Perhaps it's a false friend. This person pretended to be the mc's friend all along but was secretly plotting against them. They might have been bribed or coerced by someone else to betray the mc. And this act of betrayal is so unexpected and cruel that it pushes the mc over the edge and into darkness.
A mentor figure could be the one betraying the mc. The mc trusted this mentor completely, but the mentor has some hidden motives. Maybe they are working for a greater evil and see the mc as a threat or a tool to be used, so they betray the mc, which then causes the mc to turn dark.
One possible plot could be that the main character (mc) is betrayed by a close friend or ally. This betrayal shatters their trust and makes them see the world in a different, darker light. They might then start to use more ruthless methods to achieve their goals, perhaps seeking revenge against those who wronged them.
Since we don't have more details about the light novel, we can only assume general things about the mc. The mc might be a person with a special ability or background that allows them to obtain and utilize liquid x. It could be that they have a unique heritage that gives them access to this monster - repelling liquid. Or perhaps they stumbled upon it during their travels and figured out its use through trial and error. The mc is the key player in this story who uses liquid x to fend off the monsters and drive the plot forward.
Another aspect is prior knowledge or experience. In some light novels, the MC is reincarnated or transferred from another world. Like in 'Konosuba', Kazuma has knowledge from his previous life which he uses to his advantage in the new world, and this knowledge combined with his unique skills makes him overpowered in certain situations.
I'm not sure exactly who the main characters are in Monster Mc Light Novel without reading it myself. But typically in a light novel, there would be a protagonist who drives the story forward. This could be a young adventurer or someone with a special power related to the'monster' aspect of the story.
In a 'Rebirth of MC Light Novel', the main character is, as the title implies, the one who is reborn. This character could be male or female, young or old. There may be other important characters like a mentor figure who guides the reborn MC in their new life. There could also be rivals who compete with the MC, either for power, love, or some other goal. And don't forget about the side characters that add depth to the story's world, such as merchants, peasants, or other adventurers.
Since we don't have much information, the main character is surely the shapeshifter MC. There may be a sidekick or a mentor figure who helps the MC along their journey, but without reading the novel, it's hard to say for sure.
I'm not sure who the absolute best is, but some authors might be those who are good at creating complex characters. Maybe an author named Lina who has a knack for writing cold mcs with hidden depths.
There is a possibility that 'Cooper Mc Novel' is a brand new name in the literary world. It could be the pen - name of an emerging writer. Or it might be a character name created for a very specific genre of novel, such as a mystery, where Cooper Mc Novel could be the detective or the person at the center of the mystery. But again, this is just guessing without further details.
One popular 'badass mc' is Kirito from 'Sword Art Online'. He's highly skilled in combat within the virtual world and shows great determination.
One potential enemy could be developers. They might see the hot spring as just a piece of land to build on, not caring about the mc's new existence as the hot spring. Another could be rival natural attractions. If there are other hot springs or beautiful places nearby, they might be jealous of the mc's hot spring getting all the attention and try to undermine it in some way.