Reborn As An Evolving Monster

In the middle of the village where I once lived, I sat surrounded by blood and corpses.

But of course, I didn't kill everyone.

I was faster than you, so I got there first.

Still, I kept them for you.

Those who hurt you. Those who beat you up half to death because of their boredom. Those for whom strength was everything. Those who said that a male's worth is measured by his strength.

You're now stronger! Way stronger than them! Way stronger than they could ever be! The tables have reversed!

Even I! Even I am stronger now! Stronger than the males! Ha! What does that say about them, huh? They're now lower than the so-called trash they used to take out their boredom on!

Serves them right!

It felt so good killing those I hated! It felt so good taking revenge.

Now, you do it too!

You'll see, how good it feels!

It'll change everything!

For us, who only knew suffering. For us, who only knew abuse!

There's more! There's more for us than those two!

I, as the most beautiful, and you, as the weakest, were targeted for different reasons.

But we were still the same!

The two of us!

You were the only one with as many bruises as me!

The only one who suffered as much as me!

The only one who knows how it feels to be the prime target!

There's only us! The two of us!

Now, here they are.

I kept three of them for you.

The worst ones.

Those who would beat you half to death then drag me by the hair.

Here they are.

I want you to do it too.

We're the same.

Tear them apart!

Kill them!

Take your revenge on them! 

I kept them for you!

Huh?

Lin?

Why are you looking at them like that?

Lin?

Aren't you angry at them? Don't you want to kill them? Don't you want to hurt them?

Lin?

Why do you look so bored?

Lin?

Why...

Why are you looking at me like that?

Lin?

Lin!

LIN!

Don't walk away from them...

Don't walk away...

DON'T WALK AWAY FROM ME!

HURT THEM JUST LIKE THEY HURT YOU! JUST LIKE THEY HURT ME! JUST LIKE I HURT THEM!

Lin... Why aren't you saying anything?

WHY AREN'T YOU HURTING THEM?

I noticed it, you know.

I remember.

The snarky remarks you would give them when they would look my way, when they would start walking my way.

How many times did you get beat up after giving those remarks?

How many times did they leave you, convinced that they had killed you, after those remarks?

How many times did they forget about me because of your remarks?

Lin. LIN!

You did it for me, didn't you?

How much more would I have suffered without you?

How lonely would it have been without you?

Without you suffering by my side.

LIN!

DON'T WALK AWAY FROM ME!

LIN!

DON'T LEAVE ME!

You're the only one I trust. The only one I have. The only one that understands me.

And it's the same for you. It is, isn't it? I'm the only one you have, right?

Right?

Lin.

Why are you walking away?

Why are you leaving me?

Where are you going?

Say something!

I TOLD YOU TO SAY SOMETHING!

I'M STRONG NOW! DON'T THINK I CAN'T-

Huh?

A fight to decide it? What do you mean?

If I win, you'll stay with me?

Okay. Alright. That sounds good! What do you want if you win?

Huh? I asked what you wanted, Lin.

Nothing?

What do you mean nothing?

You know what, it's fine. If you win, you can decide then.

You're the only one I have. You can have anything you want if you win. Hahaha!

If you win...

You want me to let you go?

Huh? What's that supposed to mean?

I'm strong now.

I'm not letting you go.

I don't have to suffer anymore. I'll do anything I want.

I want you with me. I'll... Force you to...

Huh?

I don't feel any power in my arms.

What's happening?

My body isn't listening to me.

No! Dodge! No! Hit him!

I can't...

I lost?

I can't...

I lost.

I can't hurt you.

I want you to stay with me. I don't want to hurt you.

I'm stronger now. I'm stronger than you. 

I want to force you to stay with me.

I don't want to become like them.

I can't feel any strength in my arms.

Why did you look so bored when looking at them?

Now that I think about it, you always had that expression on your face.

You were always bored by them.

Even when they beat you up for it. Even while they were beating you up.

You were always bored by them.

I don't want you to look at me like that.

I don't want to become like them.

I don't want you to be bored by me.

Lin! You won! You don't have to stay with me.

But I'll stay with you!

That's right. I'll follow you wherever you go!

Become a Soldier for the Demon Lord?

Why? What are you looking for, Lin? Where are you going?

Lin... What do you see with those eyes?

Lin! We're Commanders now!

Why do you still look so bored?

I hate... Seeing you like that...

But you don't need to worry about it!

I'll definitely...

One day, I'll definitely...

I'll definitely rid you of that boredom!

The strength I have now doesn't mean anything. Using it against you would bore you, wouldn't it?

See! I knew I understood you better than anyone!

Why are you still bored?

Why are your smiles so apologetic?

How can I get you to really smile?

I want to rid you of the boredom!

I want to be the one to rid you of it!

Only I can do it! Because only I understand you!

  ***

With full force, the white-scaled Monster's fist connected with the Commander's cheek.

It seemed to have no effect.

No effect other than bringing the Berserker's pupils back.

"So he smiled in the end? After all this time... Finally... He smiled, huh?"

It did leave a sour taste in Ani's mouth. Nevertheless,

"You made him smile..."

The white-scaled Monster stepped back.

"I'm glad." The Commander whispered as a tear went down her face.

Monster.

Orcish Fiend.

Monster.

Commander of a Demon Lord's Army.

Mark stepped back.

His gaze glued to her face.

With only one thought filling his mind,

'Unfair...'

He clenched his fists.

'It's unfair...'

He clenched his teeth.

'That even Monsters can look like that.'