Going in a straight line to the Imperial Capital mean we have to cross a desert. I heard that it's the vastest desert in the whole continent.

I think that it's right. I have been running on the desert for hours and I haven't seen any civilization at all. Well, there are some ruins that I think came from the civilization from a long time ago. But they have been gone for some reason.

Since it's a desert where no one dare to cross, I don't need to run on air anymore. I don't need to worry about people watching since no one else is around. Though I think that it's a good spot for the cult to hide, I didn't see anything related to the cult here. Well, other than the lady on my back.

I run up on the sand dune in the desert and…

"Woohoooo!!"

I slide down the dune with using Blobbies as board. I carried a lot of Blobbies enough to not need Victoria by my side.

I run up on another dune and slide down again.

"Woohoooo!!"

This is fun.

"Roy, I want to try that as well." Celestine suddenly said from my back.

"Okay. Then… let's do it on that dune next." I said as I pointed at the dune in front of us.

I run up on the dune, and let down Celestine from my back.

"Here's some Blobbies… you don't need them?"

I was about to give her a Blobbyboard, but she refused it.

"Roy, what do you see around you?" Celestine suddenly asked.

"Sand and more sand. And another sand. And then sand and cactus. And sand. Oh, that's a rock." I answered honestly.

"Yes. And I'm an expert level earth mage. I can easily manipulate the sand around us into a wave that I can ride. It's also thanks to the magic control you taught me. Let's call it… Sand Wave."

Instead of sliding down the dune, Celestine used her magic to create a wave of sand. And carrying the two of us with it!

"Oh! This is amazing!" I shouted excitedly.

"During our time in the desert, I'll be the one carrying you. But only within the limit of my mana. Let's go."

Celestine is standing with a calm expression as she let the Sand Wave carry us. And since the Sand Wave we ride is sinking our feet to the ankles, we don't need to worry about falling. We just need to balance ourselves.

I spread my arm open and let the wind blow on my face. It's a rare opportunity to get carried by someone else and let the wind hit my face without me needing to do anything. Of course, I still maintain my Air Barrier only enough to not let sand hit our eyes or enter our nose and mouth.

As for breathing, I have been letting Celestine breathe with my air magic. We don't need to worry if the air is poisonous or not. I heard that some area in the desert has poisonous air but as long as I'm here, it will be fine.

The speed of the Sand Wave that Celestine controlled is not as fast as my running speed. It's not even as fast as Wendy's flight magic. But at least it's faster than any ordinary horse carriage. I'll just enjoy taking the ride with her.

"This is your first time using this magic?" I asked Celestine while we're moving.

"Yes. It's thanks to learning about magic control. If I hadn't, I won't even think about doing this. And this is also good for training as well." Celestine replied.

"I see. Well, since we're in desert, you can do whatever you want. I make sure that any poisonous gas won't enter your lung. I heard that some areas have poisonous gases."

"Thanks. I heard that too, but I think it's safe here. But just in case, please protect me."

"I will. I also heard that this is the biggest desert in the whole continent. Now that I'm here, I feel like it's true. If you're tired, let's stop and prepare to camp."

"Hmm? You're not marking the place with Victoria's clone and returning to Cassau with portal?" Celestine asked curiously.

"I won't. I might use my portal to grab something back from Cassau, but I won't use it to return. If I return, I don't think I want to travel again. Though if you want to, I can transport you back." I said.

"…no need. I'll be going with you all the way to Arturo." Celestine said.

I still don't know the reason why she insisted on coming. Though from the look of it, I doubt that it's because she finally fell for my charm and want to be my lover. But I think the reason why Victoria left me with her is because she thinks so or she noticed that Celestine has something to say to me in private.

Well, if she wants to talk, she will talk. I'll wait until she's ready.

The skies turn orange and night will follow. It's time to rest.

If I'm alone, I can go on even at night. But out of consideration for Celestine, I ask her to stop.

The Sand Wave that carried us stopped and created a huge dune. After we stopped, Celestine prepared a shelter for us without saying anything.

It's just a simple dome-shaped shelter with diameter of five meters. There's only one room and two Blobbibeds that I made.

"You don't need a separator between the beds? You don't need any privacy?" I asked Celestine.

"No need. I trust you that you won't make any moves on me. You practically see everyone's naked bodies after all, but you still hold yourself back."

I let my desire out at night though with any one of my lovers. Well, she doesn't need to know that. But it's true what she said. If it was me before returning to the past, there's no way I can hold myself back in front of such beauty.

"Roy, there's something I want to ask you."

Finally, it's time. We both lying on our own Blobbybed as she lies on her side toward me and spoke. It must be the reason why she's coming with me.

"What is it?"

I still look up to the ceiling when I asked her what she want to ask.

"You… Roy, you don't trust me at all, right?"

So that's what she wants to ask. Whether I trust her or not. Well, the answer is…

"You're wrong. I trust you, but I trust you the least among everyone." I said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Celestine raised her upper body on the bed as she looked at me curiously.

"What makes you think that I don't trust you?"

"Well, I don't really get how to say it… Veronica for example? During a quest from the guild even before you built the clan, whenever we're going together, I feel like you can trust Veronica with your life, but not me. Is it because you trust me the least?"

Well, I guess that's true. Whenever we're out for a mission, sometimes, it was just the three of us. It was when I tried to show those two expert level mages the ropes about how to be a hunter. I would unconsciously move closer to Celestine whenever she's about to use her magic as if I don't want her magic to hit me. But it seems like my action burdened her heart.

"Unlike Veronica, you joined the cult out of your own volition. And you betray them for a reason as well. Children. If, one day they decided to use the children in some way, I have no doubt that you will return to them. I'm just being paranoid." I answered honestly.

"I see. I think you're right that I will return. I also liked how I destroy everything in my path. But once they assigned me to be in charge of the orphanage, I changed and I just want to protect the children. Some of them are even children that I turn into orphans myself, and I didn't feel guilty at all. As someone who was in a high position in the cult, I turned blind eyes when they decided to use a Stampede to destroy cities. I was fine. Then, when someone decided to kill some time by torturing children, that's when I felt that I had enough. You know the rest after that. Now, I want to destroy that cult no matter what. But if they decided to use children in some way to threaten me, I think you're right that I will betray you. When that time come…" Before Celestine finished her words, I stopped her.

"Enough. That time won't come. I told you that I trust you the least, but you are the easiest one to trust. As long as I can protect the children, you won't betray me. So, it's basically me trusting you because I know how to fulfil the condition to make me trust you. That's actually pretty smart of me. As for the others, I trust them unconditionally now. Which is weir. If any one of them ever betray me, I don't know how to live with myself. As for you, you are easier to think. That's just sounds rude, right?"

"No. That is good. Please continue thinking of me that way. As for me, I will always trust you. Thank you for telling me."

Just after saying that, she quickly falls asleep. She's sleeping while still turning her body this way. But her face is smiling. Which part of what I said is good for her?

I think I'm similar with her. At first, I just want to live peacefully and only think about myself. Then, other people come into my life. And I feel like my life is much better with everyone instead of being alone. I want to protect everyone.

…now I feel like playing hero just like the stories I read. I thought that playing hero is not something that I want to do no matter what, but now I keep playing hero. Just show that I also changed, huh? Is this for the better or for the worse?