Charlie's consciousness returned to his original body. Instantly, he felt a soft sensation beneath the back of his head, a comfort far surpassing any high-quality pillow he had ever experienced.

The gentle scent of lilies filled his senses.

Opening his eyes, he was greeted by the face of a beautiful woman looking down at him with a tender gaze.

She had long, vibrant peach-colored hair cascading past her shoulders down to her knees, with a few strands framing her face. The tips of her hair curled slightly inward.

Her large beautiful eyes, matching the color of her hair, radiated warmth and tranquility. Her thin, neat eyebrows complemented her delicate nose and soft pink lips.

She wore a simple yet elegant white dress, adorned with thin golden lines across the chest and light blue ruffles at the shoulders and collar. Though simple, the dress accentuated her graceful figure and full chest.

Who else could it be but his contracted spirit, Aishia?

Though Aishia's face appeared expressionless—a hallmark of her personality—there was an unmistakable softness in her eyes, reflecting both worry and relief.

It didn't take a genius to understand the situation. Charlie realized he was comfortably resting on Aishia's lap.

In other words, he was enjoying the legendary lap pillow that many dreamed of!

"Welcome back, Charlie."

Before Charlie could say anything, Aishia spoke first, her voice gentle, welcoming the return of her soulmate from a dangerous Quest in another Planar World.

"Yeah, I'm home."

His mind instantly relaxed, the tension he had been carrying slowly fading with Aishia by his side.

"Don't forget about me, Onii-chan."

A flat emotionless voice with a faint sulky tone came from the side.

Turning toward the sound, Charlie saw a petite girl standing nearby, her beauty rivaling Aishia's but with a distinctly different charm.

The petite girl had long white hair flowing down to her knees, parted in the middle to frame her delicate face. Her large eyes were a deep sea-blue with hints of green. Her milky-white skin was almost translucent.

She wore a white sailor-style school uniform with a large black collar trimmed with gold. A yellow ribbon was neatly tied at her neck. Double black buttons adorned the front of her blazer, with black trim along the collar and sleeve cuffs.

Her short, pleated skirt was also white, with a layer of lace at the hem. She completed her look with knee-high black socks, and her hands were slightly hidden within her sleeves.

The petite girl was Terminus Est, his other contracted spirit.

"No way I'd forget our adorable Est. Come here."

Charlie beckoned her closer with his hand.

"…"

Without a word, Est approached. Her steps were light, and she stood beside Aishia, looking down at Charlie, who was still lying on Aishia's lap.

Because Charlie was lying down while Est stood, he could see what might be a pedophile's dream beneath her flared skirt.

(I don't feel anything. As expected, I'm not a pedophile.)

Charlie was relieved not to be aroused by the sight of the thin white fabric with a small bear pattern that Est wore. He felt a sense of relief at his body's reaction.

(Technically, Est isn't a child. She's hundreds, maybe thousands of years old. She's far older than me and most adventurers in this world. Perhaps only a few long-lived Elves could match or surpass her age.)

The thought gave him a bit of justification for the awkward situation.

As Charlie mused, he didn't notice Est climbing onto him and sitting gently on his stomach, her petite frame feeling light yet tangible.

"Est?"

"What?"

"Why are you sitting there?"

"Can't I?"

Est tilted her head, her expressionless face showing no hint that she thought anything was wrong with her actions. To her, it might just be a way to be closer to her Master.

"Do whatever you want."

With a wry smile, Charlie reached out and stroked Est's white hair.

"Fuwa~…"

The gentle touch made Est close her eyes, her expression one of satisfaction, like a cat having its fur petted.

"Aishia, did anything happen while I was gone?"

While stroking Est's head, Charlie looked up at Aishia, who was now gently patting his head with the same tenderness.

"Nothing happened. Everything went as normal. To Est and me, it was like you were only asleep for a moment." Aishia replied in her calm voice.

"Good to know nothing bad happened while I was away. Even though there's time dilation during my Quests, time in this world doesn't stop and keeps moving. It's not impossible for trouble to arise." Charlie sighed in relief.

Unlike women who might lie to men as naturally as breathing, Aishia would never lie to him, so Charlie didn't doubt her in the slightest.

"Next time, don't leave us." Aishia scolded gently, her tone slightly firmer than usual. "Do you know, Charlie, every second we worry about your safety? What if you face a powerful enemy?"

"I've told you, I did it because we're in the Dungeon. Without someone guarding my real body, I'm worried someone with malicious intent could harm my defenseless self."

This was why Charlie left Aishia and Est to guard his physical body while his consciousness was in another Planar World.

It's worth noting that thousands of adventurers enter the Dungeon daily, as it's their livelihood.

While most are low-class adventurers operating on the Upper Floors, occasionally, parties venture into the Middle or even Lower Floors.

Moreover, Charlie and his two spirit girls were on Floor 28—the Lower Floors—a safe zone in the Dungeon. Thus, adventurers resting on this floor were strong and experienced.

If they found Charlie alone and unconscious, he'd likely be robbed, or worse, killed.

After all, not all adventurers are kind-hearted like Bell Cranel. On the contrary, most have rough personalities, driven by greed and the need to survive in the harsh Dungeon.

"Oh, right, I brought souvenirs for you both."

Remembering the Christmas edition cakes he bought in the Planar World: Sword Art Online, Charlie gently lifted Est, who felt as light as a feather, off his body. He then sat up from Aishia's lap, which had briefly turned him into a lazy sloth.

*BUZZ!*

Next, Charlie raised his right hand, and from the Space-Time Cache—a sleek silver bracelet on his wrist—he began retrieving the cakes.

Each piece appeared from thin air and landed softly on a clean mat spread on the ground.

There were various cakes, each piece looking like a miniature work of art.

The sweet aroma of the cakes quickly filled the air, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere that contrasted with the Dungeon's dangers.

"They look delicious."

Aishia and Est's eyes sparkled, a rare glint of desire breaking through their calm expressions. Both were captivated by the beautiful, colorful cakes.

"Let's eat."

Without Charlie needing to say more, Aishia and Est each grabbed the cake that caught their eye.

Aishia chose a slice of red velvet, while Est picked a star-shaped gingerbread cookie. They began eating with visibly happy moods, savoring every bite of the sweet treats that had suddenly appeared.

A rare faint smile graced Est's lips as she chewed, and Aishia enjoyed her cake with the elegance of a goddess.