This morning, I sat in the main deck of the headquarters, accompanied by the ever-reliable Luna. In front of me, the system screen displayed last night's gacha history. The results were quite satisfying—not only did I obtain Marianna de Leyva (SR), but I also received four weapons. The screen listed the details:

1. Book of Source Water (SR) – A magic book capable of enhancing water-element-based attacks.

2. Elemental Wand (R) x2 – A simple staff that amplifies fire-elemental magic.

3. Spirit Grimoire (R) – A grimoire with spells to boost durability.

I examined the list thoughtfully. The Spirit Grimoire (R) seemed perfect for Marianna since she was a healer. But the other three weapons? Catherine and Thomas likely wouldn't need them, given their combat styles relied more on direct tactics than magic. It might be wiser to save these for when I recruited new units.

Luna, standing beside me, finally broke my train of thought.

"So, what's the next destination for the flying castle, Navigator?"

I slid the large map on the system screen, revealing the vast landmass of Esverita. Our current location was still near the coastal town of Lilac. I zoomed in on a central area, showing buildings and homes surrounded by walls labeled as Kingdom of Esverita.

"To here," I replied, pointing at the screen. "We need information. Perhaps this kingdom has something that can help us—either with the next quest or simply supplies."

Luna studied the map for a moment before nodding. "The journey from here to the Kingdom of Esverita will take about a day and five hours. I'll plot the route. In the meantime, prepare whatever is necessary."

"Understood," I replied curtly. Luna could always be trusted in situations like this. She immediately headed to the control panel, leaving me with my thoughts.

Planning the castle's journey made me realize I was starting to feel hungry. I needed something to replenish my energy before diving deeper into strategy.

When I entered the tavern, the warm scent of wood decor and remnants of yesterday's meals greeted me. Sasha was tidying up the tables. "Oh, Navigator," she said with a faint smile. "Good morning."

I nodded back. "Morning, Sasha. The place looks great. It's calm. I like it."

"Thank you," she replied softly. "Aren't you with Miss Luna?"

"Luna's piloting the castle," I said as I walked to one of the tables and sat down, letting out a short sigh. "She knows what to do. For now, I just need something to eat. Can you cook something for me?"

Sasha quickly nodded. "Of course, Navigator. Please wait a moment."

She left the room for the kitchen, leaving me alone again. My gaze wandered around the tavern. Though still new, the place already felt lively. The tables were neatly arranged, the floor spotless, and the atmosphere soothing. Watching Sasha work here brought an odd sense of comfort, as if this was truly where she belonged.

"This place isn't bad," I murmured, glancing toward the kitchen door. Sasha's presence brought a unique energy, far removed from the harshness of our previous missions. She might not be a combat unit, but I was certain she had an important role to play here.

Now I just had to wait for the food, giving me a moment to think about the next steps.

***

Catherine woke up reluctantly, still feeling the exhaustion from the grueling mission in Lilac. Sitting on the edge of her narrow bed, she glanced around her room.

"This room is too small, even for a servant, let alone a queen," she muttered irritably. Her fingers, still trembling from fatigue, brushed through her tangled hair.

After composing herself as best as she could, she decided to step outside for fresh air, even though the flying castle's atmosphere didn't fully suit her preferences.

"If they knew who I was, maybe they'd give me a room worthy of my status," she thought as she exited the dormitory.

As Catherine reached the front terrace, her gaze fell on a woman dressed as a nun, seated on a wooden chair and gazing at the blue sky. The woman turned toward Catherine and offered a gentle smile.

"Good morning," she greeted softly.

Catherine stopped, raising an eyebrow. "Who are you?" she asked, her tone carrying authority despite her tired voice.

Before the woman could respond, another voice came from the side. Thomas Hobbes, already awake, leaned against the dormitory wall, watching Catherine.

"It seems no morning can pass without complaints from you, Catherine," he remarked casually, though a hint of mockery laced his words.

Catherine scoffed, shooting Thomas a sharp glare. "Complaints are the right of a queen, especially when reality fails to meet proper standards," she retorted sharply.

The nun rose gracefully, smoothing her robes with her hands. "I apologize if I've caused any disturbance," she said politely, bowing slightly toward Catherine. "My name is Virginia Maria, a healer. The Navigator summoned me last night. I didn't greet you earlier because I heard you were resting after your mission."

Catherine scrutinized her with a critical gaze. "Virginia Maria? A healer, you say?" Narrowing her eyes, she stepped closer. "Do you know who I am?"

Virginia's subtle smile didn't waver. "Of course, I do. You're Catherine de Medici, a great leader with an impressive title. However, I believe we're not discussing your history at the moment."

Catherine caught the underlying tone but chose not to respond sharply. "Hmm, at least you're polite," she said. "Do you know your role here?"

"I'm here to heal," Virginia replied, her voice calm but with a slight chill. "Whether that proves useful to you or not, time will tell."

Thomas, silent until now, finally interjected. "Everyone has their role, Catherine. You manipulate with your charm, I think, and now we have someone who can keep us alive. Perhaps, for once, the Navigator made a wise decision."

Catherine rolled her eyes, though she grudgingly agreed with Thomas. "Fine," she said, turning back to Virginia. "But I'm curious. You're a nun. How did someone like you end up here, in a game as dangerous as this?"

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Virginia paused, her expression darkening slightly. "I had no choice," she said quietly. "My previous life… was filled with mistakes. Perhaps this is my way of atonement."

Thomas, intrigued, leaned forward slightly. "Mistakes? Do you believe in the concept of sin and redemption, Virginia?"

Virginia met Thomas's gaze with a rare sharpness. "I believe in taking responsibility for our actions. Whether you call it sin or not, no deed is without consequence. Redemption? That's not for me to decide, but I will try."

Catherine let out a small scoff, though this time with a faint smile. "You're more interesting than I thought. Well, Virginia, welcome to the chaos."

Virginia bowed politely. "Thank you, Lady Catherine."

When Catherine was in the middle of voicing her complaints about the small, unworthy room for a queen, Sasha suddenly appeared, rushing toward them. "The Navigator asked me to find you," she said, slightly out of breath.

Catherine immediately crossed her arms, her expression showing clear displeasure. "How dare he summon a queen like me?"

Thomas sighed deeply, shaking his head slightly. "We know, Catherine. Everything here is below your royal standards," he commented flatly, his tone laced with subtle sarcasm.

Virginia, standing calmly beside Catherine, turned to Sasha. "Where is he now?" she asked courteously.

"In the tavern," Sasha replied.

Hearing that, Thomas raised an eyebrow, surprised. "A tavern? A new facility? I didn't expect the Navigator to build something like that."

Catherine, who had been half-listening before, suddenly seemed interested. "A tavern? Hmm, finally something worth visiting." She started walking, followed by Virginia, with Thomas trailing without further comment. Sasha followed behind, looking slightly nervous about Catherine's commanding demeanor.

When they arrived at the tavern, the first thing they saw was the Navigator sitting casually at a wooden table, enjoying a plate of steaming meat and bread with a glass of ale. Catherine observed him with furrowed brows. Thomas stood still for a moment, taking in the atmosphere before commenting, "I think it's a smart decision to build a tavern. A crucial step for morale."

Sasha stood behind, waiting for instructions. Catherine, without hesitation, turned to her. "Make me the same meal," she said, pointing at the Navigator's plate. "And quickly."

Thomas, glancing at the same plate, added, "Me too. Make sure it's hot."

Sasha looked nervous but quickly nodded. "Of course, I'll head to the kitchen right away," she said, then asked Virginia quietly, "What about you?"

Virginia shook her head with a faint smile. "Just water and bread will suffice for me."

Sasha hurried off to the kitchen, leaving the three at the tavern's main hall. The Navigator, finally noticing their presence, waved nonchalantly. "Ah, you're finally here. Good morning."

Catherine, now seated elegantly across from the Navigator, glared at him sharply. "How bold of you to summon me, a queen, to come here. You should remember your place."

The Navigator chuckled lightly, unbothered. "Relax, Catherine. I'm just ensuring you all eat properly. You'll need energy, even if you don't feel hungry right now."

Thomas gave a slight nod, silently agreeing, though he said nothing aloud. Catherine, on the other hand, scoffed but didn't deny the statement.

The Navigator continued, "By the way, have you all met Virginia here?" He glanced at Virginia, who sat quietly at the edge of the table, her hands folded neatly on the wooden surface.

Catherine glanced at Virginia with a scrutinizing look. "Yes, we met this morning. She introduced herself as a healer. I'm not sure what makes her fit for this team."

Virginia met Catherine's gaze without showing much emotion. "I will simply do my duty. If that's not enough for you, time will reveal the truth."

The Navigator, sensing the tension, laughed softly to lighten the mood. "Good. Harmony is key to teamwork. Virginia will play a role in our future missions, so you all need to learn to work together."

Thomas finally spoke. "Virginia, being a healer isn't an easy task. You don't just heal wounds—you also have to maintain the team's morale. Are you prepared for that kind of pressure?"

Virginia looked at Thomas calmly. "Pressure is not new to me. If this task is part of my destiny, I will fulfill it."

Catherine scoffed lightly, though her mockery was subtler this time. "Let's see how well you hold up. I hope you're not a burden."

Virginia didn't respond, offering only a faint, ambiguous smile. Shortly after, Sasha returned with food and drinks, placing them in front of Catherine and Thomas. The tavern grew quiet for a moment, except for the sound of forks and knives at work. The Navigator smiled, satisfied to see everyone at least trying to adjust.

After finishing her meal, Catherine placed her fork and knife down gracefully, but her expression showed dissatisfaction. "This meal… it's not bad, but it's nowhere near the standard of French royal cuisine. I can't keep lowering my standards like this."

Sasha, standing not far from the table, looked slightly disheartened by Catherine's comment. She lowered her gaze, clutching the tray nervously. Thomas, noticing Sasha's expression, sighed deeply.

"Catherine," he said in a calm yet firm tone, "it may not be royal cuisine, but it's still decent food. Especially in our current situation. Perhaps you could learn to at least appreciate what's available."

Virginia nodded slightly, adding in a soft yet sharp tone, "He's right. Food is a blessing from God, regardless of its taste. Showing gratitude is an obligation."

Catherine glared at both of them sharply, but her annoyance was tinged with a hint of resignation. "Of course, I'm grateful. But that doesn't mean I have to praise bland food like this."

The minor debate continued—Catherine with her characteristic complaints, Thomas with his philosophical rationality, and Virginia with her moralistic approach. The tension began to rise until the Navigator tapped the table with his fingers, drawing everyone's attention.

"That's enough," he said in a tone that was both relaxed and firm. "We've eaten enough, and this debate won't change anything. Let's focus on what matters."

Catherine scoffed lightly but said nothing more. Thomas leaned back in his chair, appearing calmer. Virginia remained silent, though her gaze showed disapproval toward Catherine.

The Navigator continued, "Anyway, you're probably wondering about the castle's destination now."

Thomas raised an eyebrow. "I noticed Luna isn't here this morning. Is she managing everything?"

The Navigator nodded. "Yes, she's handling the route. We're heading to the Kingdom of Esverita."

"Esverita?" Catherine leaned forward slightly. "What's our goal there?"

The Navigator folded his hands on the table. "To gather information about this continent. We still don't know much about the region or its potential threats. Plus, I need resources to level you all up and upgrade the base. If we encounter another player in our current state, it could be disastrous."

Thomas nodded, pondering for a moment. "We're indeed in a weak position. Moreover, I'm not accustomed to being the primary attacker. That's not my true role."

The Navigator smiled faintly. "Fortunately, I recently obtained some support weapons from the gacha. You can return to your original role as a support debuffer."

"Good," Thomas said with a tone of relief. "As the main attacker, I feel ineffective. But even so, we're still lacking damage in this team."

The Navigator nodded in agreement. "Yes, we don't have a strong damage dealer. The incident in Lilac was pure luck because the monsters we faced were low-level. If we encounter high-level monsters, the situation won't be as favorable."

Catherine glared at the Navigator sharply. "So, what's your plan? You can't keep relying on luck."

"Simple," the Navigator replied calmly. "We focus on the mission in Esverita. Gather resources, level you up, and look for opportunities to recruit new units. Until then, we'll play it safe."

Catherine leaned back in her chair with a skeptical expression, while Thomas nodded slightly, seemingly accepting the strategy. Virginia remained silent, though her gaze made it clear she understood the importance of preparation.

Sasha, who had been listening closely, finally spoke hesitantly, "Is there… anything I can do to help?"

The Navigator looked at her for a moment before smiling. "Of course. Any help is valuable. For now, just focus on your duties in the tavern. That's already a big contribution."

Sasha nodded, though she still appeared slightly nervous. The atmosphere at the table gradually returned to normal, but everyone's thoughts remained focused on the next mission and the challenges awaiting them in Esverita.

***