Ch.129129. Happily Ever After (4)

It’s hard.

Yet it’s the size of a card.

…It must be a tool to break the seal.

And it probably also serves as a receiver to pinpoint the exact location.

…I never expected them to make contact like this.

Ellie seems to be looking at me, wondering if she received the same thing.

For now, it’s best to ignore it to avoid suspicion.

“Sis…! We’re next in line!”

“Ah… oh, um, yes. Are we? I see…”

Ugh…

I flinched a little.

Arin seemed suspicious of my behavior.

But the direction of her suspicion was…

“…Don’t tell me, Vine, are you bad with these rides?”

“No…? Not at all…?”

She just suspects I’m a coward.

Fortunately, she doesn’t seem to have any thoughts about suspicious contact with Eden or villainous movements, which is a relief.

While I was thinking that, already…

“Really? *gasp*! It’s here… Let’s get on quickly!”

“We need to wait for the current riders to get off first, Arin.”

As we discussed yesterday, I’m riding with Arin, and Ellie is with Blanc.

Ellie…

Come to think of it, I’m worried about putting Ellie with Blanc.

They might have included a note or instructions or something.

That would be necessary to know the exact meeting location.

They wouldn’t make such random contact without some kind of note.

The perceptive Blanc might have actually noticed something.

Well, right now we’ve come to the front because we said we wanted to ride in the front.

And Blanc was looking elsewhere from the seat next to us, so maybe it’s fine.

Still, I can’t help feeling anxious…

“Sis…? Are you scared? I can ride alone if you want…?”

“No, how could I possibly be scared? It’s just a train. Originally, this train was… ah, never mind.”

There’s no need to tell Arin that I once stopped this roller coaster, lifted it with my tail, and played with it.

No need to mention how I dipped it repeatedly into the park’s lake, like chocolate fondue…

“Pardon…?”

“I’ve fallen from higher places before. See Blanc over there? That person has greatly increased my courage, so I’m fine.”

Arin laughs off my comment.

Well, she’ll understand someday if she ever has to fight humanoid monsters rather than just beasts.

That humanoid monsters hurt more than mindless beasts…

Though personally, I hope Arin never has to experience that pain…

I sincerely hope we never have to meet in battle.

Arin is still young.

…Though her growth rate is frightening.

She’s a magical girl who only awakened recently.

If she ever meets me, I hope she’ll have become a magical girl worthy of receiving a nickname from me.

“Are you okay…? Ah, it’s here.”

The door opens.

The safety fence that was blocking us for safety opens.

“Excuse me… can we check the height of your friend here?”

“Huh? Not this child?”

“No. It’ll just take a moment.”

Height…

This is awkward…?

Wasn’t the limit 130cm here…?

“Yes, please come over here for a moment.”

I reluctantly followed the staff member.

No way, 10cm…

Right, there’s an 8cm difference and they’re checking my height because of that…

Ugh…

This doesn’t feel good.

So I went over to the height measuring device.

“…Captain Vine.”

“What?”

“Today at 8:30 PM sharp, the garden in the grounds, by the rose fountain.”

“Eh…?”

“Alright, your height has been confirmed. Please leave any items that might fly off over there and take your seat. Our staff will check on you!”

…I’m confused.

Suddenly…?

Captain…

If they’re calling me Captain.

Ugh…

So that’s why they called me over.

I put away my belongings and sat next to Arin again.

The fox doll can’t ride with us, so I set it down.

“Sis… was everything okay?”

“Yes. I suppose since you’re taller than me, they wanted to check just me first to make sure it was fine?”

“Oh… is that so?”

“Yes.”

I’m a bit worried if Arin heard anything since she’s in the front, but… we were far apart, and it’s noisy in here, so she probably didn’t hear.

I barely heard it myself, so Arin couldn’t have heard.

“Our adventure train is about to depart! Safety bar check! Everyone hands up!”

Arin and I raised our hands, and we passed the safety bar check.

Of course, neither of us would get hurt falling from this height… but the regular people behind us…

Ah, excluding Ellie and Blanc, the rest of the regular people would be seriously injured if they fell.

“All clear! Now, our Rapid Express that will race to the edge of the sky and the end of the earth! Our adventure begins now!”

With the sound of the bell announcing the ride’s start, the train began to move.

* * *

“Haah…”

“Vine, are you okay?”

“Yes… I was just a little cold… That’s why I was shivering.”

“…But you were screaming.”

“No, that wasn’t me. It was just… like shouting in front of a fan.”

I wasn’t scared.

It’s just, how should I put it.

During those sections where you repeatedly go up and down, I simply clenched my fists a bit tightly because it felt like I might fly off and hit something.

I wasn’t scared, absolutely not.

If I were scared of that, I shouldn’t be going out as a combat operative in the first place.

I have the honor of being Eden’s captain.

It’s not simply because I couldn’t control my body while riding a high-speed train.

It’s a complex combination of factors…

“Sis…?”

“Yes…?”

“It was fun, right…?”

“Yes, it was fun…”

“Yeah… that’s the thrill we ride for. How was it, Vine?”

Blanc appeared, happily supporting a haggard-looking Ellie.

“…It was nice to enjoy the speed sensation after so long.”

“Hmm? Ellie seemed quite different.”

“Well… Ellie hasn’t been outside for a long time. She’s probably become a bit desensitized.”

I retrieve the fox doll I had placed in the storage compartment.

…There’s something else here.

A small pendant.

…It looks similar to a spinal connection.

Did the doctor add some new function to it?

…Yes, I should have a small weapon like this.

I decided to take it with me.

“Sis! Let’s go eat before lunchtime and then ride the next one!”

“Yes… Don’t we have passes?”

“Vine. There are no passes for restaurants…”

“…Ah. Well, there might be restaurants with fewer people…?”

“Usually, the restaurants in places like this are expensive and just for satisfying hunger, so people go anywhere. We might not find seats.”

“…I see. Let’s go then. Let’s go.”

Well. There must be places to eat around here.

After looking around for a restaurant, we came to a Western-style place nearby.

A deli…? I should say. A typical amusement park restaurant that reheats frozen food.

This is all there is to eat here.

We ordered things like barbecue ribs, pork cutlets, and chicken at a table with an outdoor terrace.

There’s a gentle breeze, and we can hear people screaming from the rides.

“Was it really that scary…?”

“Vine, were you okay?”

“Vine? Come on. Vine also—mmph?!”

“Arin. Be quiet…”

I stuffed a piece of chicken into Arin’s mouth.

Talking about such things openly isn’t good for one’s reputation, Arin.

Don’t look at me with those wronged eyes.

If you were White Snow or Crybaby, I would have shoved the chicken in harder.

I’m going easy on you because you’re Arin.

“Hmm… I can tell just from the reactions. Ellie was similar.”

“What?!”

Ellie suddenly attacked by Blanc.

“Why? I was going to let go so you could ride hands-free, but you were gripping the safety bar for dear life.”

“No! Hey! No, that’s not, no, nooo!”

“Hehe… Well, as long as you enjoyed it, right?”

“Hey!”

They seem to have become close.

I can feel how different their relationship is from before, perhaps due to the contract magic.

Well… I didn’t expect them to get this close.

It makes me a little jealous.

“Sis? Hehe… I’m sorry about earlier. Say ‘aah.’ Aah—”

“…? Ah—”

There was a sausage on Arin’s fork.

Nom…

“Hehe… so cute… I really like you, Sis.”

“*gulp* Ahem… Yes. I suppose you might… But why are you suddenly sorry…?”

“…I almost shared your secret just now, didn’t I?”

“Ah… well…”

If I had to apologize for every little thing like that, how many apologies would I need to make?

Still, the sausage was delicious.

Well… I guess it’s fine as long as Arin looks happy.

“So, Arin. What are we riding next…?”

“Hmm… I haven’t decided yet. Shall we look around and see?”

“Whatever makes you comfortable, Arin.”

“Really…?”

“Yes.”

That was when I shouldn’t have told Arin to do as she pleased…

* * *

“Arin… aren’t you tired…?”

“Huh…?”

“We’ve been riding attractions for hours since lunch… ugh… my stomach is a bit…”

“Are you okay…? Did I go too far… I was just so happy to be spending time with you…”

“I’m fine… *sigh*… But I am getting tired…”

I’m very tired.

I shouldn’t be using this much energy.

*Sigh.*

The stamina of a young magical girl that can even tire out a monster…

“Ah, over there…! Would you like to ride the Ferris wheel…?”

“…The Ferris wheel.”

“Yes…! Hehe…”

Arin took my hand.

She’s been holding it all day, but this time it feels different.

It feels strange.

Like a ticklish sensation.

Led by her, we headed to the Ferris wheel.

The sunset sky was illuminating the Ferris wheel with its glow.

And we ended up riding in separate pairs.

Nothing special, just that Arin wanted it that way.

Ellie complained a lot in the middle.

But what can I do? Today is Arin’s day.

And Arin… can only have today for a short time.

So giving her a little more consideration is unavoidable.

I told Ellie and Blanc to just ride together.

…Though I’m a bit worried.

For now, we board and ascend.

Sitting in the Ferris wheel chair, I watch the sunset.

The amusement park in the mountains, with the sun hanging over the mountaintop.

The sunset means that the day’s story is coming to an end.

So our fake happiness story is also ending.

Because we’ll return to our normal daily lives.