"…!?!"
The girl's innocent, genuinely curious question startled Charlie.
In Ais's world, filled with battles to grow stronger, the concept of "getting fresh air" to clear one's mind was foreign. To her, air was just air—something to breathe for survival, not to enjoy or seek out.
"It's just a metaphor, Ais. It means going for a walk to relieve boredom or when your mind feels overwhelmed." Charlie explained simply, accustomed to her overly literal way of thinking.
"I see. I still don't fully understand." Ais replied, her tone steady—not cold, but reflecting her struggle to grasp the meaning behind the words.
"…"
The atmosphere fell into silence.
Then, an even more awkward silence followed.
In the midst of it, Charlie suddenly realized something: his eyes were still fixed on Ais's bare body, standing innocently in the water. His blood surged with heat, and with great effort, he forced himself to turn around, giving her his back.
"…?"
Ais tilted her head, confused. In her mind, she might feel embarrassed if another man saw her like this. But this was Charlie. They had already done that. So why feel shy now?
"Charlie."
"I'm here."
"Want to do it?"
"Huh…? Do what?"
Charlie vaguely suspected what Ais meant, but he needed confirmation. His usually sharp mind now felt stuck in mud.
"The thing we did before. The process needed to make a baby."
A hint of embarrassment crossed her face. Even Ais couldn't remain indifferent when this topic came up. Her cheeks flushed slightly, her voice softer than usual, as if confessing a sin.
"B-Baby?"
The word hit him like a splash of cold water, snapping him back to reality. During their first sexual encounter, Charlie had been so caught up in the moment that he forgot to use any contraception. Worse, he had "planted his seed" in Ais's fertile ground!
"Gulp… A-Ais… By the way, how old are you this year?" He asked, his voice trembling.
"Sixteen. Why ask all of a sudden?"
"Phew~ Thank goodness, I was worried I'd be labeled a predator."
Ais's answer let Charlie breathe a sigh of relief. Though there was no FBI in this world, he had his own principles.
Touching a minor?
No way!
In Indonesia, the legal age for women to marry was sixteen. In other words, Charlie hadn't broken any laws! And in the Planar World: Danmachi, where gods descended to lower world and adventurers could die at any moment, sixteen wasn't considered a child—it was old enough to start a family, even earlier than typical adulthood.
"So, do you want to do it or not?" Ais repeated, this time with a slight anxious edge, as if afraid of rejection.
"What about you, Ais? Doesn't it still hurt? Don't push yourself." Charlie replied, neither rejecting nor agreeing, genuinely concerned. He wasn't a selfish man. He knew the first time wasn't easy, even for a skilled adventurer like Ais.
"Compared to the injuries I've suffered in my early adventuring days, it's nothing." Ais said. She had been an adventurer since age 7, when she joined the Loki Familia and registered with the Adventurer's Guild. She admitted losing her virginity had been a bit painful, but that was all. With her Level 5 recovery speed at the time, aside from an initially awkward gait, she was back to normal in just a few dozen minutes.
"I don't feel pain anymore. But… I feel… strange. Like something's missing since then. I want to feel it again. Not because I want a baby. But… because I want to feel alive. You make me feel that way, Charlie."
"…"
Charlie fell silent. He turned to look at Ais—not as a Level 6 adventurer, but as a woman.
After seeing her like that and hearing her innocent question, Charlie wouldn't be a true man if he refused. He wasn't some dense harem protagonist who'd run away in this situation, a coward too afraid to take responsibility.
"Okay. Let's do it."
With a swift motion, Charlie activated his Spirit Art.
*BUZZ!*
A complex illusionary magic formation enveloped the lake area, completely concealing their presence. Unless a mage of equal or greater skill, like Riveria, happened to pass by—highly unlikely at this hour and location—no one would notice their activities.
Without hesitation, Charlie shed his clothes, letting them fall to the ground, and stepped into the lake. The cool water touched his skin as he approached Ais, who stood still, her golden eyes gazing at him with an innocent expression.
"…"
They locked eyes for a moment, then Ais slowly closed hers, her eyelashes trembling faintly.
Only a fool wouldn't understand such a simple cue. Charlie leaned in, pressing his lips to hers.
The kiss was gentle at first, a warm, light touch. But it quickly deepened, growing more passionate as Charlie slowly slipped his tongue into Ais's mouth.
"Mhm~"
A novice, Ais let him lead, their breaths mingling and quickening. Her initially stiff hands reached for his shoulders, seeking support.
Charlie's hands weren't idle. He caressed Ais's wet back, feeling her strong, supple muscles. His fingers traced the curve of her waist, then moved upward, brushing against her beautifully raised chest. Ais could only let his touch explore every inch of her smooth skin.
The cold lake water seemed to vanish, replaced by the burning heat between them.
Charlie guided Ais to the shallower edge, where smooth stones provided a foundation for their meeting of two longing souls. Ais let herself be led, with complete trust and surrender.
Under the protection of the magical illusion, in the quiet of Floor 18 illuminated by crystal light, their bodies united in a primal, passionate rhythm.
Soft moans and breathless gasps were the only sounds breaking the silence, an intimate symphony meant for them alone.
Charlie patiently guided Ais through each new sensation, while Ais, with her innocence, embraced every caress, every kiss, every movement that brought her closer to her lover.
The world seemed to fade away, leaving only this hidden lake and the warmth they created together.