IBTBD 02

Chapter 02

“Muriel Aymond. Is it really so hard for you to just sit still and do nothing, as I told you?”

My father’s roar poured down from above like a blade.

The Marquis, who had never once cared for me, had come to see me for one reason only—because I had dropped out of the noble academy.

“You useless thing. You take after your mother’s side of the family completely. That’s why you turned out a half-wit like this.”

The word half-wit pierced me deeper than anything else, but I had no words to refute it.

Because in truth, among those families, I really was a half-wit who could barely even transform into beast form.

“I… I really did try…”

I wanted to say I had worked myself half to death.

I forced my lips to move, but the rest of the words stuck in my throat.

If I provoked the Marquis’s temper any further, my punishment would only grow harsher.

“Get these useless things out of my sight. I don’t want to see them again.”

And so, with that look of contempt, the Marquis cast my mother and me out to the annex.

‘Annex’ sounded polite, but in truth it was nothing more than a dilapidated shack that even a common groundskeeper would sneer at.

The roof was full of holes the size of fists, the warped wooden walls let the cruel winter wind howl straight through, and the path leading to the black forest beyond was steeped in an eerie chill.

Aside from being away from the main estate, the place had no redeeming features whatsoever.

And yet—that worthless “annex” would end up saving my life.

“Muriel Aymond!”

It was the dawn of the third day since we had been driven there.

I woke at last to the sound of my mother’s voice shaking me awake by the shoulders.

“From now on, you must keep your wits about you.”

“M-Mother, what’s happening…?”

Behind her back, flames were leaping skyward.

It was the Marquis’s castle—the home where I had been born and raised.

Its charred frame collapsed into rubble, while soldiers groaned beneath it.

Clang—chaaaang!

The clash of steel mingled with the feral roars of trained beasts.

Raiders had struck at dawn, when everyone slept.

Who? For what purpose?

Had they targeted the Aymond family, already crumbling as it was? I couldn’t know.

But one thing was certain.

“The Marquis of Aymond has been slain!”

“Spare no one—whether direct blood or collateral branch!”

They had no intention of leaving behind even a single survivor.

“The Marquise and her daughter are missing!”

“Find the heir at all costs! Spread out and search every inch!”

As the tramp of boots crushing the estate drew closer, my mother’s voice grew urgent.

“Muriel, listen carefully. No matter what sounds you hear, don’t ever look back—just run.”

It was the first time I had ever seen such a resolute expression on her face.

“What are you saying? Why do you sound like you’re not coming with me…?”

“If you transform, you’ll be able to escape. You must make your way to the North. There, you will meet him. Only then will you be able to prevent what is to come—”

Her final words blurred, drowned out by a ringing in my ears, as if I had heard something I was not meant to know.

“Who? Mother, let’s just go together. Please, I’m so scared.”

I begged, but she gently slipped free of my grasping hand.

“They will hunt us without rest. We’ll likely be caught before even leaving the forest.”

She spoke with the certainty of one who could see the future.

And indeed—my mother was the empire’s last surviving prophet.

Though frailty had robbed her of most of her power, glimpses of the near future were still within her reach.

“How… how can I protect you, Mother? Please, just tell me…”

My voice cracked as tears welled up.

I wanted so desperately to protect her, but I had nothing.

I could not even summon a flicker of mana, let alone awaken my abilities.

Again…

All I could ever do was run away. I loathed myself for it.

If only I had inherited the Aymond family’s gifts.

No… perhaps it would have been better if I had never been born at all.

Then maybe my mother would have abandoned the Marquis and returned to her family, instead of hiding as his mistress.

Maybe she would have met a man who truly loved her, and lived happily.

But instead—

“Muriel, you’ve always protected me.”

She embraced me as if to comfort me.

Her frail body, chilled with morning dew, carried no warmth—yet somehow, her arms felt warm.

“I have never once regretted it.”

She always said that whenever people asked why she ever fell for a man like the Marquis.

“Because I knew I’d meet you, my lovely girl.”

“…Liar.”

“It’s true. All I ever looked forward to was the day I could hold you in my arms.”

Her tender smile held not a trace of falsehood.

I could only stare at her through blurring vision, unable to speak.

“One day you’ll come to understand everything. That’s why, Muriel—you must survive to the end.”

I love you, my daughter.

She pressed a soft kiss to my forehead and was gone.

That was the last time I ever saw her.

“One day you’ll come to understand everything?”

Repeating her last words to myself, I kept running.

Thorns tore at my feet, pain flared in my soles, but I didn’t stop.

Not when my mother’s final expression had been one of faith in me.

Woof! Woof!

“This way!”

The pursuers were relentless.

Trained hounds barked as they closed in, while assassins’ arrows rained down.

The suffocating chase continued even after I broke through the forest.

But then—

There’s no way forward…

I came to an abrupt halt at the edge of a sheer cliff.

“An albino squirrel… So you are the true Aymond heir.”

“Heh. Now there’s nowhere to run. Below is a river infamous for its raging currents. A little rat like you would be swept away in an instant—your body never even recovered.”

Sneering laughter echoed from behind me.

I turned to face them.

I had run for over an hour without pause, yet they showed no sign of fatigue.

Who are these people?

Their black robes hid their faces. I couldn’t tell.

But one thing was clear—

They’re beastfolk. Predators.

And not just any predators—high-tier ones.

Especially the man who seemed to lead them.

His face was buried beneath his hood, but his eyes blazed with feral intensity.

The sight of those chilling blue eyes made every hair on my body stand on end.

I’m scared…

Civilization might have outlawed beastfolk hunting one another, but the primal terror engraved in our bones had never faded.

I felt crushed beneath the sheer killing intent of a predator. My breath caught in my throat as though an invisible hand gripped my neck.

“If you surrender quietly now, you won’t have to suffer.”

Sensing my paralysis, they laughed and stepped closer.

At their command, the hounds closed in, tightening the circle around me.

Move, please… move…!

I dragged my legs forward, but they felt rooted in place.

Crunch.

I had reached the very edge of the cliff.

At the same time, the leader raised his hand slowly.

“Seize her.”

At his signal, the hounds lunged, fangs bared.

All I could do was cling desperately to the hope of a miracle.

The awakening everyone said would never come.

Please… please, don’t let them get me!

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Yelps rang out.

Suddenly, a blinding light burst forth, and the hounds crashed to the ground mid-leap.

It was as though something unseen had shackled their legs.

It didn’t take long to realize what had happened.

“M-Mana?! But they said she couldn’t use mana—!”

“What kind of power is this?! Damn it, I didn’t see a thing!”

No signs, no warning—just a flash, and then chaos.

Confusion rippled through the enemies.

I was just as bewildered.

But more importantly—their relentless momentum had faltered.

Now!

I turned back to the cliff.

I had no strength left to run. I knew miracles did not come twice.

But I also had no intention of being captured.

Whatever their purpose was—

I will never let myself be taken.

As though reading my thoughts, the leader lunged, but I was quicker.

Thud.

I kicked off the ground and leapt into the abyss.

“You foolish little rat!”

I heard them shout, but I didn’t care.

Let them choke on their curses.