City of Witches

Chapter 458: Trip (7)

0% 1.

One more time.

Siwoo, again.

I think I’m starting to get it.

Siwoo, just one more? This is the last time...

The carousel wasn’t exactly the most exciting ride.

For couples, it was a romantic setting for a date; for children, it was a fueling station for their innocence; for parents, a safe, easy option to enjoy the ride with their kids.

Amelia too, seemed to really like this carousel.

After every ride, she would head straight back to the end of the line with Siwoo.

Before long, she had ridden it five times in a row.

At first, she clung tightly to the pole, her posture awkward and hunched like a shrimp. By the last ride, however, she was sitting tall and proud, exuding an elegant confidence, as if she were a seasoned equestrian.

When the ride ended, she calmly dusted off her dress and stood beside Siwoo, as if nothing had happened.

“It’s nothing special.”

Amelia said in a detached tone, as if she hadn’t just asked to ride the things five times.

If not for her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes, he would’ve fallen for it and believed that she didn’t enjoy the ride at all.

But, it was clear that she was excited, and that she liked it, maybe a little too much.

“I think I understand why people in the modern world enjoy thrill rides.”

“Well, they’ve been popular for ages.”

“I think I can overcome other things too.”

Amelia declared, clenching her fist with newfound confidence.

Siwoo pondered whether there was really a need to conquer amusement park rides, but, since he found her enthusiasm cute, he decided to just let it slide.

“Alright then, shall we try another? I’ll be your guide.”

Amelia paused, staring at his outstretched hand before her lips curled into a soft smile.

Like a lady accepting a gentleman’s dance invitation, she gently placed her hand in his.

“Lead the way.”

Holding hands affectionately, the two began to stroll through the amusement park.

With that, the pair’s wild conquest of amusement park rides began.

And soon, Amelia realized.

That the carousel really was the most basic of the basics.

Later...

“A-Are you okay?”

“...”

Amelia, who had boldly set out to conquer every ride.

Now was sitting on a bench, her face pale and dazed.

The second ride she chose, despite Siwoo’s several attempts to dissuade her, was the indoor roller coaster that twisted and turned through narrow spaces.

Amelia lined up to board with a determined look, unaware of the price she’d have to pay for her stubbornness.

The fact that the roller coaster was installed in a narrow indoor space, rather than an open space, was a factor that contributed to its enduring popularity.

But...

It was because of that it left a really bad impact on Amelia’s heart.

By the time Amelia, who had boarded the ride without a second thought, had returned to solid ground, she looked so exhausted that everything around her seemed to be in grayscale.

Siwoo, who had gotten a can of soda from a nearby vending machine, opened it and handed it to her, and she barely managed to take a sip.

Was she really that scared?

In Siwoo’s eyes, everything was just as expected.

For someone like him who had experienced countless experiences similar to those rides, whose abilities far surpassed human limits, the roller coaster was just a little more than a casual thrill, just like riding a bicycle.

Given that Amelia was a witch with combat experience, he’d assumed she would handle it fine, so he had even stopped himself from discouraging her too much.

“Was it really that bad?”

Siwoo approached her, and in that instant, Amelia grabbed his arm and sleeve.

She looked like a frightened puppy seeking shelter in its mother’s embrace during a thunderstorm.

“I-I didn’t...think it would spin like that! Shouldn’t it...not spin? It’s a metal thing! I-Isn’t that dangerous?”

Ah, that part.

Hearing that, Siwoo immediately understood.

The infamous 360-degree loop, the highlight of a roller coaster ride.

But this ride in particular had one additional feature that capitalized on its indoor location.

There was a bridge-like passageway running through the center of the rail that rotated 360 degrees.

Even Siwoo had felt a twinge of unease when they went through that part, so he could totally understand why Amelia was scared out of her wits.

“Shall we call it a day?”

In any case, the battle between the roller coaster and Amelia had ended in Amelia’s defeat, and he wondered if it was worth dragging her around in that state.

She looked drained, and unlike the twins, she wasn’t the type brimming with endless energy to begin with.

At that moment, Amelia stood up abruptly and shook her head.

“I’m not done yet.”

“So, another round?”

“No way!”

A quick, yet understandable refusal.

Thankfully, she didn’t have the heart of Don Quixote, she wasn’t determined to keep challenging the roller coaster.

Amelia shuffled closer and gently took Siwoo’s hand.

“I want to look around a bit more...”

Then, in a whisper so faint it was barely audible, she added, ‘...with you’.

2.

After that harrowing experience, Amelia avoided the rides entirely, focusing on exploring the amusement park instead.

“It tastes like cotton.”

“That’s why it’s called cotton candy.”

“Mmm... But it tastes like sugar.”

“Yeah, they made it by spinning sugar around.”

“It’s nice, but... It makes my hands sticky.”

“Yeah, that’s one bad thing about it.”

Siwoo introduced her to what seemed like a groundbreaking dessert (in Amelia’s eyes), cotton candy.

Normally, he wouldn’t even glance at it. After all, it wasn’t particularly tasty, and as Amelia noted, it made your hands sticky

Yet somehow, it was a staple for couples at amusement parks and zoos.

Even Siwoo found himself drawn to it this time.

Is this some kind of cultural brainwashing?

“What’s this...?”

“It’s a sticker photo booth. You can take pictures and edit or decorate them right away.”

“Your eyes look bigger, Siwoo.”

“Hmmm... Guess the filters are too much on this one.”

They stepped into a sticker booth and took a couple’s photo.

This was actually the first time he had ever entered a photo booth, so he didn’t know that the filters were so thick that it turned Amelia’s already large eyes into almost doll-like.

“Isn’t this more of a kid’s thing?”

“Look over there, everyone’s doing it.”

“Still...”

“Come on, just give it a try. You’ll look great.”

“Just for today...”

They stopped by a souvenir shop and bought some cheap plastic headbands.

Siwoo got one with a bear on top, while Amelia chose one with two hearts sticking out like ears.

At first, Amelia declined out of embarrassment but eventually gave in to Siwoo’s persistence and awkwardly put it on.

Looking back, they really could’ve planned it better.

They should’ve bought the headbands before hitting the photo booth.

Regardless, Amelia, who normally wouldn’t wear such things, looked surprisingly good in it.

After that, they wandered around aimlessly, enjoying the sights, and before they knew it, closing time was near.

Siwoo pointed to a ride that circled the ceiling, lights twinkling around it.

“Ms. Amelia, what do you think about that one?”

Amelia, who had been enjoying the moment, holding Siwoo’s hand tightly, turned around. Almost immediately, her expression stiffened.

“I-I think... I’m done exploring the thrills of the modern world.”

From the looks of it, the roller coaster had left her with a significant trauma about rides.

But, Siwoo knew that. That was why he picked an attraction that didn’t rely on speed and thrills to enjoy with her.

“It’s fine, it won’t be scary.”

“...Really?”

Amelia asked, gripping his hand even tighter.

She looked like a child putting all her trust in her parents.

Although, her delicate heart probably wasn’t much different from that of a little girl.

“Of course.”

“Then I’ll get on.”

“You won’t regret it”

Their final stop was a hot air balloon gently floating near the dome ceiling.

It was called a hot air balloon, but it was more like a cable car suspended by steel wires along a ceiling track.

It was like a horizontal Ferris wheel.

The best ride to leisurely overlook the vast indoor amusement park.

With no one else in line, Amelia and Siwoo had the ride to themselves.

There was a brief jolt as the crane pulled the balloon upward.

When Amelia flinched at the ride’s vibrations, Siwoo instinctively wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“Ah...”

When the balloon finally hung high above the ground.

Even Amelia, who thought she wouldn’t be easily impressed, let out a soft gasp of awe.

Siwoo was just as surprised.

He had thought that seeing the night view from a high place would make the amusement park look prettier, just like how night views are more beautiful from a high place.

But he hadn’t expected it to be this stunning.

With the sun fully set, the amusement park lit up like a new season, dazzling with vibrant lights.

The dreamy neon signs along the roller coaster tracks...

And the carousel Amelia had enjoyed most sparkled like a jewel-encrusted music box, while the leftover Christmas tree lights twinkled in colorful patterns.

Through the open central space, they could see the ice rink and people skating joyfully.

The theme of this amusement park was a fantasy world.

For Amelia, a former resident of an actual fantasy world, this theme park might not be perfect.

The cliffs decorating the opposite wall were merely spray-painted styrofoam, and the pointed-roofed castles and houses looked a bit awkward if you looked closely.

However, Amelia didn’t bat an eye, taking in every detail as if she wanted to engrave all the scenes in her heart.

The shimmering lights reflected off the side of her face as she stared out, as if she were dreaming.

Her grip on his hand became tighter, as if it was a silent declaration that she’d treasure this moment forever.

The two sat in silence for a long time.