“Huh?”

I asked in surprise.

“You’re busy, why would you want to come?”

“It’s better than you going alone. I also wanted to enjoy a vacation, so I might as well come along.”

“Uh…”

Even if the vacation spot is somewhere you can’t reach?

Since it was a trip to the Celestial Realm, I couldn’t take Kabir with me.

However, if Kabir, who usually shunned going out, was willing to come along, maybe he too was stressed.

I knew the importance of a break for a person. I had felt it during my first trip to the Celestial Realm.

Kabir was always in his office, looking at documents, not meeting people, not having fun.

The more I thought about it, the sorrier I felt for him.

Everyone needed a break. Is this how the manager felt about me? I smiled bitterly and then said,

“Alright, let’s go together.”

It was an impulsive suggestion.

* * *

“So, Kabir is coming with us now.”

“……”

The manager stared at me in disbelief after my surprise announcement.

Then, he exclaimed,

“How are you going to bring him?!”

“Uh… we’ll just go somewhere else before the Celestial Realm. Just for fun…”

“You’re changing plans on the day?!”

I couldn’t say anything because he had just got off work. I pouted.

“What about taking Kabir to the Celestial Realm?”

“Please be reasonable…”

Even I thought it was an absurd idea.

The manager sighed and then asked me,

“Why go through all this trouble to bring him?”

“……”

I was silent for a moment and then said,

“Let’s just say, I felt a sense of kinship.”

It was closer to pity. It felt like seeing a version of my past self.

Busy with work, always looking forward and running. I saw a resemblance to my past self in Kabir.

During that time, I had felt an immense relief in the Celestial Realm.

I hoped Kabir could experience the same.

It was less for Kabir and more for myself.

“I want to have some fun on his behalf since he’s gone through a lot because of me.”

“You know it’s going to be tough.”

“There’s not entirely no way to do it, right?”

“That’s true but… I don’t get it.”

“It’s my wish.”

The manager flinched upon seeing my gaze.

He irritably ruffled his own hair.

“…Just this once.”

I beamed and spread my arms.

Noticing my intention to hug him, the manager blocked my forehead with his hand. How heartless.

“We’ll need to move to the temple first since you’ll have to entrust your body.”

“Wouldn’t Kabir find it strange if we go to the temple instead of the beach?”

“Can’t be helped. We have to put him to sleep.”

Hmm.

“And then?”

“I’ll move us to the temple. Make sure no one sees us enter the temple.”

Hmm…

“It’s like we’re a pair of criminals.”

“Not exactly wrong.”

Poor Kabir. He ended up being a victim of my misdeed.

It’s all for your vacation, so please understand just this once. I tried to ignore the guilt creeping up on me.

* * *

“Welcome, oh… uh…”

Shailo must have been informed by the manager because he greeted us but then gasped upon seeing Kabir being carried by the manager, asleep.

“The Grand Duke, how is he…?”

“He’s heavy. Just lead us to a room first.”

“Yes, this way, please!”

Shailo hurried inside. I quietly watched the manager.

“By the way, when did the priests start knowing about you?”

“I never hid it in the first place.”

So the angels and priests are on the same side. With Irmin having ears everywhere, it seems there might not be any traitors.

We moved to a room. It was a room with beds side by side.

Shailo left us in the room and closed the door behind him. I turned to the manager after looking at Kabir asleep on the bed.

“What do we do now?”

I had only gone to the Celestial Realm when there was a mishap. I had no idea how to move to the Celestial Realm in a normal state.

“We’ll use the same method I always use to go to the Celestial Realm.”

The manager said and started rummaging in his pocket.

What he pulled out was a small bottle filled with liquid.

“This’ll do it, one shot.”

“Um.”

“Odorless and colorless, it’ll be over quickly.”

“You’re scary.”

No matter what I said, the manager handed me the bottle.

I always wonder, should a person’s life be taken so lightly? Is it okay because it’s a virtual world?

Even if the manager, being of a different race, might take it lightly, I had lived as a human and hesitated to do such a thing to myself.

“I won’t take points for a Resurrection Ticket since I suggested coming here.”

“I’ll drink it.”

My hesitation was quickly resolved. I couldn’t miss this opportunity where points wouldn’t be consumed.

Right, I’m just enjoying a more immersive virtual reality game. It’s like pressing the game over button while playing a game.

But to do this to Kabir…

“……”

I looked at Kabir, asleep and feeling uneasy.

I steeled myself and administered the liquid to Kabir. After all, the priests would take care of the aftermath!

The manager, while opening the bottle, said nonchalantly.

“You understand that this is quite a reckless act, right?”

The manager’s voice was devoid of warmth.

“And the chance of getting caught is high.”

“…Yes.”

I was prepared for the risks.

I hoped everything would go smoothly, but I was aware the likelihood was low.

‘…It’ll be fine.’

I just hoped this vacation would go without any complications.

* * *

When I opened my eyes this time, I wasn’t in Gabriela’s room.

It was a luxurious room I’d never seen before.

“You’re awake.”

And there was the manager, sitting at a tea table, reading a book.

It seemed we were definitely in the Celestial Realm, but why was he still in Bates’s appearance? I exclaimed,

“What’s this, why aren’t you in your true form?”

“Obviously, because Kabir is here with us.”

He must have stayed in Bates’s form just in case, anticipating Kabir’s presence.

I muttered, somewhat disappointed,

“When will I ever get to see your real form…”

“It’s not a big deal…”

The manager seemed baffled by my fixation on his true appearance.

He set the book aside and stood up.

“I’ve arranged the room next door for Kabir, and I’ll be nearby. Contact me if you need anything.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

It was supposed to be a trip just with the manager. Now it had turned into a journey alone with Kabir.

Only now did I start to feel a bit guilty. The manager had brought me on this vacation, and now he couldn’t enjoy it.

“Next time, let’s really have fun, just the two of us.”

“Alright.”

The manager gave a wry smile and patted my head. I laughed and watched him leave.

After the manager left, I looked around the hotel room.

As promised, it was quite a luxurious hotel. The window offered a direct view of the seaside.

‘I just casually mentioned the beach, but who knew we’d really come here.’

I was glad one less excuse was needed.

‘Kabir is in the next room, right?’

I got up from the bed and moved. Then, in the entranceway, I saw my reflection in the mirror and paused.

Even in the Celestial Realm, I was still in Anais’s form.

‘It can’t be helped since I came with Kabir.’

The manager must have put in quite an effort.

The door to the adjacent room was open. Perhaps the manager left it that way on purpose.

Peeking inside, I saw Kabir still asleep.

How strong was the dose? Seeing Kabir asleep on the bed stirred a sense of pity in me.

I sat down on the bed where Kabir was lying and nudged him gently.

“Kabir, wake up.”

“……”

Kabir frowned slightly as I touched him, then slowly opened his eyes.

He sat up slowly, looking confused.

“You fell asleep, so the guards brought you here.”

“…What?”

Kabir narrowed his eyes, and I avoided his gaze slightly.

“Must be accumulated fatigue.”

“But to collapse like this is a bit odd…”

He was suspicious as expected.

Before Kabir could delve deeper into his thoughts, I grabbed his arm.

“Enough of that, let’s go for a walk!”

“……”

Kabir looked uncomfortable but got up obediently.

* * *

After both of us finished freshening up, we stepped outside.

As the sea was visible right from the window, we faced the ocean as soon as we walked out.

Despite being in front of a large hotel, the beach was deserted.

I stood still, looking at the seaside.

Kabir also stared blankly at the sea. The sound of the waves enveloped the surroundings.

“It’s been a very long time since I’ve been to the seaside… It sparkles more than I remember in my memories.”

“Indeed…”

It had also been a long time for me.

The sea in the Celestial Realm was incredibly beautiful. It had a mysterious color, mixed peculiarly with pink.

After a brief pause to admire the sea, we headed towards the nearby restaurants.

As we approached the dining area, we started to see a few people.

The problem was that the appearance of the celestials was subtly different from humans.

At a glance, they looked similar, but there was a distinctly different aura about them. It was noticeable enough to feel a sense of unease.

“……”

Suspicion was evident on Kabir’s face.

I clapped my hands exaggeratedly and said,

“Wow, people in the port city really dress up well— maybe it’s because they interact a lot with foreigners, their fashion seems quite distinct too!”

“……”

Kabir squinted his eyes at my overacting. Then, he stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“It seems different from when we were young.”

As expected, Kabir was harboring doubts.

Were we discovered? I swallowed nervously.

“Ah!”

I pointed at a place hastily, trying to divert his attention.