Chapter 114: The East Mausoleum of Heroes and the Nocturnal Bird! Little Raven: A Bird's Dignity Must Not Be Violated!

Silence.

Deathly stillness.

The entire room fell into a hushed silence.

East Mausoleum, cemetery… These two words, when paired together, instantly conjured a series of images in everyone's minds.

"Hiss—my whole body is covered in goosebumps.",June said while rubbing her arms, shivering as she clung to Ivy.

Aria also moved a little closer to her sister.

Left alone, Matilda glanced left and right, then sneakily shuffled toward Asher.

Hmm.

Mainly because that big bird of Professor Asher's looked like it could ward off evil spirits.

Felter remained standing still, but if one looked closely, they would see his gaze had already gone blank. Vicky and Scar weren't any better off either; their overly vivid imaginations made their facial expressions shift unpredictably.

Dexter stood still as well, but beside him, his War Blood Lion King was already itching to go.

What?

A cemetery?

A small case.

It, the Lion King, for the sake of its beloved cat, feared no hardship and charged forward with unwavering determination.

If it weren't for not knowing the way, plus Dexter firmly grabbing its tail, the War Blood Lion King would have already bolted out.

Daryll, seeing everyone's hair standing on end, quickly said, "The East Mausoleum is indeed a cemetery, but it's not what you imagine… Let's not even talk about whether ghosts exist or not—if there really were ghosts in the East Mausoleum, they wouldn't be doing something like this."

Everyone turned to Daryll with a hint of doubt.

Such certainty?

The senior students from Flood Dragon University nodded repeatedly.

"Don't let it scare you. The East Mausoleum isn't just any cemetery—the ones buried there are all Beastmasters who sacrificed themselves resisting the beast tides."

"Yeah! Most of them had no families. The East Mausoleum is their place of rest and a testament to their memory."

"That egg thief… I don't know what's going on with that, but even if there are ghosts in the East Mausoleum, they would never be bad ones."

"Our school has some seniors buried there too…"

Their voices grew softer and softer.

The others, who had been trembling with fear, saw their own expressions of terror gradually fade away.

Ah…

"There really isn't anything to be afraid of.",Asher nodded and said.

A sacred resting place for fallen heroes—what's there to fear?

"Based on the clues we have so far… Did anyone record the appearance of that beast just now?",Asher continued, "The area nearby—what beasts originally inhabited it? Which ones had the highest potential for evolution?"

In fact, after seeing that beast's form, Asher already had some thoughts.

"The creatures living there are all flying-type pets—various bird species and feathered beasts… Since it's a new evolutionary form, quite a few species could have evolved.",Daryll quickly flipped through his data, his expression troubled,"Those that operate as nocturnal groups include Dust Bats and Feather-Eared Night Owls. Diurnal species include Four-Winged White Throats and Azure Spirit Birds. There are also scattered bird species and other flying-type beasts…"

Daryll listed them one by one.

They all seemed possible, yet none were certain.

"Mm…?",As she listened, a female Beastmaster from Flood Dragon University suddenly showed a hesitant expression.

Her classmate beside her noticed immediately,"Sister Sasha, is something off?"

The two of them moved slightly, attracting the attention of the entire room. Daryll stopped speaking and looked at them.

Asher also turned his gaze over.

"Did you discover something?",Daryll asked the female student who first showed an unusual reaction.

"Weaving Bird… Professor Daryll, you just mentioned that this beast was also in that area, right?",Sasha tugged at the ends of her medium-length hair, clicking her tongue with a conflicted expression.

Daryll was momentarily stunned, then nodded,"Yes, there's a Weaving Bird in that area."

"Are you suspecting that the beast from earlier has something to do with the Weaving Bird?",Daryll asked, already reaching to pull up its data.

Flood Dragon University's beast park was vast, housing numerous extraordinary species. Finding one at random was like searching for a needle in a haystack. However, if they pinpointed a specific creature, they could retrieve its records and history from the university's database.

Weaving Bird—a flying and fairy-attribute beast.

It was a small, round, plump, and somewhat cute beast, roughly the size of a basketball.

Looking at the photo of the adorable Weaving Bird on Daryll's screen, then recalling the brief glimpse of the egg thief from before…

Everyone found it hard to connect the two.

"If this Weaving Bird is the one I know, then it might indeed be related to this matter.",Sasha said.

"Could you elaborate?" Asher looked at this composed, twenty-something senior. "What's special about the Weaving Bird you know?"

Asher's tone was gentle, free of any aggressiveness.

Sasha glanced at him, then reached into her pocket and pulled out a box of mint cigarettes. She quickly realized the setting wasn't appropriate for smoking, so she leaned back against the console table, hands supporting her weight.

"The Weaving Bird I know belonged to a senior from two years ahead of me—a battle-oriented Beastmaster."

No one interrupted Sasha.

A senior's pet appearing in a publicly contractible park… Judging by Sasha's demeanor, she wasn't someone who would abandon a pet.

"In the beast tide battle two and a half years ago, that senior perished. Most of her pets died with her. The only survivor… was the weakest one—the Weaving Bird."

The room fell silent again.

But this was different from the eerie silence from before.

This time… no one knew what to say.

There were no tears.

Yet an inexplicable heaviness filled the air.

"Carol Scott, a Tier-3 Beastmaster from Flood Dragon University's battle department, had been accepted into the Central Region's Advanced Beastmaster Academy. In the battle against the beast tide two and a half years ago, she sacrificed herself protecting civilians. Her Tier-6 Flame Dragon, Tier-5 Violent Bear, Tier-5 Steel Armored Beast, and Tier-5 Water Dragonfly all perished in battle. Only a Tier-4 Weaving Bird survived.",Daryll read the record in an even tone.

A few short lines.

Yet they seemed to hold echoes of past battles.

"After confirming through university protocols that the Weaving Bird had no malicious intent, it was ultimately placed in the university's park."

"Its Beastmaster, Carol, was buried in the East Mausoleum.",Asher stated with certainty.

Sasha nodded. "Yes."

"Birds and the East Mausoleum… When I heard the Weaving Bird's name, I instinctively connected the dots.",Sasha sighed, rubbing her forehead,"I haven't checked on that Weaving Bird in a long time."

"I visited it a few times after it was placed in the park… but it wasn't doing well.",She shrugged,"Losing its Beastmaster and companions… understandable, right?"

No one could argue otherwise.

Suddenly losing its lifelong partner and companions, being the only one left behind…

No one knew exactly how the Weaving Bird felt. But if they imagined themselves in its place… It wouldn't have been easy.

"If it suddenly evolved or awakened… it wouldn't be impossible, right?"

That made sense.

"But no matter what, stealing pet beast eggs and other people's pet beasts is not something that can be understood.",As soon as Asher said this, everyone was stunned for a moment, then nodded.

Yeah.

Sadness is sadness, grief is grief, but after evolving, why would you steal pet beast eggs and pet beasts?

"Let's go to East Mausoleum.",Asher decisively made the decision.

Daryll naturally wouldn't stop him, but it wasn't realistic for so many people to go. In the end, the only ones going were June, Ivy, and Vicky, who came with Asher, plus Daryll.

Although Felter and Matilda were itching to go, they also knew that this was not the time for them to cause trouble—there was simply no need for so many people.

In the end, they could only sigh at Asher—sigh! Why weren't they Asher's close buddies? If they were, they could cling to his thigh right now.

Then… the shameless one appeared.

"Awooo—roar—" The War Blood Lion King rubbed its claws and suddenly jumped out.

'Take the lion! Take the lion!'

'The lion wants to go too!'

The others, who had no idea that the War Blood Lion King had fallen in love at first sight with the Cat-Worm, instantly turned their shocked gazes to Dexter, as if to say: 'We never expected you to be like this, Dexter.'

Dexter, suddenly forced into a socially fatal moment: "…"

Like a thorn in his back.

Like sitting on pins and needles.

Even when he became the runner-up and was being watched, the attention had never been as scorching and unbearable as this moment.

Dexter reached out toward the War Blood Lion King, as if trying to stop it.

Before he could act, Little Raven made a move first.

Little Raven: (`へ*)ノ

'So annoying!'

'Shut up, do you understand?:

'Don't understand? The bird will make you understand!'

Little Raven attacked decisively.

With a single wing strike, it directly sent the War Blood Lion King flying over ten meters away.

Knocked out!

War Blood Lion King—KO.

Instantly, the room fell into a strange atmosphere.

Everyone frantically exchanged looks with each other.

'Did you see that? A single wing! Just one wing!'

'Goodness! It didn't even show its true power in the finals. This is Little Raven's real strength!'

'Is this something a normal person could train a pet beast to do? I'm convinced, I truly am, I concede defeat.'

A group of people winked and twitched their eyelids as if they were about to have spasms.

Asher glanced at them, then withdrew his gaze, pretending not to see their silent communication—none of that was the main point.

"Little Raven, stop fighting.",Asher beckoned to the furious Little Raven. Only then did Little Raven give up on chasing down the War Blood Lion King for a further beating, landing on Asher's arm, still puffed up and fuming.

Little Raven: ╭(╯^╰)╮

The bird's little brother was gone, and that dumb lion was still flexing its muscles?

Give it a beating!

Asher chuckled and patted the silly feather on top of Little Raven's head, feeling both exasperated and gratified.

Sigh.

Big baby has grown up.

Unlike Asher, who knew that the Cat-Worm was most likely fine and even seemed to be quite happy, from Little Raven's perspective, its little brother had been taken away right in front of it.

Don't be fooled by how Little Raven always competes with the Cat-Worm for attention and acts like it finds it annoying.

But.

Little Raven: 'Only the bird can bully the bird's little brother! If anyone else bullies it?'

'Prepare to die!'

Ahem.

In short, with the War Blood Lion King's miserable state as a lesson, everyone else quietly settled down.

"Um…",After hesitating for a long time, Sasha still stepped forward,"Can you take me with you? If that beast really is Senior Sister's Weaving Bird… maybe I can help you communicate with it."

"It still remembers my words."

SWISH, SWISH, SWISH—

Everyone looked at Sasha as if she were a brave warrior.

Brave Warrior Sasha: "…"

Asher: "Then let's go together."

———

East Mausoleum.

The distance from Flood Dragon University to East Mausoleum was quite far, and the closer they got, the quieter it became. Human presence also gradually became sparse.

No luxurious decorations.

No grand publicity.

East Mausoleum stood there quietly yet firmly at the city's edge. From a distance, one could see the city walls, and with a higher vantage point, one could see the vast Forbidden Zone beyond.

"Isn't this location a bit bad?",Facing East Mausoleum, June's voice unconsciously softened,"It seems like it'd be hard for people to visit their graves, plus the city wall isn't far away…"

"No, this location is just right.",Daryll smiled at her words,"East Mausoleum's site was chosen by the Beast Masters of Star City together, so that in death, they could still see wave after wave of beast tides being wiped out from the front lines."

"They also thought that if souls exist after death, they could bless and protect the new generation of Beast Masters on the front lines, ensuring their safe return."

June instantly fell silent.

Asher also turned to look outside at the rows upon rows of white tombstones.

One after another.

There was no eerie gloom like a graveyard; instead, it carried an indescribable sense of security—almost as if they were still guarding the city even in death, resisting the beast tide's invasion.

Noticing Asher and the others' gazes, Daryll's voice was calm, with a trace of helplessness,"With technological advancement and deeper research into beasts, in the past century, the number of Beast Masters sacrificed in beast tides has been decreasing."

"But every beast tide is still a battle, and where there's battle, there's sacrifice. No matter how few, if it falls upon an individual, then it's death arriving."

"Carol was an excellent student… sigh." Daryll shook his head.

"The beast tide two and a half years ago… I don't remember hearing about it at all.",Ivy blinked, her gaze carrying some confusion.

Daryll chuckled again,"Star City is a special city. Beast tide attacks happen far more frequently here than in other cities, and the battles are much fiercer."

"As long as it's not a massive beast tide, they don't announce the frequent small- and medium-sized beast tides to the public—there's no need to cause unnecessary panic in other cities."

For Beast Masters and ordinary people in Star City, it's commonplace.

They have the fastest response speed and the best emergency measures.

As the capital, the city's technology, economy, and all other aspects far surpass other cities and provinces. The country provides heavy support in policies—there's a reason for that.

"Professor Asher, I'm not saying the Pet Beast Evolution major is bad, but studying this is such a waste of your talent.",As he spoke, Daryll looked at Asher with regret,"If you were in the combat department—"

"Mr. Daryll, everyone has their own choices.",Sasha interrupted before Asher could speak,"Besides, isn't the Pet Beast Evolution major great too? Who knows, Professor Asher might become the leading expert in this field in the future."

Daryll coughed twice, showing an embarrassed expression.

Asher was curious—if he were in the combat department… what would that be like?

Before he could ask, the car stopped at East Mausoleum's entrance, and Asher temporarily set aside his doubts as the group got out and walked into East Mausoleum.

Through the gate.

Up the steps.

The path in the middle wasn't very wide. On both sides stood rows upon rows of tombstones, their colors faded to yellow from years of exposure to wind and sun.

The first few rows—dozens of rows—were densely packed, with similar levels of wear and tear, suggesting they belonged to the same period.

There were no photos.

Only simple inscriptions marking their birth and death dates, their names, and their beast companions' names. Behind the tombstones, a few lines of engraved text recounted their past.

Asher studied them carefully. Most of these tombstones dated back five or six hundred years.

Back then, both Jade Dragon and Flood Dragon had just been established.

As they moved forward, the road gradually widened. The tombstones became more refined, now featuring photos that transitioned from black and white to color.

The time markers also progressed from four hundred years ago to the more recent past.

"The earliest East Mausoleum was built bit by bit by the ordinary people of this city after the beast tide subsided. It was a spontaneous, voluntary effort.",Daryll explained as he led Asher and the others onward. He noticed Asher observing the tombstones on both sides and continued,"The inscriptions and the text on the tombstones were carved by the civilians who were saved—or by the fallen beastmasters' companions."

"It wasn't until later that East Mausoleum was officially incorporated into the Beastmaster Alliance's management."

"Without disrupting the original tombstones or the sentiments of the people, the Alliance constructed the later sections while also including the earlier ones in regular maintenance."

"Every time a beast tide approaches, before the battle begins, the beastmasters of Star City voluntarily come to East Mausoleum to pay their respects."

The souls of our ancestors bless us.

We fight bravely to slay our enemies.

If we return safely, that is best.

If we do not return safely… then, in the future, we shall always be together.

With each step, their hearts grew heavier. Even Asher couldn't help but let out a quiet sigh.

'Sigh!'

Perhaps this world didn't have the historical wounds of his own nation, but it bore pain of another kind—pain that still hadn't ended, an unceasing battle that had lasted through the years.

Finally.

They arrived at the more recent tombstones.

Compared to most of the ones before, these were newer, with brighter and more vivid photos.

Some lively young people had even prepared their own epitaphs in advance:

[Bye-bye, I died first!]

[Princess, get up.]

[If you can read this, you're standing too close to me. That's way too intimate. Tui tui tui!]

[This epitaph is only visible for three days.]

[Thanks for visiting. If I have time, I'll visit you too.]

"Pfft—"

At first, they couldn't hold back their laughter, but their expressions soon turned sorrowful.

These playful and humorous words only made it clearer—they were young. They had young souls and young lives. If they were still alive, they should have had wonderful futures ahead of them, not lying cold beneath these tombstones.

"This is really…",Ivy looked conflicted, hesitant to speak,"Weren't they afraid when facing the beast tide? Did they not think about the possibility of dying?"

What she really wanted to ask was… did these beastmasters never regret it?

"When facing the real threat of death, claiming to feel no fear would obviously be a lie.",Daryll smiled slightly, catching the meaning behind Ivy's words,"We don't force any beastmaster to step onto the front lines against the beast tide."

"Logistics, support—there are plenty of roles for beastmasters besides fighting on the front lines. And they're much safer."

"Even those who are about to head into battle have the option to regret their decision and run away. Life only comes once. How someone chooses to live is up to them."

"But…",Daryll paused,"Every time a beast tide comes, the number of beastmasters who voluntarily go to the front lines never decreases. The number of those who run away is so small, you could count them on one hand."

Sasha, who had been listening, snorted.

"Run away? What kind of coward does that?"

"I wouldn't be able to live that down."

Daryll chuckled.

Asher exhaled slowly.

The atmosphere was getting so heavy… As long as that egg thief didn't do anything too outrageous, Asher figured he might be able to let it go.

Yes.

The closer he got to East Mausoleum, the clearer his connection to Cat-Worm became. He was certain—it was here.

The solemnity of East Mausoleum, the legacy of those who came before—it was enough to command deep respect, to move one to tears.

But…

That was only if Asher couldn't feel Cat-Worm's excited, wildly thumping heartbeat, as if it were about to burst out of its skin.

Asher: "…"

Suspicious.

Very suspicious.

Just what the hell was Cat-Worm doing?

As they walked, the group suddenly came to a halt.

"Is that… Senior Carol's tombstone?"

None of them had ever been to East Mausoleum before, nor had they been told where Carol's tombstone was located.

And yet, at a glance, they were certain—that had to be it.

Because right in front of the tombstone, a massive, pitch-black figure was curled up.

Curled into a ball, it looked heavy.

"That's the beast."

"It's the senior's Weaving Bird."

Daryll and Sasha spoke at the same time.

Sasha stepped forward,"I don't know what state Weaving Bird is in right now. I'll try approaching and see if I can communicate with it."

Daryll hesitated, then looked at the group behind him—a bunch of high schoolers.

Except for Asher, none of them had even received their university acceptance letters yet.

Who knew how the evolved Weaving Bird's mindset had changed?

Would it suddenly go berserk?

"Be careful," Daryll warned. "Summon your beast, just in case."

After a brief moment of hesitation, Sasha summoned her own avian beast—Screeching Bird,"Senior helped me form a contract with Screeching Bird. Weaving Bird knows it. I'll go now."

With that, Sasha cautiously approached the evolved, now eerily menacing Weaving Bird.

"Wavy." Sasha stopped two meters away, calling its name—the name given by Senior Carol.

The massive creature on the ground stirred at the familiar name. Its wings remained wrapped protectively around two eggs and a beast, but it lifted its head, turning toward the voice.

Its golden-gray eyes gleamed with an eerie wariness. Its sharp beak no longer held any of the former Weaving Bird's cuteness.

"Chiro—Chirp—"

It flapped its wings but didn't attack. It was warning Sasha—'stay back.'

Sasha instinctively took a step back, then attempted to move forward.

"Chirp—Chirp—"

A gray whirlwind shot toward her.

Sasha: "Shield!"

She quickly retreated, not daring to advance again.

Screeching Bird deflected the attack with a shield, then swiftly returned to Sasha's side.

"This…",Daryll frowned,"Did it recognize you or not?"

"And attacking just because someone got close…?",The Weaving Bird's safety had to be reassessed. It might not be allowed to live.

Unlike other cities—

Star City didn't release dangerous beasts back into forbidden zones.

If stable, they were placed in designated reserves.

If unstable, they were killed.

"Teacher Daryll, the Weaving Bird didn't do it on purpose.",Sasha hurriedly interrupted Daryll's words,"I suspect... I suspect... suspect..."

After struggling for a long time, Sasha finally squeezed out a sentence,"Yes, yes, yes! I suspect the Weaving Bird was attacking anyone who approached because it was protecting the beast eggs in its arms."

"This is a biological instinct to protect its offspring."

Daryll: "..."

Daryll: 'Go on, keep making things up. Let's see if I believe you or not.'

"Don't even mention that those two beast eggs aren't even the Weaving Bird's. Even if they were, beasts rarely exhibit maternal instincts or protective behavior towards offspring," Daryll said with a face full of skepticism.

He wasn't just making this up.

Most beasts, especially wild ones—

It's already hard enough for them to survive in the wild, let alone protect their young?

In a safe environment, they might still show a bit of maternal love.

But if there's danger?

If they're attacked?

They drop their young and run. If they manage to escape safely, they might come back to check later. That's already considered very maternal.

Some are even worse—they just kick the eggs out and flee without looking back.

Lost the eggs?

No problem, just lay more.

Some beasts have driven themselves to near extinction this way.

As for those that do protect their young... They exist, but not many. And even then, they only protect their own biological offspring.

What kind of beast protects eggs that were snatched away and aren't even their own?

Sasha: "..."

She couldn't keep making things up—she really couldn't.

But to just stand by and watch as Senior Carol's last beast die?Sasha couldn't do it.

"Professor Asher, have you noticed anything?",A thought flashed through Sasha's mind. Remembering that Asher was a professor of beast evolution, she turned to him for help.

If Asher could say a few words—if he truly discovered something and had evidence—then the Weaving Bird might not have to face death.

Thinking about this, Sasha felt a bit guilty.

After all, it was the Weaving Bird that wronged Asher first, yet she was still hoping he would speak on its behalf...

"I know you want to save the Weaving Bird, but Professor Asher is a person, not a machine. He can't just look at it once and—" Daryll hadn't finished his sarcastic remark when Asher suddenly interrupted him.

"Hmm... I think Sasha has a point."

At that moment, Asher spoke. "The evolved form of the Weaving Bird does seem to be protecting those three... two beast eggs."

SWISH, SWISH, SWISH—

Instantly, several pairs of eyes turned to Asher.

Unlike Sasha—

Sasha had a motive to protect the Weaving Bird and might have been making things up.

But Asher?

He had no reason to do that.

The evolved Weaving Bird had stolen the beast eggs Asher was supposed to be rewarded with, then snatched away Asher's beast. Saying they had a grudge was an understatement.

And yet, Asher was stepping forward to defend the Weaving Bird's evolved form…

"Don't look at me like that. I'm not just saying this randomly—I actually saw and heard something."

Facing the stares of June, Ivy, Vicky, Daryll, and Sasha, Asher smiled slightly and explained.

When Sasha approached the Weaving Bird—

Asher activated his talent skills.

[Eye of Insight]

[Gift of Understanding]

Activated!

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

[Beast: Night-Wandering Bird]

[Attribute: Dark + Fairy]

[Species: Mid-tier High-grade+]

[Level: Sixth-tier High]

[Skills: Peck, Ghostly Bird Cry… Night Roam]

[Successfully Evolved]*

[Bloodline Awakening: 50%]

[Innate Talent: Nurturing Offspring]

[Nurturing Offspring: This bloodline talent allows the Night-Wandering Bird to have a special sensitivity toward all unborn or soon-to-be-hatched beast eggs, enabling it to adjust their state and optimize their potential in the shortest time (Incomplete development, can evolve further).]

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Night-Wandering Bird...

Asher was momentarily stunned before he recalled a name from the depths of his memory—one that was more widely known but now only he seemed to recognize.

Gu Huo Bird.

In the ancient texts of his homeland, there was a record:

Celestial Maiden of the Emperor, Night-Wandering Bird, Gu Huo Bird[1].

Three names, referring to the same legendary creature.

And then Asher noticed—

More than once, some beasts in this world corresponded with myths he knew.

For example, Little Raven's evolution path—the Three-legged Golden Crow.

And now, this evolved Weaving Bird—Night-Wandering Bird.

Coincidence?

At first, Asher thought this world also had myths about the Three-legged Golden Crow and similar creatures.

But after a year of studying and cross-referencing, he realized—

No. They didn't exist here.

Maybe because this world was different.

Or maybe, since this world had real beasts, certain myths—especially those about imagined legendary beings—simply never developed, whether Eastern or Western.

Asher didn't think this was just coincidence.

But now wasn't the time to investigate.

First, he had to save the Cat-Worm.

Then, using [Gift of Understanding], Asher deciphered what the Night-Wandering Bird was expressing.

'Stay away from my children. Otherwise, I will attack!'

"Chirp—Chirp—", 'Back off! Don't come any closer!"

Asher couldn't help but smirk.

The first sentence was fierce and threatening.

But the second...

Asher glanced at the Screeching Bird, a mere fifth-tier mid-rank beast. The fact that it could withstand an attack from the sixth-tier high-rank Night-Wandering Bird and even deflect the blow? If anyone said the Night-Wandering Bird wasn't holding back, Asher wouldn't believe it.

No matter how aggressive it sounded, when facing Screeching Bird and Sasha, the Night-Wandering Bird had clearly restrained its power.

It didn't actually want to hurt them.

It just wanted to drive them away.

"My talent skill is [Affinity]. Maybe it's because of my beasts, or because I use it frequently, but I've developed a new way of applying it—I can vaguely understand what other beasts are expressing."

Asher smoothly, with a straight face and calm tone, delivered his perfected BS technique.

BS?

A seasoned professional.

Nine truths, one lie.

Omit what he couldn't or didn't want to say, but never tell an outright falsehood.

"The evolved Weaving Bird just now—hm... It didn't truly intend to attack Sasha and Screeching Bird."

Asher rephrased the Night-Wandering Bird's words.

Daryll was stunned.

Sasha's eyes welled up.

"Can I go forward and communicate with it?",Asher looked at Daryll and Sasha, who were blocking his way, and sighed.

Daryll: "Just because it didn't attack Sasha and Screeching Bird doesn't mean it won't attack you."

Sasha: "Professor Asher, please be careful. You should stay back and tell me what you want to say—I'll relay it for you."

Both had the same stance—Asher was too valuable. Let them handle it instead.

Asher: "..."

"It's fine. I have Little Raven with me." Asher said calmly.

Although Little Raven's strength wasn't as great as the Night-Wandering Bird's, considering Little Raven's unique deterrent effect on avian beasts, Asher believed he could still ensure his own safety.

"Some things need to be communicated face-to-face for greater efficiency."

If it were the legendary Gu Huo Bird, Asher could understand why it stole eggs.

But legends were legends.

The Night-Wandering Bird in front of him was not a legend; it was a living being, an beast with its own emotions of love and hate.

The Night-Wandering Bird's innate skill was merely [Nurturing Offspring], not [Egg Theft]. This proved that stealing eggs wasn't an instinct inherited from its bloodline but rather something it chose to do itself.

Asher felt that they needed to communicate.

Seeing that they couldn't stop him, and since Asher had safety measures in place, Daryll and Sasha had no choice but to step aside.

Asher advanced with Little Raven.

Before he even reached where Sasha had stood earlier, the Night-Wandering Bird suddenly lifted its head and sharply turned toward Asher, revealing a fiercely hostile expression.

"Chirp! Chirp!"

'Don't… don't come over… You're not allowed to approach—'

But the Night-Wandering Bird's gaze wasn't on Asher.

It was locked onto Little Raven, who was nestled in Asher's arms.

The Night-Wandering Bird's eyes showed deep fear and wariness. Even though it had the upper hand in strength, it couldn't stop itself from trembling and staying on high alert.

Little Raven: o(｀ω*)o

'Scare you to death!'

'That's what you get for snatching Bird's little bro!'

'Hurry and give Bird's little bro back!'

Even though Little Raven didn't make a sound, strangely, the Night-Wandering Bird seemed to hear what it was saying.

"Chirp—Chirp—"

'They are all my children! Not your little bro!'

Little Raven: [○｀Д○]!

'Angry!'

'Very angry!'

'What do you mean, your children?'

'That blue one, the fattest one, is clearly Bird's little bro!'

'Hurry and give it back!'

'Otherwise, don't blame Bird for being rude!'

Night-Wandering Bird: (｀皿)

'My children!'

Little Raven: (╬◣д◢)

'Bird's little bro!'

The expressions of both birds gradually synchronized, neither willing to back down.

The Night-Wandering Bird's deep-seated fear of Little Raven, ingrained in its very bones, was now overshadowed by its overwhelming maternal love.

Night-Wandering Bird: ∑(△｀）?

'What?'

'Fear?'

'No, no, no.'

'Not scared at all.'

If it showed fear, its babies would be taken by the evil bird.

Strong!

Resilient!

Indestructible!

Asher: "…"

Asher rubbed his forehead.

These two birds… had completely ignored his existence, hadn't they?

"Little Raven, shut up."

Asher firmly pressed his hand onto Little Raven's ahoge, his voice calm.

Little Raven, who had been arguing with the Night-Wandering Bird, immediately fell silent.

Its big golden-red eyes looked up at Asher with an innocent and adorable expression.

Little Raven: *Innocent*

'Beastmaster~ Snuggle snuggle~'

'Not Bird's fault~'

'It's that egg thief's fault!'

'Bird loves Beastmaster so much~'

'Bird just wanted to help Beastmaster get Little Bro back~'

The Night-Wandering Bird: "???"

'Wait…?'

'You…'

The Night-Wandering Bird didn't know any curse words.

Back when it was just a cute little Weaving Bird, the Beastmaster spoiled it in the palm of their hand. It had never been exposed to foul language, and ever since the Beastmaster was gone, even more so…

Looking up again, it saw this human and his pet blatantly flaunting their affection in front of it.

Night-Wandering Bird: "Chirp—Chirp—"

'Unforgivable! Die!'

The Night-Wandering Bird let out a long shriek toward the sky, unleashing an ear-piercing sound, hundreds of times worse than a shovel scraping concrete or nails on a chalkboard.

Little Raven: "!"

Little Raven flapped its wings.

Little Raven: 'You think Bird is weak?'

"——"

The deafening, soul-piercing sound shattered into nothingness beneath the golden-red light radiating from Little Raven's outstretched wings, melting away like ice under the sun.

The entire space fell into silence.

[[1] Gu Huo Bird: Gu Huo Bird is a monstrous bird in Chinese lore that kidnaps human children, mainly girls, and raises them as their own. Kidnapped girls will become new Gu Huo Niao. It is normally seen in bird form, but it is said to be able to take off its feathers and become a human woman. A man who steals the feathers can make her his wife.]

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