Three days passed by in a flash.
During that time, Charlie didn't set foot in the Dungeon. He spent his rare days off on something more precious—accompanying Aishia, Est, and Astraea.
They explored Orario. Unlike what was depicted in anime or novels, Charlie took them to Orario's forgotten little corners—night market alleys, quiet old tea houses with few customers, dusty underground libraries, and secret gardens where nameless wildflowers bloomed.
The three of them enjoyed it immensely. Due to her child-like appearance, Est was pulled away by a group of children to play with them. Aishia tried what normal girls usually did, and even Astraea hadn't enjoyed strolling with others in a long time.
But for Charlie, this was more than just recreation.
He meticulously studied Orario's laws—Guild policies, the Ganesha Familia's authority in public safety, and even the subtle loopholes in trade regulations.
As a former police officer in his past life, Charlie knew one thing for sure: Knowing the law means knowing how to break it properly!
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After having lunch with Est and Aishia, who were now enjoying their time at the public bathhouse, Charlie chose to go out alone.
His destination was simple: Claes Flower Shop.
The place wasn't large, even looking plain compared to other shops on the same street. But strangely, this shop was always crowded with visitors, especially young men who suddenly developed a fondness for buying flowers for no apparent reason.
The owners were a married couple from a remote village outside Orario. They came to this big city for a better life, and selling flowers was the only skill they possessed. But what truly kept the shop going was their daughter.
Anna Claes.
A shy, polite, and very kind-hearted girl. She more often avoided direct eye contact and blushed easily, but never once refused to help anyone. The people around her called her the "flower girl" not just because of where she worked, but because of her gentle aura that made anyone want to protect her.
The flaxen wavy hair she inherited from her mother flowed down to her waist, while the deep blue eyes she got from her father gave a captivating impression.
Though it sounded cruel, everyone knew one thing: Anna's beauty was the main reason so many people bought flowers here.
People always said that judging others by their appearance was wrong, but how many could truly ignore looks?
If Anna were an fat woman or had an unattractive appearance, no matter how beautiful the flowers she sold, the shop probably wouldn't be this crowded. Even Charlie acknowledged that as a reality in any world, even his previous one.
However, what Charlie saw at that moment... wasn't the usual peaceful scene.
In front of the shop, Anna stood awkwardly before a middle-aged adventurer. The man's body was large and muscular, a sword hung at his waist, and his aura indicated he was no ordinary person. From his Six Eyes observation, Charlie guessed the other party was only Level 2—a Low-Class Adventurer.
There was no other choice.
Although Anna was just an ordinary person, she was a beautiful girl. Without the strength or Familia backing to support her, she was an easy target compared to other beautiful girls like Aiz Wallenstein, Elfy Colette, Harmonia, Airmid Teasanare, Heith Velvet, and so on.
Girls like them had protection—either from their Familia, their own strength, or a reputation that made anyone think twice before trying to approach without permission.
But Anna? She was just the daughter of a flower shop owner!
"I'm sorry, Sir... But as I said before, I can't have dinner with you." Anna said softly and politely.
However, the middle-aged man only chuckled.
"Ahh, don't be like that, Anna-chan. You can leave this shop for a bit, right? Besides, I'm not asking for anything weird, just dinner."
Anna bowed slightly, trying to keep her distance while still smiling.
"Mother and Father are resting. I have to look after the shop..."
"Well, just think of them as sleeping soundly, right? Besides, you definitely need protection. A beautiful girl like you... alone without a Familia... That's dangerous, you know~"
The middle-aged man was just bluffing. Even he knew that with Ganesha Familia members routinely patrolling to maintain Orario's safety and order, adventurers couldn't just act as they pleased in public. If the legal system weren't enforced, a beautiful girl like Anna, without strength or background, would have long been a victim of kidnapping and slave trade outside Orario.
Anyway, their status as superhumans made some morally corrupt adventurers feel superior to ordinary people.
Anna took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. However, before she continued her subtle refusal, a man's voice joined their conversation.
"Uncle, if you don't want to buy flowers, please leave. Aren't you ashamed to flirt with a girl who is much younger than you?"
The middle-aged man's face hardened, annoyed at being embarrassed.
"Who's that?! Don't interfere in other people's business! Otherwise—"
However, his threatening sentence stopped. His pupils shrank as he saw the young man standing not far from him. Not because of an intimidating aura, but because of his hair color—pure white like snow.
'That white hair... That sharp blue gaze... Could it be him?'
People in the entertainment district still often talked about him. About how a young man from the Hera Familia single-handedly defeated all the members of the Ishtar Familia. Although not everyone witnessed it directly, the news spread quickly, becoming a topic of conversation.
"Y-You..." The middle-aged man's voice choked. "Charlie Avalon from the Hera Familia?"
Charlie stared at him flatly. His voice was cold and emotionless.
"So?"
That alone was enough.
That cold blue gaze was like piercing directly into the opponent's mind, tearing apart his mask of confidence.
The middle-aged man opened his mouth again, but no sound came out. The tension in his chest was unbearable.
"I-I... I was just kidding! Hahaha... Besides, I just wanted to buy flowers. But I think I came at the wrong time!"
He bowed awkwardly towards Anna. "Sorry if I made you uncomfortable, Miss. I won't come back here again. Really!"
Then, he turned and ran away as if the devil were chasing him.
Passersby stared at the middle-aged man's back while whispering, but Charlie didn't pay them any attention.
He only saw Anna, who was still standing in her place, still not reacting to the sudden change in the situation.
"...Are you alright, Anna?" Charlie asked, his tone much softer than before.
Anna nodded slightly. "Thank you, Charlie-san... I... I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come earlier."
"It's not a big deal. Try to avoid going out alone at night." Charlie reminded her.
"Um, I'll listen to your advice, Charlie-san." Anna bowed her head slightly, her cheeks still a little red.
"Are you... buying flowers as usual?"
"Yes."
"Please wait a moment."
With light steps, Anna went inside the shop and began preparing the flowers Charlie usually bought—a bouquet of blue roses.
While Anna bent down to arrange the flowers, Charlie stood silently. But his mind wasn't as calm as his face.
'In my original world, a girl as beautiful as Anna would easily become a model or actress. But in this world, she can only resign herself to facing perverted men who lust after her beauty. A power-oriented world is everything—here, weakness is a sin.'
His eyes glanced at the girl's body in front of him.
'A slender, delicate waist... plump buttocks perfect for bearing children... and breasts larger than Aiz's, which fit just right in the palm of my hand...'
Charlie let out a short sigh. He understood why men always tried to approach Anna.
However, unlike them—his gaze wasn't filled with lust, but with sympathy, and... something more complex. A mixture of admiration and a desire to protect her.
Meanwhile, Anna slowly felt her body getting a little hot. Not because of the room temperature, but because of Charlie's gaze.
She could feel that the young man was watching her.
But not like other men. Charlie's gaze didn't make her feel disgusted. Not like the greedy stares she usually received from male adventurers.
'Strange... why don't I feel scared...'
Her hands kept working, but her mind wandered.
'Compared to our first meeting, Charlie-san looks much more handsome now... maybe because he helped me? No... he was handsome from the start...'
Her heart beat faster.
'Is this love at first sight? But... I'm just an ordinary village girl. Not like the Sword Princess who is close to Charlie-san... I'm nobody.'
Her eyes glanced at Charlie secretly.
'I'm not worthy of him. But why... why do I feel like I want to be near him all the time?'
"Charlie-san... Here are your flowers." Anna handed the flowers over with both hands.
Charlie took them with one handak. Their fingers almost touched. Anna flinched slightly, then quickly withdrew her hand and bowed her head.
"Thank you."
After receiving the flowers from Anna, Charlie stared for a moment at the neatly arranged blue petals in his grasp. Then, he slowly raised his right hand.
*SWOOSH!*
The air around them vibrated softly.
With a flick of his fingers, Charlie activated Spirit Arts. A thin greenish aura flowed from his fingertips, surrounding the flowers in his hand. Petal after petal of the flower detached delicately, then floated into the air.
A gentle breeze blew from behind him, as if responding to the essence of the magic he emitted.
The petals danced in the air—spinning, flying high, then slowly fading into a thin light that merged with the sky.
Anna was silent. Not because of the beauty of what she had just seen, but because of the meaning behind it.
She knew that Charlie always bought those blue roses not just as decorations. It was a form of respect for his deceased wife.
That unwavering and unspoken dedication—made Anna's chest feel tight.
'He's a man who is not only strong... but also loyal, and full of feeling.'
Although she had heard rumors of Charlie having fun with prostitutes in the Entertainment District, Anna didn't believe it in the slightest and was sure it was just malicious slander from those who were jealous of Charlie.
"Here's the money."
Charlie took out some valis, placed them on the counter, then glanced at Anna.
"Thank you for the flowers, Anna. I'll be going now."
He then turned and began to walk away from the shop, through the bustling crowds of Orario.
Anna could only stand there, watching his back slowly disappear among the light of the street lanterns.
Once his figure vanished from sight, Anna took a long breath and placed her hand on her chest.
'I have truly met a wonderful man.'
A faint smile appeared on her face, but her eyes were slightly dim.
'And because of that, the standard for men in my life has become ridiculously high now.'