Once the Curse of Reversed Likability Was Lifted, My Party Members Became Unbearably Heavy
Passing through the highway heading north, Ren and the others arrived at the entrance to the โDemon Forest,โ shrouded in a thin mist. Even in daylight, the forest cast shadows, and the sound of the wind rustling the branches was mingled with a faint, low hum.
Just before reaching this spot, the group had stopped at a small village.
Perhaps because of its proximity to the forest, the village had a tense atmosphere.
Children stayed locked indoors, while adults gathered in the village center, fidgeting as they stared toward the forest, almost as if praying.
โExcuse us. I am Rina Bart, Captain of the Royal Knights. Have you noticed any changes in the forest lately?โ
Rina placed a hand over her heart as she introduced herself. The villagers greeted them with eyes filled with a mixture of relief and unease.
โYou cameโฆ! This is a tremendous help.โ
A middle-aged man stepped forward, his voice strained as he spoke, surrounding Ren and the others.
โIt started about a month ago. Deep in the forestโit feels likeโฆ โa dark, murky magic is stirringโ. My body shakes involuntarilyโฆ It’s the same eerie feeling as when the Demon King’s army was rampant.โ
At those words, Ren’s brow furrowed slightly.
Beside him, Celia also closed her eyes softly, concentrating on the flow of the wind.
โโฆI feel it. From deep within the forest, a smoldering magic. Different in nature from mere monsters, more filled with maliceโฆ a dense presence.โ
Noel calmly touched the ground, channeling magic to scan the surroundings.
โThat’s not all. I sense the presence of a significant number of beasts and demonic beings. It’s as if someone is commanding them.โ
Lina gasped at those words.
โThen, it really isโโ
Ren stared intently into the depths of the forest.ใ
Beyond the forest. Images of the high-ranking demons he’d fought during his journey to defeat the Demon King flashed through his mind.
Among them, one man stood outโknown for his relentless obsession and abnormal fixation on โstrength.โ
โThe Shattering General, Dagura.โ
An opponent Ren had personally defeated.
But what if he hadn’t died back thenโฆ?
โโฆHe might still be alive. That bastard.โ
Ren’s voice was low, tinged with conviction.
As the air grew tense, Rina surveyed the knights and gave a small nod.
โWe can’t let the village worry any longer. We’re heading into the Demon Forest!โ
The knights responded to their captain’s rallying cry, their morale rising.
The moment Ren turned his gaze toward the forest’s depths, he felt it distinctly. The same ominous, oppressive weight he’d faced on the battlefield, accompanied by that metallic tang.
The โpresenceโ of the man he was certain he had defeated.
โNo mistakeโit’s Dagura’s magic.โ
A quiet resolve settled in Ren’s eyes as he murmured this.
After advancing some distance from the forest’s entrance, the air changed abruptly.
The trees rustled, and a magic that pricked the skin began to seep in.
โโฆIt’s growing denser. The magic’s density.โ
Celia raised her divine staff lightly, scanning the surroundings.
It was immediately after that.
Rustle!
ใ
With a sound like tearing underbrush, black shadows burst forth one after another from deep within the forest.
Skinny, beast-like bodies, sharp, murky eyes. Grunts belonging to the Demon King’s armyโOrc soldiers and fanged beast-type monstersโappeared as if spilling out.
โAll units, prepare to engage!!โ
The moment Rina drew her sword, tension ran through the entire knight corps.
The monsters charged toward the formation, growling.
โDamnโฆ too many!โ
โWe’re surrounded, Captain!โ
The knights swiftly adjusted their formation, holding back the relentless wave of monsters. But their numbers were clearly abnormal. It was as if someone had gathered them, deliberately blocking our pathโฆ
Rina instantly assessed the situation and turned to Ren and the others.
โRen, Celia, Noel! We’re moving forward. This is clearly a delaying tactic. He’s further ahead.โ
Ren looked ahead. A thicker pulse of magic than before emanated from deep within the forest.
If Dagura was there, it was ahead.
โBut Rina, these monstersโโ
โIt’s fine. They’re the elite of the Kingdom Knights. They can hold them off here alone!โ
With that, Rina turned to Deputy Captain Regna.
โRegna! I’m leaving command of the area beyond this point to you. Push them back with everything you’ve gotโdon’t let the monsters out of the forest!โ
โYes, understood, Captain! โฆMay fortune be with you.โ
Regna nodded firmly and immediately barked orders to his troops.
โVanguard, reinforce your shields! Rear guard, spread out and clear a path with magic! Make way for the Captain and the Heroes!โ
The knights moved in perfect formation, instantly carving out a makeshift passage for Ren and the others.
Even as they did so, the monsters charged forward with terrifying momentum.
The clash of swords, the flashes of exploding magic, shouts and roars echoed through the forest.
Noel murmured beside Ren.
โThey’re all so strongโฆ Not a hint of fear in the face of that number.โ
โOf course. I trained them personally!โ
Ren nodded firmly, fixing his gaze ahead.
โLet’s go. If we stop here, everyone’s efforts will be wasted.โ
โYeah.โ โRight!โ
Behind them, the knights’ voices echoed.
โAll units, push them back!! We will stop them here!!โ
With that fiery cry behind them, the four charged straight through the horde of monsters, plunging deeper into the forest’s darkness.
Leaving the swarm of monsters behind, they advanced in a straight line toward the pulsing center of magical power.
โโEveryone was certain that beyond lay the Shattering General Dagura.
The deeper they ventured into the forest, the heavier and more stagnant the air became, an oppressive pressure that seemed to drain their stamina with every step.
Even so, Ren advanced without hesitation, his one-armed body pushing forward.
The remaining threeโCelia, Rina, and Noelโstared at his back, overwhelmed by a sense of anxiety swelling within their chests.
Walking beside Ren, Celia couldn’t tear her gaze away from his missing arm.
That moment when she had made a choice that seemed to reject healing.
The past where she had abandoned his suffering still gnawed deeply at Celia’s heart.
That was precisely why, now.
(If it means Ren-sama gets hurtโฆ I don’t care how many times my body breaks.)
She gripped the divine staff tightly.
No curse, no wound, not even her life itself would be too precious.
To never repeat that unforgivable version of herself from that day.
Rina clenched her fingers tightly around the sword hilt.
Her expression remained calm, but her heart was anything but peaceful.
(He should be stopped from standing on the front lines with only one arm.)
But Ren wouldn’t stop. He pressed forward faster than anyone.
(Thenโฆ I will protect him. Not as Knight Commander. As a person who loves Ren.)
She exhaled quietly.
When he faced the enemy’s deadly blade, she would become his shield, his spear, cutting off every threat to Ren.
She held that resolve in her heart.
Noel took several deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling heavily.
Her heart pounded relentlessly.
Once, she had hurt Ren with her own words, cornered him, and taken away his place.
That regret still wouldn’t fade.
(Soโฆ I will protect him. Absolutely, absolutely protect him. No oneโฆ no one else will ever touch Ren again.)
Her eyes held fierce determination and resolve.
The forest grew darker and darker, until black mist began seeping through the trees.
Ren fixed his gaze on its center.
โโฆThis presence. No mistake. It’s here.โ
The moment he spoke, the air snapped taut as if about to burst.
The three immediately formed a semicircle around Ren.
โRen, stay back.โ
Rina said in a quiet voice.
โโฆIf you step forward, we’re with you.โ
Noel calmly activated her magic.
โRen sama, no matter what happens, I’ll heal you. Leave it to me, just like before.โ
Celia also readied her divine staff, glaring ahead.
Ren met each of their gazes in turn, then quietly stepped forward.
โIt’s okay. Let’s fight together.โ
It was at that very moment.
Whooshโฆ The mist swirled.
A low, rumbling laugh echoed through the forest.
โโฆโฆโฆโฆYou’ve come.โ
From within the mist, a massive man stepped forward, one step, then another.
Rock-like muscles covered his entire body.
His forehead was exposed, one horn broken off.
The man renowned as the Demon King’s mightiest generalโ
General Dagura, the Shatterer.
Behind him, another shadow stood silently.
A man with piercing eyes and an inhumanly perfect physique.
Known as Dagura’s confidant, the demonic being feared as Dagura’s right handโ
Graham Lamb.
Graham smiled coldly.
โI’ve been waiting for you, Hero Ren. โฆIt’ll be quite the spectacle to see how far you can fight Lord Dagura with that one arm.โ
Dagura crossed his arms and growled in a voice so deep it shook the ground.
โYou finally cameโฆ I’ve been waiting for thisโฆ To crush you with my own hands and claim the title of the strongest!โ
Within the heart of the mist, the gazes of the four and the two locked.