Chapter 63: Dionysus (7)
He had been in danger of being discovered several times, but for some reason, the people who should have recognized him either failed to notice him or turned back after hearing sounds from elsewhere.
“Someone is protecting me!”
He didn’t know who it was, but he was deeply grateful.
However, that didn’t mean Dionysus was completely safe.
At one point, the Mad Conqueror had a sudden episode and threatened him, forcing Dionysus to bind himself tightly inside cracks of the underwater cave each time to hide.
“Seriously… I’m reaching my limit. If I make a mistake, I’ll end up in the underworld.”
Dionysus’ condition was worsening.
In the end, the only viable option left was just one.
To escape the ocean by crossing the dangerous Charybdis Sea.
According to the map left by his younger brother Melicertes, the Charybdis Sea was the only route out of the encirclement—and also a shortcut to where the goddess Rhea resided.
“Melicertes didn’t mark this place for nothing…”
Using all the skills and magic he had learned from his master, satyrs, and nymphs, Dionysus finally entered the territory of the Charybdis Sea.
The moment he stepped inside, he felt it—the threads of pursuit that had been relentlessly chasing him all this time had finally all snapped.
“I’m finally free from the chase. But what… is this place?”
The first thing Dionysus saw after crossing into the Charybdis Strait was a massive amusement park and a ticket booth.
He had heard that this was a forbidden place, ranked firmly in the top three among places one must never enter.
“But this is strange… from the atmosphere, it looks like a place for children.”
Relaxing slightly due to the unexpected setting, Dionysus walked toward what appeared to be the entrance of the strait.
Further inside the Charybdis territory, in front of the entrance ticket booth, stood a giant rabbit doll.
—Greetings. You seem to be a first-time visitor?
“…Ah! Yes, I’m only passing through.”
Dionysus was startled that the statue-like rabbit spoke, but quickly regained his composure and greeted it politely in return.
This world was full of strange things—there was no surviving if he let every little thing surprise him. Besides, it would be rude.
—I see. There are indeed people who come here for that reason.
Dionysus’ face brightened at the rabbit doll’s words.
He came to the right place!
Seeing the expression, the rabbit doll nodded. Usually, people who came to the Charybdis Strait looking like him had similar reasons.
—Well then, will you be going in?
Dionysus nodded. He didn’t have a choice.
Just the writhing threads of pursuit behind him made that obvious…
But before entering, he felt the need to gather information, so he asked as politely as possible:
“May I ask a few questions?”
Contrary to his worries, the rabbit doll responded pleasantly:
—Of course. It is my duty to explain things to guests.
“Oh! Then…”
—Hmm. As for leaving the sea directly from here? It’s possible. If you wish, I can even send you right in front of the one who’s waiting for you.
“Truly? I’m trying to escape the sea to meet the goddess Rhea.”
—I see. You must be someone fleeing from something. Well, if you manage to leave safely, you’ll likely obtain what you’re seeking.
Dionysus was shocked. He thought it knew nothing.
—Don’t be too surprised. We can’t do anything, after all. Reporting you, or chasing you out—things like that.
The rabbit doll gestured for him to calm down as he flinched, then continued:
—We are merely dolls created by the power of Lady Charybdis. The amusement park as well.
Dionysus was astonished.
This entire vast place was maintained solely by the power of a single deity?
From a normal perspective, it was an impossible sight.
No matter how great a god was, there were limits. Maintaining a space of this scale required an enormous amount of power.
Moreover, this place was entirely an independent domain belonging to a single god.
By human standards, it would cost more than 1,000 tons of gold per year to sustain.
—Haha. Look at that. Even you, son of Zeus, have the same reaction. Everyone who comes here for the first time makes that exact expression. Watching that is my personal joy.
The rabbit doll looked at Dionysus with amusement, as if this was its only source of entertainment.
But unlike the cheerful rabbit, Dionysus felt a deep chill.
Even if it’s a construct created directly by a god, to think it can even identify my lineage…!
Well, considering it stood before a being named Charybdis, it wasn’t impossible. But he couldn’t help feeling shocked and unnerved. It was like experiencing the might of a god he had never even met.
“Ahem. I was a little surprised, but… more importantly, I’m in a hurry. Can I enter right away?”
Dionysus deliberately moved the conversation forward. If he stayed here any longer, it felt like everything inside him would be exposed.
The rabbit doll—who had been smiling like someone enjoying a hobby—nodded without question and handled the entry ticket like a theme park employee.
—Of course, you may enter anytime. You just need to pay the ticket price.
“I have some valuables with me. They can serve as payment.”
—Sorry, but this amusement park does not accept such things. Who do you think Lady Charybdis is?
“Ah!”
At the rabbit’s words, Dionysus remembered again—Charybdis had no need for offerings or material wealth.
That’s true. A god like her could never lack anything. Then what do I…
As if reading his thoughts, the rabbit doll kindly held out a ticket and explained:
—Don’t worry. This place accepts nothing material. Just remember that taking this ticket means you agree to the ritual of offering yourself as a sacrifice to Lady Charybdis.
“What?!”
Dionysus thought the doll, who had been so polite until now, was finally revealing its true nature.
What kind of nonsense was this? Offering himself as a burnt sacrifice? Even a madman wouldn’t choose that willingly.
The rabbit doll clicked its tongue at Dionysus’ reaction. It had forgotten that newcomers never accepted this explanation calmly.
—Hmm… I didn’t explain enough. It’s simply a contract. Do you know the concept of equivalent exchange? It’s the same. If you wish to fulfill your desires in this amusement park or take something out with you, then you must give something of equal value in return.
Thanks to the rabbit’s detailed explanation, Dionysus calmed down somewhat. Nothing in the world could be gained without giving something up.
—Besides, Lady Charybdis is merciful. She wants to play with everyone. Once you go inside, you’ll see that you don’t necessarily need to give up anything of your own to get what you want. Opportunities overflow—so do your best.
—Well then, will you enter?
The rabbit doll asked again, giving him the illusion of choice.
But Dionysus had none.
“You say that when I’m trapped with nowhere to run… You’re cruel.”
—I don’t understand what you mean.
The rabbit doll’s calm, innocent tone—despite knowing everything—made Dionysus bite his lip.
Becoming a burnt sacrifice… even if there was much to gain inside, Dionysus didn’t prefer this method.
But…
“I’ll enter.”
—A good choice. Follow this path straight ahead and you’ll reach the amusement park.
There truly was no choice.
After exhaling softly, Dionysus steadied his emotions, accepted the ticket, and began walking forward.
Behind him, the rabbit doll’s final words echoed:
—Good luck.
Having lived only in the mountains, Dionysus had only heard rumors of amusement parks. Now, seeing the vast grounds, dazzling parades, and enormous rides, he felt as though he were stepping into an entirely new world.
“Amazing… If only my mother, my brother, and my nannies were here—this would’ve been a wonderful place for them.”
Since this was his first time in such a place, Dionysus had no idea what he was supposed to do.
Contrary to his expectations, there were plenty of surface-dwellers here, and even quite a few gods as well.
“So… what am I supposed to do now?”
Not knowing where to begin, Dionysus decided to just walk around the amusement park and look around.
More than anything, what allowed him the freedom to look around was the fact that the Mad Conqueror—who always stood ready to burst out—seemed unusually quiet here.
Dionysus spent a long time exploring the amusement park, but found nothing strange or extraordinary.
Everyone was simply riding attractions joyfully, laughing as they strolled about.
“It’s nice that everyone here is enjoying themselves… but I need to reach the goddess Rhea quickly.”
Unable to find any leads, Dionysus eventually approached a cheerful-looking couple nearby.
“Excuse me, but do you know how to leave this place? If you tell me, I will gladly compensate you.”
The couple he addressed was a young man and woman—specifically, a beastman and an elf, a combination rarely seen on the surface. they naturally stood out to him more than the others.
“……”
“I assure you, I’m not suspicious. I simply entered this place for the first time and don’t know what to do, so I’m asking.”
“……”
Despite Dionysus’ polite question, the beastman and elf couple gave no answer.
They only kept smiling, their expressions frozen in place—as if someone had forced those smiles upon them.
This is… strange.
“Are you two alrigh—”
Before Dionysus could finish his sentence, the couple pointed somewhere behind him, and vanished from his sight in an instant.
As though giving him an answer they weren’t supposed to.
Only then did Dionysus truly sense something was wrong.
He realized that everyone in this place was wearing the same expression.
“What is this…?”
When he focused again and looked around, the absurdities became clear.
Even insect beastmen—whose faces famously showed almost no expression—were smiling nonstop.
Tree spirits with no faces at all had crude smile-marks drawn onto their bodies.
And strangely, many couples in the park consisted of races that normally hated one another.
Like earlier—the beastman and elf.
Or insect beastmen paired with bird beastmen.
Goblin and human couples.
And so on.
“…Why didn’t I notice this until now?”
As if responding to his confusion, the ticket strapped to his wrist began to glow, pointing toward somewhere new.
As if saying, Only now are you ready.
“……”
Everything felt eerie and ominous to Dionysus. He didn’t like the idea of following a ticket that only now decided to guide him.
But he had no information—no alternatives at all.
So in the end, he had no choice but to follow the light.
As Dionysus walked in the direction the light indicated, something pale and hazy began to appear behind the people.
Things he hadn’t been able to see at all until this moment—creatures perched on the shoulders of everyone who had seemed “happy,” forcing their expressions into smiles…
Or binding them like shackles.
Forcing everyone to smile as though they were enjoying themselves.
No matter if their skin peeled, or if their bodies convulsed—it didn’t matter.
As if this suffering was simply their assigned duty.
Kieeeeeek!!