VIP Thrills on the Viking Ride
Luckily, they found the Viking ride indoors. Mikoto looked a bit relieved, her expression easing into something more comfortable.
"It's not that high..."
"Y-yeah..."
I couldn't keep my wits about me amid the scorching gazes coming from every direction. The catcalls made my head spin. I wasn't used to this much attention.
"Wait, is it always like this?"
"R-right? Is it too small? Probably boring, huh?"
Mikoto had misunderstood me completely. Her fidgety face was adorable.
As we stopped in front of the Viking, I could feel people gathering around us. Seeing women in skimpy outfits staring our way left me with a strange, uneasy feeling.
"Does it usually draw this big a crowd?"
Even before Yukiko came along, I hadn't been a complete shut-in. I'd gone out to buy snacks at the nearby supermarket now and then, or stepped out for a smoke. Most things I handled online, but I did run into people occasionally. And in this era, running into someone without a special reason meant they were a woman.
"A lot of women come here just to meet men. For them, striking up a conversation with Master is the whole point of coming."
"No, even the ones near my house weren't this intense."
Of course, it was hard to compare women who'd come all this way specifically to snag a man with the ones just living nearby. Still, I hadn't expected such a stark difference in reactions.
"The people around Master are all managed."
"What?"
"They've been firmly warned not to tempt Master excessively and disrupt your daily life."
"You did that?"
"I'm handling it now, but it was originally Park Si-young's doing."
I paused to think who Jang Min-young was, then remembered she was the civil servant and blinked in surprise.
"So everyone around knows who I am?"
"Of course."
Her words hit me like I'd uncovered some world-shaking secret.
"Good morning, good afternoon, good evening..."
Mikoto let out a small laugh.
"Normally, blocking those kinds of people is the bodyguards' job, but for the time being, I'll take care of it."
Yukiko's words were reassuring, though she seemed a tad smug about it—which was kinda cute.
"Huh? Then what about me? Do I even have a role...?"
Karin muttered, but Yukiko shut her down coldly.
"As I said, I wasn't expecting anything from you."
Instead of retorting, Karin casually draped her arm around my shoulder. Yukiko's face twitched ever so slightly.
"Close protection, close protection~"
I walked on with Karin hooked on my left arm. The onlookers watched but didn't dare approach.
"Where's the line? Looks like a thirty-minute wait..."
"Master doesn't need to wait."
With that, Yukiko took the lead, parting the crowd effortlessly with a few gestures.
"Wait, this is cutting..."
"It doesn't violate public morals, and it's consensual, so it's fine."
I couldn't hide my discomfort. Karin shook my arm to cheer me up.
"Think about it. These girls hardly ever see a guy's face outside places like this."
"Even so..."
"Better to at least catch a glimpse than have a man wait an hour and bail."
I had to concede that point. The four of us walked along the line, others neatly pressing against the wall to make way for me. It felt profoundly awkward.
We climbed into the Viking and took seats at the far end, buckling up. With a whir, the machine started moving.
"Wait, no one's even filled it up yet?"
It wasn't just unfilled—it was empty except for us four.
"When accommodating a man, we don't treat you like an ordinary guest. You're a VIP who deserves full hospitality."
The Viking began its pendulum swing, slowly at first.
"Unless Master specifically orders it packed full, it's only natural to limit it to Master and his women."
"Still..."
"Would you ask diners at a VIP restaurant to share a table with strangers?"
"Is it really the same...?"
It had been ages since I'd ridden a Viking. It felt refreshingly brisk, but not overly thrilling. I'd handled it fine as a kid, so no reason to freak out now.
"N-normally, when a man comes here, he brings dozens of women..."
"Yeah, that makes sense."
It was a shame we four were hogging the ride, but anyone else would've had a horde in tow.
"You look kinda strained?"
"N-no, ugh, it's my first time actually riding one..."
I turned to Yukiko in surprise. Yeah, she didn't strike me as the amusement park type. Watching her struggle to maintain composure was entertaining in itself. She noticed my gaze and quietly turned away. I gently took her hand.
"Eek..."
Yukiko bowed her head, fixing her eyes on our joined hands. The ride itself was meh, but her face was priceless.
/////
"First time, huh? You were clutching Master's hand so tight—great mood lighting."
Karin teased Yukiko, who bit her lip but didn't let go of my hand.
"I don't understand. What's the benefit in tricking your body into thinking it's in danger, just to enjoy the relaxation afterward?"
"That's what rides are all about. Clinging to Master like that was seriously cute, though."
Yukiko's expression stayed icy, but I could tell she was pissed. Mikoto nudged Karin.
"No, Karin, Yukiko's smart—she might've planned it..."
"Oh, right! Yeah, holding hands sweetly in a place like this is every girl's dream."
Mikoto and Karin ran with their own narrative.
"Then next time, let's hit something slower."
I'd been worried about Mikoto, but hadn't expected Yukiko to be weak to rough rides.
"Wonder where the carousel is..."
"No need... to accommodate me."
"To me, a giant Viking or a carousel is all the same."
I could definitely tell now. Unless it made me dizzy, roller coasters wouldn't scare me. Honestly, I was a little curious what Yukiko's face would look like crumbling on a high-speed one.
"Alright, let's get going!"
/////
After getting frisked and waiting forever, Hyun-ah finally made it inside the amusement park. It was later than expected, but no need to rush. She recalled Yukiko's advice.
"Approach when they've played enough to get bored and need fresh stimulation—not right away."
She couldn't fully trust it, but if it held, few women would aggressively approach Seongha now. A nagging worry that someone might beat her to it crept in, but she pushed it down. Worst case, if he picked up a few new girls here, that wasn't bad. Given his personality, it was unlikely, but if it happened, she could slip in alongside them. Plus, it was her first time at an amusement park too—she needed to get her bearings first.
"Wow..."
She'd only seen it in photos. Even seeing it live, the scale was hard to grasp. Imagining how the machines worked was beyond her. Crowds this big weren't her norm. The massive outdoor roller coaster track twisting wildly, staff in themed outfits—it all overwhelmed her. Lost in a daze, she snapped to at a shout from behind.
"Hey! Don't just stand there—move it!"
At first, she didn't realize it was aimed at her.
"Read the room and make way!"
A horde had piled up behind Hyun-ah in seconds. Looking around, she saw one man with three women passing by. It was Seongha. Not his usual casual, carefree clothes, but sharply dressed—clearly Yukiko's handiwork. It reminded her of their first meeting at the café. She'd admired him then too. Surrounded by women eyeing him, a whirlwind of emotions hit her: envy that the desire around him made him seem even more impressive and towering; self-loathing that to him, all these women—including her—were just background; superiority in knowing he'd greet her with a bright smile if she waved as "that high school girl," making her special; and loss realizing it was all luck from friends' help, his mercy, the slaves' pity—not her own doing. The tangle of feelings shook her mind and faded as Seongha passed.