“Braun. If the person I’m talking to seems upset or might harm me, could you let me know?”

– Of course. It’s not a difficult task!

The plush doll cheerfully replied, then quickly came up with a few hand signals we could use. It was indeed a quick response befitting someone in mass media.

And after a short while.

– Over there. Oh, it looks pretty convincing…

I approached the information booth, hearing the ‘Good Friend’ talking. The booth was made of opaque blue glass and a white screen.

As I got closer, the screen opened, revealing the face of a blue mascot.

It was the blue dragon in uniform.

“Hello. I’d like to see a map of this place.”

The blue mascot, waving its hand as if pleased, quickly moved its hand and handed me a high-quality catalog.

It was a convenient map showing various attractions, restaurants, and facilities of ‘Blue Dream Waterpark’.

At the top of the catalog, it was marked ‘Members Only.’

I looked up at the blue mascot.

“Thank you.”

There was a somewhat proud expression.

“By the way, is there one that shows the entire area as well?”

Clunk.

The movement of the blue mascot stopped.

D-Don’t be scared.

“I’m sure you know, but I came over here from the red zone without any procedures. I want to avoid going closer there again to prevent any mistakes…”

I asked in the calmest and most polite voice possible.

“What exactly is the boundary between the red zone and this area?”

A short silence.

The mascot reached out its hand.

From here

to here

Riiiiiip. The catalog map I was holding was torn by the blue mascot’s claw.

Along the eastern end, it tore down.

‘As expected, the eastern part of the blue zone and the western part of the red zone were directly connected…’

But… it’s so scary.

My hands holding the torn catalog were shaking as if vibrating…!

‘Please save me.’

Isn’t it going to split me in half with its claws and kill me?

At the moment the mascot lifted its claws off the map, I hurriedly nodded and expressed my gratitude.

Then, onto the next topic!

“Thank you. If that’s the case…”

Thud thud.

“……!”

– Shh.

From the front pocket, the plush doll tapped its chest twice softly.

…This is what it means.

‘It seems the other party is not in a good mood.’

…So, this is it!

I immediately shifted my demeanor and only greeted politely.

“Yes. I won’t go near the red zone.”

The blue dragon stayed still for a moment, then nodded its head.

Then, rummaging through its chest, it took out another polite ‘Blue Soda Churros’ bag and handed it to me.

“Thank you.”

G o o d c h i l d

The blue dragon tapped my wristband gently and then let go of its arm.

Drip.

Eventually, the screen of the information booth closed smoothly.

“……”

‘Huu.’

It was done.

I bowed my head, clutching my pounding heart.

I felt like I was going to die of fear…

– You’re smiling, my friend! Are you feeling good? Did you find what you wanted?

I figured it out.

“Yes.”

I lifted my head and started running.

“Now, I just need to move.”

If I had asked the mascot more questions, I might have saved some time, but safety comes first, so from now on, I would use the most reliable means.

My own feet.

‘Let’s hurry.’

There were only a few hours left.

I looked up at the sky of the theme park, which was starting to darken.

* * *

A few hours later.

The sun had set.

“Huuuff.”

I kept running.

My legs were trembling from sprinting thoroughly around the gigantic water theme park, covering half a lap.

– Mr. Roe Deer, you seem terribly exhausted?

“I’m fine.”

The plush doll asked with a pitiful tone.

– It seems like the time has come to ask this question. Exactly where are you trying to go?

I wiped the sweat dripping from my chin and replied.

“The yellow zone.”

– Hooh!

– We both seemed to agree with the statement ‘there is no yellow zone’, but why did you change your judgment?

“It’s not that I changed my mind. I still believe there is no yellow zone.”

But…

“There must have been one in the past.”

I lowered the map and looked ahead.

First of all.

“At that time, it probably wasn’t directly adjacent to the red zone.”

To the east was a forest, to the north was the entrance, to the south was a cliff, and to the west was the blue zone.

‘The terrain fits perfectly without any gaps.’

Then…

“It must have been connected to some part of the blue zone. There must have been a connecting passage.”

Excluding the north, which was also an entrance, and the east, which was adjacent to the red zone.

What remains is…

– So you’re thoroughly searching the west and south? Haha!

That’s correct.

Unlike the red zone, there were no mascots chasing me to kill me here, so I could use this laborious method.

And finally, I found it in a corner of the northwest, behind the restroom’s flower bed.

A rough dirt path leading up the mountain, like a closed hiking trail.

– Hmm. It must have been opened as a passage before.

The problem is, crossing this almost certainly violates the theme park’s rules.

[No Entry Except for Staff]

After checking that sign, I slightly stepped out from behind the restroom and looked around.

I made eye contact with a mascot standing in front of a children’s attraction far away.

– Hmm, are you bothered by that mascot?

“Yes. If I cross into the no-entry zone, I’m sure they’ll notice…”

– Then just don’t get caught!

“……”

But that’s not as easy as it sounds…

– Oh, cheer up. It’s not difficult!

– Isn’t it me? Your friend.