Ten minutes ago, when the mist just cleared and the illusions vanished.
Everyone on The Redbud returned normal. Some of them were hurt, but many still ran towards the deck to check out what just happened.
However, before they could reach the deck, the imposing aura from the mighty wizards outside scared them back.
They dared not do anything when there were formal wizards on the scene. Still, they could not hold back their curiosity when something so rare and interesting was going on, so they stayed near the cabin door and peeked.
Angor was one of them. However, he did not find a good spot to look through the door before some talents with bad intentions pushed him outside.
When Angor tried to go back, someone "changed from a creepy weirdo into a wretched gentleman while walking" already stood before him and gave him a smile.
"Dear honorable golden card owner, welcome to Barbie's Restaurant…"
…
Angor was led into Barbie's Restaurant by Tom Weasel Eel while having no idea what was going on. A group of people followed behind.
The group consisted of every supernatural on the ship. More importantly, they were each wearing a different expression.
Sabot and Jellal had plain faces but the unnatural flickering in their eyes and their occasional coughing were enough to show their embarrassment. Seriously, they just earned their entrance into the restaurant at the expense of an ordinary young man. When they recalled how the young man looked at them with "filthy adults, taking advantage of my inexperience" written on his face, they felt uneasy all over themselves.
Heroline was looking at Angor who was walking alongside Tom Weasel with a strange look as she considered something.
The apprentices of the three major organizations had even more "colorful" looks. Some were envious, some vicious, some grim, and some stayed silent. Apart from this, the most common look was curiosity.
They were curious about the restaurant's decoration, the meals, and mostly—
The young man, who was completely ordinary apart from his above-average looks. How did he acquire a golden card when even wizards could not find one?
Angor, walking ahead of everyone under their continued gazes, was still showing a plain expression. However, he was already trembling inside his mind. He felt every step he took would lead him down into the abyss sooner or later.
He still could not accept the fact that the golden card that was given by the strange bird—"Tweet" was the name Angor gave the bird—was a golden invitation card from this damned restaurant?!
It was fine. It was just a restaurant, what could happen? He could just eat something and be done with it.
What Angor was not expecting was that all those powerful supernaturals actually demanded that him to bring all of them in.
Angor, as a common teenager who barely knew about the wizarding world, had not even the tiniest courage to refuse them.
That was the reason for the weird situation right now. Everyone except Angor was wearing a strange look.
Mighty wizards, who were so powerful that they could easily manipulate the world around them, were asking a mortal for help? If this incident was to be known by the other wizards out there, how would they show their faces in front of the world from now on?
Sabot and the other wizards were feeling humiliated, true. Yet, when they recalled the rumor in the wizarding world, that the food from Barbie's Restaurant could enlighten people, they immediately put the embarrassment away. That was nothing compared to actual, solid benefits.
Heck. They could just kill everyone on site once they were done with the restaurant. That way, no one would get the message out.
Tom Weasel kept introducing Barbie's Restaurant on his way while Angor stayed silent. He was too worried. Besides, he did not know what to say.
The interior decoration of the restaurant was different from the outside, with its own distinctive features.
Black, crimson, gold, silver… There were all kinds of elegant and formal colors, as well as twisted, complicated, yet organized dark stripes.
Thorns, roses, vines, blood… Even the paintings on the wall carried a thick, dark atmosphere, completely unlike the outside.
However, if the time visitor Jon was here, he would immediately recognize the style combining Baroque and Lolita—a typical, dark Lolita touch. This was not intended for kids, but it could still be considered fairytale-like in a broad sense. A fairytale for adults.
Angor knew about cultures from the Earth, but not to the extent of understanding something so… special. He was still a kid!
Thus, Angor was just as curious as everyone else, about the unique interior decoration of the restaurant.
It looked so foreign, Angor exclaimed in his mind. Now that he looked at Barbie's Restaurant up close, he began to realize that he was far away from the Old Earth for real, and there were only more foreign things for him to see.
As Angor pondered in his mind, an apprentice quickly walked to him.
Angor looked up and quickly switched to his polite manner.
It was Mara, the only man in this group that was somehow close to him. Mara did not pay Angor much attention since they came to the ship, but Angor could take on this path all thanks to Mara. Besides, Mara helped Jon. Even if he asked something in return, Angor still needed to repay his favor. This was why Angor immediately changed his plain expression into a respectful one.
Seeing Angor's attitude, Mara stroke his gray-white beard joyfully.
"Angor, I thank you for letting us into Barbie's Restaurant." Mara smiled. The wrinkles on his face spread like the layered petals of a blooming daisy.
Angor was shocked by Mara's sudden gratitude and did not know how to respond for a second. He could only keep nodding.
Since Mara was here, Angor recalled his condition earlier, about the unknown itchiness on his back. What on earth was that? Did it have something to do with the strange world he visited?
The condition was probably threatening his life, and Mara was the only supernatural he could ask, so he made up his mind.
"Mister Mara, when I took the talent test—"
"Angor, if I may, where did you obtain your golden card?" Mara's question interrupted Angor's voice.
That question was for everyone else too, including the three wizards, who also focused onto their conversation waiting for an answer. Even Tom Weasel walking beside Angor was not hiding his curiosity.
Since all people were looking, Angor was no longer comfortable about talking about his privacy, so he gave up his question and answered Mara.
Angor took out the golden card from the seabird from his pouch. One side of the card was blank, but Angor could feel something uneven when touching it and see some kind of complicated patterns when looking from the side. The other side of the card had the same inconspicuous carvings, but they were colored. There was a clear image of the half-figure of a plump lady with violet hair.
"This card?"
Tom Weasel replied, "Neehahahaha, yes, my honored guest. This is a golden card from Barbie's Restaurant. With this, you can enjoy a free meal from us, but only for once. When you leave the restaurant, the card will vanish on its own."