I Became a Murderer in the Academy.

Chapter 44

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.

“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.”