Chapter 16
***
Hong Siyeon contacted me a few hours after I sent Han Yuna away.
-I'm here!
"Oh. You must've had a rough trip. Did the business trip go well?"
-Yes. Oh, I also bought you a gift, sir...
"Thank you. But, um..."
-Yes?
"I've been wanting to say this for a while, but being called 'teacher' is a bit of a burden."
My inner Confucian dragon is older than I am.
And what am I supposed to do if I refuse to be called teacher by someone who's, nominally at least, my employer?
-Ah... Then I'll call you Noa-ssi from now on.
Hong Siyeon said in her trademark cheerful tone.
I'm glad she's someone easy to talk to.
"But a gift?"
-It's a suit that would suit Noa-ssi well! You'll be meeting lots of people from now on, so wear it then.
"Oh. Thank you."
I already got a gift from Han Yuna too, but more clothes are always good.
-So, um. Are you free this Sunday?
Sunday?
I don't have anything planned besides the broadcast.
-Then would you mind keeping some time open on Sunday?
"What are you planning?"
-There's somewhere I'd like to go with you.
If that's the case, what can I say?
I didn't have any particularly burdensome plans, so I decided to accept it.
And so, Sunday.
After making plans to hang out with Han Yuna next week, Thursday.
The day the raid reset, when we were supposed to do our first raid together, Hong Siyeon's car stopped in front of me.
"Get in~!"
"Yep."
After I got into the passenger seat, she started driving leisurely.
But where are we going?
"Where are we headed?"
"Secret~!"
I considered looking into the past and future, but I'd find out eventually anyway.
I decided to just accept it.
"Try some of these. I bought them on my business trip and they were delicious."
"Isn't it a little weird to eat crumbly snacks like this in a car?"
"We can just have it washed~."
If the owner says so, what can I say?
I picked up a small cookie sitting beside the passenger seat.
Is this Nune Tine?
"They're sfogliatine glassate. In Korea they're better known as Nune Tine, right?"
"Did it have such a long name?"
"Ahaha. That's its foreign name. It's an Italian pastry originally."
"Weren't you on a business trip to China?"
"It was made by a master invited from China. Go ahead and try it."
The car came to a stop at a red light.
I took a bite of the sfogliatine glassate... Nune Tine from the container.
"Wow..."
"It's tasty, right? It's tasty, right?"
It's about twice as tasty as regular Nune Tine.
"Yes. It's really delicious."
"Ehehe~. I thought you'd like it. I bought plenty of these too, so I'll pack some for you when I drop you off at your place later."
I'm grateful, that's for sure.
Then the light changes.
"Let's share some. Here."
I held out the snack.
Hong Siyeon looked momentarily flustered.
Then she opened her mouth.
No, I just meant you should take it with your hand.
Back when I was at the orphanage, the director could take it with one hand just fine, so when I offered it...
"...It's delicious. As expected."
Having taken the snack I handed her, Hong Siyeon gave a bright, charming smile.
What a beautiful person.
That red hair suits her so well too.
"This business trip~."
After taking a bite of the snack, she began telling her story.
It's fun to listen to.
"So. So."
After talking for a long while, instead of continuing, she opened her mouth.
What is it?
"Aah~."
And she made a whiny sound.
Ah, she wants me to feed her the snack.
After I popped the snack into her mouth, she chewed it up and continued talking as if nothing had happened.
"That nasty public security officer slipping and sliding all over the floor... Ahahaha!"
"Haha. Well, that must've been satisfying."
Hong Siyeon, who had been vividly recounting how the public security officer who picked a fight because he wasn't bribed had been acting all pompous before slipping and falling flat on the floor, opened her mouth again.
When I put the snack in, she shook her head.
"Aww, not snacks."
"Then what?"
"Should we buy coffee over there too?"
"Sure."
There's a takeout café right by the road.
There, we ordered a sweet café latte and an iced Americano for Hong Siyeon.
"Then let's go!!"
"Wouldn't it be better to rest here a bit before going?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, weren't you thirsty?"
"Hmm... I guess so."
She bent slightly at the waist, looked up at me, and smiled mischievously.
"If we eat and drink in the car, Noa-ssi will keep feeding me~!"
I couldn't possibly ignore that mischievous smile.
.
.
.
After chatting like that, and feeding snacks and coffee to her as if she were a baby bird opening its mouth for its mother, we arrived in Gwacheon.
Our destination was...
"Ta-da~! Welcome to the land of dreams and hope~!"
It was Notte World.
Why are we suddenly at Notte World...?
"I wanted to go to an amusement park."
"Ah..."
"Actually, the person who wanted to meet Noa-ssi today is the one in charge of this Notte World."
The one in charge of Notte World?
The person Hong Siyeon is introducing me to can't be just some manager...
"Are you the president of Notte World?"
"Yes."
She walked lightly.
A red-haired beauty entering the land of dreams and hope.
People around stared, but she didn't pay them any mind.
"That person said they really wanted to meet Noa-ssi."
"Hmm..."
"Oh. Did you perhaps not like that?"
"No, not that. I was just curious why someone like that would want to meet me."
"Who knows? Maybe they want to talk about something related to operating Notte World?"
She tilted her head nonchalantly.
For some reason even that gesture seemed calculated, but when a beauty does it, it's just cute.
"Anyway, let's have fun! We got free passes too!"
"Yes. Let's."
In truth, I'd never been to an amusement park like Notte World before.
It wasn't just because the orphanage director was stingy.
We simply never had the time to come.
"Mmm~ an amusement park on a Sunday afternoon~. I always think this, but there are so many people."
"What can you do."
"But we have passes!"
She thrust out the pass strapped to her wrist, and the first place we went was the Viking.
"Have you ever ridden the Viking?"
"Not this one... but I rode one in Wolmido once."
I went on one with the older boys once.
Back then, I saw my life flash before my eyes.
"Ahaha! This one will be on a whole different level from the Wolmido Viking!"
"Is that so? Well, a conglomerate's Viking probably is different."
"Then let's go! Today's goal! Ride every attraction here!"
That sounds rough.
.
.
.
"Aah~! That was fun! How was it, Noa-ssi?"
"A conglomerate's Viking really is different."
Especially in that the safety bar doesn't shake.
Thinking about how the safety bar shook when I rode the Wolmido Viking still gives me the creeps.
"Right?! Then next we have~!"
Hong Siyeon was excited.
She even grabbed my arm tightly and led me toward the rides she'd wanted to try.
Maybe I should bring Han Yuna here later?
She'd probably like it.
"...Noa-ssi?"
Hong Siyeon's eyes narrowed as she was leading me.
"Yes?"
"Are you thinking about another woman right now by any chance?"
...For some reason, it feels like I'm not the only one who can see other people's pasts and futures.
Anyway, I had a good time.
We really rode every attraction here and even watched the parade.
"Phew~! That was fun~!"
"Yeah. I didn't think we'd manage to ride them all. Do you come to amusement parks often, Siyeon-ssi?"
"Me? Not really. And these days it's Neverland rather than Notte World."
She sure says that after having so much fun.
But I'm curious about Neverland too.
Just how fun is it, anyway?
"It's about time for our appointment, shall we go?"
I left Notte World with Hong Siyeon.
The place we arrived at after she called someone was Notte Tower.
We were led there by someone who looked like an employee.
When we reached the office of the executive director of the Notte Group and president of Notte World, a man who had been waiting came out.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Gu Gwan-shin."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kang Noa."
"Wow. It was hard to believe when I heard what President Hong said, but you're really young."
"Haha. I just turned twenty."
"Anyway... I know you're an incredibly remarkable person."
"Huh? How did you..."
"I saw the broadcast too."
"Ah. The broadcast."
"Then it can't be helped."
Gu Gwan-shin, who seemed to have no doubt about me whatsoever, let out a small sigh.
"I'll speak frankly."
He looked at me with serious eyes.
"Can our Notte World beat Neverland?"
In terms of splendor, Neverland.
In terms of thrills, Gyeongju World.
The only consolation is that we're better than Seoul Land.
Notte World was currently being outclassed by the two competitors in many areas.
Breaking that situation was Gu Gwan-shin's goal.
"I think there may be some misunderstanding... I'm not really a consultant or anything like that."
I just see the future, that's all.
Before I could say more, I held out the card and he carefully turned it over.
"I understand you're worried about the roller coaster that's scheduled to open soon."
Interest filled his eyes.
"Its name is... Dragon Rider Evolution, right?"
"Huh. I didn't expect you to get even that..."
Dragon Rider Evolution.
It's the roller coaster Notte World is currently ambitiously planning and preparing.
It was inspired by The Flying Dinosaur, an attraction at Universal Studios Osaka.
A roller coaster that moves as if the riders are hanging from it.
They introduced a roller coaster with a similar design.
And then it opened.
At first, it did very well.
"It will be a big hit at first."
The first month after its introduction.
"Yes. During that month, Notte World's attendance will beat Neverland's."
"......."
Gu Gwan-shin's expression brightened.
Anyone would be pleased to hear that their desired goal would be achieved.
But I had no choice but to pour cold water on that face.
"But the problem will explode six months later."
"...Pardon? A problem?"
"An accident happens."
His smile stiffened.
Because there are so many people who want to ride it, they end up cutting corners on maintenance and letting it slide.
I can see the future.
His face trembling like a poplar leaf.
And the accident report in his hand.
The report's contents were simple.
Poor maintenance.
It was the worst possible move to let it slide because it was so popular, thinking, 'It's a little worrying, but let's just overlook it.'
"The roller coaster gets launched. At maximum speed, at the highest point."
"Wh-what... do you mean...?"
He asked with a face that said he couldn't believe it.
"Do you happen to know RollerCoaster Tycoon? It's a game about running amusement parks."
Just like that scene an older boy at the orphanage once showed me while snickering.
Due to a device malfunction, the suspended roller coaster flies into the sky.
If it's a game, you can just laugh it off.
But reality is different.
"All riders die. And many of the people underneath are killed or injured too. As a result..."
I looked straight at his face and said.
"Notte World will close down."
Along with his dreams and hopes.