Amidst the crowd of hundreds of adventurers filling Rivira's crystal plaza, Charlie stood casually with his hands in his pockets, observing his surroundings with his Six Eyes.
Through his Six Eyes, he could see the flow of energy within each individual's body.
'Their average strength is only around Level 2 to Level 3.'
However, when his eyes swept towards the eastern side of the plaza, a striking bright light immediately caught his attention.
'Huh? Why is Aiz here?'
Before he could gather his thoughts, Charlie was surprised to find Aiz standing right in front of him. She appeared like the wind, followed by two other girls.
"Charlie."
"Hi, Aiz."
The lack of expression on Aiz's face was the same as usual. It was just that... for some reason, she now looked a little scary.
'Could it just be my imagination?' Charlie thought, suddenly shivering as Aiz stared at him.
"Ah, I'm here!"
Tiona caught up from behind with energetic steps. Her smile was wide as she saw Charlie.
'What's so great about this guy!'
Lefiya hurriedly followed, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of panic and unacknowledged jealousy.
"Why are you here? This is really unexpected!"
"I'm gathering Excelia to level up."
"Then... you're going to be Level 5?!"
"That's right."
"Wow, that's amazing, Charlie! Your leveling speed is insane!"
Tiona stared at Charlie with sparkling eyes, unable to hide her admiration.
Aiz felt an urgent impulse within her. Something difficult to explain... a mixture of admiration and fear of loss.
'If I don't become stronger than him... then I won't be able to hold him. Won't be able to tie him down. Won't be able to have him alone.'
'I have to become stronger so that Charlie will only belong to me...'
Aiz's thoughts began to stray from the boundaries of sanity. Her gaze remained unchanged, but in her heart, she yearned for ever greater strength to subdue Charlie, confine him so that no other woman could approach him, and for herself to be the only woman by his side.
Lefiya stood behind Aiz, only glaring at Charlie with a frown. Her eyebrows were furrowed, and her hands were clenched into fists.
'Annoying. Why does this guy have to grow so fast? This isn't fair!'
The combination of frustration and envy made her face flush, not with love, but with an increasing dislike for the man Aiz liked.
Tione turned back with a smile, looked at Charlie for a moment before saying, "Among this crowd, you couldn't possibly be the culprit. Even though you have the power to do it, it doesn't suit your style. So, come with us to another place."
"Sure."
Without waiting any longer, Charlie followed the girls from the Loki Familia, leaving the crowd with Aishia and Est by his side.
The gazes of many adventurers followed them with curiosity—and not a few with jealousy because Charlie was surrounded by beautiful girls.
As their steps moved away from the center of the plaza, Charlie remained silent, showing no curiosity whatsoever. However, Tione seemed unable to bear the silence.
"About the murder. The name of the Ganesha Familia member who died was Hashana Dorlia. He was a Level 4 adventurer."
"Level 4? I didn't expect an adventurer of that caliber to be killed." Charlie paused for a moment and raised an eyebrow.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Upon arriving on the large rock used as a makeshift stage, Charlie greeted Finn, Riveria, and Tione.
He stood by their side, watching the men and women being divided into two groups. About two hundred adventurers in the plaza were women, most of them Amazonesses. It almost looked like a witch hunt from ancient times, with all the men around suspecting the women.
"The culprit is a woman capable of killing a Level 4 adventurer! But... A strong man could also be a victim because of a woman's special weapon!"
"Which means... A thorough inspection for women! Naked!"
"OOOOOOHHHH!!!"
Bors's request made all the men go wild. On the other hand, the women were angry and glared at Bors and the excited male adventurers as if they were seeing non-recyclable trash.
"Don't say such ridiculous things. We will inspect the women."
Riveria shattered the fantasies of the already highly excited men.
"Alright, everyone, please line up..."
However, Lefiya's attention was diverted when she saw her captain, Finn, surrounded by women of various races.
"Finn! Inspect me quickly!"
"Please~"
"Every nook and cranny of my body."
"..."
'What in the world are they doing...'
As an elf who valued purity, Lefiya didn't understand why those women were so shameless in letting a man examine their naked bodies.
However, Lefiya was stunned when she saw another man also being swarmed by women.
"You can inspect me too, handsome~"
"My skin is sensitive, be careful, okay~"
"I don't mind being inspected twice~"
Charlie was confused by this situation, he tried to explain, "Huh? I'm not part of the committee..."
But the women didn't care.
Meanwhile, Aishia and Est continued to hold Charlie's arms tightly, looking unfazed by this kind of atmosphere.
"Hey! You guys, don't get close to the captain!"
Tione glared angrily, scolding the women who were trying to cling to her beloved man.
"..."
Amidst the crowd of women swarming Charlie, Aiz stood a little distance away. Her usually calm eyes now radiated a faint unease.
She didn't like that scene.
Women of various races laughed and called out flirtatiously, vying for the attention of the man who had now become the center of the crowd.
Aiz puffed out her cheeks.
'...They're too close.'
She slowly stepped closer to Charlie. Her gaze was fixed on both of his arms, which were already occupied by Aishia and Est.
Aiz stared blankly for a few seconds, then made a decision.
Without saying anything, she stood behind Charlie. Her hands slowly circled around, hugging the man's back from behind.
"Uwah—! Aiz?" Charlie flinched slightly.
Aiz didn't answer. She only pulled Charlie backward—away from the crowd of women who continued to call out.
Lefiya, who was watching from a distance, froze, her eyes trembling with uncontrollable jealousy.
Riveria only shook her head slightly, saddened that the daughter she had raised with such difficulty was being taken by another man.
Meanwhile, Tione exclaimed, "Huh?! Aiz, you... you've got some nerve!"
Est and Aishia still held onto each of Charlie's arms, but they only turned their heads back and watched Aiz who was now 'securing' the man's back.
Charlie himself could only offer a stiff smile with three girls hanging onto his body.
'Why is the scene that harem protagonists often experience happening to me?'