Becoming a Monster

Chapter 605: Chapter 604: A War by Proxy

Morvyr’s hesitation gradually came to an end.

Whatever reservations remained no longer showed in his expression. His posture settled, and when his attention returned fully to Noah, there was a newfound seriousness in his gaze.

“Why do you think these humans are so adamant to kill you when we have been killing them for centuries?”

Noah hadn’t expected Morvyr to begin with a question. However, the question alone made Noah understand that what they were about to discuss would be as significant as his own.

“I’m guessing it’s not just because they think I’m a demon, right?”

Morvyr opened his mouth to continue, only to pause.

For all the significance he had attempted to place behind the question, that was still a large part of the answer.

“Well…” His expression tightened slightly. “That is part of it.”

“But there is considerably more behind their reaction than that.”

“For centuries, these lands have remained unclaimed by both humanity and the Demon King’s forces.”

“Yet the humans still decided to name it after one of their cities,” Morvyr continued, a trace of distaste appearing on his face. “Ashenveil Forest. That is what they call this place.”

“That would mean the city that’s about to attack me is this Ashenveil, I take it?”

“That’s right, and it’s also close enough to this forest that it has always been considered part of their first line of defense against us.”

“Ashenveil was established along this border for that reason. Whenever our forces attempted to use this forest as a path into human territory, it was one of the first settlements positioned to stop them.”

Noah glanced briefly toward the surrounding trees. He had the urge to sigh. The fact that he appeared in the one most important place that could potentially break the balance of the world sounded unbelievable.

And at the same time targeted.

But rather than focusing on why he appeared here, he instead focused on something else.

“Then why leave it unclaimed?” Noah asked. “If this forest is that important, then not taking it would make every invasion easier.”

Morvyr’s expression relaxed a bit more at Noah’s question. Demon or not, Noah was without a doubt someone who didn’t have the humans in his best interest at all.

“It would also make our intentions impossible to disguise.”

“Ashenveil is not the only territory within reach of this forest,” Morvyr explained. “The beastkin kingdom lies close enough to respond if our forces establish themselves here. Beyond the mountains rests the elven kingdom, and those mountains are far less difficult to cross than they might appear.”

Noah nodded, but his contemplating gaze made Morvyr understand that he still didn’t find the answer satisfactory.

If the demons were so worried about a combined attack, then why were they so determined to go against the world?

“A temporary incursion can be dismissed as another conflict between demons and humans.”

“However, claiming this forest would be different. If we made our base here, and gathered enough forces to support repeated invasions, it would make it clear that we intended to branch away from our status quo that everyone is comfortable with.”

It was then that Noah understood.

“The other kingdoms would assume you were preparing for a full invasion.”

“And they would be correct.” Morvyr’s answer made no attempt to soften its meaning.

“Humanity has suffered the greatest losses against us throughout the past century. The other kingdoms have been more than willing to allow them to continue carrying that burden. But if we openly claimed this forest as a staging ground, they could no longer assume the conflict would remain contained.”

“Even if we succeeded in securing the forest, we would be forced to defend it from every side. Because the other nations would not continue to watch from the side.”

That answered another question that was always on Noah’s mind. Why hadn’t he seen demons until now?

But that only brought about another question.

“So why do it? Why are you so focused on attacking humanity? If you want to avoid the others from rising against you as one, why strike humans at their weakest if that could also trigger what you are trying to avoid?”

The question indeed struck at a contradiction, yet Morvyr only acknowledged it, unbothered by what it implied.

“Because humanity is the greater threat.”

“Humans are physically weaker than most of the other races.”

“The strongest beastkin warrior will usually surpass a human of equivalent experience. Elves’ magic prowess would outshine the strongest human, while the strongest dwarves’ constitution would outlast any human.”

“But what humans lack as individuals, they make up for in numbers.”

“Their kingdoms spread farther than any other. And while the losses they’ve had outnumbered those of nearly all of the other races combined, they still manage to replenish their losses that would’ve cripple any other nation for generations.”

The more Noah heard, the more it resembled the fantasy stories of his world. Humans were never the strongest race, but they always seemed to be the most dominant one.

“And even then, their numbers alone are not why we focus on taking them out first.”

“It’s because of that dreaded faith of theirs.” The venom as he said that word was filled with so much hatred, one wouldn’t have to doubt for a second that he was a demon.

“That faith made them our most sworn enemy, yet…” Morvyr showed a cunning, delighted smile. “It also made them easier targets.”

“Humanity’s faith teaches them that anything not tainted by their God is beneath them. It has been their foundation for as long as their history stood.”

Noah had nothing to say to that. What Morvyr described aligned too closely with what he had already witnessed for him to dismiss it as simple hatred.

“That arrogance has pushed humanity farther away from the very nations it claims as allies,” Morvyr continued. “The others may stand beside them against us, but many would welcome the sight of humanity being humbled.”

“Then attacking them while they’re vulnerable wouldn’t necessarily unite everyone against you,” Noah said, understanding dawning on him why they came to him now of all times.

“Not immediately.”

Morvyr’s answer carried a noticeable satisfaction.

“A heavy loss would weaken humanity’s influence. There are beastkin and elves who would consider that a benefit, even if they would never admit it openly.”

Noah caught the distinction.

“But they still wouldn’t allow you to destroy humanity completely.”

The satisfaction in Morvyr’s expression faded.

“No.”

His hatred returned the moment he explained why.

“The same faith that makes humanity insufferable is also the greatest weapon this world possesses against us.”

“Their faith, or rather their tainted holy mana, is destined to be our nemesis from the dawn of time.”

That explained the contradiction.

Humanity’s beliefs had alienated them from the other races, but those same beliefs had also made them indispensable.

The other nations might welcome a defeat severe enough to diminish humanity’s arrogance, but none of them could allow the race carrying the greatest burden against the demons to disappear.

If humanity fell completely, the demons would no longer have any reason to keep directing most of their attention toward them.

The remaining kingdoms would inherit that burden instead.

Just this alone was enough to make Noah understand that even if it didn’t happen now, he would’ve still clashed with the rest of the world just for existing.

Even more so because he exists specifically in this place.

Noah’s gaze drifted towards the treelines while in thought. All of it was shaping the perfect picture.

But for every question answered, Noah had another.

“If Ashenveil exists to stop your forces from crossing this forest, why haven’t you simply sent someone powerful enough to destroy it? Didn’t I hear that your generals are supposed to be really powerful?”

Morvyr’s expression changed again. From his begrudging expression, it wasn’t something he was proud to talk about.

“It’s because we are still one nation against five.”

Morvyr glanced toward the elves standing behind him before returning his attention to Noah.

“There’s an unspoken rule in this world. One that no one acknowledges, yet everyone respects it because the consequences would grow beyond anyone’s control.”

Noah immediately became more attentive. He felt this bit of information would be more important than everything else thus far.

“The Demon King does not enter these wars personally,” Morvyr continued. “His generals are likewise instructed not to participate directly. They command their forces and send those under them to fight in their place.”

“And the humans keep their strongest out of the conflict in return.”

“Only when their settlements themselves are involved are those rules overlooked.”

At first glance, it sounded foolish.

The demons had attacked humanity for centuries, yet the humans deliberately restrained the very individuals who might’ve ended many of those invasions before they began.

But Noah understood the logic.

It resembled the balance between powerful nations in his former world. They could fight through armies, resources, influence, and smaller conflicts, but certain weapons remained unused because the moment one side crossed that boundary, the other side would no longer have a reason to restrain itself.

It was an agreement devoid of any trust but built on deterrence.

Noah had to wonder how this all connected to what was happening now. And then it suddenly hit him.

“Your general isn’t participating in this attack then?”

He asked, but he didn’t need Morvyr to confirm it.

Now he understood why his own affairs were so important to the demons.

Sorry for having a more informative chapter. But hopefully no one skips over too much, since it will all be important in later chapters.