## Chapter 220 – Amusement Park
By the way, I’ve never been to an amusement park before.
I’d seen them often in videos, but this was my first time actually going.
“Master! Look at that!”
Noel shouted, her eyes sparkling, as she ran into the amusement park as soon as we got our tickets at the ticket booth.
There was a huge attraction in the place she was pointing at. A roller coaster?
It definitely felt different from seeing it in a video.
Was it the thrill, or was it the grandeur?
“Hurry! They say you have to wait a long time if you’re late!”
“You don’t have to run. We don’t have to wait in line anyway.”
I didn’t want to wait in line, so I bought a super-pass ticket for 100,000 won per person.
Capitalism is so convenient sometimes.
“More than that, you said you wanted to try churros, so let’s buy some on the way.”
“Um… won’t I throw up if I eat and ride?”
“Are you serious?”
Even a D-class hunter is a superhuman who has shed their human skin.
There was no way Noel, who had A-class magic power and physical abilities, would throw up just from eating food and riding a roller coaster.
She’d be fine even if she flew a fighter jet and did aerial acrobatics.
“I’m just kidding. Let’s eat churros later. I’ve already planned out today’s schedule. Master, just follow me.”
I wondered why she was fiddling with her phone all night. Was that why?
“I feel secure.”
“Hehe.”
Noel came to my side and skillfully wrapped her arm around mine. I could feel the soft sensation.
“Okay! Then follow me!”
It looked like I was being dragged rather than following.
But as I looked at the smile spreading across Noel’s face, I couldn’t help but let out a slight chuckle.
Well, I guess it doesn’t matter as long as she’s having fun?
Even on a weekday, the amusement park was crowded. Just for the roller coaster, it seemed like you had to wait at least an hour to ride normally.
But we didn’t have to, so it was convenient.
We boarded the roller coaster through the super-pass-only lane.
“Master, I’m scared.”
As soon as the safety bar came down, Noel grabbed my hand tightly as if she had been waiting for it, and her voice trembled slightly.
It was obvious aegyo, but I couldn’t help but smile.
I’ve learned something in the last few months, and that is that if you’re pretty, you look pretty no matter what you do.
-Ready! Check! Start~ Let’s Go!
-♩♪♬
Thump-
A moment later, the roller coaster started moving to the sound of the employee’s shout and the song.
The roller coaster slowly picked up speed and moved forward, soon reaching the highest point.
-!
Then it rapidly descended.
“Kyaaak!!”
The roller coaster, which fell at an angle close to vertical, quickly entered the next section with acceleration. It was a section that rotated 360 degrees.
My vision changed rapidly, and my body swayed back and forth.
‘…Something’s subtle.’
I heard the roller coaster was around 100 km/h?
It was definitely fast, but it didn’t lead to thrills. I guess it felt that way because even if the roller coaster suddenly derailed and crashed to the ground, I wouldn’t die.
I glanced at Noel.
“Ahaha!”
She was smiling brightly and reaching her hand up, as if she liked the roller coaster. Unaware that her long ears were flying in the wind.
Looking at her, I thought it was a good thing I came to the amusement park.
I probably wouldn’t have come if I was alone.
***
After that, we spent time enjoying various rides such as the Viking, bumper cars, flume ride, merry-go-round, and haunted house.
I was a little taken aback when Noel, surprised in the haunted house, almost punched an employee, but other than that, it was a pretty good day.
After riding the rides like crazy, the sunset had already settled in the amusement park.
I was originally planning to go in early, but Noel said that she had to see the parade no matter what, so we decided to stay until dinner.
“Ah!”
I was watching the people passing by when I heard a scream from the side.
It was Noel, wearing a rabbit headband.
“What’s wrong?”
“I forgot to buy churros!”
Noel, with mustard and ketchup all over her mouth, made a fuss as if the world had collapsed.
I wish she would say that after putting down the hot dog and ice cream in her hands.
I took out a handkerchief and wiped her mouth.
“Woong…”
“Half of it is on your face. I’ll go buy churros, so wait here.”
“Really?”
If I sent her alone, she would probably be on the missing child broadcast soon.
But if I went with her, someone would definitely take our spot. This was the best spot to watch the parade.
“Um, I’ll just go. There’s somewhere I need to stop by for a moment.”
“Huh? No, wait…”
“I’ll be right back!”
Before I could stop her, Noel ran off somewhere.
She even took the hot dog and ice cream with her.
“…She won’t starve wherever she goes.”
I was a little worried, but I decided to believe that she wouldn’t. How old is she?
At best, she’ll just get a little lost and come back.
I leaned back in my chair and picked up the tteokbokki that Noel was eating.
Um, it’s spicier than I thought, but it’s not bad.
I was blankly munching on it when someone sat down on the chair across from me.
“Hello?”
“?”
The woman lowered her sunglasses and greeted me.
She was a blonde, blue-eyed beauty. She didn’t look Western, so was she mixed race?
“…I’m sorry, but I can’t give you my number because I’m here with my girlfriend.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.”
At first, I thought she was a normal person because of her clothes, but the aura that was subtly flowing out of her was unusual.
She was probably a B-class, maybe even an A-class.
“Your number would be nice, but unfortunately, I’m here today to find Hyunwoo for another reason.”
The woman, who was looking at me with a smile that I couldn’t figure out what she was thinking, suddenly handed me a business card.
I couldn’t help but be surprised by the white letters engraved on the black business card.
[Baek Arin, National Intelligence Service, Supernatural Control Bureau]
If the Hunter Association has a Surveillance Division, the National Intelligence Service has a Supernatural Control Bureau.
But unlike the Surveillance Division, whose notoriety is widely known, almost nothing is known about the National Intelligence Service because it is full of secrets that are not disclosed to the public.
At best, it’s an organization that arrests hunters and wizards who have committed crimes.
“What brings you here from the Supernatural Control Bureau? I don’t think I’ve broken any laws.”
“Everyone commits small and big sins while living.”
“Did you come here to talk about philosophy instead of handcuffs?”
“Of course not.”
Click.
When she snapped her fingers, the business card caught fire.
Soon, the business card turned to ashes and flew away in the wind.
“I can’t go around handing out business cards because of my job. I hope you understand?”
“…It was a business card without a phone number, let alone a title or email address, so was it really necessary?”
“Well, it’s a formality. I’ll get disciplined if I get caught.”
“You’re such a civil servant.”
“It’s old-fashioned.”
Baek Arin smiled softly. It was a smile so bright and cheerful that it was hard to believe she was an agent of the National Intelligence Service.
“The reason I came to find Hyunwoo is to make a suggestion and a request.”
“A suggestion and a request?”
“Yes, which one would you like to hear first?”
I pretended to think for a moment to buy some time.
If there was anything that would make the National Intelligence Service come to me, it was only the fact that I dealt with the congressmen, high-ranking officials, and chairmen related to the TaePyung-dong redevelopment project last time.
“Hehe, it’s a simple matter, so you don’t have to be so nervous.”
But if they really knew I was the culprit, they wouldn’t have come with just one person.
They wouldn’t have talked to me in a crowded amusement park either.
“I’ll hear the request first.”
There were two hypotheses I could think of right now.
Either I was on the suspect list for the TaePyung-dong redevelopment case, or they came to me for something unrelated to that.
“You recently had an unpleasant experience at the gate, didn’t you? Can you tell me about the situation at the time?”
Fortunately, it seemed to be the latter.
“…I don’t understand.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve already been investigated by the Association. So, you don’t need to come to me, you can just ask the Association for cooperation, right?”
“…”
For a moment, Baek Arin’s brow furrowed and disappeared.
I don’t know why, but she didn’t seem to like that I mentioned the Association.
“I don’t know the details, but I’ve already received something for that part, so it’s hard for me to tell you.”
I think I know the reason roughly.
Generally, it’s hard to form an equal relationship between friends or even lovers.
There’s no way that two organizations with such powerful power can cooperate and get along well.
The two organizations overlap in some of their duties in that they arrest superhumans who have committed crimes, but the Association is an international organization, while the National Intelligence Service is a national organization.
Their pride wouldn’t allow them to ask for cooperation.
“…That’s too bad.”
Baek Arin smiled bitterly and stepped back.
I was a little surprised that she gave up so easily. I thought she would threaten me.
Then, a question suddenly popped into my head.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes, but you have to ask gently?”
“?”
“I’m just kidding.”
“…Why did you bother to come to me?”
Most wizards don’t have good personalities.
This was a prejudice I had even before I became a wizard, and it was something that many people agreed with.
Just like there are many punks among tattooed people, and there are many ugly people among otaku.
But why would you bother to come to me, a wizard?
“Wouldn’t it be better to ask the other party members?”
“Um, if I had to say, it’s because of the offer I’m going to make in the future.”
Thud.
Another business card was placed on the table.
But it was a business card that looked quite different from the one I received earlier.
“It’s a business card with my contact information.”
“…Did you really come here to ask for my number?”
Baek Arin covered her mouth and smiled softly.
“I’m sorry for making you expect something, but that’s not it. Our offer is for Hyunwoo to become a wizard affiliated with the National Intelligence Service.”
“…Are you serious?”
“Of course. I’m a very busy person, even though I look like this.”
I was speechless for a moment.
Because it was such a good offer?
No, on the contrary, because it was such a surprisingly unappealing offer.
A wizard affiliated with a guild, let alone a wizard affiliated with a specific organization, was basically unable to work in the Magic Tower.
In other words, the fact that I was told to become a wizard affiliated with the National Intelligence Service was the same as telling me to leave the Magic Tower.
“Ah, you don’t have to leave the Magic Tower, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Do you think that’s up to me? If they find out that I’m affiliated with the National Intelligence Service, they’ll try to kick me out of the Magic Tower.”
“Just keep it a secret. We’re good at that kind of thing.”
She was openly telling me to work as a double agent.
It was an offer that didn’t need to be listened to unless I was prepared to be permanently expelled from the magic world.
“I refuse.”
Baek Arin’s eyes widened for a moment at my sharp answer, and then she smiled brightly.
“That’s too bad.”
Yeah, right.
It was the reaction of someone who expected to be rejected.
As the parade time approached, the crowd around us increased, but a strange silence settled between me and her.
We were staring at each other as if we were observing each other when Noel was running from afar. She had a handful of churros in both hands.
Seeing that, Baek Arin smiled softly and gently stroked my leg with her toes. I wondered when she took off her shoes again.
“It’s good to be energetic, but shouldn’t you refrain from doing that outside? Master, do you have that kind of taste?”
“…I’ll take care of it.”
I swallowed a sigh.
I was afraid that a phrase like ‘He has a sexual taste for being called Master’ would be added to my information stored in the National Intelligence Service’s database.
“If I add a condition to the contract that I’ll call you Master…”
“I don’t need it.”
“You’re so cold.”
Baek Arin, who made a disappointed expression for the first time, got up from her seat.
“Wait a minute.”
She stopped walking when she heard my voice.
A smile spread across her pretty face once again. She looked full of mischief.
“If I call you Master from now on…”
“Why did you come here today?”
If she wanted to ask something about the demon worshiper case, it would have been fine even if it wasn’t me.
The offer to become a wizard affiliated with the National Intelligence Service didn’t even present a contract, let alone any merit.
It was neither a serious request nor an offer that anyone could see.
“Um… would you believe me if I said it was because of my personal curiosity about the genius wizard recognized by that witch?”
“No.”
“Hehe, that’s right. In fact, the offer wasn’t something that was agreed upon within the National Intelligence Service, but something I made up impulsively.”
Her blonde hair shone in the sunset.
And the blue eyes hidden between her long eyelashes were strangely different.
“I heard that you were a 2-circle wizard, but when I actually saw you, you looked like an unfortunate wizard who was underestimated. So I threw it out there in case I could steal you away, but I failed.”
I reflexively groped around my neck.
I couldn’t feel the familiar touch of the necklace. I forgot that I wasn’t wearing the Necklace of Concealment.
Fortunately, I was suppressing my magic power as much as possible, so she probably didn’t find out that I was a 4-circle wizard.
“I’ll be waiting for your call? Personal matters are also welcome, so don’t feel pressured.”
Baek Arin made a phone shape with her hand and shook it, then disappeared into the crowd.
She was so good at hiding her energy that I quickly lost her.
“Master?”
I roughly crumpled the business card I received from Baek Arin and put it in my pocket.
“Who was that woman just now?”
“A peddler.”
“Yes? At an amusement park??”
“I guess she’s living that hard.”
Clearly, the public’s evaluation of the National Intelligence Service was that it was an incompetent group itself.
So, I must have been unconsciously ignoring the National Intelligence Service.
‘I have to be careful in the future.’
I don’t know when I’ll be caught as the culprit in the TaePyung-dong redevelopment case.
Of course, such problems will be solved if I become stronger.
If I just reach 6-circle like Grandma Choi Young-ok, the government won’t be able to do anything to me.
“But didn’t you buy too much?”
A small mountain of churros was created on the table.
It looked like there were more than 20 at a glance.
“If you’re going to eat while watching the parade, this much is basic… Huh?! Master, look over there! It looks like the parade is about to start!”
With Noel’s fuss, the first parade in my life began.
In the midst of colorful lights and exciting music, huge character balloons and dancing groups marched and captivated people’s attention.
The parade continued for hours, and the night sky was brilliantly lit with fireworks.
***
Tring-
[Would you like to proceed with matching?]
[Y/N]
[Y]
[Thank you for using this app. Please complete the survey before proceeding with matching.]
[Preferred race]
[Preferred gender]
[Preferred age group]
·
·
·
[Thank you for your cooperation.]
[Matching will begin soon.]
[Please note that matching may take some time.]
[Matching…]
Tring-
[Matching is complete.]
[Moving to DXQ-59 planet.]
