IBTCETEC 02

~Chapter 2~

If There Is No Prey, the Hunting Dog Will Be Killed (2)

Regina fell down, shocked, as the sealing device was locked around her neck before she could even react.

Her magic, which had been free, was sealed. She couldn’t even breathe normally. She gasped, barely able to keep breathing, but soon lost all strength in her arms and legs.

Heraith lifted Regina’s head with his foot, even though she couldn’t control her body at all.

“I ordered a duel, but you’re just lying down? How dare you act so disrespectfully. I must fix your arrogance properly.”

Heraith made Regina powerless and started a duel that was almost like torture.

Regina’s body gained more scars, and the painful nights continued.

Still, Heraith didn’t stop. He only released the seal when it was time to send her to fight monsters.

‘Mother.’

Regina couldn’t dare to resist. Her mother’s life was in Heraith’s hands.

That was not the only problem. Heraith also controlled the magician corps’ supplies.

If her subordinates who crossed the border didn’t get enough supplies, they might never make it back to the Empire.

It hurt so much she wanted to die, but when Regina thought of her people, she could not run away.

At the farthest place in the imperial palace was Regina’s palace.

There was a small flower garden on the way, past the concubines’ quarters. The owner of the garden, the Empress, sometimes met Regina there.

The Empress was the one who treated Regina when she was sick and alone, without anyone else to help.

“Oh my, Regina. Such terrible injuries.”

On her way back from the training ground, Regina’s legs gave out and she sat down. A gentle hand helped her up.

It was the first time Regina was treated in the Empress’s palace.

Regina worried her dirty, muddy clothes would make the bed dirty, but the Empress saw her worry and didn’t mention it at all.

With a kind smile, the Empress said,

“You are the greatest magician in this country. It is also your duty to protect your body, which is a blessing to the Empire.”

Regina nodded without thinking, moved by the Empress’s strict but caring eyes. When Regina promised to protect herself, the Empress smiled brightly and said her last words.

“I will do the same.”

Regina blushed at the unfamiliar warmth.

Whenever she returned to the palace, Regina’s mother was sick and lying down. Because of Heraith’s watchers, Regina saw her mother even less, even though she was kept in the concubines’ quarters.

The Empress cared for Regina instead of her powerless mother.

She was the only one in this cold palace who cared about Regina. She was also the person who gave Regina her special name, even though she was just an illegitimate child.

The Empress could not report Heraith’s actions to the Emperor, but her gentle kindness and care were Regina’s only support.

With that small kindness, Regina got the strength to return to the battlefield and to her companions.

Two years passed. Finally, Regina got a chance to end this hell.

Called suddenly by Heraith, Regina rushed from the border all the way to the capital. She didn’t even rest before entering Heraith’s office.

Before Regina could even greet him, Heraith spoke.

“I’m planning a magic barrier that covers the Empire’s borders. If it works, monsters will never be able to enter our land again.”

Heraith threw a thick research paper at Regina’s feet. Regina bent down and picked it up.

After quickly reading the complicated paper, Regina’s face became dark.

“But… if you do it this way, all the monsters will gather in the Fredericks Empire.”

“Is the enemy Fredericks Empire more important than our Empire?”

“It’s not about being enemies. Innocent people will be hurt.”

Right now, monsters were spread out between Permang and Fredericks Empires.

But if Permang built a magic barrier, all the monsters would move towards Fredericks Empire.

‘Then only innocent people will suffer.’

Nobles with knights and soldiers could avoid monsters, but common people could not.

Regina remembered her duty—protect the weak and fulfill her responsibilities as much as her rights.

But Heraith thought differently.

“If you don’t want to be a traitor, know your place. How dare you talk back to me…!”

He didn’t ask for her opinion, just told her to obey. Heraith added with a sneer,

“If you succeed in this, you and your people will finally get what you want.”

Freedom and recognition.

Regina bit her lips.

She was no different from a hunting dog moving by Heraith’s orders, tied to the Empire until her leash was taken off.

She could have run away alone any time… but she remembered the tired faces of her subordinates. And her sick mother.

In the end, she bowed her head and accepted the mission.

Regina left right away and traveled all along the Empire’s borders, drawing magic circles to finish the magic barrier.

“Will this really work, Captain?”

“Maybe not.”

“Then…?”

“But we have to make it work somehow.”

Regina answered calmly to her subordinate.

What she wanted was real freedom.

Not just for herself, but for her people as well. That’s why she could not fail.

It took her two whole years to draw all the magic circles for the barrier.

The barrier was finished, but the land had not been fully recovered. It took many more years to clear out all the monsters inside the border.

After four more years, Regina and her magician corps finally finished off the rest of the monsters in Permang.

With her loyal magicians, she returned to the capital.

“Wow! The Empire’s hero!”

“Princess! Please look here!”

“Long live the magician corps!”

As flower petals fell and the people cheered, Regina entered the capital.

She looked up at the bright sky as she rode, and someone put a hand on her shoulder. It was Linzas Malpang, the head of the magician corps’ staff.

He still had the marks of hard battle on his face, but he was happy.

“Captain, did we finally… do it?”

“Yes.”

Regina squeezed his rough hand tightly.

They survived.

There were times she wanted to give up, but they finally drove out all the monsters from Permang.

No one in the Empire could throw them away now—not even the Emperor, who would have to keep his promise.

Regina looked up at Heraith, who was smiling like he was wearing a mask, standing next to the old Emperor.

On the night of the welcome party, Regina was called by the Empress.

The Empress, who had always been weak, relied on Regina’s healing magic more and more as she grew older. Hearing the Empress was looking for her, Regina went straight to the Empress’s palace.

Even when she stepped into the dark palace, Regina was only worried. The Empress had been bedridden so long that she couldn’t even enjoy the sun anymore.