<Hey, it is not too late. Hurry up and correct this.>
Using a method that was closer to telepathy, Riley delivered his thought directly to Andal’s head while carefully glancing at what Priesia was up to.
“Just now, what did you say?”
Although Riley sent Andal a message, he was still tilting his head around as if he was clueless. Wondering what this was about, Andal said,
<Riley, you… Just what are you babbling about…>
Again… Again… Riley’s name was tossed out from the red lizard’s mouth. Riley’s face, which was hidden under the mask, flinched once again.
<Andal, please.>
Riley felt like he knew why this red dragon had failed the amusement tour as a human being so many times. As if he was pleading for Andal to figure this out, Riley desperately called his name.
<What’s with that thing you have on top of your face? Is it a new mask?>
“…”
Riley understood that Andal just woke up, so he could be confused with the dream state and the awakened state. However… Instead of the response that Riley hoped for, Andal asked about the mask, which was not even close to what Riley wanted. Having observed this far, Riley was certain now that this dragon failed amusement tours as a human being so many times because he lacked the quick sense.
‘They said that one can make it half way by doing absolutely nothing, and…’
Riley was thinking that it would not have come to this if Andal didn’t do anything at all. Riley sighed.
“Just now, what are you talking about? Riley? Who are you talking about?”
Andal was tilting his head around, but it was Priesia who had even more puzzled look on the face. She took a step forward and asked Andal.
<Um?>
Having heard the voice from the back, Andal found Priesia. Andal lightly flinched his shoulder and stared at Riley, trying to ask what was this human doing in his cave. Andal asked,
<Riley, did you bring this human here?>
As if Andal was putting the very last nail to the coffin, he mentioned Riley’s name once again. With confused look on her face, Priesia went back and forth between the red scaled dragon and the masked man.
“By any chance…”
Priesia was staring at Riley. Feeling the gaze, Riley looked hopeless. He sighed.
“…”
Of all beings, Riley never thought he would be betrayed by the friend he saved. Feeling like he just got smacked on the back of his head, Riley just maintained silence. He then casually moved his gaze because of a presence he felt from the back.
“E… Excuse me!”
Nainiae had been watching the situation in secret. It seemed like she decided she should not let this go on anymore. Nainiae showed herself.
‘Nainiae.’
She was not in her usual maid dress. She was wearing shady getup of a kidnapper. She was even wearing the mask. Watching her walking in… Riley was so impressed. He muttered inside,
‘As I thought, you are the only…’
“Young Master. No, that’s not right… That is…”
Riley was about to think ‘As I thought, you are the only one I can count on, Nainiae.’ However, after listening to Nainiae hurriedly changing her words, Riley could not take it anymore. He lowered his head to the floor.
It looked as if he got smacked on the back of his head twice in a row. He felt like the head was so heavy that he could not keep it up anymore.
“…”
Priesia looked at the mask man, Riley to be exact, and carefully asked,
“By any chance, are you Young Master Riley?”
It was the right answer.
* * *
“See! As I thought, it was as the divine message said, right?”
Thanks to Andal who lacked quick sense, and thanks to Nainiae who also lacked quick sense, Riley’s identity was found out by Priesia in the end. Riley hung the mask on the top of his head as if it was a mask. He looked annoyed.
“Ah, yes… Yes… It was as the divine message said.”
“See. I told you that you might need me.”
“Ah, yes.”
Priesia thought that she finally proved Riley wrong for once. She placed her fist at her waist. Full of confidence, she lifted her shoulders.
“Well… Regardless of how things turned out, isn’t this a good thing?”
Andal had transformed to his human form. Looking at Riley who appeared to be uncomfortable about this, Andal scratched his hair and mumbled.
“It… it worked out well.”
Was it because she wanted to make Riley feel better? Nainiae, the one who made a mistake earlier, clapped and smiled awkwardly.
“Anyway, I am indebted to you, Priestess. I’ll repay you for this kindness later in anyway I can.”
.bg-ssp-10081{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} It seemed even a dragon had to show respect to a Priestess. Andal spoke to Priesia in respectful tone. Priesia lowered her head and responded,
“About expressing your gratitude, I think you should do that to Young Master Riley. His method was not magnificent, but still, thanks to him, you got to receive the treatment.”
Even though Priesia was praising him, Riley was digging his ears as if he was annoyed. He then sighed big again.