506 Be careful of handsome guys that make such an offer! (1/2)

Matsutani was the first to retreat. He carried the unconscious Imai Yoshida and ran into the void portal.

Shika carried Yuuko, Hitaka managed to carry both Maishi and Nomura by herself, and Rana dragged Rinura through the portal and returned to reality.

Finally, Seiji grabbed Miyabi and rushed out of the void portal together with Natsuya, escaping this completely collapsing world in time…

Everyone in the award ceremony banquet hall woke up again.

The award ceremony attendees were rather confused at how much time had seemingly elapsed without them realizing it, which caused a commotion.

Several hundred people collectively fell unconscious for several hours! However, not a single person among them was injured, poisoned, robbed, or anything like that. How were they supposed to interpret such an event?

The host, Thunderbolt Literature, had no experience in dealing with such an abnormal event, either.

At any rate, it was obvious that it would be necessary to report this to the police. Also, the remaining parts of the award ceremony would still continue. After all, the preparations had all been completed beforehand.

However, many people didn't want to stay here at a place where something so strange had occurred. Most of the attendees left.

Those that remained included Thunderbolt Literature's employees, people that had especially close relationships with the editing department's employees, people that wanted to wait for the police to arrive, and some rather foolhardy individuals that wanted to enjoy a free meal and participate in the random drawing for prizes at the end of the ceremony.

As for those that knew what really happened… Natsuya, Hitaka, Rana, and Shika all left after they confirmed that there were no longer any problems remaining.

Seiji, Miyabi, and the other authors remained at the award ceremony. They ate some food and chatted with each other.

Shoutarou Rinura was rather fatigued. He was able to mostly recall what happened during the period of time that Prince Adnan took over his body. Rinura also obediently accepted when Seiji told him the message from Adnan to stop writing the prince's story into a light novel.

Some time later, the middle school student Rinura received a phone call from his family and went back together with them.

Matsutani grabbed the largest plate he could find and filled it with steak, sushi, liver, barbequed meat, crabs, and all sorts of delicacies. He ate to his fullest.

Seiji and the others were rendered somewhat speechless upon seeing how their senpai of an author ate.

”Seeing Matsutani-senpai's appetite makes one wonder if anything just happened at all.” Nomura sighed.

”He must have all sorts of similar experiences since he's a Spiritual Ability user…” Maishi commented.

”It's as if I had a strange dream… it's truly inconceivable.” Yuuko sighed.

”You can treat it all as a dream if you like now that it's all over. But…” Seiji paused for a moment. ”We still don't know what triggered this incident, so it's still possible that another similar incident will occur. It's also possible that all of you may get dragged into this yet again. All I can ask is for all of you to be as careful as possible. If any of you notice anything abnormal around you, please contact me. I'll help as long as it's within my power to do so,” Seiji told them all with sincerity.

Nomura and the others looked at him.

”Harano-san is just like a hero… no, you are a hero!” Maishi praised him. ”You saved all of us… no, everyone here at the award ceremony!”

”I wasn't the only one who helped to save everyone,” Seiji replied. ”If you call me a hero, then all of you are heroes as well.”

”Hero… I don't feel like I am one.” Nomura shook his head. ”I was basically forcing myself at the end there, and yet I still couldn't handle the mental strain and ended up collapsing.”

”That's not how it is. If you weren't there… no, if any of us wasn't there, I think that we might have failed in the end. It was thanks to everyone that we all got out of this safely,” Seiji told them.

It was indeed thanks to everyone… but everyone contributed different amounts. It was obvious who contributed more than others.

”Even if you say so, Harano-san, I still feel like I was merely a member of those who were saved.” Yuuko smiled. ”Thank you to you and your friends for saving me.”

”I agree with her. Thank you to you and your friends, Harano-san,” Maishi agreed with Yuuko.

”Me as well… I'm truly grateful,” Yoshida stated.

Nomura also thanked Seiji as well.

Miyabi was the only one who didn't speak. She simply observed Seiji in silence.

”Everyone… no need to be so polite.” Seiji awkwardly scratched his face. ”I just did what I should.”