Changing the flow of the world.
The wind, which was originally impossible to achieve, was realized.
Thus, the alliance of Beastmen gathered around Riyan would have dissolved as a natural consequence after celebrating the achievement of their impossible dream.
However, the alliance did not dissolve.
They were still continuing their activities.
They still wore their black hoods and met regularly.
The frequency of their meetings had even increased, to the point that they now gathered once a week, and the secrecy surrounding their meetings had grown as well.
Beastmen, hiding from Riyan’s gaze, continued their activities.
The purpose of their actions was very simple.
Finally, the opportunity had arrived.
The era of the Beastmen had come.
They would plot to become a privileged class that surpassed humans in order to repay the frustrations that had accumulated until now.
It was not a desire for revenge or a dream of a world where Beastmen would overthrow humans.
No, it was not about such reasons.
They were tired of discrimination.
“I was wronged, but I don’t want to make others suffer the same way.”
The Beastmen knew the pain of being despised simply because they were born the way they were.
They understood that pain, and they could not pass it on to others.
They were accepted as humans.
A truly equal world had been created.
That alone was already more happiness than they deserved.
However, the reason this group continued to meet even now was very simple.
***
“…Has the preparation for ‘it’ been completed?”
“Of course. The perfection is beyond reproach.”
A conversation between a silver fox and a yellow cat Beastman.
In between them, a dog Beastman, wearing glasses that made him look like a mad scientist, interrupted with a strange laugh.
“Koll, it’s actually too perfect, which is the problem. A few of our kin couldn’t resist their curiosity during transport and peeked at it. They fainted from dizziness!”
An overly casual attitude that did not suit the solemnity of the gathering.
However, neither of them seemed to mind.
At least, the one who boasted of his handiwork was skilled with his hands.
If he was this confident, there was no need to worry about its perfection.
Both of them swallowed nervously and lowered the screen.
The screen, too, was made of luxurious fabric.
As soon as it was removed, brilliant light burst forth.
The artwork, studded with gold and various jewels, shone dazzlingly.
It was a very beautiful statue.
The statue depicted the image of a professor they had all been eagerly waiting for.
There was no need to confirm how well it had been made—it was clear enough.
After all, those involved in this gathering were all Beastmen.
The most honest part of their bodies, their tails, spun rapidly like propellers.
The movement was so intense that their tails slapped each other’s cheeks, causing a light scuffle.
This was the reason why the Beastmen continued their gatherings.
The base had become something resembling a church.
A reality that seemed like it would never change, yet a hero had come who had flipped it around in the blink of an eye.
‘How could they endure without praising him?’
The statue, built with anonymous donations, stood proudly.
Everyone, in their own way, expressed their gratitude in front of it.
Even the children, who were still unaware of the ways of the world, did so.
The oversized black hood dragged on the floor as they moved about.
The sleeves were so long they swallowed their hands.
They all still carried a bit of clumsiness in their movements, but, despite that, their minds were brilliant.
“Isn’t the best way to express gratitude by doing what made me the happiest?”
The brilliant ones realized this and began to move their fluffy paws.
Small furballs diligently stroked the statue.
Well, a minor issue did arise in the process.
According to welfare policies, a children’s facility was provided.
A little one who had tasted muffins for the first time was crying, claiming that the oven had eaten his muffin.
The child, struggling to stroke the statue properly, cried out, complaining his arms hurt.
It was an emergency where gratitude could not be fully expressed.
But there was no need to worry.
A little puppy raised its front paw and confidently declared, “Leave this to me! I’ll take full responsibility and pet it twice as much!”
The weeping child was reassured, and he quickly ran to the caretaker.
“It’s common sense that a little ‘ho-ho’ will make it better when you’re hurt!”
With how mature the children were, there was no need to worry.
However, despite how mature the children were, the adults who should have set an example were rather clumsy.
***
It was a joyful day, yet everyone cried like fools.
Tears just flowed naturally; there was no way to stop it.
That peaceful scene would become an everyday sight.
The happy childhood of those children would eventually become something ordinary.
Their childhood would be different from the one they had known.
They would no longer be cursed for reasons they couldn’t understand.
They would never again be stoned without knowing why.
All of them would have to endure such horrible things simply because they were born Beastmen.
There was no need to try to accept that foolish reality.
Those children would grow up without knowing discrimination.
They would not have to pass on this pain to their descendants.
That was… a more beautiful thing than they had expected.
Everyone quietly closed their eyes.
They closed their eyes and offered their thanks.
To the humble Professor Riyan.
Though he had asked them not to mind him, claiming that he hadn’t done much…
He had made them human.
And so, they had to live as humans, not beasts.
Forgetting kindness was something only beasts would do.
Even if the world turned against him, they would stand by his side.
Even if, at times, he himself doubted his own abilities, they would still believe in him.
The Beastmen all made this vow…
And so, Riyan had taken an entire race under his wing.
***
Scott, the Iron-Blooded Duke of the Empire and a professor at Huangli Academy, could not concentrate on his own class.
He knew that fulfilling his duties was a virtue.
He knew that as a professor, it was wrong to be unable to focus on his own lesson, especially when he had to scold students who weren’t paying attention.
And yet, he couldn’t stop worrying.
”Why on earth did my junior make that expression?”
There was something strange about Riyan’s condition.
His skin was as pale as a corpse.
There was no sign of life in his eyes.
He had the look of someone who was about to burst into tears at any moment.
Scott couldn’t recall saying anything strange to Riyan.
The beastkin, who had been secretly carrying out something with Riyan, had only been holding weekly meetings to express their gratitude for what Riyan had done.
So, there was no need to worry.
In fact, when Scott spoke to them, he found that they communicated very well.
Even when someone tried to frame Scott with bizarre accusations, the beastkin would remain loyal to Riyan and believe in him.
The people at Huangli Academy knew Riyan’s character and trusted him unconditionally.
Having more allies who trusted him was a good thing.
But as soon as he said this, Riyan’s expression suddenly became even more strange.
It was as if he had just been sentenced to death.
‘How could Scott not worry when his capable junior was showing such a hopeless expression?’
He was speaking, but didn’t even know what he was saying.
He was teaching, but didn’t even know what he was teaching.
The ticking of the clock.
Scott’s mind was focused solely on that sound…
The moment the clock struck, he immediately rushed out.
His legs moved as if they had a mind of their own.
And his head spun in a frenzy to keep up.
He was trying to figure out what mistake he had made.
”What did I do to upset Riyan?”
‘Was it during the 1+1 incident? Was it when a few people, who were stupid enough to accuse Riyan of being the fool who had given them the wrong problems, got angry, and Scott had scolded them?’
‘Was it that incident?’
‘Or perhaps the issue was his attempt to undermine the political lives of the opposition using his own power?’
‘Was Riyan upset by that?’
‘Or maybe it was the donation?’
‘Had Riyan criticized him for donating money to create a statue when there were people who could have been helped with that money?’
‘Could it be that Riyan was angry about the luxury of spending money on such a statue instead of helping the sick and weak?’
Either way, it seemed plausible.
Finally, Scott reached his destination.
He approached the door and knocked, feeling a sense of guilt.
But no matter how much he knocked on the door of the residence, there was no response.
‘Could Riyan be ignoring him out of anger?’
For a moment, Scott thought so, but Riyan wasn’t the kind of person who would hold a grudge like that.
This didn’t seem right.
Sweat trickled down his back.
With a panicked look, Scott forced the door open.
But there was no sign of Riyan inside.
All he saw was… bottles of liquor scattered across the floor.