Chapter 134
Stop for Fun
When Erin and Durge had spotted the lights up ahead, they had thought that they would be arriving at some sort of a resting area, like a motel or even a gas station. What they actually arrived at was something that almost none of them could describe in words.
With the exception of a certain blonde that is.
“This… is… AWESOMENESS!” Ryle practically screamed as her eyes shined with excitement and glee. “This is what happens when you take the top five most awesome things in the world and put them in a blender! Pure awesome!”
“I am honestly amazed by the variety of your vocabulary, Ryle,” Lexton said in a slightly annoyed tone, not particularly fond of the blonde’s antics. “Honestly, don’t you know any other words to describe what you’re feeling or does your few remaining brain cells have limited capacity?”
“Be grumpy all you want, scaly! You’re not ruining my mood this time!” Ryle said, not bothered by the kobold’s remark in the least. “I’m certain even a sour and pretentious Mr. I’m-better-than-you will find this place fun enough to put a smile on your face!”
“I seriously doubt that,” Lexton said. “And I’m not sour or pretentious! I’m just intelligent!”
The others laughed at the argument going on between Ryle and Lexton, due to the atmosphere that had been hanging over them just a moment ago. They were glad to see that the blonde had regained her spirit and energy, as she hadn’t been doing all that well.
However, they couldn’t help but look at the sight before them with some level of amazement, as none of them had been anticipating anything like it. Erin couldn’t believe what she was seeing, as it seemed far too perfect for their predicament.
Right before the group was a very large amusement park with all sorts of rides and lights visible to them. They were standing before what was the entrance, a large gate that had a sign above it that said “Happy World” with a large smiling clown. The clown was somewhat disturbing to Erin and Zeldana, but nobody else seemed to mind it too much.
“This is honestly a surprise to say the least,” Durge said as he looked over the amusement park’s entrance. “I would have never guessed that something like this would appear before us all of a sudden. I wonder why there’s an amusement park here of all places?”
“Well, the path we’re on is fairly used. My guess is that there are plenty of people that go through here,” Lexton said. “Not only that, but we aren’t too far from Graven Hills or Cliffdrop City. I’m sure a lot of people can simply travel here on vacation.”
“I suppose that makes sense. Not to mention, if they have a motel or something, this could work as a resting place as well,” Erin said. “Unfortunately, I don’t think we can really take a moment to have fun over here. I mean, Rayleen is expecting us to go to Graven Hills and-”
“Erin, I doubt we’re in that much of a hurry,” Durge said as he placed a hand on the redhead’s shoulder. “Besides, remember how Ryle was just a moment ago? I think we should use this opportunity for our advantage.”
The redhead looked at Ryle and saw just how excited she was. It was a complete change to how she had just been a moment ago, as the blonde looked like a child in front of a candy store. Not just her, but Erin saw that Arkay and even Zeldana seemed to be getting excited.
Seeing as how her friends were acting, it seemed like the decision had already been made. Besides, even she had to admit that she wanted to have a moment to just fool around and have fun. It would be a nice change of pace after all the deadly fights they’d been going through.
“Okay, guys! It’s decided then!” Erin suddenly declared, getting everybody’s attention. “We are going to have some fun here and then rest for the night! Hope you guys have the energy!”
Moving to the gate, the group was able to buy tickets to all of them so that they could enter the park and enjoy all the attractions they had there. They also managed to reserve a room at a hotel and a parking spot for their van. Luckily, Lexton’s medicines had sold well at Cliffdrop City, which left them with plenty of money to use for their own amusement for the time being. Even when the kobold was not able to do his usual merchant work due to having lost his tail, Erin and Arkay were able to pick up the work and sell the medicine. While they were nowhere near as good as Lexton, they were able to make a fairly good profit.
Once all the necessary preparations had been made, the group gathered at the entrance to what was pretty much the entertainment district of the park. Despite seeing how there were some among them that were barely able to contain their excitement, Erin wanted to at least have an agreement with all of them in regards to when they would all get back together.
“Alright, I know we’re all very excited to go and have some fun, but let’s not get carried away just yet!” the redhead said as she signaled for everyone to gather around. “Now, while I am more than willing to let you all go and have some fun, I must remind you that we have a timetable we need to follow. Not only that, but I need you all to be alert and careful. We’ve had some people come after us before, so we can’t slip up now. There could be spies, agents or even assassins hiding here, waiting for the right time.”
“I get that you’re worried, but do you really think that someone would attack us here?” Durge asked. “This is a pretty crowded place. I doubt anyone could attack us while we’re surrounded by all these people.”
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“I’m willing to bet those are famous last words of some poor sucker that got assassinated in the middle of the day in public,” Lexton said bluntly. “Need I remind you that we met one of the assassins in that death game your former gang was holding? These bastards seem to be able to pop up from just about anywhere.”
“...Good point,” the orc said.
“Anyways, back to the topic at hand!” Erin called out, hoping that her attempt at talking to her friends wouldn’t turn into another messy argument. “What I suggest is that we move in groups. Either as two groups of three or three groups of two. Which one sounds better to you all?”
“I honestly don’t care,” Lexton said in a grumpy tone. “It’s not like I’m going to have any fun around here anyways.”
“Well, look at that everybody! The not at all surprising revelation of Lex not being any fun at all!” Ryle said sarcastically. “Seriously, can’t you be fun for at least one day? Is that too much to ask?”
“Hey, it’s not that I don’t have an issue with having a fun day!” the kobold quickly argued. “It’s just that… amusement parks aren’t exactly the best places for people like myself…”
“What do you-? Oh… I get it,” Erin said, realizing that Lexton was most likely talking about the discrimination that kobolds like himself faced. “Look, if you travel with one of us, I’m sure we can prevent the people working here from mistreating you. If nothing else, we can-”
“That’s very kind of you, but I’m going to have to stop you right there. While that can be true, there is another more pressing matter that causes me problems here,” Lexton explained before pointing at something. “Namely THAT.”
Everybody looked over to what the kobold was pointing at and saw a sign with a cartoon drawing of a clown. Next to it was a text that said “You have to be this tall in order to get in the ride.” Even without a direct comparison, they all could tell that Lexton was far too short.
“Oh… That… is definitely going to be an issue,” Erin said, wondering if there was a way to get their smaller friend into the attractions still. “Maybe there’s a way for them to allow you to ride along one of us? I’m sure smaller children get on rides like that when going with their parents.”
“If you think I’m going to even humor the idea of acting as your child ever again, you’ve got another thing coming, you reject of nature!” Lexton angrily shouted at the redhead. “I’ll just find some other way to amuse myself!”
“Yeah, no need to worry about grumpy lizard here, Erin!” Ryle said with a snicker. “I’m sure there are plenty of rides that are meant for toddlers that he can go on! I’m sure he’d actually look pretty damn cute in them, too!”
“Oh God… Please never call me cute. When you specifically say it, it makes me want to vomit,” the kobold said in a disgusted voice. “When you say it, it almost sounds like you view me the same way you do with Arnie…”
“Ew! Now I’m all grossed out!” the blonde said in disgust. “The thought of you and me being like that is gonna make me puke!”
“Okay, everybody stopped with the thoughts that might make you vomit, puke or whatever!” Erin shouted, ending the childish argument right there. “Remember that we still need to figure out who is going to go around the park with whom. And if Lexton can’t go to the rides, that creates a problem, because whoever is with him cannot watch over him all the time.”
“I think you’re overreacting a bit,” the kobold mumbled.
“Hey, if that is the issue, I can travel with him,” Durge suddenly suggested. “It’s not like I was hoping to get on the rides anyways. I’m mostly here just because I want some of you guys to have fun.”
“Are you sure?” Erin asked, receiving a nod in response from the orc. “Well, if you say so… Then how should we split up the rest of-”
“I’M GOING WITH ARNIE!” Ryle suddenly declared loudly, before picking up the cat boy, like a bride at a wedding. “I’LL SEE YOU ALL LATER!”
“What the-!? Wait! We haven’t even-!” the redhead tried to say, but the blonde was already running deeper into the park with Arkay. “...decided when and where we will meet up. Goddammit…”
“Guess she couldn’t hold it in any longer, huh?” Durge said with a chuckle. “Don’t worry. I’m sure she’ll be just fine. Even if she’s a bit reckless, Ryle can be surprisingly responsible. If nothing else, I’m sure Arnie will eventually get her to come back.”
“I hope you’re right about that,” Erin said with a sigh. “There are times when I can’t help but feel a bit worried over what might happen to her, though.”
“I wouldn’t worry if I were you. That blonde idiot has proven that she’s able to survive most that the world can thrown at her,” Lexton said. “I mean, by all means and logic, she should have died a long time ago from sheer stupidity alone. If she has been able to survive this long, I’m sure that nothing in this park can do anything to change that.”
“...If that is your idea of reassuring someone, you suck at it,” the redhead said bluntly. “Well, we might as well try and have fun for ourselves now. You and Durge are going to be alright traveling by yourselves?”
“Sure. I doubt any of you guys would really want the two of us around anyways,” the orc said with a smile. “Seeing as one of us can’t go into any of the rides and the other one doesn’t like the idea, I think you wouldn’t find our company all that fun. Better the two of us stick together and try to find our own entertainment instead.”
“Alright. You two take care and have fun,” Erin said with a smile, as Durge and Lexton walked deeper into the park. “So that leaves me with-”
The redhead went silent upon realizing just who she had to partner up with. She slowly turned to look at Zeldana, who had a blank expression on her face.
“What? Did you forget that I was here or something?” the elf asked sarcastically.
“...I kind of wish I could,” Erin said with a sigh. “Whatever. Let’s just go. I’m sure we can find something to do that won’t make this day the worst possible day ever.”
As the two of them walked into the park, the redhead looked at a clown that was balancing on a large ball, while juggling different objects. However, instead of balls or bowling pins that one would usually see, this clown was juggling with all kinds of dangerous tools that included knives, axes and even a chainsaw.
“I seriously don’t get why they have to have all these clowns everywhere,” Erin muttered before continuing to walk away. “Especially ones that are this creepy.”
“I know what you mean. I’ve faced many different horrors in my life on battlefields and outside of them. Whether bloodthirsty warriors, crazed killers or horrifying monsters, I’ve seen a lot of them. Yet clowns…” Zeldana said before shuddering. “Something about them just freaks me the hell out.”
“...Hang on. You’re actually scared of clowns?” the redhead asked. “Out of everything else, that is what scares you?”
“We all have things that we fear. Only those who are completely insane lack it,” the elf explained. “Did you really think that I wouldn’t have something that I feared?”
“I just never expected it to be something like… Never mind,” Erin said. “Just be glad that you’ll most likely never get into my world. There’s a certain restaurant chain that you would not like.”
As the last two members of the group went on to enjoy the attractions that the amusement park held within itself, they failed to notice a sinister grin appear on the face of the clown they had just walked past. Jumping down from the large ball she had been balancing on top of, she caught all the falling weaponry she had been juggling with expert precision.
The thing is that she wasn’t actually an employee of the park. A place this large had numerous people working there, so someone with the correct clothing could easily slip in and pretend to be one of the workers. However, her real occupation was something far more sinister and deadlier.
This was Zena, one of the assassins serving underneath Overlord Golorath, whose specialty was disguises. She had earned herself a reputation from being able to infiltrate practically any place in the world in order to eliminate her targets. After receiving information in regards to the movements of Erin and her friends, she had predicted that they would be stopping at Happy World in order to rest. It seemed like fortune was on her side, as they had actually decided to spend some time at the amusement park itself, which would give her numerous opportunities to kill her targets.
Grinning to herself, Zena only had one question on her mind. Which ones would she target first?
image [https://i.ibb.co/VBxX1pW/Ch-134-Pic-1.jpg]