Today was the day.
After countless preparations, meticulous checks, and extensive promotions, Utopia was finally opening its doors to its very first set of visitors. And, of course, those honored to have the first glance were none other than the nobles and royalty, the high-class society. That, and the Academy students with the teachers assigned to guide them through for their School Trip.
I was ready to unveil this magical wonderland—built with the best technology this world had to offer—to the rest of the world. The anticipation was almost unbearable, like a dam ready to burst.
Eris had been unusually animated, monitoring every system and camera feed in real time, compiling a summary report, and sending it to my (Eris designed & self-patented) tablet.
[The first batch of Ships have opened their gates, Captain. All 325 passengers are boarding their respective ships for their journey to the island.]
I nodded, fully aware that Eris could see the gesture through one of the cameras in the Central Coordination Room.
Glancing back, I saw my two girlfriends chatting excitedly as they watched the live feeds of nobles and royals boarding the Utopia-brand Ships at their designated pickup points.
As the sole owner of this island, I had secured permission to be here beforehand from the Academy to ensure everything ran smoothly. Naturally, I made sure to include Olivia and Angelica in my request as my helping assistants as well, letting them stay here with me rather than with the rest of the crowd.
Of course, that was all just an excuse. I just wanted to be here early and watch it happen from my vantage point.
In reality, we had no real work to do besides watching people's reactions from our vantage point. I wanted to look from here as the crowd took in the wonders of this magnificent island.
The job of guiding said crowd of visitors would be left to the tour guide bots that were stationed near the entrance, ready to do their pre-programmed duty of explaining various things present in the park to the visitors.
I smiled and stepped away from the balcony, which provided a sweeping view of Utopia, making my way toward the girls.
"They're finally ready to leave." I said, my gaze shifting to the two of them as they focused on the large, control-room-style monitors displaying the live feeds.
A quick glance at the screen revealed a myriad of expressions on the faces of the nobles and royals as they ascended the stairs to the custom designed Ships that I'd sent for them.
A few, in particular, stood out.
Receiving their nods and hums of affirmation, I joined them on the sofa. They wordlessly made space for me in the middle—how thoughtful.
It was nice to just sit back, cuddle with my two girlfriends and see how it played out.
Oh, and there was the first notification of incoming World Points. Nice.
***
–Julius–
Julius adjusted the cuffs of his uniform as he stepped off the airship.
Said airship ride had been quite agreeable and unexpectedly posh, even for his (inflated) standards. He'd only had such comfort in the royal cruisers and even then, some of the things offered on the ship were completely new to him, surprising and even aweing him a few times.
For instance, those mechanical 'automatons' servicing on the ship were the first things that caught his attention. Then there was the quality of dining offered, with foods and drinks some of which he'd never even heard of before yet were very much to his liking, and finally the other on-ship attractions and amenities that they had access to as they made their way towards Leon Alpenwind's island.
The ship was truly worthy of even hosting the Royalty.
And this ship was supposedly only one of dozens that went around to fetch those visiting Leon Alpenwind's island. One couldn't help but wonder how Alpenwind acquired all those ships in his acclaimed adventures. They looked brand new and had unique designs that he'd never seen before.
Could it be that they were also lost treasures?
Though, he did quietly conclude in his mind that the ship he was on must have been the largest and best available ship to Leon to accommodate the number of students, and accompanying teachers, on their School Trip. Others were probably smaller and had less features. Yes, it must be so.
Reaching ground, his gaze was immediately drawn to the grand entrance of Utopia, standing tall and proud in front of them. The bold red and black sign stood tall, declaring the name of this supposed 'Wonder Island' to all who arrived here for its grand opening. Even before stepping foot onto the island proper, he could tell this was going to be unlike anything else in the Holfort Kingdom. Maybe even the whole world.
They'd seen the large sprawling space from their airships; miles of land filled with various attractions. But standing in front of the giant gate, the scale of it all truly set in.
"This place is…" Julius trailed off, struggling to find the right words.
"Astonishing. Marvellous." Chris supplied; his voice filled with rare, genuine awe. He added after a short pause. "This was supposedly just a regular island a few years back."
"Indeed, I've heard so as well," he agreed. "To think something like this could be built in such a short span of time. The level of engineering, magic and manpower required must be astronomical. The ingenuity and creativity alone are something worth praising."
Truthfully, he couldn't understand how Leon Alpenwind was able to build all this without any support from others. This project was already on the level of the Royal Castle and that had taken tens of thousands of workers, engineers and magicians co-ordinating to create over a long period of time. And yet, here was Leon Alpenwind's Utopia that seemed to laugh at the common sense, having built by the man alone with his treasures and resources and no outside help. Or so he'd heard.
Just how deep did his pockets were and how much manpower was he able to produce? Judging by those automatons he'd seen on the ship, he was a little scared to think whether Leon Alpenwind secretly had access to an army of those. But then he shook his head. That was a crazy thought. There must be a more sensible explanation to it.
Marie, standing between them, looked up at the glowing sign with an emotion he couldn't quite place.
"Of course, he builds an amusement park that'd put even the best ones back home to shame… He doesn't seem to do anything normal."
Hearing her praise for the place and the way she sighed, he frowned slightly as he felt something stirring in his heart. Indeed, even Marie, the pure soul, who preferred simple and non-materialistic things in life seemed to have been awed by this place. While he was happy to accompany her to this trip, he couldn't help but feel lacking seeing her react to another man's accomplishment. How would it feel to receive such praise from Marie if he accomplished something on this scale—no, even grander—as well? His heart simmered with a small feeling of envy towards the man.
In the end, however, he still couldn't deny the truth in her words.
This place was impressive—no, it was more than that. It was overwhelmingly amazing. And they hadn't even entered the gates.
***
–Marie–
Marie, on the other hand had her own thoughts on the matter unbeknownst to him and Jilk.
Keeping an appropriately demure, curious and excited face, Marie inwardly scowled as she stepped off the airship, her gaze flicking around the so-called Utopia.
She had expected something extravagant—seeing the poster and the way the nobles chattered about it nonstop made that obvious—but this was on a whole different level. The sheer scale of it all, the towering rides, the glowing lights, the ridiculous amount of effort that had gone into every single detail… It was insane.
And it pissed her off.
Who the hell has this much free time and money to waste?!
Marie clenched her fists, her annoyance rising. It wasn't just the absurdity of the place—it was the fact that it was making her feel so very small. No matter how much she schemed, how much she struggled, things like this reminded her that she was still just scraping by compared to the real power players in this world. Compared to him. Leon Alpenwind. She knew he was also someone from her previous world. A reincarnator. And he had surely played or at least knew about the game. No other way he was able to amass so much wealth and power so easily.
It should have been hers, damn it!
And what's worse? The idiots surrounding her were too busy gawking like wide-eyed children to notice her growing frustration. Even the Prince and Jilk whom she accompanied on this trip were the same.
"Marie, isn't this incredible?" Jilk asked, smiling as he took in the sight. "I never imagined a place like this existed."
Marie put on her best fake smile. "Yeah, it's amazing."
Julius, who had been staring at something in the distance, turned to her with a rare look of curiosity. "What's wrong, Marie?"
For a second, Marie considered telling the truth. That this whole place felt like a giant slap in the face. That she hated how it reminded her of everything she didn't have.
Instead, she redoubled her effort to keep up her façade. "Oh, it's nothing. I was just overwhelmed by all this. It's so big!"
'How much does it cost to even breathe here?' She wondered inwardly. That guy sure had splurged a butt ton of money on this and here she was, barely managing to scrap by until very recently.
Even her newfound fame and position as a Saint candidate felt a bit insignificant right now and that soured her mood.
Shoving down her irritation, Marie took another glance at the vast amusement park ahead of them.
All things considered though, since she—or rather, the Prince—had been oh-so-graciously handed that Black ticket by that guy, she was going to make the most of it.
If she couldn't have it, she'd at least experience all of it. Who knows when she'll get another chance.
She did feel a bit nostalgic seeing an amusement park in this world.
***
–Julius–
As they stepped through the towering gates, bypassing other students who had to form lines to enter through the rows of entry paths while they were lead to a reserved and exclusive row for those with the Black Tickets, a soft chime rang, and they were greeted by a well-dressed humanoid automaton with a polished metallic sheen and human-like appearance.
"Welcome, esteemed visitors," it spoke with an eerily smooth feminine voice, bowing, showing just enough deference to be polite but not overly subservient. "Before you go and enjoy what the Wonder Island has to offer, please follow me for its grand opening."
They followed the automaton as it? she? led them to a stage-like area right in front of the park entrance, allowing their group to take in the full view of the park beyond the entrance, various curious things catching their attention.
Julius inhaled sharply. Even as a prince, someone who had visited the grandest castles and estates, and experienced the best of what the top of the world had to offer, he had never seen something quite like this. A sprawling park stretched out before them, packed with extravagant contraptions of all shapes and sizes. Towering structures intertwined in mesmerizing hoops and loops, massive metallic wheels sparkled with magical luminescence, and colourful, twisting and turning serpentine structures in the adjacent place, filled with many water-related structures, showers and fountains, leading to large artificial ponds of water, their crystal blue surfaces shimmering under the late morning sky.
He had seen some of these in the poster that he received from Alpenwind, so he recognized some of these "rides", but he was still unsure on how they were build and worked. Some of them just hurt his mind when he tried to comprehend their purpose, though he wouldn't admit to it in public.
On either side of the park were carefully placed artificial forests and open parks that added an almost surreal beauty to the whole landscape. The cherry blossom trees in full bloom contrasted with the futuristic structures beyond them, while in the distance, nestled near the mountains, luxurious resorts gleamed in the twilight.
"This…" Jilk whispered. "This is more than a just a "park". It's an entire island dedicated to fun and leisure."
They were seated at the front of the open seats which formed a large, almost full circle, around the centre stage. Behind them, the other students were still entering through the gates for regular visitors one by one. Apparently, having those Black VIP Tickets with them was a smart decision.
He was glad Marie had the foresight to bring it along with her.
Sitting beside Marie, with Jilk taking her other side, he waited as others too filled in the spaces, each of the groups guided by similar automatons as the one who guided them here. He noticed the students from Academy were seated on one section of the seats while the noble guests who had also arrived and were arriving still were led to the other side, which seemed to have slightly better and larger seatings.
He narrowed his eyes, trying to focus and see if he could locate his parents among the slowly trickling groups. He'd been informed of their arrival to this place, but he hadn't accompanied them here, wanting to be with his Marie instead.
He did notice a space in the middle of the rows of seatings that looked fancier than the rest of the seats— not to say the rest were lacking but compared to the similar looking cushioned seats they sat on, the ones at the slightly raised platform looked like it was reserved for the VVIPs.
As the crowd was seated, he noticed a pleasant music easing in from…. somewhere, melodies unheard playing around them, covering the murmuring of the crowd that was slowly forming.
"Would you like some refreshments, dear guests?" The 'guide' accompanying them asked from beside them and he turned to Marie.
"Would you, Marie?"
She contemplated, putting a finger on her chin, looking deep in thought.
"Um, what do you have here? Is there a Menu?"
The guide produced a small booklet from… somewhere and handed it to her and—correction, the guide had three booklets, each of which carried a variety of foods and drinks.
As they waited with some snacks, he wondered what Leon Alpenwind will do now.
***
–Mylene–
Sitting in the VVIP section, escorted by a small procession of automatons and her personal guards, Mylene could not help but applaud the sheer ingenuity of the place Leon Alpenwind had created.
She had been curious about Utopia ever since she'd received the poster and the Black VIP ticket from the young Viscount. From the images alone she had understood that this place would be unlike anything the kingdom—no, the entire world—had ever seen.
But now, here in person, she realized her expectations had been far too modest.
It was a shame her husband had refused to attend, hiding behind excuses of "official duties" and "kingly responsibilities." As if she didn't know the truth—it wasn't duty that had kept him away, but pride. His Majesty would never lower himself to accept an invitation from a mere Viscount, even if that mere Viscount was the most prodigious and resourceful young man she had ever met and whose future was all but guaranteed to be one of great success and accomplishments.
She sighed inwardly, shaking her head. Better to set such thoughts aside. She would simply enjoy herself while she could. It was rare she found the chance to indulge in something new and exciting, her days normally consumed by the endless responsibilities her husband shirked in favor of chasing his concubines and the palace maids.
Honestly, that man… even after raising a son to adulthood, he remains as childish and irresponsible as ever.
For once, however, she could forget all that. Today, she had Utopia: the Wonder Island, to explore and experience.
Her eyes lifted as a grand illusion shimmered into view at the center stage, revealing Leon Alpenwind standing before the backdrop of the park. The technique itself intrigued her, but her thoughts were soon captured by his voice.
"Welcome, everyone, to Utopia—my Wonder Island.
I know that calling it my 'legacy' may sound arrogant, especially at my age, but every word I speak comes from the heart. I have poured my experiences, my treasures, and my passion into building this place. It is not simply a project, but the embodiment of my dreams as a true Adventurer.
This island exists to bring joy, to inspire wonder, and to show what is possible when imagination and innovation come together. I hope that as you explore, you'll see more than rides and attractions—you'll see the vision and love that gave them life."
Mylene found herself nodding, appreciating the sincerity beneath his words.
Leon continued, his tone lightening with a smile.
"Of course, I won't keep you occupied for much longer with a boring speech. You didn't come here to listen to me babble—you came here to experience what Utopia has to offer.
To those of you holding the Black VIP tickets, you are granted full access to every corner of this island, including the most exclusive attractions. Please keep your tickets secure, as you'll need them for certain areas.
But for everyone here—whether you hold a Black ticket or not—rest assured there is more than enough to enjoy. In fact, I dare say you won't be able to experience even a fifth of what's here in a single day.
Should you need help, our guide automatons will always be at your service.
So, without further ado—welcome to Utopia. May your time here be filled with joy, excitement, and memories worth keeping."
As his final words faded, the music swelled to a crescendo. Fireworks burst from the ground around the stage, brilliant even in the bright morning sky, painting colorful shapes and designs overhead.
Mylene rose gracefully as her personal guide stood ready to escort her to the first of many attractions.
A small, genuine smile tugged at her lips.
Yes… this might just be one of the most fascinating experiences she's possibly going to have.
***
Omake
While the others were busy running around Utopia, marveling at rides and attractions, I decided to indulge in something far more entertaining in the Observation Room.
Olivia had been looking around the screens with that wide-eyed sparkle of hers, utterly adorable… and I kinda sorta lost all self-control.
I leaned down and stole a quick kiss.
"E-Eh?!"
Her whole face went crimson, her hands frozen mid-gesture.
I shrugged.
"I blame Livy. She was being too cute! I just had to do it."
"D-Don't blame me!"
She squeaked, fidgeting as if the ground had turned molten under her.
A dry voice cut in.
"Don't blame poor Livia. It's you who has no self-restraint."
Angelica spoke from beside me, arms crossed, expression flat… though the faint pink dusting her cheeks betrayed her.
"Oh? Big talk," I said, smirking, "for someone sitting within smooching distance."
Her lips twitched—just a flicker of amusement she tried to suppress.
"Hmph."
"Keep that attitude up," I warned lightly, leaning just a little closer, "and see if I don't take your lips next."
"Hmph! You wouldn't dare." She repeated, stubborn as ever.
We stared each other down. The tension was almost comical.
"…Fine. You asked for it."
Before she could react, I deployed tactical smooches.
Angelica froze—her eyes widening in brief shock—before she huffed softly against my lips. She didn't exactly struggle, though her arms flailed for a moment as if she couldn't decide between shoving me away or grabbing me closer.
When I finally pulled back, she was red to the ears.
"See?" I grinned. "You can't win against smooch tactics."
"Hmph…" Angelica muttered again, turning her face away. But her small, almost imperceptible smile betrayed her far more than her words ever could.
Meanwhile, Olivia still hadn't rebooted.
***