IBSM 01

A couple crossing a deep, snow-covered mountain in the middle of the night lost their means of transport in an accident and found themselves on the brink of death.

In the darkness and freezing cold, they desperately prayed for divine mercy. At that very moment, as they trembled in fear, a monster appeared before them.

With a satiated smile, the monster said:

“I will grant your wish. However…”

If death was what everyone desired, then it might as well be accepted gladly.

There was nothing left to regret. This life had been lived for the sake of reaching this very end, hadn’t it?

Walking relentlessly toward the edge of ruin, Ivnia resolved to die with every passing second.

The white dress she wore—torn and stained as she pushed through the forest path—no longer resembled what it had once been.

A bride, filthy with dirt and cold sweat.

What a ridiculous sight.

It would have been better not to wear such a hollow garment at all.

If her betrothed were to see her like this, how laughable would she appear?

That monster would surely mock the foolish living sacrifice and her family before swallowing her whole in a single bite.

A perfectly satisfying ending for everyone.

The only one to suffer would be the bride, who would dissolve inside the monster’s stomach and never complain again.

“Then just die in my place, Iv. That’s better, isn’t it? No one would be sad even if you died…”

The voice that kept repeating itself in her mind pushed her forward countless times until, at last, Ivnia reached the front gate.

The entrance of the decaying ancient castle, like the walls she had passed before it, was peeling and rusted in multiple places.

She pulled hard on the door handle, and a pitch-black interior revealed itself through the crack.

Even though it was still daytime outside, not a single ray of light reached within, as if a boundary had been drawn.

Without hesitation, Ivnia stepped into the darkness where she could not see even a single step ahead.

There was no need to fix her appearance or steady her breath.

No matter how composed she was, she knew this would never become a dignified death.

“O eternal master of the land of Rittberg! I have come to fulfill the ancient contract—accept the price of our promise!”

The moment her feet crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut with a chilling sound, as if it had been waiting.

Hearing her own final words echo into the air, Ivnia closed her eyes in resignation and waited to be swallowed by the monster in one bite.

How much time passed like that?

A thunderous roar fell from above.

“You foolish human! Even knowing how many of your kind have died, you still come here to sell your life for gold?”

At the voice like rolling thunder, Ivnia instinctively shrank her shoulders.

Had her family’s ancestors not only owed their lives to this monster, but also received gold in return?

To save a single living sacrifice, they had saved two people and even paid gold on top of it.

For a deal made with a monster, it was surprisingly generous.

“For the price of that petty greed, you will soon be torn limb from limb! The blade you raised for plunder will be aimed at your neck, the armor that once protected you will become a basin of blood, and the dress you trusted—no, the dress, the dres—”

“….”

“…Dress?”

Like an actor who had misread the script, the voice corrected itself several times before suddenly cutting off.

Ivnia slowly opened her eyes.

The pitch-black interior flickered with a hellfire-like red light, but she felt no particular fear.

Before she could even process what she was seeing, the entire space brightened as if it were daytime.

And at the center of it all, someone appeared with the explosive sound of fireworks.

Ivnia stared blankly at the figure.

Emerging through the haze of smoke was a man wearing an exaggerated mask, like a performer in a masquerade play.

He wore what looked like a butler’s uniform, signaling that he was not the master of this castle.

After briefly scanning Ivnia from head to toe, the man spoke suddenly.

“You’re wearing a wedding dress. Like a bride.”

His voice was so elegant it was hard to believe it belonged to the same person who had been hurling threats moments ago.

Under her questioning gaze, Ivnia stammered in response.

“B-Because I am a bride…?”

“I definitely didn’t hear a carriage arrive… I only heard shabby footsteps, like rats sneaking in to steal treasure.”

“That’s… I’m sorry. It’s my first time walking through a forest like this, so it was difficult…”

Her cheeks flushed at the sudden accusation.

The man flicked his finger lightly, still uncertain. At that moment, the tightly shut door swung open, revealing an empty entrance hall.

He pointed toward the gloomy exterior.

“Where are the carriage, the coachman—no, at least the luggage, the maids?”

Ivnia blinked, trying to understand the meaning of the question.

Were they expecting the bride’s attendants to be eaten as well?

In a faint voice, she answered:

“They ran away.”

“So you walked all the way here on foot? That distance, in that outfit, alone?”

“Yes.”

“Without any maids?”

He emphasized the word “maids” in particular.

She had brought one servant with her, but she had intended to send the girl back anyway.

Even if she had not fled at the forest’s edge, she would not have stayed here.

There was no reason for a maid to accompany a woman who was about to die.

Ivnia gave another small, breathy “yes.”

The man’s tone suddenly grew serious.

“…This is troublesome. I hired only one maid, expecting you to bring attendants…”

“You hired a maid?”

“Yes.”

“…Why?”

Ivnia asked with a completely puzzled expression.

The man adjusted his mask as if he were the one more confused.

“I’ve been living in this backwater for about 200 years… Has it become fashionable for noble ladies to live without servants these days?”

She could not understand a word of what he was saying.

Ivnia decided to end the confusing conversation there.

She didn’t know what was going on, but once the monster ate her, all these trivial questions would become meaningless anyway. It didn’t matter.

“…I’d like to meet Lord Ram first.”

“Ah, of course. Now that the bride has arrived, you must see the groom’s face first. Please forgive any misunderstandings caused by earlier rudeness.”

After offering a polite apology, the man gestured toward the second floor, indicating she should follow.

His demeanor had clearly become more courteous than before, but Ivnia did not forget her purpose.

Look at how skillfully he had threatened intruders earlier.

He was likely just being cautious so as not to disturb his master’s meal.

The only difference between her and previous victims was this: they were killed at the gate by the monster’s servant, while she would be eaten directly in the monster’s chamber.

The process had become more cumbersome, but the result would be the same.

“The master is here. Please go in.”

The man stopped in front of a room at the center of the second floor.

As he extended his hand, indicating the destination, the massive double doors opened on their own.

Ivnia stepped inside, feeling strangely relieved.

If her life was to be given away anyway, she wanted to die without even looking back.

Before her resolve could weaken, before unnecessary thoughts made her afraid, before she changed her mind and wanted to live again.

I can finally… truly die now.

With determined eyes, Ivnia looked around the room.

The furnishings inside were surprisingly minimal for its size, and she quickly found the person she was looking for on the bed.

But instead of approaching, she hesitated and stopped.

She had taken a confident step forward—but now she suddenly doubted whether the person before her was really who she was looking for.

Because the master of this room…

Was curled up in a corner of the bed, wrapped tightly in a white blanket like a silkworm cocoon.