This won’t end well...

Kong glanced once at the girl named Estia and instantly knew the root of her agony.

Ever since the Apostles’ invasion, this world had descended into chaos. Superhumans and non-human girls like Dairy Maidens were commonplace now. Most non-human girls shared human menstrual cycles—except Dairy Maidens.

"Teacher, Estia looks terrible," a worried classmate murmured. Estia herself lay slumped over her desk, clutching her chest, face flushed and twisted in pain.

In the past, Kong would’ve ignored this. Others’ lives meant nothing to him. But five years in prison, Night Zero’s influence, or perhaps his current role as a teacher—something had changed. He couldn’t stand by.

A Dairy Maiden’s cycle wasn’t something to endure. Pushing through the pain could be fatal. And this girl hadn’t dared tell anyone purely because of her identity—a non-human girl, scorned by so many humans.

This really won’t end well.

Troublesome or not, he had to act.

Kong made his decision instantly. He gave the worried girl a reassuring gesture, then strode to Estia’s side. After gently nudging aside the student who’d called him a weirdo earlier, he lifted Estia into his arms.

"EHHHH!?"

The entire classroom erupted!

This plotline felt oddly familiar...

Ignoring the clamor, Kong knew Estia’s life was at stake. To protect her secret, he needed somewhere private.

"Apologies—I’m taking her to the infirmary. Study on your own this period!"

With that, he bolted out the door!

*Crack...*

The sound of a crushed water cup.

Near the back corner, a golden-haired boy sat frozen. His delicate, youthful face would’ve been recognizable to Kong—he was the one who’d blocked Night Zero’s path that morning, insisting on taking her to the infirmary himself.

Shards of glass glittered across his desk like broken ice. Water dripped slowly from the edge, soaking his trousers.

"Young master..."

"It’s nothing. Nothing at all."

Classic tsundere.

The fury in his eyes, the livid veins throbbing at his temples—his feelings were painfully obvious. He’d adored Teacher Zero for ages. Genuinely adored her. Yet this morning, some random guy had carried her off? Then became his teacher? And now—*during class*—he’d just swept another girl into his arms?

*Seriously?* If it were a rival, he’d have fought fair. But this guy? A player. A beast who wouldn’t even spare his own students. Respect for the new homeroom teacher evaporated instantly.

"I hope Estia’s okay..." murmured a girl beside him. They’d seen this before, but never this severe.

"She’ll be fine. The teacher went with her, right?"

"Huh? Zhihui, didn’t you hate him?"

"I never said I hated him. I just don’t care for domineering CEO types. But..."

"But what?"

"...He does care about his students."

Cheng Zhihui had seen it clearest. When her friend raised Estia’s plight, she’d caught the raw, unfeigned worry in the teacher’s eyes—genuine, without a trace of pretense.

*Maybe he’s not so bad,* she thought, cheeks warming as she flipped a page of her book.

...

Meanwhile, after carrying Estia out and asking a few skipping students for directions, Kong reached the infirmary.

Empty.

*Typical. Off napping during class hours?* Irresponsible.

He laid the gasping girl on the infirmary bed. Her breathing had grown labored. No time to hesitate.

"Uh... you know how to handle your cycle, right?" Kong’s cheeks burned as he spoke.

For human girls, it was straightforward. But Dairy Maidens? Entirely different.

"T-Teacher... it hurts so much..." Estia’s breath hitched in little gasps.

*This intense?* Kong wondered if she was hiding her true nature out of shame. To calm her, he kept his voice steady.

"Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone your secret. I won’t look down on you. Just... ignore me. I’ll wait next door. Call when you’re done."

Dairy Maidens’ cycles were unique. Their relief methods? Even more so.

For a split second, shock flickered in Estia’s eyes—then pain swallowed it whole. Finally, she whispered, voice trembling and small:

"T-Teacher... I... I don’t know how... Will you... teach me?"

Pain fractured her words.

But Kong’s mind had already short-circuited.

*He knew* how Dairy Maidens coped.

*Why ask me?! Doesn’t she trust me?!*

Watching her curl tighter in agony, he steeled himself.

*It’s just milking. For her sake. Purely professional.*

Gently, he reached toward the girl.