I Became a Monster in a Novel

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When the landscape of the purple city returned, the Butterfly of Covenant was sitting despondently.

A binding chain that choked like a curse. As the Master of All Things, who had pressed down on her throughout her life, vanished, the Butterfly of Covenant let out a hollow laugh.

‘It’s still useful, after all.’

Yeah. In the end, to her, that’s all I am. A tool with some utility… that was the only reason.

I mean, we were just… for that reason alone.

The Butterfly of Covenant, Amelia, scratched and tore at her face. Her nails left marks, and blood flowed, but she felt like she would go insane if she didn’t do something—anything.

Yet, even if she did, nothing would change.

No matter how silly the reason may be, unless she herself gives up, there’s no way to escape this chain.

Realizing this reason only made her feel like she was fading away.

Amelia laughed and cried. She wept endlessly and laughed like a madwoman.

If someone saw, they would point fingers, but she couldn’t care less about that.

She just wanted to let it all go.

The fragments of the power she unveiled were beyond expectations, and the reason she was wanted was… not that great.

Just a simple tool. Maybe it wasn’t that she couldn’t subdue but that there was no need to at all.

If she wanted to, she could have done it anytime.

As long as she was labeled a useful tool, the chain imposed on her could never be removed.

Resistance was impossible, and so was escaping.

In light of that fact, Amelia was enveloped in despair.

Wouldn’t it be better to just accept it if that’s the case? If she hadn’t resisted, Edgar wouldn’t have died. If she hadn’t pressured Agail, he wouldn’t have reached out to the wayward sons.

…Things wouldn’t have turned out this way.

She had endured and held on all her life, but really, it was for nothing.

Thinking that way made everything seem resentful.

With her hair a mess and face in shambles, Amelia wept all the tears she had accumulated and wailed.

Resentment soon turned into a sense of helplessness.

She couldn’t even reach the Marang, let alone the Master of All Things.

The helplessness that devoured her resentment relentlessly pushed Amelia into despair, throwing her into a pit of hopelessness.

In the deep, deep swamp, Amelia finally saw what she truly wanted.

…Yeah. The only way to escape this dreadful chain was death. Only death could provide me peace. Now, she just wanted to feel comfortable.

Thus, the broken Amelia desperately pleaded with the Wolf that killed her son.

“…Kill me.”

Her voice was hoarse from crying. Unspeakable emotions resonated within.

It was a twisted wish filled with hatred and resentment.

Perhaps, if she died at the hands of the Wolf that killed Agail, she might see him again, clinging to that delusion.

“…….”

The Wolf slowly walked as if to answer her, conjuring mist before her. Amelia, in her broken state, felt a surge of joy.

A flickering face… an illusion of her son and husband calling her.

Even if it was an illusion, even if it was a dream, it was enough.

If she could see them once more. After all, it was the end.

With her eyes closed softly, Amelia waited for the end that was brushing against her.

After a long wait for that end, finally, death did not come for her.

This time, the expectation to die was thrown off again. The black mist wasn’t aimed at her, but at Anela.

Surprised, Amelia, who had been about to cast magic, had to stop when she saw the mist gnawing only on the purple chains.

…Before she knew it, Anela had collapsed again. Surely, she couldn’t withstand the power of the Master of All Things. The only fortunate thing was that she had just collapsed.

Amelia had to sink deeper into the pit of despair.

What tugged at her this time was self-loathing. It was dragging Amelia down beneath the ground.

…Taking care of Anela should have been her responsibility.

But she didn’t even know her daughter had collapsed. In her battered mind, the call of her family had turned into blame.

No one blamed her.

Amelia sighed. Even if she noticed Anela had collapsed, what could she do?

What difference would it make now? If she couldn’t die, she would remain the Butterfly of Covenant, not Amelia.

The relationship was already distorted. It couldn’t be any other way.

She had lost what was precious long ago, and by now, even those feelings must not be left…

Suddenly, Amelia realized that her heart was still beating.

…When the Marang’s mist was aimed at Anela.

The emotions she thought she had lost and killed were simply lurking deep within; they had not died. They returned in her moment of crisis.

Go away. Go away. Go away…!

Amid the surging emotions, Amelia denied herself and her feelings.

She must remain the Butterfly of Covenant.

If she reached out to Anela, she too would fall into the same dreadful chain as Agail and her.

Master of All Things. She would seize whatever was precious to her whenever she desired… therefore, no precious things should remain in her.

Yet, Amelia couldn’t deny Anela. The precious thing… she felt it when the black mist was aimed at Anela.

No, even if it wasn’t that, she had known all along.

In the end, killing her emotions, distancing herself from her family, was because she truly cherished them.

“I…”

In the end, is there no way to escape this chain? Is there no way to break free from her grasp?

Amelia cried and laughed sadly.

It seemed no matter how much she thought, the only way to escape was to die.

***

As the Butterfly of Covenant fell into thought, the Wolf was also lost in contemplation.

‘You are the hope of the lost.’

That phrase buzzed around in his brain, refusing to leave.

To know this truth meant that he understood not only the system but also destruction and the end.

…How?

Perhaps it was because she, like the Queen, was a transcendent entity? No, that was different. The emptiness that flickered in her eyes held something.

The hope of the lost. If that’s why it welcomed him, wouldn’t it be right to stop the ruin, halt disease and plague?

Yet she didn’t stop the plague; instead, she formed a group of wayward sons. A collective of traitors. Aimed at making an elixir, causing calamities to slaughter humanity, those scum.

The purpose of establishing the wayward sons was to create an elixir. But what was the existence that tried to wake up even with the impossible elixir, and why was she so desperate for it?

No, if the purpose was to create an elixir, was there really a need for the slaughtering escapades like sewer and witch’s disasters? If they needed people, they could quietly abduct them anytime.

…I don’t understand. My mind is full of chaotic questions.

Even thinking about it now, there seems to be no answer.

“…Kill me.”

At the sudden voice, the Wolf opened his closed eyes.

The Butterfly of Covenant, Amelia Morest. When he turned his head at her gaze, he understood she was looking at him with desperate eyes.

…He also pondered on the Butterfly of Covenant.

He thought of her as a betrayer, but now even that wasn’t certain. If that were the case, she would have resisted to the end. She wouldn’t despair before the Master of All Things.

The Wolf sighed and walked past her to lift the collapsed Anela.

…It wasn’t hard to kill her as she wished. The Butterfly of Covenant had no will left.

But first, it seemed he needed to talk. He needed to understand the situation.

***

When the mages of the Purple Square burst out, Hong Yu-ri ran with all her strength. When she finally stepped into the Purple Square, she realized one side of the city had crumbled.

Yet no one came out. They were just too terrified, locking themselves away.

Even though the matter was already over. Just like with the plague and disease.

“You idiots…”

She didn’t know exactly what had happened, but thanks to their cowardly actions, it was easier to move. Following the tracks under the tracking magic, Hong Yu-ri soon arrived at the lonely castle.

She had never been here, but this was the stronghold of the Butterfly of Covenant.

The door wasn’t locked—it was closed, yet it felt oddly flimsy, as if someone was waiting for someone to come.

…But who?

In front of the door, Hong Yu-ri pondered. Should she carelessly enter the Butterfly’s Castle?

Nothing could be guaranteed here. As Alpha had said, the probability that the Butterfly was a traitor was high. She could think of no other reason for a fight to happen. If Alpha had truly suffered…

It would be wiser to withdraw and assess the situation further. If she barged in, not only would she be in danger, but the repercussions would reach Dawn.

She thought she should retreat, but just then the voice from behind pushed her forward.

“You, why the hell did you come here…!”

―Dorothy, the successor of the Red Square.

For the first time, she appeared useful. As a successor of the Square rather than a non-member, even if the Butterfly was a traitor, she wouldn’t dare kill Dorothy.

Moreover, she could cover for her reason for coming to grasp the strange occurrences in the Purple Square.

“Hey. Thanks.”

Seeing Hong Yu-ri approach her, Dorothy frowned.

“What?”

“Thanks.”

Suddenly pushed from behind, a startled Dorothy resisted, but when it came to magic, of course, Hong Yu-ri had the upper hand given her hunter experience.

Pushed into the Butterfly’s Castle, Dorothy’s expression twisted as she shouted at Hong Yu-ri.

“What the—Hong Yu-ri! Are you crazy?!”

Seeing Hong Yu-ri walk in casually, Dorothy held back the urge to draw her magic.

No matter the situation, this was the stronghold of the Square Master.

She couldn’t carelessly reveal her magic in the domain of the Butterfly of Covenant.

No matter how reckless she was, did she really plan to push herself into the Butterfly’s Castle? It was so unbelievable that she couldn’t help but wonder if that thunderbolt actually had her wits about her.

For now, she had to get out. If she could just get outside, she would teach her about manners and concepts—yet, regardless of Dorothy’s resolve, Hong Yu-ri casually stepped inside the Butterfly’s Castle and started walking down the corridor, causing Dorothy to feel utterly dumbfounded as all sense evaporated.

“You, are you seriously trying to get me killed?!”

Ignoring her screams, Hong Yu-ri placed her finger over her lips. Dorothy was at a loss for words at the gesture asking her to be quiet, fanning herself with her hands as she grabbed Hong Yu-ri’s arm.

“Get out. Do you know where this is…!”

“Oh, I get it, so just wait.”

Hong Yu-ri shrugged off Dorothy’s hand like it was annoying and started climbing up the stairs. Was she actually possessed by something? Acting in a way that would be insane otherwise, Dorothy snickered.

Sure, go ahead. Wherever you want to go. Soon, the Butterfly of Covenant would come out and give her a good thrashing.

Then a question mark appeared over Dorothy’s head. For some reason, the door seemed to be getting further away.

…Why? Soon she realized she was being dragged along by Hong Yu-ri grabbing her by the neck.

“W-What is this?! You’re not letting go?!”

Ignoring Dorothy’s protest as if she was saying go ahead and bark, Hong Yu-ri climbed the stairs. One by one, as she ascended, there was no way for Dorothy to escape when she couldn’t draw magic in the Butterfly’s Castle.

As she received a few flicks to the head, she turned teary-eyed after climbing the third floor, finally giving up.

At this point, the Butterfly of Covenant would be aware. If she were to come this far, it would be better to walk in on her own.

“…Let go. I said let go!”

Seeing Dorothy cry out like an angry cat, Hong Yu-ri nodded.

…So far, it didn’t seem like much. There wasn’t much left to the top floor.

“You just wait when I get out! I won’t let this slide!”

“Oh, sure, go ahead.”

Hong Yu-ri scoffed, continuing to ascend, and just before reaching the last flight of stairs, she discovered an open door.

Anela Morest. Agail Morest.

Room of the Butterfly of Covenant, Amelia Morest’s children. Even though the door was firmly closed… Hong Yu-ri’s tracking magic could see the many footprints leading to that room.

Unlike the other rooms, dust hadn’t accumulated in front of it.

As if someone living in the castle had come in continually…

“…….”

Suddenly, Hong Yu-ri approached the door, and Dorothy facepalmed at her behavior. Finally entering the room, Hong Yu-ri’s eyes widened as she saw someone sleeping soundly on the bed, looking as if they were dead.

“Anela?”

…She didn’t seem to be in good condition. Hong Yu-ri hurried over to check the collapsed Anela lying on the bed, and fortunately, it didn’t seem like her life was in danger.

There was no visible external injury; she was just exhausted.

But why was she here like this? And where was Alpha?

As if to answer that question, a scream resonated from outside, prompting Hong Yu-ri to rush out of the room.

―Dorothy, trembling in fear, stared at the approaching black wolf.

“What the…”

It didn’t seem like the catastrophe she had imagined had happened. Seeing Alpha walking around casually, all her accumulated worries evaporated in an instant as Hong Yu-ri exhaled a sigh of relief.

No matter what had happened, it seemed they were both okay. That was all that mattered. That’s why she had come this far.

“Are you okay?”

In response to that question, the wolf nodded calmly, and Hong Yu-ri nodded too.

Right. Alpha wouldn’t fall easily. …But contrary to them, the blonde girl had her head down, fainting on the spot, and Hong Yu-ri furrowed her brows.

“What on earth…”

***

As Hong Yu-ri finally entered the room, Dorothy thought it might be time to run away. Yes! Right now, she could escape. All she had to do was sneak out of the Butterfly’s Castle. It wouldn’t be that difficult… however, when she turned down the happy-go-lucky stairs… she couldn’t do it.

At the other end of the dark corridor, the mage Dorothy could see it clearly.

The moment she laid eyes on it, Dorothy swallowed hard.

And the next moment, she genuinely wished.

That what she was seeing was an illusion. That the approaching monster was merely a vision.

A feeling of dread engulfed her… Dorothy subconsciously tried to summon her magic, but it was impossible.

As the monster’s red eyes locked onto her, Dorothy felt as if she was being laid bare. Not only could she not summon magic, she couldn’t even think of what to do.

At some point, she realized she was trembling.

But on top of that, she wasn’t breathing. No, she couldn’t breathe.

Gripping her blocked throat, she tried to take a deep breath, but… how? How do I breathe? Her white-out mind refused to let her think.

…Why, why?

She wasn’t a stranger to monsters; she had fought against diseases and plagues. Yet why, why couldn’t she muster the courage to face that creature?

Was it because it was a worse monster?

No, it couldn’t be… it couldn’t be… yet Dorothy couldn’t convince herself of it.

Doubt gnawed away at her from within.

Now, unable to even tremble, it was slowly approaching her. When it revealed itself from the darkness, Dorothy felt something snap as if her sanity was unraveling.

A black Marang with crimson eyes—covered in mysterious markings, it plunged Dorothy into a pit of dread, subtly glowing as it concealed itself. Regardless of its brilliance, its monstrosity was undeniable. Imagining the Marang’s massive jaw snapping her whole, her heart thudded irregularly in her chest. Forgetting to breathe, with her pale face, Dorothy squeezed out her last ounce of strength to scream.

“―――!”

A scream that echoed throughout the Butterfly’s Castle. She hoped it wouldn’t be heard; yet at that moment, she fervently wished the Butterfly of Covenant would come to her aid. As her legs gave way and she sank to the ground, the monster approached her.

The last memory she had was of that dreadful creature before everything went dark.

―That was her final memory.

 

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