Once the Curse of Reversed Likability Was Lifted, My Party Members Became Unbearably Heavy
As the sun began to set, the capital city’s daytime clamor gradually subsided.
A cold wind crept across the cobblestones, and the high walls encircling the city dissolved into darkness.
The gates were already closed, and the torches of the patrolling guards traced regular lines of light.
โโฆThe front gate is out of the question,โ Ren muttered softly.
Before him, at the southern gate of the royal capital, two armored guards stood chatting.
Among their faces was one he recognized from his days as a hero.
Ren pulled his hood deeper over his head and hid in the shadows along the wall.
ใ
The wanted posters were still plastered across the land.
โRen, the Traitorous Heroโโthat name still lingered in the echoes of a curse.
Beside him, Iris drew a quiet breath.
Even in the dim light, he could feel her shoulders tense with tension.
โIt’ll be fine. If they don’t spot us, they won’t catch us.โ
He said it jokingly, and Iris furrowed her brow.
โโฆIt’s not something you can say so lightly.โ
โHaha, maybe you’re right. But we’ve been on the run for over a month now. There’s no point in being scared now.โ
Ren said this and smiled slightly.
His calmness eased Iris’s tension a little.
Soon, they moved away from the gate and reached a spot where the wall surface was slightly rough.
โโฆAre we climbing up here?โ
โThere’s no other way.โ
Ren checked his surroundings and turned to face Iris.
โโฆI’ll carry you. It’ll be over quickly.โ
โHuhโฆ?โ
In that instant, Iris’s cheeks flushed bright red.
โB-but, that’sโฆโ
โYou couldn’t climb this wall alone, could you?โ
Before she could finish speaking, Ren gently lifted her body.
She was surprisingly light.
She gasped, reflexively wrapping her arms around his body.
His heartbeat faintly echoed near her ear.
That steady rhythm felt oddly close, while her own heartbeat, in contrast, grew faster and faster.
โโฆI’m sorry.โ
โFor what?โ
โโฆMy heartbeat. It’s loud.โ
He gave a wry smile and climbed the wall without a word.
The cold stone and his warmth alternated against her skin. It lasted only seconds, yet to Iris it felt like an eternity.
As they entered the royal capital, an autumn breeze brushed through both their hair.
Ren gently set her down, brushing the hem of her skirt with his hand, concerned about dirt.
โAre you hurt?โ
โโฆNo. I’m fine.โ
Iris couldn’t lift her face. The heat in her cheeks wouldn’t subside, and her heart still pounded fast.
They made their way through a quiet backstreet, heading toward the royal castle.
The gossip of elderly passersby drifted naturally into their ears.
โDid you hear? They say the Saint hasn’t been seen at the church for three days now.โ
โNor the Knight Commander. The knights at the castle all look tense.โ
โLady Noel rarely appears in public, but with both heroes gone, even she must be worried.โ
Ren narrowed his eyes at the old men’s words.
โโThe curse’s lifting.
Its effects might be affecting them more than he’d thought.
The white royal castle towered over the center of the capital.
Though it shone brilliantly by day, the castle now lay submerged in darkness, only the footsteps of guards echoing in the night air.
โโฆYou’re really going, aren’t you?โ
Iris murmured softly. Her profile, illuminated by moonlight, held a hint of unease.
โWell, nothing will begin unless we meet him.โ
Ren’s voice was quiet.
Yet his eyes held no hesitation. Only unwavering resolve.
The king who condemned him as a โtraitorโ through a curse.
But if it was all due to the Demon King’s curseโthen surely the king too must have regained his true self.
Hiding in the shadows of the wall,
Ren approached the old service entrance at the rear of the castle.
The layout he’d memorized during his days entering and leaving the royal castle remained etched in his memory.
Sliding through the gap between night watch shifts, he quietly pushed the iron door. Its creak dissolved into the darkness.
โLet’s go, Iris. โฆWill you come with me?โ
โOf course. I’ll always be by your side, Ren.โ
Her voice trembled slightly, yet held unwavering resolve.
Taking her small hand, Ren stepped into the darkness.
The castle interior was astonishingly quiet.
Candle flames flickered across the walls, casting long shadows down the corridor.
Familiar. Yet somehow distant. Memories of lost days stirred within Ren’s chest.
ใ
Reaching the king’s study, soft light spilled from beneath the door.
Ren took a deep breath and knocked.
โโฆEnter.โ
A low, steady voice answered.
Opening the door, he found the king, now in his twilight years. Though his gaze was fixed on the documents spread across his desk, his eyes immediately locked onto Ren.
Only a single quiet lamp flickered within the office. The dragon crest carved into the wall seemed to breathe slowly, swaying in the flickering flames.
The king seated in the opulent chairโAgres IIIโappeared far older than before.
Gazing at Ren kneeling before the door, the king finally spoke after a long silence.
โโฆRen. You have come.โ
His voice carried pain more than royal dignity.
It was not the voice of a beloved ruler, but that of a man consumed by a single, profound regret.
โIโฆ must apologize to you.โ
The king rose slowly, then knelt on one knee, bowing his head.
โI doubted you, banished you, degraded you. Only now do I realize what a foolish act that was. It was all brought about by my ignorance and fear. โฆI committed an unforgivable sin.โ
Ren did not answer immediately.
He stared silently, as if to confirm the remorse contained within the king’s voice.
โI do not ask for your forgiveness. Onlyโฆ I am sorry. The blood you shed, the tears you weptโall stem from my foolishness.โ
The moment he saw this, the nameless, rage-like emotion within Ren quietly dissolved.
After a while, Ren slowly exhaled.
“โฆYour Majesty, please raise your head. I don’t hate anyone.”
โโฆโฆโ
โYour Majesty doubting me, them rejecting meโit was all the Demon King’s curse. No one was at fault. Not me, not them.โ
Those words pierced the king’s heart, yet they were also a salvation.
The king lifted his face slightly and drew a deep breath.
โโฆI received reports from Saint Celia, Mage Noel, and the Knight Commander. โThe claim that the Hero betrayed us was all a lieโโฆ They were crying.โ
โHow are they now?โ
โThey are utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally. They are resting in a room within the royal castle now. โฆIt is likely the anguish of realizing their own guilt.โ
The king’s voice trembled.
Not like a ruler to subjects or soldiers, but with the resonance of a father.
โRen, I have not yet made this public to prevent confusion among the people who know the truth. But I will not continue to hide it. I swear to restore your honor.โ
โโฆBut how should we convey this so everyone can once again revere you as the Hero without misunderstanding?โ
Deep confusion and exhaustion clouded the king’s eyes. Even knowing the โtruth,โ there must be anguish in not being able to reveal it easily.
Ren slowly approached and stood before the king.
โYour Majestyโฆ There is no need to rush now. The truth will reach them eventually. But if people blame someone when it does, it will be meaningless.โ
โโฆHero, you truly areโฆ strong.โ
โI’m not strong at all. I know everyone is good people. Iris was with me this past month too.โ
Hearing those words, Iris, who had been tense beside him, bowed her head.
After that, silence fell. The candle flame flickered faintly.
After a while, the king spoke quietly.
โโฆShall we meet them now?โ
Ren closed his eyes briefly, picturing the three who had once walked beside him.
Laughter, battles, and farewellsโall remained deep within his heart.
โOf course. That’s why I returned.โ
At that answer, the king nodded deeply.
โI shall respect your resolve. โRen. Please, do not abandon this kingdom again.โ
Ren smiled quietly.
โโฆYour Majesty, I owe this kingdom and you a debt of gratitude. I never once intended to abandon you.โ
At those words, the king bowed his head once more.