Charlie might not be the most perceptive man, but he wasn't as dense as a block of wood either. He immediately sensed a subtle shift in Ais's mood.

"What's wrong, Ais?" Charlie asked directly. Lacking the ability to read a woman's mind, asking outright was the best approach.

"Just a bit jealous of your talent, Charlie." Ais admitted bluntly, unlike most women who might beat around the bush to make men guess their intentions. "You're truly amazing."

"A genius, huh…" Charlie chuckled softly, then stopped walking. Ais stopped too, looking at him with confusion.

"Honestly, I don't deserve to claim the title of genius. Compared to a genius, I'm more of a cheater."

"…?"

Ais stared at him, her golden eyes showing genuine confusion.

"Listen, Ais. A genius is someone who can achieve in a fraction of the effort it takes others, quickly rising to the top. They reach the peak through talent and efficient hard work."

"A cheater, on the other hand, is the kind of… being who can do even more than a genius, without feeling any effort at all."

For his achievements so far, Charlie never considered them purely his own. In this context, the foundation of his strength was the template of Karasuki Rio from the Planar World: Seirei Gensouki.

If he relied solely on Falna, he feared he'd still be an unnoticed Level 1 adventurer.

"I don't understand what you're saying."

Ais shook her head, her expression still blank, finding such abstract concepts too difficult to grasp.

"It's fine if you don't understand. I was just rambling." Charlie gave a faint smile, deciding not to burden Ais with his complex thoughts.

"By the way, Ais, do you know where we are? Why are there so many couples here?"

The two had been walking and chatting aimlessly, letting the wind guide their path, and now they found themselves in a place brimming with a romantic atmosphere.

Hearing Charlie's question, Ais looked around before answering in her calm tone:

"We're on Southwest Main Street, Amour Square."

Amour Square was paved with colorful stones arranged neatly, bordered by lush greenery with blooming plants and flowers.

The sweet scent of flowers mingled with the damp post-rain air, creating a beautiful and soothing atmosphere.

It was just before 8 a.m. In the center of the square, surrounded by couples walking hand-in-hand or sitting on benches, stood an elegant statue of a goddess.

"Hey, Ais, want to go on a date?"

Charlie spontaneously asked her out. After all, they were in one of Orario's most popular dating spots, and it felt like a waste not to seize the moment.

Besides, he had never spent leisurely time alone with Ais like this, despite their relationship having already crossed the boundaries of a healthy couple in… physical terms.

This was a chance to build an emotional bridge.

"A date…?" Ais murmured, her golden eyes blinking slightly.

She paused for a moment, perhaps processing the definition of "date" in her mind. After a few seconds of silence, she nodded in agreement.

"Mm."

Honestly, Ais lacked common sense outside the context of combat or the Dungeon. Socializing and human interactions often confused her.

But the thought of spending time with Charlie sparked a warm, unfamiliar yet pleasant sensation in her chest. She didn't mind; in fact, she felt a slight sense of anticipation.

"Then let's start our first date."

With that, Charlie gave a faint smile. Without waiting for further response, he pulled Ais's hand, leading her away from Amour Square.

Charlie didn't want their first date to be just standing around in one place. Orario's vast expanse offered so much more to explore together.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

With the experience of having gone through a marriage phase in his previous life, Charlie took the lead on the date.

He wanted Ais, a girl who spent so much of her life in the Dungeon and training, to experience a glimpse of a normal girl's life.

Their first stop was shopping. To Charlie, no girl disliked shopping.

Though Ais initially seemed confused by the bustling crowds and array of displayed goods, Charlie patiently guided her. He took her to a clothing store showcasing vibrant dresses, though Ais stared at them expressionlessly, as if they didn't spark her interest.

Charlie then led her to a small jewelry shop. There, Ais was captivated by the glimmer of gemstones, her usually calm eyes reflecting the starlike shine of earrings and necklaces.

Charlie bought her a simple silver lily-shaped hairpin and tucked it into her golden-blonde hair. A faint blush appeared on Ais's cheeks, and she carefully held the hairpin.

Next, Charlie took Ais to a quiet café on a street corner. Instead of tea or coffee, they opted for sweet pudding and colorful cakes.

Ais, who usually didn't care much about what she ate, savored her chocolate pudding with a rare look of awe. A dab of cream stuck to the corner of her lips, and Charlie instinctively wiped it off with his thumb, causing Ais to flinch slightly but not pull away.

They sat there for a while, watching the bustling streets through the glass window. Charlie occasionally spoke, and Ais listened attentively, sometimes asking short questions about trivial things that, to Charlie, were part of everyday life but, to Ais, were new discoveries.

As the afternoon approached, they visited a sprawling city park where children played and adults relaxed.

Charlie invited Ais to sit on a bench under a shady tree, letting the gentle breeze caress their faces.

At one point, a butterfly landed on Ais's finger, and she gazed at it with pure curiosity.

Before the sun fully set, Charlie took Ais to the riverbank that divided Orario.

The city lights began to glow, casting golden reflections on the calm water's surface. They stood side by side, shoulders touching, enjoying a silence that contrasted with the daytime bustle.

Charlie glanced at Ais, seeing her profile illuminated by the twilight glow.

"How was it?" he asked softly.

Ais turned to him, her usually blank expression now tinged with… softness.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved her lips.

"Fun." she replied briefly, but to Charlie, that word carried infinite weight.

Ais's grip on Charlie's hand tightened slightly, as if she wanted to hold onto every moment of their first date.

"Charlie, I have to go home."

Ais broke the twilight silence, her gaze shifting to the darkening sky.

"Alright, let me walk you home."

Escorting a girl home after a date was standard, even if that girl was the renowned Sword Princess. Though Charlie doubted anyone in Orario could harass Ais, it was an important gesture of courtesy.

"Mm."

Ais nodded lightly, her wordless agreement soothing.

Her grip on Charlie's hand didn't loosen, as if she cherished the shared warmth.

The two walked through streets now lit by magical stone lamps, heading toward Twilight Manor.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

At the northernmost edge of Orario, amidst the fading hum of city life, stood a magnificent building. Its dark copper hue blended perfectly with the deepening twilight, exuding strength and luxury.

Though not as tall as the towering Babel, staring at it too long still strained the neck.

This was the headquarters of Loki Familia, though Orario's residents preferred to call it Twilight Manor.

"Ais-tan~"

A loud, cheerful voice broke the silence as they approached the main gate.

At the heavily guarded gate, manned by two armed adventurers, Loki came running, her small but agile silhouette clear in the twilight.

However, her usually narrowed, slit-like eyes widened in disbelief.

Her cheerful expression turned to horror as she realized her beloved Ais was holding hands with a man!

A man who was none other than Charlie Avalon of Hera Familia!

"You scoundrel! Let go of my Ais-tan's hand!"

Consumed by pure, burning rage, Loki lunged at Charlie with surprising speed, her arms outstretched, ready to claw or strike.

*BAM!*

"Ouch!"

Unfortunately, with her Arcanum sealed and her strength no different from an ordinary person's, Charlie easily dodged her sudden attack, stepping aside swiftly.

As a result, Loki lost her balance, crashing onto the stone ground in front of the gate with a loud thud.

"Cough, cough… Charlie Avalon, what have you done to Ais?!"

Ignoring the dirt and slight mud now smudging her face, Loki stood up, glaring at Charlie with eyes full of hostility, like a wild cat ready to pounce.