Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Small Collision
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Egypt's Fury had separate entrances for regular customers and those entering with passes.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ That meant customers with passes had to take the elevator in the back and go up.
There was the advantage of buying time with money, but the downside was missing out on the models in the waiting line and all sorts of decorations.
Honestly, for grown adults, who cares about that stuff anyway?
'Still, it's a bit disappointing.'
Since I'd seen it so young, my memories were fuzzy, which made it feel even more regrettable.
"Let me check your pass~ once~"
As we all walked over to the pass-only entrance, one staff member waved and greeted us.
Her slightly stiff face contrasted oddly with her bubbly tone.
Amusement park part-timers must have it rough.
"All confirmed~ Just head straight up this way~ Thank you~!"
The short verification process ended, and we headed right in.
There was no long line at the pass entrance, no one cutting in.
Just a completely open path stretching out ahead.
'Even here gets crowded during peak season?'
If you've bought a pass and still have to wait here, wouldn't that feel super unfair?
Thinking we'd timed it perfectly, I glanced to the side.
"Money really is the best."
Yeon-a was smirking as she looked at me.
"Yeah, tell me about it."
I gave a short reply and leisurely followed her pace.
"Whoa, but the path for passes has barely anything to see."
This time, Eun-a voiced her honest impression from beside me.
She looked a little disappointed, scanning the surroundings eagerly.
"The pass line moves fast anyway, so maybe they don't need all that?"
Eun-a nodded at Kim Min-hyeok's words.
It made total sense.
No matter how long the pass line got, it wouldn't be as bad as the regular one.
Especially for a ride like this—not as wildly popular as the roller coasters, even if it was a hit.
'No need to invest more, then.'
Chatting idly like that, we arrived at the boarding platform in no time.
'Egypt's Fury... how many years has it been?'
Egypt's Fury was an attraction themed around exploring the pyramids, Egypt's iconic landmark.
You rode something like a jeep and cruised around—that was it.
"Whoa, it's exactly the same as when I came before."
Eun-a said that while eyeing the jeep approaching from afar.
'Nothing's changed.'
That made it all the more nostalgic.
Like all those old memories flooding back unchanged.
As the jeep pulled up, a staff member announced loudly over the mic.
[The current pass customers~ are boarding. Please wait just a moment, thank you~] "...Did they always say stuff like that?"
"Boss, something about her glare feels prickly."
Everyone chuckled at Eun-a's comment.
It vaguely reminded me of that earlier roller coaster.
On that one, regular and pass customers shared the same entrance, so pass holders cut straight past the regular line.
Made you feel awkwardly guilty even when you hadn't done anything wrong.
'Maybe it's because I've resented pass users myself before.'
I'd definitely thought that way once or twice, so it hit closer to home.
Musing to myself, I boarded the jeep.
Eight-seater, so with all of us, that made six.
The remaining two spots were taken by a couple.
Seats filled, we waited excitedly for departure—
"Hey, it's those cutters from before."
Eun-a pointed someone out.
Following her finger, there they were—the line-cutters from earlier—leaning on the fence, killing time.
They looked bored, either on their phones or crouched down.
Seeing them like that felt oddly satisfying.
Plus, it validated using the pass.
'This is what money's for.'
"Hey, those guys are staring at us."
Eun-a suddenly lowered her voice.
Yeah, they'd spotted us now.
Embarrassed eyes.
And eyes saying they'd lost their seats and were pissed.
Classic double standards.
Of course—if they weren't that hypocritical, they wouldn't have cut in the first place.
"Let 'em stare all they want."
Kim Min-hyeok grinned and shot them a relaxed glare at my words.
Then, staring right at them,
"If it bugs you that much, spend some money."
Kim Min-hyeok said it loud enough for all to hear.
The cutters glared back openly offended, so I mirrored the exact look they'd given us earlier.
'What about it?'
I stared back with the same expression.
Amused by the situation, Chan-su—seated next to Kim Min-hyeok—suddenly twisted around, middle finger starting to rise toward them.
"Hey! Chan-su, no way. Put that finger down now!"
Kim Min-hyeok urgently grabbed both his hands to stop the middle finger from going up.
[Then, we wish all you explorers a safe return!] Whatever.
The jeep set off to explore the pyramid.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hmm... We used one pass, so we gotta reshuffle the plan."
After a fun ride, we settled on a nearby bench.
Eun-a, seated, spread out a map she'd gotten somewhere and held her phone in the other hand, diligently noting rides.
Kim Min-hyeok eyed her anxiously.
"Do we really need to? We can just skip one roller coaster..."
He tossed out the suggestion, but Eun-a showed no sign of accepting.
She slotted Egypt's Fury into the original three rides and started over from scratch.
"We only decided on those three roller coasters earlier. Leaving it vague like that leads to frustrations like today and wasting passes, so let's plan every single one."
Ji-su and Chan-su nodded at Eun-a's words.
Yeon-a yawned lightly and nodded too.
Only Kim Min-hyeok looked a bit complicated.
"So now the remaining eight are like this."
Eun-a scribbled ride names in a flash.
I checked her list.
'Two outdoor roller coasters... Viking, Flume Ride, Gyro Drop, Gyro Swing, and two more roller coasters...'
A lineup clearly determined to squeeze every drop from the passes.
At the same time, Kim Min-hyeok's face started darkening.
'Gotta help him out midway.'
I handled roller coasters fine, but Gyro Drop and Swing? Not so much.
Those weren't about speed thrills to me—they were torture devices.
So if I bailed on those, Kim Min-hyeok could too.
Still, I'd help after all the roller coasters.
'Maybe form a roller coaster expedition team later.'
Overseas, they had even crazier ones than back home.
Gathering folks to hit just those... sounds fun.
With the plan revised, we headed straight for the roller coasters.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Passes are amazing.
Shrinking 3-hour waits to 5 minutes.
They say you can't buy time with money, but amusement parks prove otherwise.
Riding attractions this smoothly was a first for me. I'd never been a park regular anyway.
Anyway, we used the pass again and hopped off quick.
Glancing over, Kim Min-hyeok looked utterly drained.
Yeon-a noticed and asked if he was okay, told him not to push, but he shook his head, saying he was fine.
'That's pure stubbornness at this point.'
Left like that, he might puke on the Gyro Swing.
'He doesn't want fame like that.'
No matter how good fame was for his job, "XX World Puker" wouldn't appeal.
He'd hate it too.
"Let's take a break then. We planned lunch after all the coasters anyway. Timing's perfect."
Yeon-a, clearly aware of Kim Min-hyeok's state, suggested considerately.
We headed to the restaurant.
After a short walk, we slowly climbed the stairs to the food court.
Admiring the passing monorail and huge screens nearby, we entered.
The restaurant had various food models in display cases.
"So many options. But the prices... Boss. Way pricier than outside?"
Yeon-a chuckled lightly and patted Eun-a's head at her serious question.
"It is steep. Maybe grab something quick here and eat proper outside for lunch?"
Kim Min-hyeok added. Lee Chan-su beside him nodded too.
'Amusement park prices, what can ya do...'
It wasn't that we couldn't afford it—more like it felt wasteful at these rates.
"Hey now. I said I'd treat. You think I can't swing this? Pick whatever."
Everyone looked a tad guilty for a moment at her words.
"Then, Boss. I'll have this."
"...The pricey one you worried about?"
Eun-a picked the tteokbokki set and chicken gangjeong.
Both significantly more expensive than outside.
"Uh... then minus the chicken..."
Eun-a tried to backpedal, glancing nervously, but Yeon-a lightly pinched her cheek.
"It's fine. Just eat. Everyone, pick quick. Rides after food."
"Then, this for me."
Amid the back-and-forth, I chose stir-fried octopus rice from the side.
Suddenly, everyone stared at me.
"...What?"
"Nah, your tastes are just so unique."
Everyone nodded at Yeon-a's words, eyeing me.
Feeling my face heat up pointlessly, I headed into the restaurant first.
And inside...
"Uh...?"
"Eat up, no leftovers."
"Nooo!"
"Old enough for the no-no disease."
"Kids mean no fun on your terms."
"Still fun though. You should get married quick."
"Marriage? Anyway, you talk to Min-hoo? His close friends hit me up saying he ghosted everyone."
"Huh? Nah... I wasn't that tight with him..."
I spotted a familiar face.