【The Rise of the Ugly Monster】 The Way of Haruma Jou, The Way of Dokugegon

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(N-ni...!)

His terrifying owner, Emi—whom he had believed to be the strongest, most absurdly powerful creature of all—had been crushed with such ease.

After a moment of stunned silence.

(I have to run...!)

He thought simply.

He floated up lightly, turning his back to the mountain-like Land Whale.

(I don't want to, I don't want to die, help me, somebody help me...!)

His mind was consumed by the terror of his own death.

(............)

And.

(...It can't be helped, it just can't be helped, this is just how it is!!)

...It was an excuse.

(There's nothing I can do! Against an opponent that big, there's nothing I can do! Even that person was defeated by it; there's absolutely nothing I can do!)

He screamed desperately within his own mind, trying to distance himself from the Land Whale.

(That person even managed to let me escape at the very last second!? That means I'm supposed to run! I have to respect that and get out of here!)

Trying to distance himself from the Land Whale.

(There's nothing I can do about it! It's not my fault! That's why I'm running!)

...He tried to get away.

But his body wouldn't move.

(...Why?)

He was surprised by this fact.

Because he...

Haruma Jou...

Had always lived his life exactly like that.

Giving up, saying it couldn't be helped.

Running away from everything he disliked.

Building walls and surviving.

He had already realized this truth.

Even back in his previous life, when things hadn't gone well with his family...

He still believed—even now—that his family had their own faults, too.

But as he grew older, he realized he was bad at both studying and sports.

And yet, the effort of trying to do things he was bad at was simply too painful.

"Why can't you, Jou...?" "Your big brother could do it..." He just didn't want to hear those lectures, no matter what.

The one who had given up and built walls between himself and his family...

In the end, it had been him.

He had looked away from the problem; he had been running away.

...So, even now.

He just had to run, as he always had.

He should have been able to move without hesitation.

Or so he thought.

Fortunately, it seemed the Land Whale was only obsessed with Emi.

Even if he fled now, the Land Whale likely wouldn't even notice him.

So, he just had to run.

From an objective standpoint, that should have been the correct answer.

And yet.

(Why...!!)

Why, even though he tried to run, would his body refuse to move?

Why would poisonous liquid overflow from both his eyes without stopping!

The reason.

He thought desperately, his mind spinning in confusion!

(Why won't my body move!? I'm tiny, and weak, and ugly, and I can't do anything!? Haruma Jou is just a useless coward!!)

He was...

(Stupid, uncoordinated, and spineless! But I bully the weak and abandon my acquaintances! Because I'm a sneak... that's who Haruma Jou is, ISN'T IT!?)

He desperately repeated these words of self-denial, trying to force himself to run.

(............)

Suddenly, he lost his words.

He realized.

(Ah... I see.)

That he...

(I didn't want to be that kind of person... I didn't want to be Haruma Jou...)

Deep in his heart.

(I want to change...)

He turned around and stared intently at the Land Whale.

A colossal monster—so thoroughly encrusted with moss, barnacles, and whale lice that it completely fills his field of view, to the point where it can be perceived as nothing other than a solid wall.

There was no way he could win.

Both his reason and his instinct declared it with one hundred percent certainty: it was an existence far too powerful.

But... it was a hated enemy!

(...No, that's not it. I've already changed, haven't I?)

At this moment, he finally admitted it.

(I am... already a monster... I am Dokugegon!!)

That fact!

(I lived my life running away from everything I hated! That was me, Haruma Jou!!)

Dokugegon's eyes snapped open, and he glared at the Land Whale!

(But...! I will face the trials and grow strong! That is how I will live! That is who Dokugegon is!!)

What Dokugegon saw now were the eyes of the massive Land Whale, which didn't even register his existence.

However, what floated in Dokugegon's mind was Emi's expressionless face.

Strong, absurd, terrifying... but the face of an owner who was kind to Dokugegon!

(That's right... Emi!!)