Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Amusement Park, and the Threshold of Reality
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“The leaves are already turning colors?”
“Ah, Miss Iroha! Stand right there!”
“Like this?”
We'd arrived near Neverland still wearing the outfits we'd bought shopping yesterday, snapping photos amid the yellows and reds of the autumn foliage.
“Hmm… not quite.”
“Huh?”
“Why are you throwing up a peace sign or flexing? No boyish poses like that—left hand on your hip! Right hand, just your index finger to your lips!”
“Eek.”
What was with all these complicated poses for just one photo?
I wanted to just snap something casual, but swept up in Cheon I-ryeong's enthusiasm with the camera, I fumbled into the pose she demanded.
“Like this?”
“Perfect! Now, smile!”
Cha-cha-cha-cha-click-click-
Cheon I-ryeong fired off shots in a frenzy.
Beside her, Seol A-yoon—the one who'd helped put this outfit together—gave a small nod of approval.
It felt like I was a figurine or something; I dropped the pose, ready to call it quits,
when
“Huh? A rabbit?”
A rabbit hopped onto the fallen leaves with a rustle.
A wild rabbit in the middle of the city?
“Hello!”
“Th-the rabbit spoke!”
“Step back, Miss Iroha!”
“A monster?”
In an instant, Cheon I-ryeong blocked my front, flames flickering at her fingertips, while Seol A-yoon yanked me back from behind and thrust out her hand.
The rabbit raised its front paws frantically and shouted.
“W-wait! That's her! The hunter we're supposed to meet today!”
“Hunter?”
“A talking one?”
Suddenly, static noise filled the spot where the rabbit had been, turning it hazy, and just like that, a woman appeared.
“I'm Kim A-ram, the illusion hunter newly transferred to the Association! Nice to meet you!”
“Ah, you're the one Minister Jin Tae-san mentioned. But illusion magic? That's a thing?”
“Yes, it's a pretty obscure class. And today, I'll use it to slightly alter how you all look.”
There were illusionists too? Her transformation just now was fascinating—different from shapeshifting. Your real body stayed the same; it just looked different to others.
But how did she do hunter work like that?
“But can you really do hunter jobs with illusions? Oh, not trying to say anything bad—just curious.”
“I'm not a gate specialist; I work in other areas. It's kind of a secret, but… since the president is here, I'll let you in a little…”
Kim A-ram suddenly glanced around, lowering her voice.
“It's like spy work. Monitoring foreign scouts to prevent talent poaching, that sort of covert stuff.”
“Whoa…!”
A spy? That's so cool!
Secret missions had that heart-pounding thrill. And with her sleek suit fit? Total hit.
“So, you're changing our looks completely into different people?”
Kim A-ram looked a bit troubled at Cheon I-ryeong's question.
“It's possible to change everything, but it's tough. The mana cost is huge, so it doesn't last long.”
“Then how…?”
“Instead, just changing hair and eye color makes it hard for people to recognize you. And that kind of illusion lasts much longer.”
As Kim A-ram explained, she flicked her hair—it shifted from bright yellow blonde to vibrant pink.
Yeah, that would definitely throw people off.
“First, the flashiest one, President—brown hair and brown eyes—”
Cheon I-ryeong's red hair and orange eyes turned an ordinary brown. Unrecognizable compared to her usual self.
“Hmm, Miss Seol A-yoon's already black-haired, so no need to touch it. And not in a suit, so pass.”
Seol A-yoon, out of her usual suit and in casual clothes, saw her hopeful gleam fade.
“Mr. Lee Jae-hoon… needs some changes.”
“Pardon? I think I'm fine as is.”
“No can do. Your image is too iconic; people would spot you.”
Like Seol A-yoon, he had black hair, but Lee Jae-hoon's unexpectedly cool vibe had a big female fanbase, so Kim A-ram grabbed him.
And his new look was.
“Pfft, Golden Sun…”
“Ah, uh… but it suits you surprisingly well.”
Yellow hair and eyes.
Not dark-skinned, but his sturdy build nailed the mild version of that stereotypical blonde tanned punk.
Lee Jae-hoon scowled at the cackling Cheon I-ryeong and tried to grab Kim A-ram, but Seol A-yoon's telekinetic barrier blocked him.
“What is this?”
“It suits you, so keep it. No time for fussing.”
Her lip twitched oddly as she spoke—she was just having fun teasing him.
“Now, Miss Iroha… any preferred hair color?”
“Hmm, just make mine black, please.”
And familiar black locks swayed before my eyes.
With this, no one would know it's me, right?
All the footage out there showed only a glimpse of silver hair from the side.
“Alright, all done! I'll head out now. Oh, the illusion lasts 12 hours from now… until 10 p.m., so be careful!”
“Thank you for your help, Miss A-ram.”
“We're family now. Have a great day!”
With her job done, Kim A-ram left. We crossed the bustling square to the ticket booth.
Entering Neverland with our prepped tickets, the staffer did a double-take.
“Oh my, these tickets… welcome! To the land of fantasy, Neverland!”
“Thank you.”
Minister Jin Tae-san had said these were special tix you couldn't normally get. All-access passes.
Amusement parks sold pricier fast-pass tickets that skipped a few lines,
but those had limits. This golden ticket? Unlimited true 'freedom' passes.
An invitation to fantasy without the boring waits.
Striding confidently into Neverland, Cheon I-ryeong immediately dragged me off somewhere.
“You have to wear a school uniform at Neverland—it's the rule. No arguments.”
“Huh? I'm already in new clothes though?”
“That's separate. Come on.”
Swept up in her fervor as she raided the uniform rental shop with the whole group, even Lee Jae-hoon and Seol A-yoon ended up in uniforms.
Lee Jae-hoon somehow looked even more like a delinquent, Cheon I-ryeong and Seol A-yoon's blouses straining at the seams.
And me, looking every bit the middle schooler.
“…This is unfair. And the skirt's too short.”
“S-so cute… You're at peak cuteness right now, Miss Iroha!”
“Definitely. Can't argue with that. Could pass for an actual middle schooler.”
I got a dangerous vibe from Seol A-yoon's nodding and Cheon I-ryeong's flustered expression.
“Don't be ridiculous. I should change back…”
“No way! Anyway, let's hit the new ride! Korea's tallest roller coaster!”
Cheon I-ryeong grabbed my wrist and yanked.
Plowing through crowds—the Association President with Korea's biggest scoop, me, Seol A-yoon, and the rest—no one noticed a thing.
“Aw, so cute.”
“Who are they? Idol trainees?”
“Yo, check it out. She's insanely pretty.”
Our group was just too good-looking; stares followed inevitably.
Mega Express loomed ahead, dizzying in height and twists just from looking.
Yep. Gotta ride this at an amusement park.
We bypassed the endlessly snaking line via the fast-pass lane, no sweat.
Envious glances all around.
Thrilling, fun, exciting.
This was the perk, the healing.
One little fast-pass had me buzzing already.
Standing tall before the attendant, she eyed me with a puzzled look.
Something wrong?
“Um… sorry, could I measure your height real quick?”
“Pardon?”
Height? Suddenly?
I shot her a quizzical glance; she smiled awkwardly and pointed to the sign.
Height limit: 150cm.
Why so high?
“It's super fast with lots of gimmicks, so just a quick measure and we'll get you in!”
“…Okay.”
Never been measured before…
I was short, but over 150cm, right?
Clinging to that desperate hope, I stepped onto the platform.
“Um.”
“Yes.”
“Heels together, please.”
“…Yes.”
“Oh, 148cm… Sorry, please ride next time.”
Thunderbolt from a clear sky. I was booted from Mega Express. Well, not booted—just kinda wandered out in shock. Or rather, zoned out and suddenly I was outside.
“Miss Iro…ha?”
“Me… I'm a shrimp….”
“Nah, you're not short. This is a perfect height… It's the ride's design that's off.”
Cheon I-ryeong tried to sugarcoat it, but fact was, my height got me rejected.
Would I even grow anymore?
My growth plates closed ages ago at my original age, but this body's real age was a mystery… Still hope, maybe.
Facing reality, I aimed for the next tier down: D-Express, 140cm limit.
Easily cleared, we boarded amid the clunking engine noise, climbing steadily.
Cheon I-ryeong snagged front seats for a clear sky view, but I barely registered the scenery—something felt off.
'Why? I've ridden coasters before, so why am I shaking like this?'
Then—clunk—the train halted at the peak.
Peeking down, tiny people milled like grains of rice in the park below.
“W-wait…”
“Huh? What'd you say, Miss Iroha?”
“I-I—”
CLUNK!
“Eeeeeek!”