Chapter 41

“Uh, this isn’t a dream, is it?”

“Hmm, are you sleepy, dear?”

Elise grinned as she swung her staff to deflect the incoming knives flying towards us. Ariel, looking at my wound with tearful eyes, created a giant waterdrop and gently pushed me inside.

[What were you even doing! You’re gonna get yourself killed like this!]

“Hehe, sorry about that.”

As I entered the water, a warm sensation enveloped me, slowly returning vitality to my almost collapsing body. Bubbles started forming around my fatal wounds, and my flesh began to mend.

I glanced at Elise and Ariel’s injuries. Their bodies were cut, bruised, and covered in dirt from being dragged across the ground. Yet they stood before me like this…

“But, how did you two get in here? What about the barrier?”

“Ah~ the barrier…”

Elise caught an incoming knife with her bare hands, flashing her usual sinister smile.

“It’s gone, apparently?”

“What? Gone?!”

I was shocked. The barrier had been removed so easily after I came in? All I did since coming here was play with Rapunzel and learn about her past while climbing up here.

“I didn’t do anything special…”

“What’s there to be surprised about? Our guy here must’ve affected the barrier just by entering this tower as the Dark Reaper. Oh, can we kill that annoying girl over there?”

Elise glared at fake Rapunzel like she was annoyed.

“You mean that hate-spewing thing over there? Yeah, you can take her out. But don’t touch the one behind her – we need to save her.”

“Hmm~ Your eyes look kinda strange, dear.”

Elise alternated her gaze between me and Rapunzel, who looked relieved on the bed.

“Why are you two exchanging such intimate looks?”

[Now that you mention it, what was that ‘boyfriend’ comment earlier?!]

Yikes, suddenly feeling choked up. With their intense stares pressuring me, I forced a smile.

“I’ll explain later. Right now, we need to focus on taking her out.”

“Well, might accidentally hit the one behind too, so keep that in mind.”

[True! That could happen!]

“Ugh, please help…”

Pfft. Despite appearing completely unharmed, blood started trickling from Elise’s body. She was blocking countless attacks from the hair, but even she couldn’t handle the overwhelming numbers. She was gradually allowing some hits through, accumulating damage. Blocking Rapunzel’s attacks alone was already superhuman, yet she was protecting both me and Ariel with dazzling movements.

Currently, Ariel is busy healing me and can’t assist Elise.

At this rate, we won’t make it.

Even slight movement caused excruciating pain as if my bones were twisting, but I forced myself up. Ariel panicked, waving her hands.

[What are you doing?! Prince needs more healing!]

“Gah… No, I’m fine. I’ve recovered enough. You said we couldn’t hurt that golden monster, right? It’ll probably be the same here.”

“Then what’s your plan? Run away like cowards?”

I chuckled and shook my head.

“Nope. I can cut her with the scythe Ariel gave me. I’ll slice the fake and break Rapunzel’s curse. Please cover me.”

“Hooh, finally showing off your true powers as the Grim Reaper, huh? Alright, let me shred that arrogant brat for you.”

[Ugh, honestly kinda worried, but if Prince wants this, okay. Will support with everything I’ve got!]

“Thanks, everyone.”

I took a deep breath and gripped the scythe tightly. Every movement still felt like my muscles were tearing and my lungs were shrinking, but it was much better than before. This is the final hurdle. Once I clear this…

I can save my girlfriend.

“Let’s go!”

I dashed forward without hesitation.

“You disgusting pests! Do you know where you are? How dare you display such nauseating friendship here!”

The fake Rapunzel angrily summoned spears made of hair surrounding me. There’s no way to dodge them all. But I trust the protagonists of this fairy tale who are obsessed with me!

Klang! Elise’s staff clashed with the blades, sparks flying. Ariel flooded the hair with a giant waterdrop, immobilizing its movement.

I see a way! I can do this. I can overcome this obstacle! I will break Rapunzel’s curse!

As soon as I thought that, a massive shadow loomed right before me. Looking up, I saw an enormous hammer descending upon me, ready to crush me like a bug.

Gritting my teeth, I prayed desperately to every god I never believed in or prayed to, swinging the scythe wildly.

All or nothing. Success means reaching the fake; failure means becoming jerky. At the moment the scythe blade met the hammer…

A soft sensation flowed through the scythe handle, wrapping around my entire body. Along with it, an exhilarating feeling exploded in my mind.

The hammer sliced apart like tofu, reverting instantly to faded hair.

“GAH! I AM RAPUNZEL’S HATRED!! No one can stand before me—!”

The fake screamed, tears of blood streaming down her face. As she waved her hands, countless strands of hair rained down from the ceiling like a storm.

“What… Is this even possible?! How am I supposed to dodge THAT?!”

My legs went weak imagining thin needles piercing through my body. Even if I block with the scythe, those fine hairs will surely find gaps.

[Not happening!]

Suddenly, water surged around me, creating violent currents. The hair daggers aiming for me were deflected by the powerful water flow, embedding themselves harmlessly into the floor and walls instead.

We made it! Ariel’s the best!

“YOU are meaningless to Rapunzel! She’s furious! Even now! She doesn’t want to dance to your tune; she desires to burn the outside world!”

Whoosh! What’s that atop the fake’s head? Her golden hair is burning. Twirling like a whirlwind, it formed a massive fiery sphere above the fake Rapunzel.

The heat was so intense it made the surrounding water boil and evaporate.

Without giving me time to react, the fake launched the fireball, which approached faster than my eyes could follow.

KLANG!!!!

An ear-splitting sound rang out as the fireball was deflected sideways, colliding with the wall.

BOOM!

A powerful explosion shattered the entire wall. Having effortlessly batted away the fireball like a baseball player, Elise nodded slightly.

“Hurry up, dear. We need to sever that wretched woman’s neck.”

“Yeah!”

As I sprinted forward, Elise whistled happily while blocking the golden attacks raining down around her. Ariel created huge walls of water on either side of me, completely blocking any other attacks from getting through.

I glared at the figure blocking my path. The terrifying fake Rapunzel, dripping blood from every pore. She emitted incomprehensible screams as streams of blood and gold poured from her head, launching linear attacks straight at me.

I can do this. I CAN do this.

Repeatedly chanting “I can” in my mind, I twisted my waist, pressed the scythe close to my body, and sent the blade backward. Facing the violently thrashing hair tentacles head-on, I unleashed a primal scream to match their intensity.

“I WILL CUT AWAY ALL OF RAPUNZEL’S HATRED!!!”

Swinging the scythe wildly like a storm, the continuous blade motion mercilessly severed the hair. A disturbing crunch sounded from my arm. Burning, needle-like pain spread throughout my lower back. Thin strands of hair grazed my cheek, leaving deep bloody trails. I could feel golden strands piercing through my limbs where I failed to cut them in time.

Don’t think. Don’t feel. Just keep your eyes forward. See the crying girl beyond the hatred. The child who doesn’t want to be controlled by hatred. My girlfriend who simply wants to live a normal life!

Remember only the single-minded determination to save her!

“AHHHHHH!!!”

Thud.

“Ah…”

The fake looked down at the scythe embedded in her chest, then raised her head to meet my gaze, her entire body pierced with fine strands of hair.

“I… I am Rapunzel’s hatred…”

Squelch. The fake’s face dissolved, turning back into ordinary hair.