Ibnel slowly looked around.

The circular arena was surrounded by tiered spectator seats filled with people. Their attire uniformly resembled that of knights, like Demil.

As if they had been waiting for her appearance, voices that could be either cheers or jeers erupted from all around, in stark contrast to the silence just moments ago.

Even in this ear-splitting situation, Ibnel maintained her composure. Soon, her gaze fixed on the man sitting in the highest seat directly in front of her.

He was looking down at her, legs casually crossed and chin resting on his hand.

His deep purple hair, black eyes, and the unbuttoned collar of his shirt, seemingly unaffected by the chilly air, suited him quite well.

His attire was luxurious, but there was also an inexplicable air of delinquency about him.

He was a man who couldn’t be defined in a single word, but if arrogance were to be personified, it might look like this. Yet even that quality seemed instantly acceptable given his aura.

Despite the distance, Ibnel’s brow furrowed slightly as she felt his gaze scanning her up and down.

‘It feels like a snake crawling all over my body.’

The man slowly raised his right hand. As if to demonstrate his power, this simple gesture immediately silenced the crowd.

The moment her eyes met his sharp black ones, a languid voice reached Ibnel’s ears.

“We all expected to see Lady Ibnel’s tearful or bewildered face, but it’s quite disappointing that you’ve betrayed those expectations.”

“Is that so.”

In contrast to his provocation, her calm response, as if speaking of someone else’s affairs, caused the man’s eyes to darken for a moment. Then, a nobleman standing next to him raised his voice.

“Lady Ibnel Istella, show proper respect to His Imperial Majesty!”

‘So that person is the emperor.’

This was the male protagonist of the problematic novel, the Emperor of the Caries Empire, Shuher ve Rusha Caries. The one who had completely subjugated Aodin as soon as he ascended to the throne.

His appearance, where elegance and cruelty coexisted, immediately confirmed the fact that he was the protagonist. His whole being spoke of an emperor who could make anyone bow their head.

‘I don’t know how to show proper respect, though.’

As she stood rigidly, some might think she was being unnecessarily prideful, but from Ibnel’s perspective, it was a somewhat unfair misunderstanding.

Judging by the atmosphere, it didn’t seem like a simple self-introduction would suffice.

‘But do I really need to do that?’

Her fate was already decided. She had nothing more to lose.

So, she couldn’t bring herself to speak politely to someone who was little more than a stranger failing to show basic courtesy at their first meeting.

“If you want me to greet you, I think you should first explain why I was summoned here immediately upon arriving at the imperial palace. At least, that’s what I understand courtesy to be.”

At those words, the spectators’ eyes became incomparably fiercer than before, but Ibnel’s gaze as she stared directly at Shuher remained impassive.

As if whatever he said couldn’t even scratch her.

Breaking through that silence came Shuher’s boisterous laughter. However, that laughter contained no trace of joy or pleasure.

As even the laughter that contrasted with his coldly frozen eyes stopped, he slowly opened his mouth.

“I’ve always thought your kind was vile and cowardly, but how can you shamelessly ask for help? To even send the young lady here so promptly in response to a casually thrown remark. Should I call the Emperor of Aodin stupid, or naive? Ah, perhaps the same applies to your family, young lady.”

When the topic of the Istella ducal family came up, Ibnel listened more attentively.

“They sided with the emperor and made absurd demands. But now that their abilities have disappeared, they’ve become like dogs chasing chickens.”

Every word he uttered was deeply imbued with contempt for Aodin. And that emotion penetrated to Ibnel’s very bones as a person of Aodin.

As if her skin would be cut by that killing intent.

‘Is this all according to the novel’s flow too?’

She had only heard a brief summary from her brother, so she didn’t know the details of the conversation between the extra and the emperor. Nor did she know how the original Ibnel had reacted.

But judging by the atmosphere, it seemed that her death would proceed as in the novel’s content.

“You asked why I brought you here. Beheading you as soon as you arrive has become boring now. So I’ve prepared a new form of entertainment, in my own way. For everyone to enjoy.”

Finally, as if signaling the start, Shuher snapped his fingers lightly. Simultaneously, the creaking sound of rusty metal was heard, and its source was another entrance blocked by iron bars.

From inside, an unidentifiable sound, like that of an animal, no, a beast, was heard.

Goosebumps rose on Ibnel’s arms, but the spectators all began to cheer in unison. They were visibly anticipating the scene about to unfold.

‘So it begins.’

Shuher’s black eyes remained fixed on Ibnel, who was maintaining her composure beyond his expectations.

‘Strange.’

That indifferent gaze, as if she knew what was about to happen to her, was extremely irritating. To the point where he wanted to see her entire body covered in blood right away, just like those red eyes.

“I do hope you’ll please us. Who knows, if you entertain me, something might trickle down to Aodin. So, do your best for your country.”

Contrary to his words of expectation, his lips were full of mockery. It was the same for everyone present.

Their expressions showed that they didn’t even consider the possibility of Ibnel surviving.

Because they knew what was beyond those iron doors.

“My lady?”

Startled by the voice close by as she was watching the entrance with growing tension, Ibnel turned around.

Lia, whom she had told to wait outside, was standing there.

“Why are you here?”

“I suddenly heard people’s voices, and I was worried about you, my lady.”

“Get out quickly.”

“What?”

There wasn’t even time to explain, so she headed towards the entrance they had come through, but it was already firmly locked.

Ibnel urgently spoke to Shuher.

“Please open the door. I need to send Lia, my maid, out.”

“Is there really a need for that?”

“I’m enough by myself, isn’t that right? She just followed me here…”

“Then we can consider her your companion in fate. Dying following one’s master is also an honorable thing.”

“Such nonsense—”

She had no intention of involving Lia. But cruelly, at Shuher’s gesture, the iron door blocking the opposite entrance began to slide open.

And emerging slowly from the darkness was a massive beast-like creature covered in black.

“Ah, my lady, that’s…”

‘So this is what they call a magic beast.’

As Ibnel, who had only recently opened her eyes in this world, this was her first time seeing a magic beast in person. But she was certain that even if she had known about it beforehand, nothing would have changed.

This feeling couldn’t be simply described as fear.

Its shape was similar to a wolf, but everything from its size was different from what she knew.

‘It’s beyond the concept of a beast altogether.’

With a size at least five times that of a normal wolf, it was covered in black fur from head to tail. Its menacingly bared sharp teeth and fierce eyes made one instinctively step back.

It was clear that if bitten, one’s neck, or any part of the body, would instantly be torn off.

But for Ibnel, the magic beast in front of her wasn’t the most important thing. She had to get Lia out of here as quickly as possible.

“Let Lia out!”

Despite her strong demand, Shuher just leisurely watched like he was enjoying an interesting play, his chin resting on his hand.

Meanwhile, the magic beast, having found its prey, growled as it looked towards the two of them. It wasn’t pouncing yet, seeming to be assessing their strength while on guard.

“I’ve heard that Caries even captures magic beasts directly, and it seems that story is true. What should we do now?”

Lia, who had finally grasped the situation, trembled in fear, not knowing what to do. She never thought they would commit such an atrocious act even to Ibnel.

Looking at the two huddled together, the emperor sneered and said,

“Ah, I’ll at least give you weapons. Whether you use them or not is up to you.”

Several weapons were thrown into the arena where the two were. Various types of swords, a bow and arrows, and even a gun.

“The only way to survive is to enter through that entrance where the magic beast came from. Don’t die too quickly and make it boring, Lady Ibnel.”

Ibnel didn’t hear Shuher’s voice, filled with mockery that she would die anyway. This was a situation beyond her expectations.

That Lia would be involved too.

‘I was supposed to die alone. Was that not the case?’

Ibnel had overlooked the most important fact. Or perhaps a variable had been introduced because of her.

‘Does that mean Lia will die because of me too?’

At that moment, the ground shook, and the magic beast that had been watching the two began to charge at high speed.

If it had been the original Ibnel, she might have humbly accepted her fate, but with Lia present, the situation was different. She couldn’t let her be involved in such a horrific event because of her.

“Run!”

She grabbed Lia’s hand, who was frozen in place, and started running desperately in the opposite direction. At this sight, the spectators raised their voices in excitement.

“Oh, dodge it!”

“Run faster!”

It was no different from watching horses run at a racetrack.

Although the circular arena was wide, there was no way two powerless people could escape from the magic beast. The beast leaped high, easily clearing their heads and blocking their path.

Ibnel, who had been running while holding Lia’s hand, had no choice but to stop.

The magic beast, drooling, bared its teeth threateningly as if it would attack at any moment.

‘Is it going to flow according to the novel after all?’

Soon, the magic beast charged at the two, pounding the ground. Seeing this situation, Lia, in an attempt to save at least Ibnel, pushed her with all her might.

“Watch out!”

Ibnel was able to avoid the magic beast’s attack due to that push. When she regained her senses and looked to where Lia was, she was already completely subdued by the magic beast.

“Lia!”

‘What should I do now?’

At that moment, Ibnel’s gaze turned to the gun lying haphazardly on the ground. Perhaps the only tool that could break this situation.

As if by instinct, she approached and picked up the revolver, aiming it at the magic beast.

‘I have to save Lia.’

But belying that determination, her hand began to shake like an aspen leaf. Her breathing became rough, and her eyes wavered.

And what appeared before Ibnel’s eyes as she held the gun was not the threatening magic beast, but the bloodied figure of Aran.

“Aran…”

Then an unknown voice spoke to her.

‘Why are you holding the gun? For what purpose? Your brother is dead, right in front of your eyes.’

“…I can’t do it.”

At that moment, the revolver fell limply from Ibnel’s hand to the ground.

“If you don’t even know how to use a gun, what are you doing now?”

“She’s just struggling to survive, what else?”

“Just die already!”

There was no one in that space who could save her from the abyss of despair.