Once the Curse of Reversed Likability Was Lifted, My Party Members Became Unbearably Heavy
Opening the door to the room, Iris was curled up on the sofa reading a book.
She lifted her head abruptly, her face lighting up like a flower blooming.
“Welcome home!”
Ren smiled and sat down beside her.
“I’m back. Iris, I need to talk to you about something.”
“Is it about the King?”
She tilted her head and snapped her book shut.
Her large eyes flickered with both interest and unease.
Ren began slowly.
“Next month, a major conference called the ‘Four Great Nations Summit’ is being held. The King asked for my advice… and I ended up going along too.”
Iris looked puzzled at first, but soon murmured softly, “Four Great Nations?”
It was understandable.
She had rarely ventured outside her foster village for a long time, knowing only vaguely about world affairs and the existence of other nations.
“Iris, the continent we’re on now is made up of four great nations. One is the Kingdom of Alster, where we are now. Then there’s the elf nation of ‘Philia,’ surrounded by forests. Across the great river lies the water city of ‘Ludya.’ And… in the southern desert, the Salvan Empire.”
Iris blinked rapidly, listening intently.
“I don’t even know much about this country…”
“Yeah. Living in the village all this time, it can’t be helped. But the world is vast. Cultures, people, ways of life—they’re all completely different.”
Iris clenched her hands tightly on her lap.
“…Have you seen all of it, Ren?”
“Not everything, but I’ve encountered many things on my travels. Values change in the forest, and just over a mountain, there are places in constant conflict. Each has its own culture and history.”
“…That’s amazing…”
“Right! Hey, that Sacred Spring we went to? It was actually in elf territory.”
“Really?! That spring was in the Elves’ country…”
“All four nations will gather for this summit. It’s unthinkable under normal circumstances. Elves rarely venture out, and as for the Salvan…”
Iris quietly gasped, then suddenly grabbed Ren’s sleeve.
“Ren. If you go to that meeting… won’t you be putting yourself in danger again?”
The question stabbed sharply at his heart.
Ren hesitated for a moment, but he couldn’t bring himself to lie.
“I can’t say there’s absolutely no danger. But I’m not going to fight. It’s just a meeting. I’ll be fine. I’ll come back.”
He gently placed a hand on her head and met her eyes.
“Sorry for making you worry.”
“…I want to know more about the world. I want to see all kinds of things with you, Ren-san. I want to know too… I’m coming with you to that meeting!!!”
“…Huh?”
At that moment—
BOOM! A tremendous sound echoed from the hallway.
“…What was that?”
Before Ren could furrow his brow and stand up,
BANG!!
The door flew open with such force it nearly flew off its hinges.
“Ren!!”
“Ren-sama!!”
“Ren!!”
Celia, Rina, and Noel burst in almost simultaneously.
Startled by their fierce entrance, Iris gasped, “Hyah!” and flinched, collapsing back onto the sofa.
Ren blinked in surprise.
“W-what’s wrong with you guys…?”
All three were panting, cheeks flushed, yet their eyes held an odd glint.
Rina edged closer to Ren, momentum carrying her forward.
“Ren!! I heard!! You said you’d accompany him to the next meeting, didn’t you?!!”
“Well… I did.”
“Well… it isn’t good enough!!”
She lunged forward, almost grabbing his collar.
“It’s dangerous!? Something’s bound to happen, of course it is!!”
“But it’s a meeting, right?”
“With Salvan participating? There’s no way it’ll end peacefully!!”
Ren tried to calm her down, but there was no room for argument.
Next, Celia stepped forward.
Her face held an ambiguous flicker—was it anger? Anxiety?
“…Lord Ren. Of course you’ll take me with you, right?”
Her quiet voice was frightening in its stillness.
“No, I just decided this. Celia has duties as the Saint—”
“The Saint has nothing to do with it! You’re trying to go alone again…”
Celia bit her lip hard, lowering her gaze.
“If I ever lose you again…”
A tear threatened to spill.
Ren reached out in panic, but Celia wiped it away and forced a smile.
“I’m sorry, I got carried away… But I’m truly worried.”
Noel crossed her arms and stepped closer.
“Ren. Wherever you go, you need our permission.”
Noel grabbed Ren’s sleeve and shook him.
“If Ren’s going, we’re obviously coming along. When do you leave?”
Iris couldn’t move from the sofa under the pressure of the three of them.
“You three are so intense. Please calm down a bit.”
Rina hurriedly raised both hands.
“Ah… No, Iris! We’re not angry! It’s just, um, well, like this!”
Celia also hurriedly forced a smile.
“That’s right, Iris-chan, don’t worry. We’re not angry, okay?”
Noel nodded vigorously.
“I know you’re not angry. I was just about to ask to come along myself!”
Ren clutched his head.
(Well, Rina has her duties as a knight escort, but everyone else seems dead set on coming too. They probably found out I was joining this quickly because I told the three of them, anticipating the King would come along…)
Rina puffed out her chest.
“So, Ren. The four of us are coming to the meeting too. No objections allowed!”
Noel raised her hand too.
“Besides, I’ve been wanting to visit other countries.”
Iris tugged at Ren’s sleeve.
“Ren-san… Can I come too?”
Surrounded by the four, Ren had nowhere to run.
(…So this is how it ends up.)
He let out a small sigh and gave a wry smile.