I Thought It Was a Fairy Tale but the Genre Is Strange

Rapunzel (4)

Confusion. That is my current feeling. It took time to process the rapid-fire words she poured out. According to her, the kingdom’s curse, bringing us here, killing people, it was all Rapunzel, herself. The kingdom’s people were all controlled, and the golden monsters were created by Rapunzel.

Ariel and Elise were being chased by the villagers and those monsters. What on earth. I couldn’t make sense of it. My mind was a mess. It felt like my brain was overheating, a hot headache pounding. The Rapunzel I knew wasn’t like this.

The emotions I felt from Rapunzel were closer to an ordinary girl than a villain who kills people and casts curses.

But why? Why did she do all this? Because she resented being trapped in the tower?

But there’s something even more incomprehensible.

Whether it was a provocation or not, the words telling me to kill her.

An excited Rapunzel. I felt a creeping sense of unease crawling up my spine as I spoke.

“Rapunzel, wait, this is…”

“Kill me! Kill me, Siyu!”

Rapunzel shouted as if pouring out the emotions suppressed in the tower. Her jewel-like sparkling eyes no longer had any vitality. Only deep sorrow and resentment could be felt.

“I am a monster! I killed people and cursed the kingdom! I will use this power to destroy the world! No one can defy me in front of my hair! Come on, Siyu! You are the Black Reaper! You have a mission to end my story! Because you are the only one who can cut my hair… mmph!!!”

Swish. Her radiant golden hair suddenly shot out and covered Rapunzel’s mouth. Her pupils dilated, unable to hide her bewilderment.

Whoosh, and Rapunzel disappeared upwards. Dragged by her hair. It happened so quickly that I couldn’t react. Foolishly.

Without having time to properly grasp the situation, the ground began to ripple as if waves were rising. Until a moment ago, the luxurious floor tiles of the café were shining golden. Hair. Everything is turning into hair.

The chair I was sitting on, the table facing her, even the drink cup.

Everything is hair. Beautifully shining golden, but each strand of hair moving with a grotesque motion as if alive, made my whole body shiver.

The movement of the hair is unusual. From the ceiling, from the floor, from the side, it seemed to be preparing to transform into sharp awls to strangle me. I first took out a sickle.

Then, the threat and pressure of the hair approaching me disappeared in an instant, and I heard a tearing sound. When I turned my head in that direction, dazzling white light, not golden, was pouring out. I frowned and tried to see what was inside that light.

It was Ariel and Elise. I could see the two still running away from the golden monsters and the villagers. Outside. This was a door that could lead outside.

Damn, I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s better to join Ariel and Elise for now. Staying here might cost me my life, and if necessary, we can escape together and regroup to figure out the situation.

This is an opportunity. I don’t know why they opened the door, but I have to get out before it closes…

My feet stopped abruptly in front of the door leading outside.

A sense of incongruity swept through my body. It doesn’t make sense. Suddenly, Rapunzel was kidnapped by her own hair, and now a door to the outside is open?

It’s strange. No matter how much I think about it, it’s strange. There’s no reason for this. If all this is Rapunzel’s will and her goal is to destroy the world as she said, there was no need to confess to me and have a good time.

Yet she went on a date with me. She said she liked me. Receiving a confession didn’t break the tower’s barrier.

‘Try breaking the curse by killing me, Black Reaper.’

Contrary to her repeated words to kill her, this time it was obvious she intended to let me out.

Srrrk. At that moment, I heard a subtle sign of something happening beside me. Golden monsters. Several of those monsters rampaging outside appeared.

As if they would attack me if I didn’t get out quickly.

If I run away from here, if I run away without doing anything…

I had a premonition that I would never see Rapunzel again.

“Go, now.”

I was startled by the terrible voice that seemed to come from hell, piercing through the low tone.

“Go, a, way. Go, a, way.”

“If, you, want, to, live. Go, a, way.”

The golden monsters were speaking. To me, one letter at a time, in an awkward tone. As if something that wasn’t human was imitating a human.

I gripped the handle of the scythe tightly. My hands were sweaty with tension, but I spoke firmly.

“No. Because I saw it.”

I recalled. Rapunzel’s pleading eyes asking me to kill her. That expression. The tears flowing from her beautiful eyes.

“Where in the world is a boyfriend who runs away when his girlfriend is crying?”

“Stu, pid.”

“You, will, re, gret, it.”

I chuckled at the hair monster imitating human speech.

“I’ve been regretting it since the moment I entered this fairy tale land, you damn monsters.”

I can do it. If my memory is correct, judging by their reactions. I can…!

Slash.

“I can cut you down!!!”

The golden-haired monster in front of me was split in half by my strike. The ridiculous monster that didn’t even flinch when Ariel and Alice struggled to attack it from outside was smoothly sliced by my scythe.

When I recalled, the first hair monster I encountered was wounded by the scythe.

I don’t know if it’s because I’m the Grim Reaper, or if it’s because of the excellent performance of the scythe Ariel gave me, but the important thing now is that I can cut the magical hair.

The hair monster, split in two, lost its golden hue and turned into ordinary, brittle hair.

“Hahaha! It seems like you guys will be the ones regretting it?”

There are about three left. My weak arm muscles ached from just one swing of the scythe, but I can do it.

“Alright, hand over Rapunzel while I’m still asking nicely. I feel like there are many stories I haven’t heard from Rapunzel yet.”

“Go, die, now.”

RUMBLE!!!

“What now!”

The vibration was incomparable to before. The entire structure around us was changing. The ceiling was rising, and stairs leading upwards appeared. It wasn’t changing; it felt more like it was returning to its original state. The original form of the tower.

Everything was still bathed in golden light, but a path had appeared. As if daring us to climb up if we could. I had a gut feeling. Rapunzel was at the top of the tower.

“Die, now!”

The giant hair monster swung its massive fist. I narrowly dodged the punch that seemed like it would crush my head, and it smashed into the innocent golden wall. An opening! I aimed for its head and swung my heavy scythe down.

Just before the attack landed, a kick almost grazed my nose and crossed in front of me.

“Ugh!”

I stumbled back in surprise, and then another hair monster’s hand blade came flying at me. I quickly tried to dodge, but the weight of the scythe slowed me down.

“Huff, huff.”

I almost died. If I hadn’t thrown my head back, my skull would have been split open like a pot lid. I barely dodged it.

Drip. As soon as I thought I had dodged it, my vision turned red. I hastily wiped my eyes with my sleeve. The uniform was stained with bright red blood. Blood flowing from the wound on my forehead. Seeing it made me painfully aware.

“Blood, it’s blood.”

The scent of death was right in front of me.

Suddenly, it felt like someone was squeezing my heart. It was heavy. It was hard to breathe, as if someone had placed a huge boulder on my chest. Only now did I realize how heavy this place was. I had been complacent, thinking it was okay because Ariel and Alice were here.

This is a cruel world. I had forgotten the fact that I could die at any moment, thinking it would be okay.

But not now. I am alone. There is no one to protect me. The opponent is not someone like Peter Pan who can be reasoned with. It’s a monster purely intent on killing me. Now, I have to fight a battle between life and death.

Even when fighting the wolf, I didn’t fight multiple opponents. I only faced them one-on-one, barely managing to cope.

But the opponent is numerous. Monsters that can crush my head with their grip.

Blood drops trickle down. The first wound I received since coming here awakened a forgotten sensation within me.

Fear. The scent of deep fear of death.

As I stood still, one of the hair monsters stepped forward and spoke.

“Are, you, afraid? Of, death?”

Its mouth twisted grotesquely. The corners of its mouth lifted upwards. The hair monster horribly mimicked a human smile. Its mouth stretched to its ears.

“Last, chance.”

Srrrk. A wall beside me opened, revealing an exit.

“Go, out.”

I stared outside. I could escape. Instead of a fierce battle where an 18-year-old swings a giant scythe that doesn’t even fit his body, risking his life, I was given the option to flee. If I joined Alice and Ariel, I could escape safely.

I don’t have to risk my life fighting here.

Yes. I should leave. I should get out of here and run to another place to find the black rabbit again. I just want to go home. I don’t want to be a grand hero. I’m not a warrior destined to defeat the demon king.

I’m just an ordinary teenager.

I took a step forward.

The hair monster’s mouth opened even more grotesquely.

“Yes, you’re right. I am afraid.”

Slash!

The laughing head fell to the ground. The hair monster’s body collapsed, and the golden magic disappeared. I stared at the cold, lifeless head and spoke.

“But I must move forward. Because I’m Rapunzel’s boyfriend!”