Chapter 4: The Young Ladies Gather at Tropical Land

Tropical Land opened its gates at 9 a.m.

On weekends, the park was already bustling, with many people lined up outside to buy tickets.

[Dear guests, thank you for your patience. The park is now open. Please queue up in an orderly manner to enter.]

As the announcement played, the waiting crowd surged into the amusement park, filling it with life and energy.

Most attractions and facilities in the park were already prepared to welcome the influx of visitors, ensuring everything ran smoothly even with the sudden rush of people.

However, the food and beverage stalls weren't as popular right away.

Since amusement park food was relatively expensive and most people had eaten breakfast before arriving, the food stalls typically didn't see much business until about an hour after the park opened.

Meanwhile, staff members dressed in mascot costumes began appearing throughout the park, handing out flyers and interacting with guests.

Naturally, Ren was among them.

"Excuse me, could I have a balloon, please?"

Hearing the soft voice behind him, Ren quickly turned around, picked up a balloon from the stack beside him, and handed it to the source of the voice.

Through the limited field of vision in his mascot costume, he saw a young girl wearing a dark purple kimono.

Her hair was styled in an elegant purple princess cut, and her voice was soft and sweet, carrying a refined tone that hinted at her noble upbringing.

Even though her kimono was simple in design, it was clear from the fabric and craftsmanship that it was expensive.

"Thank you."

The little girl thanked him politely, instantly earning Ren's favor.

Polite children were endearing no matter the circumstances.

As the girl turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd, Ren returned to his work.

The purple-haired girl didn't go far, however. She was escorted by a group of attendants to a large, secluded work van parked within the park.

"Miss Isumi, please step inside."

"Yes."

The little girl entered the van, her face lighting up with a bright smile as she spotted her friend inside.

"Nagi-chan!"

"You're here, Isumi."

Nagi beamed as she greeted her friend, taking her hand and leading her to sit on the plush sofa at the back of the van.

"Well, Isumi, what do you think? Doesn't that man seem a little unusual?"

"Yes, he does seem a bit strange."

Saginomiya Isumi recalled the encounter and nodded thoughtfully.

The man seemed lifeless, yet he didn't exude the aura of someone destined for death. What's more, there were three spirits lingering around him, but none of them seemed intent on harming him. It was a bizarre situation.

Still, Isumi couldn't help but feel puzzled.

"How did you come to know this man, Nagi-chan?"

"Hee hee~"

Nagi chuckled and held up the diary that only she could see.

"It's because I have this diary. It contains the thoughts and writings of that man."

Hearing this, a flash of curiosity crossed Isumi's eyes. She concentrated her spiritual power, attempting to discern the nature of the diary.

However, despite her efforts, the diary remained invisible to her.

"So, this time, it's something beyond my abilities…"

Unlike Maria, Isumi had no reason to doubt Nagi's words. She trusted her friend implicitly and was certain that the diary was real, even if she couldn't see it herself.

Combining the strange situation surrounding the man with Nagi's diary, Isumi concluded that there was indeed some sort of connection between Nagi and the man.

Otherwise, how could Nagi know so much about him?

With this thought, Isumi settled herself more comfortably beside Nagi.

"So, Nagi-chan, your plan is to observe this man's actions today and compare them with the contents of his diary to see if there are any inconsistencies?"

Nagi's face lit up with delight.

"Exactly!"

"He mentioned two names in his diary, Shido Masayoshi and Akechi Goro. He wrote that he's already confirmed these two people don't exist in this world."

"He also claimed that our world is just a story, though he provided explanations about the reality of this world as well."

"I see. So that's why you're so interested in him."

Isumi nodded in understanding. She wasn't entirely sure about the authenticity of the diary's contents, but it was clear that Nagi found the topic fascinating.

Her gaze returned to the monitor displaying the man in the mascot costume.

"Well, it seems you've found the right person this time, Nagi-chan. There's definitely something unusual about him."

"So, are you planning to just sit here and watch him all day?"

"Of course not."

Nagi waved her hand dismissively, a bored expression crossing her face.

"Isumi, you, Maria, and I are going to explore the amusement park instead. We'll leave the monitoring to Klaus."

"???"

Klaus, who had been silently standing behind them, had a look of confusion on his face.

"Miss, but your safety and Miss Isumi's…"

"That's what Maria is for! Don't worry, Maria is far more capable than you think. I wouldn't be surprised if she knew some kind of assassination techniques. Ordinary people wouldn't stand a chance against her."

Maria, who had just been burdened with such high expectations, felt her blood pressure rise.

Why on earth would an ordinary maid like her know assassination techniques?

Still, knowing Nagi's personality, Maria chose not to argue. Instead, she gave the nearby bodyguards a meaningful glance, silently instructing them to keep a close eye on the girls.

The bodyguards, experienced and professional, quickly understood Maria's intentions.

---

While Nagi and Isumi were busy planning their day, two other young ladies arrived at the entrance of Tropical Land.

As the car doors opened, the two girls stepped out simultaneously.

Their gazes met, and surprise flashed across their faces. Neither had expected to see the other here.

"Long time no see, Miss Suzuki."

The black-haired girl, her expression icy and reserved, spoke first. Her words were polite, but her tone was distant.

"And you, Miss Ice Queen. What are you doing at an amusement park? I didn't think you had a playful side."

The brown-haired girl regarded her counterpart with a mix of helplessness and disdain.

To be honest, this was the last person she wanted to encounter.

Whenever she spoke to this girl, it felt like talking to a frozen doll, her face devoid of any emotion.