Leaving Twilight Manor, Charlie's next destination was Dian Cecht Familia.
"This is bothersome..."
Walking along the street, Charlie could clearly hear the whispers that followed his every step.
People pointed toward him from a distance, and some even stopped in their tracks to stare as he passed.
It was only natural. His name had been soaring lately due to his level-up speed that defied all logic. From an unknown rookie adventurer to Level 6 in a remarkably short span of time — a record that had left even the gods astonished.
But still...
Charlie disliked the feeling of being gawked at like an animal on display. The curious stares, the whispers that weren't quite quiet enough — all of it made him uncomfortable.
Without changing his expression, he turned into a narrow alley between two buildings. Once certain no one was watching, he retrieved a magic item from his Space-Time Cache — a necklace with a distinctive bullet-shaped pendant.
The moment the necklace settled around his neck, an illusion spell enveloped his body.
In an instant, his signature white hair darkened to a deep, jet black. His face remained the same, but without the white hair, he transformed from an easily recognizable figure into just another handsome young man in the crowd.
"How ironic." Charlie touched his now-black hair, smiling wryly. "I use Rio's disguised appearance as my true identity, while my actual appearance becomes the disguise."
After confirming the transformation was flawless, he stepped back out of the alley and rejoined the flow of the crowd.
The results were immediate.
No more sharp gazes trailing after him.
No more whispers calling the name Solo Leveling.
People passed him by as they would any other ordinary adventurer.
Charlie smiled faintly — his strategy had worked.
Although the name Solo Leveling was famous throughout Orario, very few had ever seen his face up close. Most people identified him through his most striking feature: his distinctive white hair.
White-haired adventurers in Orario numbered fewer than one hand could count, and two of them — Little Rookie and Solo Leveling — were names rising to prominence in their own respective ways.
Moreover, it was easy enough to tell the two apart based on personality alone. Solo Leveling was known to be calm and composed, while Little Rookie was naive and guileless.
No one would suspect that this black-haired young man strolling casually through the streets was the rising Solo Leveling himself.
And so Charlie reached his destination without drawing a single soul's attention.
Dian Cecht Familia.
The largest medical faction in Orario, monopolizing the city's entire healthcare industry. The building was not as grand as Twilight Manor or Folkvangr, but the atmosphere surrounding it was different.
The adventurers entering and leaving here mostly wore expressions that mixed hope with anxiety — those who had come to purchase healing potions, or perhaps to escort an injured companion.
Charlie stepped inside the shop.
The moment the door opened, he was greeted by a sight that was a pleasure to behold.
Beautifully carved wooden shelves stood in neat rows, each one filled with glass bottles containing potions in a stunning array of colors. There were those of deep crimson, ocean blue, emerald green, and even shimmering violet. Each color represented a different effect — wound healing, stamina restoration, poison neutralization, and a host of other functions.
However, what immediately drew Charlie's attention wasn't the potions themselves, but the figure standing behind the counter.
A young woman of beauty that was difficult to put into words.
Her long silver hair cascaded elegantly past her shoulders, a perfect contrast to the deep, serene violet of her eyes. Her face was symmetrical with a precision that seemed almost otherworldly — like a porcelain doll crafted by the most skilled artisan in existence. Every feature, from her fine nose to the naturally pink lips that were neither too thin nor too full, was arranged in perfect harmony.
Yet beneath that doll-like beauty, there was a warmth that radiated from her eyes. A genuine kindness, not merely a professional facade.
Airmid Teasanare.
Captain and chief physician of Dian Cecht Familia. Despite being only Level 2, her name was known and respected throughout all of Orario. In a city where strength was everything, Airmid was living proof that a different hierarchy of values existed.
Charlie treated her with respect, and there was good reason for that.
Airmid was the face of Dian Cecht Familia. Without her, the efficiency of Orario's central hospital would plummet sharply. Even upper-class adventurers from Loki Familia or Freya Familia had to queue and mind their manners if they wished to receive treatment from her.
"Welcome."
Airmid's voice was soft, like a stream flowing in springtime. She looked at Charlie with a polite smile, though a faint crease appeared on her brow — as though she were trying to recall something.
"How may I help you?" she asked courteously.
Her violet eyes regarded Charlie with warmth, though there was a hint of curiosity behind them. The young man's face felt familiar, but she couldn't quite place where she had seen it before.
As a chief physician who attended to hundreds of patients every day, she met a great many people. But a young man as strikingly handsome as this one... she should have remembered him.
Charlie didn't waste time. He stated his purpose directly.
"I'd like to purchase some Elixirs. How many do you currently have in stock?"
Airmid blinked, mildly surprised by the direct question. Usually, new customers would ask about various products, compare prices, or request recommendations. But this young man had gone straight to asking about their most expensive item.
She observed his appearance briefly. Simple clothing, no conspicuous adventurer's gear, no visible Familia emblem.
Perhaps a rookie adventurer who had just heard about Elixirs from a companion?
"Allow me to explain first." Airmid said in a tone that was gentle yet professional. "Elixirs are no ordinary potion. They are priced at five hundred thousand valis per bottle."
She paused briefly, giving Charlie time to absorb that information.
"To put it in perspective, that price is equivalent to the average income of a Second-Class adventurer over the course of several months. For a rookie adventurer, the price of a single Elixir is, frankly speaking, almost out of reach."
Airmid smiled with understanding. She had no wish to discourage him, but neither did she want this new customer to feel disappointed upon realizing he couldn't afford it.
"Perhaps you'd like to consider a regular Potion instead?" she suggested kindly. "A standard health recovery Potion is only five hundred valis per bottle. It's our most popular product among Lower-Class adventurers. The effect is naturally no match for an Elixir, but it's quite effective for light to moderate injuries."
"..."
Charlie looked at Airmid with a feeling that was equal parts bewilderment and amusement.
*(Does changing hair color really make this much of a difference? Even Airmid doesn't recognize me.)*
He and Airmid were already acquainted, though their relationship was no more than that of casual familiarity. But without his white hair, the girl before him had made no connection whatsoever between this young man and the well-known Solo Leveling.
"I understand your concern. But I'd still like to know — how many Elixirs do you currently have in stock?" Charlie said in a calm tone.
Seeing the resolve in the customer's eyes, Airmid stopped trying to redirect him.
"You've come at a good time. We've just finished producing a new batch. There are twenty bottles in the storeroom, but half have already been reserved by major Familias, and the rest are set aside as emergency reserves. What's currently available for general sale is only five bottles."
"Five bottles..." Charlie gave a slow nod.
That was actually more than enough to meet the bartering needs he had with the other Saviors. He could even set one aside for his own personal supply.
"Perfect timing, then. I need five bottles. I'll take all of them."
Without waiting for Airmid's response, Charlie retrieved the money from his Space-Time Cache. His movement was swift and natural — his hand reached into an empty point in the air, and suddenly a stack of valis materialized from nothing, landing on the counter with a clinking cascade of sound.
Airmid's eyes widened.
She was startled enough that her violet eyes opened slightly wider than usual. Among the upper echelons of Orario, spatial storage magic items did exist, but they were extraordinarily rare and possessed only by a handful of elite Familias.
*(This young man... just who is he?)*
Airmid quickly composed herself.
"Please wait a moment."
She turned and walked toward the specialized shelves at the back of the shop, carefully retrieving the five Elixir bottles one by one.
"Here is your order." Airmid said, setting all five bottles neatly on the counter. "Each bottle is guaranteed for its authenticity and effectiveness."
She looked at him with a curiosity she couldn't entirely conceal.
"If you don't mind my asking... what do you need this many Elixirs for? Unless you're from a major Familia, adventurers usually only buy one or two for emergencies."
Charlie smiled faintly. "Some acquaintances of mine need them. They live somewhere that... isn't easy to obtain quality potions."
A vague explanation, but Airmid nodded in understanding. She pressed no further.
"Then I hope these potions serve them well."
Charlie picked up all five bottles, placing them into his Space-Time Cache one by one.
Once they were all safely stored, he gave Airmid a polite nod.
"Thank you for your help. Until next time."
"Thank you as well. Please take care on your way."
Charlie turned and stepped out of the shop, leaving Airmid staring at his retreating back with a thoughtful expression.
Airmid furrowed her brow, trying to recall where she had seen that young man before.
*(His face is so familiar, but the color of his hair is different...)*
Her thoughts drifted to a white-haired adventurer who had visited her shop on several occasions. An adventurer who had been rising through the levels at a breathtaking pace.
An adventurer by the name of...
"Charlie Avalon..."
Airmid murmured the name softly to herself.
*(Could it be...?)*
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
Charlie walked at a leisurely pace, putting distance between himself and the Dian Cecht Familia shop.
The morning was still young, and he had roughly two hours left before he needed to return to the Sanctuary Void.
As he passed through a narrow alley between two buildings, a hand suddenly seized his arm and pulled him firmly into the shadows.
*(NANI?! Someone managed to ambush me without me noticing? Has my instinct started to dull?)*
His hand was already raised, poised to deliver a lethal counterattack.
But then he saw her.
Beneath the hood of a robe, a pair of golden eyes he knew all too well stared at him without expression. Long blonde hair cascaded beautifully beneath the hood. That lovely face — usually so cold and devoid of emotion — looked, this time, just slightly... different.
Ais Wallenstein.
"Phew..." Charlie lowered his hand, a breath of relief escaping him. "So it's you, Ais. I thought an enemy had ambushed me."
He smiled, trying to ease the tension that had suddenly materialized. But Ais didn't return his smile.
The girl looked up, gazing directly into Charlie's eyes. Her beautiful face remained expressionless, as it always was. Yet there was something behind those golden eyes — something Charlie rarely saw in all the time he had known her.
"You seemed to enjoy talking with Airmid."
"Hah?"
Charlie froze. He blinked, processing Ais's words.
But Ais wasn't finished. The girl continued to hold his gaze without blinking.
"You didn't even come to find me at Twilight Manor earlier."
"..."
The narrow alley suddenly felt far quieter than before.
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