“I will eat well.”
“Please enjoy your meal.”
Meals were served.
My dish is curry rice, and Noah is eating an omelet rice.
The meals at this amusement park are famous for being delicious.
The price was ridiculously expensive, as befits a tourist spot, but even so, it definitely shows better quality compared to other places.
The rich aroma of the curry, the vegetables that have melted and blended in, and the large slices of meat that show off their presence.
All of these seem to assert that this is what a perfect curry should be!
“It’s delicious…”
“…Hmph.”
For some reason, my appetite wasn’t there.
It seems Noah felt the same way, as he was picking at his food.
Even Noah, of all people.
“Uncle, doesn’t it taste good?”
“Huh? Ah, no, it’s delicious.”
“Well, that’s a relief…”
We continued eating in silence without saying anything.
This was the first time. Every time we ate before, we would spend our time talking about how delicious things were and suggesting each other try them.
I guess it’s because of that rabbit, and perhaps Noah because of that damn dream,
a strange scene unfolded where we were only sighing over the food.
This shouldn’t happen.
I tried to smile as much as I could but stopped.
Because Noah had put down his spoon with a “Clunk.”
“Uncle, is something wrong?”
“…Hmm.”
“There is, isn’t there?”
“You’ve caught me.”
“I told you not to force a smile, didn’t I?”
You’re quick on the uptake.
I didn’t want to ruin the mood of our trip, so I didn’t want to talk about it.
“Please tell me the truth. I also feel strange right now.”
I hesitated for a moment on what to say and then told everything as it happened.
A strange rabbit mascot suddenly appeared and chased us. And the fact that this character didn’t appear on the CCTV at all.
This mysterious and terrifying event.
“Whoa…”
Noah turned pale but soon calmed down and began recounting what I had just said.
“A strange person chased us, and we ran away…but there was nothing on the CCTV…”
“…”
“Does that make any sense?”
Of course, it doesn’t make any sense.
But upon reflection, there was another thing that made even less sense.
That was Noah himself.
“Noah, were you very tired?”
“Huh? No…I was fine.”
“But how did you fall asleep so quickly?”
Noah let out an “Eh?” sound.
“That’s right…I remember being picked up by Uncle…”
“Uh-huh.”
“After that, I don’t remember anything. Actually, why did I fall asleep in the first place….? And why didn’t I even find it strange…?”
You don’t remember?
So it’s like…
“It seems like someone played a prank.”
Unless you were extremely tired…no, even if you were tired, you wouldn’t be able to fall asleep in such a situation.
Right? Being carried on someone else’s back while running around and falling asleep?
“That’s right…I didn’t feel like I would fall asleep at all…”
Noah poked at his rice repeatedly.
His expression looked completely uneasy.
“Really…why did I have such a dream…”
Now that I think about it, you mentioned having a dream.
It didn’t seem to be a good one.
“Is it alright if I ask what kind of dream it was?”
“…”
“If you don’t want to talk about it, it’s okay-”
“Dad.”
“…”
“I had a dream that Dad was murdered.”
Noah slightly closed his eyes and shivered.
He seemed to be recalling the horrifying content of the dream.
“Uncle went into the hospital and kept…kept…stabbing Dad.”
“…Was it me?”
“Dad couldn’t do anything…and it kept going…kept going…”
“…”
“I…couldn’t do anything either…absolutely…yes…”
So you were checking if it was real or not when you looked at me.
It must have been a terrible dream. To witness the murder of a family member and be unable to do anything about it.
Especially when someone you trust does such a thing.
Especially for someone as sensitive as Noah, it must have been incredibly painful.
Silence fell over the dining table.
Falling asleep suddenly without knowing why, having a terrible nightmare.
There’s a clear wound on your leg, yet nothing showed up on the CCTV.
It’s truly bizarre and unbelievable.
“…”
“…”
It seems we were thinking the same thing.
“Could it be a Demon?”
“…Maybe a Villain.”
A Demon, or perhaps a Villain.
“Really…why today of all days?”
I agree.
Why today, of all days when we came here to play together, do these guys decide to make their move?
Noah seemed to dismiss it as just a bad day, but my mind became a little more complicated.
It’s not yet time for Demons to appear. We should have been able to enjoy ourselves until evening at least.
Moreover,
‘Pumpkin doesn’t have that kind of ability, does it…?’
Pumpkin was supposed to be the main Demon for this amusement park event.
The Grim Reaper Demon with a pumpkin on its head.
The mascot that was always locked away in the warehouse except during Halloween had become a Demon.
After taking over the amusement park and making it their territory, they display Magical Girls there.
This is Pumpkin’s Bad Ending.
However, Pumpkin doesn’t have the ability to make people fall asleep.
If it was the ability to control puppets, that would be different.
In other words,
‘Either the Boss has changed…’
Or another entity has gotten involved.
‘…It’s not an impossible story.’
Anyway, this is reality.
If Pumpkin exists, then there might be someone who infused them with magical power.
Though they didn’t leave immediately after creating Pumpkin, if they decided to help Pumpkin instead,
‘I need to find that Rabbit.’
First, finding that Rabbit is the top priority, right?
“Noah, tell Tae-hwa too. Be careful and look out for any strange characters.”
“Yes.”
Noah nodded and called Lee Tae-hwa.
The phone rang for a long time.
The first call didn’t connect, but the next one finally got through.
“Tae-hwa, is everything alright there?”
[Oh…Noah.]
“Why does your voice sound weird? Did something happen?”
[Well…Yuri suddenly fell asleep earlier and woke up crying, saying she had a strange dream. It was quite a commotion.]
“…Yuri too?”
[Yuri too? Did something happen to you?]
Noah’s gaze turned towards me.
His expression looked serious.
I took the phone from Noah.
“Tae-hwa, it’s Uncle.”
[Ah, Uncle. What on earth is going on?]
I explained the entire situation to Lee Tae-hwa.
Lee Tae-hwa raised their voice.
[Then this is serious!]
“That’s right. So, I’m planning to start searching from now.”
At my words, Noah stared at me intently.
“…Uncle, shouldn’t you go quickly?”
…That’s right.
Noah doesn’t know that I am Kraken.
“Um…”
“Uncle, please go back to the car. And absolutely do not come out.”
[That’s right. If that’s true, Mr. Shin Hyun, please go back quickly.]
It was Seo Jin-a’s voice.
[Probably, it would only hinder Noah. Though it’s unfortunate…]
“I understand. I’m weak after all.”
[Then, understood. Noah, let’s meet in front of the clock square in the center.]
With that, the call ended.
It seems they are planning to begin the search now.
“Shouldn’t we inform the management?”
“…It’s unreasonable. There’s no trace or evidence yet, so even if I show the wound, they’ll likely deny it.”
“Because of refund costs…?”
“Yes.”
Sighing, Noah continued.
“I was really looking forward to the amusement park…sigh…why does something like this happen as soon as we arrive? Maybe I really don’t have any fun luck.”
“Next time, let’s really enjoy ourselves properly.”
“There’s nothing we can do. We have to do what needs to be done. Uncle, you must stay in the car and behave yourself! Do you understand?”
“Alright.”
“I’ll walk around a bit more before heading back.”
“…Be careful.”
“You too, Uncle.”
After finishing his words, Noah devoured the omelet rice like inhaling it and dashed out of the shop.
It seems things are about to get busy now.
According to the agreement with Noah, I should return to the car now…
“…Excuse me, is there a souvenir shop nearby?”
“Oh, if you go straight out and turn left immediately, there’s one.”
How could that be possible.
Pumpkin will appear at night. There’s no way I can just leave that unidentified character alone.
Having bought a mask at the souvenir shop, I put it on my face.
I entrusted the shirt I was wearing to the locker and changed into a promotional T-shirt.
“…Hmm.”
This should prevent me from being recognized.
‘Then, let’s hurry and find it.’
+++++
As time passed, it became evening.
By then, I had searched the entire amusement park but couldn’t find that rabbit.
It’s nowhere to be found.
I’ve searched every dark and eerie place, but it’s nowhere to be seen.
“…Time…”
Looking up at the sky, the world was already turning red.
It was getting close to twilight.
It means Pumpkin will soon arrive and create chaos in the amusement park.
‘There’s no other way.’
One Demon and one unknown enemy.
There’s no guarantee that the Magical Girls can defeat both.
Even if Iris has become stronger.
Especially if citizens need to be evacuated, their strength will be further divided.
A place where cameras are unlikely to be present.
I hid there and prepared for transformation.
If I transform into Kraken, that will suffice.
If I cause a minor disturbance as a Villain, evacuation orders will be issued, and people will flee outside.
Of course, I’ll take fire from the Magical Girls.
‘I’ll just hold out until Pumpkin arrives.’
Hmm, a plan has formed somewhat.
It’s not perfect, but given the current situation, this is probably the best option.
‘Kkomkmu, let’s prepare.’
‘Yes.’
Circulating magic power while preparing for transformation.
Kkomkmu’s magic melts and circulates through my body along with the circulating magic power.
The robe flutters, and instead of the original mask, a new one forms on my face.
The tentacles that stir within the shadows emerge as if feeling constricted.
And just as the transformation is about to complete…
“Ah, so you transform this way, Mr. Kraken.”
“Who’s there!?”
Clack!
The tentacle extends and grabs an object…
But it leaps high and evades, then soon reaches right in front of me.
“This is quite impressive.”
It was a familiar figure and face.
This guy.
“Are you the rabbit from earlier?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“…You’ve been hiding all day and now reveal yourself?”
“Hehe, yes. My plan was about to begin…but it seems you’re trying to interfere.”
The rabbit puppet spoke emotionlessly.
“Then, stopping you is only natural, isn’t it?”
“…”
“What? Isn’t that right? S-class Villain Kraken, or rather…”
“…”
“…Mr. Sa Shin Hyun.”
What exactly…
“Who are you?”
