"...Ah, this is a failure."
"I know, right? It’s not as... scary as I thought it would be."
Amelia and I couldn’t hide our disappointment.
I’d been a little excited when I heard monsters would appear.
But as expected, it was exactly as expected.
Maybe for safety’s sake, but the monsters were all missing a screw or two—there was zero tension.
You’d think a haunted house would at least be a little scary.
Maybe if there were one or two superhumans, we could’ve felt some tension... but there were three Academy students here.
I hate to say it myself, but all three of us were skilled students with real combat experience.
Had I set my expectations too high for the monsters in this playground?
"No, isn’t that obvious? If three superhumans were on edge, this place would have to shut down the second an accident happened."
"That’s true, but... I still feel cheated."
"...Yeah, you’d say that."
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing."
...Hmm, come to think of it, the dynamic between Amelia and Yu Siwoo felt a little different from what I’d imagined.
Since the author didn’t seem interested in adding more heroine candidates, I’d assumed Amelia was the main heroine.
But her relationship with Siwoo... it felt more like a rivalry.
Not the way you’d look at someone of the opposite sex, but... how do I put it? Right.
Like two guys shooting the breeze? Something like that.
A few days ago, and even now.
The way they bickered felt more like close friends.
They might be like this now, but would Amelia ever come to like Siwoo?
The thought suddenly worried me. ...It’s bound to happen someday, right?
"Ah, what about that? Wouldn’t you enjoy that?"
"...What, the Ferris wheel?"
"Yeah. The Ferris wheel should be fine."
"...! You’re smarter than I thought!"
Excited by Siwoo’s suggestion, Amelia dashed toward the Ferris wheel.
The Ferris wheel, huh. Well, yeah. Amelia would probably enjoy that.
It wasn’t the kind of ride that relied on speed or thrills.
Siwoo and I had clearly enjoyed the rides, but Amelia couldn’t due to her Ability, so her attention had turned to something like that.
"Haa. The old man said it’d be fun."
"...The old man?"
"My butler. When I told him I was going to the amusement park with friends, he gave me all sorts of advice. Though it wasn’t quite what I expected."
Amelia grumbled, muttering that the old man had fed her a pack of lies.
Right. Amelia was a rich girl, so it made sense she’d have someone like that.
[Ohhh, I see. That’s good to know.]
"...Didn’t the author set that up?"
Watching the two of them walk off, teasing each other, I quietly addressed the author.
[I only interfere when necessary! If it’s not needed or already fine, I leave it as is. I haven’t touched this place, for example.]
"...Right. That’s how it is."
This amusement park was also part of the author’s puppet show world.
But the author had never meddled with it, and the visitors were laughing and chatting, enjoying its uniqueness as if recalling childhood memories.
After witnessing the Academy’s surrounding commercial district and even my own home change in real time, this fact felt incredibly fresh to me.
That uniqueness.
The uniqueness untouched by the author’s hand.
To me, it was incredibly enjoyable. Because until now, I’d never seen a place in this world the author hadn’t touched.
Was that why? Superhuman-exclusive amusement rides, superhuman-exclusive haunted houses. No matter how much I thought about it, even if these rides couldn’t possibly exist in reality, they felt real.
"Author-nim. You didn’t… mess with anything here, right?"
[Huh? …Of course not? Why are you suddenly asking that…?]
"No, it’s nothing."
I swallowed the words I was about to spit out.
This place isn’t reality.
Even if Author-nim didn’t adjust the surroundings, in the end, it’s still a stage.
The world is still filled with puppets.
"What are you doing, Arte?! Hurry up and come here!"
"You’re so impatient. I’ll be right there."
"…This is bad."
"What’s wrong?"
"Well, it’s just… this was supposed to be your date with Arte…"
"You’re bringing that up now? It’s way too late."
"Ugh…"
Amelia stomped her feet as she side-eyed Arte, who was lagging behind.
No matter how urgently she acted, it was already too late.
Date? What date? We all came here together.
No one would think this was a date.
"Ugh, I’m too excited. Okay, this is the perfect chance, so I’ll just…"
"Chance?"
Amelia didn’t answer my question.
She just silently waited for Arte.
…Chance? What on earth did she mean by that?
"Here it is, Arte! A massive Ferris wheel! It’s amazing."
"It really is. I’ve never seen one this big before."
"Let’s get on quick! Come on!"
Without knowing what kind of "chance" she was talking about, Arte and I followed Amelia’s lead into the Ferris wheel cabin.
"Guests, we’ll be departing soon, so please—"
"…Ugh, nngh. Sorry, guys! My stomach just…! You two go ahead without me!"
"What?! Amelia! Where are you going?! Hey!"
…She was gone.
That speed—she must’ve used her Ability.
Stomachache, my ass. She was fine just a minute ago, and if she really had a stomachache, she wouldn’t have used her Ability to escape.
Suddenly, I remembered what Amelia had said earlier.
…Chance. Was *this* what she meant?
"Uh…"
"Let’s go in, Siwoo. People are waiting."
"…Yeah."
In my mind, I unleashed a torrent of complaints at Amelia.
What kind of "chance" was this? This wasn’t a chance—it was outright sabotage.
Leaving Arte and me alone in a sealed space?
I didn’t think I’d die, but I had no idea what to even talk about.
"Ah, we’re going up."
But now that it was already in motion, there was no turning back.
By the time the Ferris wheel made one full rotation, I still had no clue what to do…
"Waaah!"
"Wah?!"
"Why are you so stiff? Am I just that beautiful? …Haha, just kidding. Don’t be so nervous."
"T-That’s… not it…"
Before I knew it, Arte had struck a pose like she was about to pounce, startling me, then grinned and backed away.
…A faint, sweet scent lingered at the tip of my nose.
"…? What’s wrong?"
"Ah, it’s nothing."
I couldn’t say it.
Even if Arte was just an ordinary student and not a villain, there was no way I could say it.
That I could smell her because I’d smelled her leotard before.
That the scent had made my eyes drift to the glimpse of leotard visible at her nape.
If I said it, I’d die. Not because Arte would kill me—because I’d hang myself.
"It’s been so long since I’ve been on a Ferris wheel… This is the first time since I was a child."
Fortunately, Arte only briefly questioned me and didn’t press further.
Phew… Saved…
As I watched Arte gaze at the rising scenery, Amelia’s parting words came to mind.
Our purpose here was to flirt with Arte.
If the chance arose, I was supposed to create a good atmosphere. That’s what she’d said.
…As if someone who’s never been in a relationship before would know how to do that.
But if I didn’t do anything after she went through the trouble of setting this up, she’d start nagging me again.
With no other choice, I forced myself to muster some courage and speak.
"…Hey, Arte."
"Yes?"
"Do you… have someone you like?"
Ah.
Siwoo cursed himself internally.
What kind of lunatic starts a conversation like this?
Under the pressure of Amelia’s expectations and not knowing what to say, nonsense had just spilled out of his mouth.
Damn you, Amelia.
Infecting me with your delusional pink fantasies.
"No, I don’t. …Are you trying to flirt with me?"
"Ah, no. It’s just… I realized I’ve never heard about your personal life before."
Good. Nice save, Yu Siwoo.
For someone who’d completely botched the opening, this was a decent recovery…!
Luckily, Arte seemed to let it slide without much thought.
"There was never a need to bring it up."
"…I see. Maybe you’ll meet someone someday."
"No."
"…?"
The atmosphere shifted abruptly. Siwoo couldn’t help but notice.
The Ferris wheel continued to rise, and before he knew it, Arte was staring at him with cold, detached eyes.
It was as if she were looking at something inhuman.
"I have no intention of dating anyone."
"O-oh…?"
"I’d rather die than get involved with puppets who can’t even carve their own paths."
Puppets?
Siwoo couldn’t make sense of Arte’s words.
Who on earth was she talking about?
"Uh, Arte. You seem really worked up. I think I said something wrong. I’m sorry."
"I won’t be tied to some puppet. No matter what happens, I’ll return. I can’t keep living in this puppet show."
What had gone wrong? Which word had set her off like this? Siwoo had no idea.
But one thing was clear—Arte was struggling with something, and it wasn’t like her usual self.
He didn’t know what it was.
So, Siwoo did the only thing he could think of: he pulled the muttering Arte into a tight embrace.
"?!"
"It’s okay, Arte. I don’t know what’s wrong, but it’s okay. Don’t worry."
During the chameleon incident, she had been the one to comfort him.
This time, it was his turn to help her.
That simple thought filled Siwoo’s mind.
He didn’t stop to consider whether she was a villain or not. If someone had helped him, then he should return the favor—that’s what friends did.
Even if she didn’t think of him as a friend. Even if she really was the infamous Villain Slayer.
All Siwoo saw in front of him was a friend in distress.