Chapter 40: Butterfly Mask (1)

“A second skill… I’ve always wanted one,” Hong Insu said.

“Not just a second skill—your Shadow’s Curse can become incredibly useful with increased power. You’ll feel it when it grows. Now stop slacking and train,” Ion replied.

Hong Insu scratched his head. “I’m not trying to slack. To extend my shadows, I need to see the target’s shadow first, right?”

“‘See’ it?”

“Yeah! Like, the shadow’s coordinates? I have to map it in my head. But with over a hundred charging at once, some get hidden by terrain shadows, others by the ones in front, and some come from behind. How am I supposed to see behind me?”

Ion paused, not to brainstorm but out of disbelief. The solution was obvious, and Hong Insu should know it. Why spell it out?

“Don’t use your eyes—sense with mana.”

“What’s that mean?”

“Where does ether come from?”

“From breaking down monster fluids with some complex chemical process…”

“Right. Monsters are ether constructs. You ‘saw’ the ether etchings in the card game without looking. Same principle.”

“The card game?”

“Yesterday’s poker.”

“Yesterday’s poker…” Hong Insu parroted.

Not a damn parrot.

A spark lit in Hong Insu’s dark eyes. He seemed to grasp it, and soon his shadows surged outward. Ion leapt to a higher vantage point.

Hong Insu spread mana around, sensing monsters, mapping their coordinates, and extending shadows.

Cluck! Cock-a-doo!

The 113 chickens outside the vine wall froze.

Hong Insu had bound their shadows, even those obscured by the wall.

He poked his head out, and the vines, recognizing an ally, parted. “Yo, move, chicken head,” he taunted, pressing a monster’s beak. It didn’t budge. Wiping cold sweat from the mana drain, he bounced with excitement. “Hell yeah! I did it, Ion! Am I a genius or what?”

“Not complete success.”

“What? I stopped every single one!”

“Success is doing it in combat. I’m dropping the vine wall. Reset.”

“That’s harsh, my hero, harsh.”

Harsh? Compared to Teacher’s training, this was nothing. A faint smile crossed Ion’s face, quickly fading.

Over two days, Ion dragged Hong Insu through five dungeons: C-rank, B-rank, D-rank, B-rank, C-rank, using one EXP-boosting item per dungeon.

In C- and D-rank dungeons, Hong Insu trained his skill. In B-rank ones, Ion dealt near-fatal blows, letting Hong Insu land the killing strike.

This was for multiple reasons: funneling EXP, avoiding potion side effects, and ensuring rest to prevent mental burnout.

Ion learned under Teacher that without proper rest, people could snap—some even stabbed themselves when mental strength waned.

“Weaklings. Tsk. Clean up the bodies. I don’t want to see them.”

Teacher called those who died that way “weak.”

Hong Insu’s probably “weak” too.

So Ion ensured he rested.

It’d be great if he awakens another curse skill later.

As a rare curse mage, he’d be a huge asset for the Demon King subjugation.

After the dungeons, they headed to Hong Insu’s family, staying at Daon’s villa—passed off to Hong Insu as Tuna’s.

“Your sister keeps getting hit by overflows because you haven’t killed Choi Jungho. Don’t want to? Then follow me.”

“What nonsense? What’s Inyoung got to do with Choi Jungho? I don’t get it! Your sidekick needs a kinder explanation!”

Hong Insu didn’t understand but grumbled and complied. His parents agreed to stay in the remote villa after three overflows near Inyoung seemed ominous.

While Hong Insu talked with his family, Ion and Ade Tuna spoke at a distance.

“No monsters appeared so far. Likely due to skill cooldowns. They’ll probably show up in three or four days. You two sure you can handle it?” Tuna asked.

“We’ll manage.”

“Hong Inyoung’s a sharp kid, good at dictation. Three overflows nearby, yet she doesn’t cry—she reads bravely.”

“…”

“Someone fated to die in another future doesn’t have to die here. Protect her.”

“Don’t worry, go.”

Tuna trusted Ion and left.

Ion and Hong Insu parked outside the villa, keeping watch. It wasn’t true stakeout—Hong Insu’s mom called them for meals. Ion sent Hong Insu in, eating bread or cup noodles alone in the car.

Once, Hong Insu said, “Mom was bummed you ate bread alone. Thinks her cooking’s bad.”

Ion considered joining but declined.

“Child, animals are most vulnerable when eating. Predators strike when herbivores feed.”

“Yes, that’s why they keep watch for each other.”

“Exactly. But not humans. If someone offers to watch while you eat, they’re plotting to exploit your guard. Never trust them.”

“I won’t eat in front of others.”

“Good. Tonight, we skip dinner. You need to get used to hunger.”

“…”

Raised with such lessons, and seeing Hong Insu’s family chatter happily over meals, Ion couldn’t join. A family gossiping about their day over food? Unfathomable.

The orphanage’s meals were brutal—no time for chatter amid grueling training, just frantic eating before Teacher’s mood shifted and meals ended. Ion felt bad for Hong Insu’s mom but preferred eating alone.

“Yo, you owe me more explanation,” Hong Insu said.

“I explained.”

“That wasn’t explaining—it was blackmail! You keep bringing up Choi Jungho and making me move. Mom and Dad are getting suspicious. Tell me the truth.”

Three nights into their stakeout in Hong Insu’s car near the villa, Hong Insu kept pressing about Inyoung’s connection to Choi Jungho.

Ion understood his confusion but, tired of his persistence, said, “Can’t say. I’m under contract.”

“A nondisclosure contract?”

“Yup.”

The easiest excuse to avoid truth.

Ion lied without blinking.

“…”

What could Hong Insu do? He pouted but shut up.

In the rare silence, Ion’s ears perked up.

Rustle… Oak branches swaying in the wind.

Rustle… Ragweed in the breeze.

Rustle…

“They’re here.”

“Huh?”

Ion flung open the car door, Hong Insu scrambling after him. Following Ion’s gaze skyward, movement appeared.

Chweek! Chweeek!

The awaited monsters arrived.

“C-rank, Inriels!” Ion shouted.

Bat-like, bat-sized flying monsters. Weak in raw power but annoyingly resilient.

They raced to the villa, arriving before the Inriels breached, thanks to their proximity.

“Another overflow…?” Hong Insu gasped.

“I’ll handle outside. You go to your family.”

“Thanks!” Hong Insu saw Ion draw a flame sword and rushed inside.

His family was descending from the second floor. “Insu, what’s happening?” his dad asked.

“Dad, take Mom and Inyoung to the shelter!”

“Another overflow?”

“Seems like it. Go!”

“You and your friend come too. I’ll call for help!”

“Mom, we’re Hunters. Just go!”

“Son, bring your friend—”

“Honey, let Insu handle it. Be careful, Insu!”

“Got it!”

Confirming his family reached the basement shelter, Hong Insu relaxed slightly.

Crash! Clang!

A second-floor window shattered. Hong Insu ran up to the spacious first-floor living room.

Chweek! Chweeek!

Inriels swarmed, drawn to his body heat.

Outside was dark, but the villa’s lights blazed, casting shadows even as the monsters darted.

<Shadow’s Curse>!

Dark red shadows shot out, binding the Inriels instantly.

Chweek! Chwek!

They thrashed but couldn’t escape. Hong Insu slammed them to the floor. Thud! Crack! Heads split, wing bones snapped, bodies crushed like watermelons.

Crunch, crunch.

His shadows devoured the corpses. In a dungeon, he’d save fangs or feathers for byproducts, but overflow monsters were too toxic to sell.

He missed the butterfly among the corpses.

Outside, no living monsters remained.

Ion stood under the moonlight, pensive, his robe spotless despite the slaughter.

“Yo, Ion…” Hong Insu started.

Chweeek!

“Argh!” he yelped, startled.

One Inriel, half-torn, thrashed in Ion’s vines.

“Why not kill it?” Hong Insu asked.

“Get the tracking item.”

“…You’re tracking this monster?”

Ion gave him a do-I-need-to-say-it look.

Hong Insu’s hands shook as he pulled out Tracker’s Navigation. “Ion, this… isn’t an overflow?”

“…”

“Was it… Hongdae, the hospital… someone’s targeting Inyoung?”