Chapter 34

I’m weak. Not brave, and definitely not some grand hero. But even so, the reason I’m swinging this scythe at those golden monsters is just one: Rapunzel. I have to meet her. I have to hear her story.

She cried and asked me to kill her—there’s gotta be a real reason behind that. So I keep moving forward. Why? ‘Cause I’m Rapunzel’s boyfriend!

“Haaak, haaak.”

Sweat’s pouring down like rain. While narrowly dodging their attacks, sweat keeps seeping into my wounds, stinging like crazy. There’s no end to them. Sure, I managed to take down another hair monster with great effort, but they kept coming endlessly. From below, from the ceiling—golden hair wriggling around, birthing more monsters like some kind of factory mass-producing them. That’s why I’m still stuck on the first floor. I can already feel my stamina draining fast.

My arms holding the scythe are trembling, and it feels like someone’s squeezing my lungs while I pant heavily.

Whoosh!

A hair monster swings its arms to grab me, but I lean back easily, gripping the blade tightly and swing it close-range. Definitely exhausting, but there’s one good thing about this endless battle: experience points. Right now, I’m gaining skill proficiency with the scythe. Swinging it wildly would be dumb—it’d drain my stamina in seconds and leave me exhausted.

So instead, I’m learning how to use the scythe’s weight distribution effectively, adapting to each situation. No need to cut them completely in half. Severing just an arm, leg, or head is enough to make them collapse and lose power.

Plus, I’ve gotten used to their attack patterns, making dodging much easier. If this were a game, it’d feel like leveling up through hunting.

But don’t get complacent—the throbbing pain in my wounds reminds me that their destructive power isn’t something to ignore. Even a graze tears off chunks of flesh and blood.

If I get hit properly, death might not come, but serious injury is guaranteed.

Stay focused. Think. Find a way out of this mess.

“Haaa!”

I duck under the next punch, using my body’s momentum to slice off the creature’s shoulder. Its hair-arm falls limply. The monster loses its magical power, turning back into ordinary hair. Another one bites the dust. But as usual, fresh ones are already forming, coiling like eggs hatching.

This is my chance!

I grit my teeth and sprint full speed ahead. Roars echo behind me as the monsters wake up and start chasing, shaking the ground with every step. But I don’t look back. My target is clear: climb the tower.

Rather than waste time fighting endlessly reviving monsters, I’ll ascend at least one floor. With the big guys lagging behind due to their slow bulk, I race up the spiral staircase.

Thud thud thud! Finally, an old door appears at the end of this endless staircase. Without hesitation, I twist the handle, slam it shut, and lean against it, catching my breath.

“Phew, phew. I’m gonna die from exhaustion…”

Has my body ever sweated this much before? A short rest would be nice…

As soon as I think that, my body tilts backward, and I fall flat on my back.

“Oof! What… what is this?”

The door I was leaning on is gone, leaving only empty air. Lucky those monsters haven’t climbed up yet, but this feels weird.

“OOOH! Could this child truly be MY DAUGHTER?!”

Suddenly, a familiar voice makes me jump and grip my scythe tightly. It’s the king—yes, the cursed kingdom’s king—but his face looks cheerful instead of rigid. This place doesn’t feel normal.

It seems to be a royal bedroom. On a luxurious bed lies the queen, looking weak after childbirth but smiling fondly as she strokes the chubby cheeks of a newborn baby wrapped in clean linen. The baby has stunning golden hair already sprouting thickly despite being newly born.

The king also beams happily as he touches the baby, grinning widely. Servants and courtiers surround them, congratulating them joyfully.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty!”

“What a beautiful princess!”

“Hahaha! Truly! She’s perfect! My little girl! She’s too precious for words! You’ve worked hard!”

The queen smiles softly, gazing at the baby.

“No, it was hard work bringing her into the world. I can’t wait to see how she grows up.”

“I feel the same! Hahaha!”

Such a warm atmosphere. They seem completely unaware of me standing here, covered in blood and holding a scythe. What’s going on? Just moments ago, monsters were trying to kill me, and now I’m in this peaceful nursery?

I cautiously approach, keeping my guard up. Yep, that’s the king alright—just younger. Which means this baby…

“The name ‘Rapunzel’ sounds fitting!”

“Really, sire? You’re quite fond of ‘Rapunzel,’ aren’t you?”

Rapunzel. A vegetable similar to cabbage, said to be good during pregnancy. Was it the king’s favorite veggie that inspired the name?

This must be the past. The moment of Rapunzel’s birth. And if I recall correctly, something important will happen now.

“Your Majesty!! YOUR MAJESTY!!! Danger!!!”

A man bursts in, drenched in sweat, gasping for breath. Middle-aged, probably in his 30s, with severe balding issues and sparse strands of hair clinging desperately to his scalp. His broad forehead gleams as he pants heavily.

“Godel! Running like this… danger? What do you mean?”

“Huff… huff… uh… Sire… huff!”

On the verge of collapsing, Godel struggles to speak. The king gestures, and a maid rushes over with water.

Godel grabs the cup with sweaty hands; when his fingers brush against the maid’s, she winces as if touching something dirty. He, however, flashes a toothy grin.

Glug glug glug!

“Ahhh! Now I can breathe! Wait, no time for that! Sire! DANGER!”

“So what exactly is dangerous?”

“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but this newborn possesses a power far greater—and darker—than anything I’ve ever sensed. It reeks of pure evil, a concentrated malevolence!”

Everyone present gasps in shock.

“Godel! Even with your great achievements, I won’t tolerate slander against my daughter!” the queen warns sternly, but Godel shakes his head sadly.

“Your Highness, this is reality. An ancient prophecy once spoke of it: the worst calamity to befall this kingdom shall be born, and only the chosen one can stop it. If we fail, the world will perish!”

Godel speaks gravely, his eyes seeming to pierce straight through the queen—and directly at me.

“This child is that calamity.”

With a fierce gust of wind, the entire room disintegrates. Everyone vanishes, turning into clumps of golden hair which I stare at bitterly.

Cursed from the moment she was born, huh? Born to destroy the world, they say.

Like that even exists.

I clench my fists.

Then the hair starts wriggling, rising high toward the ceiling, twisting grotesquely until forming a massive mouth.

The golden maw drools as it bellows:

“CURSE!!! CURSED CHILD!!! CURSE!!! RAPUNZEL IS CURSED!!!”

I scowl and point my scythe.

“That’s just superstition. Shut your trap already!!”

“CURSE!!!!!”

Ugh, my ears are ringing! I charge straight at the loudmouth. Annoying. Cursed since birth? Destined to destroy the world?

What nonsense. Based on what? Just because she was born? She’s just a baby!

SWOOSH! A huge tongue shoots out like a frog’s, aiming for my torso. I wouldn’t dare get hit by such a slow attack. Instead, I leap onto the tongue, riding it up to the top of the monstrous mouth.

“Don’t insult my girlfriend!!!”

The sharp blade reflects the golden light as I strike the oversized lips with all my might.