Chapter 36

“Phew, phew, phew…”

I’m panting like I’m about to pass out. My legs are shaking, and sweat’s pouring down like rain. All around me, there are loads of guards lying on the ground, cut in half. Guards just kept coming endlessly from every direction until this staircase appeared after a fierce battle.

My body’s covered in shallow sword wounds, and the pain’s getting worse as sweat seeps into the cuts. But there’s no time to rest here since golden monsters started waking up once the stairs showed up.

This is tough. This is miserable. I’m exhausted. And above all, I just wanna go home!

Why the heck am I shedding blood and enduring this sick feeling while climbing stairs for some luxurious life?

I can feel my strength draining as I find myself standing in front of another door.

The reason’s simple. The reason I’m suffering like this? At first, it was because I wanted to go home. Finding the black rabbit and heading back home was my goal. But things changed after hearing Rapunzel’s story.

Even now, my main goal is still going home, but I need to see how this story ends. My girlfriend’s story. The real story of a girl trapped in a tower despite facing cruel oppression from the world.

I have to witness it with my own eyes before I can return home peacefully. In front of me stands a creepy door radiating an ominous vibe.

A door that looks black through red, with scratch marks all over it like someone gouged it with their nails. It gives off a bone-chilling, sinister aura. Taking deep, ragged breaths, I turn the doorknob.

Click.

“Omigosh, look! It’s the cursed princess!”

“I heard she’s actually a demon in human form who tore a maid limb from limb!”

“My goodness, how could we let such an evil woman live?”

Muttering citizens by the roadside. Guards with stern faces patrolling around. And amidst them, Rapunzel and Godel. Rapunzel’s hands and legs are shackled, confined inside a specially-made small prison cell.

Her golden hair spills out from the cage, so long it carpets the ground like a red carpet wherever she goes. Citizens glance nervously at the guards then step on her hair or spit on her.

“No, I didn’t kill her! It wasn’t me! I didn’t kill Merel… My hair moved on its own. I just turned around, that’s all…”

Rapunzel mutters to herself, looking haggard. Her usual cheerful demeanor has vanished, replaced by a wretched girl filled with emptiness.

“Princess, don’t worry. I’ll personally lift the curse on you. Please bear with it for a little longer.”

Godel walks beside her, wearing a kind expression. After Rapunzel killed the maid, Godel locked her up in the tower, so this must be the procession heading there.

“I’ve prepared a place suitable for the princess, where no one can harm her.”

…

Rapunzel doesn’t respond. Taunts and angry cries from citizens demanding her death fill the air. They call her a demon without knowing the full story.

The procession arrives at a neat tower, different from what I saw earlier. Godel steps forward, brushing his shiny bald head and wiping sweat before chanting strange spells.

Once the incomprehensible spell ends, the special prison cell opens. Rapunzel gets up and shuffles toward Godel.

She gazes blankly around. Soldiers eyeing her warily, some frowning, others looking at her like she’s a disease-carrying rat.

“Godel-sama, are you sure it’s safe? Being alone with the princess inside the tower?”

The captain of the guard speaks up. His face seems oddly familiar.

“Don’t worry, Captain Bogart. I’m the kingdom’s top mage. I’ll surely remove the princess’s evil magic that’s destined to bring ruin to the world!”

Bogart as the captain, huh. Godel puffs up confidently, his belly jiggling, while everyone around looks at him with respect. Rapunzel just bows her head low, repeatedly muttering Merel’s name.

“Truly remarkable. I hope the day we meet again comes soon.”

“It will be sooner than you think. Now, I shall enter the tower with the princess. And please remember, no one should approach the tower recklessly. There’s a great risk of being corrupted by the princess’s evil magic.”

“I understand.”

Godel nods satisfactorily, then roughly leads Rapunzel into the tower. As they enter, a transparent barrier envelops the entire tower. All of Rapunzel’s hair outside the tower gets retracted, sealed within the barrier.

The scene shifts, showing the inside of the tower now. Rapunzel enters a room with a luxurious bed. Godel reassures her not to worry, claiming he’ll definitely break her curse while taking strands of her hair scattered around the tower for research.

Time passes quickly.

Godel provides Rapunzel with delicious food and fancy clothes. She eats absentmindedly, and each time, Godel updates her about the outside world.

The kingdom is safe thanks to the tower’s barrier blocking the evil magic, he boasts about his greatness. He declares they’ll soon return to peaceful everyday life.

Rapunzel silently nods.

Seasons change rapidly. Years seem to have passed. Rapunzel looks brighter than before. She’s opened up to Godel, wearing the clothes he brings and enjoying the tasty food. The more mature-looking Rapunzel speaks up.

“Hey, Godel. How’s it going today? Any progress in your research?”

“Hahaha, thanks to your help, the analysis is almost complete!”

Godel sitting opposite looks much better somehow. Not that his expression’s improved – his whole body looks rejuvenated. His skin’s more elastic, full of vitality, his eyes bright and sparkling. Hardly any wrinkles remain on his face.

But his baldness and belly remain unchanged.

“Really!? So I won’t have to stay here much longer?”

“Exactly! Just a little patience.”

“But… will my parents really welcome me back? No, does the whole kingdom hate me?”

Godel shakes his head kindly.

“No, His Majesty and the Queen desperately wish for your return. The citizens feel the same way. Everyone prays for your curse to be lifted so you can enjoy a peaceful life.”

“Really!? Then that’s fortunate. I want to break free from this curse as soon as possible. To prevent something like what happened to Merel…”

As Rapunzel bows her head deeply, Godel approaches her with a smug expression, placing his thick hand on her shoulder.

“Don’t blame yourself too much, Princess. It was an accident you didn’t intend. And didn’t I tell you? After consulting with my magic, Merel forgave you.”

“Yeah, that’s right. That’s right! I shouldn’t be so deflated!”

Rapunzel nods, smiling brightly and clenching her fist.

“That’s the spirit… Hmm, you’ve grown quite a bit, haven’t you, Princess?”

Godel’s eyes subtly scan Rapunzel’s figure.

“It’s been seven years already! I’m a proper lady now!”

“Hmm, indeed. Well, it’s getting late, so you should sleep now.”

“Eh? Already? It’s not even 10 o’clock!”

“You agreed to help with my experiments tomorrow, didn’t you? We have a tight schedule, so get some rest.”

“Tch, fine.”

Rapunzel sticks out her lip and heads toward the bed. Watching her retreating figure in her pajamas, Godel confirms she’s entered the room.

Then everything goes dark. I feel dizzy. The sensation of the world spinning around me is overwhelming. I struggle to keep my balance. I check my surroundings cautiously, fearing this might be the end of the memory and some monster might jump out, but nothing happens.

Instead, objects start becoming clearer in the darkness.

The familiar ceiling of the tower. The bouncing bed. Motionless arms and legs. And the horrifying lump of flesh atop Rapunzel.

“Eh? Wha-what?”

I’m overwhelmed with rage, wanting to immediately slice that damn lump of flesh apart. I want to separate every piece of fat from his bones. But I can’t.

Because this is a memory. Something she’s already experienced. To see all her memories, I have to grit my teeth and endure.

Watching as the naked Godel restrains the soundly sleeping Rapunzel’s limbs.

“Go-go-del? Wait a moment!? Kyaa! Wh-what is this!”

“Aah? You woke up? Heheh! Oh, I did mention it, didn’t I? Experiment. That’s right, experiment.”

“What-what are you talking about! Why am I naked! Wh-what is this! My limbs won’t move!”

Rapunzel struggles desperately but can’t budge. Strange shackles bind her wrists above her head and her ankles. Completely defenseless, Rapunzel lies beneath the sweat-drenched Godel.

He greedily licks the sweat around his mouth with a frog-like tongue.

“Haa, Princess. Don’t worry. Hahaha, this is merely a ritual to purify your magic using my power. So just lie still!!”

Godel starts violently tearing Rapunzel’s nightgown.

“Kyaahhh! Stop it! Don’t do this!!!”

Godel exhales heavily, grinding his sweaty, dirty body against hers while roughly ripping her clothes apart.

“Haaa!! Stay still. Ever since I thought you were pretty, I imagined how charming a lady you’d grow into! I tried waiting, but I can’t hold back anymore! Kukuku!”

Godel buries his nose in Rapunzel’s body, wearing an ecstatic expression.

“Kyihh!! She smells sweet! I wonder how good she tastes?”

“Please, stop this. Godel, please…”

“Heheh, I told you. This is an experiment. To possibly purify your cursed magic! By infusing my magic, you see!!!”

“No! I said no!! Is anyone there!? Please help me! Please, someone save me!!!”

“Hehehehe! Help? Who’s gonna help you! There’s no one here! It’s just you and me!”