Chapter 589: Carnival of Desire [21]

The eerie, dim light from the black vortex on the silver platter spread throughout the grand hall, bathing everything in a deadly orange-gold hue. The sweet fragrance wafting from the long tables on either side grew increasingly intense, permeating every inch of the air and making people want to breathe it in deeply—then deeper still.

Julian was the first to collapse.

His left arm had already stiffened into a candy-like form. And now, as he stood before the tables laden with food—cream-topped pastries, chocolate cascading down like molten waterfalls, pink cotton candy gleaming with an enchanting light—another kind of gleam began to flicker in his eyes.

Julian stepped toward the nearest table, his trembling hands reaching for a pink-frosted cupcake. The frosting sparkled like crystal, releasing an intensely sweet strawberry scent.

Crack.

Julian took a bite. Then another. Then he stuffed the entire cupcake into his mouth, chewing ravenously like someone who had been starving for a month. His eyes widened, his pupils dilating until they became glassy and empty.

"Delicious... So delicious..." Julian muttered, his mouth filled with frosting and crumbs, saliva trickling down his chin. His left arm began to make a crack... crack... sound as new pieces of candy began sprouting from his elbow, rapidly spreading up toward his shoulder and down to his fingers. Meanwhile, the Joy Index displayed on Julian’s chest began dropping from 38 to 27, then 15, then 6, then...

0.

His entire body went completely rigid. His flesh transformed into a transparent, glistening mass of candy, but unlike the fate of those outside, Julian did not stand motionless like a statue. He kept eating without pause, and the more he ate, the more his body swelled, like a balloon.

...

In completely different places, similar things were happening without end.

Meanwhile, at the center of the grand hall, Adrian had taken a seat at a table in front of the enormous round table.

The silver platter before him was no longer a strange black vortex—it had transformed into a pristine white porcelain plate, its rim decorated with intricate golden patterns. And upon it was a sumptuous feast: golden-brown roast chicken, steaming hot bread, fresh vegetables, gently melting cheese, and a bottle of blood-red wine.

Adrian’s Joy Index was displayed on his chest: 82.

Then 79.

Then 74.

With every passing second, the aroma from the plate grew more intense, rushing straight into his brain like a sweet wave. His hand involuntarily lifted the fork, spearing a steaming piece of chicken.

That aroma... it was enticing. It was begging him to eat.

[Just came back from another livestream room. What a gorgeous scene, hahaha.]

[I expected more from Adrian. Don’t tell me he’s going to eat too?]

[Even Natalia was tempted. If she hadn’t had Themisia’s blessing, she would’ve been done for too.]

[You’re talking as if Adrian doesn’t have a God.]

Adrian stared at the golden piece of chicken resting on the tip of his fork. Juices streamed down its surface, releasing an intoxicating aroma so rich that his throat tightened with hunger.

He brought the piece of meat closer to his mouth.

And then a voice echoed inside his head—not his own voice, but another voice, deeper and more ancient:

"What are you thinking? It’s just chicken. Take a bite. It’ll melt in your mouth. You’ll feel..."

Adrian smiled.

He placed the piece of meat back on the plate and gently pushed it aside. His Joy Index had already dropped to 61, but he showed no sign of concern.

Instead, he turned the plate over. The precious food fell straight onto the table without the slightest mercy.

The back of the pristine white porcelain plate was coated with a smooth layer of glaze. But right in the center, where the manufacturer’s name or decorative pattern would normally be, was a small line of black text, embossed beneath the glaze:

"© Happy - Props Division."

Adrian blinked. The air around him suddenly... stood still.

There was no more smell of roasted meat. No more sounds of chewing and swallowing. No more shimmering orange-gold lights.

Everything vanished in the space of a single breath.

Adrian looked up. And all around him, the amusement park began to change.

The grim gray stone walls softened, curving and bending into the gentle contours of a real amusement park. Blue and red neon lights appeared overhead, flashing to the rhythm of a cheerful melody. The laughter of children echoed from somewhere nearby, clear and innocent.

Stuffed animals moved back and forth between the stalls. A small roller coaster whizzed along the tracks overhead. The air no longer smelled of rotting meat or melting candy—it smelled of fresh popcorn, vanilla ice cream, and artificial grass after rain.

The amusement park had truly come back to life.

Adrian smiled faintly. He picked up the napkin from the table and leisurely wiped his hands before tossing it aside. He stepped away from the central banquet area, which now contained nothing but empty tables and lifeless prop boxes.

Outside, the amusement park had been completely transformed. Multicolored neon lights flickered along the cobblestone paths. Cheerful music played from speakers disguised as flowers and mushrooms. Children ran back and forth with balloons in their hands, their laughter chirping like a flock of birds.

At a glance, it was truly no different from a real amusement park.

Even Adrian could not help but be infected by the atmosphere, his eyes flickering as he looked around at the bustling, joyful scene.

"Hello! Choose whichever mask you like!"

Adrian looked back, only to see a gigantic rabbit mascot inviting him to buy a mask. Like the masks worn by everyone else here, it covered only the area above the eyes.

Adrian asked, "Is it free?"

The rabbit paused for a moment, then suddenly smiled. It was incredibly strange for a mascot to be able to control its mouth like that.

"Of course. I can give it to you for free this time, but the mask will charge you automatically at some point."

Adrian seemed completely oblivious to how strange it was. He simply took a mask and waved as he walked away.

"Crack!"

The hand gripping the mascot’s wooden frame clenched even tighter, causing the wood of its face to crack apart.

Adrian blended into the bustling crowd. He had only been wandering around for a little while, yet his hands were already filled with all kinds of food that the mascots had "given away for free."

He continued along the main road. The deeper he went, the warmer the atmosphere became, and the stronger the aromas from the stalls lining both sides grew. Buttered popcorn, grilled sausages, crepes topped with fresh cream—all of them were steaming, enticing anyone who passed by to stop and take a bite.

And then Adrian saw them.

Small stalls stood evenly spaced along the road, each with a colorful red-and-white canopy. Above every stall was a dazzling neon sign bearing the curling words:

"Happy Warter!"

Beneath the sign, a gigantic bright-red faucet poured out an equally bright-red liquid, reflecting the lights in a myriad of sparkling colors. It flowed into a glass, glowing like blood.

The park’s guests stood in long lines, one after another. Each person held a glass as they waited for their turn.

The atmosphere here was even more cheerful than outside.

Adrian noticed that the mother of the little boy who had just lost the game to him on the other side had already hurried over here, rushing to join the line to buy the drink that could make her son stop crying.

Adrian slowly chewed the popcorn in his mouth, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. But before he could step into the line, the faint sound of sobbing suddenly reached his ears, drawing his attention.

Adrian turned his head, searching for the source. It was not the crying of an angry or whiny child—it was the sobbing of someone who had been crying for so long that their throat had gone dry and raw, yet they still could not stop.

He followed the sound, leaving the main road and slipping through a narrow gap between two stalls. There, behind a large trash bin shaped like a panda, a small figure sat curled up on the steps.

It was a dog mascot.

Its fur was worn and tattered, its original yellowish-brown color faded into a dull, muddy shade. One of its black button eyes had been knocked askew, and its plastic nose was scratched. It lowered its head, its stuffed paws resting on its thighs. Tears—strangely enough, real tears—rolled down its plush face and soaked into its ragged fur.

Adrian stopped, tilting his head slightly as he observed it. The dog mascot did not notice him—it kept its head lowered, its shoulders trembling in fits.

"Hey, why are you crying?"

Adrian’s voice was gentle, carrying a hint of teasing but no mockery. The dog mascot jumped, then raised its head and stared at him with bewildered button eyes.

[Holy crap, I thought this was going to be some cute creature!]

[Too much hope too soon, lmao.]

Its face had been designed with a wide mouth and large, pitch-black, lifeless eyes, while its unnaturally long arms and legs made it look even stranger and uglier.

"Y-you..." it stammered, its voice coming from a small speaker inside its belly, sounding like a child trying to speak through sobs. "Y-you... you’re not drinking Happy Warter?"