Baby System: I'm the Beast World's Only Hope!-Chapter 75: Episode : The Useful Snake.

The sound of wood splitting echoed through the clearing like gunshot blasts.

Kaelen stood by the woodpile, shirtless, his skin glistening with sweat despite the cool morning air. He was chopping wood as if each log were a personal enemy, specifically a scaly enemy.

That looked like Zarek.

Why do they always want every inch of Roxy?

A few yards away, Zarek was engaging in his own display of aggressive masculinity. The Dragon King was carrying entire tree trunks, unprocessed, massive Iron-Wood logs, on one shoulder, stacking them to reinforce the perimeter fence.

He wasn’t using magic. He was using brute strength, his muscles rippling under his black tunic, ensuring that everyone, specifically Roxy, could see exactly how strong a real King was.

Roxy watched from the nursery window, rocking a fussy Iris in her arms.

The boys were already asleep, ignoring their sister’s whine and crying.

"They are ridiculous," she whispered to the baby. "As if they are having a contest. And the prize is... who can ignore the snake the hardest?"

On the porch, wrapped in his wool blanket like a grumpy burrito, sat Syris.

He was the audience for this theatrical display of strength. He sipped his tea, watching Kaelen obliterate a log with a bored expression.

"Inefficient," Syris murmured loud enough for Kaelen to hear.

Kaelen froze. He turned slowly, the axe gripping tight in his hand.

"Do you want to show me how it is done, worm?" Kaelen growled. "Oh, wait. You can’t lift the axe. You might break a nail."

"I conserve my strength," Syris replied smoothly. "For things that matter. Like thinking."

Zarek dropped a log with a ground-shaking thud. "You conserve strength because you have none. You are a decorative belt, nothing more."

Roxy sighed, turning away from the window. "Boys," she groaned.

She looked down at Iris. The baby girl was red-faced, her little fists clenched. She was hot to the touch, teething fever. She had been crying on and off for an hour, a high-pitched, piercing wail that grated on Roxy’s last nerve.

This was pissing her off.

She was angry, nervous, and at hair end at what to do. Her babies were easier to take care of when they were just born, but the more they grew up, the more she saw the reason why some women don’t bother giving birth.

"Shh, baby girl," Roxy cooed, bouncing her. "Mama’s here. Please stop. My ears are bleeding."

In the living room, Drax was bored.

He had watched his dads lift heavy things for twenty minutes. It was cool at first, but now it’s repetitive. He wanted to play. He waddled to the door, intending to go outside, but he stopped at the porch.

The Snake Man was there. Drax liked the Snake Man. He was shiny. And he gave good rocks.

Drax walked up to Syris and tugged on the edge of the blanket.

"Snake!" Drax demanded. "Up!"

Syris looked down. The toddler dragon was staring at him with expectant golden eyes.

"I am not a tree you can climb, pest," Syris muttered.

"Up!" Drax insisted, raising his arms. "Fly!"

Syris glanced at the yard. Zarek and Kaelen were too busy glaring at each other to notice the child.

Syris sighed. He set his tea down.

"Fine," he whispered. "But do not vomit on me."

From beneath the blanket, the emerald tail emerged. It uncoiled slowly, mesmerizing Drax.

Syris didn’t lift the boy with his hands. He used the tip of the tail and curled it around Drax’s waist gently but securely enough.

"Hold on," Syris commanded.

He lifted his tail.

Drax squealed in delight as he was hoisted into the air. Syris didn’t just hold him there; he began to sway the tail back and forth, creating a gentle, rhythmic swing.

"Weee!" Drax laughed, kicking his legs.

Syris smirked; he was actually enjoying this.

Drax clapped. "More!"

In the yard, the chopping stopped.

Kaelen leaned on his axe, wiping sweat from his brow. "Is he... is he using his tail as a swing?"

Zarek narrowed his eyes. "Mhm."

"The heir looks happy," Kaelen noted grudgingly. "Drax usually sets fire to things when he is bored."

"Hmph," Zarek grunted, picking up another log. "He is merely making himself a servant. It suits him."

But the disdain in Zarek’s voice lacked its usual heat. He watched his son laughing, safe in the coil of the Serpent, and the primal urge to incinerate Syris dimmed just a fraction.

Inside the cabin, the situation was not in favor of Roxy. Iris was screaming. Full volume. Usually, she was quiet, but today, she was a full menace, and Roxy didn’t know what to do.

"Wahhhhh!"

Roxy paced the floor, exhausted. "Okay, okay, I tried milk. I tried the diaper. I tried the pacifier. What do you want, you tiny tyrant?"

[TheMotheroftheWorld suggested that you sing.]

I fucking tried doing that, but she is in pain, and I don’t know how to appease her. I have tried everything, but nothing is working?!

System, do something?!

[Access Denied.]

Roxy was at the point of pulling her hair out. Just when she wanted to curse out, the door to the nursery opened.

Syris slid inside, closing the door behind him to block the noise from the yard. He had deposited a happy Drax on the rug with his magic stones and moved toward the source of the distress.

"She is loud," Syris observed, wincing slightly. "Like a siren."

"She’s teething," Roxy snapped, not in the mood for criticism. "She has a fever. Nothing is working. Go away, Syris. I don’t need an audience."

Syris didn’t leave. He moved closer. Standing right beside Roxy.

"Give her to me," he said.

Roxy stopped pacing. She looked at him like he was insane. "Excuse me? You? You’ve never held a baby in your life. You held Drax upside down yesterday!"

"I learned," Syris said simply. "And... I am cold."

Roxy blinked. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"She is hot," Syris explained, gesturing to the red-faced infant. "Fever heat. I will soothe her heat with my cool body."

He held out his arms.

Roxy hesitated. Her maternal instinct screamed to protect the baby from the predator. But the [Mother of Civilization] trait whispered that the Serpent was part of the circle.

She should give him a chance.

And honestly, her arms were numb.

"If you drop her," Roxy warned, her voice trembling, "Zarek will peel you. And I will help him."

"I will not drop the hatchling," Syris promised.

Roxy carefully transferred the screaming bundle to him.

Syris took Iris and cradled her against his chest, his arms forming a secure basket.

The effect was instantaneous.

Iris let out one last sob before she went silent. Her flushed cheek pressed against the cool, smooth skin of Syris’s chest; he was wearing a low-cut tunic Roxy had found for him. The heat radiated off her and into him.

She babbled in content, sniffling.

For Syris, it was heaven. The fever heat warmed his core. For Iris, it was a relief. The coolness soothed her inflamed gums and hot skin.

She stopped crying. She blinked up at him with teary violet eyes. Syris looked down at her. His expression softened, losing its usual arrogant edge.

His heart was racing with the thought of having a hatchling like Iris with Roxy.

He didn’t know why or how, but he started humming.

A low, vibrating thrum deep in his chest, a sound that his own mother used for her hatchlings. It was a frequency that resonated with the bones, calming the nervous system.

Iris’s eyes drooped. Her little hand reached up and patted Syris’s chin.

"Sleep, little one," Syris murmured.

Within seconds, she was out. Roxy stood there, her mouth slightly open, staring. Damn, he was more efficient than I thought!

The cabin was silent.

"How..." Roxy whispered. "I spent an hour walking her. You held her for thirty seconds."

"You and her are warm, that’s why she felt pain," Syris said smugly, looking at the sleeping baby. "I take her pain. She gives me warmth. She is as warm as her mother."

Roxy’s cheek flamed hot, and she found her heart racing.

The front door opened.

Zarek and Kaelen walked in, smelling of sweat, woodchips, and testosterone. They were ready to be the heroes. They had heard the screaming stop and assumed Roxy needed them.

"Roxy, we heard—" Kaelen started.

He stopped.

Zarek stopped behind him.

They stared at the scene.

Roxy was leaning against the table, looking relieved.

And Syris, the enemy, the parasite, the worm, was standing in the middle of the room, holding the delicate, sleeping form of their daughter. He looked... different.

It wasn’t just that Syris was useful. It wasn’t just that he was handsome. It was that he filled a gap. He brought the cool to their heat. He brought calm to their chaos.

Her heart expanded. It hurt, but it was a good hurt.

Zarek cleared his throat, the sound loud in the quiet room. He looked at Syris, his golden eyes searching for any sign of threat. He found none. He saw only his daughter sleeping peacefully.

"She sleeps?" Zarek asked gruffly.

"She sleeps," Syris confirmed, keeping his voice low.

"Good," Kaelen muttered, though he looked conflicted. "Put her in the crib. Before you freeze her."

Syris moved to the crib and laid Iris down with surprising gentleness. He tucked the blanket around her.

When he stood up, he looked at Roxy.

She took a deep breath, smoothing her apron as she stood up and stared at them.

"Go wash up," Roxy said to Zarek and Kaelen. "Both of you. You smell like a locker room."

"And then," Roxy said, her voice steady, "meet me by the fire. All of you."

She looked pointedly at Syris.

"We need to have that talk. Now."

And I am hoping this time, it all clicks in for them.