Healing(?) Game -2

Beast Island was a game that truly began only after purchasing land rights.

The protagonist who obtained land usage rights.

Only then does one earn the qualification to decorate the island.

“Well, how should we decorate it?”

In fact, there were many ways to heal even without decorating, but let’s try it for now.

Various products were displayed in the store.

How should I decorate the island with these?

…Hmm, I’m not sure.

Maybe I’ll give Noah, who has suffered the bitter taste of reality, the choice here.

“Noah, is there anything you’d like to make?”

“Something I’d like to make?”

“Yes.”

“Even if you suddenly ask me like that…”

Noah started thinking hard.

Come to think of it, this kid has no aesthetic sense.

I decided to give her a guideline.

“Noah. How about we look at what others have made and get some ideas?”

Originally, all creation begins with imitation.

Seeing beautifully made things would be a great help.

Moreover, what kind of world are we living in now?

Isn’t it a global era where you can connect with the entire world just by turning on the internet?

I turned on the online mode and spread out various maps.

“Pick one from here.”

“Wow… they’re all so pretty.”

“Well, there are probably quite a few people who are obsessed with just this.”

It was a feast of experienced players.

How on earth did they implement such buildings in the game?

Each island uniquely reflected its owner’s personality.

Some were small and cute flower gardens, or ordinary villages, or places that were completely wild for users who still crave thrills.

And among them.

Something seemed to catch Noah’s eye.

“It’s an amusement park…”

It was an island reminiscent of an amusement park.

Carousels, spinning teacups, Viking ships.

And in the center, a giant Ferris wheel.

“Shall we go here?”

“…Yes, let’s go right away.”

When I place the cursor on the island and press the button, a loading screen appears.

After stuttering for a moment, a completely different island is created.

We arrived at an island that was itself an amusement park.

This island seemed popular, as many users were already there enjoying it.

Even though they were just characters in a virtual world, Noah let out exclamations of admiration.

“Wow…”

“It looks so real.”

I was also amazed.

I haven’t been to amusement parks often, but it’s so detailed that it feels like I’m actually there.

“Mister! There, there!”

Noah points to the right side of the screen with her finger.

“It’s a carousel!”

“Do you like carousels?”

“Hehe… it’s embarrassing, but… when I was young, I imagined myself riding on it.”

“Why is that embarrassing?”

“How should I put it… like a princess… you know those things, right? Like Sleeping Beauty… or a wake-up kiss…”

I see.

“Well, being a princess is a dream for many girls, so they say.”

“It’s embarrassing to say it out loud. Please just forget it.”

A princess.

If there were a princess like Noah, wouldn’t the kings of neighboring countries go crazy? Trying to take her away.

With that thought, I smiled and wandered around the island.

“Look at that, mister! It’s a Viking ship!”

“Shall we ride it?”

“Yes!”

We rode the Viking ship.

“Spinning teacups!”

“Noah, wait… aren’t you spinning it too fast!? The character is about to die!?”

“…Oh.”

Haunted house.

“…I don’t want to.”

“Okay… that’s a shame.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all.”

…we skipped that.

After that, we continued to explore the island.

It was like a place that embodied the word “dream.”

There, Noah was like a girl who had fallen into a wonderland.

After roaming through the amusement park, the last place we reached was the Ferris wheel.

“They’ve even made it so you can go inside.”

“Really? Let’s go in!”

“Mm.”

The inside of the Ferris wheel had a serene yet emotional feel. It starts moving with a rumbling sound.

The Ferris wheel slowly rises, reflecting the outside through the window.

The dreamlike scenery is painted in the evening glow, and darkness gradually appears in the sky, covering the world like a blanket.

Night again.

There’s probably a gambling hall here too, but I refrained from bringing it up.

Such words would be disrespectful to this magnificent sight.

When the Ferris wheel briefly stops at the top, Noah, who had been blankly staring for a while, opened her mouth.

“Mister. Actually, I’ve never been to an amusement park.”

It was a shocking statement.

Really, not even once?

“You’ve never been?”

“No. Dad was always busy, and somehow my body would get sick on every school field trip day…”

“Ah…”

“So I just thought maybe it wasn’t meant to be, and gave up…”

So that’s the situation.

“I thought you were enjoying it so much because it reminded you of the past.”

“Hehe… so this is what an amusement park is like… I wish I could go to one. That’s what I was thinking. Are amusement parks really like this?”

“Similar. But a bit noisier and more bustling.”

“Wow… I don’t like noisy places.”

“But it’s not bad. It’s not an unpleasant noise…”

That’s right.

“It’s a good, lively bustle.”

“…Anyway, this is satisfying vicariously. I should come here often from now on.”

She said that and quit the game.

Slowly, the contents slipping out of the game console.

“Hmm? You’re not going to decorate the island?”

“No. I want to make an amusement park, but I feel like if I make it amateurishly, the memory will fly away…”

“Is that so?”

“Yes… haah… it was really wonderful…”

Noah, still with a lingering impression on her face, fell back into her reflections.

Was it that good?

To experience an amusement park, even if just on screen.

I felt a bit regretful.

No matter how similar and fun it was, a game is still a game.

A real amusement park would be much more fun than in the game.

Isn’t there an old saying?

Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times.

Noah would be much better off visiting an amusement park once than seeing it a hundred times like this.

‘…Alright.’

I made up my mind and said to Noah.

“Noah, would you like to actually go?”

“Where?”

“Where else? An amusement park, of course.”

Never having been to an amusement park.

Isn’t that too sad? No matter how commercialized it may be, it’s still a place full of dreams and fun for children.

“Come on, how would we go? There’s no one to go with-“

“You can go with me.”

“With you, mister?”

“Yes. You and me, let’s go together.”

At my words, Noah fidgeted with her fingers.

“Umm… then…”

Noah’s purple eyes wavered.

While I was staring into her eyes, Noah said.

“Are we… going on a date?”

Date?

Do young girls these days call all outings dates?

I’m not sure, but if Noah thinks so, then I guess it is.

“Well, something like that, maybe?”

“…!”

Noah nodded her head vigorously at my words.

“Yes! I want to go! Please make sure we go! I want to go!”

“You don’t need to be that enthusiastic. It’s just going to an amusement park.”

“Ah… right, yes. Phew… I’m calm now. So when are we going?”

Are you really calm?

Hmm… doesn’t seem like it.

Well, I’m more excited to see her reacting so enthusiastically rather than being indifferent.

“Next Saturday.”

“Next Saturday… in the morning?”

“Yes. Let’s meet early in the morning and play until late.”

“Yes! Thank you, mister!”

When I came to my senses, I saw Noah hugging me tightly. She’s clinging so much that all I can see is her white hair.

Hop, hop.

Noah jumping around.

Is she that happy? I should take her out more often.

“Mister! What would you like for dinner? I’ll make anything for you!”

“Hmm… Noah’s kimchi stew?”

“Yes! Please wait a bit!”

With that, Noah went outside with an excited expression. Seeing her like that made me feel good too.

‘An amusement park…’

Come to think of it, I remember there was also an ending related to amusement parks.

‘Surely not.’

No matter how unlucky Noah is with entertainment, surely it won’t be to that extent. An ending-related event happening on the day we go out to play?

At that point, it would be at a level where you’d just have to accept it as fate.

‘…Noah is the protagonist, so isn’t she born with a certain destiny?’

An ominous thought crossed my mind, but I decided to shake it off.

Worries can come later.

For now, let’s just look for routes to take with Noah.

So that she can fully enjoy that joyful day.

…For the record, Noah only went home after finishing dinner, dishes, and laundry.

Should I make a labor contract with her as a housekeeper when everything is done? I seriously contemplated it, given the exceptional domestic skills she displayed.

+++++

“Noah.”

“What is it~ Taehwa Taehwa~?”

“Ugh… are you okay…?”

“Of course~ I’m totally fine~”

Noah had been in a good mood lately.

She was so happy she felt like she could fly.

“Are you that excited about going to the amusement park?”

“Of course! It’s so wonderful. It’s an amusement park, you know.”

What kind of fantasy do you have about amusement parks?

Such words rose to the tip of Taehwa’s tongue, but she didn’t say them.

She knew well how much Noah was looking forward to the amusement park.

Moreover.

“Our Noah is excited about going on a date.”

“It’s… it’s not a date!”

“Not a date? Should unnie teach you how to hold a man’s hand?”

Noah gets startled with a “Hiek!?” at everything Taehwa says.

That’s why it’s fun to tease her-

“Somehow… I have held hands with the mister a few times already.”

“…You’ve already held hands?”

“Yes. Ah! Really by chance! It was coincidence!”

Taehwa felt like her childhood friend had gone to a distant place.

She’s climbing the steps to adulthood before me.

“…Haah.”

“What’s wrong?”

“No, nothing. So when are you going?”

“This Saturday!”

“This… Saturday…?”

Taehwa’s face turned serious.

“Noah, didn’t you know?”

“Know what?”

“We have a group trip this Saturday. For the association.”

“…What? Where are we going?”

“The amusement park. Ah, the location is the same. But I wonder if the mister can come too?”

Hearing that, Noah was shocked.

What she had been looking forward to wasn’t the amusement park.

It was a journey to the amusement park with the mister.

On top of that, wasn’t it her first da… date in life!

‘What should I do…?’

Her life’s first date is about to be ruined.