Volume 1 - Epilogue

Epilogue

It was the 1st of April, marking the beginning of a new fiscal year in spring.

The morning before the park’s opening, Seiya announced the new year’s plans for Amaburi and gave instructions to the various department heads on the development of the park. After that, Seiya headed for the sky garden.

Latifa was waiting there, as always. Actually, ‘as always’ wasn’t exactly very precise, since it could be said that this was her ‘first time’ meeting him.

“Pleased to meet you. Umm, Kanie…Seiya-sama.”

“Pleased to meet you too,” Seiya forced a reply with a bitter smile.

“I’ve heard a lot about you, about the fact that you saved our park from its apparent despair.”

Latifa had since forgotten about everything that had happened throughout the past year. Everything from the 2 weeks Seiya spent here, about him being the Oracle’s chosen one, to the promise he made to Latifa many years back. Her memories had been completely reset.

While Latifa’s attitude towards him did not become exceedingly distant, Seiya could still feel traces of restraint in her speech.

“I wouldn’t call myself a savior, though. I merely did what I could, and I hope to do so by your side for the coming year,” said Seiya. He could feel traces of sadness leaking out with every word he spoke.

“And so do I.”

Putting the sky garden behind him, Seiya moved on to the administration building where he noticed a commotion going on between several cast members in the office of public relations. Isuzu, Moffle, Macaron, and Tiramie were in room with a seemingly foul mood on their faces.

“Oh hey, Kanie-kun. We’re just talking about the cast’s profile page that’s to be put up on the park’s official site.”

“What about it?”

“We’re having some issues with it, such as Moffle’s favorite food…he has never once told me about croquettes being one of them.”

Moffle snorted, “But that’s the truth, fumo. Croquettes are the best. I’m recently digging those sold in the Saigoutei’s at Komazawa and Nakano.”

“But you’re the fairy of sweets. Besides, some popular manga out there already features a character who likes croquettes. It’ll just mask your presence.”

“Hmph…then let’s go with dorayaki, fumo.”

“That won’t do either. Everybody in Japan knows the character who loves dorayaki more than any other.”

“Tch…”

“And Tiramie too. There’s no way your ‘biggest weakness’ can be mice. You’re also going to get overshadowed by the same character I just talked about!”

“B-But that’s true, mi! I just suffered a trauma after seeing a rat as huge as a cat at the bar in Shimokitazawa, mi!”

Just recalling the incident caused Tiramie’s fur to stand on end. And Moffle, who stood beside him, gazed over with a menacing smile.

“Even then, we can’t go with mice. We’ll change it to something else.”

“Ugh…”

“Also, Macaron. Are you joking with me? Gunpla building as a talent!?”

Macaron stood up in rage.

“H-Hey! I wasn’t joking when I wrote that! I can build a master grade Gundam without looking at the instructions, ron! I even have an autograph by Ebikawa Kanetake!”

“Again, there’s already a famous character with a similar skill. It masks your presence. Think of a better one.”

“How can that be…”

Seiya had gotten a good grasp of the situation as a bystander. The fact that Isuzu was the one holding the reigns set his mind at peace. But the 3 of them voiced their displeasure together.

“That’s mean, mi! You just keep going on about masking this, masking that!”

“Yeah, this is our true profile, fumo.”

“Speaking of which, then what about Isuzu’s weapon, ron?”

“Eh…?”

Upon hearing that, Isuzu became stunned.

“That’s right, mi! Isuzu’s musket!”

“Mofu. You mean that? Certainly were big hits, huh? Those mahou shoujo anime…”

“Yeah, yeah! That show was gold! I even got all the Blu-rays, ron.”

And together, the three of them said in unison, “IT MASKS YOUR PRESENCE!”

“…Ugh.”

Seeing Isuzu trembling in anger, the three mascots continued.

“I guess for our case we’re able to just fake a story, but Isuzu’s musket is gonna be hard to hide, fumo…”

“Visual deception, huh? I can imagine this being a pain in the neck, ron.”

“How sad, mi. Just like how an unpopular gravure idol cosplays to gain attention, mi!”

“Hey Sento, calm yourself. And you three, cut the crap.”

With tears of embarrassment welling from the side of her eyelids, Isuzu brought out the musket in question.

“If that’s the case, I just have to mask their presence with gunpowder!”

“Hey, sto—!”

A loud gunshot rent the air.

Macaron was the first to bite the bullet with ‘Pain Bringer’. Moffle and Tiramie watched him faint in astonishment and tried to make a run for it. Seeing that, Isuzu fired another bullet at them. Poor Tricen, who was merely passing by, ended up becoming the next sacrifice, and Tiramie jumped behind Seiya in hopes of using him as a shield. Not having any of that, Isuzu took aim, and—

I knew it. I should’ve just left this goddamned place after finishing my task…I’m gonna have to spend another year here? Don’t fuck with me…

Collapsing on the floor after falling prey to yet another one of Amaburi’s “attractions”, Seiya immediately started to regret his decision.