Regina Rena – To the Unforgiven

Under the Rule

Translated by Wook
Edited by Wook

Five years ago, Regina promised Rena.

— I will make you stronger. Enough to tear the kings of the dead apart.

Under the red sky of the Tomb, she said to Rena, who became the target of The King with Many Hearts.

However, Rena could not readily accept those words. “Strong” was a word that was too far from Rena.

So Rena asked suspiciously.

“Can I be strong?”

— Your expression is wrong. You are already strong. Although it is still not enough to tear the kings of the dead.

Regina asserted. But Rena still had an unsettled expression.

The 13-year-old Rena was still young. Her slightly slender body was neither fast nor hard, and she had never grasped a weapon. She also had no experience of fighting anything.

— If you’re having doubts, I’ll show you.

Regina said so and gestured lightly. Then, a dagger on the floor suddenly flew into Rena with the blade at the forefront.

“Kyaah!”

When the weapon flew in, Rena freaked out and reflexively blocked the front.

However, she didn’t feel the pain even after waiting for a long time. So while hesitating, she heard Regina’s voice.

— Don’t move and look ahead.

Rena slowly opened her eyes following the words. Then she gasped without realizing it.

“Hiik…”

The sharp tip of the dagger stopped in front of Rena’s nose. Regina did not stop.

‘This again…?’

It was like that time. The first day Rena fell to the Tomb, when she was surrounded by the dead. At that time, the world stopped like this.

― Don’t move, don’t say anything, just watch with your consciousness awake.

Even without Regina’s orders, Rena was already unable to move.

The blade slid between her loose arms and pierced Rena’s face.

Rena already knew from her past experience that if she moved now, this dagger would move again.

— This is your strength. The power to stop time and think. It is an infinity allowed to you, who reached the abyss alive.

Humans who face death sometimes experience time stopping. So, in that brief moment, they look back on their life, regret it, and finally accept death.

Rena also experienced such a moment when she was surrounded by the dead. However, there were some differences from ordinary people.

The first is that her consciousness has expanded significantly by touching the abyss.

The second is that she’s already accustomed to death.

And the third is that it made it possible to stop time and awaken consciousness in every moment of crisis.

— The world won’t move until you move. So see what threatens you and think about it. What should you do to avoid it?

Rena was confused, but she followed Regina’s words and looked at the sharp dagger.

The dagger had already penetrated between the arms covering the face. Should she catch it? No, she was not confident. So should she avoid it? It’s going to get caught on her arm. Looking closely, the direction was slightly skewed to the left. If she dodged to the left, it would follow her. She had to dodge to the right.

Then should she dodge to the right, and lower her left arm to allow the dagger to miss?

— Once you have made a decision, move. Faster than that dagger.

Rena turned her body as hard as she could after making up her mind. Then the stopped dagger moved relentlessly and brushed Rena’s ear.

“Ah…!”

Rena screamed at the sensation of the cold cutlery touching her skin.

But that was it. The dagger narrowly flew past Rena, and Rena was surprised at what she had done on her own.

“Argh!”

But she could not rejoice as a dizzying shock hit her ankle.

Rena, who sprained her feet, collapsed as it was. It looked like her leg, which had moved quickly without any preparation, was broken.

— You need to train yourself. To avoid your own body tripping over your leg.

Regina smiled and beckoned. Then Rena’s body floated into the air.

Rena floundered in surprise and soon left herself to the unknown force. Regina pulled Rena as she was and dragged her right in front of her nose.

— Do you understand now? The reason why you’re strong.

“… I don’t know. Will this really work?”

— Of course. Your enemies won’t even know about it until they’re beheaded.

Regina beckoned again. Then Rena’s old blouse and skirt were replaced with a stiff shirt and leather pants.

— Don’t worry. I will train you enough.

Along with Regina’s words, a dagger flew in front of Rena. This time, it was not the tip of the knife, but the direction of the handle.

Rena hesitated and grabbed it. It was a small dagger, but even that was a little heavy for Rena.

So Rena asked Regina with a hesitant look.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

— What do you mean?

“Why are you helping me like this? Do you take it as a joke?”

Rena’s face as she asked that question was as pitiful as a child before she was punished.

It was a child’s expression that believed that nobody would help her for no reason, but nevertheless still hoped someone would at least once.

Seeing her face mixed with anxiety and expectation, Regina answered slowly.

— It’s no joke,

“Then?”

— That…

Regina’s words were muffled, and then she smiled mischievously.

— I’ll tell you when you’re strong enough.

“What?”

― So, if you want to hear an answer, hurry up and get stronger.

“What? You’re so cheap!”

Rena complained, but Regina only laughed and eventually said nothing.

And as time passed, she realized that Regina kept her promise.

There is a promise to make Rena strong, and a promise to tell her why she helps Rena.

It was that promise.

Because of that promise, Rena broke the silence and returned to the world where she had erased herself.

It was a secret that only Rena Ruber knew yet, but soon everyone would know.

***

Rena had already rearranged her tight clothes.

Then she looked at the huge window that blocked the front.

Through the lattice, thick bushes and a dazzlingly white palace could be seen.

‘It’s over there.’

The White Palace, the residence of Emperor Nihil.

Rena went through several layers of doors and a group of guards as she got here.

After passing through such a tight road, this place was the deepest part of the Gracia Imperial Palace, where Emperor Nihil resided.

Rena took out the silver key she received from Clavis in front of the door. Indeed, the key fits perfectly with the keyhole of the window door.

The emperor gave this key through Clavis and called Rena. The exact purpose is still unknown. She just heard over and over that the emperor would congratulate her separately.

Rena manually opened the door and entered. Then, across the sunny corridor, she reached a huge dome-shaped hall.

Rena stepped into the hole and closed her eyes for a while to endure the glare.

Before long, in front of Rena, who opened her eyes again, a blank white space unfolded.

The cylindrical hall had all walls covered with white curtains. After that, the embossing of the frame that looked like a picture frame stood out, and Rena remembered that Clavis called this place the ‘Emperor’s Gallery’.

Not only the walls but also the floor were lined with white sheets, but the light from the open dome-shaped ceiling filled the white cloth, giving it a dizzying feeling as if one had stepped into a cloud.

The emperor was in the middle.

A woman wearing an undecorated cotton dress with a wide ribbon wrapped around her neck and her bare feet hanging freely.

Emperor Nihil was lying in a nest full of large cushions and taking a nap like a cat.

As Rena stood at the entrance, Nihil raised her head as if she felt something. Then she got up from a place where it was not known whether it was a bed or a nest, stretching out.

“You’re here, Rena Ruber.”

Neither culture nor dignity can be found, but Rena calmly raised the end of the skirt and greeted.

“Glory to Her Majesty.”

“Nevermind that. Come here.”

Nihil frowned as she was greeted and kicked one of the cushions. Rena approached Nihil, hesitated for a moment, and then sat down on the cushion.

“I called you to see you for a second. It’s been a while since I did something like this.”

“I’m very grateful.”

“Yes, you should be.”

At Rena’s polite reply, Nihil waved her hand as if she was tired of it. Then she spoke again without hesitation.

“If you have something you want to say, say it.”

“What are you talking about…”

“I’ll grant you a wish. You should be congratulated for making a contribution.”

Rena was troubled by Nihil’s calm but unconventional proposal, but replied.

“I just did what I had to do.”

“Bullshit.”

“… Nothing comes to mind right now, but if you give me time to think…”

“Then use your brain somehow.”

Nihil looked up at Rena and said. Her glass-like eyes looked as if they could pierce Rena, and Rena lowered her gaze, wondering if she had offended her.

Nihil muttered as she saw it.

“When I see you, I think of Naja.”

Rena was a little surprised at the sudden name. Naja is the name of Lynn’s mother, the former Eastern Duke.

As Rena raised her head at the unexpected words, more unexpected words continued.

“Are you dating Naja’s son?”

Indeed, the rumors of the Imperial Palace were fast. However, not knowing that the emperor would be interested in such gossip, Rena bowed her head reflexively.

“My apologies.”

“Don’t do that.”

“Pardon?”

“If you use the court language just one more time, I will tie your tongue.”

Rena pondered for a moment at Nihil’s eerie threat.

Contrary to her savage remarks, her face was still expressionless, so it was hard to tell if this was a joke or a serious one.

Rena nodded her head without saying anything to the easy-going, high-pressure command. Then Nihil muttered again languidly, as if she had ever been in love.

“It’s funny, someone who looks like Naja is dating Naja’s son. Hmm, then what about the time when you fight him in front of me?”

Nihil suddenly looked at Rena as if she had just remembered. Rena spoke carefully in reply.

“At that time, we were getting to know each other.”

“Ah.”

Nihil nodded her head and mumbled to herself.

“It’s like this. Fortunate or unfortunate, it’s always like this. I didn’t mean to do that.”

Nihil grumbled like that, then looked at Rena again.

“I gave a pair of lovers a hard time.”

It was a word that felt kind as one heard it. So Rena responded a little gently.

“Still, thanks to you, I was able to confirm my heart.”

“That’s a relief. But doesn’t he attack you when he’s in heat?”

At Nihil’s direct words, Rena was speechless for an instant.

It was a sentence from which she could deduce many things, but Rena was more surprised by the word ‘in heat’ and hardened for a moment. Then Nihil waved back.

“Well, you’ll do fine. Enough of that. And the wish, yes, that too. I’ll give you time. I’m calling today to give you a reward, not to punish you. Think as long as you want, until I change my mind.”

Nihil said so and changed the topic.

“More than that, Rena Ruber, I want to ask you something.”

“Say it.”

“There were rumors that your father was the Marquis of the North.”

Whether she was doing this on purpose, or whether it was just a really rough shot, Nihil’s new topic hit Rena’s once again.

There are only three Marquis in the North, but Nihil did not remember their names.

She even called him the son of Naja because she couldn’t think of the name of the Eastern Duke immediately, so how could she remember the name of a Northern marquis? There was of course no need for a reason.

However, she was interested in Rena Ruber for the first time in a long time, so Nihil briefly learned about Rena’s origin and the rumors surrounding her.

“Is it true? Then why are you acting as a representative of the South?”

Nihil asked with an expressionless face.

“You don’t have to say it out loud. I’m curious about one thing.”

It was questionable whether there was any emotion in her expression as she asked.

“Is there any reason why I should kill you?”