Belis did as she was told.
When she felt her forehead hit the cold floor, something vanished from deep within her heart. Her heartbeat accelerated, burning like a blast furnace fueled by karmic fire.
Today was a day Belis would never forget in her lifetime.
Five minutes later, Belis felt her legs going numb. Her mood had calmed considerably, and only then were the Blood Clan members ordered to rise. Just as Savassen had said, they were like livestock.
“The Blood Clan is like little dogs—stand when told to stand, squat when told to squat,” White Blade mocked in a voice devoid of emotion, sounding just like a robot.
Belis suppressed the rage in her chest and said, “Is this your base? Can you fly to any corner of the world?”
She had meant the question as fake flattery to fish for some intel, but it only drew mocking laughter from the surrounding soldiers. They treated the Blood Clan Queen like a clown. Only Savassen, the man in charge, bothered to answer her.
“We have 200 warships like this one.”
Savassen crossed his fingers and rested his chin on them, sneering coldly.
“By the way, if you ever get the chance to meet that Demon King, tell her that the Enslaver of Deities is challenging the Empire’s corrupt authority. Joining forces with us is the wisest choice.”
—
“Avira, just hold on a little longer.”
“W-Wahhh…”
Avira had never imagined that giving birth to the thing in her belly would be this troublesome.
A few days earlier, the thing inside her belly had started to stir. At first, she thought it was just pregnancy fatigue, but when the pain began, she let out a soft whimper. After “summoning” Ophitia over, she sat up in bed with help, wiped away her tears, and finally realized…
Avira was in labor.
On the third day of winter, heavy snow blanketed every building in Tilves Royal Capital. Fortunately, the maids kept the place clean, clearing a path from the royal palace courtyard to the outside world.
This winter was colder than any before.
But Ophitia’s body was warm. She sat in front of Avira, gently propping her legs up on either side of her own body. Avira’s black wings had grown back, wrapping around her instinctively like a shield.
“W-Wahhh… Ophitia, d-don’t, don’t touch there! I know I was wrong, I know, w-wahhh…”
Ophitia had wanted to help deliver the baby, but the moment she touched below Avira’s belly, Avira trembled violently. Ophitia realized that no matter how many sweet words or promises she’d made before, one fact remained unchanged—she had zero experience with midwifery.
“A-Avira, hang in there!”
Ophitia immediately channeled magic to replenish Avira’s mana and ease her pain, but even after reading countless books on the subject, it was hard to help effectively.
Normally, the child would be protected by a piece of Silver Feathers, but now Avira’s body was actively pushing out the dragon egg as it matured—a natural self-protection mechanism.
This process required extra care!
But Avira was different. She wasn’t a dragon at all; she was a bird!
Ophitia found no relevant information on Avira’s bird-like nature, and the materials on Crystal Dragons from ancient records were proving useless now.
She placed a pre-prepared damp towel on Avira’s belly, stroking her trembling wings while racking her brain for solutions.
After receiving the Demon King’s power, Avira was almost incapable of rational thought.
She just felt a swelling sensation below her belly—not sharp pain, but a clashing instinct. Every movement made tears flow.
Her mind was filled with complaints about Ophitia.
That idiot Ophitia—can she even help?
Does she really know how to deliver?
I should’ve done it myself! This idiot!
I never should’ve given her my first time. I never should’ve slept with her!
Didn’t she promise to take responsibility?
But once Ophitia’s magic entered her body, the pain eased somewhat.
“Avira, I’ll figure something out. If it hurts too much, just scream it out.”
Idiot, as if I’d scream?
Is she doing this on purpose? So she can hear my embarrassing side?
“I would never mock Avira.”
“W-Wahhh, liar…”
“This is our child. I’m just as invested as you are.”
“So… so you don’t… care about me anymore?”
Avira blurted it out subconsciously—it was her true inner voice.
In her panic, Ophitia squeezed out, “Of course I like Avira even more!”
“Wahhh…”
Being caressed by her master’s magic felt so good.
It was like Avira had walked dozens of kilometers, then taken a hot bath at night, dried off, and curled up in bed—her whole body tingling with numbness.
She’d hated Ophitia just moments ago, but now she realized how happy it made her to have her master by her side.
“Master…”
Suddenly, her consciousness grew hazy, as if the pain didn’t matter anymore.
Wasn’t it always like this before?
Hand my body over to my master, and it’ll be fine.
Master will take responsibility. She promised to protect me forever—Ophitia would never go back on her word.
It’s the happiest thing to have Master take care of me.
She only ever saw me as a weapon, a tool to use, so there won’t be any problems…
“Master, Master… push a little harder~”
“Turning dumb the moment I inject mana? Idiot.”
“I’m the idiot, Master, heehee…”
Ophitia wasn’t sure whether to feel heartbroken or happy.
Avira suddenly recalled her past, the days of being conditioned.
Back then, the pain had been mixed with the pleasure from becoming a familiar.
Finally, she placed her hand on Avira’s belly.
Her other hand shifted from the wings to Avira’s shoulders and arms, stroking there—Avira loved that.
“Mmm…”
“It’s gonna hurt a bit. Hang in there.”
“Mm!”
Avira felt those hands slowly pushing downward. Matching Ophitia’s rhythm, she bore down slightly. Her belly contracted, urging the egg to slide down. In that instant, Avira decided to devote everything to Ophitia. In her most vulnerable moment as a phoenix, she exposed her weakest side to her master.
After half an hour of effort, the dragon egg was born smoothly, landing on the damp bed sheets.
Avira instinctively hugged it to her chest, utterly exhausted, and fell asleep.
Yay! The bird laid a dragon egg!