The Matter of My Party Members Being Aware of My Desire to Be Banished - Chapter 27

“A curse…?”

The first to voice their shock at the revelation… was Yurie-san herself, the very person who had been suffering.

“Yes, a curse. That’s why healing magic didn’t work. Healing is specialized for treating wounds, it can’t heal something that is corrupting the body from within.”

Marn-san calmly and plainly informed.

So, because healing magic didn’t work, skilled healing mages had no choice but to judge it as an unknown cause.

And, no one would think it was a curse.

“But, wasn’t the spell you cast a healing spell, Marn-san?”

I had my doubts.

The spell Marn-san cast was just “Heal”.

At a glance, it seemed like the usual healing spell…

“Let’s see, now that I’m finished combining the healing spells… I’ll activate them immediately. Fatigue recovery, status recovery, sleep induction… these three should do.”

No, Marn-san’s “usual” was not usual at all. Strange.

Yeah, a strange healing spell. A weird combination of healing spells.

“My Heal is special.”

Marn-san smiled broadly, leaving everyone but us party members astounded.

“I’ll continue the explanation.”

Marn-san took a breath and returned to a serious expression.

“Unlike illnesses, curses can be intentionally cast on others. And the one cursed is corrupted, both physically and mentally. What was afflicting Yurie-sama was a particularly vile curse…”

Marn-san paused her words… and frowned as if troubled.

“…without killing immediately, but to watch Yurie-sama weaken day by day, as if watching up close. As if to watch those around her slowly fall into despair up close… It was indeed a cleverly placed curse.”

“What…?”

“That’s horrible…”

Yurie-san and Yuni-san covered their mouths. Those around them were speechless.

It’s like something a demon would do, wanting to see not just Yurie-san but also those around her suffer.

Moreover, Marn-san’s words… it’s as if the demon who cast the curse is amongst us.

“A curse is treated as taboo among humans, elves, and other races. Therefore, only a limited number of individuals can use it. Yes—those on the darker side.”

Marn-san narrowed her eyes and continued.

“A curse is a powerful ability. It affects not only the target… but also the caster. In other words, there must always be a backlash for the one using the curse. For example, trying to heal—’Heal’.”

Marn-san chanted.

Probably the same special Heal that nullified the curse as before.

But since I’m not feeling anything abnormal, nothing happens to me, nor to our party members, nor to those around…

“…”

Amidst all this… only one person seemed to have an abnormal reaction.

“That person alone should feel a bit of pain, just like Yurie-sama did earlier. Right, butler over there?”

Marn-san’s gaze was directed toward… a dignified looking butler.

Now, he was deeply bowing his head, as if hiding something.

“Justice! You… who have taken care of me since I was born… It’s not true, right?”

Yuni-san screamed, clearly pained.

It was evident from her tormented expression that she greatly trusted him.

“Justice… Justice… is it?”

Yurie-san’s voice sounded doubtful.

As if questioning whether that person was truly Justice.

Everyone’s attention turned to the man named Justice. Shivering, he…

“Kukukuku… To think there are those who could so easily nullify my curse in this world… it’s still interesting.”

The next moment, the one with the unpleasant laugh, Justice, had lifted his face.

“!?”

But that face was not human; it was something utterly chilling.

A face of a bluish-purple hue, with characteristic long horns on the head. Teeth visible from the mouth were jagged and sharp…

“Who are you? Who are you!”

Yurie-san cried out in agony while embracing Yuni-san.

“Kukukuk… My name is Diabell, a commander of the Demon King.”

He boldly declared.

An unexpected twist of events.

“…Eh?”

Eh, a commander of the Demon King!?

If he’s a commander serving the Demon King, he must be incredibly strong!

While giving a creepy laugh, the demon calling himself Diabell continued.

“Shall I tell you the reason I disguised myself as a butler here as a reward? My curse is powerful. I thought it would make both the cursed and those around them suffer greatly, kukukuku… Hence, anyone who could nullify it must be strong… Strong people could eventually become a threat to the Demon Lord. I sought to find such individuals before that happened… to not immediately kill them, but use them as an experimental subject for my curse. And since it’s easier to make a big deal if it’s a noble’s family, like that foolish daughter, right?”

“It’s… my fault…”

Yuni-san’s face fell into darkness.

“Yuni! You’re not at fault!”

Though Yurie-san held her tightly, Yuni-san’s face remained darkened.

“Kukukuku… That’s a good face. I’ve been waiting for this moment.”

Diabell grinned wickedly.

So, everything was orchestrated up to this point.

It’s helpful to get the situation explained cheerily… but isn’t that setting up a flag for defeat?

I’ve heard that those who resort to borrowed powers like drugs and who spill all their plans are already flagging their own defeat.

This is not the time for such thoughts.

We’re in a dire situation now.

“We knew it would come to this from the start.”

Shion stepped forward.

“Right. With words like ‘nobility with an unknown disease’, it’s clearly not just anyone. Not human, right?”

Honoka also stepped forward.

“Moreover, this is the royal capital Farnifal, the place where the most hero parties are born… Surely, you knew about this place, right?”

Marn-san also stepped forward, lining up with the three.

Their appearance was reassuring, like saviors.

“We’re not heroes. But, there is a need to eliminate you.”

“We don’t intend to lose, no matter the opponent.”

“Well then… Shall we kindly ask you to exit the stage?”

Speaking cool lines, the three entered their battle stance.

As for me… it’s only now that I understood.

The reason Shion and Honoka were worried back then.

“Kukukuku… Kakkakkakka!! So there were two more capable ones! Then I guess I’ll—take a hostage.”

“Eh?”

The stunned voice belonged to… me.

My neck was gripped by someone.

I couldn’t move at all.

Like being crucified in mid-air, I couldn’t move my limbs.

Only my eyes moved slowly… and the expressions of Yuni-san and Yurie-san in my field of view were steeped in despair.

Probably, the one gripping my neck was Diabell, a commander of the Demon King.

“Boy… I like you. You seem to be the weakest here.”

There, the whisper of the demon came.

“Cry and beg pathetically for your life. Then surely, those around will save you. Kukukuku…”

“…”

Diabell deals with curses.

Moreover, if he’s of the Demon Lord’s commander class, then the curse he placed on Yurie-san would likely be just one among many types of curses he possesses.

Honestly, there’s only fear.

Fear dominates my entire being.

It should be… but why?

“””……Huh?”””

Somehow, I felt the party members were much scarier than anything else.