Licking.

Sitting on the roof of the food court, I slowly licked and melted the ice cream.

From this high vantage point, the view was spectacular.

A wave of gold.

A tidal wave of Golden Reapers running around on their tiny feet, intertwining chaotically as they surged forward.

Mannequins dressed in black uniforms stood in neat rows, facing them in orderly ranks.

The clash of the black fortress against the golden wave!

But the black fortress crumbled like a sandcastle swept away by the tide, scattering into dust.

Clap, clap, clap.

With the ice cream in my mouth, I clapped my hands, and one of the Golden Reapers crawled up onto my thigh.

The Golden Reaper, comfortably settled on my belly, had a confident expression as it presented something to me.

A stamp!

The Golden Reaper's expression seemed to be seeking praise, so I patted its head, and it beamed with happiness.

As I pressed the stamp brought by the Golden Reaper onto the paper, the stamp, having fulfilled its purpose, slowly disappeared.

Four more to go!

Just five more stamps to collect.

Looking down at the Golden Reapers again, I noticed the situation had become quite interesting.

Mannequins, desperate to escape.

Golden Reapers chasing, jumping, rolling, and leaping at them.

As the number of mannequins dwindled, the space itself began to destabilize.

It became noisy, like a malfunctioning channel.

Unfamiliar rides suddenly appeared.

Golden Reapers chasing after them vanished beyond the space.

The sky shattered like glass, and the ground cracked open as if struck by an earthquake.

The end of the theme park!

Slowly, the Golden Reapers who found stamps began to cling to my body one by one.

It seemed an unspoken rule had formed that only the Reapers who found stamps could stick to me.

Chewing on the last energy bar, I kept walking.

I had completed three attractions in total.

The "Guest Room," where I had to erase purple with an eraser.

The "Drop Tower," a simple addition quiz with pictures.

And the "Food Court," where I had to erase at least one type of consumption with the eraser.

The most frustrating was the "Food Court."

I had entered it, thinking I could eat something since I was starting to get hungry.

But the only food the food court offered was poisoned.

And they were all my favorite foods, just when I was really hungry!

Even when I returned to the guest room, the door was firmly shut, and I couldn’t open it.

If I had known, I would have brought more energy bars before leaving the room.

Now, what should I choose as the next attraction? I was pondering when a sudden earthquake hit the theme park.

The scenes overlapped wildly like a TV screen going haywire, flashing through multiple images like illusions.

The most noticeable illusion was the golden wave.

A vision of something small and golden wriggling around.

Every time that vision appeared, the earthquake followed.

As if the theme park itself was screaming in pain.

"Hmm, so something like this can happen."

Amidst the earthquake, I heard the mannequin’s voice filled with a sense of bewilderment.

At that moment, the mannequin, which was clenching and unclenching its hands, spoke to me.

"Ma’am?"

The tone was entirely different from before.

Unlike before, it felt much richer in inflection and emotion.

"I believe it might be possible now. Please follow me."

The mannequin ran off on its own to the "Smiling Viking Ticket Booth."

Originally, there should have been a mannequin in charge of the ticket booth, but it had disappeared by the time we got there.

The mannequin rummaged through the ticket booth and found a stamp.

"Ma’am, hurry. We mustn’t miss this opportunity."

"What... what’s going on? Is this some kind of trap?"

"It’s not a trap. The theme park is just falling apart. This is the only time you can collect stamps. There’s no time to argue."

Given that this theme park is filled with the intent to deceive, the mannequin’s words sounded suspicious.

It was clear something was happening, given the unusual vibrations and atmosphere.

But why would this mannequin help me? It made no sense, so I couldn’t trust it.

"I can’t trust you. Why would someone with no reason to help me suddenly decide to do so? How many people would trust that?"

"Hmm, you’re quick to doubt in moments like this, even though you usually seem impulsive. While I don’t need to persuade you, I can give you a few reasons."

The mannequin took a breath and spoke.

"First, I have a reason to help you. Even though I’ve ended up like this, I was originally human. I was a victim of this theme park. I was captured and turned into this, but there’s no reason you should suffer the same fate."

The mannequin’s tone certainly seemed sincere, but I couldn’t be sure if it was telling the truth.

"And, look around you. If the collapse of this theme park reaches the shuttle bus, it’s over. There’ll be no way back. The choice is yours."

The mannequin handed me the stamp and urged me to decide.

Something had definitely changed about the mannequin.

It seemed more emotionally expressive, for one.

And it was true that the theme park was collapsing, and the mannequins were disappearing.

But how could I know if this wasn’t just another trap set by the theme park?

When in doubt, it’s best to stick to the motto that’s guided my life so far.

'When you’re unsure, make the choice and act!'

"Alright! Let’s do it! Lead the way, mannequin."

After that, I ran nonstop through the theme park.

Every now and then, whenever that golden something passed by, holes were punched through buildings or pillars.

The sound of metal being crushed and the sound of buildings collapsing filled the air.

The theme park was turning into a chaotic mess.

"Hmm, the collapse is more significant than I expected. I don’t know how such a powerful entity managed to enter the park."

"They just handed out invitations to anyone, maybe that’s why?"

"No, the hosts only give invitations to those the theme park can handle. In any case, we must hurry. If the shuttle bus is destroyed, the stamps will be useless."

Fidgeting with the doll’s head I’d grown accustomed to wearing instead of my own, I looked at the woman ahead.

Panting heavily, the tattooed woman leaned against the marble wall with a pale face.

It was only natural, given that we had been running nonstop until now.

"Mannequin, did we succeed?"

"Yes, now all that’s left is to board the shuttle bus and leave."

"Ha, it’s finally over."

Shuffling, shuffling.

The woman trudged into the marble building, dragging her feet through the sticky mud.

Looking back, I saw that the Smiling Theme Park had reached its end.

In the guests’ terms, the Smiling Theme Park had reached 'service termination.'

The theme park was losing its power, slowly dissolving into the void.

The reason was simple: someone had found the hidden ending of the theme park.

A nameless, powerful entity had not only wreaked havoc but also uncovered the hidden secret, driving a stake through the heart of the theme park.

The first attempt to open a branch in a new world ended like this.

And luckily, I managed to collect all the stamps before the theme park completely collapsed.

Walking slowly, trying to catch my breath.

I’m so hungry.

I feel like I’m going to die of hunger.

It’s so tiring to walk properly that I dragged my feet along, shuffling through the sticky black mud.

The overwhelming stench of petroleum was enough to give me a headache.

Finally, I reached the pointlessly distant shuttle bus stop.

Even if it was through a shortcut, I had collected all the stamps.

Now, all I have to do is get out of the Object, and it’s over.

Entering the marble building, I saw the displayed heads.

Seven new heads had been added.

'Those idiots didn’t make it after all.'

The death row inmates who were sent in with me were now just heads on display.

They must have died quickly since they couldn’t find a shortcut like I did.

Phew, it’s finally over.

Exoneration.

That outcome was now within reach.

Once I get out, the time I spent rolling around in the murderous Object will just be a fond memory.

The shuttle bus door, which had been tightly shut, was now wide open as if welcoming me.

As I climbed up the steps of the shuttle bus, I looked back to see the mannequin staring at me.

"Thank you. You’re a lifesaver."

"Hmm, no need for thanks. It was the least I could do."

Even though the doll’s head made it hard to read expressions, I could tell now.

The mannequin was truly happy.

No matter how much of a victim it was, isn’t it too happy? But who cares.

I made it!

Climbing onto the bus and sitting in a seat, the mannequin sat in the driver’s seat and began preparing to depart.

I was so tired that I quickly felt sleepy.

The mannequin hummed a tune happily as it drove the bus out of the theme park.

Half-asleep, I heard the mannequin’s voice.

"Please, ma’am, take a good rest. You have everything you need for this bus ride, so we’ll be there soon. Is there anything you’re curious about?"

"No, nothing."

"If not, I’ll take that as your agreement, and we’ll depart."

The mannequin’s ominous words brought back an old question I had once pondered.

If there are only 9 stamps, why are there 10 coins?