Chapter 20: Ch 20: Blood Bunnies
Any well-known amusement park usually invests in three types of
attractions.
One is a roller coaster, another is a carousel.
And the last, which costs the most due to the heavy use of special effects
and animatronics, is...
’The dark ride.’
An indoor ride where you can explore a meticulously crafted and enormous
set that introduces the theme of the park itself.
In Korea, rides like ’Sinbad’s Adventure’ or ’It’s a Small World’ are well-
known examples.
And in this ’Cheerful Theme Park’ ghost story, that role belongs to this
attraction.
"Fantasy Train!" the researcher spat out in exclamation, frantic. "This is the
one where everyone died! I’m not getting on! I won’t ride it!"
Testimony #4 (Survivor : Park Yae-in)
– All four who boarded the ’Fantasy Train’ went missing.
Later, their clothes and bones were found repurposed into plush dolls
at a souvenir shop. (Presumed deceased)
Yes, that’s what it said.
And in the <Dark Exploration Records> I read, this attraction had indeed
caused numerous casualties...
But that’s not the whole story.
’The fact that there were so many casualties means this attraction appears
quite frequently!’
Like any board game with random elements, the ’Cheerful Theme Park’
ghost story changes its zones and mascot combinations each time you enter.
However, the ’Fantasy Train’ attraction would likely always appear as a
common feature.
Because... its theme was so clear-cut.
"Please look at the description under the sign."
I pointed to the words beneath the <Fantasy Train> sign.
– Meet the residents and stories of each area in Fantasyland! A
delightful train ride!
"It seems like it’s the attraction that introduces this theme park."
This was also the most crucial element for escaping this ghost story.
’How are the zones in this theme park divided, and what colors are used?’
Let’s not forget. This all originates from a board game.
What does it mean to choose a faction in a game?
It means you’re selecting your traits.
’And the fact that the teams were divided by color suggests that advantages
or disadvantages arise based on those colors.’
So, understanding that was the most important thing here...
What color team you belong to, which zone your color represents, and what
unique traits it has.
========================
Cheerful Theme Park User Guide (Applicable up to Exploration
Record #64)
4- Each zone in the theme park is colored according to its theme! The
place where you first open your eyes is the zone your team belongs to!
Respect the zone. The zone is more important than anything. Look at
the colors, don’t upset the mascots, the mascots are everything in the
zone.
========================
However, to persuade those who don’t yet understand this, I needed a
different kind of logic.
’Work, brain, work.’
The first target... as expected, was the top superior.
"Hmm. But everyone who got on it died, didn’t they?"
Assistant Manager Jin from A-squad, wearing the butterfly mask.
To win over this elitist, self-important person... right, flattery would do the
trick.
"They were civilians, weren’t they?"
"Hmm?"
I deliberately adjusted my tone to sound slightly confused.
"They approached it without any awareness, riding it like any other
amusement park ride. The chances they properly responded to a
supernatural situation were low."
"And so?"
"Comparing them to the professional Field Exploration Team, who clears
Darkness with a purpose... well."
I furrowed my brow slightly.
"It seems a bit harsh on the civilians."
"...Hah."
The A-squad superior snorted.
"Smooth talker, aren’t you? ...Well, you’re not wrong."
"N-No, we can’t, absolutely not...!"
"Hey."
The A-squad superior grabbed the researcher by the head.
"...!"
Sharp fingernails pressed against his temple.
"Do you think you have the right to speak?"
"..."
"Do you want to die here and become trash that doesn’t even make it as a
souvenir, or do you want to get on that thing?"
The researcher went silent again. No need for a bully here...
"Move."
"..."
The researcher, looking like death, started dragging his feet toward the
Fantasy Train.
’Two birds with one stone...’
It was a success.
Now, there was only one person left.
The Y-squad newbie, Jang Heo-un.
As I followed the sign to the ’Fantasy Train,’ I subtly slowed my pace to
walk alongside the new employee and whispered to him.
"Don’t worry."
"Yes...?"
"What I said just now was just to convince that person... actually, I’m
going because I thought of a different trick."
"A trick...?"
"Consider it insider knowledge."
I smiled slightly.
"I used to work part-time at a theme park."
"Oh!"
Sorry, that’s a lie...
But in this harsh environment that’s so unfriendly to cowards, isn’t it fine as
long as we survive, no matter what it takes?
Trust me, you’ll end up saying, ’Wow! Thanks for lying, colleague!’ too.
"I-I see. In that case..."
"Yes. It should be relatively safe."
Just take my word for it.
Anyway, as we followed the sign, the boarding entrance for the ’Fantasy
Train’ soon appeared.
It was a model station with an elegant sign, decorated with intricate,
realistic steam engine parts and brick patterns... but.
"No one’s here."
"..."
Inside, it was eerily empty.
No one was there.
– Haha, enjoy a wonderful train ride! Haha, enjoy a wonderful train ride!
Haha, enjoy a wonderful train ride...
The cheerful amusement park music mingled with an odd sense of unease.
What I could see was a train waiting beyond the queue.
And in front of it, a rabbit mascot dressed as a conductor.
"Another mascot, huh."
"Is that the staff for this attraction?"
That was correct.
As we quickly passed through the empty queue, the conductor mascot with
hollow eyes reached out a gloved hand and stamped our wristbands.
[(Cheerful) Fantasyland Admission Ticket ■□□]
So that’s one.
Next, we were guided to board a small train that looked like a colorful,
fairytale steam locomotive.
The mascot then returned to its position and began waving both hands.
It seemed to mean something like, "Have a pleasant ride!"
Since nothing unusual had happened so far, the researcher and the Y-squad
newbie seemed somewhat relieved without realizing it.
Unfortunately, I was about to do the unusual thing now.
’The only place it could be... hmm. It must be over there.’
After checking my surroundings, I fixed my gaze on the mascot.
Then I spoke.
"Assistant Manager Jin."
"What?"
"See where that mascot is standing, playing the staff role? You can see the
platform there."
I pointed to a sort of mock ticket booth table right in front of the conductor
rabbit.
"Could you, with your specialized equipment, quietly turn that platform
slightly toward us? Without damaging it, and quietly."
"Why?"
"There’s something behind it."
The A-squad assistant manager gave me a somewhat puzzled look, but soon
pulled out her fake fingernail.
Quickly and quietly.
Tick.
Scrape, scrape...
The retro teal platform shifted, the fake fingernail thrown onto the edge
making a faint scraping sound as it turned.
As it rotated halfway, instead of the expected wooden finish, there were
buttons and circuits visible.
An emergency control panel for the attraction.
"...!"
Found it.
The control panel!
’I definitely read about this in the <Dark Exploration Records>.’
There was a scene describing how these theme park rides had control
devices implemented as if they were real!
========================
Right after boarding an attraction named ’Tomato Express’, shaped
like a basket, a label was found inside saying <Smash Against the Metal
Plate for Fun!>.
Immediate search for the emergency stop button.
Found successfully at the attraction’s starting point. However, all attempts
to press the button failed. (Executor : Assistant Manager Lee Jiwon /
Number of Attempts : 6)
All participants perished.
========================
Even though it failed that time.
’I can do it this time.’
I quickly flipped a coin, summoning a translucent glove, tossed a 500-won
coin, and gestured to merge them.
’Five seconds will be enough.’
My hand floating in mid-air moved toward the back of the partially exposed
platform.
The target... a lever.
MIN MAX
∥ ----------------- ∥
▲ .
"Hold on a moment, Soleum-ssi. What is that? That label..."
"Hold on tight."
"Excuse me? Hold... what?"
"Grab onto the train seat handle—"
My hand pulled the lever all the way down.
"And hold on tight."
MIN MAX
∥ ----------------- ∥
. ▲
At that moment, the train shot forward at a crazy speed.
Screeeeech!!
– The Fantasy Train is departing!
"Ugh!"
"What the hell?!"
Clutching the train seat handle tightly, I shouted back.
"I pulled the speed lever! To maximum speed!"
"Why the hell would you do that, you crazy idiot!"
Because I have a plan.
"If we rush through, it won’t have time to mess with the train!"
"...!"
It’s all about skipping the events.
’A dark ride usually moves slowly, letting you see and experience the
decorated interior.’
But if you speed through it like a maniac?
’You’ll skip over everything!’
The interior decorations, the effects...
And even the life-threatening dangers that come with them!
In the <Dark Exploration Records> I read, there was a case where they used
it to slow down a roller coaster, but the key point was the ability to control
speed!
I figured there was a high chance it would work here, too.
’Good!’
It’s a success!
However... the next step is the problem.
I glanced outside.
Screeeeech!
I could feel the wind pressure.
It was almost as fast as a roller coaster.
This was clearly a speed meant only for safety checks.
...Meaning, it wasn’t designed for actual operation.
’...If someone gets scared and faints, they might get thrown off the train.’
In that case, it would mean certain death.
You could call that the side effect of this runaway train ride.
For a coward like me, it was a fatal flaw...
’But there’s a backup plan!’
Afraid you might faint?
Just don’t look!
[Dear passengers, welcome to beautiful Fantasyland!]
As the narration began, I shouted,
"I’m closing my eyes!"
"What?!"
I shut my eyes tightly, acting crazy.
"This narration seems important, so I’m going to focus on it as much as I
can!"
"...!"
"If you feel like you’re about to die let me know!"
"This guy is totally insane, huh?! Haha, fine!"
Just as the A-squad assistant manager’s laughter was trailing off, the
narration whizzed past my ears.
[How did this Fantasyland come to be?]
[A long, long time ago, 403930291928494 hours ago, a yellow flower, a
blue dragon, and a red rabbit lived together on this land.]
[This wonderful place, right here!]
"T-That strange flower... the flower is calling to me..."
"Duck down!"
[But they were too different!]
[’You’re too noisy!’]
[’You’re too dirty!’]
[’You’re too boring!’]
[In the end, they couldn’t accept each other and began to fight. This is my
land!]
"Ahh! Snake, snake monsters, there are monsters slithering on the ground!
Eek! They tried to cling to the train... but got left behind..."
"Gaah—!"
[The yellow flower said,]
[’I hate you! Get out of here!’]
The attraction passed by in an instant.
The train sped through, and the ride time was fast-forwarded as if on double
speed.
[The blue dragon spoke.]
[’I hate you! Get lost!’]
’Looks like it’s near the end of the fight...’
Now, for the final part.
’This was described a few times before, too.’
Those mascots ultimately just want to live their lives as they wish.
So, they each divided Fantasyland into zones based on their colors and
peacefully lived how they wanted to...
[The red rabbit spoke.]
[Die.]
...
Well.
[The red rabbit decided to eliminate his friends by any means necessary.
No, they weren’t friends anymore. Enemies! Enemies! Enemies!]
[One by one, one by one, one by one! Dropping them into pits, drowning
them in water, pushing them off cliffs!]
[Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die!
Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die!
Die! Die! Die! Die!]
Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die
Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die
Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die
Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die
Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die
Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die Die
The narration cut off.
And then it suddenly started again.
A strangely cheerful voice.
[The red rabbit won!]
The voice crackled.
[The one who rules this land is only the red rabbit, Magic Bunny.]
[Magic Bunny is the dream, the fantasy, the rule, and only his ideology is
worth enjoying.]
Silence.
The passengers, who had been making a racket as if they had seen all sorts
of horrors, now only let out heavy, ragged breaths.
The sound of terrified panting.
And then.
...The train was slowing down.
I swallowed hard.
’...It’s the end of the line.’
No matter how fast a ride is, it always slows down when it ends.
[Magic Bunny’s Fantasyland]
The back of my neck was wet with cold sweat.
A sense of foreboding was creeping in.
I finally lifted my head.
[The Great Magic Bunny!]
A giant rabbit mascot’s head appeared right in front of us.
Its bright red eyes spun wildly, and its mouth opened wide, revealing rows
of jagged, hideous teeth that jutted forward.
[Become a part of the Great Magic Bunny!]
A scenario I’d never seen before.
[Die]
The air was filled with a disorienting noise.
Red rabbits were pressing their heads against the windows from all
directions, looking like their mascot suits were about to burst, staring at us
intensely.
[Die]
I almost fainted.
"Haaaah... haaaaaah...!!"
"D-D-Die..."
The giggling narration went berserk. Red lights flashed, blinking
throughout the train, and panicked mutterings filled the air, making it hard
to think clearly.
The voice pierced through.
"Ah. I get it now."
"...What?"
"It’s like an initiation ceremony for new employees, huh? Making them kill
each other... Classic."
What is she even talking about?
"You saw it just now, right? The rabbit killed all its friends. Oh, you had
your eyes closed, so you missed it. But you heard the narration, didn’t
you?"
It was the calm voice of the A-squad employee.
When I turned my head, I saw the butterfly-masked employee looking at the
rabbits on the windows, as if this was an everyday occurrence.
"So, who should we kill?"
"What..."
"Shh."
The eyes beneath the butterfly mask turned sinister.
A gaze that assessed value.
"Hmm."
Y-squad.
The researcher.
Me.
Y-squad.
The researcher.
Y-squad.
The researcher.
The researcher.
Y-squad...
"You."
Singled out.
The Y-squad newbie’s jaw turned pale blue for a moment.
The A-squad assistant manager’s finger pointed.
"Grab that guy in the white coat."
The researcher.
"...!"
A death sentence.
"Uh, uh..."
Snap.
The Y-squad newbie, with a stiff, unnatural motion, grabbed the
researcher’s limbs and restrained him.
"W-What are you, what... wait, wait a second."
"Cover his mouth. Oh, and keep yours shut, too."
"Mmmph!"
"Ah... do we have to kill one each, directly? Hey, top recruit."
I reflexively looked at her.
"Why don’t you kill this one? I’d like to observe."
"Mmm! Mmmmmm! Mmm!"
"Don’t use your specialized equipment, do it yourself... Ah, right. Earlier,
that rabbit threw the dragon off the cliff, right? Try tossing him out of the
train. Let’s see if that counts, too."
Me?
"Go on."
I slowly turned my head and glanced out the window, then quickly snapped
it back.
’The mascots are crying blood...!’
Look at them, stuck all over the windows.
There’s no way in hell I’m opening that train window. If I did, I’d collapse
and become a screaming mess.
Besides, what... you want me to kill someone as casually as eating instant
noodles?
No, no. Putting that aside...
’...This is a death route!’
I realized it now, after another irregular event threw everything into chaos
and scared the wits out of us, but it was clear.
’If we comply with the mascot, we’re all dead!’
This... if we go down that path, we’ll all be killed!
But how do I convince her?
If I say, ’I’ve seen over 70 exploration records from the future,’ she’d
probably decapitate me on the spot.
’So, so...’
To hell with it!
"Wait a moment!"
"What?"
"This is a trap."
I decided to lie my way out.
I started spouting a lie without even a drop of hesitation!