After a good night sleep, Celestine carried us with her Sand Wave magic for a few hours. We still hadn't seen any cities yet, but I can see some people already. I think it's best to stop now.

"Celestine, there are people ahead. I'll carry you on my back again from now."

"Okay."

We stopped and the Sand Wave dropped and become another dune on the desert.

Seems like the place with people are actually a road toward some city. Those people are travelers.

As for the city, I can't see any at the moment.

"Hey, do you want to stay in a city or camp again?" I asked Celestine who is already on my back before we took off.

"Anything is fine. We can get Lina's cooking anywhere with your portal." Celestine said.

"Then let's continue. If I see a city before it's dark, let's stay at an inn."

"Are you sure? King Albert told you that the mission is to be sneaky, right? What if we were seen?"

"Fake beard!" I said as I used Blobbies and turned them into a fake beard on my face.

"Oh, disguise."

"As for you, you just need some light make up and wear that Blobbies underwear."

"Okay. I want to disguise myself as a man!" Celestine exclaimed.

"…why?"

"I just want to!"

"Then we'll stop before we enter any city."

Using Sand Wave to travel is quite slow. And the travel time from three days if I run turned into four. If we stay in a city, it will turn into five or more. But it's okay. We don't have time limit for this mission.

As for King Harold, I think it's fine. If he's still alive, the enemy won't kill him anytime soon. He is more useful alive than dead. So, even if we take months to get to Arturo, he might still be alive. Though the case will be different if King Harold is long gone.

"Roy." While I'm running in the air, Celestine spoke.

"What?"

"Thank you for trusting me even for a little."

"It's the continuation from last night? Sure. If I can't trust you, I won't give you a piggyback ride." I replied.

"Are you sure it's not because of my breast?" Celestine teased me.

"…"

"You're hesitating."

"…anyway, you know that I trust you now. And I will do my best so you won't betray me. That's simple. Is this why you want to come along with me?" I asked.

"That's just one reason, I guess. But that's the one that stuck in my mind the most ever since you took me in."

"It was Veronica who asked me to take you in. You should thank her."

"I already did." She said.

We just talked while enjoying the view as I run. When the sun is going to set, I can see a city. So, just like the agreement, we will stay in the city.

We stopped and prepare our disguise. I grabbed my clothes because Celestine said that she wanted to disguise herself as a man. At least there won't be any problem with men trying to woo her.

We entered the city through the gate. The gatekeeper just asked us our intention in entering the city, and we just said to stay the night as our goal is the capital. They let us in easily.

"Well, now that we're in a city, what should we do?" Celestine asked.

"Find an inn first, then going on a gourmet tour." I said.

"I want sweets."

"Foods and sweets then. Let's go."

I found an inn easily, and we asked for two rooms. But Celestine still want to sleep on a Blobbybed so I lent her some Blobbies.

There's nothing happening in this city. Maybe because Celestine is disguising herself as a man so no one is bothering us.

The next day, after leaving the city, we continue our journey normally. Nothing bothering us and stopped us. No bandits in sight, and we ignored the monsters except for any flying monsters that got too close to us.

Three days passed and I can finally see the Imperial Capital.

"Let's stop here and put on our disguises. Are you going to be a man again?"

"Hmm… I'll put on some make up and the flattening underwear. But I'll be a woman this time." Celestine said.

"There might be some men causing trouble, but they won't be a problem. I'll get Sonia to tell the Empress that we're here and can meet her anytime she's ready."

I called Sonia and told her that the Empress just need to give me the schedule of when we should meet and where. It's the Imperial Castle and there should be some hidden passages there. I can enter the castle easily.

After Sonia's gone, she returned immediately.

"Roy, she said that she can come anytime you want after the sun set. Claudia will be with her all the time later."

Right. I almost forgot that there will be another person with Empress that I have to meet. An even capable leader than the Empress herself is what Albert told me.

"Let's visit them during their bath time!"

"I will stay with them until you arrive." Sonia said before she disappeared.

I guess that mean I can't enter the bathroom then. I heard that during my previous life, the Empress is the most beautiful woman in the whole empire. I'm curious about her.

"Let's go. I miss the sweets in the Imperial Capital." Celestine said.

"Wait, you're from the Empire?"

"I was born there, raised there, being rebellious, left that place, and now I'm back again." Celestine said.

"…killing innocent people is not what I'm thinking when people said 'being rebellious' is. So, you actually want to go back home?"

"That too. I want to meet someone." Celestine said.

"Then you should do that first before meeting the Empress. Wait, are you planning to meet the Empress as well?" I asked.

"Yeah. I'll meet her first."

We entered the Imperial Capital and find an inn easily. This time Celestine just asked for one room. Well since she's not disguising herself as a man, I think that's okay. If she's still a man, I would probably say no to staying in one room. I don't want other people to think that I'm swinging that way.

…it must be thanks to Victoria's influence. She has corrupted my mind.

Two men staying in one room is actually normal, but thanks to Victoria, I can't think of it as normal anymore.

The inn we are staying in is close enough for me to see inside the Imperial Castle. And I can see the Empress is doing some paperwork together with another woman who seems to be her aide. That must be Claudia.

And that Empress who is rumored to be the most beautiful in the Empire… is surprisingly flat and short. I mean like really flat.

It's not just because I'm travelling with someone who carried two melons all the time, but hers is really flat. And she's quite short as well. Is she still a child?

While I was wondering, Sonia appears next to me.

"Roy, I told Albert that you're already in the Imperial Capital. He also freed his schedule so once you are meeting with the Empress, he wants you to create a portal and transport him here." Sonia said.

"So, he wants to come as well. That's fine. I can also proof the Empress that my portal is amazing." I said.

Then just like usual, I'm going for a gourmet tour. This time, I followed Celestine since she's more familiar with the Empire.

She never greeted anyone here. I guess the people she knows are not among the people we encounter. So, we returned to the inn and wait until it's dark.

"Alright, it's time." I said.

"How are we going there?" Celestine asked.

"There are many hidden passages, but the Empress didn't lock her window. Maybe Sonia told her to unlock the window. We'll enter her chamber from the window. Are you ready?"

I asked Celestine who wore a robe this time. Seeing her wearing one, I transformed some Blobbies into a robe as well. Now I can cover my head with the hood and feel more mysterious.

Once no one in the surrounding is looking, I jumped out of the window of our room and run directly toward the Empress' chamber. We quickly arrive there.

I opened the window and landed perfectly inside the chamber where two ladies and a ghost are waiting.

I took off the hood covering my head and introduce myself.

"Nice to meet you, Empress of Consenza. I'm Roy."

"We have been waiting for you. Though I didn't expect for you to bring your companion with you here." The Empress said.

"She's my friend and also someone who was born here. Her name is…"

Before I introduced Celestine to the Empress, Celestine stepped forward herself and took of the hood covering her head.

"It has been a while, Lynn. I'm sorry for leaving you and everyone." Celestine said.

"…eh?"

Sonia, the other lady, and I are confused with Celestine's words. As for the Empress herself…

"Sister Celestine!"

The Empress ran toward Celestine and gave her a big hug.

"…what?"