As we made our way toward the Skytree, I wondered what kind of attraction it would actually be. Within the Forest Area—a zone split between the Lower and Upper Areas—Alice had specifically recommended the Skytree and the Forest Castle.
Judging by its name, the Forest Castle likely wouldn't have much to do with the Upper Area. That suggested the Skytree was the attraction intended to bridge the two levels.
I couldn't help but let the image of the Skytree from my original world color my expectations, but even if it were just an observation deck facility, that would be perfectly fine.
If it were a spot overlooking the Upper Area, the atmosphere would be fantastic. The Forest Area was incredibly lush, so it would probably be worth visiting just for the scenery alone.
Occupied with those thoughts, we reached the Skytree and headed for the reception. We were informed that each vehicle could hold a maximum of four passengers. After a brief discussion, we decided to split up: Aoi-chan, Hina, and I would take one; Lilia-san, Luna-san, and Sieg-san would take the second; and Anima, Caraway, Eta, and Theta would take the third.
The limit wasn't for the attraction itself, but rather for the gondola-like vehicles we would be riding, so there was no need for one group to wait for the other to finish the entire experience before starting.
"Hmm, I wonder what this is like? From the outside, it just looks like a massive tree..."
"With a name like Skytree, I imagine we'll be going up," Aoi-chan remarked.
Aoi-chan, Hina, and I were the first to board our gondola. It was circular in shape, with no windows—just a railing. It looked like a larger version of a Coffee Cup ride with a roof attached. We stepped inside and took our seats.
"Anti-fall magic has been applied to the vehicle, so there is no danger of falling out. However, for your safety, please refrain from leaning over the railing," the Ticket Booth Staff informed us.
Once she closed the gate used for boarding, bands of light manifested from our seats, firmly securing us by our shoulders and waists.
"...Wait. If they're securing us this tightly..."
"Kaito-senpai, Aoi-senpai... could this be one of those rides that launches you into the air?"
"What a coincidence. I was thinking the exact same thing," Aoi-chan replied to Hina’s suspicion.
Yeah, I could understand the waist strap, but the shoulder restraints suggested a serious amount of vertical force. I wondered if it was a free-fall type attraction. If so, it seemed like a waste to be stuck inside a tree trunk where there was no view... it felt more like we were about to be launched from a secret base.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, glowing magical digits appeared. As the countdown hit zero, we were shot upward at a staggering speed, exactly as I had expected.
One moment we were ascending through the dark trunk at a terrifying pace—and the next, a sudden flash of light blinded me as the world opened up. It felt as if the tree trunk were the barrel of a cannon and our gondola was the projectile being fired. Just as the blue sky swept into view, the gondola's ascent stopped. The ceiling section opened up like flower petals and began to spin.
At the same time, the magic pinning us to our seats vanished, allowing us to move freely.
"Whoa..."
"It’s incredible..."
As I heard Hina and Aoi-chan's voices fill with wonder, I found myself breathless as well. It was a truly magnificent sight.
From the hovering gondola—its ceiling petals spinning like propellers to keep us aloft—the entire Forest Area lay spread out below us.
The landscape looked like a vast carpet of leaves, and I could see the various buildings and attractions of the Upper Area in their entirety.
Soon after, the gondola began to move slowly, tracing a path that circled the perimeter of the Forest Area.
"I see. So that's the point of this... It takes us on a loop around the perimeter so we can see the whole Upper Area from above."
"It looks like it. If you look closely, you can see bands of mana stretching out. We’re moving along that route... It's like a kind of gondola lift."
"The Upper Area has a completely different feel than the one below. It almost looks like you're supposed to walk right on top of the leaves," Hina added.
I understood why Alice had suggested this. Riding this gave us a perfect overview of the Forest Area’s upper level. The buildings were shaped like flowers or crafted from wood with vibrant decorations, clearly designed to be enjoyed from an aerial perspective.
"...Actually, if you look closer, those aren't just leaves. It’s a solid floor designed to look like them."
"They've just made it look like you're walking on leaves, but it seems to be a sturdy bridge-like structure," Aoi-chan observed.
"Oh! Kaito-senpai, Aoi-senpai, look at that! That one’s huge! I wonder what that attraction is?"
While the initial launch had been intense, we were now moving at a relaxing pace. I settled in to enjoy the scenery with Aoi-chan and Hina, the mood turning peaceful and leisurely.
Serious-senpai: "I see. So the starting point is in the Lower Area, but it's effectively a sightseeing attraction for the Upper Area. Since the Forest Castle is definitely a Lower Area attraction, this lets the guests enjoy both levels... It's well-designed."