493 Are you joking with me? (1/2)

Seiji and the others did as the restaurant owner instructed.

Then, the handsome middle-aged restaurant owner lifted his hands, clasped his palms together, and created a white ball of light that he inserted into the globe.

The markings on the globe lit up as light flashed all over its circuitry-like patterns.

”Now, everyone, reach out with your hands. No need to touch it, just get closer to it.”

Hearing this, Seiji was the first to reach out his hand.

When his hand neared the globe, a dark-red mist appeared from his hand, then was sucked into the globe.

'It's alright…' Seiji indicated that to the others with his expression.

Miyabi was the second to reach out her hand. Following after her, Nomura and the others reached out with their hands as well.

After the globe absorbed some mist from all of them, it began to buzz. On the lower half of the device, the three-legged stand, many mystical runes started to glow red.

The restaurant owner inspected the runes for several seconds.

”You still have three companions located in different places,” he explained. ”I can currently locate two of them. There's one more person that I won't be able to locate until you find the other two. Then, I'll be able to repeat this spell and locate the last person.”

”Why is that?” Seiji inquired.

”Because that person is located in a deeper level of this world… this spell's power is limited and requires more people to power it up before I'll be able to locate the last person.”

”…Although I still don't really understand, I think I understand the gist of it.”

'The two people he was able to locate are probably the last two award-winning authors, Shousei Maishi and Imai Yoshida. The person that's in a deeper level that he can't locate is probably Shoutarou Rinura,' Seiji thought to himself.

”I need you all to choose one person as the 'Guide.' This person shall be responsible for leading you all to find your companions,” the restaurant owner continued explaining.

Upon hearing this, Miyabi and everyone else all looked at Seiji.

”Allow me.” Seiji accepted the role.

The restaurant owner then asked everyone else to put their hands on Seiji's body.

After everyone did so, the restaurant owner then asked Seiji to place his hand on the globe.

”You need to place your hand on it for several seconds. The process may be somewhat dizzying. Please bear with it.”

Seiji nodded in understanding.

Although he felt that the restaurant owner wasn't leading them into a trap, he still decided to make a save file at this point in time just in case.

He slowly put his hand on the globe.

His hand was instantly enveloped in a white light; many scattered fragments of scenes flashed through his mind!

All these scenes flashed through his mind in just an instant, giving him deep and lasting impressions.

Were these fantasies? Or memories?

Seiji couldn't help but wonder. At this moment, he was unable to differentiate between illusion and reality.

His head started feeling dizzy.

His consciousness and vision both became hazy. Everything seemed to become hazy.

Seiji faintly felt as if he realized something while in this condition… he then felt a mysterious power enter his body and gather on his right hand.

The sensation of dizziness left him.

His consciousness and vision both returned to normal.

Seiji saw that the restaurant owner had also placed his hand on the globe.