Once the Curse of Reversed Likability Was Lifted, My Party Members Became Unbearably Heavy
โIt’s getting quite chilly out there.โ
โAre you alright? I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you, Ren sama. Shall I close the window?โ
โNo, it’s fine if everyone else is okay. I’d rather keep it open. I want to enjoy the view while I can.โ
The four of usโmyself, Celia, Rina, and Noelโwere being jostled along in a luxurious carriage, heading toward the Demon Forest in the north.
Several knight order carriages were linked together in front of and behind ours.
Upon hearing that remnants of the Demon King’s army existed in the north and that an extermination force was being dispatched by the knight order, Ren volunteered to join the expedition.
โRen, if you’re cold, use this. It’s a small heating device. It’s a prototype, but I think it’ll keep you warm enough.โ
โThanks, Noel.โ
Seeing Ren use the magic device she had made, Noel wore a satisfied look and flashed a smug grin at Celia and Rina.
โRen. We discussed it with the knights, and today’s route seems relatively safe. We plan to have lunch by the river ahead.โ
Lina sat beside Ren, glanced at the map on her lap, then turned back to him, unable to hide her unease.
โRen, that doesn’t mean we can relax. Even if this area is safe for now, fighting remnants of the Demon King’s army is far too dangerous!โ
Rina gently touched Ren’s right arm, her gaze fixed on the empty space where his left arm should have been.
โHey, shouldn’t we really turn back now? I don’t want you to push yourself anymore. For us, your safety is the most important thingโโ
โRina. Don’t worry. Even without one arm, I won’t lose!โ
โRenโฆ But if it’s the remnants of the Demon Forestโฆโ
โโฆIf he’s still alive, then I’m needed even more. Don’t look so gloomy.โ
โI’m sorry. It’s all because we’re useless.โ
“Hey, hey, I don’t think anyone here, or the knights, are useless at all. I know everyone’s doing their best.ใใBesides, if we just hide away like this, people will start calling us tax dodgers, you know?”
โโฆLet’s resolve this quickly and get back home! Iris-chan must be missing us terribly!โ
The carriage continued toward its destination, echoing with the disciplined footsteps of the knights and the light, lively clatter of the horses’ hooves.
One month prior. Northern Region, Demon Forestโ
Amidst a blizzard where snow pellets lashed sideways, an ancient fortress gaped open like a mouth on the mountainside. Used as a supply base during the Demon King’s reign, it now lay silent and decayed, a gray, lifeless ruin.
Deep within.
In a vast chamber where only collapsed stone walls and charred remnants of banners piled up, something stirred.
Crackโฆ A dry sound of stone splitting.
Then, air trembled with a heavy breath.
โโฆHmphโฆโ
A low voice, as if rising from the depths of the earth.
A massive form buried in the rubble slowly rose.
The manโDagura Valdโwas covered in congealed blood, his scorched skin blackened and dull, as if still smoking.
His newly resurrected body was covered in wounds.
Scars littered his limbs, and a massive laceration gouged his abdomen.
Yet, his movements showed no hesitation, as if pain meant nothing to him.
He picked up the large black iron spear lying in the center of the hall.
As he gripped it, the spear’s shaft creaked audibly.
โโฆHas the Demon King perished?โ
The muttered voice was rough yet detached.
It held neither sorrow nor anger, merely accepting the fact.
โYou wereโฆ strong. But the strong must fall someday. That’s just how it is.โ
Though Dagura was one of the Demon King’s top commanders, he harbored no blind loyalty to the Demon King.
He simply took pride in the fact that the strong killed each other.
Suddenly, his gaze fell upon the fortress walls.
The corpses of his former subordinates lay collapsed against them, leaning against the stone.
He knelt before their bodies, now encased in ice.
โโฆYou fought to the end. That pride remains utterly untainted. Butโit’s still too soon to end.โ
Quietly, a smile tinged with madness spread across his face. His monstrous muscles tensed with a sharp creak.
โThe man who buried the Demon King, and the man who defeated meโthe Hero Ren.โ
Just uttering the name made his breath grow hot.
โIndeed, that battle was magnificent. And you struck down even His Majesty the Demon King. โฆThat single blow, that will. It all made my blood boil.โ
He rose slowly, shouldering his spear.
His figure stood unnaturally dignified amidst the blood-soaked ruins.
โLord Dagura. I have been awaiting your arrival. Graham Lamb, here.โ
โOh! Graham. It seems you survived after all.โ
โThanks to Lord Dagura, I endured. Allow me to serve you once more.โ
โHa ha ha! Good! Follow me! First, we go settle the score with the Hero!โ
โHah! But I hear that after defeating the Demon King, the Hero was cursed, weakened, and has been fleeing ever since.โ
His eyebrows twitched in boredom.
โSlaying such a thingโฆ holds no value.โ
โBut rest assured! Recently, the curse seems to have lifted, and he has begun moving again.โ
Rumors of humans drifted to them on the snowy wind.
‘The hero’s false accusation has been cleared.’
โThe curse has been lifted.โ
โThat hero has begun walking forward once more.โ
Outside the fortress, beyond the blizzard, those voices reached him, and Dagura’s heart burned anew.
His eyes shone brightly, and the corners of his mouth turned up.
“โฆGood. That’s fine.ใI have no interest in a weakened hero.”
He begins walking slowly, stamping his feet on the snowy ground.
โIf he has risen againโthis time, I will be the one to fall him. Hero Ren. I’ll show you that I am the strongest in this world now.โ
The moment he steps into the blizzard, the heat rising from his entire body causes the snow to evaporate.
He has no interest in the โlegacyโ left by the Demon King.
I desire neither vengeance nor dominion.
Only one thing, just one thing.
The mightiest slash, becoming the mightiest.
โWait for me, Heroโฆ This battleโlet us savor it until our blood boils.โ
Dagura Vald left the ruined fortress behind.