Hera Familia Headquarters – Citadel Empyrean.
Charlie's footsteps were faint as he crossed the living room toward his bedroom. After a long journey from the Entertainment District, he let out a sigh of relief upon arriving.
"Thank goodness... The girls are still asleep."
Not wanting to wake them, he moved carefully to the bathroom. Warm water poured down as he removed his clothes and began to shower. The scent of women's perfume mixed with smoke and alcohol quickly faded from his body.
As he scrubbed his hair, he smiled wryly and spoke to himself.
"Somehow, I feel like a husband afraid of being caught cheating by his wife..."
He shook his head, trying to dismiss the strange thought. However, it was undeniable that the feeling lingered in his mind.
"Well, sooner or later, what happened earlier will reach Goddess Astraea's ears."
Charlie let out a long sigh, imagining the Goddess of Justice's disapproval of his visit to the Entertainment District.
The only thing he was worried about was Astraea's reaction. He wasn't too concerned about Aishia or Est. The two spirit girls likely wouldn't care.
"After all that commotion, I won't get banned from the brothel, right?" Charlie half-joked, but with genuine anxiety.
Although he rarely visited, the place was one of the few ways he could relieve his sexual desires.
After all, even though his mind was that of an experienced adult due to being a Reincarnator, his body was now that of a 17-year-old teenager, going through puberty with high libido.
The thought of losing access to the Entertainment District made him a little uneasy.
"What should I do if I really get banned?" He muttered while scratching his head.
Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, but he immediately dismissed it firmly.
"Using my own hand...? No way!"
Charlie looked down on masturbation! Whether in his previous life or now, he would never, ever, do such a thing!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The sound of clinking pots and the aroma of delicious food filled the air. Charlie stood in front of the stove, wearing a simple apron, busy preparing breakfast for four. His hands were deft, chopping vegetables, flipping eggs in the pan, and occasionally tasting the boiling soup.
At the dining table, Aishia sat with her head resting on the table, her expression as flat as usual, but there was a slight complaint from her mouth.
"I'm hungry."
"Be patient, Aishia. Breakfast is almost ready." Charlie replied without turning around.
Next to Aishia, Est sat quietly with an upright posture. Her calm eyes observed every movement Charlie made in the kitchen, as if watching a performance. She didn't utter a word, only occasionally glancing at Aishia, who kept complaining.
Across from the two spirit girls, Astraea sat awkwardly. She stared at the dining table with a guilty expression. She felt uncomfortable living here for free.
Then, she stood up and approached Charlie.
Charlie, who was busy slicing bread, glanced briefly as Astraea stood beside him.
"What is it, Goddess Astraea?" He asked while continuing his work.
"I feel uncomfortable just sitting around. Is there anything I can help with?"
Not expecting such an offer, Charlie paused for a moment, considering, then asked carefully.
"Can Goddess Astraea cook?"
"..."
The question was met with awkward silence. Astraea didn't answer immediately, but her beautiful face showed a hint of embarrassment.
She forgot that she couldn't cook!
While the Astraea Familia still existed, her followers prepared her meals.
"...No." Astraea answered, almost in a whisper.
Having anticipated this, Charlie wasn't surprised at all.
"Then, it's better for Goddess Astraea to sit and wait for breakfast to be ready. I'll finish it myself."
Astraea hesitated for a moment before returning to the dining table. Sitting in her chair, she felt increasingly uncomfortable. However, there was nothing she could do but wait.
"What is Charlie cooking?" Aishia suddenly asked, her voice still flat but clearly filled with curiosity.
"Chicken soup, scrambled eggs, and toast. Nothing fancy, but enough to fill our stomachs this morning." Charlie replied as he poured the soup into a large bowl.
Est gazed at the soup from a distance and said softly, "It smells good."
Charlie chuckled at the simple compliment. "Of course it does. I'm the one cooking, after all."
*BANG!*
Suddenly, the door swung open, revealing a woman who entered uninvited.
She had long, golden hair that flowed beautifully, with emerald green eyes. Her skin was smooth and radiant, giving off an unmatched natural elegance. Though her body wasn't as voluptuous as Hestia or Demeter's, she still exuded her own charm with her perfect curves.
Her outfit was open and striking, consisting of colorful fabrics wrapped around her body in bright shades of pink and turquoise. The fabric was designed to leave her shoulders bare, showcasing her porcelain-like skin. Several golden accessories adorned her body, including bracelets on her arms and beautifully shaped jewelry that enhanced her allure.
The woman was none other than one of the Goddesses of Beauty alongside Freya and Ishtar—Aphrodite! With her extraordinary charm, she radiated an attractiveness that made it hard for anyone to look away.
With her hands on her hips, Aphrodite spoke in a cheerful tone. "Charlie, I came to ask you out on a date... Eh, Astraea?"
Her voice trailed off, her confident expression turning to surprise as her eyes caught sight of Astraea sitting at the dining table. In an instant, her smile faded, replaced by a look of confusion.
'Didn't Astraea leave Orario after her Familia was destroyed by the Evilus Familia's conspiracy? When did she return to Orario?'
"Aphrodite?"
Astraea was also surprised by Aphrodite's presence. She didn't expect one of the Goddesses of Beauty to come to Charlie's house like this.
'Is it possible that Charlie has a relationship with Aphrodite? Well, considering Charlie's potential, it's no wonder he's being targeted by other gods and goddesses.' She thought to herself.
"Long time no see, Aphrodite. Are you doing well?" Astraea asked gently.
"Oh, everything's fine. Wait a minute...!" Aphrodite reflexively returned Astraea's greeting, but as the words left her mouth, she suddenly jolted. Her brows furrowed, and she stared at her suspiciously. "Why are you here?"
Not feeling the need to hide anything, Astraea smiled and explained as if it were a normal thing, "I'm staying here with Charlie for the time being."
"What?!"
Aphrodite's eyes widened, and she stared at Astraea as if she couldn't believe it. The next moment, her expression changed drastically. With clenched teeth and a gaze filled with anger, she strode forcefully toward Charlie.
"You heartless man, Charlie!"
Aphrodite's hands immediately grabbed the collar of the young man's shirt, shaking him with full emotion.
"What is this?! Since when have you been living with Astraea? Why didn't I know about this? What's your relationship with her, huh?! Don't tell me, you... you're cheating behind my back?!"
Hearing the accusation, the corner of Charlie's eye twitched. In a helpless tone, he calmly said, "Aphrodite, this has nothing to do with you. We don't even have any relationship, so stop calling me that."
However, his indifferent attitude and flat response only made Aphrodite more annoyed. Her eyes turned red as if her pride had just been trampled on. As a Goddess of Beauty, no one—not even other gods—dared to reject her charm. But Charlie, this ordinary human, kept rejecting her, not even slightly affected by her allure.
Her face turned red from a mix of embarrassment and anger.
"I am Aphrodite! The Goddess of Beauty worshipped by everyone! Other men flock to get my attention, but you just waste it?! This is a huge insult to me! You have to take responsibility!"
"Haaah..." Charlie just let out a long sigh, feeling his life energy drained by this drama. "And how am I supposed to take responsibility, Aphrodite?"
Aphrodite's face instantly brightened, her eyes shining with confidence.
"You have to go on a date with me today. That's your compensation for hurting my pride."
But Charlie refused without hesitation.
"Sorry, Aphrodite, I can't. I already have plans to go on an expedition to the Dungeon today."
The rejection made Aphrodite stare at him in disbelief, her mouth slightly open as if wanting to argue. But before she could speak, Aishia, who had been quietly watching, suddenly spoke up.
"Charlie, you should take a few days off. It's not healthy to work non-stop without rest. Even corporate slaves need time to relax."
"..."
Charlie fell silent for a moment, understanding the meaning behind Aishia's suggestion. He knew Aishia was looking out for him, and she was right. His nerves had been tense since his journey in the world of Gotoubun no Hanayome, and even after returning to the Danmachi world, he immediately resumed his activities without a break.
'Aishia is right. I've been too hasty chasing power. Just recently, I advised Aiz, but my actions and words are contradictory.' He pondered seriously.
'This is my chance!'
Seeing Charlie considering Aishia's words, Aphrodite thought that Aishia was supporting her. Her face brightened again, and she followed the flow of the conversation.
"That's right, Charlie! Listen to Aishia's advice! A date with a Goddess of Beauty like me is the best way to take a break. You know, not just anyone gets this opportunity. If you keep refusing, who knows, you might even incur divine punishment!"