"Until I see the situation with my own eyes, this unease won't go away. But how?"
It should be noted that Charlie was directly sent to the virtual game SAO instead of the real world when he first arrived. So, he couldn't simply go to the real world even if he wanted to, let alone find out Asuna's whereabouts.
"This feeling of helplessness is so unpleasant. Honestly, I hate my powerlessness."
He was used to having the strength and ability to tackle problems, but this situation was beyond his control.
Perhaps hearing Charlie's grumbling, Gaia or maybe Alaya responded to his desire to know the truth.
*SHUA!*
Without warning, Charlie's body was enveloped in intense golden light. The light was so bright it filled the entire room.
"Huh? What's happening? This—"
Before Charlie could finish his words, his figure vanished completely, as if pulled by an invisible force, leaving the room in silence.
"…"
Only silence remained, along with a slightly disheveled bed. His presence in Aincrad had ended, but where he was taken was a new mystery.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The bone-chilling cold of winter snapped Charlie out of his momentary daze caused by the sudden change in surroundings.
The stark contrast from the warmth of the Aincrad inn hit his senses hard. He felt a gust of cold wind carrying the scent of snow and dampness.
Opening his eyes, Charlie scanned his surroundings cautiously. He found himself in a narrow, dark alley.
The walls on either side were made of concrete. A faint smell of mold and garbage lingered in the air, mingling with the crisp chill of snow.
The alley floor was covered with thick piles of snow, forming uneven white mounds, indicating that snow had been falling for some time. Faint footprints were visible in some areas, but most of the surface remained pristine and untouched, suggesting the alley was rarely used.
At the end of the alley, Charlie saw the silhouettes of pedestrians in thick clothing—heavy coats, scarves wrapped around necks, and knit caps covering ears.
They walked quickly, likely hurrying to find warmth, passing the alley's entrance without noticing his presence. The soft crunch of their boots on packed snow faded, leaving behind a cold silence.
"This is definitely not Aincrad anymore. This is the real world."
"No doubt about it, this is the real world. The question is, why am I here?" Charlie muttered, his breath visible in the cold air.
"The only logical explanation is that Gaia or Alaya did this. Based on my performance so far, maybe I've earned a small privilege? Like an employee getting a bonus from the boss after a job well done."
Charlie's speculation was correct.
Gaia and Alaya indeed monitored the Saviors undertaking Quests across various Planar Worlds. Sensing Charlie's deep dilemma and concern for Asuna, Gaia, claiming not to be a heartless boss, graciously granted his wish to return to the real world in the Sword Art Online Planar World, solely to check on Asuna's condition.
"There's about 10 hours left before I'm forcibly expelled by this World's Will. Let's find Asuna."
Just as he was about to leave the alley, Charlie paused.
"My outfit is too conspicuous. In Japan, people might think I'm cosplaying, right? Plus, it's December, the peak of winter."
Charlie didn't want to draw attention, especially from patrolling police on bicycles. It would be troublesome if they asked for his ID. After all, he could be mistaken for an illegal immigrant.
Not wanting an invitation to the police station for tea, Charlie quickly changed his attire.
In the blink of an eye, he swapped his distinctive robe for modern clothes stored in his Space-Time Cache: a dark heavy jacket, a wool scarf, jeans, and boots suitable for cold weather.
Then, he blended into the bustling crowd of pedestrians.
"So this is Christmas in Japan, huh… Interesting."
In his previous life, Charlie lived in Indonesia, a tropical country. For him, Christmas wasn't much different from other days; it just had a slight holiday vibe. But the scene in Tokyo was something new.
Twinkling lights lined the streets, turning the night into a visual festival. Colorful LED lights wrapped around every building, creating a mesmerizing tunnel of light.
In districts like Shibuya or Shinjuku, giant billboards glowed brightly, displaying futuristic animated ads that illuminated the dark night sky.
Despite the cold, the streets were filled with a sea of people. Many young couples walked hand in hand, sharing scarves or laughing softly as their breath puffed in the air. Some were shopping for gifts in stores open late, while others simply enjoyed the romantic atmosphere.
Charlie frequently saw part-time workers in Christmas-themed costumes—some dressed as Santa Claus with fake white beards, others as reindeer with antlers, or elves with pointed hats.
They stood in front of bakeries, coffee shops, or restaurants, cheerfully promoting special Christmas menus or handing out samples of warm, steaming sweets.
The aroma of roasted chestnuts and sweet crepes mingled with the scent of pine from displayed Christmas trees.
In the main square, a towering Christmas tree drew all eyes, adorned with thousands of sparkling ornaments and twinkling lights.
"Let's buy some Christmas cakes for Aisha, Est, Goddess Astrea, and Aiz." Charlie muttered to himself.
Though his priority was finding Asuna, he decided to take the opportunity to bring souvenirs for the women in the Danmachi Planar World.
He stopped at a festively decorated bakery with twinkling lights and miniature Christmas trees. Stepping inside, the door jingled with Christmas bells, and he promptly bought several limited-edition Christmas cakes, packaged in beautiful boxes with red ribbons.
Fortunately, he had Yen from a previous Quest, acquired when he 'borrowed' basic necessities from a shopping center. That money was now very useful in the real world.
After buying the cakes, Charlie left the shop, the sweet aroma lingering in the cold air. His gaze swept the crowd.
With a subtle movement invisible to the naked eye, he randomly hypnotized a passing female pedestrian.
Of course, he didn't misuse hypnosis for anything improper. Charlie merely borrowed her phone, opening a search engine.
He looked up the location of the hospital specializing in treating SAO incident victims online. Several results appeared, and he quickly noted the nearest address.
After getting the information he needed, Charlie smoothly returned the phone to its owner, erasing any trace of its use or hypnotic suggestion, as if nothing had happened.
The woman continued walking, completely unaware of the interaction.
Next, Charlie hurriedly headed to the hospital he'd found.