moreover, it was undeniable that he was a precious talent.

“…”

“You shouldn’t have a face that doesn’t show triumph. I don’t know why you look like you’re crying when I’m the one who’s dying.”

Ahil Duff’s breath was getting weaker and weaker.

Charmaine, the genius of the century, had succeeded in making the mage kneel before her.

And it was also the day when Lunteubel successfully engulfed all the countries on the continent.

If she had confronted him head-on, the one gasping for breath against the rock would have been Charmaine herself.

No matter how high she flew, he was an unprecedented 9-star mage in the present world, even surpassing the eternal realm that no one else had reached, as a 10-star mage.

Of course, if he had truly reached that realm, she probably wouldn’t have witnessed his current state.

Due to Elium’s significantly smaller forces compared to Lunteubel, he not only fought against numerous Lunteubel warriors alone but he also turned back to his allies in an attempt to save them, leaving Charmaine.

Furthermore, his inexplicable moment of hesitation became an opportunity for Charmaine.

This was a battlefield.

Emotions such as mercy only brought death, as it did now.

And it led to Ahil Duff’s defeat.

Thanks to that, she achieved victory, but instead of a sense of accomplishment, a sense of disgust and self-loathing surged through her body, as if they could consume her at any moment.

It was only natural. Charmaine had never once felt proud of herself. On the contrary, she was closer to disgust.

And those eyes.

For some reason, those eyes, which seemed unusually difficult to meet, only made her feel even worse about herself.

“…You talk too much.”

Upon her words, Ahil Duff burst into laughter.

Charmaine thought he was truly strange.

How could he laugh so carefreely even in the face of death?

She had heard rumors that he was eccentric, but she didn’t expect it to be to this extent.

And yet, why was she so envious of him?

There was an impulse to take away that refreshing laughter.

At that moment, Ahil coughed up blood. It seemed that his mana was depleted, and he could no longer hold on.

“I didn’t know there was such a monster in Lunteubel. It’s a shame you weren’t in Elium. I would have felt more secure.”

“Nonsense.”

“Ahaha… If I had known, I would have prepared you a proper breakfast. Do you have any favorite food?”

It couldn’t be a more inappropriate question. It wasn’t even a moment for casual jokes.

Charmaine fixed her gaze.

“…”

“Maybe you don’t have any. At least, I should have prepared one thing you liked. Otherwise, you’ll regret it.”

“…”

Charmaine exerted strength in the hand that loosely held the sword.

She had delayed her response unexpectedly. Now was the time to plunge the blade into his heart.

“You don’t fit in Lunteubel. That’s regrettable. At least…”

With those words, Ahil Duff took his last breath.

“…”

Clang!

The sword slipped from Charmaine’s hand.

Perhaps she intentionally waited because she didn’t want to take his life with her own hands.

The Commander-in-Chief of Elium, Ahil Duff, had died, following Elium’s treasure.

Once again, it was a perfect victory.

Charmaine knelt before the half-closed eyes of Ahil Duff, who had lost his life.

Blood seeped from the large wound on her side, and her vision became dizzy.

Charmaine simply looked at the man in front of her and covered his eyes with her hand.

“A repayment for your nonsense.”

Taking the body, or at least his neck, and carrying it away would be the right thing to do. But for some reason, she didn’t want to do that.

Maybe it would be alright not to follow orders at least once.

Drip, pitter-patter.

Soon, raindrops started to fall one by one, gradually growing heavier. The smell of blood became intensely strong.

“You were not a man suited for war either.”

A person who should have done better things than war. At least, he was undoubtedly a being different from herself from the beginning.

Charmaine removed the cloak she was wearing and covered his body, then stood up, extending her hand and pouring her remaining mana around him.

In an instant, Ahil’s body disappeared.

She had temporarily concealed his body with her mana.

When Lunteubel’s army retreated, his body would be revealed.

Then his comrades would take him away.

He was hailed as Elium’s treasure, so this should be enough.

After exhausting her remaining strength in an instant, her body wavered.

Charmaine barely raised the sword again and turned around, leaving that spot.

It was finally the end of the protracted war.

***

Charmaine snapped out of her reverie.

It was the last conversation and meeting with this man.

Although more than a decade had passed since she encountered him as an enemy, they had faced each other closely three times during the war.

And in their final battle, she emerged victorious.

But now, Ahil Duff, who should have been dead, stood before her.

He appeared slightly younger than he was then, but his face was still beautiful, clear enough to be transparent even in darkness. His eyes were still difficult to meet, and his hair was still untamed. His expression remained unwrinkled.

Ah, time must have reversed, so it’s only natural that this man is alive.

Nevertheless, she didn’t expect to come face to face with him so suddenly.

Confusion, chaos.

Charmaine felt an indescribable emotion. Sweat dripped from her hands.

She felt disoriented, as if she were facing imminent death, even though she knew he wouldn’t recognize her. And she even felt stripped of her dignity.

For now, she just thought she had to send this man away quickly.

“Pepe?”

Charmaine regained her composure and opened her mouth.

“Ah, the requested item.”

However, she had no idea what item he had requested from her.

She turned around, glanced around roughly, and then looked back with a face full of despair.

How could she find something that she didn’t even know what it was as the requested item?

“Since the requested item hasn’t arrived yet, it’s better if you come back next time… Uh.”

Charmaine quickly changed her words.

‘Why are you speaking so formally today, Pepe? Did the sun rise from the west?’

She recalled the words that the half-elf muttered earlier.

She didn’t want others to notice that she was strange.

When investigating him in Lunteubel, Ahil Duff was practically a guardian of Elium.

That meant he despised Lunteubel as much as the king of Elium.

I had to be extra careful.

The thought of what would happen if he noticed the accent of Lunteubel made her break out in a cold sweat.

Ahil tilted his head in puzzlement.

“What are you talking about? Isn’t that it? The black box.”

He suddenly approached her.

Charmaine took a step back in surprise.

Ahil Duff grabbed the door frame and shoved his head inside, quickly finding his requested item.

“Ah.”

So, that was it.

Without even bothering to check, Charmaine handed him the box.

“Well then, you should… leave.”

She spoke hastily, intending to turn around and close the door, but Ahil’s hand stopped the door again.

“Wait.”