Becoming a Monster

Chapter 474: Chapter 473: Submission Isn’t Acceptance

No one had the gall to answer Noah’s question.

Roy’s expression twisted with frustration as he stared at the monster standing across from them. Yet the fury he had shown earlier was no longer as steady as before.

Even he could hear how ridiculous he sounded.

The older man, however, had a strange expression. He had heard arguments like this once before.

Not from a human. But from a demon general.

The memory surfaced in his mind with an uncomfortable clarity. That creature had spoken with the same calm certainty, the same unshaken belief that it stood on the correct side of the conflict.

The older man had not expected to hear that same reasoning from a monster standing inside this forest.

Slowly, he exhaled.

"You are not entirely wrong," he finally admitted.

The statement immediately drew looks from several of the adventurers. Roy nearly snapped his neck as he turned.

"Old ma-"

"Be quiet," the older man interrupted without raising his voice.

Lowering his weapon completely, he took a few steps forward, taking the brunt of the creature’s stares in place of Roy.

"You are correct that this forest isn’t ours to own. And it is also true that monsters have the right to defend their territory."

He looked to the other adventurers; the sharpness in his gaze was his way to let them know that he knew exactly what he was doing.

"However, if a threat appears just beyond your home, why would anyone wait until that threat grows strong enough to invade their own?"

The meaning behind his words was clear. This was not merely about monsters living in a forest.

It was about the possibility that the being standing before them might one day grow beyond the forest itself.

"We came because the balance of this forest has changed, and the lives of our people beyond it may be affected by that change."

The older man took a slow breath before continuing.

"So if we are at fault for defending ourselves inside your territory, then we will accept that responsibility."

Then his gaze sharpened slightly.

"But that doesn’t answer the question we came here to ask. How are we supposed to determine whether you are a threat... if you refuse to tell us your intentions?"

Morally, it appeared as though he now had the upper hand.

If the situation had been reversed, Noah would have come to the same conclusion. Just as he kept watch over the creatures living within the forest, he would also want to know if something beyond his territory had begun growing strong enough to threaten it.

The logic was simple.

If he learned that creatures such as the goblins or the lizardmen were multiplying and growing powerful enough to endanger his home, he would not simply ignore them.

He would want to know exactly what they intended to do.

In fact, he was already planning to visit both of them in the days ahead.

If the man had spoken those words before Noah abandoned the morals he once held as human, they might have stirred something within him.

Yet as Noah listened to the man speak, a faint sense of discomfort stirred within him.

He had told himself that communication was the right path. It was the safer choice, one that would give him and his creatures time to grow strong enough to protect themselves.

But something about the entire exchange felt wrong.

The man spoke righteously, yet the emotion behind those words felt hollow.

And Noah realized he was no different.

He did not actually care about the wolves. The argument had only been a point he wished to make.

Because in the end, two beings whose existence opposed one another could never truly see eye to eye.

Monsters hunted both monsters and humans alike. To them, prey was simply prey.

Humans, however, had convinced themselves that monsters were the only ones bound to that nature. Yet when humans killed monsters, they called it protection, a necessary act. When monsters did the same, it became evil.

In truth, the difference between the two was nothing more than a matter of perspective.

From Noah’s point of view, both sides were simply struggling to survive within the same world.

The only thing that truly mattered was strength.

And strength alone decided which side continued to exist.

He had thought communication would be the best choice... the right choice.

But words alone could never bridge the gap between two sides that had already decided what the other was meant to be.

Humans would always see monsters as something to be killed. Whether it was for food, clothing, trophies, equipment, or their cores.

And monsters would always see humans as prey. No amount of reasoning could truly change that.

Across from him, the older man seemed to believe the conversation was finally moving in the right direction.

His expression had softened slightly, as though he believed that his words had managed to reach Noah after all. The tension among the adventurers eased just enough for several of them to relax their stance.

From their perspective, the argument had shifted in their favor. They believed they were beginning to understand one another.

Noah saw it differently. A faint smile appeared beneath his veil.

"In the end... it does not really matter, does it?"

The words immediately drew the attention of everyone present.

"If I told you that I simply wanted peace, that would not be enough, would it? In fact, you would likely return with even more people just to test whether that claim was true. You would treat those words as permission to send your people here whenever you pleased."

His gaze drifted toward Roy.

"And if I told you that I was gathering strength only to protect myself, you would not believe that either. In fact, you would likely send someone like him here to test me. And then when I killed him, you would use that as a pretense to attack me anyway."

No one liked where this conversation was going.

"And if I promised never to leave this forest," Noah said, "would any of you truly believe me?"

Noah slightly shook his head, seeing how they struggled to answer.

"All of this has been entertaining... but I am growing bored of it."

His eyes settled back on the older man.

"So let us stop pretending... I’m ready to fight now."

He spoke loosely, as if fighting was nothing more than the natural conclusion to a conversation that had already run its course.

The older man’s expression hardened. In that moment, he realized the conversation had never truly been a negotiation.

The other adventurers understood that as well.

This was no longer a battle that could be avoided.

Yet among the adventurers, one of them still believed there was hope as he stepped forward.

"Wait!"

The tiger beastkin ignored the looks of the others as it fixated on Noah.

"I understand why you think that way," he said hurriedly, as if he feared that if he didn’t speak fast enough, then Noah wouldn’t let him finish."

"There was a time when my people were not always accepted among the others, either. For generations, we were hunted the same way monsters were."

A faint bitterness flickered across his expression before it faded again.

"They believed we were nothing more than beasts pretending to be people. It took decades before most of the world finally accepted that we were different."

He looked briefly toward the adventurers standing behind him.

"And even now... There are still places where that hasn’t completely changed."

Finally, his gaze returned to Noah. "So I understand the position you’re standing in."

Roy opened his mouth as if to protest, but the older man raised a hand slightly to stop him.

"But things don’t have to end the way you believe they will. My people believed the same thing once. We believed there was no point trying to reason."

His eyes glistened as he was being overtaken by the emotions of his history.

"But that wasn’t entirely true. We stand here together now, don’t we?"

In front of everyone there, the beastkin laid down his weapons.

"If my people could find a place in this world despite everything that happened to us, then it is not impossible for you and those who follow you... We don’t have to fight."

Noah could tell that the beastkin was sincere. And he had no doubt that the tiger was speaking the truth.

And under the adventurer’s expectant gaze, Noah showed a hint of emotion. He was angry.

"Generations? How many lives were lost during those generations?"

Noah looked towards the other beastkin.

"How many of your people had to die before the others decided you were worth treating as equals?"

Both beastkin’s ears twitched, their hearts stirred at the thought. How could they not know? Their nation has been built on the sacrifices of many.

"And you believe that I should follow the same path? "Should I allow them to be hunted for decades... perhaps centuries... in the hope that one day they might decide they deserve to exist?"

Noah shook his head slightly. "If lives must be lost... then I will choose the path where both sides must risk them."

"So no."

There was no hesitation in the answer.

"We will not follow the path your people took."

Noah’s gaze swept across them.

"So either we fight, or... You can leave. Let your superiors know that this forest is no longer your plaything."

The adventurers relaxed slightly. If given the chance, they would rather leave. This mission was out of their league. Even if it came down to them having to come back later, at least they would be prepared.

"... Then we will go." It was the old man who had made the call. From start to finish, his decision was respected by everyone.

None of them bothered to argue because they, too, wanted to get out of there. Several of them had already begun shifting their stance, preparing to withdraw

But before they could gather, Noah’s aura once again pressed down on them.

"Although I said you can go... There are still things that must be settled. You entered my home, threatened me, and then claimed that you had the right to do so. And yet you expect to walk away freely?"

Noah lifted his hand, pointing towards Roy.

"You all can leave, but he stays."