Charlie had absolutely no idea that his intimate encounter with Ais had been exposed and discovered by the entire Loki Familia. Even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared in the slightest.
Besides, what if Loki intended to cause trouble or send her entire Familia to hunt him down?
Setting aside the vast disparity in power between the two sides, which was as different as heaven and earth, Loki was guaranteed to have neither the time nor the opportunity to pick a fight with Charlie.
Why?
Because tomorrow was the very last day for the gods to roam freely in the Lower World before his grand plan was executed.
Arriving in front of his modest home, Charlie slowly opened the wooden door.
The moment he stepped inside, his eyes were greeted by the sight of Mahiru looking utterly stunning and elegant, wearing an apron just like an ideal housewife.
"Welcome back, Charlie-kun." Mahiru greeted him with a sweet, heartwarming smile. "Would you like to have dinner first, or do you want to take a bath right away?"
While handing his coat over to Mahiru, Charlie couldn't resist teasing the girl. He leaned forward slightly with a mischievous smile.
"You missed one very important option in your greeting, Mahiru." Charlie teased, his eyes twinkling with playfulness. "Where's the 'or me' choice~?"
Instantly, Mahiru's beautiful face turned bright red with embarrassment. She threw a gentle punch at Charlie's broad chest to mask her flustered state.
"Ugh, Charlie-kun! You really are something... how can you think about such lewd things every single day!" Mahiru grumbled in an adorably soft voice.
Before Charlie could pursue his playful teasing any further, Kei suddenly emerged from the inner corridor with her hands resting on her hips. Her eyes narrowed, fixing him with a mockingly jealous glare.
"Hmph! What a skirt-chaser." Kei scoffed with a pout. "Looks like someone immediately forgot his old flame the moment he got his hands on a new one, huh?"
Hearing her sarcastic jab, Charlie only chuckled in amusement. Without a moment's hesitation, he reached out both arms and pulled both Kei and Mahiru into a firm, simultaneous embrace.
"You've both got it wrong. I've never played favorites or been biased between you." He whispered tenderly near their ears. "I treat every single one of you with complete fairness, equality, and the exact same depth of love."
Held tightly in their man's embrace, Mahiru and Kei exchanged glances with each other. Their eyes met, conveying an unmistakable sense of awkwardness.
After all, it hadn't been very long since the two of them first met and shared a bond as Familiars under the same roof.
Moments later, Aishia approached them. Seeing the three of them wrapped in a cozy hug, she calmly walked around them, taking a position directly behind Charlie, and wrapped her beautiful arms around his back to embrace him from behind.
"I missed you so much today, Charlie." Aishia whispered softly, resting her cheek comfortably against Charlie's back.
*JIIII—!!!*
Est, who had followed right behind Aishia, instantly puffed out both her cheeks in annoyance at the sight before her.
She stared intently at the tightly packed circle of hugs, feeling frustrated that there was no space left for her to cling to Charlie as well.
Noticing his little spirit's irritation, Charlie immediately let go of Mahiru and Kei for a moment. He turned around, knelt down right in front of Est, and spread his arms wide to give the small girl an exclusive embrace all to herself.
"I'm sorry, Est. Here, this hug is special just for you now. How about it? Are you satisfied with this?" he asked in a gentle, soothing tone.
Feeling the warm embrace and special attention from her master, the irritation on Est's face instantly thawed.
Her cheeks were no longer puffed out, and her mood brightened in an instant as she leaned her head affectionately against Charlie's shoulder.
"I forgive Onii-chan." Est murmured softly in her characteristic flat tone, though her grip around Charlie's neck perceptibly tightened.
To Charlie, coaxing a little spirit like Est was actually far easier and simpler than navigating the emotional complexities of grown women.
All it took was giving her genuine, dedicated attention, and everything would be sorted out.
Once he made sure Est was in a better mood, Charlie led his girls toward the living room.
"Good evening, Goddess Astraea." Charlie greeted in a polite tone the moment his eyes caught sight of the Goddess of Justice sitting gracefully on the sofa, reading a thick book.
Astraea lowered her book slightly, observing Charlie as he walked in, surrounded by a procession of gorgeous women.
For reasons unknown even to herself, a faint trace of discomfort suddenly crept subtlely into her heart.
"An adventurer who chooses to have only a single life partner is an exceptionally rare phenomenon in this lower world, Charlie."
Astraea voiced her perspective in a calm yet meaningful tone.
"However, usually it is only the nobility and royal families who intentionally build a harem."
Charlie let out a quiet chuckle as he stepped forward to take a seat opposite Astraea.
"To me, it's actually those adventurers who seem strange, Goddess Astraea." He countered with a subtle, confident smile. "They clearly possess extraordinary superhuman strength compared to ordinary people like the nobility or royalty. Yet, for some reason, they willingly allow themselves to be bound by the concept of traditional monogamy."
This was by no means the first time the two of them had discussed this sensitive topic regarding relationship principles.
Realizing that this argument would go on endlessly if pursued, Astraea chose to let out a short sigh and closed her book, reluctant to carry the conversation any further.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
Shortly after, the atmosphere surrounding the dinner table inside the residence was filled with warmth and lively energy.
The delicious aroma of Mahiru's home-cooked meal filled the air, blending with the bustling chatter echoing back and forth.
If an outsider were to peek inside the room, they would surely be struck with awe.
Gathered around that circular dining table were five women of extraordinary beauty.
It was an exceedingly rare composition; consisting of two Spirit girls, two captivating human maidens, and a grand goddess exuding a sacred aura.
And right in the midst of those five astounding women, Charlie sat calmly as the sole male in the residence.
It was a sight that stood as living proof of the modest throne he had managed to build before the great storm of tomorrow changed the world forever.
Once dinner was finished, Astraea stepped outside and chose to sit comfortably on the veranda.
From her spot, she quietly watched a few pedestrians occasionally passing by outside the yard's fence.
A cool night breeze blew gently, caressing her stunningly attractive face under the dim glow of the lights.
Up above, the silver moonlight illuminated the clear night sky, stretching vast and filled with beautifully twinkling stars.
"..."
The silence of the night was softly disrupted as the door opened. Charlie stepped outside, carrying a small plate of warm, freshly baked cookies in his hands.
"These are cookies Mahiru just finished baking, and they taste absolutely delicious." He offered the plate warmly. "I hope you'll give them a try, Goddess Astraea."
Seeing Charlie then take a seat in the empty chair right beside her, Astraea offered a faint smile. She reached out her elegant fingers, took a cookie from the plate, and took a small bite of its crispy surface.
"The texture is just right, and it's not overly sweet." She genuinely praised the taste of the snack. "This is truly a very well-made cookie."
Charlie nodded proudly upon hearing her words. "Mahiru's cooking skills are always extraordinary. Every dish she makes never fails to pamper the palate."
However, after Charlie finished delivering his praise, the atmosphere on the veranda suddenly shifted into a somewhat quieter hush.
Astraea set the remainder of her cookie back down, then turned her face to gaze directly at the young man beside her. The look in her eyes appeared deep and solemn.
"You came out to meet me here because you want to discuss something crucial, don't you, Charlie?" Astraea asked straight to the point, her voice flowing calmly yet laden with emphasis. "My intuition has been whispering to me all along that whatever you are about to say next... is something deeply important that will change many things."
Hearing Astraea's remarkably accurate deduction, Charlie was momentarily taken aback before finally letting out a deep sigh and leaning his back against the chair's rest.
"Ah... You really don't leave me any room for pleasantries." He said with a resigned, bitter smile. "Your intuition really is sharp, Goddess Astraea. Sometimes, having a woman's intuition that formidable feels genuinely terrifying."
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