So, just how impressive was the speed-centric Sonic Coaster? In short... it was incredibly fast. I was experiencing it at the default speed setting, right? It was quite intense, and since Hina was screaming happily, she must have been feeling the same incredible velocity I was.
To put it into words, I’d say it was terrifying in a realistic way. For instance, in terms of pure speed, being carried by Amer was technically faster, but she was so fast that the scenery didn't even register. Besides, she always applied protective magic formulas so I wouldn't feel the wind pressure, which made it hard to truly grasp the speed on a physical level.
But the Sonic Coaster was fast, the wind was biting, and the G-force on the curves was immense. I felt like I was being whipped around by an unrelenting velocity, which made the speed feel much more visceral.
"Th-That was amazing... I wondered what it would be like to have my perception of speed adjusted, but it was really, incredibly fast. It was terrifying."
"It certainly was a strange sensation. Thinking about it logically, I should be able to reach that kind of speed with physical enhancement magic, yet it felt like a staggering pace, and even the wind pressure felt overwhelming. So that is the effect of the perception adjustment..."
Listening to Hina and Aoi talk, I was able to grasp the gist of it. Thanks to the magic, the speed they perceived was the same as what I had felt. But while that speed normally wouldn't be a big deal for those two, the magic made them experience it as something daunting.
Hearing that, it really did reinforce the idea of it being a sort of debuff magic.
"Lilia-san, how was it for you?"
"It was wonderful. I feel as though it's been quite a long time since I've truly felt 'fast.' It made me feel like a child again—it reminded me of the first time I ever rode a horse carriage. The sensation of a vehicle being faster than my own legs is a feeling I haven't experienced in far too long."
When I asked Lilia-san, she seemed a little surprised by the ride but also genuinely happy. I suppose for someone like her, most things are slower than her own running speed, so the novelty of a vehicle feeling fast must have been quite refreshing.
The rest of the group seemed to feel the same way. Though they were bewildered or surprised by sensations they rarely encountered, their overall consensus was that it was a fresh and enjoyable experience.
The fact that even people with such high natural physical ability were able to have a good time proved just how well-thought-out this amusement park really was. At this rate, it looked like we’d be able to enjoy the rest of our visit just as much.
"What shall we do next? Although we ended up riding that one out of curiosity, we've planned our schedule with plenty of time to spare. Shall we head to the area recreating the sea as planned?"
"I'm fine with that, but what about you, Hina?"
"Let's go! Even though we already experienced the Splash Coaster, it would be a waste not to visit a waterfront area that's been laid out so grandly!"
The Sonic Coaster hadn't originally been in our itinerary; the plan was to move to the sea area after the Dragon Adventure. Caraway asked to confirm if we were sticking to the script.
We had decided on roughly two attractions per area, but that was a conservative estimate made specifically to allow for impulsive detours. We had plenty of time.
The fact that we were able to board both the Dragon Adventure and the Sonic Coaster without waiting in line was also a major factor. Since Hina was essentially the one in charge of our group's tour strategy right now, I checked with her, and we officially decided to head for the water.
When we used the Fast Road to travel to the area... it looked for all the world like the open sea.
It was obviously an artificial environment created within the theme park, but there was a sandy beach, real waves... and for some reason, you could even see the horizon.
"...Wait, isn't it physically impossible to see the horizon given the actual size of this place?"
"It is likely just an illusion cast on the walls to create the effect, but looking at it like this, it truly does look like the sea."
At my murmur, Sieg-san spoke up with an expression of admiration. This theme park was incredibly elaborate; they clearly didn't compromise on the atmosphere.
However, with the recreation being so perfect, it was hard to imagine what kind of attractions were hidden here just by looking. It felt so authentic that it seemed more appropriate to just put on a swimsuit and lounge on the sand.
"Hina, what do you think?"
"...Given the setup, I'd bet there are attractions where you ride a boat or a ship. There might be something like an undersea tunnel too, but if possible, I'd like to try something on the water."
"I see... According to the pamphlet, the one nearby is... something called the Kraken Cruise. I wonder if it's a horror attraction?"
"No, wouldn't it be more like a panic-thriller? Like one of those shark attractions, where the ship gets attacked by a Kraken while trying to escape?"
"Ah, I see. Yeah, that's definitely a classic staple..."
The image of a panic-style boat ride where a shark appears is a common one for amusement parks back home. While being attacked by a shark is a popular trope due to movies, I suppose in this world, the Kraken is the more standard monster for attacking ships at sea.
After consulting with everyone else, we settled on the Kraken Cruise and set off via the Fast Road once again. Once we decided on an attraction, being able to set it as a destination and travel there immediately was incredibly convenient.
Serious-senpai: "Is there any chance this Kraken Cruise will lead into an ultra-serious development!?"
???: "There's about as much chance of that as there is of Serious-senpai appearing in the main story outside of an April Fools' Extra Chapter, ssu."
Serious-senpai: "...So, zero?"