Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: A Relaxing Day
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"Are you okay, Miss Iroha?"
"Yeah... Just give me a moment. I'll rest a bit...."
The hand gently patting my back eased the churning in my stomach.
Apart from that, I was utterly shocked by the unbelievable reality.
'Me... scared just from riding a roller coaster!'
There are a few must-do rides when you visit an amusement park.
The top ones are roller coasters and drop towers.
But having tasted bitterness once before, when I glanced at the drop tower with screams echoing down from high above...
"Ugh...."
A chill ran down my spine at the dizzying thought.
"We almost had a disaster if you'd ridden the Mega Express."
"Yeah... right...."
I thanked the staff member who had caught me at the last 2cm and prevented disaster, then leaned against the bench to calm my stomach.
"I'm fine now, so go have fun without worrying about me."
"How could we?"
"You're suffering, Miss Iroha. How could I, as your secretary, just...?"
Cheon I-ryeong and Seol A-yoon shook their heads firmly.
But I remembered the disappointed looks in their eyes when they got off the Mega Express.
I opened my mouth to suggest they go again, but Lee Jae-hoon beat me to it.
"I'll stay with Miss Iroha, so why don't the two of you ride one more attraction? It's making her uncomfortable seeing you both hovering like this."
"Ah, is it giving you a headache because of me?"
I gave a slight smile toward Cheon I-ryeong, who suddenly looked half teary, and spoke indirectly.
"No, that's not it. Still, I'd feel bad if you two didn't enjoy yourselves a bit. That's on me."
"If that's what you want, Miss Iroha... alright."
"Got it. We'll just do one more, so rest up!"
The two locked eyes and headed straight for the Mega Express. Finally relieved, I leaned back on the bench and gazed up at the sky.
How many minutes passed in a daze?
Suddenly, Lee Jae-hoon expressed his gratitude out of the blue.
"Thank you, Miss Iroha."
"Huh? Why all of a sudden...?"
"Oh, it's nothing. It's just... it's been a while since I've seen the Guild Master—no, the Association President—like that, with so many expressions. Before you, she always had that blank face going in and out of gates and the Tower. But since meeting you, her expressions have really come alive."
Following Lee Jae-hoon's gaze into the distance, I spotted Cheon I-ryeong and Seol A-yoon in the front seats again, arms raised as they plummeted straight down.
Oof, just watching makes me break out in cold sweat.
"I haven't really done much."
Cheon I-ryeong took the lead most of the time. The only thing I did for her was that S-Rank gate—and even that was because of a quest giving me courage.
"Everything you've done has been a comfort to someone. What seems natural to you is incredibly difficult for others."
"Huh?"
"Just... you have this way of putting people at ease by being yourself."
Lee Jae-hoon scratched the back of his head awkwardly, his eyes still fixed on Cheon I-ryeong, who was letting out screams that sounded like cheers.
Hmm, suddenly being praised like this feels ticklish.
As an awkward silence settled in, a woman with pink hair and a chic expression approached with a dissatisfied look.
"What, is a grown adult hunting kids or something?"
"...Pardon?"
"Ah?"
"She doesn't like it. I thought you were just a thug from your looks, but your actions too... Go away right now."
She must have mistaken Lee Jae-hoon, who was talking to me while I was still recovering, for some creep hitting on me. She was scolding him.
Lee Jae-hoon looked utterly baffled, which was hilarious, but the woman's words drew murmurs from onlookers gathering around.
"He's with our group. Our group."
"...Really? You're not being threatened or...?"
"Excuse me, but please leave."
"Ah, s-sorry!"
The woman's face turned beet red as she fled.
Lee Jae-hoon still frowned, unable to shake off the ridiculous misunderstanding, and that made him look even more thug-like, bursting laughter out of me uncontrollably.
"Ahahaha!"
"...Don't laugh. Do I really look that thuggy?"
"N-No... Pfft, hehe! Not at all!"
I couldn't hold it in and doubled over laughing. Cheon I-ryeong and Seol A-yoon returned, eyes wide.
"What funny thing happened?"
"Nothing at all."
"Miss Iroha looks so happy though?"
"Ahaha— Oh, it was fun... Let's go ride something else now."
After a good laugh, I felt better and led the group to some tamer rides.
We enjoyed hot dogs and churros, soaked in the parade's splendor, then sat on a bench for a short break.
That's when my eyes caught the bungee jump.
It was an attraction where you free-fall relying on a single cord.
'...I do want to create one more spirit.'
Dali had been a huge help since I created her.
And the Tower was approaching the dreaded 20th floor.
At a time like this, a spirit that could join battles autonomously and aid the battlefield with its unique abilities was essential.
Plus, Song Si-woo had lifted my body with wind before, letting me taste the thrill of auto-movement(?).
Back then, it felt like being carried by the wind, so I didn't get a real sense. But with that...
"Let's try the bungee jump!"
"...You sure, Miss Iroha?"
I knew what Cheon I-ryeong was worried about after glancing at the platform and then at me. After the roller coaster fiasco, she doubted I could handle it.
But the roller coaster was scary because it was too fast and twisting everywhere!
A simple bungee where you just jump once should be fine.
"I can do it!"
With determined steps, I led everyone to the bungee platform.
"Um, other guests are waiting, so... you need to jump."
"I can't!"
This was way, way different from what I expected.
It was fine when they strapped the cord to my ankle while I wore pants.
But when my turn came and nothing but empty sky stretched out ahead, with tiny scenery below and a strong wind blowing, my legs started shaking.
Looking down felt like staring into a thousand-foot abyss.
It was the kind of height that made you think there might be some hidden treasure at the bottom.
"Miss Iroha, it's okay if you don't push yourself."
Cheon I-ryeong's words from behind. She meant well out of concern, but somehow it sparked my pride.
"I can do it. Um... push me when I give the signal."
My feet wouldn't move, so I added a small request.
"Alright then! 3—"
As I steeled myself and squeezed my eyes shut...
"Huh?"
"2— Eeeee?!"
My back was shoved, feet leaving the platform.
"M-Miss Iroha!"
"I was counting down!"
The platform vanished beneath me, and fierce wind roared as I plummeted. No time to savor the freedom of the wind—just pure screams.
"Kya aaaah!"
The lake rushed up like an arrow.
Blue waves neared my nose, then the cord's elasticity yanked me high again.
Being lightweight, I bounced higher than others, and in that brief moment, the noise faded, gravity forgotten.
The wind wrapped around me like an embrace, the vast blue sky infinite. The wind whispered I could go anywhere, unbound.
The dreamlike time was fleeting.
I fell again soon after, but without the earlier fear.
A boat came, unhooked the cord, and I rejoined the waiting group.
Cheon I-ryeong, who bungeed down late, followed, but I ignored her out of annoyance.
"Miss Iroha, I'm sorry... I thought that was the signal..."
"No, I worded it poorly. Of course you'd think it was the countdown. It's my fault, President Cheon I-ryeong. You don't need to apologize."
She looked even more crestfallen at that.
"Eek... M-Miss Iroha. I really messed up! Don't be like that, okay?"
"I'm really fine. I'm not mad at all."
"What did you do wrong?"
"She asked me to push her, but I miscounted midway—"
"That was too much. How could you do that to Miss Iroha."
"It was a genuine mistake!"
I brushed off Cheon I-ryeong lightly grabbing my sleeve and slowly walked through the amusement park as the sun set.
Ah, that was fun.
Illusions are fun too.
I hadn't realized with the Camouflage skill, but I discovered the charm of illusion magic used this way.
Making myself look like a rabbit outright would be hard, but a simple illusion coating my body with mana as color properties seemed doable.
Once home, I'd recreate that sensation and make a wind spirit. So much to do.
As we walked the colorful lit path toward home, people started staring.
"...Miss Iroha, your hair."
"Oh, the thug look faded."
"Wait, already this late?!"
Cheon I-ryeong's startled voice—glancing at the clock, it was 10:02 PM.
The fairy's Cinderella curfew.
"Hey—isn't that Cheon I-ryeong?"
"No way. Then the one next to her is the rumored Saintess."
"Huh? Looks like it. Lee Jae-hoon's there too."
"For real? Where?"
We're busted. Confident voices drew more crowds.
"Miss Iroha, should we run?"
"Let's go!"
"Pardon us, Miss Iroha."
Seol A-yoon's telekinesis gently lifted me, Lee Jae-hoon cleared the path ahead, and we bolted.
"Grab them!"
"Cheon I-ryeong and the Saintess! They're running!"
Suddenly in a full chase scene—with two S-Rank hunters as the pursued—we moved fast.
Luckily, our enhanced physiques shook off the civilians quickly, but uniform return was the issue.
The rental booth was swarmed.
Lee Jae-hoon took charge, paying extra for the uniforms plus compensation to retrieve our clothes, while we dashed past the main gate to the car.
"Ahaha—"
"It wore off right then. Whew, that was close."
"But I distorted the air around us, so no photos."
"As expected of A-yoon."
I praised Seol A-yoon for protecting our likeness with telekinesis, then gazed at the distant park lights.
"So pretty... Let's come again sometime."
"Of course."
"Anytime."
We savored the afterglow a while, laughed again at Lee Jae-hoon laden with our clothes, and headed home.
"Alright then... shall I make it?"
Time to pick up the brush.