Chapter 45

I blankly stared at the window where the black rabbit had disappeared. And in that moment, I instinctively realized that I would never forget this instant for the rest of my life.

The cold corpse of Rapunzel. The brief date we shared. The joyous moments when I thought I was slicing through hatred and playing around happily. The warm sensation when she stole a kiss from me.

Rapunzel’s voice, beautiful like chirping birds, and the gushing blood that spilled as she severed her own life, staining the floor.

All these memories flash rapidly through my mind. Along with the image of my powerless, weak, utterly useless self.

That’s what kind of person I am. Always thinking everything will work out fine, mouthing off convenient words while believing I can handle anything. How stupid is that?

If only I could have done just a little more… If only I could’ve cut her hair faster or had the strength to calm her down…

Could she have met a happy ending instead of this tragic one?

What’s the point of thinking about it now?

I’m nothing but a weak Grim Reaper who brought about a sad ending.

…

After Rapunzel’s death, the cursed kingdom was no longer cursed. While I was lying there hugging her lifeless body, completely unmoving, soldiers arrived. They gave us emergency care and then invited us respectfully to the castle, treating us as honored guests. Thankfully, Ariel and Elise’s injuries were minor since the strands missed their vital points, allowing them to recover quickly. As soon as Ariel regained some strength, she used magic to heal Elise and me.

The King and Queen rejoiced upon seeing our full recovery, praising us as heroes. They announced they would erect statues in our honor to commemorate this great achievement forever.

“Hahaha! I shall never forget your deeds! To finally be free from that accursed curse! What a glorious day! It’s hard to believe that evil witch was my own daughter!”

“…No.”

In the throne room, the king sat confidently on his throne, puzzled by my denial.

“Hmm? What did you say?”

“I said she wasn’t an evil witch.”

I glared at them quietly. My anger wasn’t fiery anymore; it had cooled into a chilling rage after everything had ended.

“I don’t understand! Didn’t you free us from Rapunzel’s curse?”

“Free us? Don’t make me laugh. You were freed because of Rapunzel’s own decision.”

Their words, the attitudes of these so-called parents, made me want to vomit. Without reflecting on their own faults, they only saw and heard what they wanted. Their tongues dripped with venom against Rapunzel. If I let them continue, they’d spew endless slander about her.

I couldn’t bear to see that.

The queen frowned.

“Heroes, Rapunzel has always been an evil witch destined to destroy the world. Are you saying such a being broke the curse herself?”

“She regretted her actions, trying not to become a monster or fulfill the prophecy of doom. She took her own life to break all curses! Do you even know what curse you’re talking about?”

“Hmm, wasn’t it the one she was born with?”

“No! It was YOUR curse! Because you believed absurd prophecies and fell for disgusting manipulations by a magician, you locked up your own daughter in a tower! Did you ever think about how she felt? Did you ever consider her emotions?! HOW DARE YOU BE SO ARROGANT AFTER CURSING YOUR OWN DAUGHTER!”

“What…what are you saying!”

Clang. The guards moved toward us at the queen’s signal. Bogart led them.

“Hero, control yourself. Your words are disrespectful to His Majesty.”

“Disrespectful? THIS is disrespectful? After wishing for her death, locking up a young girl in a tower, and celebrating festivals while ignoring her suffering, NOW you call THIS disrespectful?”

I gritted my teeth. The cold rage sliced through everything, targeting every devil before me. They denied the truth.

They denied the atrocities they committed against Rapunzel. Not only did they abuse her cruelly, but they also insulted her sacrifice which saved everyone.

“Unforgivable! Even if you are heroes, speaking ill of the princess this way is an insult to the king! One more word and I won’t forgive you!”

“Don’t dare mention Rapunzel’s name with those dirty mouths!!! Damn trash!”

Bang! I pulled out my scythe glowing with twilight and slammed its handle onto the ground. Veins bulged on the king’s forehead.

“How dare you draw a weapon before me!! All of you…!”

He couldn’t finish his sentence. In his wide eyes, Elise charged forward with a mad grin.

POW!

Elise delivered a powerful kick to the king’s face, her skirt fluttering dramatically.

“Khh!”

The king spat out fangs as he tumbled off the throne and rolled on the floor. Elise stood triumphantly on his back.

“Who do you think you are, flapping your gums without knowing your place? We don’t like it, duh. Right?”

Until now, Elise had ignored the king’s speeches, but now she wiped him out cleanly.

WHOOSH!

“Aaaahhhh! What is the meaning of this! Unforgivable…!!!!”

A giant water wave enveloped the queen, binding her before whipping her bottom harshly with a water whip.

“It’s you who disrespected us first! Especially MY PRINCE! You’re all finished!”

Ariel turned to me with a smile. Maybe they were hurt by how I kept sulking over Rapunzel’s death, but they genuinely cared for me and were willing to lay down their lives for me. But I was too busy grieving alone to notice. Perhaps I was overly worried about being used like a tool.

But they truly cared for me all along.

Guilt. Overwhelming guilt gripped my heart. Hot tears streamed down my face.

I’m such an idiot who couldn’t take care of anything properly.

“Your Majesty!!! Stop them! Rescue the king and queen from these demons!!”

Bogart drew his sword and shouted. Immediately, all the guards charged at us with loud cries.

“Kekekeke! Let’s go!”

Elise suddenly appeared in front of me, extending her hand with a purely insane smile.

“Why so gloomy? Let’s blow off some steam and cause chaos~”

Ariel quickly joined in, reaching out her hand too.

“Right! These trash don’t deserve mercy! Forget your sorrow and unleash all that negativity on them!”

My throat tightened, unable to speak, so I just nodded.

I deeply appreciated their unwavering concern for me even now.

What followed was concise and exhilarating. So thrilling I barely remember my actions. Like riding an intense roller coaster.

I just punched and beat up every dumb face in front of me. The king eventually wet himself and passed out under Elise’s continuous torment. The queen collapsed clutching her sore bottom. Bogart got hit on the head with the side of the scythe, losing his front teeth as he rolled on the ground. Realizing they were no match for us, the soldiers fled screaming.

It felt good but left me still uneasy. So we stepped outside the castle. The sight before us left us speechless. Rapunzel’s crucified corpse and the pile of firewood prepared beneath her.

At first, the villagers praised us as heroes until we started beating them up, causing panic and mass escape. The festive square quickly turned into chaos. We punished those who cursed Rapunzel, and they screamed at us.

“Monsters!!!”

After some time, the square was deserted. Most people hid trembling in their homes, afraid to come out. I lowered Rapunzel’s body and yelled loudly enough for the entire village to hear.

“Anyone who mentions Rapunzel’s name from now on will suffer eternal torment in hell until death-!”

Then we left that disgusting hell.

I tightly hugged Rapunzel’s cold body and whispered.

“Thank you all.”

Upon hearing my words, Elise and Ariel widened their eyes and smiled simultaneously.