Baby System: I'm the Beast World's Only Hope!-Chapter 142: Episode : Can You Name Them?

Instead of defending himself that he could cook.

Syris just showed her. And that was when everyone had arrived and was cooked up in the living room.

What was usually a spacious, cozy living area for a family of nine (counting the triplets and Drax) had been transformed into the most densely packed power center in the Beast World.

Thanks to Roxy.

Wolves were sitting on the floor. Tigers were leaning against the walls in silk robes. Dragons were taking up massive amounts of space near the fireplace.

And in the center of it all was a table groaning under the weight of a buffet.

Roxy stared at the spread, her mouth slightly open.

She had expected Syris to make... light food due to the time he used to cook the food. Maybe some boiled eggs, some oats, perhaps a simple stew. She assumed his cooking would be bland and something she wouldn’t be able to stomach.

Because she never taught him how to cook, but she was wrong.

There was a whole roasted boar, but unlike Kaelen’s rustic style, this one was deboned and stuffed with wild herbs and dried fruits.

There were platters of root vegetables that had been cleaned thoroughly and glazed in a honey-butter. There were savory tarts, perfectly circular, filled with minced meat and spices that Roxy didn’t even know existed in the forest.

"Syris," Roxy whispered, picking up a fork. "How fast were you able to make these things? How were you able to?"

Syris stood behind her chair, wiping his hands on a towel. He looked nervous, his pale skin flushed pink.

"I usually watch you while you cook," Syris muttered, avoiding eye contact. "I am very good at learning something just by watching."

Roxy was beyond shocked; if he had such a gift, passing exams wouldn’t be a problem for him.

Roxy took a bite of the boar. It melted in her tongue. It was savory, sweet, and complex.

"Oh my god?" Roxy chewed happily. "You are fucking good, Sy!"

She turned and gave him a thumbs-up!

"Hey!" Kaelen protested from the floor, where he was chewing on a rib. "I cook better than him!"

"I prefer the snake’s cooking," Torian chimed in, delicately eating a tart. "Ten times better."

The guests were equally impressed.

Titus, the Regent of the Golden Citadel, sat with his mate, a beautiful tigress named Lena. They were eating with the refined grace of nobility, but their eyes were wide.

"This is exquisite," Titus rumbled. "The spices... are something I have never tasted before.."

"Eat up," Roxy urged from her chair (Zarek had padded it with extra pillows). "We have a lot to discuss, but we don’t talk business on an empty stomach."

The room was a who’s who of the Apex World.

From the Dragon Peaks, Zarek had brought Vorian, who sat by the hearth. His mate, Lyra, in her human form, sat beside him. She was currently distracted, trying to wrangle two small, scaly hatchlings that were crawling over Vorian’s knees like energetic lizards.

Malcor was there too. He was perched on the windowsill, looking bored and dangerous.

He was the elder who had given Roxy a hard time before, when she first arrived in this world, and now he was comfortable enough to stay in this living room and experience this meeting.

Equally, he was impressed by this ’Human Female.’

And then there was... the other one.

A dragon Roxy didn’t know. He sat in the darkest corner. He had dark red hair and eyes that looked like cooling magma. He hadn’t spoken a word. He just ate, his gaze fixed intensely on Roxy. It wasn’t a hostile stare, but it was heavy. Curious. Scary.

Roxy made a mental note to ask who he was after the meeting.

"This dwelling," Lena, the Tigress, spoke up, looking around the cabin. Her eyes lingered on the wooden windows that kept the blizzard out but let the light in. She touched the soft, plush rug beneath her feet. "It is... unusual. I have never seen a home built like this. It is warm like a nest, but structured differently."

Roxy gestured vaguely to her mates.

"I just have the ideas," Roxy beamed, playing the role of the pampered Luna. "My mates do all the hard work. Zarek provided the materials. Kaelen built the frame."

She didn’t mention the System. Which did almost all her work. In this world, her mates needed to look like gods, not construction workers hired by a magic screen.

"Impressive," Titus nodded respectfully to the Kings. "A combined effort for the Luna."

"Indeed," Syris murmured.

The praise turned to him. Lyra leaned forward. "And the food... snake prince, I did not know your kind possessed such domestic talents. It is said the Serpent Clan eats their meat raw."

"I am not of the Serpent Clan anymore," Syris said stiffly.

"He’s better," Roxy interjected, reaching back to grab Syris’s hand. She pulled him slightly forward. "He’s a genius. And he’s shy, so stop staring at him."

The room chuckled. Syris turned a deep shade of crimson and practically hid behind Roxy’s chair, glaring at the floor while clutching her hand like a lifeline.

Cute!

As the plates were cleared, mostly by Kaelen and the wolves licking them clean, everyone went into work mode.

Roxy straightened up. She signaled Zarek.

Zarek placed a heavy wooden box on the table. He opened it. Inside were stacks of the new gold coins.

"The gold coins," Roxy announced.

Titus leaned forward. Malcor hopped down from the windowsill. Even the red-haired dragon in the corner shifted closer.

"We have tested it," Roxy began, her voice taking on her serious tone. "Yesterday, the Iron-Wood pack traded their entire surplus storehouse for these coins. Laborers are working hard to earn this gold coin. Building something we call ’Economy.’"

She looked at Titus.

"Regent, the Citadel has gold. If you partner with us, we will mint your raw gold into coins. You keep the wealth, but in a form that is easy to transport. Your merchants can travel light."

Titus picked up a coin, inspecting the Tiger paw print on the back. "Standardized weight," he noted. "Easier than weighing dust."

"Exactly," Torian nodded. "We become the central bank. But the currency flows everywhere."

Roxy turned to the Dragons.

"Malcor, Vorian. Dragons breathe fire, so it would be better if you partner with us to melt the gold, so that more of the process of making the coin could be easier."

Malcor snorted. "I see no problem in doing that!"

The discussion went on for an hour. Logistics. Supply chains. Security protocols. It was complex, but with Roxy’s modern knowledge simplified for them, it made sense. They were building a triad of power: Tiger Gold, Dragon Breath, Wolf Labor.

By the time the sun began to dip, the agreement was struck. They wouldn’t force the other tribes; they would simply out-buy them.

"It is settled," Titus declared, standing up. "Everything would be perfect."

"The Peaks agree," Vorian rumbled.

The tension in the room broke. Roxy slumped back in her chair, exhausted but happy. They had done it.

"Before we depart," Lyra said softly.

The Wind Dragon stood up. She was holding her three hatchlings. They were about the size of house cats, covered in shimmering scales, one dark red, the others black.

They chirped, wrestling in her arms.

"I have heard," Lyra began, looking a bit nervous, "that you named the Wolf Mother’s pups."

Roxy blinked, looking over at Mara, who was beaming in the corner. "Oh. Yes. Hati, Skoll, Karhu, and Reika."

"They are strong names," Lyra said. "Ancient names."

She stepped closer to Roxy. The room went quiet. Dragons were proud creatures. They usually named their own.

"These two," Lyra gestured to her babies. "They hatched three moons ago. But... the names do not come to us. Vorian wants to name them after rocks. I do not want my daughter named ’Granite’."

Vorian grunted, looking offended. "Granite is a strong rock."

Lyra ignored him. She looked at Roxy with hopeful, violet eyes.

She held the hatchlings out.

"Would you name them?"

Roxy froze.

"Me?" she squeaked, pointing at herself. She would never get used to it.

What’s with all these female beasts wanting me to name their children?

"Please," Lyra insisted. "The Wolf names carry power. We can feel it. Name them."

Roxy looked at the babies. They were looking at her with intelligent, reptilian eyes. Zarek nudged her gently toward Lyra.

"Do not hide your light, Roxy. Look at them and tell us who they are."