MHGA Chapter 156: Coexistence
"Capture?"
The Winged Lion couldn't believe what it was hearing from Laios.
But soon, it realized—Laios was completely serious.
"I see. From the very beginning, everything you did was for one purpose…"
"To capture me?"
The Winged Lion stared at Laios. "You Hunters really are a bunch of lunatics."
"Would any normal person say they wanted to capture something like air or water—things as natural as that?"
"Because… you're becoming more and more like a living being."
Laios raised his head to look at the Winged Lion. "At this point, I won't say something like, 'Your appetite is something you never really needed.'"
"Winged Lion, you're not just a creature consumed by hunger—you're a… creature of obsession, missing far more than just appetite."
Laios held his gaze. "You've gone so far just to eat, yet you're not as unwavering as you think."
"Among all living things, there exists a law of mutual survival. You and I are both part of the food chain…"
"But Winged Lion, if there were a chance to let you keep eating desire—without having to give that up—and instead gave you…"
"An opportunity to coexist with other forms of life… what would you choose?"
"The Guildmaster once passed a quote to me, something someone from his world said…"
Laios paused, then recited it: "'Nature inherently abhors any creature monopolizing the world. That's why no species exists alone on Earth.' …Earth must be the world where the Guildmaster lives."
"Among lifeforms, it's not always about devouring or being devoured. There are many ways that beings live together in this world."
"Plants, land animals, sea creatures—even us humans, we interact in many ways…" Laios continued. "In nature, it's not impossible for one side to grow so strong that it wipes out the other—but often, both adapt and survive together."
Laios stared directly into the Winged Lion's eyes. "So I'll say it again: submit to our capture."
Laios had taken a long time to say all of that—to speak his heart to the demon.
And the Winged Lion couldn't stop staring at him, falling into a long silence.
It was trying to judge: was Laios telling the truth… or just stalling and lying?
But… Laios wasn't lying.
"You want to coexist with me?" the Winged Lion said. "You Hunters really do think up the most absurd ideas…"
"Laios Touden." The Winged Lion looked at Laios's face. "Words alone won't convince me."
"Then…"
Laios suddenly tensed up.
But the Winged Lion continued, "Let's make one final wager."
"I will turn you into the monster you've always wanted to become."
The Winged Lion said this plainly. "I'll tempt you to destroy your sister's body—to harm the people inside the Dungeon."
"Thirty minutes."
The Winged Lion spoke the terms: "If within thirty minutes, no one is harmed—if, as a monster, you don't hurt a single person—then I'll agree to the Hunters' demand."
"You'll gain the body of the strongest monster in this world… and after thirty minutes, you'll turn back into a human. But by then, everyone will know—it was you who killed those people."
"If you harm even one person during those thirty minutes, then no one in this world will ever trust the Hunters again… and you'll forever be remembered as the monster who hurt others."
"For the rest of your days, you'll live in endless regret."
"Do you… accept?"
The Winged Lion posed the question.
Laios nervously swallowed.
"If I succeed… you'll agree to let us capture you?"
Laios asked in return.
"I will."
The Winged Lion replied, "I give you my word."
"But now… let me see what kind of monster your desire can create."
"Then—if we succeed, join our Monster Hunter Gathering!"
Laios shouted, suddenly holding a scroll that had appeared in his hand. He waved it: "Coexisting with Hunters—I'll prove to you that it's the better choice!"
"Heh… then go prove it."
In the next moment, the entire ruin transformed into a massive vortex, sucking Laios into it.
As he struggled against the pull, the scroll in his hand slipped free and flew toward the Winged Lion.
"Coexistence… with those Hunters, huh…"
...............
"Well, I guess that's good news."
Outside, Kairo Retsu continued eating shaved ice while listening to Laios's conversation with the Winged Lion through the Gathering's voice channel.
Naturally, all the Hunters could hear the Winged Lion's terms.
"This is good news? Did Mr. Laios succeed or fail?" Tanjiro asked, confused. "The Winged Lion's going to turn Mr. Laios into a monster…"
"Tanjiro, you're not getting it." Kazuma clapped him on the shoulder. "The boss with no HP bar is the hardest kind to defeat! Right now, Laios is becoming the Winged Lion's HP bar!"
"If you use a game analogy, Tanjiro won't get it," Naofumi Iwatani sighed, rubbing his forehead. "At the very least, we know the Winged Lion's willing to talk. As long as we fulfill this final, clearly defined condition, it'll agree to be captured… That's huge progress."
"The Winged Lion dares to challenge Hunters to a duel?!"
Kairo Retsu shouted proudly, "No one! Can challenge! Us Hunters!!"
"Give Hunters enough time to prepare—we'll even take down a Fatalis!"
Kairo shouted triumphantly.
But then—
"Wait a second!!!!!" Marcille raised her voice sharply. "Laios is turning into a monster?! What is going on?!"
"Laios?!"
Back inside the prison, those closest to Laios were all visibly stunned when they heard the news.
They didn't know how Kairo and the others found out, but… Laios turning into a monster?
Just what had things come to?
"Put simply—the final moment to save the world has arrived."
Kairo gave a thumbs-up. "If we can just… keep Laios under control for thirty minutes, the demon problem will be resolved!"
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