The Monster's Shadow
Karina returned to her private lab after visiting her master. The moment she closed the door and stood there, a sigh escaped her lips.
"Fwew."
Her cheeks were flushed red. It was from embarrassment. Above all, she felt heavy-hearted for deceiving her master, whom she trusted so deeply.
I even told him Pauche might be hiding there...
Of course, he hadn't asked. But the belated guilt crashed over her like a wave, overwhelming her prideful nature.
And naturally, what hurt her pride the most was none other than Ivan Hellenger.
What the hell did I do...?
She'd tagged along on the Monster Island subjugation fleet, enduring cold-shoulder treatment from the man she had a crush on, only to get no thanks or recognition for her help. Instead, bills arrived for the magic coatings peeled off in various spots and the damages to the ships.
And that was it? If only! Ivan Hellenger, who had barely escaped major losses by arguing tooth and nail, dragged his battered fleet back to Monster Island.
Though some were caught in Karina's Explosion spell, even without that, most of the monsters on the island seemed to have been wiped out already.
Whether it was Karina trying to snag something from the Monster Codex, or Ivan seeking proof of subjugation, neither found anything satisfactory.
"Haaauuugh!"
Frustrated to the point of stomping her feet, Karina glared at the ring on her finger and vented her irritation.
"What the fuck is up with that bastard—!"
The mad monster that had swept Monster Island clean beforehand. According to other witnesses, it was an abomination that didn't look human at all.
She'd glimpsed it faintly herself. Right before passing out after her long casting ended and the Explosion dropped. And again, when Ivan Hellenger urgently woke her after the blast hit the wrong coordinates, as she groggily tried to stand and cast more spells.
Not Drakan, for real? A monster like that?
It was just a split second, but Karina remembered clearly. A physique too exaggerated for a natural human, wrapped in an eerie aura. Not just unique—it was potent enough to stick in her memory among all the people she'd actually met.
If the rumored Drakan with the strongest body in the world existed, he'd probably look just like that.
But Master said it wasn't him—
Twinkle.
The ring she wore now held a fragment of that monster's aura lingering in the sky back then. Thanks to the top-tier magic her master Albareon had layered on, she could now detect anyone with that aura within a certain radius anytime.
But... will I get to see it again?
Separate from her annoyance at the interruption, her innate mage's curiosity—the essence of curiosity itself—began to stir.
"Argh, fuck!"
Pulling out the Monster Codex from her bosom reignited her frustration. Why the hell did I even bring this?
She grabbed the book to hurl it away, but...
"......"
This was borrowed.
Karina turned and chucked it vigorously toward the magic mirror propped against the celestial artifact.
Whoosh—
With a strange sound, the thrown book vanished through the mirror. Linked to another subspace with a carpeted floor, it was her go-to for safely venting stress.
"Argh!"
This time, she flung off her pointed mage's hat and robe.
Whoosh—
Then, like punching, she thrust her hand through the mirror.
Hum—!
Karina pulled out her workout clothes for stress-relief exercise. Panting as she changed, she was about to summon something into the air to vent when...
Flap.
A messenger bird flew in through the lab window, a small letter tied to its leg.
"Huh?"
Rushing over, Karina snatched the letter, her face lighting up.
The Hellenger family crest stamped on the envelope. It was from Ivan Hellenger.
Thump!
Even in her pissed-off state, her face bloomed at the thrill of her crush. As she read on...
"Heard invitations went out to the Magic Tower too—right?"
"So, you coming to the royal ball? Come with me. Just vaguely hint that I might've subjugated Monster Island. Don't make it a full lie—just set the mood so people think..."
Karina's brow furrowed again. Aaaargh! Pissed!
Using her again? That crazy fucker?
But what enraged Karina now wasn't Ivan Hellenger's sleazy behavior.
It was...
"I'm such a sucker..."
She was furious at her own uncontrollable feelings that would make her go to the royal ball just to see him anyway.
......
"Booze! Bring booze!"
"Young master, you need to stop drinking!"
"Let go!"
"Who was it? Who spread the rumor? You? Or you!?"
"It wasn't me!"
Ivan Hellenger had been pounding drinks since morning.
Right after his ambiguous return from "subjugating" Monster Island, rumors started circulating in nearby taverns: "Someone else already cleared Monster Island."
"Who the fuck leaked it?"
Obvious. One of the family's magic swordsmen from the subjugation fleet.
But interrogating dozens to find the culprit was impractical and bad for his reputation.
Better...
Karina... she better be useful this time.
Using his genius mage childhood friend made more sense. He planned to flip the rumors through her at the royal ball.
Just then.
"Young master! We got the drawing!"
"You sure?"
"Yes! Matches not just us, but everyone who glimpsed 'it' through telescopes at the time—their impressions and all!"
"Hand it over."
The group he'd tasked returned. The senior-most magic swordsman handed Ivan a single sheet.
Flutter!
A drawing on it. A sort of portrait. Or more like a wanted poster bounty sketch of the "monster" they'd seen recently.
"Definitely not Drakan."
"Right. We were too chaotic then to—"
"But it's a monster."
"Y-yes, it is."
"I'm gonna rip it apart."
"Pardon?"
Ivan's face twisted in fury. All because of this monster bastard.
This fucker beat him to Monster Island—the one he was supposed to subjugate! He'd lose the praise due to the next Swordmaster candidate!
And it dared attack Hellenger ships! Crunch. Ignoring that he'd struck first, Ivan had been channeling his rage at the monster since returning.
Plus, his pride stung from their unresolved sword-wind clash.
"Draw more copies, distribute to all the guys, and put a bounty on this fucker."
Ivan ordered his subordinates.
"By the time I get back from the ball at latest. Got it?"
Thud.
"...Huh?!"
"Arrogant punk."
I was on the floor. Without even knowing what hit me.
Drakan's aura.
"One day? Bullshit. Slowpokes like you won't grasp this aura in a lifetime, not a year."
Thud.
The second collapse. I gritted my teeth, recalling the original novel author's vague description of "aura" that glossed over it.
Aura is formless energy. Easy for the quick, hard for the slow—something like that.
Crazy bastard. Unlike the author's lazy handwave, grasping aura was insanely tough.
Thud, thud, thud, thud...
After the tenth fall, it hit me.
"Still clueless?"
"Hold on. Are you making it hard on purpose—"
"Ha! Knew you'd say that."
"..."
"Never thought you were overestimating yourself, huh."
I'd been arrogant. Seeing Drakan's genuine disappointment, I felt truly ashamed.
Fuck.
Not just because I'd underestimated aura.
Why didn't I notice?
Drakan's casual moves lately, devoid of killing intent. The system was different.
In other words, I'd dismissed his movements using pre-isekai modern exercise knowledge.
Modern MMA? Great techniques. Wrestling? Boxing? Muay Thai? All perfect for dominating foes.
But was that the end? Even modern debates rage.
Ancient boxing and wrestling had gaps in history; 21st-century MMA echoed ancient pankration.
Some arts even dropped lethal techniques for sport.
Yet I'd assumed my modern knowledge alone could make me the best here.
When I hadn't even reached MMA's peak back home!
In a world teeming with magic, aura, monsters—still!
Not meaningless, though. Modern knowledge helped reach this point. Crafting this brute body and climbing Monster Island's pyramid? Thanks to embodied modern training.
But now... time for plus alpha.
Especially against top-tiers like Drakan.
Ha.
Setting aside arrogance, I spoke slowly.
"Old man, one question. What's the fastest way for me to learn aura?"
"What?"
"Seeking advice."
Drakan chuckled at first. But my steadfast gaze got a straight answer.
"Feel the flow. That's all I can say."
"Dogshit method."
"Agreed."
"Hm?"
Drakan nodded seriously at my offhand remark. This old fuck agreeing?
"Sensing the flow is the issue. Even taking a punch—distinguish pure attack from aura-laced."
"Hmm."
"One way."
"What?"
"Get hit till you're bored to death."
"Ugh?!"
"Same attack, varying intensity, near death. You'll naturally get it. Oh, this old man's holding back on seasoning~ this is aura~."
Crack. Drakan spun his fists, grinning as he approached.
Fuck, he just needs a sandbag?
Thoughts swirled, but my cleared mind curved into a grin.
Anyway... just endure, right?
Enduring and pushing. My specialty.
From past life's endless trials, my confidence here.
I'm the king of endurance. Directionless is the problem; with it, any hardship crumbles.
Too tough? Nah.
"...Hahhaha! As if—!"
Slapping my cheeks awake, I laughed maniacally.
"Fuckin' simple problem! Come at me, then."
"Ha!"
Eyes gleaming, I faced him. The white-haired old man smirked, adding useless chatter as fists flew.
"Monster with annoyingly good eyes."
Nadia gazed out the window. A pleasant breeze carried a novel sight to her heart.
Thump!
Eyes sparkling like that. With a grin of pure joy.
What's Uncle teaching? What makes his eyes shine like that?
Watching the monstrous duo from afar, her eyes held strong curiosity and a touch of envy.
In this tiny estate with scarce peers, her curiosity about the swelling world grew boundless.
Her little notebook—bucket list for the big city—was packed full.
Soon, time to unleash it all.
Bustling metropolis. The capital especially—full of sparkling-eyed folks? Joyful laughers?
She could do all the wondrous, fun things she'd missed!
Thump, thump, thump.
Unlike someone's ongoing hellish days.
"I'll make tons of friends too, right?"
From Nadia, swollen with anticipation, time raced toward the royal ball.
"The royal ball... wanna go now!"