“Hmm, so these guys took care of the cursed golden beast?”
“Yes, sire! I saw it with my own two eyes!”
The king. A man adorned in dazzlingly ornate robes, a golden crown atop his head. The sole ruler of this accursed kingdom. He now stands right before me.
Naturally, I tried to kneel, but Elise tossed formalities out the window, and Ariel firmly declared that since he’s not her king, she owes no respect. Stuck in an awkward position, I contemplated following Bogart’s style by kneeling on one knee and avoiding eye contact with the king, but Elise intervened, arguing we’re here to help, so there’s no need for such formalities—convincing me otherwise.
The dignified king. His hair was snow-white. Standing beside him was a queen who looked twenty years younger, her skin radiant and glowing as she smiled kindly down at us. Her hair was blonde.
The king stroked his beard, seemingly lost in thought. It’s understandable; if some random farmer showed up dragging bloody strangers claiming they’re the key to breaking a curse, I’d be skeptical too. And they’re not even showing proper respect.
“My people would not lie to me. Very well. Strangers, if you can break this kingdom’s curse, I shall willingly grant you anything you desire.”
“Keehehehe, what did you say? Anything? So you’d give us your heart too?”
Elise’s words chilled the audience chamber. The sudden drop in temperature made my lungs ache. Imagining being thrown into jail, decapitated, and left to rot made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
I quickly stood and grabbed Elise’s shoulder, forcing a cheerful smile.
“Hahaha! That… that’s just my friend getting overly excited at Your Majesty’s generous offer!”
With a nod from me, Ariel chimed in from the side.
[Y-yeah! This guy’s always been a weirdo. Please understand!]
“Hee~ everyone’s making such a fuss. Be honest now. You can’t give us your heart, can you? Hmm?”
The king furrowed his brow and sighed briefly. Though the guards looked ready to pounce, fortunately the king’s next words weren’t an arrest order.
“Alas, I cannot part with the heart that sustains the lives of my people. But is there something else you desire?”
“Keehehehe! You should’ve said that sooner! Stop spouting nonsense!!”
I quickly clamped both hands over Elise’s mouth and rushed to speak.
“Haha! Your Majesty truly cares for your people! What a noble ruler! All we seek is one thing: do you know the whereabouts of the black rabbit?”
At my words, the king’s gaze shifted with curiosity.
“The black rabbit, you say… yes, I’ve seen him recently. A peculiar rabbit in a black hat and cloak. We even had a conversation.”
“You spoke to him?”
I thought he was too busy taunting and running away to have time for chats, but hearing they conversed shocked me.
“Indeed. He mentioned someone chosen by destiny would come… now that I think about it, he must’ve meant you.”
The king gazed deeply at me. What? Is that it? Sensing my dissatisfaction, the king added:
“Though bizarre, his words resonated with an old legend I cherish. The enigmatic rabbit left me with a few encouraging words before disappearing… and mentioned your destination.”
[Where’d he go?]
The king glanced curiously at Ariel’s necklace before replying.
“That… I’ll tell you once the curse is lifted.”
[Ugh, why not just tell us already!?]
“Would you leave without fulfilling your mission if I did?”
“This king’s annoying. Tsk tsk, ruling with such narrow-mindedness, pfft.”
Elise spat on the marble floor, prompting me to facepalm. Thankfully, the king found our rudeness amusing enough to chuckle lightly, relieving some tension.
“Bogart, you’ve done well bringing these heroes here. Now guide them to Godel’s tower for the sake of this kingdom.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“Before that….”
The king scanned us with a chilly gaze, causing me to swallow nervously.
“Have them bathe and provide food.”
At his command, footsteps echoed and maids appeared, guiding us away. Elise and Ariel went one way while I was led elsewhere, ending up at a magnificent bathhouse rivaling any modern spa.
There, I washed off the revolting stench of bl**d, enjoying a much-needed healing moment. Afterward, the maids returned my clothes, freshly laundered and perfectly pressed—it felt like magic!
While marveling at their skills, we were ushered to the dining hall where I reunited with Ariel and Elise, their refreshed appearances clearly boosting their moods.
A feast spread before us, and I tearfully devoured every bite. Compared to those atrocious dishes Elise and Ariel usually called ‘food,’ this was divine.
Our sweet time ended all too soon, and we returned to the audience chamber.
Bogart remained kneeling respectfully until our arrival, making me feel guilty for being late.
Seeing our clean, presentable selves, the king smiled approvingly.
“Much better. Now, brave warriors! May blessings be upon your journey to lift this kingdom’s curse!”
Bowing deeply, Bogart rose and guided us outside. As we departed, the king muttered softly:
“Please… k*ll my daughter. Rapunzel.”
A request to k*ll his own daughter. Despite the curse and golden beasts roaming around, how could he so casually ask us to m*rder his child?
Normally wouldn’t one try harder to break a curse?
Pondering this, I observed the kingdom’s scenery. The streets were eerily empty. Rarely did anyone venture outside due to the golden monster, and those who did merely went about their silent routines.
Like machines.
Something felt off. Unnatural. And though I expected to encounter Rapunzel’s hair-monsters, none were in sight.
“It’s naptime for Rapunzel now.”
Bogart seemed to read my mind.
“Naptime?”
“Yes. This is the only time the golden beasts don’t appear. She’ll wake in 1-2 hours.”
“Hee~ you really keep track of all that?”
Elise replied with a bored expression. Bogart nodded warmly.
“Of course. We want to survive too. The effects of this golden curse were devastating. No mage or talent could solve it; instead, the stench of d*ath only grew worse.”
“Will we really be able to enter the tower?”
Bogart confidently walked ahead.
“I’m certain.”
“Don’t worry, dear~”
Elise slung an arm around me, holding her pristine staff free of bl**d and gore.
“If things get rough, I’ll smash everything.”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
[No way! I’ll help the prince! Don’t need Elise’s help!]
Elise smirked teasingly at Ariel.
“What’ll you do with that waterdrop? Water the tower? Towers aren’t plants—they won’t grow taller with water.”
[Shut up! My magic’s amazing! I’ll obliterate whatever barrier Godel set in one hit! Way better than your barbaric staff!]
“Oh my~ those who died from my staff were all as confident as you.”
“Ugh, please stop.”
Despite my intervention, their bickering continued.
“Hahaha!”
Their argument was interrupted by Bogart’s genuine laughter—warm, heartfelt, yet tinged with sadness and joy.
“You all really get along well.”
“Just me and my dear do. Not with that brat. Right, dear?”
Elise’s provocation prompted Ariel to cling possessively to my arm with shining jewel-like eyes.
[What are you saying?! The prince likes me best!]
“Well, I like you both, so can you please stop?”
With Elise pulling me one way and Ariel the other, I felt like I might rip apart. Ugh, please stop!
“Here we are.”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, we’d left the city and entered a nearby forest. Before me loomed an enormous tower reaching impossibly high into the sky. How had we gotten here so fast when we were just walking through town moments ago?
Thud.
Something suddenly pushed me from behind.
“Ack!”
As I stumbled forward, turning around revealed Bogart waving cheerfully.
Just before colliding with the tower, his lips formed clear words.
“Welcome.”
