“Once you understand the principle, interpretation is easy.”
Before I realized it, Madojin had taken the seat next to me and began explaining.
“A Caesar cipher matches the letters A through Z with random numbers, writing each line accordingly. If the number is 4, then each letter in that line is shifted four positions forward. A would then mean D.”
Madojin stroked his chin.
“There’s no specific number written in this cipher.”
“…Is it really that Caesar cipher thing?”
I asked, and Madojin stared at me with an unreadable expression.
Then, in a firm tone, he said:
“I can be of help too.”
“Help…?”
Help out of nowhere?
While I was feeling confused, Madojin nodded as he stared at my phone screen.
“First, let’s try substituting the performance date in the video title, excluding the zeros, and decode it.”
His eyes moved quickly.
‘Is he solving this in his head…?’
That was shocking enough—but even more surprising was that Madojin knew what a Caesar cipher even was.
‘He doesn’t know how to open a door lock, but he knows Caesar ciphers…?’
I really couldn’t figure him out.
‘Oh, right…’
Since I’d changed the status window category earlier, maybe Madojin’s information had been updated in more detail too.
I wasn’t expecting much, but—
‘「Madojin Status Window」.’
I muttered in my heart.
Ding!
With a pleasant sound effect, Madojin’s status window appeared before my eyes.
[Madojin]
― Title: ―
― Constellation: ‘Ancient Ancestor’
― Constellation Rank: D
― Basic Abilities
- Expressiveness (What is expressiveness?): D
- Aura (What is aura?): D
- Creativity (What is creativity?): D
- Self-esteem (What is self-esteem?): D
― Special Skill
- [Blood Is Thicker Than Water LV.D]
― Status Abnormality
- [Tutorial Quest Not Completed LV.F]
‘This is…’
His basic abilities were still stuck at an average D rank, but with the category change, I could now perceive a new layer.
‘…This guy is full of questions?’
“By the way, Dojin, have you eaten?”
While I was staring at the status window, Han Iro spoke up.
“I have.”
Madojin answered.
“I was looking for you because I have a question for you. Can I ask it after I finish decoding the cipher?”
“A question… what if I begged you to stop asking questions?”
“Why shouldn’t I ask questions?”
A request not to ask questions… turned into another question.
“…Never mind. Ask all you want. You really are an amusing person, Dojin.”
Iro sighed in resignation.
‘…Anyway.’
I kept my eyes on Madojin’s status window.
Seeing the basic ability categories made me realize how much of a question-hungry person Madojin really was.
‘…Could it be that he’s literally getting D ranks because he doesn’t even know what expressiveness or aura is?’
That can’t be….
<Creation, listen.>
Suddenly, The Star Hated by All spoke from inside the steel case.
<What’s important is the abnormal status. That’s something we hadn’t noticed before.>
‘…Right.’
Tutorial quest not completed, it says.
That wasn’t there the last time I looked at Madojin’s status.
<A tutorial quest… how odd.>
‘Do you know something?’
<Tutorial quests are a system made for hunters. They’re assigned to nurture promising individuals. Completing them yields rewards, as a result of completing a constellation’s mission. Think of it as the constellations’ strategy for raising strong hunters.>
‘Wait, so does that mean Madojin’s constellation is trying to make him a hunter?’
<Not exactly. Papa has restricted the authority of constellations. Even high-ranking constellations can’t exercise that much power. It’s likely that only the form of the quest system was borrowed, and the mission itself is different… The odd part lies elsewhere.>
‘What part?’
<Tutorial quests are used by constellations to shape a creation’s fate. Failing to complete them brings penalties. It literally alters someone’s life to the constellation’s liking. Only constellations with high divinity can wield that kind of power.>
‘But Madojin’s constellation rank is D…?’
<Exactly. Creation, it looks like our theory was correct.>
We had suspected from the beginning that Madojin’s abilities were somehow being hidden.
There’s no way someone backed by a D-rank constellation with all D-rank stats would’ve made it this far.
‘…Madojin’s constellation is only pretending to be D-rank.’
Now I was certain.
I narrowed my eyes and stared at Madojin.
‘What are you, really…?’
As I silently questioned him, Madojin turned to look at me.
“W-Why are you looking at me like that, Dojin?”
Startled, I asked, and Madojin gave a faint smile.
“I finished decoding it.”
“…Seriously?”
He nodded and began explaining.
“Please take this as an apology.
Can you solve this cipher?
I don’t really expect you to.
But you never know with constellation powers.
I’m cheering for you.
That’s just how it ended up.”
“That actually… kind of makes sense.”
Han Iro, who had been quietly listening, commented.
“But what does it mean by ‘an apology’? Eunyul, did you have something going on with Sugarbomb? That person is really secretive….”
“No, I don’t know them at all.”
Even though I’d watched Sugarbomb’s videos quite a lot….
“Was that helpful?”
Madojin asked.
“Ah, yes… thank you, Dojin.”
So it wasn’t a death threat or a blackmail letter, just a fan letter.
‘But still, the fact that they wrote that specifically…’
One thing was clear—Sugarbomb had become my fan.
‘It’s a good thing, but…’
Why does it feel like I’ve gotten involved with someone I shouldn’t get involved with?
“Han Iro, may I ask my question now?”
While I was still caught in that uneasy feeling, Madojin turned to Iro.
“Yeah, sure… What are you curious about today?”
Iro replied with a slightly troubled smile.
“I found something while walking in the park.”
He reached into his jacket’s inner pocket and carefully held something with both hands.
Then, he opened his palms to reveal—
“Is that… a pupa?”
Just like Iro said—it was a pupa.
“Some children were about to step on it. Is this something that should be stepped on?”
“No. There’s no such thing as a life form that deserves to be stepped on. And this one is…”
Han Iro leaned in closer to examine it.
“It’s a Common Brimstone Butterfly pupa. Quite a rare species…. You did well to bring it.”
“How do you know that just by looking?”
I asked in amazement, and Iro shrugged.
“I lived in the countryside for a long time.”
Somehow, it felt like he had a mad obsession with nature, not just experience.
“Anyway, Dojin, most butterflies become adults when it’s warm, but the Brimstone starts emerging when it gets cold. It’ll probably hatch in a few days.”
“What does ‘hatch’ mean?”
“It means becoming a butterfly. Right now it’s in its pupal stage. A caterpillar becomes a pupa, and eventually an adult butterfly. Like how a child grows taller.”
Han Iro explained smoothly, as if teaching a kindergartener—perhaps knowing Madojin lacked common sense.
“So, what do you want to do, Dojin?”
He asked gently.
“Do you want to help it?”
Madojin nodded without hesitation.
“Great!”
Clap!
Iro clapped his hands.
“Then let’s all go get supplies!”
…Huh?
“This feels like I’ve become an elementary schooler…”
I muttered as I scratched the back of my neck.
Han Iro, Madojin, and I went out wearing masks and followed Iro’s lead to buy supplies to raise a butterfly.
We bought a breeding cage, plants the butterfly could feed on after hatching, and a bug encyclopedia for Madojin.
“…So this is what insects are.”
Madojin seemed genuinely pleased with the book.
A tall guy flipping through a bug encyclopedia on the subway—what a sight.
“Han Iro, this insect tunnels into leaves.”
“Eunyul, this one crossed the West Sea to get here.”
“Han Iro, Eunyul…”
Every time he found something interesting, Madojin would report it to us like a child.
‘Well, it’s kind of annoying, but it’s been a while since we went out…’
It felt refreshing.
“Eunyul.”
Han Iro grabbed the subway handle with both hands and turned to me.
“Want to go see the fan ads?”
“Fan ads?”
When I asked, Iro pulled out his phone and showed me photos of the ads that had been uploaded to social media.
It was around the time those fan-funded ads would be going up.
Once fans solidified their support for specific contestants, putting up subway ads was one of the most common forms of cheering.
‘…I remember joining a fundraising campaign to hang a placard for Rowen sunbae’s birthday.’
The memory made me smile.
Turns out the ads were located near the subway station we were already close to.
“I think all three of us have one up. Since they went through the trouble, shouldn’t we at least go see?”
“Let’s do it.”
I agreed to Han Iro’s suggestion.
“What’s a fan ad?”
Madojin widened his eyes and asked.
“Haha…”
Seriously, what does this guy know?
I let out a weak laugh and replied simply.
“You’ll see when we get there.”
Near Gangnam Station.
We got off the subway and walked toward the area where the fan ads were displayed, just like on social media.
The ads competed for attention on the screen doors, mostly featuring well-known contestants.
—
“Han Iro Returns!”
“Sparkling like rainbow-colored raindrops ❤”
Han Iro’s ad was the first one we saw.
Wrapped in bubble effects, Iro smiled against a pink background.
“Seeing it in person is kind of embarrassing.”
He muttered with a bashful smile.
“So this… is a fan ad…”
Madojin stared at his own ad, clutching the insect book tightly.
—
“CYB Male Idol Contestant: Madojin”
“Congratulations on reaching the finals, Madojin-nim.”
His fans must’ve had personalities just like him—the congratulatory message was short and dry.
Unlike Iro’s colorful ad, Madojin’s had a plain white background, and the photo chosen showed him standing still.
And then there was mine…
—
“The Prettiest Mermaid: Ryu Eunyul”
“Eunyul, thank you for singing!!”
Maybe it was thanks to the PR video?
The ad had a watercolor background that looked like the ocean, and I stood holding a mic.
“How is it?”
Iro nudged me with his elbow and asked.
“Pretty nice, right?”
“…Yeah.”
I smiled.
Maybe it was because I remembered being a fan of Rowen, but thinking of the effort and care that went into putting this ad up—it was overwhelming.
‘I’m sure someone caused drama during the crowdfunding, but…’
Having watched that process live once, I couldn’t help but feel grateful.
“But Eunyul…”
Iro spoke again.
“Looks like we can’t hide our identities with just masks anymore.”
He pointed behind me.
Only then did I begin to hear the voices I’d ignored in my emotion.
“Isn’t that Han Iro…?”
“Oh my god. Ryu Eunyul’s here too.”
“What do we do…?”
People inside the subway had started to recognize us.
“W-What should we do?”
I looked at Iro with a troubled expression.
“You’re panicking? I figured this would happen.”
He replied calmly, wearing a composed smile.
…This guy.
So he planned to reveal himself to fans by coming here.
Little Pink Starfish 
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