One could easily define what a monster is.

 

If it has magical energy in its body and has a habit of attacking humans, that’s called a monster.

 

Since it’s a word that broadly classifies creatures containing magical energy, there are countless types. I fell into that category too.

 

But I was told by another monster that I’m not a monster. I was confused.

 

As if it wasn’t bad enough that my head was dizzy from losing too much blood, it became even worse.

 

“…Am I not a monster?”

 

“I’m not sure either. It’s my first time seeing something like you. You’d probably be classified as a monster since you have magical energy in your body, but it seems like something else is mixed in.”

 

She says it’s her first time seeing something like me.

 

I think I heard something similar from a monster scholar not too long ago.

 

To organize my complex thoughts, I first asked her.

 

“Can I hear why you think I’m not a monster?”

 

“Why should I…?”

 

“We’re the same kind, aren’t we?”

 

“Well, about being the same kind……”

 

She hadn’t fully let her guard down towards me yet, so before getting an answer, I had to explain that I wasn’t associated with the Empire.

 

And only after assuring her several times that I had no intention to attack did she open up.

 

This too was a difficult process. She cautiously opened her mouth.

 

“There are several reasons, but usually monsters can’t speak. They don’t look like humans either. The very fact that a creature that basically attacks humans resembles humans is impossible in itself.”

 

“…… Isn’t that the same for you?”

 

“My case is a bit different. I’m closer to a parasite in a host body. I killed a human and took over their body. In the process, I received that human’s memories and was reborn in her perfect form.”

 

Is that why she can use human language?

 

Perhaps by inheriting memories completely, she becomes indistinguishable from the previous human.

 

It was similar to me, yet the method was a bit different.

 

She continued.

 

“Unless it’s a special case like me, it’s impossible for monsters to use human language. If you’re really a monster, you might be a similar type to me.”

 

Maybe I was originally a monster that took over the body of the human Iria.

 

It was a useful clue. It was also an inference I couldn’t have made on my own.

 

“I’m not sure if it’s a monster that entered a human body or a human that entered a monster body… But I can say for certain that you’re neither human nor monster right now. Even I find it hard to distinguish exactly what you are with how exquisitely you’re mixed.”

 

“……”

 

“In other words, you and I are not the same kind. I don’t know what you think of me, but I don’t consider you as one of my kind. I think there’s probably no other being like you anywhere.”

 

There’s no other being like me anywhere.

 

Monsters don’t consider me to be one of them, and my considering them to be my kind was just my own misunderstanding.

 

If I summarize her words, it would be about this much.

 

Her eyes weren’t lying this time either.

 

I couldn’t use my ability in my current condition, so accurate judgment was difficult, but there was no reason for her to lie from her standpoint in the first place.

 

It’s highly likely to be true. I had directly asked her how I looked from a monster’s perspective.

 

But something was a bit strange. If her words were true, what did I see during the external practice?

 

Except for the shadow monster, the others didn’t attack me.

 

I couldn’t attack them either, as if I had an instinctive aversion to it.

 

Yet, am I not a monster? Many questions were arising.

 

I slowly took my time and asked one by one.

 

The nameless monster listened to all my questions and then answered.

 

“You know monsters have better nerves for detecting magical energy than humans, right? That’s probably why the monsters didn’t attack you. Even without intelligence, they’re not stupid enough to rush at a being overwhelmingly stronger than themselves. How could they attack someone containing that much magical energy?”

 

And,

 

“As for why you’re reluctant to kill monsters, well… I’m not certain, but your mental state is probably closer to a monster than a human. It seems human emotions remain for now, but they’ll probably fade more and more.”

 

It was a sharp observation.

 

Rather than being like this from the beginning, it was closer to gradually being dyed over time.

 

I asked her.

 

“How do you know so well?”

 

“Because I was similar. I thought I could blend in and live among them since I was lucky enough to take over a human body. I thought I could deceive them perfectly. Not as a nameless monster, but as the human’ Amy.'”

 

I can see how that turned out by looking at her now.

 

It didn’t go well. Her end was tragic, leading her to this state.

 

I know how it feels. Even if you wear the disguise of a human, there’s a fundamental difference between humans and monsters.

 

Monsters can’t fully mix with humans. It’s a sentiment I’ve been feeling recently too.

 

“The humans who captured and imprisoned me asked. They asked why I killed humans and why I caused so many casualties while being able to communicate with humans. Do you know what I answered?”

 

I shook my head and listened.

 

“I said there was no reason. Reason for killing? There’s no such thing. I just killed because I wanted to. Attacking humans is a monster’s instinct. We were just born this way from the beginning. Unable to live without attacking someone.”

 

“……”

 

“Now it’s my turn to ask. How many have you killed? If you’re half monster, you can’t help but kill, right?”

 

I’ve killed many.

 

So many now that it’s hard to count.

 

My number of kills might be higher than hers. The difference is that I had enough strength not to be captured by the Empire, even after killing humans.

 

Amy was stronger than the shadow monster I saw during external practice but weaker than Albert.

 

I thought she was a relatively weak individual since I heard humans had captured a Seed of the Demon King, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

 

It wasn’t that she was weak, but that Albert was strong.

 

I answered vaguely as if I couldn’t remember well. I couldn’t answer precisely the question of how many I had killed.

 

After hearing my answer, Amy looked at me with a changed expression. I’m not sure how to describe that expression, but it felt a bit strange as if she was pitying me.

 

“You’re unfortunate too, huh?”

 

“I guess you could see it that way.”

 

“Do you have any more questions?”

 

“I do.”

 

“Since you’re pitiful too, I’ll answer what I know.”

 

“……”

 

The treatment feels a bit unpleasant.

 

Anyway, it was good that I elicited her sense of kinship. I didn’t want to return empty-handed after coming all this way.

 

I decided to humor her mood.

 

“You said you get separate meals while imprisoned, so what do you eat?”

 

Human blood? Or do they throw in the bodies of criminals?

 

I asked out of curiosity.

 

And the following answer was shocking.

 

“That.”

 

Amy pointed to an object beside her. Something was wriggling on a plate that looked like a dog bowl.

 

It was a creature still alive, not yet dead. However, it was certainly not human.

 

“That…… Isn’t that a monster?”

 

“It is. They occasionally give me one of the test subjects from upstairs.”

 

“You eat monsters? Is that even possible?”

 

“It differs by species. There are so many types of monsters. At least I’m a monster capable of cannibalism.”

 

I frowned.

 

The act of a monster eating another monster was incomprehensible to me.

 

Come to think of it, didn’t the shadow monster also eat other monsters?

 

Given that she specifically mentioned being capable of cannibalism, it seems monsters are divided into those who can and cannot do so.

 

Can I do it? Considering my life up to now, it’s highly unlikely.

 

Still, I continued speaking just in case.

 

“How can you tell if cannibalism is possible? I don’t want to try eating directly.”

 

“You can tell by the appearance or shape of teeth. Want to open your mouth once if you’re curious?”

 

“……”

 

I didn’t like showing my teeth. My teeth were shaped a bit differently from humans.

 

But she’s a monster. There was nothing to hide at this point.

 

I approached her with my mouth wide open.

 

“In your case…… You seem closer to a vampiric type. You can’t eat them.”

 

I thought so.

 

I wasn’t expecting it anyway. Even if it were possible, I didn’t want to eat monsters.

 

Above all, just imagining eating monsters made me feel sick. Amy must have a strong stomach.

 

It could also be that our constitutions are different.

 

Anyway, I thought it was about time to leave. It had been quite a while since I subdued Albert.

 

The Empire’s reinforcements might arrive soon.

 

So, to accomplish the final purpose of coming here, I asked her.

 

“Can I call you Amy?”

 

“Call me that if you want.”

 

“Alright, Amy. If I were to ask you to give me a fragment of the Demon King, could you?”

 

“Hmm.”

 

It might be a somewhat rude question. Removing a piece from her body, which had become special as a Seed of the Demon King’s, might turn her back into an ordinary monster.

 

She might even lose her language ability. So even I thought it was a difficult request.

 

It was practically an unknown being suddenly appearing and asking for a part of her body.

 

To be honest, I was planning to take it even if she refused.

 

It was something I needed too. With that, I wouldn’t need to eat for quite a long time.

 

I came here to get that in the first place, so I thought I should take it even if I had to force it a bit.

 

I wonder if she would hand it over if I threatened her with a knife.

 

Just before my thoughts turned in an extreme direction,

 

“I don’t really mind.”

 

“……”

 

“But in return, grant me one request too. It won’t be a difficult one.”

 

“Tell me.”

 

A moment of silence passed.

 

And then.

 

“I want you to kill me.”