Chapter 289: Departing to the Empire

The day after Albert gave me the task, I asked for leave from Dean. Both for the magic college and for the medical school. I told him that Sara might be able to teach a little about air element in case he wanted to learn more or there are some students who are interested, and also  I told him that Sophie should be able to teach a little bit of medical knowledge from the future that I have taught her. That way, they can learn something before I return.

I will still occasionally return by using portal, but since the mission is too important, I won't do any teaching for a while. It's better to focus on one thing first.

The nobles who visited me last night were hurriedly return back to their home. From what I heard from Sonia who eavesdropped on them while being invisible, it seems like they won't cause any trouble. They just hide their wealth before Albert arrive with the decree. As for their fate, I let Albert decide it.

Albert has returned to the capital, this time, he's not taking Alan with him. He left him in Cassau as he's trying to clean up most of the nobles in the kingdom before I return. With focusing mainly on Cassau, and several other cities that have important allies like Mellian with Hill there, and Melk with Oleg. And there's also more cleaning up in the capital. He will be busier and that's why he left Alan in the care of Penny and the others in Cassau.

I can leave Cassau with the others. Especially since Lina made a contract with an All-seeing Eye, Elsie. Elsie will watch over the surrounding when I'm away.

Sigh… I'm finally going to go to other countries. But not with the circus troupe! I always hoped that a world tour with the circus will be the time when I can travel the world, but I guess that's impossible with the current state.

At least my main mission is just to introduce myself to other kings and see if the King of Arturo is still alive or not. Albert has written me the characteristic of the man, and he also made man's feature by using Blobbies. I can have Victoria shows me that head of the king by using Blobbies and I will remember him.

Now, it's time to go. First stop is the Consenza Empire. I have to meet Empress Lynn, and her aide, Claudia. Did I get their names right?

I was about to open a portal to the closest city to the Empire, but someone stopped me.

"What is it, Celestine?" I asked to Celestine who stopped me from leaving.

"I'm going too." She said.

"Okay. Where are you going? I'll take you there." I said.

"…I mean I'm going with you to Consenza Empire, Varadis Kingdom, and to Arturo Kingdom as well. I'm going with you for this mission. Take me with you."

"…what?"

"I'm travelling with you."

What is she talking about? Travelling with me? Why? Why does she think that it's necessary to go together?

"You know, I can just use portal once I'm at the location. You don't need to go with me. I'll open a portal on each stop and you can go there. And you won't get bored during the travel as well."

I made a suggestion that usually other people would agree with. It's much easier to just let me travel while the other can stay at home. I also won't have to worry about my travelling companion if I go alone.

"No. I still think it's better if I go with you on the way. You can carry me. I won't move much so you don't have to worry." Celestine said.

I was about to complain, but before I can say anything else, Victoria interrupted.

"That's great! Celestine, you can go with Roy. And I will stay home with the others. As long as someone is with Roy, he won't feel lonely. And it doesn't have to be me! Roy if you need me you can summon me anytime. Good bye!"

Victoria bid her farewell as she brought the others to leave the room. I guess it's just me and Celestine now. There's no choice but to bring her with me. Seems like her goal is to have a chat with me instead of going to other countries. I'll listen to her.

"Then, let's go."

I opened a portal to the closest city to the border and the two of us left together.

I don't get why she wants to go with me. If it's just a talk, she can just ask me or barge into my room while the others aren't there just like the others. But I guess she wants to talk to me in private no matter what at this time. Is it related to Arturo Kingdom or other countries?

I don't know. In any case, I will bring her with me. There's no way I can leave her.

"Get on."

Once we left the city, in some place that no one can see us, I asked Celestine to get on my back so I can carry her while running on air. Since she can't fly, I have to carry her on my back.

"On your back?" Celestine asked.

"I like it best when both my hands are free. In case something happened, I can react quickly. If I carry you in my arms, I won't be able to do anything. Even if you are an expert level mage, I still like it better if my hands are free." I explained.

"That's the reason? Not because you want to feel my breasts on your back?" Celestine teased me.

"So you know. I tried to make my own desire unnoticed but it seems like I failed." I said without making any expression on my face.

"Don't worry. I know that you are right. With how you fight, it's best if both your hands are free. Let's go."

After teasing me, without hesitation, she hugged me from behind and trust her body to me. I fixed her position on my back so I can run freely, and then I jumped to the sky.

"Oh! This is amazing!" Celestine said as I run on the sky.

She wrapped her arms around my neck tight enough to not make her fall, but not too strong to choke me. I also put an air barrier around us so we can talk with ease. Though the wind still enters the barrier, it's not enough to cause problem in talking.

The city was close to the border of the Empire, and after one hour of running, we can finally see the wall separating Tatrama Kingdom and Consenza Empire.

Maybe because of the cult, they are increasing their security. There are some people flying around above the wall to see if someone is entering Empire illegally.

Since my job is to be sneaky, I can't get caught and have to stay hidden. There should be a gap where I can enter.

If the Empress has been informed of my arrival, she might have reduced the security. But if Albert told her that I can bypass the security easily, then she won't do it. I guess Albert told her to not worry about security. But instead, they increased it. Probably to see if I can pass it or not. If I can, once I meet the Empress, she will ask me the flaw in her security.

That's fine. It's much interesting that way. At least as long as my life is not on the line, I can play along.

I can see that there's a hidden passage to enter the Empire, but I won't go through that unless it's impossible to pass the security. Probably that passage is for the previous King to visit the Empire incognito. Or the previous Empress/Emperor to visit this kingdom. It was too well-built for it to be used by bandits or other people.

I can wait until it's dark, but I want to test their security. Everything might just be because I'm overthinking about how the Empress want to test me, but it's fun this way at least.

Once I got the chance, I run close to the border wall. This way, once I see an opening, I can enter easily.

All the guards seem serious, but there has to be a gap in their defense.

I was right. One of the flying mages is too high above. And since wind mages who don't have enough magic control won't be able to stay in one place and have to keep moving, it's impossible for him to see everything.

Meanwhile on the wall, the guards are only focused to their front. It's easy to bypass them.

With Celestine on my back who tightened her grip, I jumped on the wall right below the flying wind mage and in between the guards on the wall. It was easy.

When I meet the Empress, I'll tell her about magic control. They should have known from Albert that I'm from the future, right?

"Well, that was easy." Celestine said.

"Well, finding a blind spot with my eyes is easy. I'll run faster from now. We should be able to get to the Imperial Capital in three days with my speed. Unless I want to take it slow." I said.

"That's fast! I guess being able to fly makes everything easier." Celestine commented.

"It is. I bet you're jealous right now."

"I have always been jealous of those who can fly. Well, being carried like this is not bad as well."

"You will be carried for the next few days until we reached Arturo Kingdom. You'd be bored of flying by then."

Going to the Imperial Capital is not that long. But for the journey to the Varadis and then Arturo, might takes a month.

I think it's best to have a rest in each capital for a day or two before leaving again.