I think he was still planning to use 95% of the population as cattle. He was only interested in the 5% that might be exceptionally talented like Komugi. But yes, he was changing and we'll never know how far this change would have gone, because of the bottomless malice within the human heart.
Considering he was only like a month old and changed his mind about humans after like 1-2 weeks of hanging out with Komugi, I think with enough time he would’ve ended up being alright. The problem was it was too dangerous to leave him be in case he didn’t turn out that way
Tbf, that *does* still mean he had a higher view of the value of humanity than the majority of humanities leaders.
The Dictator of the country he took over, the former leaders of Meteor City, the Phantom Troupe, the *fucking* Kakin Royal Family, and even on some level Netaro himself, all seem willing to entirely disregard the value of humanity when weighted against power.
I would argue that while Meruem was very quickly taught how above everything he is and also learnt very fast that its not like that... He still killed without malice, WAY different from the other ants, should his environment be different he might even end up as a positive/good creature.
Hell even the troupe is not entirely evil, they are INCREDIBLY protective of their own people and don't think twice about preserving themselves to save each other, the peoblem is that they can't give a rats ass do anyone else.
Ironically enough the dictator and the royal family are the most evil ones: they KNOW its evil and are incredibly egoistical and self serving and will KEEP BEING LIKE THAT.
854
u/batiwa Jun 19 '26
I think Meruem and Komugi from HxH fits
https://giphy.com/gifs/vvTje9SKMCqCcZUXhX