The game on Beast Island truly began after purchasing land rights.
The protagonist, now with the right to use the land.
Only then did they gain the qualification to decorate the island.
“Well, then, how shall we decorate it?”
In fact, even without decoration, there were many ways to relax, but let’s try it once.
The store had various items displayed.
How should I use these to decorate the island?
…Hmm, I’m not quite sure.
Let’s give Noah, who has suffered from the bitter taste of reality, a choice.
“Noah, is there anything you’d like to make?”
“Make something?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmm…I don’t know what to say all of a sudden…”
Noah started thinking deeply.
Come to think of it, this kid doesn’t have much aesthetic sense.
I decided to give him one guideline.
“Noah. How about looking at what others have made and getting some ideas?”
All creation starts with imitation, after all.
Seeing well-designed things will be helpful too.
Not to mention, what kind of world are we living in now?
Isn’t it the global era where you can connect with the whole world just by turning on the internet?
I turned on the online mode and opened several maps.
“Pick one.”
“Wow…they’re all so beautiful.”
“Well, there are probably quite a few people who stick to this.”
It was a feast for the old-timers.
How did the game manage to implement buildings like those?
The islands each reflected their owners’ personalities.
There were small, cute flower fields, ordinary villages, and places that remained wild for users who still sought thrills.
And among them,
something caught Noah’s eye.
“It’s an amusement park…”
It was an island reminiscent of an amusement park.
Carousels, spinning cups, Viking rides.
And in the center, a giant Ferris wheel.
“Shall we go there?”
“…Yeah, let’s go right away.”
When I hovered the cursor over the island and pressed the button, the loading screen appeared.
After a brief pause, a completely different island was generated.
We had reached an island that was itself an amusement park.
This island was already crowded with many users enjoying themselves.
Even though they were only virtual characters, Noah marveled at the sight.
“Wow…”
“It feels so real.”
I was equally amazed.
Although I haven’t been to amusement parks often, it was detailed enough to feel like I was actually there.
“Uncle! Look over there!”
Noah pointed to the right side of the screen.
“It’s a carousel!”
“Do you like carousels?”
“Hehe…well…when I was little, I used to imagine myself riding one.”
“Why is that embarrassing?”
“How do I put it…like a princess…you know, Sleeping Beauty or awakening kisses…”
I see.
“Well, being a princess is said to be the dream of many girls.”
“I feel embarrassed saying it out loud. Just forget about it.”
A princess.
If there were a princess like Noah, wouldn’t neighboring kings go crazy trying to take her away?
With that thought, I chuckled as I wandered around the island.
“Uncle! Look! It’s a Viking ride!”
“Shall we try it?”
“Yeah!”
We rode the Viking ride and…
“Spinning cup!”
“Noah, wait…aren’t you spinning too fast!? The character is about to die!”
“…Oh.”
Ghost House.
“…No way.”
“Alright…it’s a pity.”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing. Never mind.”
…Skipping that part.
Afterward, we continued to explore the island.
It felt like a place that embodied the word ‘dream’.
There, Noah seemed like a girl who had fallen into Wonderland.
Finally, we reached the Ferris wheel.
“Looks like we can go inside too.”
“Really? Let’s go in!”
“Hmm.”
Inside the Ferris wheel was serene and emotional. It began moving with a creaking sound.
Slowly ascending, the Ferris wheel illuminated the view outside the window.
Dream-like scenery painted in the evening glow, and slowly darkness crept in, covering the world like a blanket.
Night again.
There might be a casino here somewhere, but I didn’t bother mentioning it.
Such talk would be disrespectful to such a beautiful scene.
When the Ferris wheel paused at the top, Noah, who had been silent for a while, spoke up.
“Uncle, actually, I’ve never been to an amusement park before.”
It was a shocking statement.
Never once?
“Never been?”
“Yeah. Dad was always busy, and every time the school organized field trips, I strangely felt unwell…”
“Oh…”
“So I gave up, thinking it wasn’t meant to be for me…”
That was the situation.
“I thought you were reminiscing because you were having so much fun.”
“Hehe…now I know what an amusement park is like. I wish I could visit one. Is it really like this?”
“Similar. Just noisier and more chaotic.”
“Ugh…I don’t like noisy places.”
“But it’s not bad. It’s not annoying noise…”
Right.
“It’s joyful chaos.”
“…Anyway, this vicarious satisfaction is great. I’ll have to come back often.”
He said that and ended the game.
The contents faded out of the game console.
“Huh? Aren’t we going to decorate the island?”
“Yeah. I want to create an amusement park, but if I make it poorly, it might ruin the memory…”
“Is it that good?”
“Yeah…it was really amazing…”
Noah still had a lingering expression of awe.
Was it really that enjoyable to experience the amusement park on the screen?
It was a bit disappointing.
No matter how similar and fun it was, a game is still a game.
The real amusement park is far more exciting.
There’s an old saying, isn’t there?
One glimpse is worth a hundred words.
For Noah, seeing the amusement park once would be better than hearing about it a hundred times.
“…Alright.”
I resolved and spoke to Noah.
“Noah, do you have any plans to really go?”
“Where?”
“Where else? The amusement park.”
You’ve never been to an amusement park?
Isn’t that too sad? No matter how commercialized it may be, it’s still a place full of dreams and fun for kids.
“Eh, how can we go when there’s no one to go with-”
“I’ll go with you.”
“With Uncle?”
“Yeah. Let’s go together, just the two of us.”
At my words, Noah fidgeted with his fingers.
“That…then…”
Noah’s violet eyes wavered.
When I stared directly into his eyes, he spoke.
“Are we…on a date?”
Date?
Do modern girls call everything a date if they go out together?
I’m not sure, but if Noah thinks so, then it must be.
“Maybe, something like that?”
“…!”
Noah vigorously nodded at my words.
“Yes! I want to go! Please take me! I want to go!”
“It’s not necessary to get so excited. We’re just going to an amusement park.”
“Oh…right. Sorry. So, when are we going?”
Is he really calm?
Hiss…doesn’t seem like it.
Well, it’s more refreshing for me to see him excited rather than indifferent.
“Next Saturday.”
“Next Saturday…in the morning?”
“Yeah. Let’s meet early and play until late.”
“Okay! Thank you, Uncle!”
When I came to my senses, Noah was hugging me tightly. All I could see was white hair due to how tightly he clung.
Plop plop.
Noah jumped around happily.
Is he really this happy? I’ll have to take him out more often.
“Uncle! What would you like for dinner? I’ll make it for you!”
“Hmm…kimchi stew made by Noah?”
“Yes! Please wait a moment!”
With that, Noah went out happily. Watching him leave, I felt cheerful too.
“Amusement park…”
Speaking of which, I vaguely remember there was an ending related to amusement parks.
“Nah, it couldn’t be.”
Even if Noah lacks amusement fortune, surely it won’t be that extreme. What if an ending-related event happens on the day we plan to go out?
If that happens, I guess I should just accept it as fate.
“…Noah is the protagonist, so maybe she’s destined for it?”
A ominous thought crossed my mind, but I shook it off.
Worry later.
For now, I should look for courses to enjoy with Noah.
So she can fully enjoy that delightful day.
…By the way, Noah didn’t go home until she finished cooking dinner, washing dishes, and doing laundry.
Should I consider signing a labor contract with her as a housekeeper? Her domestic skills were truly impressive.
+++++
“Noah.”
“What’s up~ Tae-hwa Tae-hwa~?”
“Uh…are you okay…?”
“Of course~why wouldn’t I be?”
Noah has been in high spirits lately.
To the point where she felt like flying.
“Are you that excited about going to the amusement park?”
“Of course! How great is it? It’s an amusement park, after all.”
What kind of fantasy does she have about amusement parks?
Though that question rose to the tip of Tae-hwa’s tongue, she didn’t voice it.
She already knew how much Noah was looking forward to it.
Moreover,
“Our Noah is thrilled about the date.”
“It’s not a date!”
“Not a date? Should I teach you how to hold a guy’s hand?”
Every time Noah hears something, she gasps in surprise.
That’s why teasing her is—
“Inadvertently…though I did win, I’ve held Uncle’s hand a few times.”
“…Already?”
“Yeah. Ah! It was purely accidental! Accidental, I swear!”
Tae-hwa felt like her childhood friend had drifted away.
She was climbing the ladder to adulthood before her very eyes.
“…Sigh.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. So, when are you going?”
“This Saturday!”
“This Saturday…?”
Tae-hwa’s face turned serious.
“Noah, didn’t you know?”
“What?”
“We have a group trip this Saturday. For association work.”
“To an amusement park. Oh, the location is the same. But will Uncle be able to join?”
Upon hearing that, Noah was shocked.
What she had been looking forward to wasn’t just the amusement park.
It was the amusement park trip with Uncle.
Besides, wasn’t it her first-ever d…date!
“What should I do…?”
Her first date was about to fall apart.
