FSE

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“Haruo, would you like to team up with me?” Ayaan approached me during the general biology lab session in the morning.

“Oh, sure, no problem.” I had no reason to refuse. Still, given his friendly and sociable nature, always eager to interact with different animals, his proactive approach surprised me a bit.

“I paired with that guy during the general chemistry lab session,” he said, subtly motioning with his head toward the beaver sitting across from us. “He turned in the report twice with the group members' names spelled wrong, and the teaching assistant sent it back both times. He actually had the nerve to say, ‘Why was it rejected again? I didn’t make any mistakes!’ It’s not like he was asked to write Sanskrit! Seriously, working with someone like that is a disaster waiting to happen.” After his explanation, Ayaan rolled his eyes. Oh, so I’m a backup plan? I chuckled to myself and agreed.

The first session focused on inspecting basic equipment, registering slide specimens, and cleaning the lab. A good chance to practice the saying, “Sharpen the axe before cutting the tree.”

“...The number and labels on the slides are all correct. Next is the microscope,” I said, picking a random prepared slide from the organized slide box and placing it on the microscope stage. Ayaan ticked the checklist as I spoke.

“Power, diaphragm, adjustment knob, eyepiece, objective lens...” I adjusted the stage and fine-tuned the focus, making sure I was looking at the correct layer. “Our oil immersion lens is moldy. Looks like the previous user didn’t clean it properly.” I stepped aside to let Ayaan see the fungal filaments through the lens.

“Oh, it’s slightly less gross than I expected,” he remarked, noting the issue before detaching the moldy lens, placing it in its box, and heading to exchange it with the teaching assistant for a clean one.

“Okay, everything seems fine now,” I said, double-checking for any missed items.

“How are we supposed to draw stippling illustration* later? There’s no way we can finish it in one class,” Ayaan said, his eyes still hovering over the eyepiece.

“You can take a picture with your phone. Just press the camera lens against the eyepiece and adjust for focus...” I borrowed his phone to demonstrate.

“Wow, professional, huh?” Ayaan teased, earning an eye roll from me in response.

With the remaining time, we tidied up the slides and microscopes while Ayaan coordinated with the teaching assistant to verify the to-do list.

I glanced at the beaver sitting across from us. He was now chatting with the lion at the next table. Looks like he found a groupmate after all. If I recall correctly, the lion also lives in the third male dorm. I wonder what kind of sparks those two will ignite.

When Ayaan returned, however, he kept glancing at the beaver and lion with an alternating look, like a drowning man who had already found someone to trade places with. It was hard not to laugh at his exaggerated expressions.

After verifying my identity, the guard allowed me to enter the underground entrance to the capsule track. Deep beneath Central Nation, a vast network of vacuum tubes has been installed. They’re primarily used for the rapid transport of key government personnel, though occasionally, they’re also employed for Beastar seminars.

Though I personally found it a bit ostentatious, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of superiority as I stepped into the capsule. Just this once, I decided to indulge in the moment.

Because the council’s location is deep underground and accessible only via the capsule tracks, few animals know its exact geographic location.

When the staff sealed the pipeline and activated the capsule, my heart skipped a beat. Shouldn’t they at least warn passengers with cardiovascular conditions? In just a few seconds, I arrived at my destination, likely in the depths of Central City, as most animals had speculated.

To avoid the tragedy of getting lost in this underground palace, guides were stationed at transfer points to direct unfamiliar visitors. With their assistance, I reached the council hall.

The hall’s center featured concentric rows of long benches, with each of the twelve academies occupying their respective sectors. I located the area for Cherryton Academy and took my seat. The seats on the second floor above were still empty, as expected—this introductory general session rarely attracted non-course participants.

Hoshikaze arrived shortly after. His grand, majestic antlers never failed to stand out wherever he went. He sat down beside me, which was a surprising turn of events. In public settings, he usually made a point of avoiding me, keeping his distance to sidestep any awkward topics—like the shadow of our fathers. If I had to hear one more time whether I intended to follow in somebeast’s footsteps, I feared my eyes might roll so far back they’d lose all meaning.

The burnt scent radiating from Hoshikaze had faded slightly, indicating he was back to his usual state. But why sit next to me? He remained silent, surveying the venue as his massive antlers swayed gently with his posture, resembling a forest battered by a fierce wind.

“Now that everyone has gathered, let us begin.” A leopard stepped to the center of the room beside a massive urn. “I’m today’s host, Fuminsuo. As this is the introductory general session, let us, as tradition dictates, welcome the new generation of Beastar.” His broad smile swept across the venue, suggesting he had memorized all our names.

Ugh, please don’t let this be one of those things. I hated this part. Still, social skills were undoubtedly critical for advancing any kind of work. I inhaled subtly, bracing myself to be called on.

“Barite Academy, Dichi.” A mountain gorilla stood, bowing to those around him. The silver fur on his back shimmered with the movement.

“Warden Academy, Faline.” A female red deer rose and greeted the room with the elegance typical of her kind, reminding me of Aunt Azuki.

“Olivier Academy, Mickey.” A small forest mouse waved energetically to everyone, though I doubted animals with poor eyesight could make out anything from this distance.

“Dorpal Academy, Francine.” The flamingo stood as his name was called, offering an elaborate bow before declaring in a slow, deliberate tone, “I will claim the title of Sublime Beastar.”

Ah, so there are still those who come specifically to declare war. His statement was met with kind laughter—perhaps because everyone here, as elites, already had a clear sense of each other’s abilities and didn’t need to exchange superficial pleasantries. Does this place actually encourage competitive behavior?

“Francine, let’s not get too excited,” the host replied. “Strictly speaking, there’s no limit to the number of Sublime Beastars, though it’s rare for more than one to hold the title simultaneously. Still, exceptions exist.” He glanced briefly in my direction.

Damn it.

“Cherryton Academy, Harou.”

What? Why skip so many academies and jump straight to me? Following the example of others, I stood and bowed. The whispers that rippled around me made my irritation rise.

“A life animal…”

“Cherryton always loves to push boundaries.”

For the love of the Rex, it's not pleasant to smile at all the animals in this situation, but I'm sure showing my fangs would be a serious diplomatic mistake. So Hoshikaze sat beside me to show support? I could handle this on my own, though I didn’t mind his gesture.

“Marison Academy, Mino.” The male impala stood up and bowed to all the animals.

“Rokuma Academy, Biscuit.” The beige mare stood up and bowed, with an indescribable avant-garde sense in her demeanor and dress, probably due to the hat she was wearing. Who wears a hat indoors?

“Zeika Academy, Alfonso.” A bighorn sheep clumsily bowed, nearly unable to lift his head again—another example of Fisher runaway.

“No other academies have nominated a Beastar this year,” the host announced, prompting a fresh wave of murmurs. “That’s quite unusual, considering even Cherryton, notorious for leaving the position vacant, has made a nomination this time.” He gestured towards me, eliciting a round of laughter.

“But now, for our grand finale—the Sublime Beastar nomination.” Fuminsuo’s words instantly shifted the atmosphere to one of tension.

Did everyone here already know what happened that day?

“Yes, yes, I know,” he continued. “This is highly irregular. Historically, only a handful of Sublime Beastar have exercised this right—Yafya himself did so twice, though under extraordinary circumstances where no eligible Beastar candidates were available.” He cleared his throat.

“The Sublime Beastar nomination: Aida.”

A motion behind me indicated the nominee’s presence. Judging by the sector, they must belong to the same academy as the nominator.

If any animal were to ask me, I would never admit it. But when I turned around, I felt a tremendous shock and also a sense of relief. Even the thought "this is too abnormal" crossed my mind, which I quickly buried along with my embarrassment. However, an endless feeling of gratitude rose within me.

Hybrid animals sometimes inherit features from both parents, and when external traits manifest in stark contrast, they can evoke discomfort in most animals—a primal reaction hardwired by ancient genes. But I was no slave to unspeakable instincts. I had my own free will and the responsibility to act accordingly. Forcing myself to remain calm, I maintained a smile.

“Pleased to meet you, my fellow companions.” The speaker was a black-faced sheep with a mouth full of sharp teeth. The entire hall fell silent. Judging by Hoshikaze’s scent, he too was shocked, though he maintained an air of composure. Not a single animal responded.

Rex, is this how aspirants for Sublime Beastar should behave? These are the elites of our generation? Even when I was introduced, at least someone had the decency to criticize me. Where was the welcoming applause? Hypocrites, the lot of you. Where’s that promise of a fresh start?

"Looking forward to working with you, too." I stood up and extended my right hand towards her.

Holy Great Whale! I couldn't believe that I actually did it, especially since I was almost too nervous to stand up when I was first introduced. It seemed too dramatic, but now I'm committed. Moreover, due to the complexity of her scent and her neutral voice, I couldn't be sure if she was a female animal. But really, does that matter? She just called us countrymen, didn't she?

“Thank you,” Aida replied, shaking my hand with a smile. Her sharp teeth looked utterly incongruous in a sheep’s mouth. I poured every ounce of effort into suppressing my fur’s instinctive reactions and maintaining a composed smile.

For decades, interspecies unions had been on the rise, and offspring possessing traits of both life animal and nature animal had become increasingly common. It was only a matter of time before they reached the pinnacle of animal society.

Yet the hall remained silent.

Hypocrites, why was it left to an outsider like me to welcome her? That’s the true absurdity here. Don’t you all have functioning mirror neurons? Why just sit there, feigning shock?

No, on closer inspection, some animals—about a third—had that detached, indifferent look in their eyes. How was that possible? No, it didn’t matter. What mattered was why none of them were acting!

“We welcome you,” Hoshikaze said, breaking the silence as he began clapping. Gradually, scattered applause spread through the hall. Elites or not, in the end, they were just nature animals—sheep following the first to move.

Pathetic.

Feeling my fangs on the verge of showing, I quickly refocused my attention. After nodding to Aida, I returned to my seat and threw Hoshikaze a grateful glance. He gave a slight nod in return.

I hadn’t yet recovered from the earlier shock and couldn’t fully concentrate on the host’s subsequent speech.

Is this the view I longed for beyond the hill? No, this must be the obstacles before reaching the summit. But what if the other side truly looks like this—if those unknown scents and colors don’t exist at all?

I felt my fangs tremble slightly, struggling to suppress my predatory instincts. How many false throats could I tear open before being stopped?

No, no, no. Focus. I tapped my head firmly, trying to regain composure. Even among Beastar, we were ultimately chosen from ordinary animals. Their responses were entirely expected. But aren’t elites supposed to be exceptional?

My thoughts were interrupted by some key terms. A projection appeared: a young wolf and a young deer walking through a forest.

Ah, so this is what they meant by subtle. The detail in this illustration was extraordinary. Though drawn, it captured every nuance—the jet-black fur of the young wolf, the tree species in the forest, and even the seasonal influence on the surroundings. Whoever made this was meticulous.

Still overwhelmed by emotion, I nearly reached for Hoshikaze’s hand but restrained myself.

Calm down, damn it!

Sensing my turmoil, Hoshikaze lightly stepped on my right paw. So, this was a discussion about the possibility of coexistence? The story of two young animals—a life animal and a nature animal—lost in the forest for a week and rescued through mutual cooperation. A classic textbook case. If not for confidentiality, I might have seen this earlier.

“…It’s hard to imagine how terrified that deer must have felt during that time,” Faline said empathetically.

“But I think it was just as difficult for the wolf. Such prolonged hunger, yet he still managed to maintain enough rationality to guide the red deer out of the forest,” said a moose from Zeika Academy.

“For life animals, prolonged fasting isn’t all that hard, but at such a young age, it would still be challenging. Judging from the all-black fur, the wolf was probably around nine years old. At that age, enduring hunger for such a long time without losing one’s senses is incredibly difficult, especially with a red deer right there,” the grey wolf from Warden Academy continued, ignoring a few unfriendly glances cast his way. “For nature animals, though, there’s usually edible vegetation around. The risks and trials faced by the two are fundamentally different.”

“It’s worth mentioning that when the rescue team found them near the forest’s edge, the red deer was carrying the wolf on its back,” said a muntjac from Dorpal Academy. “Completely flipping the roles of weak nature animals. But without the wolf’s sensitivity to scents, they wouldn’t have made it out either.”

“So, it was through their collaboration—these two young animals demonstrated courage that even adults would struggle to match,” said a zebra from Marison Academy.

“What if it wasn’t courage?” I interjected. “What if the wolf was terrified?” I hadn’t even realized that I’d spoken my thoughts aloud.

“What?” The zebra looked confused. “Why would the wolf be afraid? The worst-case scenario for him would just be…” The zebra shot a disdainful glance at the wolf from Warden Academy, who shrugged indifferently. “Afterward, he could simply deny everything that happened. There wouldn’t be any evidence, after all,” the zebra said, voicing what many nature animals were likely thinking. Several of them nodded lightly.

“So, are you saying the wolf’s actions were even more commendable?” the wolf asked me, his gaze curious and intrigued.

“No, that’s not what I mean.” I took a deep breath and continued. “In this scenario, it’s assumed that the wolf wasn’t afraid, that he was brave, and that’s how they were able to work together to overcome the ordeal. On the other hand, it seems nature to assume the deer was afraid. But what if the wolf was scared? If he was afraid, does he still remain a wolf?” Most of the animals showed puzzled expressions, while the wolf from Warden Academy flicked his ears and swished his tail to the left.

“Look at the trees on the screen. Those are black spruces and balsam fir. These species only grow in the Black Forest Reserve, the largest primeval forest reserve in the Central Nation. Not just any animal can gain entry there. For life animals born into upper-class families, especially females, the desire to eat meat is often very weak.” Some animals frowned slightly at my use of that particular word, but there wasn’t much stronger reaction.

"Perhaps it's because of good education, or perhaps it's because they haven't experienced any particular scarcity in life, but regardless of the reason, the data clearly tells us that life animals born in the middle or upper class have a significantly lower rate of committing related taboo behaviors (devour), whether intentional or unintentional.

“Additionally, the Black Forest is known for its dense canopy. Even during the day, the forest floor is nearly devoid of light. There are no low-growing edible plants or lichens, and the main tree species are protected by waxy coatings and alkaloids. Only nature animals with specific adaptations can eat them without being poisoned.”

The moose from Zeika Academy nodded in understanding at my explanation.

“In this situation, the two are actually on equal footing. So if the wolf is afraid, is he still the wolf?" I continued.

“No matter how scared he might be, it wouldn’t compare to the deer’s fear. According to your logic, the deer—constantly at risk of being eaten and starving—should be the one afraid,” Faline argued.

“Even for a wolf that young, a week without food would be excruciating but not necessarily life-threatening. Could a deer, after a week without eating, still have the strength to carry a wolf on its back?” The wolf from Warden Academy asked Faline, who shook her head.

“Probably not. I’ve spoken with friends who’ve tried fasting to lose weight. For red deer, going an entire day without food is already the limit.” Both of them turned curious gazes toward me, and the wolf even tilted his head slightly, a gleam in his eyes.

“I think Haruo’s point is this: if the wolf was terrified of his own thoughts of wanting to eat the red deer, could that still be considered an act of courage?” The host intervened.

Even here? As a former director of the Inter-Species Integration Bureau, he must have known the truth of the matter.

Hoshikaze lightly stepped on my paw again, as if to comfort me. I leaned back in my chair and listened to the remaining discussion.

“Hey, Cheriton.” After class, the Warden wolf walked over to greet me. “I’m Wolfgang.” We shook hands. “You’re much more interesting—and polite—than your senior.” He cast a sidelong glance at Hoshikaze.

“Wolves are all idiots,” Hoshikaze said grumpily, making Wolfgang burst out laughing.

“I can agree with that,” Faline said, nodding at us. “I hope we’ll have more chances to interact in the future.” We exchanged pleasantries and chatted for a while.

"Your smile is so fake, you’ll never fit in with them." A coyotes passing by me said, whom I hadn't noticed before.

"Why would you say that?" I gave him my most sincere and deep smile, revealing my two biggest canine teeth.

Coyotes snorted and left.

“I’m starting to like you!” Wolfgang chuckled, playfully punching my arm.

“Putting that weird guy in his place was great, but I hope you don’t make that scary face again in the future. ‘You’ll never fit in with us,’” Faline said, mimicking the coyote’s tone, drawing laughter from everyone.