The change between nations is very evident in both geography and architecture. Buildings in the Khurut Sultanate usually had flowing edges and felt more organic, even though they were made of sandstone. At the border to the Mineva Republic, that quickly changed to a more European style, similar to how it looked like in the Kingdom of Lares. Although there are several differences, it goes to show that their cultures may have the same roots.

Also, the sultanate is separated from the republic by a mountain range, which seems to act as a natural border. While we fly across the sky, below us savanna changes into a more temperate forest, as elevation increases. The dirt roads leading through the mountains are barred by stone walls and gates, with old, overgrown watchtowers keeping an eye on the surroundings.

It goes to show that there may have been border disputes between the nations in the past, although the paths are now open to all travelers. I can see caravans traveling through those gates with the guards only watching, not controlling papers or cargo. Having a common enemy, one that poses a threat not to national borders, but to the survival of the entire race, can unify even former enemies like that.

But there are no borders in the sky, and we fly high enough for those below to surely think that we're only large birds. Asoko has gained Hestia's template and I taught her a few basic spells, such as Ventus, to allow her to take off with us. While in the sky we don't talk much, instead paying close attention to the geography and the river, making sure not to travel up another one that flows into it.

Since we have reached the Mineva Republic, it's only a matter of time before we come upon a city where we can find one of those interactive leather maps. Once I get one into my hands, we can finally go towards the Kingdom of Lares in a direct line - even if it means flying across the ocean. We've already wasted enough time because my memory of space magic was erased, and Kamii has been in the academy's hands for four days now.

With the enhanced vision granted by Hestia's genetic template, I spot a large elk-like beast in the forest below. Many animals in this world are pretty much indistinguishable from those in my previous world. The laws of physics, climate and air quality are pretty similar - only less polluted from industrialism, but instead affected by corruption sometimes. It's obvious that generally the same kinds of animals would develop under these circumstances. Except for the cyborg dinosaurs on the Dark Continent. I still wonder what those were.

"Onee-sama, there is a town." Hestia points forward and I spot it too. Judging by the aerial view, it's somewhere around the size of Kongenssoevn's citadel, meaning its population can't be that large. But from one look I can tell that the cultural standard of the republic is higher than that of the kingdom. Even in such a small town pretty much all buildings are made of stone, and I can see that many of the windows are covered with some form of glass. While it's not on the level of the practically modern day windows of the Royal Academy, the Mineva Republic must be an affluent nation for common folks to be able to afford such commodities.

"Let's set down a distance away from it. I don't want to cause a scene. We're looking for a map of the world and a marketplace to buy food." I say and begin to descend. If it was just me, I could make do with animals in the wild. Asoko can even digest trees, and while I haven't tried it yet, I'm sure I would be able to, too. Hestia is the one who needs human food. It's slowing us down, but obviously I can't blame her for being born the way she was - since I was born the way I am.

The town gate is open and the guards are sitting around playing dice or just resting. I taught Asoko how to change her body so that her skin looks like clothes, and turn myself into my academy version so that we don't draw too many suspicions as two perfect copies of each other would. After all, twins seem rare enough that I haven't seen any yet. Hestia's outfit has changed to a robe from the sultanate, since her school uniform was getting pretty dirty and we had no means to wash it properly. It's safely stored inside my body for cases in which she might need it, despite its modified appearance.

Upon our approach the guards barely pay any attention to us. Hestia's wings are hidden under her robes and a large straw basket I bought in the sultanate for this very purpose. While her black wings attracted a lot of attention in the sultanate, very few of the people knew what she really was, most likely considering her to be a spirit from the desert - or even going as far as to think that she's a goddess. But I think general education here should be good enough for people to know what Fatas are - just like people of the kingdom do.

Inside the town, we're greeted by a bustling main street that leads directly towards the castle at its heart. Even though the inhabitants aren't numerous, they seem quite busy with daily activities. Permanent stores are opened on both sides of the paved street, with each specialized in certain products, such as a bakery, a tailor and a hardware store. The last thing I want to see is something like a supermarket, because that would mean a huge discrepancy in technologies in this world.

"Good sir, could you tell us where I may find a store that sells maps?" I ask a passerby, since I doubt they have books on space magic in this town. He stares at me for a moment, then his eyes go over my companions, before returning to look into mine. Don't tell me he's a bad guy or something...

"Right here, milady." The man points to our side and all three of us turn our heads. Huh, how did I miss this? It's a store selling writing materials, which, according to Asoko's story regarding the scribe's store in the Khurut Sultanate, carry maps, too. Makes sense for those leather pieces to be sold here, then.

"Th-thank you." Waaah, this is so embarrassing! He laughs a little and then waves goodbye, continuing on his way - he was actually a nice guy, too! Sorry for beginning to doubt you...

We enter the store, which smells of paper and ink. There's little space to walk in, as scrolls stick out from their shelves and books are piled up all over the floor. We make our way through the cluttered interior and find a reception desk attended by a slim, elderly man wearing glasses. I do a double take at that. Glasses? There are glasses in this world? Asoko and I both spin around to look at Hestia.

"... what?" She's confused and blushes at the attention of - from her point of view - two Onee-sama.

"You're thinking what I'm thinking, right?" Asoko asks while looking at me.

"Indeed. Who do you think I am?" Even though she's been with Hestia for only two days, she has already found out the charm points of the fallen angel. As expected of another me. I always thought something in her was missing, but could never really pinpoint it. I mean, you would expect an old man principal like Thorvadis to wear glasses, so when he didn't, I thought they didn't exist in this world. That may have subconsciously let me forget that aspect about Hestia's appearance. "How are your eyes, Hestia?"

"Ah, they are back to normal, thank you for asking." She smiles at me radiantly, and I imagine glasses framing her eyes. Perfect! But I have to hold myself back from clicking my tongue when she says that she has no problems with her eyesight anymore. So her curse isn't like a certain set of red eyes that have powerful illusionary abilities, but decay with use, huh? Still, fake glasses are fine, too. It's all about the overall appearance anyway!

"Hellow, dear customah's? How can ah help ye?" The old man calls out to us when he notices our presence and looks up from his reading material. I can detect an accent, or maybe more precisely, a dialect. As expected, just like Japan has dialects that may sound like completely different languages in locations only a few hours apart with the Shinkansen, the one language that could be considered this world's standard also has variations.

"We are looking for glass-"

"I would like to purchase a leather-bound world map." I say while pushing Asoko aside. Pleasure comes after work, you idiot! I know... I would have done the same, if it wasn't for Kamii. But I couldn't make her understand what I consider to be a grave situation regarding the little dark elf, most likely because she never met her and doesn't feel connected to her in the way I do. "But first, I would like to ask... can I pay with the sultanate's currency?"

I almost completely forgot about this. There are obviously different currencies, and they might not be accepted everywhere. Even if I have thousands of Eyebtam, if they can't be used here, they might as well be worthless pieces of metal to me. Especially since I don't really intend to return to the Khurut Sultanate in the first place. I prefer temperate climates and hate the heat - although in this new body, temperature doesn't seem to affect me as much as it did in my previous life.

"Normally ye are expe'ted tah exchange it at a bank, but ah can do that for ye, to save ye ladies da trouble." The old man says in a friendly manner as he stands up from his chair and slowly walks into an aisle filled with leather scrolls. My, what a gentleman, and how nice of him to give us such excellent service.

He returns with a large sheet of soft leather, similar in size to the one I had in the survival backpack - which had been reduced to ashes in the desert. He makes some space on the reception desk and unrolls it before us, muttering the incantation to make it display its contents.

Spoiler :

The first thing I notice is the alignment of the map. It's at a ninety degree angle from how I used to look at it. Meaning, I was reading the map I had wrongly all this time. The second thing is the inclusion of a huge landmass at the bottom left, which is labeled "Eternal Continent". It didn't show up on maou-mama's map. For such a huge place to be absent makes me wonder what the level of knowledge on the demon continent is...

Another addition to the map, when compared to the others I've seen so far, is the fact that it shows rivers. Obviously, those are only major rivers, since any more would clutter up the map. Same for cities. It would appear that the capital of each nation is denoted by a dark dot, while no other towns are marked. Well, it makes sense, since this is a world map after all.

But for me, the most important thing is seeing that we have closed our gap to the academy - and therefore, to rescuing Kamii - by a fourth of the initial distance. It took four days, but that's much faster than I had first anticipated. Still, who knows what they already did to her during that time, so I won't be able to calm down or be able to rest properly until I have her back in my arms.

"Where do ye plan on travelin'?" The shopkeeper asks in curiosity, considering the fact that we do look like travelers while we have very little luggage on us.

"To the Kingdom of Lares." I answer truthfully, since I see no harm in doing so, but take control of the conversation right after. "How much is the map?" While I appreciate his friendly attitude, I don't want to waste any more time here, and pull out a purse from inside my clothes.

"Ah, that would be two Eyebtam." Woah, that's expensive! A meal was only twenty-two Repuk, which is basically only a hundredth of the price for this map. While I admit that it's quite detailed and has the interactive magic cast on it, it's something normal people wouldn't be able to afford in the Khurut Sultanate. But now isn't the time to be stingy with the excessive amount of money that I have. I open the purse and take out the equivalent of two Eyebtam in Lakin, but am stopped by the old man. "In Lakin, it will be twenty five."

I see no ill will in his words and expression, so I assume that the sultanate's currency only holds value due to its material, rather than having a set exchange rate. Two gold coins, especially as big as they are, are considered to be worth more than what their equivalent amount in their original currency put in silver would be. Fair enough, I'll get rid of some weight, then, and pay in Lakin.

"Unfortunately, I have no Eyebtam, so I will have to pay in Lakin." I lie and put the twenty five coins on the table for him to count. He goes through them quickly, rolls up the map and fastens it with a red string, before handing it to me almost ceremoniously. "Thank you." I take it and motion to leave.

"Wait, young lady." The old man calls out to me right when I turn away. "The day is nearing its end. If ye do not mind, ah recommend stayin' da night in da Ebony Stallion." Indeed, the sun is falling towards the horizon, but if we fly, I'm sure we can reach the next town before it's completely dark. "It is just down da street, at da second cornah on da right."

"Thank you for your suggestion, kind sir." I nod my head and we finally leave the store.

"Onee-sama... I know we are hard-pressed for time, but I am not feeling too well..." Hestia says. I can't really tell from her facial expression or skin tone, since she's keeping it under control, and her skin is usually quite pale anyway. But her shoulders are a drawn together a little and she has one hand pressed against her abdomen.

Oh, it's that.

Thus, we check in at the Ebony Stallion. Asoko said that she spotted a store she wanted to check out and walked away as we went down the road, but knowing how she's me, I'm sure it must be something about food. Well, I can understand that she's less interested in Hestia's well-being than I am, considering our past together, and there's no reason for both of us to be around her right now anyway.

It's only her period, after all.

Something that I don't have in this new body. After all, my biology is completely messed up and doesn't follow any laws of nature. I can have all the facilities in one moment, and then change to be amorphous, before switching to the opposite gender in the next. There's no reason for any singular bodily function developed through a history of evolution to take hold in me, when I can make my body move through the entire history of evolution within seconds.

Now, as for how people in this world deal with these problems, I'll have to ask Hestia herself. Coming from a world where all the necessary items were available in a convenience store a short walk away, I can't even begin to fathom what women here use in these circumstances. And this is my first time encountering this problem in someone I know, which makes me wonder about Luna. Maybe I just missed hers, or maybe she was on her period when I just met her, which might explain her attitude problem at the time. An attitude she mostly lost along our travels. Hm... when I think about it this way, it is entirely possible. Or she was already pregnant from Rolan. I shrug off that thought...

The room upstairs of the tavern, which almost resembles an actual hotel room, is spacious with plenty of light falling in through the large windows despite the time of day. When I walk into the bathroom, I see that it contains a big tub and running water from brass fittings. Now, as for Hestia. She's laid down on the bed, stomach-first and seems to be experiencing cramps. Well, I'll start with giving her a massage for now.

"I am so sorry, Onee-sama..." She says weakly while I push the pressure points I learned from my senpai in the track and field club. The back anatomy of a Fata is different from a human's, but at least the lower part is still the same; the same muscles mean the same points. I can see that she seems to calm down from it and is even enjoying it a little.

"Don't worry about it, just think about getting better." I say and smile. We've been hurrying along for the past few days so much that we weren't able to have any quality time like this. If I had never learned of the conspiracy involving Mithra and the gods - although I still don't know what exactly the latter are like - we would have been spending our days at the academy peacefully now.

A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts and when I open it, Asoko is standing before me with a pair of glasses on her nose. She gives me a triumphant grin and holds up another pair, which is the exact type that I imagined would fit Hestia perfectly.

"So that's where you went!" I take them into my hands and look at them from every angle. They seem to be fake, with flat glass inlaid into them, rather than convex or concave ones. I turn to the fallen angel who's sitting up on the bed and leaning overr to see what we're up to. Immediately, I approach her and without giving her a moment to realize what's happening, put them on her nose.

She looks at me in confusion, with a slight blush and the jumpiness of a bullied girl about to be confronted by a bully. That's the side in her that had disappeared after I fully corrupted her, and now it's amplified by those glasses. The appearance makes my heart skip a beat and I grab both her shoulders. Upon seeing my face, her expression changes into a mixture of joyous fear and anxious anticipation. I lick my lips as my breathing heats up.

I heard having sex while on your period can be an incredible experience. For both.