"Why are you asking this?"
Although Kana was thankful for the food, as a pregnant woman she naturally became alert when someone asked about her child.
"I just think letting a pregnant woman wander around in a place with monsters is irresponsible."
When the beast husband was mentioned, Kana felt sad.
She couldn't even build a small grave for the father of her child.
By now, he had probably been eaten by the forest beasts until not even bones remained.
The more she thought, the sadder she became.
Seeing her eyes turn red, the beastman panicked.
"Don't cry, did someone bully you?"
Kana sniffled and slowly said, "The child's father is already dead."
The beastman froze, then gently patted her head to comfort her.
No one had ever touched her head like that before.
Looking closely, the beastman was very handsome, and his side profile faintly resembled her child's late father.
That almost stirred up her grief again, so she turned her head away and focused on eating to suppress the sorrow.
"You saw the child's father die with your own eyes?"
Kana snapped her head around to glare at him, cheeks puffed like a hamster because her mouth was stuffed with crab meat.
"You just had to bring that up! I was already about to bury him…"
"What if he isn't dead, and he comes back looking for you and the baby?"
She swallowed the food and softly replied,
"Too bad there are no 'what ifs'…"
"And don't mention things that hurt me again. Shouldn't you encourage me to look forward instead?"
The beastman stared at the stone necklace hanging from her neck and said casually,
"Yes, you should look forward. So you don't care who the father is, you'll just blindly get engaged?"
Kana straightened her back and explained,
"I'm waiting for a beastman who's responsible for the tribe and truly loves me. This isn't a blind choice."
"Even if the tribe treats the child well, a child still needs a father."
"I'm very thankful you gave me food, but that doesn't mean you can keep crossing the line."
She pulled out a crystal core from her system space and handed it to him.
"This is payment for taking care of me."
The beastman still pressed her, unwilling to stop.
"He isn't even the father. What kind of father is that?"
Kana grew angry and snapped,
"I'll explain everything to him. This has nothing to do with you!"
In truth, she wasn't certain. Idris did like her, and she would be honest about the child.
If he wanted to choose another female, she wouldn't blame him.
The sky was already getting dark. She needed to hurry back to the meeting spot.
Idris might already be searching for her.
Just as she stood up to leave, the beastman grew anxious and grabbed her.
"It's about to get dark. Where are you going?"
"Let me go!" Kana pushed against him, but she was too weak. "You! You have no manners!"
"Fetus is fully matured, please prepare for delivery!"
A cold mechanical voice rang in her mind at the worst time.
Pain surged from her belly in waves.
"Ah!"
Her legs gave way, almost making her fall, but the beastman caught her just in time.
"What's wrong with you?!"
"It's my fault! I shouldn't have said those things!"
"System, next time tell me ahead of time before labor starts, don't make it so sudden."
"Okay~"
Enduring the pain, Kana leaned against the beastman and begged,
"Please put me somewhere dry, nights by the lake are freezing."
"Alright!"
The beastman immediately transformed into a huge black python, carrying her on his back as he searched his memory for a dry and safe cave.
"Delivery function activated."
The black python felt Kana's body burning hot because of childbirth.
On the way, they ran into some beasts, but after seeing the black python, those beasts were too scared to attack and quickly ran away.
They safely reached the cave.
By this time, Kana could no longer walk.
The black python coiled up tightly, making a warm, safe little nest for her.
"Detected no risk to the baby. System delivery support function activated."
"Avoiding injury during birth, assisting delivery."
The waves of pain kept coming.
The black python stared at the fragile female. He was anxious, but he didn't dare move, only guarded her silently.
Kana felt his gaze. She stretched out her trembling hand and touched his body, forcing a weak smile.
"I look so terrible… sorry."
"What's there to be sorry about? I just want you safe."
A female giving birth gave off a special scent that was dangerously attractive to beasts.
The black python fixed his eyes on the cave entrance.
As expected, several beasts of different races and sizes appeared. But the moment they saw those glowing purple eyes inside the cave, they all turned and ran away with their tails between their legs.
At last, with one final groan, Kana felt something slip out.
The system's voice sounded in her head again:
"Baby delivered."
"Race: Black Sky Python
Gender: Male
Level: 3
Talents: Poison Control, Wind Control
Attributes: Poison, Wind
Parent info: Kana, child of Black Sky Python
Grade: Superior"
But… why wasn't the baby crying?
Weakly, Kana lifted her head to check.
She saw a tiny black snake slowly wriggling by her legs, its body still wrapped in a thin layer of transparent membrane.
Kana let out a sharp cry and fainted.
"Host condition abnormal. System enforcing repair."
The black python saw she was unresponsive. He quickly changed into human form and carefully checked her condition.
He gently placed the newborn baby snake close to his body for protection.
But no matter how he called Kana, she didn't respond.
He held her tightly, pressed his hand under her nose—nothing.
Her body was growing cold.
"No…"
"It's all my fault…"
He kissed her softly, for a long time.
Then, carrying Kana, he slowly left the cave and disappeared into the night.
Days later, Yujin was wandering through the forest when he caught a familiar scent on the wind.
His heart sank. Beasts around him were rushing toward the same smell.
He carefully avoided them and followed the trail, finally reaching a steep cliff where the scent was strongest.
He stepped inside and saw a figure lying faintly in the cave.
Looking closer, his eyes widened.
"Sister!"
Overjoyed, Yujin hurried to check her. She had no injuries and seemed only to be asleep.
Since it was late at night and too dangerous to move her, he decided to wait until she woke up.
After the system forced a shutdown, Kana felt her wounds healing and her mind being restored.
"Detected: host has successfully given birth."
"Level progress +2. Current level: 12."
"Please collect the childbirth gift pack."
Even though Kana couldn't move, the system kept her consciousness safe.
"You gained 1000 points. With 300 points, you can unlock the full shop. Suggest unlocking now."
Of course, Kana didn't hesitate and chose yes.
After opening the shop, she saw all kinds of items: food, clothes, daily supplies, training methods, weapons, potions, and even the magic flower that increased pregnancy chances.
Every item required points to exchange.
One option caught her eye: Lifespan.
1 point could be exchanged for 1 day of life.
She quickly exchanged 550 days. The timer in front of her, which showed only 1 minute left, jumped up to 550 days.
So she had been on the edge of death without even knowing?
Aside from the magic flower, everything else needed points.
The system's intention was obvious—it wanted her to keep giving birth.
She then exchanged for some stamina potions and a set of clean cotton clothes.
"Remaining points: 0."
After the system healed her, she finally opened her eyes.
Outside the cave, the sky was already turning pale. From the high cave, she could see the whole forest.
She took a deep breath of fresh air, drank the stamina potion from the system, and changed into clean clothes.
She felt refreshed.
She wanted to look at her first child.
But around her, it was empty.
She remembered the moment she saw that little snake.
Did she… give birth to a snake?
And then that snake beastman appeared, saying those strange words. It was easy to imagine—
Could he be the father of the child?!
After giving birth, she couldn't stay awake, let alone care for her baby.
Maybe that beastman thought she was dead and took the child away.
She touched her stomach, her heart aching.
That was her first child. Would she ever see them again?
Suddenly, there was a noise behind the pile of rocks inside the cave.
Could it be another beast?
Kana stared nervously as a shadow appeared from behind the rocks.
"Big brother!"
The siblings hugged each other, crying.
"Little sister! You finally woke up! These past days, no matter how much I called, you wouldn't wake up." Yujin's tears kept flowing as he trembled, touching Kana's face.
"As long as you're alive, that's enough!"
He hugged her tightly again.
"Brother, I went to the tribe to find everyone, but it was empty. Where did you all go?"
"After the beast attack, we moved. For now, we've joined another mixed tribe with foxes, wolves, and maybe more tribes joining later."
Kana quickly asked,
"Idris, is he still alive? Is he in the mixed tribe too?"
Yujin scratched his head and said, "Yes, he's alive. But Faya and the chief keep forcing him to choose a female. I've been looking for you in the forest for half a month, so I don't know how he's doing now."
He glanced at his sister carefully, afraid she might get upset or worried about Idris.
But Kana didn't show much reaction.
"As long as he's alive, that's enough. As for the rest…" She lowered her eyes. "Let fate decide."
Yujin quickly comforted her, "Let's go back first. With me here, you don't have to be afraid!"
Kana looked up at this brother. Even though they hadn't known each other long, he always thought about her sincerely.
"Then let's go!"
The two of them turned into their beast forms and ran out of the cave.
This was the perfect time. Fierce beasts usually appeared at night, so daytime was much safer.
When Kana transformed, her clothes changed along with her form. It was simple, but better than being naked.
Since nothing else was happening, she opened the system store to see if there were other clothes she could change into. She wanted to be prepared.
"Open adult clothing."
A wide variety of outfits appeared. She scrolled casually, checking the points needed.
Oh wow…
1000, 1500, 2000 points…
She had to admit, even though the system charged a lot, its taste in design was impressive.
Kana stopped scrolling and went to the cheapest option.
"Flowing Flower Shadow Skirt, 300 points."
The skirt looked like nature and weaving art had merged perfectly. It was like a flower blooming in the morning light, frozen on the hem.
As expected of the system. Even the cheapest dress was well-made.
"You get a thumbs up. If only it were cheaper, it'd be perfect!"
The system ignored her.
Looking at her points, she almost felt like the system was already urging her to prepare for the next child.
By the time she came back to her senses, they had been running for a while.
Kana noticed that a white mist-like aura surrounded both her and Yujin.
"What's this?"
"My attribute is wind, so I'm good at controlling it. It helps us save strength while traveling."
The system opened Yujin's information panel:
Level: 12
Talent: Storm Slash
Attribute: Wind
"Does every beast have a talent?"
"Yes, but it's rare for females. Females themselves are already scarce, and those with talents are usually fought over by different tribes."
"Then who's the strongest female?"
"I don't know. Each tribe protects their females very carefully, especially the ones with talents."
What Yujin said was true. A talented female was valuable, but handled poorly, it could bring conflict.
She decided she could never tell anyone about her talent.
No one.
"Brother, have you heard of the Black Sky Python?"
"Of course. That's one of the most famous fierce beasts. Their family is very powerful in the forest."
"Ah, then doesn't that mean other beast tribes will suffer?"
"Haha, not really. Pythons like dark, damp places, so they usually stay deep inside the forest. They rarely come to the outer areas," Yujin explained. "Their family is also mysterious. Nobody knows if they've gone extinct."
Kana wanted to say she had just seen a big one not long ago, and it had even given birth to a little one.
Her mind drifted back to the image of that small python.
She missed him a little…
"But don't worry too much about others bullying us. We're protected by a strong one too."
"Who?"
"Yueze from the wolf tribe."
"Is he really strong? Why isn't he in the forest depths but outside?"
"He's one of the top ten fierce beasts." Yujin's eyes sparkled. "He could live in the forest depths, but he chose to stay on the outer edge to give his tribe a safer environment."
In her heart, Kana repeated softly:
Wolf tribe, Yueze.