“What… is this?”

“A theme park? But… why?”

Nina and I voiced our confusion together.

Beyond the aluminum door, a gigantic Ferris wheel stretched high into the sky, towering a few hundred meters, probably. Snaking around it was a roller coaster track, and right in front of us, a massive carousel with horses that stood about three times my height spun steadily.

Further off, there was a huge pirate ship swinging back and forth like a pendulum, and beside it, a UFO-like spinning swing was rotating continuously.

In amazement, we climbed the last steps and looked beyond the door.

As far as we could see, a theme park sprawled across the evening horizon.

“Could it be… a dream?”

“No, I don’t think so…”

Nina murmured softly, but I felt that possibility was low. This seemed too real for a dream, and it didn’t make sense that we’d both be seeing the same thing.

I reflexively extended “Silveit” to close the door. The moment I did, the theme park vanished like a lie, and daylight streamed in through the aluminum door, revealing only the familiar school rooftop.

The evening scene we’d just seen was nowhere in sight beyond the frosted glass.

“What was that…?”

“I don’t know…”

Overwhelmed by the bizarre sight, I felt at a loss. But the red letters “Welcome!” were still boldly written on the door.

“Maybe… we should open it again.”

Once more, I used “Silveit” to open the door, peering at the theme park beyond.

The sunset-colored park was filled with countless colorful balloons floating in the air. They weren’t rising but seemed to be held at a certain height as if there were an invisible ceiling.

“It really is a theme park.”

“Could the other students be in there?”

“Maybe… though the message just told us to come.”

The message in the classroom, and the one on the door, both only instructed us to come to the rooftop. Nowhere did it mention that the other students would be there.

Though it didn’t say so, we had no other place to go.

“Right, it doesn’t look like anyone else is here.”

With one hand gripping my shirt, Nina summoned her magical energy. Instantly, the magical mist took the shape of several small fairies. They were like the ones I had summoned earlier—Leprechauns.

There were nearly ten of them.

“Check if anyone else is around.”

“Aye, aye!”

Unlike my reserved leprechauns, Nina’s responded enthusiastically and dashed off in different directions.

As they scattered with energetic strides, we stood before the door, waiting.

“But, there’s no sign of monsters, is there?”

“Hm?”

“Look. There’s no sign of any monsters anywhere, right?”

Prompted by Nina, I surveyed the theme park again.

Sure enough, the rides were operating, but nothing else was moving.

There were no people, but more surprisingly, there were no monsters either.

Just as I began to ponder this strange situation, a voice came from one of the leprechauns perched on Nina’s shoulder.

“Nina! Nina! Nothing’s here! It’s completely empty!”

“Completely empty? I mean, there are buildings.”

“Right! Right! But no one’s around!”

“I see…”

Nina sighed slightly, looking troubled.

All the leprechauns, spread out in all directions, hadn’t spotted anyone. Could this place truly be empty?

Could that even be possible?

At that moment, bam! We felt a powerful shove on our backs.

“Huh, what?!”

Surprised by the sudden impact, Nina let out a startled yelp.

We stumbled forward, crossing the threshold of the door and entering the theme park.

In the air, I twisted my body to glance back, catching sight of an aluminum door embedded incongruously between the amusement park gates. Standing in the door’s threshold was a strange creature—a human arm rooted in place like a flower.

With no hint of hostility, the monster waved at us cheerfully.

“Enjoy yourselves!”

Its palm opened to reveal a gaping mouth, which cheerfully called out a parting message like an amusement park host before it closed the door.

I quickly shot a “Silveit” thread in an attempt to grab the doorknob.

But before my “Silveit” could latch on, the monster disappeared—along with the door.

In its place were the park gates and a straight road stretching endlessly to the horizon.

“Nina, that was…”

“…It seems we’ve been trapped.”

“No way…”

Nina’s face darkened gradually, her brows unfurrowing and shifting into an expression of concern, her breaths growing shallow.

I could hear the faint sound of her breathing, as though air was being squeezed from her lungs. Alarmed, I quickly grabbed her hand.

“Don’t worry. There’s got to be a way out.”

“But… how can we…?”

“…First, let’s try walking.”

I said, taking her hand and leading her forward.

I had no specific plan.

However, this “theme park” had to hold the answers. Undoubtedly, there were monsters here.

It had to be, given that the school was suddenly overflowing with monsters and everyone else had vanished. There was no better explanation than that this “theme park” was somehow responsible.

I didn’t know what exactly this place was, but only magic could create such an anomaly, and only monsters would execute such a bizarre plan.

If we kept walking, I was certain something would eventually appear.

But before I could reach that conclusion, the sun suddenly set.

“Oh, oh! It’s already nighttime!”

A voice rained down from the sky.

“There are guests here!” “Aren’t they intruders?” “Take a closer look! They’re children!” “And children are…”

“Our guests!”

The first thought that popped into my head upon seeing the creature was that it looked like a giant cocoon.

A monstrous figure wrapped in “Silveit,” draped in black fabric from head to toe, hung suspended in the air. However, above it, “Silveit” threads extended toward the sky, giving it the appearance of being hung rather than floating.

Embedded among the layers of black fabric were countless masks.

Yes, masks.

Traditional Japanese masks—demon masks, old man masks, Noh masks, fox masks. Then there was one that looked familiar—a Venetian mask I’d seen once during a university festival that my printing company had prepared a poster for.

“Welcome!” “Welcome!!” “We’re glad to have you!” “Step right up!”

This creature, with various colorful masks plastered over its body, floated against the backdrop of a full moon, which had risen without our notice. Each mask shouted excitedly.

“This is the land of happiness!” “A world made just for you!” “A wonderland!”

“Did you bring us here? And why…?”

“Why?” “What a curious question!”

The creature responded with a chorus of voices, each mask contributing a line.

“All children deserve happiness!” “Every child has the right to be happy!” “Ha-ha-ha-ha!”

The masks rotated as it spun in a slow, hypnotic turn.

“But now it’s night.” “It’s already dark.” “It’s time for bed.” “Dream time.” “The world of dreams!”

If that were the case, “Oborozuki” would be enough to reach it.

But just as I started to extend “Silveit”…

“Sleep.”

My consciousness began to fade.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep