Chapter 57

Sitting on the food court rooftop, I slowly melted and ate the ice cream.

Viewing from a high perch, it was an impressive sight.

A golden wave.

The Golden Reapers with their tiny legs jumping and chaotically advancing resembled a tidal wave.

Mannequins dressed in black receptionist outfits aligned themselves neatly to face the onslaught in perfect order.

The clash of the Black Castle against the golden tide!

However, the Black Castle crumbled like a sandcastle swept away by waves, scattering into dust.

Clink clink clink.

With an ice cream in my mouth, I applauded, and one Golden Reaper sluggishly crawled up onto my thigh.

The Golden Reaper lounged comfortably against my stomach with a confident look, presenting something.

A stamp!

Since the Golden Reaper’s expression seemed to seek praise, I patted its head, which pleased it greatly.

After stamping the paper with the Golden Reaper’s stamp, it smoothly disappeared after fulfilling its role.

Now 4!

I only needed five more stamps to complete the collection.

Looking at the Golden Reapers again, the situation had become quite interesting.

Fleeing mannequins.

Golden Reapers running, jumping, rolling, and charging forward.

As the number of mannequins dwindled, this space began to destabilize.

Like a broken channel, noise crackled.

New rides appeared suddenly.

Some Golden Reapers vanished beyond the space boundary.

The sky shattered like glass, and the ground split as if struck by an earthquake.

The theme park’s end!

Giggling sounds.

Golden Reapers who found stamps started clinging to me one by one.

It felt like there was an implicit rule that only those who found stamps could stick.

***

Walking while chewing the last energy bar.

Total attractions cleared: 3.

The ‘Guest Room’ where you had to erase purple with an eraser.

‘Drop Tower,’ a simple picture addition quiz.

The ‘Food Court’ where you had to erase consuming more than one type using an eraser.

The most irritating was the ‘Food Court.’

Thinking I might find something edible, I entered the ‘Food Court’ just as hunger began creeping in.

But all the Food Court offered were poisoned foods.

And they were all my favorite dishes too, when I was starving!

The guest room door was firmly shut and couldn’t be opened when I returned.

If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve brought more energy bars before leaving the guest room.

Now, which attraction should I choose next? As I thought about it, a sudden earthquake rocked the theme park.

Vision flickered like a confused TV screen, showing multiple scenes overlapping and shaking.

The most noticeable hallucination was the golden wave.

The vision of small golden somethings wriggling around caused earthquakes each time it appeared.

As if the theme park itself was screaming.

“Hmm, such events can indeed occur.”

A mannequin’s bewildered muttering cut through the quake.

A mannequin fidgeting with its own hands approached me.

This felt entirely different from before.

Its tone and emotions were far richer than usual.

“Customer?”

“Perhaps now is the time. Please follow me.”

The mannequin ran off to the ‘Smile Viking Ticket Booth.’

The booth’s attendant mannequin had vanished.

After rummaging, the mannequin found a stamp.

“Customer, hurry! We mustn’t miss this opportunity.”

“Wh-what is this? Another trap?”

“No trap. The theme park is simply collapsing. Collecting stamps like this will only be possible now. No time for arguments.”

Given how deceptive this place was designed, the mannequin’s words still sounded suspicious.

Clearly, something unusual was happening based on the unsettling tremors and atmosphere.

Yet, why would this mannequin help me?

“I can’t trust this. How many people would believe someone who offers help without any reason?”

“Hmm, usually so hasty but now so skeptical, aren’t we? Though unnecessary, I’ll offer a few reasons.”

The mannequin paused before speaking.

“First, I have a reason to help you. Even though I’ve become this, I was originally human. A victim of this theme park. I was trapped like this, but you don’t need to be.”

Though the tone felt sincere, truth remained uncertain.

“Look around. If the theme park’s collapse reaches the shuttle bus, it’s over. There’ll be no way back. The choice is yours.”

The mannequin handed over the stamp, urging me to decide.

Something about the mannequin had definitely changed.

Emotions seemed richer…

And the theme park’s collapse, along with disappearing mannequins, was undeniable.

Still, how could I know if this was another trap?

When decisions are tough, best to stick to my lifelong motto:

“When in doubt, do it first!”

“Alright! Let’s go! Guide me, mannequin.”

From then on, I sprinted nonstop through the theme park.

Each time golden figures passed by, buildings or pillars were riddled with holes.

The sound of metal bending and collapsing structures echoed.

The theme park descended into chaos.

“Hmm, the collapse is worse than expected. How such a powerful being entered the park remains unclear.”

“Isn’t it because invitations are handed out carelessly?”

“No. Hosts only invite those the theme park can handle. Anyway, we must hurry. If the shuttle bus breaks, stamps will become useless.”

***

Tweaking the doll head I’d grown accustomed to wearing instead of my real head, I stared at the woman ahead.

Huff huff.

The tattoo-covered woman, pale-faced, leaned against a marble wall, breathing heavily.

Naturally, after all the running, this was expected.

“Mannequin, did we succeed?”

“Yes, now we just need to board the shuttle bus.”

“Ah, finally it’s over.”

With weak steps dragging through sticky mud, the woman entered the marble building.

Turning back, Smile Theme Park had met its end.

To put it in customer terms, Smile Theme Park was “out of service.”

The park lost its power and slowly dissolved into thin air.

All because someone uncovered the hidden ending.

The mysterious powerful entity didn’t just cause chaos; it revealed hidden secrets, driving a stake into the theme park’s heart.

The theme park’s first attempt at opening a new branch ended here.

Luckily, I collected all the stamps before the theme park completely collapsed.

***

Regulating my heavy breathing, I walked slowly.

So hungry…

I’m starving to death.

Too lazy to walk properly, I dragged my shoes.

Sticky black mud.

An excruciating petroleum smell that triggered headaches.

Finally reaching the distant shuttle bus stop.

Though collected through shortcuts, I gathered all the stamps.

Exiting the object will conclude everything.

Entering the marble building, displayed heads caught my eye.

Seven newly added heads.

“Idiots, looks like they couldn’t make it through after all.”

The fellow death row inmates exhibited only their severed heads.

Judging by their inability to use shortcuts like me, they likely failed multiple times before dying.

Well, it’s over now.

Innocent pardon.

That conclusion loomed near.

Killing inside the object will soon become a fond memory outside.

The tightly shut shuttle bus doors welcomed me, opening wide.

Turning back, the mannequin stared intently.

“Thank you. You’re my savior.”

“Hmm, not at all. It was my duty.”

Though difficult to read expressions on the doll head, it was clear now.

The mannequin was extremely happy.

Even if it was a theme park victim, wasn’t it a bit too joyful? But whatever.

We cleared it!

Boarding the bus and sitting down, the mannequin took the driver’s seat to prepare for departure.

Exhaustion made sleepiness hit instantly.

The mannequin cheerfully hummed while driving the bus out of the theme park.

Half-asleep, the mannequin’s voice reached me.

“Then, dear customer, please rest well. Everything necessary for the bus ride is ready, so we’ll arrive soon. Any questions?”

“Nope, none.”

“If there are no questions, I’ll take your silence as consent and depart.”

The mannequin’s cryptic words revived an old question.

Why are there 10 coins when there are only 9 stamps?