episode_0031
by fnovelpia”But…”
Su Qingya seemed to want to say something more, but Xu Nian quickly stopped her.
”Sorry for the disturbance. We’ll leave now. It was our fault for causing you trouble.”
Xu Nian understood that any argument at this moment would be meaningless.
From the other party’s perspective, this was likely the case—and they seemed to know nothing.
No matter how much they argued, it would only be a waste of time.
Leaving as quickly as possible was the right move.
Su Qingya didn’t refuse, allowing Xu Nian to lead her away.
”Nian Nian, that staff member just now…”
”The previous staff member violated the employee code of conduct. Most likely, they were dealt with by the Emotion Beast, which is why the replacement appeared so seamlessly.”
Su Qingya had already realized this, but she couldn’t help asking, hoping to hear a different answer from Xu Nian.
”Sigh… So they just died like that?”
”Pfft, what’s this, Qingya? Can’t handle it already? Pull yourself together, okay? Getting out of this place is our priority.”
Xu Nian forced an optimistic tone.
She didn’t feel good about it either.
Ordinary people were far too fragile in this world.
”I know, but how are we supposed to leave this place?”
”Go to the Ferris wheel.”
”The Ferris wheel?”
”Yes.”
Xu Nian’s answer was resolute.
After all, today’s task required her to sing a love song with Su Qingya on the Ferris wheel.
She needed that simulation attempt.
Not only would it allow her to predict future dangers, but the simulation might also grant her an item that could help them break through this situation.
Though the rewards after each simulation were always… abstract.
But having something was better than nothing.
”Hey there, ladies! Care to watch my performance? I’m the best clown in this amusement park—you won’t find a show as spectacular as mine anywhere else!”
Just then, a staff member dressed as a clown leaped in front of the two.
A big red nose, standard frizzy curls, and flamboyant, gaudy attire—the very image of a legendary ace.
Xu Nian and Su Qingya tensed up.
[There are no clown staff in this amusement park.]
Su Qingya considered whether to strike immediately, to either kill this clown or at least injure it before dragging Xu Nian away to escape.
But the clown suddenly froze mid-speech, its gaze lingering on Xu Nian for a long moment.
Then it burst into laughter.
”My apologies for disturbing you. I’ll take my leave now. I swear by Joy that no follower of the Path of Joy will trouble you further.”
The clown performed an exaggerated farewell gesture.
”What do you mean by that?”
”Hmm?”
At Xu Nian’s question, the clown’s eyes gleamed with an eerie light, a flicker of suspicion surfacing in its gaze.
Su Qingya tugged at Xu Nian’s arm.
Xu Nian immediately realized her mistake.
She shouldn’t have asked.
”Is this how you address me?” Xu Nian’s tone shifted sharply, her expression turning fierce.
Strangely, this hostile attitude made the suspicion in the clown’s eyes vanish completely.
”Hmm… Great One, it seems I have nothing worthy of your satisfaction. Your humble servant possesses nothing at all.”
”Then get lost.”
”As you command.”
With that, the clown let out a laugh so shrill it could split eardrums before disappearing from sight.
It vanished as mysteriously as it had appeared.
”Nian Nian, what was that about?”
”How should I know?”
Xu Nian was just as puzzled.
What did it mean by “Great One”?
The whole thing felt inexplicable to her.
She didn’t know how to make sense of it, but the clown’s departure—and its promise that no other followers of the Path of Joy would attack her—was undoubtedly good news.
The fewer dangers, the better.
The clown’s appearance was just an interlude.
Xu Nian pulled Su Qingya along as they sprinted forward.
They ignored everything they encountered along the way—nothing could shake Xu Nian’s determination to reach the Ferris wheel.
Until…
The female staff member from the earlier swing ride blocked their path. She looked exactly the same as before.
”What a coincidence! Fancy meeting you again.”
Xu Nian and Su Qingya didn’t respond.
Because her uniform was no longer blue.
It was black.
Pitch-black, like ink.
Just one glance was enough to make fear sprout from the depths of one’s heart.
”Excuse us, please move aside.” Su Qingya tried to pull Xu Nian past her.
”Hey now, no need to rush! How about visiting the haunted house? I guarantee it’s the most thrilling one in the city—you won’t find anything like it anywhere else.”
This identical way of stopping people—was it really the same person?
Haunted house?
This amusement park didn’t have a haunted house!
Perhaps this so-called “haunted house” was the Dreadbeast’s lair.
”Sorry, we’re in a hurry.” Su Qingya quickly refused.
”Come on, help me out here! If I don’t meet my quota, I’ll be in trouble.”
The woman ignored their refusal, stepping in front of Xu Nian and Su Qingya, refusing to let them pass.
”Weren’t you working at the swing ride earlier?” Xu Nian asked. Though she had no intention of staying, she still voiced the question.
”The manager reassigned me.”
”Why did your uniform turn black?”
”My clothes got dirty, so I changed.”
”This amusement park doesn’t have a haunted house, does it?”
”Who told you that? Of course we have one—I work there!”
”Then… do you think there’s anything strange about this amusement park?”
”Of course not! What kind of place would that be? If this park were strange, wouldn’t I know about it?”
Xu Nian kept questioning, step by step, guiding the conversation. She could tell the girl’s focus was gradually being scattered.
”Then… are you already dead?”
Xu Nian abruptly shifted the topic, unable to suppress her mocking tone.
[Joy Value: 67%]
”Me? Dead? How could I be dead? I’m standing right here, aren’t I? Look at me—I’m perfectly fine!”
”You’re already dead.”
”I… I’m dead?”
”Haha, yeah. You’re dead. Haven’t you noticed?”
Xu Nian laughed loudly.
”…Yeah. I guess I really am dead.”
The staff member began laughing along with her.
Su Qingya had already conjured a pitch-black spear of dread in her hand.
Any staff member not in blue was a minion of the Emotion Beasts.
Without hesitation, she thrust the spear toward the woman.
The staff member didn’t react—her mind had been completely derailed by the mockery, leaving her unable to resist. Her thoughts were flooded with endless ridicule, and her death seemed to have become her reality amidst the laughter.
But when the black spear struck her, nothing happened.
Unlike the goat from before, she didn’t gradually dissolve into the consuming darkness of dread.
She was unharmed.
The attack, however, snapped her out of Xu Nian’s control.
”Huh? Why did you attack me? Why won’t you visit my attraction? The haunted house is really fun—come try it!”
She reached out and instantly seized Xu Nian and Su Qingya’s wrists.
Her grip was terrifyingly strong—it felt less like a person holding them and more like an ancient tree with roots deep in the earth.
The surroundings began to blur and distort.
Xu Nian and Su Qingya felt themselves being dragged downward, toward some other grotesque space.
The woman’s voice echoed incessantly in their ears.
”Are you… afraid of me?”
”Why are you afraid of me?”
”There’s no need to be afraid.”
”Come play. It’s really fun.”
”Hehe… hahahaha—”
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