Journey to Planar World

Next day.

Day 13.

The refreshing morning sunlight shone through the window as Charlie slowly opened his eyes, gradually waking up in his bed.

”Mhm~... Hoam~... It’s already morning, huh...”

Lying still for a moment to gather his lingering consciousness, memories from last night flooded his mind like a tidal wave.

”Oh, I remember. After more than two hours of making love with Sylvaris, I returned to the inn because I didn’t want to sleep in the Ishtar Familia’s territory.”

Sylvaris was the name of the Elf prostitute Charlie hired the previous night.

”Charging 20,000 valis for one session of intimacy. Not many adventurers can afford that, except Second-Class and First-Class Adventurers. But... They are well-known figures who care about their reputation and fame. I don’t think they would openly come to the Entertainment District.”

While wandering in the Entertainment District, Charlie hadn’t encountered anyone he knew from the original work. Through his observations, he estimated that most of the male adventurers present were Level 1, with a handful of Level 2.

This was normal. Upper-Class Adventurers were very conscious of their public image, both for themselves and the Familia they belonged to.

”For today, there’s no need to enter the Dungeon. Focus on creating the Spatial-Time Cache as the top priority.”

Setting his schedule for the day, Charlie, still drowsy, slowly moved his hand to remove the blanket.

”Hm?”

Suddenly, his hand squeezed something soft.

It clearly wasn’t his blanket or pillow, nor his mattress. It had an elasticity and a strange sensation. It fit perfectly in his palm, and its warmth was comforting.

”This feeling... Could it be...?”

As an experienced man, Charlie already had a guess in mind.

When he tried moving his hand to confirm the sensation, he could feel a wonderful response in his hand.

His half-asleep mind was now fully alert. Without turning his head, he wanted to confirm his speculation once more.

So, Charlie gently moved his hand again.

”Mhm~...”

This time, he heard a seductive moan from a woman and the rustling of fabric at the same time.

Charlie gently withdrew his hand from the soft sensation and lifted the blanket, peeking underneath.

”Zzz...”

He heard the peaceful breathing of someone sleeping next to him. Then, he turned to the side.

There was a girl he already recognized, sleeping soundly beside him. The girl looked to be in her mid-teens. She was a beautiful girl with long, light-colored hair. Her extraordinary beauty rivaled that of the Goddess of Beauty Aphrodite or the Sword Princess Aiz Wallenstein.

However, there was a certain transparency to her presence, as if she wasn’t entirely real, giving off an artificial vibe.

”Mmh...” The girl shifted restlessly under the blanket, extending her hand and grabbing Charlie’s sleeve, pulling her face closer to him.

”Huft…”

Her soft breath touched his ear. Charlie looked at the face of the girl, whom he had only seen in anime, from up close and immediately recognized her.

If another harem male protagonist found a naked girl next to him upon waking, they would likely panic and act overly dramatic, screaming hysterically as if they were the one being wronged.

But Charlie was different from such beta males. Besides feeling slightly aroused seeing a naked girl in the morning, he maintained his composure.

”You’ve finally appeared, Aishia. I’ve been waiting for you...”

Stroking the girl’s silky and soft hair, Charlie spoke gently.

”Mhm~…”

Awakened by his movement, Aishia sat up in bed. With her legs folded beneath her, she gazed at Charlie with a drowsy expression.

Her actions, though simple, had an oddly erotic air, especially since her beautiful, naked body was fully displayed in front of him without any coverings. Charlie had to restrain his libido, which was at its peak in the morning.

”Good morning, Aishia.”

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he somehow managed to suppress his lust despite facing the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, standing nude.

”Good morning, Charlie... Aishia? Is that my name?”

Aishia replied with a clear, melodic voice, tilting her head with curiosity.

In reality, she didn’t know her past or even her name. All she knew was that she was Charlie’s contracted Spirit and that she had deep affection for him.

”Yeah, that’s your name. You don’t mind it, right? If you don’t like it, I can think of another name.”

”No, I like the name Charlie gave me.”

Enjoying the feel of Charlie’s hand stroking her head, Aishia’s expression remained emotionless, but her body reacted very honestly. She reached out and gently grabbed Charlie.

”Warm.”

”Aishia, would you like to form a contract with me?”

Not feeling any binding connection to Aishia, as if she were an independent Spirit, Charlie wanted to use his new Magic: Spirit Contractor.

”Um, I exist for Charlie, and I will always stay by your side.”

Aishia didn’t show any signs of shyness. Her words were almost like a confession of love, although she might not have intended it that way.

”Alright, let’s begin.”

With the method for using Spirit Contractor ingrained in his mind when he awakened the Magic, Charlie gently held Aishia’s soft palm.

”With the power of the Spirit Contractor flowing in my veins, I swear to form this contract with you, Aishia. From this moment forward, we shall be together, inseparable by space, time, or fate. Our bond will be eternal, beyond life and death, until the end of all things!”

Honestly, Charlie felt a bit embarrassed reciting such a chuunibyou-style oath. But there was no other choice; it was the chant required to activate the Spirit Contractor magic.

”I accept.” Aishia replied simply, without any hesitation.

*BUZZZ*

Suddenly, a mysterious, intricate pattern began forming on the back of Charlie’s right hand, glowing with energy. The pattern took the shape of a seal with ancient symbols.

At the same time, he felt an inexplicable connection with Aishia.

Moreover, Charlie sensed his Spirit Art growing stronger. The fact that he had formed a contract with a High-Rank Spirit meant he would soon become a prominent Spirit Art user.

”The contract is complete. From now on, please take care of me, Aishia.”

”Um, I will never leave Charlie’s side.”

Without feeling embarrassed despite being naked, Aishia took the initiative to throw herself into Charlie’s arms, nuzzling her face against his chest.

”So warm...”

”From now on, I’m no longer alone.”

Stroking Aishia’s long hair, Charlie felt relief that he was no longer alone and now had someone who would always be by his side.

From the very beginning, when he learned about Aishia’s existence, sleeping within his soul, Charlie had been looking forward to this day.

Maybe he had grown tired of being alone and needed someone who could understand him. He didn’t mind Aishia’s presence.

After all, humans are social creatures. They can’t live alone for long. Even though his mentality exceeded ordinary people’s due to his training in his previous life, Charlie was nearing his limit.

Proof of this could be seen in his visit to the brothel in the Entertainment District.

He needed a home...

A house with family is a home, but a house without family is just a bed.

That’s why, every time Charlie returned to his residence, he felt the loneliness of having lost Dinda.

”I’m here. Don’t worry, I won’t leave you, Charlie.”

Sensing Charlie’s sadness, Aishia hugged him tightly and rubbed his back.

”Aishia...”

Relishing the warmth of the embrace he had long forgotten, Charlie held back the tears that threatened to fall.

Human and Spirit embraced under the morning sunlight streaming through the window.