On an empty concrete road flooded with light, beyond the railing stretched a long coastline, white with sand and deep blue with the ocean.
The deep blue of the sea was strange, mysterious as if opposing the pale golden white of the beach where dozens of people were playing.
This was Pegasus, the empire's key port city.
It lay in the southern part of the continent, one of the most active entertainment hubs and the main center of economic trade with other nations.
"You took quite a while to get ready. They say girls usually take more time when going out with someone they like… but it seems you are not exactly that type."
I leaned against the roadside railing, looking at the beautiful and sharp featured girl. She looked somewhat tired, sleep deprived, her hair messy.
I looked at her simple outfit, shook my head, then took a jet black ribbon from my pocket and tossed it to her.
"Try wearing it around your neck and imagine the outfit you want. I suppose you will also need to channel mana into it."
Janeus said nothing. She wrapped it around her wrist and in an instant the small strip of silk expanded, enveloping her and forming a beautiful silk dress.
She looked at the dress, then at me, then at the small boarding room we had just stepped out of.
"… "
She frowned, then looked toward the sea, but quickly closed her eyes because the sunlight was too dazzling.
I did not pay attention to her, only speaking as I walked.
"Welcome to Pegasus, always ranked in the top five places you must visit if you want to"
"Enough!"
She spoke, her voice carrying a strangely indescribable tone.
"…How many days has it been?"
I let out a soft sigh, glanced at my bracelet and forced a smile.
"It has been about fourteen days, including the time you were asleep."
I scratched my head, glanced at her and muttered inwardly.
Careful?
Indeed. She would not simply follow me to an unfamiliar place just because I said a few words. She always had hidden schemes, at the very least to drag me down to death with her.
"…That cautious? I suppose you suspect I deliberately tampered with your bracelet, altered the data, changed the date and time and caused misinformation, correct?"
I pointed toward the rising sun in the distance and continued.
"You verified it by observing two things, the direction of the sunrise and the clouds, cross referencing with the information that this is Pegasus to confirm the truth, correct?"
"…Do you have a hobby of watching people play chess and commenting on their moves?"
She ignored me, even seeming slightly bored as she continued walking toward the crowded part of the city.
"…A national funeral?"
Based on two things, the verified timeline and the flow of people in the city, she quickly reached a conclusion.
Either it was a week long mourning period for a deceased royal family member, or her death had not yet been announced. Both were reasonable, except the second carried a strange feeling.
I scratched my head. Making her happy seemed somewhat difficult. In this life or the previous one, inviting a beautiful girl out felt about as difficult as joining a demon slaying war to marry a princess.
I pondered for a moment, then looked at the girl walking under the golden sunlight with hair shining like the sun, then glanced down at my lower half.
"Strange?"
…
Janeus stopped before a massive amusement park gate, even larger than the entrance of a military fortress. Above it was a sign that read One Party!
She stood there absentmindedly, frowning at the flashy and somewhat ridiculous lettering overhead, the light of the rising sun reflecting in her beautiful eyes.
The scorching sunlight contrasted sharply with the blue sea opposite the amusement park, irritating her further, especially since she did not have a single coin to buy a ticket, while someone cosplaying as a gorilla scratched his head somewhat helplessly in front of her.
"Let her in. She is my guest."
I stepped beside her, holding a brightly colored umbrella decorated in an exaggerated manner to block the sunlight.
"Oh, boss!"
The gorilla, upon seeing me, pretended to act familiar and came closer to greet me. I gently pushed his hand aside and smiled.
The gorilla seemed to understand something, turned away and quickly disappeared from sight.
"…That person works for you?"
Janeus asked calmly. I only smiled casually.
"This entire park belongs to One Line, which means all the employees belong to me."
I boasted a little, then led her inside the amusement park.
The moment we stepped in, everything seemed to burst apart because there were too many screams and sounds of vomiting.
Even the spirit beasts played by employees were lying motionless, letting mischievous children toy with their bodies.
"…What is this?"
"Oh, well, it seems we have stepped into the area for overly energetic children, the thrill ride section?"