Chapter 40

“I won’t kill you. And I won’t let you die either.”

“Stop spouting nonsense! This isn’t kids’ play! If you don’t kill me, everyone will get hurt!”

“Seriously, am I supposed to just stand by and watch?”

I tried to flash a dependable smile, but judging from Rapunzel’s expression, it didn’t look too good. She exploded in frustration.

“Please, just kill me!! Just do it already!!!”

“Haa.”

The short sigh shocked Rapunzel. I looked into her tear-filled eyes and asked,

“Do you really want to die?”

“Yes! I truly want to die!”

“Then swear it. Say it proudly in front of Merel who’s watching from heaven. If you truly desire death that much!”

At the mention of Merel’s name, Rapunzel couldn’t utter a sound.

“I, I…”

Her cherry-like lips trembled as she wore an agonized expression.

“I, I don’t…!”

Unable to continue, Rapunzel bowed her head and burst into tears. Her sorrowful cries echoed through the room as endless tears streamed down her face, releasing all the emotions she had bottled up inside. With a heart-wrenching wail, she sobbed uncontrollably.

“Sniff, I hate this. I don’t want to die like this… Please… Help me, Siyoo.”

I smiled at her words.

“I’ve been waiting for that. Looks like I won our first fight.”

Struggling with my battered body, I moved toward her. What was choking her were strands of hair imbued with immense magic power. During my climb up the tower, I pondered ways to remove this force. My conclusion was simple – the magical power seemed to be concentrated solely in her hair. So, I’ll cut off her golden locks with a scythe.

I’ll sever these damned chains of hair binding her and restore Rapunzel to an ordinary girl.

KWAANG!!!

A devastating blast swept through the area in front of me. Swallowing hard, I stared at the pile of hair scattered beneath my feet. One misstep. Given my battered state, if I had walked normally, I would have been pierced all over by those hair daggers and died instantly.

An overwhelming killing intent unlike anything before.

Freed from Rapunzel’s control, her hair emitted a fierce golden light. My skin prickled, and an unpleasant sensation ran through my entire body.

It’s genuinely trying to kill me. Until now, there was a sense that it was letting me off because of Rapunzel’s emotions, but that feeling is completely gone now. Nothing but the single-minded determination to kill me radiates from Rapunzel’s hair.

“I won’t forgive you.”

That voice… But it’s not coming from Rapunzel.

“Si, Siyoo, danger… Ughh!!!”

The restraints holding Rapunzel tightened further, muffling her voice again. All the surrounding hair began to violently writhe. Standing before me was a fully golden figure made entirely of hair, emanating hostility.

“I absolutely won’t forgive. Father, mother, the kingdom’s people… Hell, even this world!!”

The fake Rapunzel’s eyes turned bloodshot red, with tears of blood streaming down her cheeks.

“Everyone abandoned me. Everyone pointed fingers and cursed me. Everyone wishes for my death. They say I’m cursed, but in truth, I’ve been cursed by this world.”

“Gasp.”

Suddenly, an immense pressure so heavy it made breathing difficult crushed my entire body. Just looking into her eyes caused this much strain?! Clutching my chest, I struggled to keep my gaze on her.

She glared down at me with icy eyes and spoke in a voice completely different from before.

“I am the anger and sadness of the girl who was never welcomed and spent her days unjustly locked away in a tower.”

As the fake Rapunzel took a step closer to me, the oppressive aura radiating from her small frame made it hard to even meet her gaze directly.

When she reached right in front of me, she declared in a chilling voice,

“I am Rapunzel’s hatred. I will lead this rotten world to destruction and liberate her hatred.”

“Keh, what are you talking about? Sorry, but Rapunzel prefers going on dates with me over destroying the world!”

WHOOSH!

Along with the tearing of muscles, a gush of blood spurted from my wound. Biting my teeth, I swung my all-out attack, which failed to even graze the edge of her collar. Thanks to the golden hair rushing from all directions, my limbs were immobilized.

The fake Rapunzel leaned in close without any change in expression.

“What do you know? You, who just met her today, what could you possibly understand? Do you think the hatred from being treated as a cursed existence for her entire life would disappear because of someone like you? No. Let me enlighten you about Rapunzel’s heart.”

SWISH!

“Uh? Wha…?”

A golden strand pierced straight through my left arm and pinned me to the ground. My brain slowly processed what happened through my eyes.

And then it hit me.

This is a cruel world.

“AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!”

A scream erupted from my mouth. It felt like my bones were pierced – the pain exceeded my imagination. Like gasoline poured and lit on fire, the searing agony from the puncture wound was unbearable. My pierced arm trembled violently. It felt like my lungs had collapsed, making it impossible to even exhale.

“You insignificant worm can neither stop nor shield Rapunzel’s hatred. You’re nothing but a worthless existence to her. That’s what you mean to Rapunzel.”

Gritting my lower lip until it bled, I lifted my head to meet the fake’s eyes.

“Don’t talk about Rapunzel’s voice so casually. Hah! Who do you think you are, some hair pretending to be the master?”

“I am her hatred. Therefore, I know. Your place in Rapunzel’s heart is…”

SWOOSH!!!

“GURGH!!!!”

Ruthless golden needles pierced my right arm. Despite trying to grit my teeth and endure, I couldn’t stop the groans from escaping. Blood trickled down my arms, dripping onto the floor. My consciousness was growing hazy, but I couldn’t fall here.

“GRRR!!!”

How could I collapse when my girlfriend is crying pitifully on the bed over there?

Locking eyes with the fake, I glared intensely.

“Y-you think you’re Rapunzel’s hatred? Well, I happen to be Rapunzel’s boyfriend. And she herself asked me for help. So I’m going to cut you down and free Rapunzel from her hatred.”

“I don’t understand. What Rapunzel truly desires is destruction. Annihilating this detestable world that abandoned her, that cursed her. That is her earnest wish.”

“Keh, stop your blabbering. Rapunzel doesn’t want that. Do you have earwax blocking your ears or something? Who do you think you are, judging Rapunzel’s heart when you’re just some hair?”

Hmm? What’s going on?

Why am I flying through the air? It feels like time is flowing slower than usual. The gold hair soaked in blood, the suffering Rapunzel, and the self-proclaimed embodiment of Rapunzel’s hatred staring at me coldly as I soar through the air.

Ah, that’s right. I’m about to crash into the wall in one second.

BOOM!!!

“AUGH!”

A blunt impact runs through my back and spreads throughout my body. My head spins and I can’t muster any strength in my limbs. The blood endlessly flowing from my arms has soaked the floor, forming puddles.

I’m dying. For real this time.

As the scent of death approaches, reason fades and fear grips my emotions fiercely. The approaching embodiment of Rapunzel’s hatred looks like a grim reaper to me now.

And my gaze extends beyond her.

Shaking her head, pleading with desperate eyes for me to run. Rapunzel, who can no longer bear to watch me get hurt, weeps more painfully for my sake.

“…I don’t understand.”

She tilts her head while looking at me.

“Why are you getting back up?”

Panting heavily, I struggle to stay upright. I grin to convey to Rapunzel that I’m okay and that I’ll definitely save her.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? I’m Rapunzel’s boyfriend.”

“…Nonsense. Hatred renders everything meaningless. Just die already.”

Blink.

Just a blink. Then a chilly golden blade was charging toward my body to slice me apart.

Am I really going to die here?

No, this can’t be happening.

My eyelids droop. In that last moment, catching sight of Rapunzel’s screaming face…

“Kekeke! Looks like our dear friend was having quite the dramatic tantrum?”

[What does ‘boyfriend’ even mean!!!]

I burst out laughing.

“Haha, ha.”

How glad I am to see them. Ariel and Elise, equally battered, stood side by side with determined backs.