Once the Curse of Reversed Likability Was Lifted, My Party Members Became Unbearably Heavy
As the morning sun streamed through a window in the royal castle, Iris awoke.
Though her vision was still slightly hazy from sleep, only her heart felt oddly unsettled, fluttering restlessly.
Last night, word had arrived that Ren and the others would return safely today.
Until she heard that Ren and the others were safe, Iris had been so worried her heart felt like it would tear apart.
The vast room without them was too quiet.
Though it was far, far larger than the days she and Ren had spent fleeing together, and everything was beautiful, a strange unease lingered deep within her chest.
โโฆI’ll clean.โ
When Iris rolled up her sleeves and stood up, the maid who entered the room widened her eyes.
โLady Iris? Are you cleaning your room yourself again today?โ
โY-yes. This is the least I can doโฆ At least to help everyone else.โ
โOh, now, nowโฆ Of course. Everyone will be delighted.โ
Somehow, she had become close with the castle servants.
They treated her as a guest who had come to the castle with the Hero, but her thoughtfulness and simplicity had won them over completely.
Soon, pat-pat-pat footsteps approached from the end of the hallway.
โGood morning, Iris-chan! I hear you’re helping clean the dining hall side today!โ
โGood morning! Yeah, leave it to me! We’ll finish faster together.โ
The young maids whispered among themselves, โSo cuteโฆโ โSuch a good girlโฆโ as they handed her brooms.
โAlright, I’ll sweep this floor.โ
โDon’t overdo it, okay? Oh, and let’s have tea when we’re done!โ
โAlright, I’ll do my best too!โ
While sweeping in a cheerful atmosphere, her sweeping hand suddenly stopped.
Is that person eating properly?
Are they cold?
Are they pushing themselves too hard and getting hurt againโor something like that?
Thinking about it made her chest ache, so Iris shook her head and continued cleaning.
โIris-chan! We’re done over here!โ
โGot it! Then I guess I’ll wipe the windows next.โ
โMy, how efficient you areโฆ!โ
ใ
Being praised made her feel a little shy, but also happy.
Spending time with slightly older, dependable people or women around her own age had become very important to Iris.
After a while, the cleaning finished, and it was time for tea in the small break room near the office.
Wrapping both hands around the steaming cup, warmth spread through her body.
โRen and the others are returning from the north today, right?โ
โYes. I hear everyone, including the knights, is safe.โ
โThat’s wonderful! You must have been worried, Iris-chan.โ
Iris gave a small nod.
Ren, who had rescued her when she was left behind alone in that small village in the east.
The important people of that benefactor. The three figures beside Ren shone brightly.
Butโฆ she felt a little envious.
It frustrated her that she couldn’t be of any help.
โโฆI hope they come back soon.โ
The servants smiled softly at the words that slipped out.
Iris placed her hand over her heart.
What should she say first when they return?
โWelcome backโ? Or maybe, โYou must be exhaustedโ?
Or perhapsโฆ she chuckled softly.
It was only natural that her heart grew warm just thinking about it.
While organizing spices in the kitchen, Iris suddenly wondered.
โWhat would Ren-san want to eat when he returns?
No matter how strong they were heading into the Demon Forest, they’d surely be exhausted by the time they came back.
Then at least, she wanted to do what she could.
Cook a warm meal and let him rest.
โโฆI think I’ll go shopping.โ
Once the thought struck her, she acted quickly.
After informing a trusted servant, Iris headed out into the castle town.
The calls of street vendors and children’s laughter flowed down the streets on the breeze.
Just seeing Iris made the nearby shopkeepers light up with smiles.
โHey, isn’t that Iris-chan! All alone today?โ
โYes. Just buying some ingredients.โ
โFor the heroes? What a good girlโฆ Hey, look! Fresh carrots just came in!โ
โThen I’ll take those!โ
โThanks for the business! I’ll throw these in for free!โ
They were forcefully stuffed into her bag, making her blink in surprise.
Next, she headed to the butcher.
โIris-chan! Not with the heroes today, huh?โ
โRight nowโฆ they’re out on a trip a bit farther away.โ
โCould it be monster hunting again? What a dependable man. Those guys are truly strong.โ
The fishmonger’s voice was tinged with respect.
Iris’s chest tightened.
โYes. He is strong. But he also takes reckless risks.
โYou’re waiting for the hero to return, right? Then take this. It’s the best meat we have today.โ
โEh, butโฆ!โ
โMy daughter said she really wants the heroes to try it. Right?โ
A girl peeking out from beside him gave Iris a small bow.
โWhen he comes back, I want him to eat it!โ
โOkay. I’ll make sure to give it to him. Thank you.โ
At those words, the girl’s face lit up brightly.
The shopping continued.
At the bakery, she was given a freshly baked round loaf as a bonus. At the apothecary, they pressed a bag into her hands, saying, โTake some healing salve with you.โ
Seeing how Ren’s past actions manifested as people’s gratitude and respect like this, Iris felt her feelings for him grow even stronger.
Her arms full of groceries, Iris’s steps naturally lightened.
Returning to the royal castle after shopping, Iris headed straight for the kitchen in her room.
โAlright. Let’s do this.โ
She gave herself a little pep talk and rolled up her sleeves.
Ren, Celia, Rina, and Noel.
She wanted to make a warm meal that would nourish and energize them all.
That desire alone was genuine.
Unfortunately, her cooking skills were not.
โFirstโฆ let’s make soup!โ
Iris laid out the vegetables she’d bought on the cutting board
and picked up a knife.
Sliceโฆ thud.
โโฆHuh?โ
The cut carrot flew off the cutting board.
After that, the carrots and potatoes on the board, sliced with force, were in indescribable shapes.
โButโฆ it’ll be fine if I just make soup, right!โ
She forced herself to stay positive.
Next, the onion.
โThe onion, umโฆ finely choppedโฆโ
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
โkyaaโฆ!โ
The knife gouged into the cutting board.
But Iris just muttered,
โโฆThis cutting board is a bit soft, huh,โ
and continued chopping without a care.
The chopped ingredients lost their fibers halfway through, and by the end, you couldn’t tell what they’d originally been.
But even seeing that, she nodded earnestly.
โThis way, they’ll melt into the soup and make it even tastierโฆ!โ
She poured water into the pot, turned the heat high, and tossed in the ingredients haphazardly, one after another.
Plop.
Splash.
Thud.
With each violent thud, water splashed up from the pot.
But Iris wiped away the splashes and smiled happily.
โRen and the others will be so happyโฆโ
Then came seasoning.
โSaltโฆ I heard just a pinchโฆโ
She grabbed salt from the box.
A mountain of salt fell โthudโ into the pot.
โโฆHuh? Was that a bit much?โ
A white layer formed on the surface of the pot.
โโฆIt’ll thin out when it simmers, right!โ
Displaying miraculous positive thinking, she stirred the soup.
Her movements were forceful, far exceeding mere stirring.
The vegetables inside the pot lost their shape with each churning motion. Even the carrots and potatoes, barely holding their form, began transforming into something else.
โNextโฆ meat!โ
She lit the flame, intending to sear itโ
Pop
โโฆHuh!? T-The heat’s too strongโฆ!โ
And, naturally, it burned.
Sizzleโฆ
A wisp of scorched smoke rose.
โSmells kinda good!โ
Iris told herself this as she kept cooking.
After throwing in every seasoning she could find, Iris mimicked Ren and gently tasted it.
โโฆHmโฆ?โ
The taste wasโsalty.
Not just salty, but so salty it burned her tongue.
But Irisโ
โSomehowโฆ maybe it’s an energizing flavorโฆ?โ
โฆtook it very positively.
Then, looking at the finished something, Iris smiled contentedly.
โIt’s done! I hope Ren and the others will be happy with this.โ
The โsomethingโ arranged on the plate was packed full of nothing but love.
Iris placed a hand on her chest and exhaled softly.
โPlease, come back safely.โ