Chapter 354: A New Vacation (2)
"Viola, did you have fun?"
"Yes! It was so much fun! The best!!"
Viola, overflowing with joy just like when she'd first left her village and boarded the ship, immediately launched into explaining her excitement.
Watching her, I felt a mix of relief and guilt.
I always told myself I'd look after her properly, but whenever a busy schedule loomed, I'd forget again.
If it weren't for Armonia, I would've forgotten once more, remembered later, and pushed it off yet again.
I should thank Armonia properly.
As I gazed up at the sky with that grateful thought, it had already turned orange, signaling the end of the day.
But that didn't mean we were done here.
We were going to watch the parade—the grand finale of the amusement park—before heading back.
And that parade was scheduled after the sun fully set.
As sunset began, the park stopped running its thrilling rides but kept the slower ones going.
And among them, one stood out the most.
I pointed far into the sky.
"Let's ride that one this time."
The biggest, most eye-catching thing in the park—you couldn't ignore it even if you tried.
The Ferris wheel.
Everyone followed behind me, sharing their thoughts on it.
"Whoa... we're riding that?"
"It's bigger than our Maou, nya."
"There are so many wondrous things here."
The three women had already adapted to the atmosphere, gazing at the Ferris wheel with curious eyes.
The closer we got, the more impressive its height became, forcing our heads to tilt upward.
Man... seeing one up close like this is a first for me too.
I'd only ever seen Ferris wheels in media before; this was my first time in person.
With sunset timing, the line was growing longer by the minute.
People were queuing up to catch the sunset and night views.
"At this rate, we might not make it. Hurry and get in line... Huh?"
I was heading to the end of the line when I spotted familiar faces there.
"No way to use that anymore?"
"Yeah... high places should be easy to scout."
"I-I... h-high places scare me..."
The girl in the baseball cap who'd body-slammed me earlier, and the little kids chasing her.
The three kids ignored us completely, staring intently at the Ferris wheel while muttering incomprehensibly.
I whispered to Armonia as I approached the line's end.
Those kids—they're the ones from before, right?
Yes.
What gives? Did they come to the park alone?
Their frantic behavior earlier screamed "no guardians."
Whatever... none of my business.
I muttered that and lined up behind the kids, then started chatting with Viola.
Or rather, I just listened as she gushed one-sidedly about her day.
Even though she'd spent it with me, she acted like I'd forgotten everything and excitedly recounted it from the start.
As I smiled happily at her beaming face...
The baseball cap girl whispered.
"Hey... where you looking?"
"Huh!? N-no... just... foreigners are interesting..."
"Hmph, what an idiot."
"I-idiot?!"
Only then did I notice the kids staring our way.
And the one catching my eye most was, predictably, the boy.
Viola really is pretty, huh.
Even with the baseball cap girl nagging him, the boy's gaze lingered on Viola.
But Viola, oblivious to their stares, kept animatedly sharing her day's highlights with me.
Time passed in line until it was the kids' turn.
A worry crept in.
Can we all fit in one gondola? If not, how do we split up...?
I was pondering group assignments when I overheard the baseball cap girl arguing with the attendant.
"Sorry, no can do."
"What!? Why not!"
"You're too young. No guardians? Can't ride."
It made perfect sense.
No matter how slow the ride, a Ferris wheel going that high wouldn't let kids ride alone.
The girl kept pleading despite the attendant's refusal.
"We have to ride this!"
"What can I do? Rules are rules. Go get your parents. I'll let you skip the line as thanks for waiting."
"We came alone! Please!"
Yep, definitely no guardians.
I'd suspected as much.
But it didn't end there.
Her words only made things worse for the kids.
The attendant, shocked at "no guardians," scanned them over.
"What...? You came here alone? What were you thinking? Wait here. I'm calling park security right now."
"Wait!? No, that's not—!"
Her bold insistence backfired spectacularly.
One less group ahead—our turn soon.
It wasn't malice or pity; these kids were strangers, and I wasn't the sentimental type.
As I watched the slowly descending Ferris wheel with that thought...
"Su-ho..."
"Yeah? Viola? Wanna ride quick?"
"Not that..."
I tilted my head at her, and she whispered sadly, glancing at the kids.
"Those kids... they seem so pitiful. What if we let them ride with us?"
The long-haired girl politely clasped her hands at her navel, bowed, and spoke demurely.
"Thank you so much."
"Glad you can ride now."
Viola smiled warmly at her.
The girl wore a blue dress with a light black vest, shiny black shoes, and white socks—completely opposite to the baseball cap girl's style.
And the boy...
"Th-thank you... sis."
He'd already decided on "sis" for Viola.
But Viola just smiled at him.
"Hehe. Glad you get to ride. I really wanted to too."
"Ah... uh... y-yeah..."
Shy, he couldn't meet her eyes, just glanced around stammering.
The baseball cap girl eyed him pitifully.
"Sigh... such an idiot."
"Idiot?!"
Normally, even if I'd asked, they couldn't have joined us.
A strange man claiming to be their guardian? Big liability for the attendant.
But Viola's request sailed through smoothly.
(They really want to ride. Any way we can?)
(Oh... well, rules say no, but for you? Sure thing. Haha!)
The attendant was totally charmed by Viola.
So the three kids rode with us and Viola like one big family, while Armonia, Beatrice, and Lena took the next gondola.
The wheel slowly rose, revealing the sunset and park in full view.
Viola jumped up to peer out the window.
"Wow, it's so pretty..."
Her eyes sparkled with awe and excitement as she took it all in.
I smiled at her but felt a twinge of regret.
Hmm... wanted some alone time with Armonia to chat. Bummer.
I wanted to thank her properly.
Armonia had changed my entire life.
Meeting Viola? Thanks to her. Bonds with the other women? All her doing.
Today's great memories? Her consideration.
I wanted to express the gratitude I'd neglected amid all the chaos.
Sucks... timing's off, and it'd be awkward otherwise...
If it's too hard to say aloud, why not record it and send it?
Yeah, that could work.
I closed my eyes and thought.
...Don't read my mind like that.
I only responded because you commed me.
Not on the ship? How'd you hear?
I left the ship prepared for contingencies. Basic gear equipped.
She'd brought essentials: comms for ship contact, emergency warp device, etc.
Not full vision share or quick response like on the ship, but the basics were covered.
Thorough as ever. Impressive.
Thank you for the praise.
But now that the channel was open, words failed me.
Viola was glued to the darkening night view.
Across from us, the kids pulled out gear and set it on their laps.
...What are they up to? Occult club or something?
Even if so, fascinating. That gear looks beyond kids' level...
As Armonia said, it wasn't toys.
Readouts flickering with numbers, even a radar.
That's not occult detection—that's ghostbusting gear.
Kids Ghostbusters? Nah, probably not.
As I eyed them curiously, the baseball cap girl noticed and whispered to the boy.
"But... safe to show this?"
"Yeah... they won't know what it is anyway."
"Still, making this... incredible."
The long-haired girl's words confirmed the boy built the devices.
The boy made those? ...Super suspicious.
Impossible things don't exist, but this piqued my curiosity.
Viola was lost in the view, perfect timing.
I eyed the kids and messaged Armonia.
Armonia, can you still check dispositions?
Yes. But as a key Enel function, it takes time.
Ah, never mind then.
Took too long compared to the ship.
No need to work on vacation's end.
Only real-time is instant. I just approve Enel use. Once approved, it'll display for you immediately.
...Fine.
Our gondola reached the top.
At the peak, the baseball cap girl suddenly stared me down.
...Oh?
More amusing than annoying.
We'd enabled their ride, yet she glared hostilely.
What a ridiculous kid... embarrassed we're watching?
I took it as a silent "don't look."
No point escalating, so I turned, placed a hand on Viola's shoulder, and said,
"How is it? Pretty?"
"Yes! Nothing like this before."
"..."
Even as I cozied up to Viola, gazing out, her stare persisted.
The other two kids focused intently on their gear...
Funny kid. Oh! How about this?
A grin formed inwardly. I turned Viola's head gently while viewing the nightscape together.
"Hm? Su-ho?"
"Shh... kids might hear."
"Huh? Mmph... chu..."
I quietly kissed Viola's lips as she admired the view, glancing at the girl.
"!?"
She panicked unlike before, hands over mouth, fidgeting.
Kid's a kid.
Tempted to escalate, but not with others around.
I deepened the kiss briefly, stoking her heat, then pulled away.
"Pretty, right?"
"Hah... yes. So pretty."
Flushed from the kiss, Viola returned to the colorful night lights.
Holding her from behind, I eyed the girl again.
"!?"
Our eyes met; she wilted, head down—no more staring contest.
Bold facade, but still just a kid.
This is fun.
Victory over a kid boosted my mood; I observed them closer.
Then—
Disposition windows should be visible now.
Let's see what these kids are about.
I checked the floating disposition tags above their heads.
Kang Su-a
[Ether LV 1], [Tenacity], [Boldness], [Carelessness], [Aggressiveness], [Craving Care]...
Shin Ji-su
[Ether LV 1], [Dependent], [Follower], [Diligence], [Kindness], [Gentleness]...
Baseball cap: Kang Su-a. Long hair: Shin Ji-su.
Something odd caught my eye in their dispositions.
What the hell?
Any issues?
Yeah? Armonia, you don't see it?
Basic comms only—no shared vision.
I explained the situation.
Two girls have this 'Ether' trait? What is that?
...Ether, you say?
Yeah. And more importantly...
I eyed the boy fiddling with his machine.
...No disposition on the boy? Not a glitch, right?
No matter how hard I looked above his head, nothing showed.