Once everyone was asleep, I snuck out of my room as Regda instructed me. He was already outside waiting for me.
â All your friends are sleeping soundly.
â What did you do to them?
â I asked the people in the kitchen to prepare some special food. The side effect is deep drowsiness. They wonât wake up until maybe midday.
â I see.
If it was a poisonous ingredient added to the food, Mike or Akane wouldâve noticed immediately. But since the sleeping effect was added through cooking skills it was impossible for them to sense it.
Even if it wasnât exactly poison, Iâve never heard of a hotel that would serve food like that to their guests. Itâs impressive that they would do anything to comply with Shamsheelâs wishes.
â Enough talking. The Grandmaster is waiting.
â Itâll be morning again by the time we get to the crater.
â Donât worry about that.
Regda took a deep breath and put all his strength into his back.
His entire body became full of red scales and his back grew two big wings.
He transformed into a pterosaur.
Regda called himself a half lizard⊠Was that the case from the beginning, or is this transformation magic?
â Time is short. Ride.
â R-RightâŠ
Riding on Regdaâs back, we flew under the starry sky in a straight line towards the sageâs crater.
â Hm?
I noticed some of Regdaâs scales were way softer than the rest. Their color was red, but somewhat brownish too.
â Are you worried about my scales?
â âŠMaybe. Sorry.
â I donât care. Youâll be touching me way more than I would like to.
â What do you mean?
â Weâre descending into the crater now. Donât fall into the lava.
â âŠWhat?
Without wasting any time, Regda dived right into the steaming crater while spinning like a drill.
I get that time is valuable, but did he have to spin me around too?
â Grandmaster, I brought the kid.
Back to his normal form, Regda threw me onto Shamsheelâs sofa.
â Thank you.
Shamsheel put down a bottle that had orange liquid.
â Grandmaster, again?
â Itâs just one of those times. But donât worry, Iâm doing fine. (Shamsheel)
â âŠThatâs not what Iâm worried about. (Regda)
â Regda-san?
â Youâre the main guest today. Make sure to do everything she says.
â Right.
â Well then, Takaya, Iâm sure youâve realized by now, but Iâm gonna need your cooperation with a little something. I donât think itâll go as planned, but if anyoneâs gonna make it work, itâs you.
â What is it?
â What else, but manufacturing skills! Completely different from the âritualâ you saw. Regda.
â Yes.
Regda exposed the entirety of his skin. For how slimmed he looked, he was quite strong.
Shamsheel taped a tree paper on his back, which revealed Regdaâs tree.
â He excels at magic and combat. He also has some processing skills, but nowhere near yours. Try touching this tree.
â Like this?
Fearfully, I put my index finger on Regdaâs tree paper.
I felt a weird sensationâŠ
â Ow, itâs hot!
I reflexively removed my finger.
My fingertip was red and swollen as if it had been burnt.
â What do you think?
What do I think?
As in, did it work?
â Iâm not sure myselfâŠ
When I touched the paper, I felt it. I felt like someone elseâs magic circuits were trying to enter my own.