The Demon Saint is Missing, so I Ran to Another World

The Reforms of Greg Santos (Part 2)

I was shocked when the Prince Hurion Devras put up the question of whether I was willing to become the Lord Head Scholar of the Conclave. It was not in my mind, not even a sliver. Yet, I was puzzled as to how we got to that point...

"Wh-Why are you asking me that?"

However, instead of answering me, he repeated, "Are you willing to become the Lord Head Scholar of the Conclave?"

"I'm a human, not a demon," I pointed out, trying to go around the question.

"It doesn't matter to us; we knew Lady Cassandra David is a human—she even fought against our people before, killed many of us. Yet, she's the first Lady Head Scholar of the Conclave."

I froze when I heard that. My goal here was to get my student's ashes, not to become the principal of a school. I mean, I got no qualms being one, but my friends in Chersea was waiting for me. I couldn't just take the mantle of leadership without thinking the consequences of my actions thoroughly! What if, by becoming the Head Scholar, I would be required to stay in this place forever?

I never signed up for this!

"Can't we...just talk to the Head Scholar himself, and propose those reforms?" I offered.

The Prince Hurion Devras shook his head, "I'm afraid that can't be possible, Lord Greg. For us demons, an idea is the same as the person itself."

"Wh-What?"

"Look at it this way, let's say the Lord Head Scholar Emile Biorno represents 'conservatism', then he shall be a conservative Head Scholar until the end of his life. Likewise, you'll end up representing the 'reforms', so until you step down from your position or die, then the name Lord Head Scholar Greg Santos shall be connected to the reforms of the Conclave. In short, once you're gone, there's a big possibility that we revert to the old ways, wasting your efforts and as the Head Scholar."

"Wow...I didn't think you demons think in that manner...can't your views be changed if it's for the good of your people?"

The prince shook his head, "Technically, you can. However, it takes time; heck, I'd say it might even require generations of humans for a generation of demons to change their way of thinking."

"Isn't that way too demanding?"

"Ah, you haven't seen the worst of us. You see, even if we demons take pride in our Conclave being a 'place of learning and freedom of thought', in practice, it isn't so. In case you haven't learn of it yet, the demon race reeks of traditionalism. Though we say that we 'love' new ideas, those are just some thoughts for us to pass our time. It is not to be taken seriously."

For the second time, I was speechless. Coming to Cherflammen gave me the impression that it was a 'progressive' society, yet, here we were, talking privately about reforms. Well, it's not that the Prince Hurion Devras was trying to bluff me; he was talking from experience. See, if the demon race wasn't 'traditional' then the prince himself wouldn't exist. Princess Noir would be acclaimed as the demon lord without a fuss.

However, I don't think there's a matter that can't be negotiated.

"Your Highness, what if I talk to the Head Scholar and slowly introduce to him my proposed reforms?"

"You're underestimating the stubbornness of a demon, Lord Greg," the demon prince chuckled. "Haven't you read it from Chersean history? We fought against the humans for eleven times! And you know that the only way into your lands was through the border crossings of Chersea and Cherflammen. It's of no surprise that all our invasions ended in defeat, going only by that route. Did we even learn from those? I think not. Look, there's the growing support for the idiocies of the Knights of Cassandra David to prove that our people was stubborn."