Journey to Planar World

Inside the car, the atmosphere was still awkward.

Nino, who was sitting in the back seat with her sisters, couldn't help but glance at Charlie who was driving.

"So, magic can do anything, huh?"

"It's not magic but a magic item." Charlie glanced at Nino through the rearview mirror.

He changed his hair color from white to black using a magic item shaped like an earring in his earlobe. Karasuki Rio also did this after being framed and becoming a fugitive from the kingdom in the original work.

Knowing that his fight last night was broadcast live, Charlie knew his white hair would bring trouble. After all, there were many foreign troops stationed in Tokai City.

The car stopped at a checkpoint. Fully armed soldiers inspected the car, asking about their destination, and so on. After finding nothing suspicious, the car was allowed to pass.

"Whew… That scared me, I thought we'd be caught."

Patting her plump chest, Yotsuba sighed. Among the quintuplets, she wasn't good at lying. She was worried that her lie would be obvious if she had to lie.

"You're exaggerating, Yotsuba. With Charlie-kun around, we'll be fine." Ichika said with a smile.

"We can't trouble Charlie-kun any more than this…" Itsuki disagreed.

Ichika, Nino, Miku, Yotsuba, and Itsuki chatted, livening up the atmosphere in the car, while Fuutarou just kept quiet. After all, his relationship with the quintuplets hadn't developed yet. Plus, their destination was the hospital.

Because Charlie gave them cell phones, he didn't mind letting Ichika and the others use their phones to call their father, Nakano Maruo.

Knowing that Fuutarou was with his daughters, Maruo asked them to tell him that Isanari's body had been cremated yesterday.

Their purpose at the hospital was to pick up the ashes for burial.

❀❀❀

After a 15-minute drive, the crowded car finally arrived at the hospital. Charlie parked the car in the parking area.

When they entered the hospital lobby, an awkward atmosphere enveloped them. The quintuplets immediately saw their father, waiting near the reception area.

Maruo's face looked tired, but his eyes softened when he saw his daughters.

"Father!" Yotsuba was the first to run towards him, followed by her sisters. They hugged Maruo tightly, as if they didn't want to let go.

If it weren't for Charlie healing Maruo, the quintuplets might have suffered the same fate as Fuutarou, whose father died from the MK Virus.

"Are you all right?" Maruo asked coldly, but there was concern in his voice.

"We're fine, Father. There's… someone protecting us." Ichika glanced at Charlie who was standing a few steps behind them, keeping his distance.

Maruo looked at Charlie in surprise for a moment, then he realized the other party was the "Wizard" who healed him, only his hair color was different. He didn't ask anything, he was wise enough not to bring up something that he might not want to explain in public.

Looking at the young man beside Raiha, Maruo said without changing his expression:

"You must be Isanari's son, Uesugi Fuutarou, right? Your father's ashes are ready to be picked up. I'll take you to the storage area."

Fuutarou and Raiha nodded slowly. Raiha looked calmer now, although her eyes were still red from crying. They followed Maruo into the elevator, leaving Charlie and the quintuplets in the lobby.

❀❀❀

The room was silent, only the sound of footsteps and soft sighs. Maruo led Fuutarou and Raiha to the shelf where Isanari's ashes were kept.

"Here. I made sure everything was taken care of properly." Maruo said, pointing to a simple but neat box.

"..."

Raiha bit her lip, trying to hold back tears. But as soon as Fuutarou took the box with a trembling hand, her sobs broke.

"Father…" His voice was soft, full of sadness.

This happened too suddenly. Fuutarou regretted not being able to be by his father's side in the last moments of his life.

Fuutarou closed his eyes, clutching the ash box tightly.

"Thank you, Father, for everything…"

Maruo stood near them, letting the two vent their emotions.

"Isanari was a good man. He must be proud of both of you."

❀❀❀

After a few minutes, they finally returned to the lobby, where the quintuplets were still chatting with Charlie. Seeing the ash box in Fuutarou's hand, the atmosphere became silent again.

Ichika, Nino, Miku, Yotsuba, and Itsuki offered their condolences sincerely. Charlie just sighed deeply, while Aishia, in her spiritual form, spoke through telepathy.

"It's not your fault, but the Abyssal Devourer. He's the one who should be responsible for all this."

"I know."

It would be a lie if his conscience didn't feel anything. After all, Charlie wasn't a heartless man, but that was it. Guilt wouldn't affect the actions he took.

"Come on, let's get this over with. The funeral home has been prepared. It's better to take care of it right away." He said lightly.

❀❀❀

At the funeral home that Maruo had rented earlier, Fuutarou and Raiha placed the box containing their father's ashes in a special cabinet. Quietly, they knelt and offered prayers for their father's soul to rest in peace in heaven.

Ichika, Nino, Miku, Yotsuba, and Itsuki joined in, praying with their hands folded neatly.

"..."

Meanwhile, Charlie remained standing behind them, not joining in the prayer. He just watched with a flat face, although there was a slight flash of pity in his eyes that he didn't show.

After everything was done, they left the funeral home.

Charlie got back in the car, taking everyone back to the main road.

Yotsuba, who was sitting in the middle of the back seat, suddenly asked curiously, "Are we going straight back to the hideout?"

Before Charlie could answer, Nino interrupted, "Ugh, I'm bored. I want to go for a walk for a while. There's no way we can just hide all the time, right? Let us relax outside. Doesn't the Abyssal Devourer only send summoned creatures every three days? There's still time before the next attack!"

"Nino is right. We need fresh air. All this is too suffocating." Ichika nodded in agreement.

However, Itsuki immediately refuted. "But it would be safer if we go straight back. After all, the situation is still dangerous."

Listening to all this calmly, Charlie smiled faintly as he saw their reflections in the rearview mirror. In a relaxed tone, he finally said, "How about we go to the beach?"

"...!!!"

Everyone was surprised.

"The beach?" Miku asked, her voice full of doubt.

"Isn't that too dangerous?" Fuutarou was worried.

"As Nino said, the Abyssal Devourer won't attack until the next summoning. So, there's no harm in letting you relax a little. Originally, I wanted to take you to the mall, amusement park, or other entertainment facilities. However, considering the economic and social impact brought by the MK Virus epidemic, it will take a few years for everything to recover to what it was before."

"So, only the beach or the mountains are suitable places for recreation for now."

Charlie's explanation was quite reasonable, and although they were still worried, no one tried to argue. Even Miku and Itsuki seemed to be smiling faintly.