Becoming a Monster

Chapter 334: Chapter 334: A Blessing from A Devil?

Surprise, disbelief, and hesitance. These emotions ran rampant in the others’ eyes as they witnessed Paul transition back into a human form.

His gear was destroyed from his recent transformation. But now that they could see most of his skin laid bare, they spotted the wound across his chest and collarbone to be fully restored.

This...miracle was too good to be true. They made this decision already resolved to have to see Paul live the rest of his life as a creature, as a beast.

And now, not only was Paul standing in front of them, still human. Though...despite his human self, Paul was a bit different than before. His brown, mild hair was a bit thicker than before, with strands of his hair spiked in an unkempt manner. And under the wild strains, two elongated furry ears poked out.

His body didn’t show excessive hair that Fenrir’s human form had, but unlike Fenrir, a long, strong bristled tail swayed behind him. A tail large enough to match his giant frame.

No one moved, they simply watched Paul scrutinizing himself. Paul couldn’t wrap his head around what was happening either. He flexed his fingers, watching the subtle twitch of his muscles, the way his nails had sharpened slightly yet retracted when he focused. His senses were sharper, and emotion was swelling within him.

He could feel it, power, and inside himself was an even greater power. With just a thought, he instinctively knew that he could transform into his werewolf form. He knew that this form wasn’t just a transformation, it was a limiter being removed, empowering his strengths to levels he didn’t imagine himself obtaining, not this soon.

But he was aware that this transformation was permanent like the one who transformed him. His genes weren’t as pure as Fenrir’s. While he gained strength, his bloodline was too impure to maintain it indefinitely.

But that didn’t matter. Not now, and not ever. He was alive, and as he could still feel it, he was still him.

While inspecting himself, his head snapped towards a shadow slowly looming over him. Fenrrir, too uncomfortable with his human form, began to revert himself back to his natural self.

Looking at the beast, Paul no longer felt an ounce of anxiety. Fenrir felt more close to him than even the friends he would die for. The feeling was so genuine that the unnatural connection between them wasn’t questioned at all.

The moment Fenrir completed his transformation, now towering once more, he leaned, his snout inches from Paul’s face as he sniffed him, seemingly remembering Paul’s scent. Paul didn’t move; he calmly allowed Fenrir to do what he pleased.

But it was when Fenrir spoke, that had caused Paul to finally react.

”Stupid,” Fenrir’s gruff voice snorted. Hearing him, Mark and the others felt vindictive. Paul’s expression also soured. Not because he believed Fenrir was questioning his intelligence, but because he could sense that this was a ceremony, and Stupid was apparently the name he was now branded with.

”Can...can I be called something el—”

”You are Stupid!”

Paul tried to appeal to his pack leader, only to be instantly shot down. The naming ritual was unquestionable. Fenrir was determined to rid himself of all the derogatory insults that Arachne had placed upon him.

Paul, seeing how vehemently determined Fenrir was on the matter, could only sigh in defeat. ”Fine...”

A few stifled laughs broke out among the group. Two monsters, both Noah and Ailetta, couldn’t hold in their amusement. A sight that was more unbelievable than Paul being turned into a werewolf.

Paul’s face lowered in embarrassedly, while Fenrir gave a pleased huff.

And with that, Fenrir backed away, returning to Noah’s side so his leader could pass his own judgement.

Though embarrassed, Paul’s demeanor instantly changed, the same was said for Noah. They both took on serious expressions, but Paul’s anxiousness was now returning. And it wasn’t just him; Mark and the others looked worried, concerned that they were about to lose another friend.

Noah didn’t step forward, but his gaze never left Paul’s eyes. They were reading him, judging him, trying to see whether or not Paul had second thoughts about his pledge to him.

The atmosphere thickened. And Paul, despite the new strength coursing through his body, knelt down and lowered his head; not in submission, but in respect. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t request for Noah to allow him to stay, nor did he rush Noah to answer his final plea.

And that action earned Noah’s respect even more.

”Do you still stand by what you said to me? Will you still follow me?”

Paul didn’t raise his head as he answered, not taking a moment to respond. ”I do, and I will.” He spoke directly. It was only until now that anyone even realized that his normal short, curt way of talking had changed. However, no one could focus on that detail, not with the weight of their conversation heading towards the question that all sought to be answered.

”And if I were to deny you the chance to stay with your friends, would you still follow me?”

”....Yes..”

”Even if you wouldn’t be able to see them again?”

”.....Yes.”

”Why?” Paul’s response took longer with each question. Not just because the weight of them grew heavier, but because with each one, the intensity of Noah’s gaze grew stronger. He hadn’t felt this kind of sensation before. It was only when he activated his skill that he became consciously aware of the danger a person exuded. But now, his senses acted on their own. He could sense these things subconsciously, without even using the skill.

He couldn’t tell if it was his senses that had improved, his ability that mutated alongside his transformation, or if this was what all monsters were capable of sensing.

Finally, he spoke, laying everything out.

”Because I chose this...not just so I can live, but for my life to mean something...so my friends’ lives could have meaning. If I can no longer travel with them, I will protect them my own way. I’ll kill the strong so they won’t have to. I’ll fight for you so they won’t have to face the enemies that you do. And...If I have to leave them behind to walk this path, I will. You gave me that choice... when I had none. I will continue to live, not only for you, but for them...”

Silence...pure silence enveloped the room after his speech. His friends weren’t prepared for such emotion. At first, they were unwilling to bear seeing him go, but after hearing his goal, his dream, they felt even worse for not noticing the value Paul placed on them. To him, they were irreplaceable. But did they feel the same? Did they even acknowledge it?

This made them reluctant to even consider voicing their objections, to fight in Paul’s defense so he could be allowed to stay with them.

No one spoke. Not even Noah.

Then Noah finally nodded, looking at Paul as if he would his own.

”Then I expect that same loyalty till the day you die...even if you aren’t with us.”

At his words, not only did Paul’s eyes widen, but so did the others.

”You can stay with your...’Friends’... But in the future, when we meet again, when I call for you. If you even hesitate to answer, I’ll not only cut you down, I’ll torture your soul until I break your will. Even in your next life I’ll find you just to kill you again until your soul no longer exists. In fact, I’ll personally devour your soul...”

”... Do we have an understanding?” Noah finished with a voice that was too calm despite the threat he had just uttered.

Paul swallowed, but he never looked away. His answer came without hesitation.

”Yes. I swear it.”

Noah’s glare lingered. Then like a passing predator, the weight of his presence lifted as he turned away, walking towards something more important.

”Welcome to the family, Stupid.”

The others said nothing. Paul exhaled quietly, unfazed by the name that was now imparted to him. What he gained was more important than his pride. He gained the ability to live out his life again, and to protect his friends. At least until the time Noah came calling.

As Noah walked back to the chest, passing his companions, he noticed Fenrir’s dejection. But Noah wasn’t worried at all. He knew Fenrir didn’t necessarily care about the creatures in his pack. What he truly cared about was the significance of the creature’s name.

”Don’t worry big guy, Arachne can’t call you stupid anymore.” Noah spoke with a small smirk on his face as he passed.

The sudden shift in Fenrir’s mood confirmed what he believed. Immediately Fenrir’s tail perked up, turning to look towards Arachne, gloating as if to say ”what now?”

And this time, as Arachne received Fenrir’s smug stare, she felt...lost. She was still learning, her vocabulary still expanding. She couldn’t come up with a name, and it was at this moment that she realized that she had lost.

Fenrir’s smirk widened into an ugly grin, taking in her silence as his resounding victory. He was so proud of himself that he missed the silent exchange between Arachne and Ailetta.

With nothing else to worry about at the moment, Noah was seen kneeling down, his hands rested in prayer. A prayer that wasn’t to the God the angel spoke of, but to the higher power that graced them with the world they now lived in.