Once the Curse of Reversed Likability Was Lifted, My Party Members Became Unbearably Heavy
The royal capital, bathed in the setting sun, glowed red and clear as ever. A cold wind brushed the cobblestones, sunlight illuminating the windows of the spires.
In the office at the heart of the Knights’ Headquarters, a female knight stood silently.
Rina Bald.
One of the heroes who defeated the Demon King, a genius appointed as the youngest Commander of the Kingdom’s Knights in history for her achievements.
On her desk lay the roster of the upper echelons who had once corrupted the order with power and self-interest.
All of themโtheir crimes exposed to the light of day and condemned by her hand.
โโฆWith this, the kingdom’s sword is finally straightened.โ
Rina exhaled softly, placing the letter she held on the desk.ใHer gaze was cold, yet clear.
For the people, for justiceโnot a shred of doubt existed within her.
An unwavering pride that tolerated no betrayal or corruption. Everyone called her the โideal knight.โ
โCaptain! I have a report!โ
Her young deputy rushed in.
โIntelligence indicates remnants of the Demon King’s army are hiding in the northern mountainous region! Furthermoreโฆ there’s a sighting report of Amagi Ren!โ
At the mention of that name, Rina’s eyebrow twitched slightly. But her expression immediately hardened and closed off.
โโฆSo. That traitor is still running around, is he?โ
Her voice was low, devoid of any emotion.
โShall we assemble an extermination force?โ
โNo. I will go.โ
The young man gasped.
โThe commander herselfโฆ!?โ
Rina pushed her chair back and stood. Her back was perfectly straight. She herself did not notice the faint tremor in the fingers resting on the hilt of her longsword.
โHe was once my comrade. But he betrayed that trust and endangered the people. I will end it with my own hands. โฆThat is my duty.โ
Her voice held both resolve and coldness, as if the mission itself bound her heart.
Rina walked to the window and looked down upon the royal capital. People laughed together, reveling in peace. Gazing at that scene, she murmured softly.
โI won’t let that man disrupt this worldโฆโ
Rina slowly turned her cloak and left the hall.
Walking down the long corridor, her eyes suddenly caught a painting hanging on the wall.
Thereโit depicted them, the group of heroes.
Me, Celia, Noel, andโฆ and?
Only three should be in the painting, yet a man’s shadow appeared.
His face was obscured by the sunlight’s glare. Yet, for some reason, her heart began to race. Breathing grew difficult.
He betrayed the people, betrayed us. He should be humanity’s enemyโฆ shouldn’t he?
Why?
I pressed my hand to my forehead without thinking. Deep inside my head, something shifted, creaking like a rusty mechanism.
In that instant, a ringing filled my ears. My vision exploded white.
ใ
โโRina , get back! I’ll buy us timeโ!โ
A man’s voice.
That voice, one I should have been familiar with, suddenly came back to me with crystal clarity. My chest burned as if a fire had been lit deep within.
โโฆTh-thatโฆ whoseโฆโ
A face that shouldn’t have been in the painting now appeared clearly in my mind’s eye.
And in the next instantโRina’s knees buckled.
The sword fell to the floor, a sharp clang echoing.
The world warped as if inverting.
โRina, I believe you can change the knights and become a noble knight yourself.โ
Those words burned deep within her heart. All the lost memories flooded back like a curse.
The final battle with the Demon King.
Him, covered in blood. The moment she had pushed away his hand reaching out for help.
โโAhโฆ!โ
The sound that escaped her throat was neither a scream nor a sob. Her fingertips dug into the collapsed floorboards as tears streamed down her cheeks.
โNoโฆ Iโฆ betrayed himโฆ!โ
The cathedral bells tolled in the distance.
Their sound echoed coldly, as if announcing their sins.
โWhy did I leave his side?
โWhy did I tell such a lie?
She slammed her head against the floor. Again and again and again.
Her heartbeat quickened, her breathing grew ragged.
โHis voiceโ
โHis smileโ
โHis painโ
All of it pierced her chest.
And finallyโthe last thing that surfaced was the look in his eyes when we parted.
For the country, for the people, for justiceโ
The oath that defined me, the one who was supposed to be noble.
Rina clutched the medal at her chest.
The insignia of the Knight Commander, the mark of honor bestowed by the King.
Her fingers tightened. With a metallic screech, it shattered. Fragments slid from her palm, falling to the floor with a dull gleam.
โIt felt as if her very pride itself had been crushed.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, one after another.
โI’m sorryโฆโ
โI’m sorryโฆ!โ
That battlefield. Even after losing his left arm, he had smiled.
Yet Iโhad drawn my sword. Who had I swung it at?
I was no different from the knights I had hated and condemned.
โRenโฆโ
Calling his name made her voice tremble.
She felt a faint illusion that someone was beside her. Light flickered, and she thought she saw his face standing there.
Rina stood up and staggered toward the mirror.
The woman reflected back was a stranger. Her lips had lost color, her eyes unfocused, darting about as if searching for something.
โโฆWho are you?โ
The question came from her reflection in the mirror. The voice that answered was hoarse, like a stranger’s.
Then, suddenly, a smile spread across her face. Slowly, painfully, yet somehow joyfully.
โThat’s rightโฆ I’ve been lying all along.โ
โPride? Justice? There was never any such thingโฆโ
The laughter turned to sobs.
The sobs turned to moans.
The moans gradually became broken sounds.
โRenโฆ Renโฆ Renโฆโ
Each time that name was called, something deep within her chest creaked.
No matter how many times she called, her voice dissolved into the void and vanished. Yet, only by continuing to call his name could she hold onto herself now.
โHeyโฆ If it were youโฆ would you smile at me again?โ
โWould you say, โIt’s okay,โ like you did back then?โ
The air was cold, yet her cheeks burned hot.ใTears flowed unceasingly.
She no longer knew if this was her own will. Collapsing onto the floor, Rina slowly pressed both hands to her chest. The heartbeat she felt there felt distant, almost like it belonged to someone else.
โRenโฆ I swore to youโฆโ
โI said I’d protect you, so whyโโ
The words trailed off, unable to form a sound.
The sun had already set, and the moonlight streaming into the room quietly fell upon Rina’s cheeks, turning the tears glistening there silver.
โIf only I could start overโฆโ
โIf only he were still aliveโฆโ
โIf only he could forgive meโฆโ
Such prayer-like thoughts overflowed within her chest.
That night, the most noble knight of the royal capital quietly shattered, along with her ideals.