Chapter 324
Thump Thump ☆ Wonder Spinning Coffee Cup
White Christmas.
In the snowy, empty Tokyo Death Land, Han Seo-Jin brought me to an absurdly grandly named ride called the Thump Thump ☆ Wonder Spinning Coffee Cup.
You know that ride every amusement park has where you get into a giant coffee cup and spin around slowly? Yeah, that one.
It wasn’t as popular as the carousel, but it had its own charm.
I was almost regretting not suggesting roller coasters or free falls, but I was saved by this choice.
So there I was, with Han Seo-Jin linking arms with me, and the person I saw at the entrance was…
“Welcome! Are you two here together?”
A brown bob-cut beauty in a maid outfit, Bella, stood there with an emotionless expression.
Wait, Bella?
“What are you doing here?”
As if Lin and Eri weren’t enough, now Bella too?
Without a single change in her expression, Bella replied to my question.
“It’s the result of a tearful effort to secure screen time.”
You’ve got to be kidding me, this world really is reminiscent of a light novel, with a meta-comment about securing nonexistent screen time.
Hearing lines that usually only existed in animation played out in real life left me speechless.
“Ah, right…”
I simply nodded, lost for words.
“Master’s master, Han Seo-Jin. Confirmed. Please take your seats for the ride.”
Bella skillfully guided us like a real staff member.
Following her instructions, we opened the large coffee cup-shaped ride’s door and took our seats.
Thanks to the entire amusement park being rented out, there were no other guests besides Han Seo-Jin and me.
[Now, we will begin the Thump Thump ☆ Wonder Spinning Coffee Cup operation.]
Bella’s calm voice echoed through the speakers.
Along with that, music completely unfit for a ride blared – EDM.
What is this, a disco party at Wolmido?
Just as I was starting to lose my mind.
Vroom.
With a heavy mechanical rumble, the coffee cup that Han Seo-Jin and I were in began to spin.
The cold winter wind hit my face directly at that moment.
[We will increase the speed a bit more.]
With Bella’s voice, the spinning speed of the coffee cup increased exponentially.
The scenery around us blurred as it spun faster and faster.
As the intense movements of the coffee cup reminded me of a Wolmido disco party, a deep-seated feeling of confusion began to rise inside me.
The intense rotary motion of the coffee cup sends a troubling wave of emotions rising deep within me.
No way, this isn’t how these rides are supposed to work!
Just as I was in a state of panic…
Twitch.
Han Seo-Jin’s eyebrows twitch slightly.
*
At that moment, the speed of the coffee cup increased.
[Now’s your chance, Han Seo-Jin! Just like we planned, pretend to lose your balance and fall into Master’s arms!]
Bella’s voice echoes in Han Seo-Jin’s ear.
Gulp.
She swallows nervously.
Despite the coffee cup spinning and vibrating quite violently, it’s nothing out of the ordinary.
While she may not be a hero, Han Seo-Jin is an extraordinary hunter well beyond the typical limits, and this level of spinning isn’t wild or unmanageable for her.
In fact, even as the coffee cup shakes furiously, she manages to maintain her balance serenely.
‘Is this really okay…?’
And so, she deliberates.
For Han Seo-Jin, simply going on a date at the amusement park with him on Christmas, a special day, feels like an overwhelming gift.
On top of that, just moments ago, they had taken a solo selfie, arm in arm!
Han Seo-Jin bites her lip.
That alone is more than enough.
She’s fully satisfied.
That should be the case.
But for some reason, thinking about the operation makes her heart race like it’s going to burst.
Still, to pretend to lose her balance and fall into his arms?
As much as it’s a plan, this feels a bit… off.
Just as Han Seo-Jin hesitates with the last shred of her reason…
[Han Seo-Jin! Quickly fall into that idiot’s arms as planned!]
[Yeah! Hurry and embrace him now! Eri’s letting you off this time, just this once!]
Eri and Olivia’s voices ring in her ears as she pauses.
Just then,
Clunk.
The coffee cup shakes violently, causing Han Seo-Jin to lean towards Kim Deok-Sung.
She could have regained her balance, but she doesn’t.
“Ugh!”
Instead, with a low scream, she naturally collapses into Kim Deok-Sung’s arms.
*
“Ugh!”
With a scream, Han Seo-Jin falls into my embrace.
I totally expected this.
Even an extraordinary person would lose their balance on a ride in this crazy light novel world.
But since it seems like Han Seo-Jin is losing her balance too, I have no choice but to hold her.
Now that I think about it, I’ve hugged her quite a few times, but this is the first time we’re so intimately close.
As the coffee cup spins, Han Seo-Jin’s earlobes turn bright red.
With her head down, she trembles slightly, clinging to me and not letting go.
And just as the atmosphere grows increasingly awkward…
The coffee cup comes to a halt.
The ride finally ends.
“I-I’m so sorry! Mr. Kim Deok-Sung!”
As soon as it stops, Han Seo-Jin quickly exclaims while bowing her head, pulling away from my arms.
She sits on the farthest seat, fanning her flushed face with one hand while gripping her skirt tightly with the other.
[Oh. Partner. I didn’t know Han Seo-Jin had such a girlish side to her!]
The Black Prince chimes in from my mind.
The Black Prince chimes in my head.
“I feel the same way.”
Today, it seems like I’m seeing a new side of Han Seo-Jin in many ways.
Originally, I had no real thoughts about this date, which was just a way to burn a date request, but seeing her like that, it actually feels like it could be a meaningful date.
If only those damn light novel clichés weren’t a thing.
“I-I’m so sorry. For someone like me…”
Han Seo-Jin trails off, constantly bowing her head.
Seeing her so humble is oddly making me feel a bit guilty.
It’s definitely an accident due to some luck-based nonsense anyway.
I speak to Han Seo-Jin, who’s bowing at a 90-degree angle, practically begging for forgiveness.
“You don’t need to apologize. It was an accident.”
“…”
Her body jerks at my words.
What’s with her?
It was an accident, wasn’t it?
Just then, a question mark pops up in my head.
“…Thank you…”
She says her thanks a beat too late.
Why is she thanking me for this kind of situation?
Han Seo-Jin is great and all, but that low self-esteem and national pride are the real issues.
It’s not something that can be fixed overnight just because I say so, and it’s not like I need to butt in.
But at times like this, I kind of feel guilty.
“Let’s drop it. Let’s get down.”
I firmly grab Han Seo-Jin’s wrist and lead her off the coffee cup-shaped ride.
“Understood.”
Han Seo-Jin’s cheeks flush as she descends.
As we head toward the exit, Bella greets us.
“Did you enjoy the ride? Master’s master, Ms. Han Seo-Jin.”
Bella flashes a light smile.
Enjoy the ride? Please.
I felt a bit queasy with how the coffee cups had tossed us around like a disco.
“…It was okay.”
But complaining about that won’t change anything in this damn light novel world.
It would just be a waste of my breath.
So, I nod along and give Bella a half-hearted response.
“Good. I’m glad to see Master’s master enjoyed it. Before we head to the next course, let’s have some cotton candy first…”
With a swoosh,
Bella pulls out a cotton candy from a cart she whipped up from who knows where.
The fluffy white cotton candy and even a Rudolph ear headband set.
It fits the ridiculous amusement park theme way too well.
I never thought I’d be doing this kind of stuff here after being reincarnated.
Bella hands each of us a cotton candy and places a dumb Rudolph ear headband on our heads.
Cotton candy is one thing, but I certainly don’t need antlers.
How long do I have to put up with this nonsense?
Just then, when I glance over while clicking my tongue in disbelief.
“…”
I lock eyes with Han Seo-Jin, who’s wearing a red devil horn headband, looking completely different from me.
Her face turns bright red.
She hurriedly covers her face with a giant white cotton candy.
“I-I’m so sorry!”
“Now, now. Master’s master and Ms. Han Seo-Jin. You two go very well together. Today, I’ll take a special commemorative photo for you.”
With a swoosh,
Bella pulls out a Polaroid camera from her ample cleavage.
I take out a Polaroid camera.
Seriously, how much planning went into this?
In the background of an amusement park, Han Seo-Jin and I are standing a good distance apart.
Bella, witnessing this, speaks to Han Seo-Jin.
“Ms. Han Seo-Jin, please get a bit closer to Master. The composition isn’t working.”
Startled by Bella’s command, Han Seo-Jin hesitantly replies, “Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, I wouldn’t dare…”
“Just get closer.”
I cut off Han Seo-Jin’s cautious words.
I don’t know who planned this damned amusement park date, but if I don’t go along with it, it’ll never end.
So, the best plan is to wrap this up and head home quickly.
“Ah, understood. Thank you.”
Han Seo-Jin says politely as she sticks to my side.
“Alright, then, I’ll take the picture. One, two, three. Kimchi.”
Bella unnecessarily says “kimchi” in fluent Korean.
Click.
The flash of the Polaroid camera goes off.
Swish.
The photo instantly develops right away.
“Here it is.”
The image isn’t clear yet since the photo hasn’t fully developed.
I take the picture from Bella.
Shaking it out of habit, I hear Bella’s voice in my ear.
“Well then, I hope you two have a great time. Merry Christmas, Master’s master.”
She whispers this in my ear while waving from behind.
I wonder how many pictures we’re taking today.
“I’ll guide you to the next destination.”
“And where’s that?”
Hesitating slightly, Han Seo-Jin replies, “It’s the haunted house.”
The haunted house, huh.
Well, it would be strange if an amusement park date episode in a light novel didn’t include a haunted house or a Ferris wheel.
Has it finally come to this…?
Or rather, it’s better that familiar events are coming up now.
That way, I won’t be caught off guard.
Thinking this, I walk through the empty Tokyo Death Land with Han Seo-Jin.
It’s not summer; it’s winter, on a snowy day, and the scene of an empty amusement park feels a bit eerie.
“…It’s kind of eerie, just the two of us in this vast amusement park with no one around.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that part.”
Han Seo-Jin suddenly replies with a confident tone.
But what does she mean by not having to worry?
“What do you mean?”
A bad feeling starts creeping in.
Is it possible that the heroines will suddenly pop out and propose a surprise Christmas party in that big black castle?
While numerous possibilities race through my mind, Han Seo-Jin looks up.
Her face has shifted from shy to her usual businesslike demeanor.
The strange heat and madness ignite in her gray eyes.
She speaks with overflowing confidence.
“Because we plan to edit this scene later and broadcast it as a vlog on the Hero Kim Deok-Sung Foundation’s official channel.”
I was left dumbfounded by her startling revelation.
What?
A vlog?
Are you serious?
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