Volume 5, Chapter 33 – Cunning

“Does Mom like a side ponytail or twin tails? Is it okay to just leave my hair down?”

Facing the gilded full-length mirror Fia had placed in the room, Tilulu, her hair down and wearing a thin nightgown, asked curiously.

From Fia’s perspective, Tilulu’s constantly swaying tail made her want to grab it. In fact, because Tilulu was wearing Fia’s nightgown, not only was it too big, but there was also no space for her tail to stick out. Thus, when Tilulu swayed her tail, the faint glimpse of her tender skin and the curve of her hips made Fia feel like she was committing a crime.

Although we’re not related by blood, she is my daughter in name…

Taking a deep breath of the cold winter air to clear her head, Fia forcefully suppressed the strange thoughts in her mind. After last night’s events, Tilulu had completely let down her guard. Although Fia wasn’t sure to what extent Tilulu thought of her as a mother, from her current behavior, on a scale of one to ten, it should be at least a four or five.

Of course, it could be higher. The reason she thought it was only a four or five was probably because she hadn’t been able to immediately switch to the role of a mother herself. Not to mention she hadn’t reached the age of adulthood for elves, and she had never raised a child before.

I’ll just try to learn from Mother Yulisha. I’ll have to announce this to Claire and the others after we go out. I’ll have to think of the right words in advance. To tell the truth is too embarrassing; it makes me want to find a hole to crawl into.

“Mom?”

Because Fia hadn’t answered for a long time, Tilulu, holding a comb, turned her head, her large purple eyes filled with confusion.

Fia quickly regained her composure.

“Ahem, just style your hair however you like it, Tilulu. I’ve already dried your clothes. Hurry up and change so you don’t catch a cold.”

“A c-cold?”

Tilulu tilted her head, her lips even forming an ‘o’ shape, clearly not knowing what ‘cold’ meant.

In the World Tree Continent, a cold should be expressed as wind chill. I forgot about that.

“It means wind chill. More importantly, Tilulu, can you please add ‘Fia’ before ‘Mom’ in the future?”

“‘Fia Mom’ like that? If Mom wishes, I have no problem… But why add your name? Isn’t that impolite?”

“Well…”

Fia hesitated for a moment. She had asked her to do so only because she didn’t have as strong an adaptability as Tilulu. It was fine in private, but if she were to be called ‘Mom’ in front of everyone, the situation would become strange and make her embarrassed.

Saying the truth would make Tilulu feel distant. Fia took only a tenth of a second to come up with her words. She put on a heartfelt smile that showed no hint of guilt.

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“Because there’s also Mom Claire. Claire is my fiancée. Since you call me Mom, you should also call her Mom. To avoid confusion, we’ll add a name in front.”

“Is that so… But will Sister Claire accept me?”

“Absolutely.”

Fia was full of confidence. Claire was a gentle and considerate woman, and Tilulu was both well-behaved and sensible. Most people disliked children simply because they were noisy, disobedient, and self-righteous. If a child was cute, obedient, and quiet, it was hard not to like them. Tilulu perfectly fit all the positive labels.

The one Tilulu should really be worried about was how to pass her father Yelido’s trial. In a few days, it would be the elf’s Saint Alexia Festival. As a princess, she would have to use teleportation magic to go back and hand out branches of the Holy Tree to the couples who came seeking a child. For safety reasons and so that her companions could spend the holiday together, she would definitely have to bring Tilulu back with her. Fia couldn’t imagine what kind of expression Yelido would have when she brought Tilulu before him and said, “Father, this is my daughter.”

It feels like it will be quite a show.

“By the way, when you taught those young Snake-folk who bullied you a lesson, did you use a skill similar to [Beastification]? I think I saw your palm get much bigger.”

“That’s right.”

Tilulu, who had combed her gray hair straight, turned around. She held out her right hand to Fia, and amidst a white mist of light that gathered in her palm from the surroundings, her hand turned into a white tiger paw, a little larger than her face. However, because the pads of the paw were a fleshy pink, and she hadn’t extended her claws, at first glance, it reminded Fia of the kinky accessories that would only appear in 18+ works.

Not good… Fia secretly glanced at Tilulu, who was holding her tiger paw up to her. If her memory was not confused, the female characters in those works who used such accessories were often young girls like Tilulu. And with the ears on her head and the cat tail standing up behind her, if her clothes weren’t so conservative, it would be a perfect portrayal.

“This is the Ancestral Spirit’s Possession. After we beastfolk are blessed by the souls of our ancestors, we can turn the human parts of our bodies into the form of our own race. Because it can strengthen our power and speed, everyone pays special attention to the Ancestral Spirit. I can only turn my hands into tiger paws. If it were my older brothers and sisters, they could achieve complete possession and turn their entire bodies into tigers.”

“I see.”

Though she made a sound of agreement, Fia’s mind was completely focused on Tilulu’s tiger paw. “Tiger paw” sounded fierce, but on Tilulu, it was no different from a large cat’s paw. Under the white fur was a pink palm, which made Fia’s heart feel an itching sensation, as if scratched by a kitten. She just wanted to go up and give it a squeeze.

“Let me see…”

She put on a serious expression and stepped forward, then bent her knees slightly and squeezed Tilulu’s fleshy pink paw pad.

It felt a bit like a hollow rubber ball, but the surface was smooth and warm to the touch. If she focused her attention on her fingertips, she could even feel the slow pulse of blood vessels under the pink sphere.

In addition, Fia also found that with a gentle squeeze of the paw pad, Tilulu’s claws would extend from between her fingers. These sharp, hooked claws were not just for show; they were quite solid. With enough force, they could shatter a door panel with one swipe.

“Ooh! Amazing…”

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Like a child with a new toy, Fia’s eyes widened as she squeezed the pink paw pads one by one.

“Mom… c-can you… stop now?”

“Hmm?”

Immersed in Tilulu’s paw, Fia looked up and saw her standing with her legs together, her face flushed with shyness. At first glance, it looked as if she were waiting for Fia to let her go so she could go to the bathroom.

If she remembered correctly, a cat’s paws were densely packed with nerves and glands and were one of the most sensitive parts of their body. Although Tilulu was not a cat-person, a tiger and a cat were not that different.

So this is her weak spot… a pity I can’t smell what it smells like.

If she continued, she would be seen as a pervert. Fia regretfully and politely removed her hand.

“Ah, sorry. I was just curious about something I don’t have.”

When she was with Estelle before, she had also been curious about what a vampire’s wings felt like.

“It’s very sensitive… when Mom touched it, I had a strange feeling…”

Don’t use such easily misunderstood wording.

Fia complained inwardly. If someone were to pass by the door right now and hear this, they would surely think she was playing some strange role-playing game with her.

She stood up and threw the clothes she had just dried with [Drying] to Tilulu.

“It’s already 7:30. You should get dressed and go out. Chazo’s army will be at the Snake-folk’s territory soon. You have to get motivated and take this opportunity to announce that you will be the queen of the Cold Night. As for the process… just imagine yourself as a real queen, then order those soldiers to obey, and leave the rest to me. Can you do that?”

“I… I’ll try my best…”

As expected, she shrinks back when things get real. Tilulu’s predictable reaction made Fia find it amusing. She turned around and affectionately patted her head.

“Even if you don’t believe in yourself, you have to believe in me. I’m going out first. Remember to close the door when you come out.”

“Okay~”

Fia wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she felt that as she walked out the door, Tilulu’s tail had hooked her wrist—or perhaps brushed against it. If the Tiger-kin had similar habits to cats, should she see this as a form of scent marking? In that case, should she lick her in return to show that she was the boss?

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A series of strange thoughts appeared in Fia’s mind—mainly fantasizing about the taste of Tilulu’s cheeks, and then trying the texture of those fluffy ears. Radiating a pink aura, Fia opened the door, and the sunlight that streamed in gave her a holy yet profane glow.

◇

Riding a horse and slowly walking on a winding mountain road, Chazo Lian, who was commanding the army north, felt extremely exhilarated. With his prominent cheekbones and deep-set eyes, he turned back and shouted to the army.

“All of you, pick up the pace! We’re leaving this mountain before dark!”

“Shh, keep your voice down. Aren’t you afraid of familiars in the sky discovering us?”

Although it was addressed to the king of a nation, the voice that reminded Chazo had no hint of reverence.

But Chazo didn’t mind. On the contrary, his eyebrows flew up triumphantly, just short of writing the word “victory” on his face.

“If there were familiars, wouldn’t you have discovered them? My eagle-knights will shoot down anything that can fly. No one can detect our movements. As for the intelligence you provided, is it reliable?”

Chazo, with a sallow complexion as if he had been drained of all energy by wine and women, lowered his head.

The thing he was talking to was not a person, but a soul stored in a gem necklace—it was more appropriate to call it a Demon General of Absolute Death.

The Demon General in the necklace whistled.

“It’s reliable for now, at least. There’s an Elf God hidden under Silvar’s Holy Tree. Now the Sovereign has released the thing hidden there. The Elf God has been sealed under the Holy Tree for tens of thousands of years, and her hatred for the Alexia family is extraordinary. She will kill all the elves. You have no need to fear them. They’re already fish on the chopping block, only able to hide in a corner and pray for a quick death from the Elf God.” ¹ aaahhh so that’s the reason… smh im so dumm… its obvious smh

“But it’s been half a month. How come I haven’t heard any news of the elves’ country falling?”

“Didn’t you also send people to confirm? That prince of Silvar launched a coup, and the Holy Tree suddenly became inaccessible. In such a chaotic situation, how could Silvar be in a good state?”

“Hmm…”

Chazo paused. He couldn’t doubt the Demon General’s words. He had saved him from danger several times. The reason he was able to become the king of the Cold Night was all thanks to his support.

Just as Fia had hidden behind Tilulu with the Cloud Moon of the Illusory Sea, he wore a necklace with the Demon General’s soul. All who challenged him would face the Demon General, and naturally, none returned. His own strength was actually only at the Third Tier. Without the Demon General, he could never have taken the throne.

As for how the two had come to cooperate, it could be said that each took what they needed. Several years ago, while destroying the Sovereign’s revival ritual, the Demon General had been beaten to within an inch of his life by Helian and had lost his body, only able to survive by storing his soul in a gem.

And Chazo had happened to obtain this necklace, and the two had reached a cooperation. The Demon General wanted him to find a suitable body, and when he was in danger, the Demon General would possess him and help him overcome difficulties. The two had become two grasshoppers on the same rope.

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It was because of this that the naturally suspicious Chazo trusted the Demon General so much. In addition, he had had several opportunities to kill him but had not, and had even pulled him back from the brink of death. It could be said that Chazo’s trust in him was even higher than his trust in his own parents and son.

He pinched his beard and smacked his lips.

“That’s true. They’re too busy with their own domestic affairs to have time for us. Most of their army is deployed to the Netherworld in the southeast and the Holy Kingdom in the west, and they have a coup in their own country, with fires everywhere. As long as we don’t actively invade them, they won’t turn their spears on us right away. If the sky falls, Alfrieg will be there to hold it up. They’re more anxious than we are.”

This was his strategy. It looked like he was uniting with the Alfrieg Kingdom to deal with Silvar, but in reality, he was declaring war without fighting, taking the opportunity to eradicate the Holy Son.

Declaring war on Silvar was just to confuse the Holy Son Faction and give him an excuse to move his troops from around the capital to the northern border. When the army was about to reach the northern border, he could suddenly change its direction and have it attack along the border to the southeast, straight for the Holy Son Faction’s main camp.

At that time, the Holy Son would surely concentrate her forces to defend against the army from the north, and the army he personally led, which had taken a long detour, could take the opportunity to strike at the heart of the enemy, breaking through the weak defenses of the Holy Son Faction from the south. With the two armies attacking from the front and back, the Holy Son Faction would be swept into history.

This strategy sounded easy, but it was actually very difficult to implement. On the one hand, he had to ensure logistical supplies without being detected by the Holy Son Faction. On the other hand, the two armies had to maintain contact and coordinate with each other. Finally, he could not let Silvar make a wrong decision and concentrate its forces on attacking him, otherwise the Cold Night would face a calamitous disaster.

If not for the help of the Demon General and his brothers, Chazo would never have made such a risky decision: declare war on Silvar without fighting, and then find a scapegoat in the Holy Son, saying that the decision for war was hers, and offer tribute for peace.

Fortunately, fate had favored him. He had the support of several Demon Generals. He was the one who would be the victor. Now all the tribes of the Cold Night knew that he and the Holy Son Faction would have a battle. Besides not having actually fought on the battlefield, they had used all the means they could for confrontation. Only a fool would let the Holy Son Faction continue to bide their time. As the dominant party, it was the wise choice to quickly nip them in the bud.

“But there’s still something I don’t understand.” As if thinking of something very important, Chazo, holding the reins, frowned deeply. “The Sovereign and the gods should be enemies. Why would he release the Elf God? And you Absolute Evils and the Sovereign have never had any dealings. How can you be so clear about his actions?”

The necklace on his chest flashed, which meant the Demon General was thinking.

“Well, I told you a long time ago. The World Tree Continent is a fragile corner among countless worlds. This world needs gods to maintain order, otherwise more and more people like the Holy Son will come from other worlds. They’ve already brought this damned thing called the Darkborn disease. Who knows if it will get worse in the future? Now that the chaos is about to break the World Tree’s barrier, reviving the gods can increase our trump cards against the chaos. It’s only beneficial for everyone.”

“You Darkborn have such magnanimity?”

As if seeing the sun rise from the west, Chazo’s tone was full of doubt.

The Demon General let out a hearty laugh.

“Haha, don’t see the Sovereign as the same as my master. As long as that guy can achieve his goal, he can easily reconcile with his old enemies. And as long as we are sufficiently pleased, it’s no big deal even if we die. As for you, my old friend, you don’t want the whole continent to fall and become food for the chaos, do you? Don’t be so scared that you tremble all over when you meet the Holy Son. I can’t afford to lose face.”

“Hmph, I am the lord of the Cold Night. A mere Holy Son is not enough to make me fear. We’ll see.”

Snorting defiantly, Chazo put down the necklace and resumed his original serious expression.