Baby System: I'm the Beast World's Only Hope!-Chapter 325: Episode 323: Live a Long Life

The morning sun cast long, brilliant beams of light across the grand dining table of the Iron-Wood Manor, illuminating the sprawling mess of parchment, inkwells, and logistical maps scattered across the polished wood.

Roxy sat at the head of the table, her violet silk robe swapped out for a comfortable, practical woolen dress in a deep forest green. After the sheer emotional and physical exhaustion of the past few days, she finally felt her body’s full strength return to her.

Standing immediately to her right, acting as her ever-faithful, meticulous tactician, was Kaelen.

The Wolf Alpha was leaning over a calendar etched into a thick piece of cured leather, his golden eyes narrowed in focus.

"If we send the official ravens to the outer territories by noon today," Kaelen rumbled, tracing a clawed finger over the dates, "it will give the Pack and the Dragon Peaks exactly seven days to prepare their delegations. That is sufficient time for the eastern plains to gather their tribute as well, provided Regent Titus hasn’t completely collapsed from the sheer terror of your reprimand."

Roxy let out a soft, amused snort, resting her chin in her hand. "Titus will survive. He needs to learn that his pride doesn’t override common sense in my house. Seven days sounds perfect, Kae."

She picked up a sleek feather quill, twirling it thoughtfully between her fingers. "Let’s officially set the date for Tyara’s celebration party for exactly four weeks from today. That gives the hunting parties enough time to stock the cellars with fresh venison, and it gives my little tigress another week to grow into her lungs before she is subjected to a house full of loud, boisterous guests."

"Consider it done, my Queen," Kaelen nodded firmly, instantly rolling up the leather calendar to begin drafting the summons. "I will personally oversee the perimeter reinforcements. We will not have a repeat of the chaos that occurred during your pregnancy."

With the administrative duties of the Manor successfully handled, Roxy pushed herself up from the heavy wooden chair.

She had a very specific mission for the rest of the day.

With Tyara resting securely against her chest in the woven sling, Roxy made her way through the corridors of the Manor, heading directly toward the eastern wing.

As she pushed open the double doors leading to the apothecary and the adjoining snake dens, the ambient temperature of the hallway skyrocketed. The air instantly grew thick, heavy, and incredibly humid. Ren had enchanted the entire wing with highly localized, permanent heating runes to mimic the dense, suffocating warmth of a tropical jungle, preparing his territory for the rapidly approaching winter months.

Roxy wiped a bead of sweat from her brow as she stepped inside.

"Syris?" Roxy called out softly, stepping into the main living area of the den.

The elegant Snake Beastman reclined gracefully on a massive, curved chaise lounge lined with heated stones and thick velvet cushions. He was dressed in his signature flowing emerald robes, his long, silky green hair cascading flawlessly over his shoulders.

Sitting right beside him, completely engulfed in a massive, fluffy blanket near a glowing heat lamp, was Tanith.

The toddler snake-shifter was entering her pre-hibernation phase. Her periods of wakefulness were growing significantly shorter as the days grew colder outside.

Right now, she was awake, but her movements were delightfully sluggish and deeply relaxed. Her bright green eyes blinked slowly as she looked up at her mother.

"Roxy," Syris murmured, his smooth, silken voice laced with a warm, unmistakable affection. He immediately sat up, setting aside the ancient medical scroll he had been reading.

Roxy smiled, crossing the heated floorboards. She carefully unwrapped the sling, lifting the wide-awake, squirming three-day-old tiger cub from her chest.

"I have come to steal you both for the day," Roxy announced, stepping up to the chaise lounge. "I feel terrible that I have barely seen my beautiful green bean since the birth."

Before Roxy could even lean down to greet Tanith, Tyara let out a sharp, demanding squeak. The tiny cub was overheating. Tiger genetics ran incredibly hot, practically vibrating with internal, feral fire.

Being pressed against her mother’s warm chest in the humid, heavily heated eastern wing was making the fiercely impatient infant highly irritated. Her tiny fists began to flail.

Syris, noticing the cub’s rising temper, simply extended his pale, elegant hands.

"Allow me, Roxy," the Snake King offered softly.

Roxy carefully transferred the squirming bundle into Syris’s arms. The contrast between the two was utterly comical. Syris was the epitome of cold, calculated, serpentine grace, while Tyara was a tiny, furious ball of white-hot feline aggression.

But the absolute second Tyara’s flushed, overheated skin made contact with Syris’s naturally cool, cold-blooded arms, the infant completely froze.

The sharp, angry squeak died instantly in her throat. Tyara let out a long, shuddering sigh of absolute, profound relief. Her fluffy white ears drooped happily. She immediately stopped flailing and melted against the Snake King’s chest, practically plastering her chubby cheek against the cool, smooth silk of his emerald robes.

She let out a soft, rhythmic chuffing sound, entirely pacified.

Roxy covered her mouth with both hands, her shoulders shaking as she burst into a fit of bright, melodic laughter.

"Oh my gods," Roxy giggled, pointing at the fearsome, snake king of the Beastworld, who was currently being used as a literal piece of infant furniture. "Look at you, Syris! The great, terrifying Snake King, entirely reduced to a glorified ice pack."

Syris shot her a perfectly dry, elegantly unamused glare. His vertical green pupils narrowed slightly.

"I am not an ice pack, my Queen," Syris retorted smoothly, adjusting his grip to ensure the cub was perfectly supported against his forearm. "I am simply providing support. The feline runs entirely too hot. It is a biological flaw of the eastern plains."

Despite his haughty, arrogant words, the Snake Beastman’s actions completely betrayed him. Syris raised his free hand, his long, pale fingers gently and incredibly affectionately stroking the tiny, pale-silver stripes on Tyara’s fluffy white ears.

His cold-blooded heart was just as hopelessly, entirely whipped for the new baby as the rest of her mates.

Roxy chuckled, shaking her head affectionately before turning her full attention to the tiny toddler bundled under the heat lamp.

"And how is my perfect little girl doing today?" Roxy cooed, dropping to her knees beside the chaise lounge. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Tanith let out a happy, sleepy little chuckle, immediately leaning forward to wrap her small arms around Roxy’s neck. Roxy crushed the toddler to her chest, burying her face in Tanith’s dark hair, breathing in the soothing, herbal scent of the apothecary that always clung to her.

"Mama," Tanith babbled sweetly, her voice slightly muffled against Roxy’s shoulder.

Roxy pulled back just enough to look into the toddler’s large, incredibly observant green eyes. Snakes were ancient, deeply intuitive creatures. They didn’t rely on sight alone; they felt the earth’s vibrations, shifts in the magical currents, and subtle changes in the auras of those around them.

But Tanith was the larger of the snake species.

"I set the date for your new sister’s big celebration party, Tanith," Roxy said softly, brushing a stray lock of dark hair behind the toddler’s ear. "It is going to be in exactly four weeks. The whole continent is going to come and bring wonderful things. What do you want for the party, my sweet girl? Do you want Kaelen to bake those little honey-cakes you love? Or do you want Ren to make the ceiling look like a starry night?"

Tanith blinked her bright green eyes slowly. The toddler didn’t look at Syris, and she didn’t look at the sleeping tiger cub. She stared directly, piercingly, into Roxy’s green eyes.

Tanith reached out her tiny hand, pressing her small palm flat against the center of Roxy’s chest, right over her furiously beating heart.

"I wan’ Mama to be alive," Tanith babbled sweetly, her high-pitched, innocent voice slicing through the heavy, humid air of the room like a jagged shard of ice. "For a very, very long time."

The blood in Roxy’s veins instantly, completely froze.

The warm, maternal smile shattered on her face. Her breath hitched violently in her throat, her vocal cords completely paralyzing.

It wasn’t a standard, childish wish. It wasn’t a request for toys or sweets. The way Tanith said it made it feel like a terrifying premonition.

Did Tanith feel the invisible, looming shadow of the Demon God?

Did the little girl sense the silent, terrifying threat of the System that Roxy had been agonizing over entirely in secret?

Syris, completely unaware of the horrifying existential dread currently detonating inside his mate’s mind, let out a soft, elegant chuckle from the chaise lounge, entirely misinterpreting the heavy moment.

"What a sweet, devoted daughter," Syris praised lightly, still gently stroking Tyara’s ears. "Do not worry, little one. We will ensure our Queen lives for centuries."