The next day.
While other adventurers flocked toward the Babel Tower to begin their new day in the Dungeon, Charlie did something different—he took a day off!
He felt he had been spending too little quality time with Aishia lately, so he decided to dedicate an entire day just for her.
With her wisdom, Astraea gladly helped. She took Est to visit other goddesses, giving Charlie and Aishia some much-needed space. After all, Est, with her natural cuteness, was a magnet for attention—many goddesses loved pampering the little girl as their unofficial mascot.
"..."
Now, Charlie stood patiently in front of the door of Empyrean Citadel, waiting for Aishia to finish getting ready.
"Who taught Aishia things like this?" Charlie muttered to himself, slightly surprised. "She's already beautiful without needing to dress up at all."
This wasn't just empty flattery. Aishia was a high-rank humanoid spirit—calling her breathtakingly beautiful, flawless, and mesmerizing was no exaggeration. She was like a living work of art. Her beauty could easily rival even the goddesses of Heaven.
So, when Aishia suddenly told him to wait because she needed to get dressed, Charlie was genuinely shocked.
*KREEK...*
The door finally opened. The person he had been waiting for appeared.
The door swung open, and the figure Charlie had been waiting for stepped out of the house.
Aishia looked utterly graceful. Her long, peach-colored hair flowed like silk down to her knees. A simple white dress hugged her body, fluttering softly with every movement.
Her eyes, as beautiful as jewels and matching the color of her hair, gazed directly at Charlie. Her beauty left a fleeting impression—so perfect it felt as though she were an untouchable masterpiece painted into reality.
"What do you think, Charlie? Am I beautiful?" Aishia asked, her expression soft yet nearly emotionless, her tone flat and monotonous.
"Beautiful… You're incredibly beautiful, Aishia. It's hard to describe your beauty in words."
After catching his breath, Charlie could only repeat the word.
"I'm glad to hear that."
Aishia's tone remained calm, her face almost expressionless. But faintly, a blush appeared on her cheeks—like a rosebud blooming shyly. The compliment had pierced through her defenses.
"Ahem, let's get going."
"Mm."
Aishia accepted Charlie's outstretched hand. As the two of them passed through the gate, the illusion covering Empyrean Citadel ceased to affect them, and they instantly became the center of attention.
Pedestrians on the busy street fell silent. An elderly couple pulling a cart stopped in their tracks. Running children froze. Even a baker at a nearby stall dropped his tray.
Aishia's presence made it impossible for men to look away.
Amid the crowd of admirers and envious onlookers, two men stared at Aishia with greedy eyes and ill intentions.
One of them walked away. The other—a scar-faced adventurer—quietly began tailing the couple.
Due to the crowd, Charlie didn't realize they were being followed.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Although Aishia was a spirit, she always wanted to experience life like a human—eating delicious food, taking baths, and wearing pretty dresses. So, Charlie took her to try new things.
Ever since leaving Empyrean Citadel, people's gazes had followed them without pause. Charlie noticed, but chose to ignore it. What mattered most to him was accompanying the girl beside him—a spirit who chose to live like a human.
Aishia turned her head left and right, her clear eyes absorbing the new sights. Her face remained calm, her thin lips straight without a smile. But Charlie, who knew her well, could read the curiosity in her eyes.
"Charlie, I want to eat that."
Her finger pointed toward a small stall with a wooden sign depicting round bread baked over hot coals. The aroma of spices wafted from it, making anyone passing by feel their stomach rumble.
Charlie smiled faintly. "Alright. Let's give it a try."
They approached. The vendor, a middle-aged man in a worn apron, turned, his eyes briefly widening at the sight of Aishia before he quickly greeted them with forced cheerfulness.
"Good morning! Would you like to try our special meat-filled bread? Just came out of the oven."
"Two." Charlie replied simply. He pulled out some valis and placed them on the counter.
Soon, two hot breads were handed over. Steam still rose from them, their crusts crispy, the scent of meat tantalizing.
Aishia stared at the bread for a long time, as if analyzing its secrets. Then, she took a small bite. The sound of chewing followed, then the rich, savory spices filled her tongue.
"…Hm."
Charlie glanced over, observing her expression, which hadn't changed much. "How does it taste?"
"Delicious." Aishia chewed slowly, then added, "Better than I imagined."
"Glad it suits your taste." Charlie said, his voice gentle.
Aishia looked at the bread in her hand for a moment, then turned to Charlie. "I want to eat more human food."
"Then we'll try a few more places."
"Mm. I want to."
They continued walking, enjoying the atmosphere of Orario.
Colorful tents lined the streets, each selling different dishes. The sizzle of oil, the clink of metal—it was a symphony of everyday life.
They stopped in front of a stall specializing in candy apples. Glossy red apples coated in hard caramel sugar stood out like gems under the lantern light.
"One, please." Charlie said to the vendor, placing a few valis on the counter.
Charlie took the skewered apple and handed it to Aishia. The girl tilted her head, staring at it.
"?"
"Just bite it, Aishia. Feel the texture first."
Following Charlie's instruction, Aishia lifted the apple. Her small mouth opened and took a bite of the sugary coating.
*KREK!*
The loud crunch of hard sugar echoed clearly. She chewed slowly. Her expression remained unchanged, but her eyes blinked once—an unmistakable sign of surprise for her.
"The sweetness is intense, almost painful to my senses, but followed by the fresh tartness of the fruit inside. This combination… is interesting. It's delicious."
"Don't make it sound so complicated. Just say if it's good or not."
Charlie chuckled, amused by Aishia's oddly analytical behavior.
Next, he took Aishia to a clothing boutique. Aishia stood silently in front of the display window, gazing at the beautiful dresses on display.
"See anything you like?" Charlie asked, noticing her interest.
"All of them." Aishia replied, still in her flat tone. "They're all beautiful. May I try some on?"
"Of course."
Charlie spent most of his time waiting as Aishia tried on various dresses.
She tried colorful ones, party gowns, and even casual wear. Each time she stepped out of the changing room, she would spin, presenting her new outfit to Charlie.
"How about this one?"
"Absolutely beautiful."
"And this one?"
"You look like a princess."
"This one?"
"This dress makes you look enchanting."
Finally, Aishia chose a sky-blue dress adorned with small flowers. It made her pale skin glow even brighter. After paying for the dress, they continued their journey.