The Cursed King

Among those who survived the tournament in the ghost woods, Loriel later woke up and would find his wounds getting treated by a certain woman who looked at him in surprise. 

"Ah, you are awake," Hilde said with a smile and reached out to treat him again. "You are tougher than you look."

"Unhand me," Loriel slapped her hand away and glared at her. He knew that he was being rude. He was pushing this woman away but he truly didn't understand her motivations. "What do you want from me? Don't you have other men to seduce and ask for their help?"

Hilde frowned at him and sighed. "You are a terrible man who's quick to judge people. I know that I am beautiful but it does not mean that I've come to seduce people into helping me, I am also trying my best."

"Whatever," Loriel growled and stood up. He checked his body and found numerous salves placed on his body that attempted to heal him.

"Don't stand up just yet!" Hilde's eyes widened. "You might reopen your wounds."

"I am alright," Loriel grunted and picked at one of them. He looked around and found that they were given some time to rest before the next tournament. "Please do not interfere with my life again."

"But you seem so determined to make it out here alive," Hilde pointed out. "What kind of person would I be if I chose to ignore your injuries when your willpower is so intense. Tell me, why do you wish to become a god?"

"It is none of your business," Loriel curtly said.

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"Even if I had saved your life?" Hilde raised a brow.

Loriel pinched the bridge of his nose and looked at the insufferable woman. Perhaps in some other time, he would have found her interesting, but now, all Loriel wanted to do was reunite with Elise.

"I wish to become a god so I can reunite with my wife," Loriel said. "Can you now leave me alone?"

"Huh, wow." Hilde's eyes widened. "Wait, is your wife a goddess and left you to return to Cretea? Or does your wife want you to become a god so you can live your lives as wealthy and powerful people?"

"The details aren't necessary." Loriel frowned. "I have already answered your question so please go back to your group and quit bothering me."

Hilde pulled up to her feet and shook her head. "Well, whatever. I hope that in the chance that I come into trouble or one of my friends does, you could help repay your debt fully by doing us a favor."

"So you really are trying to gather help," Loriel frowned.

"So what if I am?" Hilde smiled and waved at him. "Take care of yourself, lone wolf. I'll see you at Cretea again and maybe the two of us could toast together when we become gods, see you!"

Loriel found himself left alone after that. 

Even though he didn't like the woman and he suspected her intentions as being less than good, he and Hilde would eventually turn out to be one of the few people that actually managed to reach the very end.

He would end up repaying his debt by saving Hilde when she was about to be betrayed by the very people she once thought and considered to be her friends and companions throughout this period. 

While they were all climbing up the mountains, they pushed Hilde off a cliff.

Loriel ended up seeing her actually struggling and holding herself up, but she couldn't climb out from the ravine. Even though the tournament was ongoing and there were only a limited number of slots for those who could arrive at the last point, he ended up helping her.

Hilde was in tears at that point and threw herself into his arms. "Thank you, thank you. I thought I was going to die before I accomplished my goals."

Loriel sighed and gently pushed her away. "I hate women who cry and are weak."

Hilde sniffed and wiped away her snot. "You really are a terrible guy. Who says that to a woman? Your actions are good but your words are really harsh. Your wife better be a goddess of patience or else she would..."

Loriel's sharp gaze on her made the woman stop speaking and she caught herself. The two of them would go together and finish the next part of the tournament and by ill-luck of fate, Hilde insisted that she stick with him.

"I will stay with you because it is hard to find a good man now," Hilde said. "Everybody will start betraying each other at this point so they can win the tournament but I think I can trust you."

"Your trust in me is terrible," Loriel frowned. "Go away before I toss you into another cliff by myself."

Hilde laughed and followed after him. "You really are bad with words. I'll pretend that I didn't hear that. What is your name by the way? You didn't tell me and you already know that I'm Hilde."

"I regret saving you."

"Don't say that," Hilde told him as they headed to the next part of the tournament. "I can also be a useful companion to you and not only the other way around. I am not only beautiful but I am also pretty smart."

"If you had a good head on your shoulders then you would know when to shut up." Loriel muttered.

"I am helping lighten up the mood," Hilde rolled her eyes. "But I guess you are also trying to go for an intimidation technique by looking scary, huh? Is that what you're doing because it is not very effective?"

Loriel found himself an unlikely companion throughout the tournament in Cretea, and even though he didn't want to admit it to himself aloud, Hilde was actually a good companion to have and the two of them helped each other until the very end.

"We've made it!" Loriel sighed in relief once he finally saw the top of Cretea. 

Hilde's eyes lit up as she threw a look at him. Their time together had made the woman fall in love with him and she gave Loriel a kiss on the cheek.. "We really did."