--- KONRAD ---
The personnel transporter came to a stop near Konrad's home.
He still had a short walk ahead of him.
It was raining.
The moment he stepped outside, the weather soaked his clothes.
Great. Just perfect.
Today had already been a shitty day at school.
Those teachers were all useless. Every single one of them should be fired.
Because of a mistake made by the idiot sitting next to him, Konrad had been scolded—and on top of that, the teacher had called him stupid in front of the whole class.
As if his grades didn't clearly prove otherwise.
At least his time with his friends had been good.
Tim, Milo, and Nestor always had his back. Together, they were the popular ones—the guys everyone looked up to.
But now, Konrad hurried through the rain, hoping to get home faster.
No such luck.
Every step, every puddle he passed worsened his mood.
He ran up the path leading through the gate and toward the large, luxurious villa that belonged to his stepfather.
Marcel was a great man.
A good father.
A role model.
Not like Konrad's biological father—who had been a complete failure. That was why his mother had left him and married Marcel instead. Marcel had money. Contacts. Success.
Those were the things that mattered in this society.
Finally, Konrad reached the front door, completely soaked. Even his shoes made disgusting squelching sounds with every step.
He fumbled for his key and unlocked the door.
"Mom! I'm home!"
He wiped his short blond hair dry with a clean towel.
The beastfolk slave approached him, holding fresh clothes.
"Would you like to take a shower, Master?" she asked.
"Definitely."
He tossed his wet clothes at her without a second thought, took the clean ones, and hurried to the bathroom—bare and impatient.
The hot water hit his skin.
"This feels amazing!" he called out happily.
After finishing, he got dressed and called for the slave again.
"Where's my mother?"
The slave—a tall catwoman with clipped ears and half her tail missing—looked away.
"Your mother is in the guest room, Master."
Something about her expression felt… off.
"I see."
He dismissed her without another glance. She should be grateful she was still alive. When Marcel had bought her—before marrying his mother—she had escaped certain death.
Beastfolk were simply not like humans.
With heavy steps, Konrad walked toward the guest room on the first floor. It was already afternoon, and he wanted permission to invite his friends over.
Before he even opened the door, he heard sounds.
Crying.
A child?
Konrad opened the door—and froze.
His mother was sitting on the bed, holding a small beastfolk child in her arms. The girl was crying miserably.
"What is going on here?!" he snapped.
The child went silent in shock.
His mother turned toward him, her gaze sharp.
"Konrad. Show some compassion, please."
Compassion?
Why should he feel compassion?
That thing was a beastfolk.
They didn't have feelings.
They weren't human.
And yet…
Why had it been crying?
"Compassion?" he protested. "Mom! That's a beastfolk! Do you even realize what will happen if someone finds out?!"
Her expression hardened.
The child buried her face in her shoulder, trembling.
Fear?
Why was it afraid?
Beastfolk weren't supposed to react like this.
They weren't like humans.
"Watch your tongue," his mother said coldly. "And go to your room if you're incapable of basic empathy."
Konrad didn't understand.
Why was he being punished?
"I don't get it, Mom—"
"Go. To. Your. Room."
Something twisted painfully inside him.
He slammed the door shut and stormed down the hallway toward his room.
"Why? What did I do wrong?" he muttered angrily.
"She's holding a beastfolk child—that's wrong!"
He entered his room and immediately felt calmer.
Posters of heroes and generals of his homeland covered the walls. A bed, a wardrobe, weights, and a small desk filled the space.
Figures and books praising the nation were neatly arranged on a shelf.
Konrad threw himself onto his bed.
"What the hell is going on?"
His eyes landed on the figurines of famous generals.
"This is insane," he muttered, as if speaking to them.
"Beastfolk are our enemies. Inferior lifeforms. And now my mother is protecting one of their children?!"
He stood up and paced the room.
His gaze stopped at a poster in the corner—the Church of the Many-Faced, depicting countless human faces merged together.
The church's teachings echoed in his mind.
Beastfolk were monsters.
Murderers.
Rapists.
They had to be enslaved—or eradicated.
And his mother…
Mom… what are you doing?
She's siding with the enemy.
He sat down again, heart pounding.
What had he missed?
Why was she acting like this?
The slave was one thing—she was property.
But this child?
Why sympathy?
Were they… really like humans?
"If this gets out…" Konrad whispered.
"If the government finds out… if the church finds out…"
She would be branded a heretic.
No—we would.
"I have to do something," he muttered. "For my family."
He couldn't betray her directly.
But…
Yes.
He would tell Marcel.
Marcel was a wise man. He would know what to do. He would protect the family.
"I'll tell him as soon as he gets back."
Konrad clenched his fists.
"Alright. That's what I'll do."