"Do you remember when I left the village, carrying the ambition of leading the continent's aesthetic trends?"

Theo looked seriously at Shami.

"Weren't you going to find [all true] at that time?"

After reminiscing for a while, Shami recalled the events of the day.

"Ah, that was indeed one of my goals. After all, when you set only one unattainable goal for an unknown journey, you might never return. Setting several goals increases the chance of returning to the village."

Theo spoke, suddenly lifting his head as if thinking of something important, his expression full of emotion.

"By the way, what about the widow at the village entrance? Is she still waiting for me? Don't tell me you've thought I died and started taking care of her in my stead!"

"Don't worry, I completely forgot about her until you mentioned it."

Shami chuckled.

"Meanwhile, why don't you tell me what you've been through, Theo."

Theo propped his chin on his hand.

The memories of Theo's journey slowly unfolded.

"It's a long story. After bidding farewell to you in the village, I left with my luggage."

"After leaving the village, I spent two or three days wandering outside to remember the way back."

"In truth, I was just making grand statements but ended up regretting it and wanting to linger, right?"

Relying on years of friendship, Shami quickly saw through Theo's fib.

"Ultimately, I made up my mind. With Aireland Continent being so vast, someone destined to be extraordinary from appearance to heart, surely has a place to stand. So, I joined a caravan moving eastward."

"Seems you finally acted like a man, Theo. And then?"

"Then the people of that caravan mistook me for a peculiar creature and dragged me to a remote mountainous area in Wus Kingdom."

"A sorrowful encounter right at the start of the journey."

Shami silently showed a sympathetic expression.

"Wus Kingdom is a coastal nation, with only half of its territory developed, filled with various primitive tribes in the other half. That mountainous area happens to be inhabited by a Cannibal Race tribe, where witchcraft is prevalent. When they saw me, they made me the chief, painting my body with strange symbols and dressing me in odd clothing."

"Well, at least you saved your life."

Shami also got into the story.

"But I later realized that these cannibalistic fools intended to use me as a sacrifice to the heavens for rain. I was bound to a long bamboo pole and put on a barbecue rack. Just when I thought I was about to die, a group of pirates appeared and disrupted the scene. I and some pirates were trapped inside two hollow bamboo balls swinging from either side of a cliff..."

"Wait a minute, this plot sounds familiar; Disney's legal department might send a lawyer's letter!"

Shami frowned and continued asking.

"From what you say, you must have played an important role here, Theo–Captain Jack Theo? Did you deal with the Flying Dutchman?"

"Hey, how do you know about the Flying Dutchman? The pirates' goal was indeed that ship, but I'd never even heard of it."

They tied me up, intending to sail, but I discovered I got seasick. So, before setting sail, I worked half a month as labor on the pirate crew, eventually thrown overboard after being stripped naked."

"...You just missed out on an adventure."

Theo sighed.

"Initially, I was pretty nervous about such incidents, but I gradually got used to them. After helping a circus earn enough program fees, I escaped and then encountered..."

"Wait a minute, when did you get captured by the circus? You really performed for the circus! You can talk, can't you? Why not clarify you're a human?"

Shami didn't know how to judge Theo's journey away from the village, glanced at the time, and hastily interrupted him.

"I know your experiences are interesting, but now isn't the time for long reflections. Quickly, tell me the most important thing: how did you become some noble's descendant and turn into a seemingly famous art master?"

Theo laughed, proudly answering.

"Here's the thing, during my escape I happened to be rescued by a caravan. This caravan consisted of Raya Royal Family descendants touring the continent, spreading their culture to various kingdoms. Among them was a prince with pure Raya Royal blood named Raya Theo, apparently a renowned figure in several kingdoms there. I traveled with them across countries, and that prince seemed to like me, especially my looks."

"So you just went for him?"

"Of course not. Is my sexual orientation that odd?"

"..."

Theo retorted, then explained his story.

"I always knew someone would appreciate my looks. Raya Theo showed me photos of royal family members throughout generations, all exuding an extraordinary beauty. Additionally, this is a family pursuing strange aesthetics beyond common perception."

"No wonder this royal family declined, no foundation for survival from the start!"

"I accepted Raya Theo's invitation and traveled with them. Later, Raya Theo suddenly died from illness, and I was chosen by others to become the new Raya Theo, the new royal descendant."

"So Raya Theo isn't a name, but a title! However, with a different person, the lineage is entirely different!"

Theo explained.

"The main issue was Raya Royal Family had only him as a notable figure. To revive the royal family, he was essential; otherwise, we couldn't gather funding for the caravan."

Shami quipped.

"But wouldn't audiences notice the mismatch? The looks are totally different..."

"No, no, no, Raya Royal Family is a family that greatly emphasizes mystery. Raya Theo inherited this trait well. Only very close people know his appearance, and during performances across kingdoms, Raya Theo changes his face, so externally almost no one knows which face is the real Raya Theo."

Shami struggled to understand.

"So...then you and those remaining caravan members came to Saint Karno City as judges?"

"Yes. We received an invitation. But before that, gradually, the caravan members all died of illness. Not even halfway through the journey, everyone died, leaving only me."

"Ah, speaking of which, you could say Raya Royal Family has been wiped out."

"No, there's still me." Theo asserted.

"You have no blood relation with them! Don't get too obsessed with playing the role!"

"On the journey, I'd lost all my money; since they're all dead, I might as well use it as residual warmth to save a youth with great aspirations. Besides, now no one really knows what Raya Theo looks like."

"So you replaced someone else."

Shami looked over.

Theo coughed, showing a serious face.

"It's all the same name~ and I realized I might be a lost descendant of the Raya Royal Family."

Just then, warm-up music for the finals sounded, and people outside started looking for Theo.

"Shami, it's great to see you again; let's have a good drink together after the finals. Now I have important matters to attend to."

Theo patted his shoulder and left the restroom first.

Shami had to follow him back.

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