An unexpected rumor spread throughout the academy.
Professor Riyan had advocated for the improvement of the rights of Beastmen.
It seems he even gathered them together to form an organization.
The deep-seated hatred towards Beastmen.
A war that took place 200 years ago.
An unforgivable and disgusting betrayal.
Beastmen are considered untrustworthy and filthy beings.
All those who committed grave sins were executed, and only the descendants who know nothing about the crimes of their ancestors remain.
That discrimination has deeply rooted itself in society.
Even the students here are proud.
Though social status isn’t included in the entrance exam criteria, the children of prestigious families typically possess excellent skill and talent.
Most come from distinguished families.
They would never easily bend their values.
***
[If you’re an academy student, let’s please support the professor.]
However, when it came to Riyan, things were different.
Among the academy students, there wasn’t a single person who hadn’t owed their life to him.
Everyone carried a sense of indebtedness.
The inherited sense of discrimination from their parents?
The discomfort of having their long-held beliefs questioned?
Such things couldn’t outweigh their feelings for the professor.
Of course, there were always rebels.
Some murmured, “It’s true that we owe Professor Riyan quite a bit, but this goes too far.”
But now, those voices were gone.
Creatures scurrying under beds in the middle of the night.
The blonde saintess, binding the rebels and delivering a heartfelt sermon, caused everyone to reconsider and repent.
How moving was her evangelism?
Those who listened shed tears, so much so that they cried rivers.
The petition for support reached a “600%” participation rate, which surely meant the divine had lent their favor.
It was definitely not because the saintess stalked the graduates to personally deliver the message.
Everyone was acting purely out of their own will.
Everyone gathered their hearts for Riyan.
As evidence, all the faculty members, without any persuasion, eagerly expressed their willingness to cooperate.
All of them were desperate to assist Professor Riyan.
It was a heartwarming scene, but the problem that arose was this:
This was, after all, a proper educational institution.
Yet, neither the students nor the professors seemed to care about the lessons.
***
[What am I supposed to do about this?]
The Principal, who managed the academy, muttered to herself.
In the position of having to stop the students and professors from running wild, she had to reprimand any wrongful actions and urge them to be more self-disciplined.
Thus, she had to put a stop to this strange campaign.
However, this wasn’t the dilemma she was truly troubled by.
Was it her duty or Riyan?
Was it her professional responsibility or her feelings for the man?
Which one should she choose? It seemed too obvious.
Running the academy was practically just a hobby.
But the matter of her love life was something that would affect the rest of her life.
It was already settled that she would help Riyan in every way possible.
Thus, the real dilemma was something else.
What if—this was just a hypothetical—Riyan had a thing for Beastmen? What would he do then?
After much contemplation, she came up with a solution… this nightgown.
She slipped into the fuzzy dog-themed nightgown and wondered if wearing it would help her create an opportunity to get closer to Riyan.
But wait—wasn’t this something children would wear?
And she was the last dragon in existence.
Could a dragon wear something like this and act like a dog? Wouldn’t it tarnish the honor of her lost kin?
She hesitated for a moment, but after a long internal struggle…
She made up her mind.
The chest and thigh areas were tight, making it uncomfortable, but she squeezed herself into the nightgown.
Then, she stealthily bought a leash from a specialty store and wore it.
She began practicing the lines she would say when the time came.
After all, she was alone in her office.
With a deep sense of shame, Si-jo-ryong lay on her back, curled up, and mumbled, ‘”Please pet me, Master.”
***
[Principal?]
Just then, the door creaked open.
A student union had gathered to discuss future matters.
Si-jo-ryong’s awkward, panting figure was revealed to everyone.
Si-jo-ryong’s mind raced faster than ever to come up with an excuse for the situation.
“T-this… I was trying to empathize with the plight of Beastmen by becoming one myself…”
However, the problem was that Si-jo-ryong had underestimated the students’ fanaticism.
They were all in awe, with pure expressions on their faces.
How could they not admire her for sacrificing her dignity to help Riyan? Such noble resolve could not be in vain.
Without hesitation, they all took pictures.
The tight outfit emphasized her chest and thighs.
Her embarrassing moment was immortalized in headlines.
Even when they were holding signs calling for the improvement of Beastmen’s rights, Si-jo-ryong had no choice but to do her dog cosplay while shedding tears.
Regardless of the circumstances, Si-jo-ryong had taken a stand.
With such an influential figure openly showing support, everything moved forward smoothly.
Those connected to Riyan.
People who owed the professor, those who wanted to earn his favor, and those simply interested in his actions all gathered openly.
He declared his support…
And with that, the professor’s heart shattered.
***
The Empire’s media king.
Pulitzer Lumiere was in a foul mood these days.
It wasn’t that he was upset about his rival Cromwell gaining fame with a lucky photograph.
Though he certainly envied the fact that Cromwell had captured such a shot, it didn’t really matter.
No matter what accomplishments he achieved, his position couldn’t be threatened.
If it could be threatened, it would be because Cromwell was the one who had gone too far.
It wasn’t something he liked to brag about, though.
He wasn’t famous for being good at taking photos or writing.
It was a family heirloom passed down through generations.
A camera that projected scenes from the past.
The ability to use video media instead of just print.
It was like publishing news articles on TV rather than in the newspaper.
The influence that came with it was undeniable.
‘So what was really bothering him?’
It was the hot topic: the new professor.
Riyan was the cause of his discomfort.
That professor was far too dangerous.
One person wielding so much power.
What in the world had he done? He had charmed not only Si-jo-ryong but even the Emperor and many other influential figures.
”His actions suggest he has a good personality, but…”
Even so, the danger remained.
It was clear from the current situation.
With that much power, no one could stop him.
Riyan’s wishes would undoubtedly become reality.
The rights of Beastmen would improve.
Instead of being mistreated, they would receive various benefits and privileges.
‘But what about the problems that would arise from this?’
‘Could power alone eradicate discrimination?’
‘If they just showered the Beastmen with benefits without thinking, would that solve all the issues?’
‘Wouldn’t it lead to anger, with people accusing it of being discriminatory treatment?’
“Beastmen are being persecuted, they are pitiful. Let’s help them.”
That was certainly a noble way of thinking, but someone in power had to be cautious.
It could turn into a huge mistake.
This wasn’t something to follow blindly with praise.
Someone needed to raise people’s awareness.
With this thought in mind, Pulitzer began to trail Riyan…
And, as expected, his fears soon became reality.
“No need to worry, Riyan. I told you, I’ll do anything you ask of me.”
The one meeting with Riyan was the great Si-jo-ryong.
She confidently put her name on the line.
“I’m preparing a bill that mandates a certain percentage of Beastmen must be hired. Other welfare programs are also in the works, so leave it to me and everything will be fine!”
A quota for Beastmen—on the surface, it sounded good.
But when someone gets a job, someone else loses theirs.
Such a policy would only create more discrimination.
Pulitzer quickly pulled out his camera.
He planned to expose Riyan’s irresponsible actions to the public…
”Sorry, but I must decline your proposal.”
‘What was this?’
The words he heard were completely unexpected.
Pulitzer was caught off guard and looked at the new professor’s face.
“If I don’t accept the proposal, the improvement of Beastmen’s rights will surely be delayed. If I resign from my position and focus solely on this, it will take a long time.”
The professor merely nodded.
‘Wasn’t he moved by a sense of light sympathy?’
There was no need to make a fuss.
If he accepted the proposal, the Beastmen would surely treat him like a god and be overjoyed.
It was the simpler option.
But still, Professor Riyan spoke.
“But I must refuse. It may be the easier path, but… it certainly isn’t the right one.”
His white hair fluttered in the wind.
What reflected in his golden eyes was a firm conviction.
“You shouldn’t force things with power. Compulsory equality is not equality—it is merely coercion. Such a misguided method will only create hostility and conflict.”
Even if it means taking the long road.
Even if it takes a long time to be rewarded.
He would change the world, little by little.
The change must come from the heart, not from power.
And the reason was…
“What I wish for is a truly equal world.”
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Heart to heart