“First, I need to clarify something. How much do you already know about the curse placed on this castle? Ah, I see—so the Master has explained that much already. As you’ve heard, all the castle employees, along with our Master, were cursed a hundred years ago and lost our human forms.”
“Still, we were quite fortunate, all things considered. What do I mean by that? Well, Briel, haven’t you ever wondered why there are so few staff members compared to the enormous size of this castle?”
“Ah, I thought you might have. Nowadays, this place is just an isolated castle deep in the mountains. But a hundred years ago, it was a hidden gem of high society. Our Master was exceptionally popular, you see. He enjoyed socializing, hosting parties frequently, and naturally, many servants were needed.”
“…You seem skeptical. No, I understand why. After all, you’ve only known the Master in his beastly form. Still, it is true—we once had many servants. So why are there only a few of us left?”
“Exactly. All the other servants at the castle perished during that tragic incident. When the curse that transformed our Master into a beast spread throughout the castle, something terrible occurred. For reasons still unknown, only those of us who happened to be near the Master at the very moment the witch cast her spell managed to survive, transformed into the shapes you see today.”
“…Why a parrot, you ask? Haha, you’ve wondered about that for some time, haven’t you? Honestly, even I don’t know. None of the other servants know either. I apologize for not having a better answer.”
“At first, I too desperately yearned for my lost human body and suffered greatly. But eventually, I adapted. After all, at least I still have two limbs—even if they are wings.”
“However, there was one among us who transformed into something very different. Yes, that was Ian.”
“Let me briefly speak about Ian. He was a truly wonderful person—kind, gentle, and admired by many for his handsome looks… Ah, you’re quick to agree with that one, aren’t you? Quite a different reaction from when I mentioned our Master earlier! Haha, don’t worry; your secret is safe with me.”
“It was a relief that Ian survived alongside us. But for some inexplicable reason, he changed into something vastly different from the rest of us—into something without arms or legs.”
“Yes, Ian became an insect.”
“The horror Ian felt when he first saw his new, grotesque form must have been unimaginable—far beyond anything we experienced. Deeply traumatized, Ian lost the will to speak, choosing instead to lock himself away, alone in a secluded room.”
***
“Oh no…”
Listening to Butler Squawk’s story, I sighed sympathetically. Becoming an insect through magic was on an entirely different level than becoming an animal.
My thoughts drifted to a famous story I knew about a man who woke up as a bug. The protagonist of that tale hadn’t met a good end, either, deepening my somber mood.
Yet curiosity nagged at me.
“But he looks completely human now, and he speaks normally.”
“Yes, that’s another strange point. Ian is the only one in this castle who regains his original human form whenever there’s a full moon. Human Ian seems to lose all memories after the curse, retaining only fragments of his past life. Even those memories aren’t fully intact.”
I nodded thoughtfully. Perhaps Ian’s memory loss was a side effect of the curse. Or maybe it was his subconscious defense mechanism, blocking out the memories of his life as an insect to protect himself.
“Then… is Ian’s current appearance his original form?”
“It’s slightly altered, but yes, essentially it is.”
“That’s really… heartbreaking.”
Having once lived with such a handsome appearance, becoming an insect must have been unbearable. No wonder he lost his memories from sheer shock.
“Initially, we tried visiting Ian out of sympathy, worried about him being alone. But whenever he saw our animal forms, it only reminded him more vividly of his plight. Eventually, we realized our presence did more harm than good, so we stopped.”
“I understand…”
“Since Ian, when he’s human, has no memory of the curse at all, we decided it’d be best if we didn’t see him. We wanted to respect his peace—if forgetting those painful experiences helped him live happily, it was best to leave him be. That’s why I couldn’t explain everything to you earlier, Briel. Again, I sincerely apologize for deceiving and startling you.”
“No, it’s fine. Anyone in your position would’ve done the same. I completely understand.”
I gently waved off Butler Squawk’s deep bow. Indeed, it was a heavy burden to unload on someone who had just arrived at the castle.
Still, there was something I really needed to confirm.
“Then, about the ghost rumors in the castle…?”
“Completely false. There haven’t been any confirmed sightings of ghosts here.”
“Oh, thank goodness!”
“Though considering how many people died here, one or two ghosts wouldn’t be surprising…”
Butler Squawk, you really didn’t need to add that. Pretending I hadn’t heard him, I secretly rejoiced. No ghosts meant good news. At least now I didn’t have to hold it in whenever I needed the bathroom at night.
“Anyway, given the situation, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention any of this to Ian. It shouldn’t be difficult, since he only appears on nights of the full moon.”
“Of course. That’s no problem.”
Yet, picturing Ian alone in a dark room for all those endless years made my heart ache. A century of solitude—without companionship, conversation, or purpose. Thinking about his loneliness, I couldn’t simply ignore it.
“Um, would it be okay if I visited Ian from time to time? I probably can’t do much, but we could talk, or maybe I could read to him. Just so he’s not entirely alone.”
“You aren’t uncomfortable around insects, Briel?”
“Well… I can’t say I particularly like them, but Ian isn’t just any insect, right? And anyway, some bugs—like ladybugs or bees—are pretty cute. Actually, speaking of Ian, what kind of insect did he become?”
“He became a centipede.”
“Ah!”
The sound escaped me before I could stop it. But—seriously—a centipede? That’s practically cheating! Even as a courtesy, there was no way I could pretend that centipedes were cute.
Thank goodness Ian wasn’t here right now. I nearly hurt him again without meaning to. Seeing my distressed expression, Butler Squawk smiled bitterly.
“You really don’t need to push yourself.”
“No, it’s okay! Maybe because it’s Ian, I can get used to it. If I see him enough times, perhaps…”
“Your kindness is appreciated, but Ian himself likely wouldn’t allow it. He’s extremely sensitive about showing himself to others. Initially, we also visited him out of concern, but just hearing footsteps terrified him so deeply that we eventually stopped.”
“I see. Then there’s no choice.”
I couldn’t put Ian through distress just to ease my own guilt. Disappointed, I lowered my head, but then suddenly had another idea.
“What about meeting Ian in his current form, then? Only on nights of the full moon?”
“No, that’s too dangerous. Conversations might trigger confusion in his memories. Ian was certainly a gentle person, but with his mind unstable, we can’t predict how he might react.”
“But the Ian I met looked so… anxious. Wandering alone in this empty castle, confused and lost—it must be unbearably lonely.”
“That’s…”
Butler Squawk hesitated, unable to firmly object this time. Clearly, he too felt deep sympathy for Ian.
“I’ll be extremely careful. I won’t say a word about magic or his past. Just casual chit-chat. Trust me, I’ve got plenty of stories from before coming here to keep him entertained for days. And more than anything, I really want to cook him a warm meal.”
According to Butler Squawk, Ian hadn’t eaten properly since becoming an insect. A hundred years without a real meal… even if it didn’t threaten his life, it was unbearably tragic.
Seeing my earnest expression, Butler Squawk eventually gave in with a reluctant sigh.
“All right. But promise me you absolutely won’t mention Ian’s past, the castle, or anything related to the other servants.”
“Of course. Thank you so much for allowing this.”
“No, I should be the one thanking you. It’s something I should have done myself. You truly are a kind and warm-hearted person, Briel.”
“Oh, not really! Actually, Ian’s just too pretty—exactly my type, you know?”
“Oh? So you like that sort of appearance!”
“Wait, it was just a joke…”
I’d only meant to tease lightly since Butler Squawk’s genuine compliment made me feel shy. But now, seeing his eyes sparkling with curiosity, I felt even more embarrassed. Who knew Butler Squawk enjoyed topics like this?
“We should head back inside now. We’ve kept Ian waiting long enough.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll take Ian back to his usual place. He’ll return to being a centipede once the night passes, so you can go back to your room now, Briel.”
“Can’t I come along?”
At my cautious suggestion, Butler Squawk smiled softly but shook his head in polite refusal.
“I’m sorry, but the Master specifically ordered that you not enter areas unrelated to your duties.”
“Oh, right. I forgot.”
“And honestly, it might be better if you don’t know exactly where Ian stays.”
“…I understand.”
Knowing where he lived without being able to visit would only make me feel worse, anyway. Respecting Butler Squawk’s thoughtful consideration, I didn’t insist any further.
