Once the Curse of Reversed Likability Was Lifted, My Party Members Became Unbearably Heavy
“Everyone, have you finished eating? Then I’ll clear the dishes!”
Ren and the others all nearly let their “we made it through” expressions show, desperately forcing themselves back into smiles.
“Yeah, thanks Iris. It was… really, really delicious.”
“Well, um… yeah. It was a heartwarming taste.”
“Iris-chan, really… thank you so much for your thoughtfulness.”
“It… it was delicious!”
Iris, of course, didn’t notice the faint tremor in all four voices.
“I’m glad! I’ll make it again sometime!”
Saying this, she happily disappeared into the kitchen.
The moment the door closed, the four of them doubled over.
“Ugh… ugh…!”
“My… my stomach…”
“Celia, heal us…!”
All three clutched their stomachs simultaneously, leaning heavily against the table.
Ren frowned deeply, desperately trying to stifle his voice.
“I… I tried so hard to act normal… but this…!”
Noel’s face was bright red as she muttered, breathing heavily.
“I-I’m also… oh no! W-water!”
Rina, too, had lost all trace of a knight’s dignity, slumped against her chair.
Celia lay face-down on the desk, murmuring through teary eyes.
“Iris-chan’s cooking… I’m really happy about the thought. But…”
All three stomachs screamed in unison: “Growl… growl… growl…”
Celia gripped her staff with trembling fingers.
A soft light enveloped the three, and the stomach pain gradually subsided.
“We’re saved. Thank you so much, Celia.”
“W-I thought I was done for too.”
“It really… was a fight to the death.”
The four collapsed limply into their chairs, sinking into exhaustion as if they’d just faced the Demon King’s army.
But Celia suddenly softened her expression.
“Still, Iris-chan looked truly happy, didn’t she?”
Ren chuckled softly.
“Yeah. Just seeing that made this ‘sacrifice’ more than worth it.”
The three exchanged glances and sighed simultaneously.
“She was a far tougher foe than Graham ever was.”
“Next time, let’s teach Iris-chan how to cook.”
Unaware of this secret conversation, Iris’s faint humming drifted softly from the kitchen.
Several weeks after Dagura’s defeat.
Ren awoke in a quiet room assigned to him in a corner of the castle.
He had grown quite accustomed to the disability of his one arm. The scent of yesterday’s dried futon and the morning light streaming in signaled the usual peace.
These past few days had been anything but dull—he’d been hunting monsters in the countryside, assisting Noel with her experiments, and teaching the knights.
“Good morning, Ren-san. Today was supposed to be a ‘relaxing day,’ right?”
Iris, her hair gathered in a white scrunchie, peered down at him with sleepy eyes.
Lately, she’d been diligently handling all the housework for Ren’s sake, though she often overdid it and ended up spinning her wheels.
When Ren smiled and replied, “That’s right,” she relaxed like a relieved puppy.
“Then… hehe. I’ll make breakfast with all my might!”
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“I’m fine! I learned a new recipe from Celia-san yesterday!!”
After breakfast, a quiet knock sounded at the door.
Opening it revealed one of King Agres’s aides, someone Ren often encountered.
“Lord Ren, His Majesty requests your presence.”
“The King?”
“Yes.”
Iris looked up, concern visible on her face.
“Did something happen?”
“I don’t know. I’ll go see for now.”
Ren threw on his coat and headed toward the king’s office with the man who had come to fetch him.
King Agres III’s office differed from the solemn grandeur of the throne room, being a quiet space filled with stacked books. Maps covered the walls, and a large number of letters were spread out on the desk.
Ren was urged to sit and sank into a sofa that seemed to swallow him whole.
“My apologies for summoning you, Ren. But there’s something I absolutely must ask you.”
Ren straightened at the king’s tone.
“If it’s something I can assist with, I’ll answer anything.”
“Hmm… Then I’ll be blunt. Next month, the ‘Four Great Nations Summit’ will be held.”
Ren gasped involuntarily.
“The Four Great Nations Summit? Surely not… Filia and Salvan too?”
“Yes. It has never been realized since I became king. In fact, even during the reign of my predecessor, all four great nations participating together was unheard of.”
The Four Great Nations—the four major powers existing on this continent:
Filia, the elven nation surrounded by forests, closed off to diplomacy;
The Kingdom of Alster, where Ren and his companions lived;
The Ludia Federation, separated from the Kingdom of Alster by a massive river
The Salvan Empire, ruling the southern desert regions
For representatives of all these nations to gather in one place is an event rare even in history.
The king wore a wry smile.
“For Filia and Salvan, who stubbornly refused diplomatic relations until now, to suddenly declare their ‘participation’…”
A flicker of unease ran through Ren’s chest.
(The elves are one thing, but Salvan joining? That’s not normal. They’re always starting wars of conquest.)
The king placed his hands on the desk and exhaled deeply.
“It’s likely due to the shift in international relations after you defeated the Demon King, Ren. The problem is, no one can predict what topics will come up at the talks. That’s why I summoned you—to draw on your experience traveling across the lands and seek your counsel.”
Ren nodded.
“I see… Indeed, I did see a bit of Filia and Salvan during my travels. I’ll share whatever I can within reason.”
The king’s expression relaxed, a look of relief washing over him.
“That’s a great help. Truthfully, few have traveled as extensively as you.”
“But especially in Salvan, the Demon King’s army hasn’t had much influence, so I didn’t stay long. That country is rather unsettling in many ways.”
For a while, the two exchanged opinions over the map.
The exclusivity of the elves, the expansionism of the south, Ludia’s neutral stance—
Even Ren could sense the delicate balance of the continent beginning to creak.
“…But, Your Majesty.”
Ren suddenly lifted his gaze.
“If it’s acceptable, might I be permitted to ‘accompany’ you to that meeting?”
The king’s eyes widened.
“Accompany…? Ren, you?”
“Yes. The more I hear about it, the more this uneasy feeling won’t subside. Besides, if I—the one who defeated the Demon King—accompany you, they won’t underestimate us. I’m quite good at understanding people’s feelings!”
The king fell silent, staring straight at Ren.
After a moment, the king smiled faintly.
“…Hmm. I expected you to say that. Whether you truly understand people’s feelings is beside the point. Very well, Ren. I shall allow you to accompany us to this meeting.”
“Thank you!”
“However—”
The king raised a finger to emphasize his point.
“Don’t do anything reckless. And make sure you explain everything clearly to them. Especially those three—things could get messy if you’re not around.”
“Understood! I’ll do my best to explain!”
“Though it seems everyone will likely tag along anyway.”
King Agres murmured quietly to himself.