Journey to Planar World

The voice was both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. This contradiction made Charlie unable to immediately recognize its owner. So, he turned toward the source of the voice.

It was a stunningly beautiful woman with long, golden-blonde hair, golden eyes, and a slender figure. She wore a white one-piece dress with gold accents, exuding an aura of elegance.

Her beauty rivaled that of the goddesses descended from the heavens, making her the center of attention wherever she went. This was a familiar issue for famous celebrities on Earth, unable to move freely in public without causing a commotion.

However, this girl wasn’t just a visual beauty. Her greatest fame stemmed from her unmatched strength among adventurers.

After all, strength was the primary source of reputation in Orario.

The girl was none other than one of the top executives of Loki Familia, widely known by her alias, the Sword Princess—Ais Wallenstein!

”So it’s you, Ais. Long time no see.”

As Ais stopped less than a meter in front of him, Charlie felt a wave of nostalgia.

He had no choice.

To him, their last meeting felt like over three months ago, thanks to the time dilation in the Planar World he had explored.

Ais’s golden eyes flickered slightly, her usual blank expression barely changing.

”Hm? Long? It hasn’t been long.”

Her tone was flat, not grasping the meaning behind Charlie’s words.

”Hey, does anyone know that guy? Why is the Sword Princess greeting him?”

”So jealous~ I want to talk to the Sword Princess too!”

”The Sword Princess, famous for not being close to any man, is taking the initiative? Am I seeing things?”

Whispers began to spread, and curious eyes glanced their way.

Though Charlie Avalon of Hera Familia was starting to gain fame in Orario, his appearance was still unfamiliar to many. In contrast, no adventurer didn’t know Ais Wallenstein.

Seeing the Sword Princess standing so close and chatting with a man naturally drew massive attention.

”Let’s talk somewhere else.” Charlie said, opting to avoid the spotlight.

”Mm.” Ais nodded lightly, accepting his suggestion without debate.

Thus, under the curious gazes and speculative whispers of the crowd, the two adventurers left the Guild, disappearing into the bustling streets of Orario.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Charlie and Ais walked side by side on the drying sidewalk after the rain.

They were so close, with barely any gap between them, that their shoulders occasionally brushed lightly. Each touch sparked an odd atmosphere, as if an invisible magnetic field existed between them.

”Ais, can you keep a little distance?”

Charlie finally asked, slightly uncomfortable with the closeness that was drawing the attention of passersby.

He could feel the curious stares and whispers he couldn’t quite catch but were clearly directed at them.

Ais turned her head, her clear golden eyes looking at Charlie with an innocent expression.

”Charlie doesn’t like it?”

Her tone was flat, devoid of clear emotion, but there was a hint of confusion.

Sighing, Charlie realized explaining social norms to her might be futile.

”It’s… Never mind.”

He noticed the surrounding gazes shifting from curiosity to… something else. Most were envious looks from male adventurers who idolized the Sword Princess.

His romantic relationship with Ais would be discovered sooner or later, and Charlie wasn’t one to shirk responsibility after ”eating.” So, with a sudden decision, he reached out and took her hand.

”…!!!”

Ais’s body trembled slightly, an unexpected reaction for a First-Class Adventurer like her. Her golden eyes widened briefly, surprised by the warmth and softness of the touch.

Even so, she didn’t pull away; instead, her fingers slowly returned Charlie’s grip, intertwining tightly.

(Men’s hands are so big and warm… So this is what holding hands feels like? No wonder Mom and Dad did it so often.)

Suddenly, faint, dreamlike memories flooded Ais’s mind.

Moments when her parents—figures so dear to her—often held hands at every opportunity, a small gesture that now felt profoundly meaningful.

”By the way, Ais, what were you doing at the Guild?” Charlie asked, trying to break the silence that was starting to feel awkward yet… comfortable.

Knowing the woman beside him wasn’t the talkative type, he had to take the initiative to keep the conversation from feeling heavy.

”Reporting my level-up to the Guild.”

”Oh, you leveled up, Ais? Congratulations. You’re Level 6 now.”

Knowing Ais’s obsession with pursuing strength, this was great news. Charlie was genuinely happy for her achievement.

”But I got scolded by Riveria.”

Ais’s tone remained calm, but a faint trace of sadness appeared on her face.

”Why did Riveria scold you?”

”To break through to the next level, I entered the Dungeon alone and fought Udaeus.”

”I see… You were reckless, Ais. Udaeus isn’t just any monster—it’s a Floor Boss! And the Floor 37 Monster Boss at that! Honestly, I think Riveria wasn’t angry but worried because you were reckless.”

Their relationship had progressed too quickly—skipping many stages and going straight to the finale—so Charlie didn’t know much about Ais’s past.

He didn’t know that Riveria had raised Ais since childhood, treating her like her own daughter.

What parent wouldn’t worry when their child was in danger?

Of course, there were exceptions: deadbeat parents who only wanted to make children but not raise them.

There were plenty of such deplorable parents in this world, and even in Charlie’s previous life.

But Riveria was clearly not one of them. Her concern was genuine, a manifestation of her love.

”Mm, I know. Riveria lectured me for a long time.”

As if recalling something terrifying, Ais shivered, her shoulders slightly raised as if chilled by a piercing winter wind.

(Riveria must’ve been really mad, huh…)

Charlie could imagine the long lecture Riveria gave his girlfriend.

”What about you, Charlie? What were you doing at the Guild? I saw you chatting closely with that receptionist.”

A faint darkness flickered in Ais’s pupils as she brought up the topic. A sour feeling filled her heart when she saw the man to whom she had given everything—her body, emotions, and perhaps even her heart—chatting comfortably with another woman.

”Like you, I was reporting my level-up to the Guild.” Charlie answered honestly, completely unaware of the smoldering jealousy in the woman beside him. ”If I didn’t, I was worried the Guild would accuse me of hiding my true level and label me as part of Evilus.”

”What level are you now?” Ais asked, her voice slightly quicker than usual.

”Level 5.”

”…”

Ais’s jealousy instantly turned to frozen silence upon learning Charlie’s current strength level. Her grip on his hand tightened unconsciously.

Ais herself was a genius with extraordinary potential.

She reached Level 2 within a year of receiving her Falna, making her the fastest to achieve that level at the time. She continued to level up, reaching Level 4 about one and a half years later.

Thus, it took her around five years to reach Level 5.

This rapid progress was far faster than the average adventurer’s leveling speed, which could take 5–10 years per level for normal adventurers.

Learning that Charlie had caught up to her strength in just three short months, how could Ais, so obsessed with pursuing strength for a single goal, not feel envious?

The feeling stung, a mix of admiration and a slight pang of pain that someone could achieve her goal so quickly while she had to struggle so hard.