Chapter 196: Under New Leadership

“Nia... Mhn... Stay with me forever.”

With a sleepy voice interspersed with soft moans, Lily held a beautiful purple-haired woman tightly in her arms.

“I will... Nhm... I love you, Lily...”

Likewise, letting out a small, gentle laugh, Nia rubbed her cheek against her wife's.

After such an intense session of lovemaking, it felt as though all her energy had been restored even more than it had been by all the time she had spent sleeping.

As she surrendered herself completely to Lily's embrace, the metamorph placed a hand over her lower belly. The bulge there was proof that she had been filled with her beloved's nectar of love.

Nia didn't know whether she could get pregnant on the first try, but even if it wasn't possible, it was simply a matter of continuing to try.

“Mhm... Nia~”

Even while drowsy, Lily continued caressing her, so Nia couldn't stop letting out little, happy giggles.

Being pampered by Lily was the best reward she could ask for after an exhausting battle. However, her beloved deserved a reward, too, so Nia wondered what she should do.

She had just finished cleaning the bodily fluids from the room. Both the sheets and the walls, floor, and ceiling had been thoroughly cleaned, so there wasn't much else to do. Nia had also checked and repaired the wooden bed, leaving the room in perfect condition.

They were guests in someone else's territory, so she couldn't exactly borrow the kitchen to prepare something for them to eat.

At that moment, her mana-location sensed a presence she knew very well nearby.

The characteristic sound of a sliding door opening rang out alongside the voice of a little girl. “Mama Nia is awake...”

“Good morning... Mhn... Rose is up early, too~”

Without even waiting for the little silver-haired girl to appear in the doorway, several purple tentacles extended, wrapping around her waist and lifting her off the ground.

Carefully, Nia settled Rose safely in her arms.

“I woke up and was near the bedroom door... I think I was sleepwalking...” Rubbing her head between her mother's breasts, Rose let out a small, contented moan at how comfortable she felt. “Mhm... Mama, I missed you so much.”

A single bluish tentacle extended from the little girl's back. Shyly, it reached toward one of the purple tentacles, carefully winding itself around it. Watching her daughter snuggle up to her, Nia couldn't help but relax.

Thrown into this journey under unexpected circumstances, Rose had nevertheless shown her that she was a much stronger girl than Nia had thought.

If she truly wanted to protect her beloved daughter, the metamorph needed to change the way she thought about keeping her safe.

Nia couldn't be by her side all the time. Teaching her daughter how to fight properly and defend herself was essential if she was to face whatever dangers might arise. To that end, even if it was only a small step for now, Nia needed to begin making a change.

“Rose, when we get home, let's go hunting together, okay?”

“Really!?” Shouting in such surprise that her exhaustion seemed to disappear for a few seconds, Rose wrapped her arms around her mother, bouncing with joy. “I love you, Mama Nia!”

Watching the little girl looking so happy, Nia couldn't help but feel warmth spread through her chest.

Logically speaking, it was just a simple expression of happiness. Even so, that little girl's simple response made the metamorph so happy that all she could think about was using every ounce of her strength to live up to those expectations.

“I love you, Rose.” Resting her daughter's head against her chest, Nia whispered those words over and over.

Because of everything that had happened over the past few days, she hadn't been able to spend much time with her daughter. Nia was used to being apart from Rose during her lessons or when she needed to explore a labyrinth, but never under circumstances that made the little girl worry so much.

“It's all that stupid dragon hero's fault. I'll beat her up the next time I see her.”

Furrowing her brows, Nia noticed the two little blue eyes of her daughter reflecting confusion, as though she were wondering what her mother was talking about.

Rolling from side to side on the bed with Rose in her arms, Nia pulled the blanket over them both. Beneath the dark covers, where both metamorphe could see each other perfectly, Nia brought her face closer to her daughter before beginning to whisper.

“Rose, there's something you need to know that I discovered. The stories and tales that portray heroes as good people are actually lies. All heroes are crazy idiots who attack anyone they come across. You must never let your guard down around one of them.”

“Even Aunt Elarielle?” Rose asked, bringing a hand to her open mouth, unable to hide her shock.

“Especially her.” Nia crossed her arms and nodded in agreement.

Whether it was the elven queen or the leader of the Scale Clan, every encounter Nia had ever had with a hero had ended in combat.

The metamorph didn't know whether this was simply part of the nature of people who fought monsters, but that didn't make it any less unpleasant to deal with such powerful individuals who acted so irresponsibly.

“They must have made up those stories to make everyone believe they're good and let their guard down, so they can launch surprise attacks. It's all a matter of battle tactics, I'm sure of it.”

“How cunning, Mama Nia!”

“Exactly. I never would have imagined using a method like teaching future generations not to fear them through stories. It's such a multi-layered plan that I have to commend them for it.” Proudly placing her fist against her modest chest, Nia declared with confidence. “But don't worry, I'll protect Rose from all of them!”

“Mama Nia is amazing!” Shouting with such excitement that it seemed stars were twinkling in her blue eyes, Rose buried her head in her mother's embrace.

“Hehe~”

Proud of having seen through the heroes' devious schemes, Nia accepted her daughter's hug with a smile.

As the metamorph considered what else she could teach the little girl based on what she had learned over the past few days, she felt a hand gently caressing her lower belly.

“Mama Nia's tummy is so big...”

Gently touching her mother's swollen belly, Rose gazed at it with curiosity.

“It's because I want to give Rose more little sisters.” Realizing that Rose was curious about her swollen belly, filled with her beloved's love juice, Nia explained her goal.

“Can Mama Nia do that?” Rose asked, curiosity written all over her face.

“I don't want to rush things for safety reasons, so it might take a little while. But I'm sure I'll manage to get pregnant soon and have lots of babies,” Nia declared confidently.

“But how does Mama Nia make little babies?”

The little girl's question made the metamorph tilt her head, remembering that she had never taught Rose where babies came from.

“Hmm... it's a matter of fertilization and—”

“All right, that's enough.”

Before Nia could finish her sentence, two hands covered Rose's ears. Emerging from beneath the blanket with puffed-out cheeks, a beautiful silver-haired woman stared at the metamorph.

“What have you been teaching your daughter, you naughty girl?”

Despite her mature appearance, Nia's face turned red and her shoulders hunched like a child caught doing something she shouldn't. Pulling the blanket up to hide her flushed face, she timidly peeked at her wife. The contrast between her mature appearance and her behavior was so cute that Lily couldn't bring herself to press the issue any further. It was, indeed, an overwhelming attack of cuteness.

“Good morning, Mama Lily.”

Feeling her mother's hands, Rose turned over in bed to look directly at her. Her sky-blue eyes met one blue eye and another the color of a crimson jewel.

“Good morning, my love.” Giving her daughter a gentle kiss on the forehead, Lily extended the little girl toward Nia's arms once more, and the metamorph wrapped her in an embrace. “Let's talk about having more little sisters another day, okay? You need to sleep now.”

“Mhm...” Gently rubbing her eyes, Rose looked as though she might fall asleep at any moment. “That's right... I forgot to tell Mama Lily something.”

“Something for me? Did something happen?” Lily asked, a little worried that something might have gone wrong.

“That woman... it looks like she's had her head stuck in the garden for a while now. At this rate, she'll end up hurting the flowers.” Pointing toward the door—or rather, toward the ornamental garden beyond it—Rose tilted her head thoughtfully.

Unable to understand what her daughter meant, Lily turned to look at Nia, who merely shrugged.

“I think that's how people show submission. It seems appropriate.”

Now unable to understand her wife's words either, Lily found herself with no choice but to get up from the bed and slowly open the door. As she moved, her usual black dress formed over her body, courtesy of Nia.

Given her wife and daughter's reactions, Lily was apprehensive about what she would see once she opened the door, but the reality was worse than anything she could have imagined.

“I, Ignis, The Arbiter, swear my eternal loyalty to you!”

“What!?”

“I, Ignis, The Arbiter, swear my eternal loyalty to you!”

“I didn't ask you to repeat yourself!”

Blinking several times to make sure what she was seeing was real and not a distortion caused by sleepiness, Lily stared at the woman kneeling on the ground with her head partially buried in the soil.

Strands of stunning indigo hair fell to her shoulders. Its color resembled the sky just before dusk, complementing the crystal-like horn rising from her forehead. Her dark blue dress was beautiful, its folds and slits allowing four platinum-colored wings to emerge elegantly.

As a dragon, she stood at the pinnacle of strength. In her pseudo-human form, she was considered beautiful in any civilization, almost a celestial being. A single glance at her lovely face was electrifying enough to move an entire army to her will.

And yet, there she was, in the small garden beside Lily's room, with half her head planted in the soil.

“I'm sorry I wasn't very clear. What I mean is that you can command us however you wish! Most esteemed Suzerain, Lily!”

Ignis seemed determined to make herself clearer, but her explanation, muffled by the soil, did nothing to resolve the girl's confusion.

“Most esteemed... Suzerain?”

Repeating the words that had caught her attention the most, Lily struggled not to stammer.

“The Wing Clan is at your command!”

“Just wait a moment.” Closing the door before Ignis could say anything else, Lily turned toward the bed with a flustered expression.

Still lying down, now embracing and caressing their daughter, Nia seemed completely unconcerned about what was happening.

“Nia, what's going on?” Lily asked, her gaze shifting between Nia and the woman outside the door.

“They're going to obey you now,” the metamorph replied, rubbing her cheek against her daughter's.

“What!? Why!?”

As she asked in agitation, Lily watched her wife reflect for a moment before breaking into a smile.

“Because Lily is amazing!” Nia replied enthusiastically.

“Mama Lily is amazing... Mhn...” Rose murmured, trying to raise her fist despite her drowsiness.

Unable to understand the line of reasoning her wife and daughter were following, Lily pressed her palms against her face. She could try asking more questions, but judging by their previous answers, she knew it would take some time to get to the bottom of what had actually happened. So, piecing together everything she knew, Lily tried to work out the situation.

Ignis, one of the most arrogant and conceited women she knew, now had her head buried in the garden.

This probably had something to do with the battle between Nia and the Wing Clan. Lily couldn't think of any other explanation.

After becoming dissatisfied with the outcome of the trial, Ignis, the newly appointed leader of the Wing Clan, had ordered them to begin a war against the elves, attacking their representatives right there.

To prevent that from happening, Nia had intervened, arriving at the trial grounds and confronting the Wing Clan directly.

Given the scale of the threat, Lily had imagined that her wife would annihilate every last dragon in the Wing Clan. Considering everything they had done, she wouldn't have stopped the metamorph if she had decided to go through with it. However, to her surprise, only a large portion of the combatants had been killed, while the noncombatants had been spared.

Since Nia had fallen asleep after the battle, Lily hadn't had the chance to ask why she had chosen to handle things that way, sparing a large part of the clan. But now, seeing Ignis prostrated before her and addressing her as their leader, she could imagine what agreement had been reached. Or, more accurately, what terms of survival her wife had imposed.

“Um... isn't there supposed to be a ritual to become the leader?” Sliding the door partially open, Lily whispered with only her head poking outside.

Given how things stood, there was no point in trying to question what had led to this situation.

If Nia had forced Ignis to promise that Lily would become something like the clan's new leader in exchange for the survival of its remaining members, then it made sense that the woman was behaving this way.

Even so, becoming a clan leader? Lily couldn't even begin to imagine what that entailed. People from noble families her age might govern their own territories, but she doubted she could even manage a small village with her current understanding of politics and society.

In any case, Lily knew she couldn't immediately accept or refuse. She needed to understand exactly what she would be getting herself into.

“The succession ritual is initiated to transfer command of the clan from one leader to another. It does not revolve around any specific individual. Anyone who has participated in one and is recognized by all the other members can become the new leader. Although I was initially chosen, the majority's choice remains valid until the end of the day. Therefore, we appointed the Esteemed Suzerain as our leader so as not to trouble you with another ritual.”

Ignis spoke with confidence and impeccable etiquette despite being prostrated in such a humiliating position. Even so, that did nothing to make the facts any easier for Lily to understand.

“What? But I didn't participate in the ritual.”

“Esteemed Suzerain Lily did participate in the ritual, even if only for a moment.”

Ignis answered naturally, and Lily swallowed hard.

That was true.

Even if only for a few minutes, she had interrupted the private ritual to demand that the trial be held. She had had no choice, since they wouldn't have listened to her otherwise, but she had never imagined that her brief interruption would lead to this.

“Of course, if the Esteemed Suzerain wishes us to perform the ritual, I will begin making preparations immediately!” Still keeping her head on the ground, Ignis put more force into her voice, as though regretting having misunderstood what her mistress wanted.

“N-No, that's not it. I don't want a ritual.” Waving her hands, Lily could no longer control her stammering, but putting an end to Ignis's idea was the priority. “But what about the other clans? I'm human. Surely, they won't accept someone who isn't a dragon as their leader.”

“There is no need to worry. Both Suzerain Tiamat and Suzerain Bahamut have recognized you as the new leader of the Wing Clan.”

“Tiamat... so she's all right?”

Although Lily wanted to argue about how those two women had given their consent so easily, learning that Tiamat's health had improved was the most important information at the moment.

Having stayed by Nia's side the entire time, Lily hadn't concerned herself much with the situation, leaving Thelira and the others to handle it. Since Akasha had stayed with them, she had been at ease about the girls' safety and hadn't tried to interfere in political matters.

“Suzerain Tiamat woke up yesterday. Her condition is now stable, and her life is no longer in danger,” Ignis said in an expressionless tone.

Letting out a genuine sigh of relief, Lily decided to overlook Ignis's lack of emotion regarding Tiamat's recovery and returned to thinking about what she should do.

Although it seemed like a lot to deal with right now, having the full support of the Wing Clan might not be a bad thing in the long run. Nia's bold decision had given her an incredible opportunity, and it was up to Lily to figure out how to reap the benefits for her family.

“Is Lady Tiamat receiving visitors?”

For the time being, Lily concluded that she should discuss the matter with the other clan leaders. Having permission to become the leader of the Wing Clan was one thing, but if the other dragons grew angry with her afterward, it would be like starting the entire conflict all over again.

“I was informed that she would receive you personally at any time, my Suzerain. Should I go inform her that you intend to visit?” Ignis asked, still completely motionless.

“Uh... yes? I think the sun is just rising, so I'll go after breakfast. Please ask if she can receive me,” Lily replied, still awkwardly fumbling over her words.

Even if Tiamat was willing to receive her at any time, Lily hadn't exchanged so much as a single word with the woman since arriving in Athamas. Thus, she didn't think it would be polite to simply show up in the middle of the night without arranging a time first.

“As you command.” Rising from the ground so quickly that dirt flew in every direction, Ignis snapped a salute, her face completely covered in mud and roots.

Based on her first impression of Ignis, Lily had believed that the woman's short temper and impulsiveness would make her incapable of following someone else's orders. She had imagined the indigo-haired woman would scowl and refuse to cooperate. Instead, with the same intensity with which she had risen, Ignis beat her four platinum wings and vanished rapidly into the sky.

What on earth had Nia done to make her obey like that? Honestly, Lily wasn't interested in finding out.

Closing the sliding door, Lily walked back to the bed. Still embracing her daughter, Nia now wore a worried expression on her beautiful face.

“Is Lily angry?” the metamorph asked.

“Of course not, my love.” Lying down beside Nia, Lily couldn't help laughing at her wife's worried expression. “You chose this alternative because you thought it would be best for us, didn't you? I'm so proud of you, Nia.”

Caressing her wife's purple hair, Lily reassured her that everything was all right.

If Nia had simply wiped out the entire Wing Clan, they might have been able to obtain some compensation from the other clans, but given the political tensions, that would have been the extent of it. However, if the entire clan was now willing to obey them, at least to some degree, the long-term benefits could be substantial.

Her wife's decision had been based on her trust in Lily and her belief that Lily would know how to make the best decisions if she had the right cards in her hands. For that reason, the silver-haired girl couldn't have been happier.

"Mama Nia… I's sweepy…"

While smiling at being pampered by Lily, Nia felt a tiny hand grip her a little tighter. Snuggling closer to her mother, Rose gave a shy yawn.

“Rose can sleep. Mama won't leave your side.” Carefully holding the little girl in her arms, Nia hugged her daughter with a smile on her face. Slowly, the girl's breathing settled, and she fell asleep comfortably in the warmth of her mother's embrace.

Watching this, Nia took her time playing with the girl's delicate silver hair, poking her chubby cheeks several times as she let out soft giggles.

Lying beside the pair on the bed, Lily couldn't stop smiling, even though she was still surprised by what had just happened with Ignis.

“Rose really missed you.” Moving closer and running her hand over her daughter's head, Lily whispered. “Every night, she would call your name in her sleep. Even though she tried to act strong, she was really worried.”

Pressing her forehead against her wife's, Lily wrapped her arms around her back.

“And I missed you so much, too, my love.”

What was supposed to have been a simple, peaceful diplomatic trip had turned into such a complicated situation that even Lily couldn't deny she'd been frightened.

Having her daughter threatened by dragons and then being accused of crimes. Having to deal with all sorts of troublesome people while searching for a way to prove her innocence and prevent a war. She had been so tense that she could have given in to panic at any moment.

Even so, she knew she had only managed to remain strong because she knew her wife was also doing everything she could.

Lily's faith in Nia was absolute. And because of that, even when things had become difficult, she had never doubted for a moment that her wife would protect her.

“I love Lily, I love her so, so much!” Nia repeated fervently, her tear-filled crimson eyes radiating determination. “Lily doesn't need to worry. I won't ever leave Lily's side like that again!”

“I love you, Nia.” Returning her wife's declaration of love, Lily tightened her embrace. “And don't worry, I won't let you be away from me like that again, either.”

Holding her wife in her arms, Lily vowed to herself that she would never let something like this happen to Nia again.

“Maybe we should go let the others know you've woken up,” Lily remarked, still embracing her beloved girls.

Becoming the new leader of a clan had been enough of a shock to keep her awake. In fact, since she hadn't left the bed for several days while taking care of Nia, getting up early for a little walk didn't seem like a bad idea. Even if the others weren't awake yet, they could wait in the sitting room outside the bedroom and enjoy a change of scenery.

Nodding, Nia conjured her black dress over her body. Hugging her wife's arm while still holding their daughter in her lap, Nia couldn't stop smiling for even a second.

Lily could feel each of her wife's gelatinous tentacles winding around different parts of her body. From what she could tell, Nia had no intention of moving away from her side anytime soon. Unable to resist such overwhelming cuteness, the silver-haired girl gave her a kiss on the forehead.

Leaving the room, the girls began walking through the corridors of the guest wing. Since Nia had appeared before everyone when she stopped Ignis, Lily didn't think there was any need to keep her hidden anymore. Tiamat would probably have plenty of questions about it later, but deciding to worry about that another time, they soon arrived at Thelira's room.

For a moment, Lily wondered whether she should knock. The sun was rising over the horizon above the sea of clouds, but it was still quite early. However, before she could think too much about it, a mental confirmation echoed in her mind, as though sensing her uncertainty.

“Oh, they're awake?” Lily murmured, communicating with her faithful black wolf.

Thanks to their contract, Lily could communicate with Akasha and understand them to a certain extent. Sensing her doubt, Akasha, who had been standing guard over Thelira and the others all this time, had told her it was fine to enter. For some reason, however, Lily could tell that her fairy was strangely exasperated.

“Good morning, everyone. You're all up early, too.” Carefully opening the door, Lily looked inside the room.

Thanks to the desperate efforts of Annona, the princess of the Golden Hive, the elves' room had been restored to perfection before anyone could even notice what had happened. In the corner of the room, Akasha lay on the floor, covering Cherry, who was still asleep, with their black tail. Upon seeing their master, the black wolf rolled their bright eyes and rested their head on their paws.

Puzzled by the reaction, Lily turned to look at the rest of the room. The fireplace was burning gently, and the delicious smell of freshly prepared food filled the air. Several dishes had been laid out on a central table, their rich colors drawing the eye while their mouthwatering aromas stirred anyone's appetite.

Even so, despite the magnificent spread, the two girls sitting around the table wore rather unusual expressions.

Thelira had her head lowered, her face glowing such an intense red from her cheeks to the tips of her pointed ears that Lily wondered if she had a fever.

Selene, on the other hand, now had her head buried in her arms on the table. Her usual twin tails hadn't been braided, and her blonde hair hadn't been brushed, falling awkwardly down her back.

“Good morning... Lady Lily... Lady Gardenia...” the high elf said awkwardly. “Come, let's eat.”

As she approached the table, Lily couldn't help noticing how strangely they were behaving.

Aside from the fact that neither woman would look her in the face, for some reason, neither Thelira nor Selene seemed surprised that Nia was awake.

“The dragons brought breakfast quite early today...” While wondering whether something had happened, Lily decided to join the girls for a meal, until she finally noticed something strange. “Why is there already a place set for me?”

Having eaten with Rose in the bedroom and taken care of Nia every moment over the past few days, Lily hadn't gone out to meet the others. It therefore seemed strange to her that Thelira had already prepared places for her and Nia to eat with them before she'd even arrived.

The idea that they had been setting an extra place every day didn't seem right, either. Nor could she imagine that Ignis had come here to inform them, considering that the dragon only interacted with others when ordered to do so.

“Thelira, did you use your precognition to see that Nia had woken up?” Glancing between the cute purple-haired girl rubbing herself against her arm and the elf sitting at the table with her suspiciously flushed face, Lily asked, visible doubt in her eyes.

“Well... with all due respect, I'm not quite sure how to put this into words. But let's just say it wasn't necessary.”

Fanning her face several times with her palm, Thelira's emerald eyes didn't even dare meet Lily's.

“This kind of ability... I'm still very inexperienced. Perhaps I should ask for some advice.”

For some reason, Lily felt that it was unusually difficult to understand what people were trying to tell her that morning. Turning her head, she looked at the woman who had remained silent all this time.

Despite how energetic she usually was, Selene kept her face buried in her arms, both hands pressing against her fluffy ears.

“Selene, could you explain to me—”

“Even I don't moan like that, and I have three wives!” Cutting Lily off, Selene slammed her hands on the table so hard that all the plates and cutlery rattled. Raising her flushed face, Selene pointed an accusing finger at the silver-haired girl. “Why am I always the one who gets a reputation for being a pervert!? This is unfair! You're the pervert, Rival!”

“W-W-Wha...!?” Struggling to keep herself from collapsing, Lily stammered desperately.

What was Selene talking about? Why was she being called a pervert? Lily couldn't understand what was happening.

In a panic, her mind raced as she tried to piece everything together. Thelira and Selene's reactions, the way Akasha seemed exasperated, the early breakfast, and a place already set for her.

“It can't be...” Frozen in place, Lily could only turn her head toward the beautiful woman clinging to her arms.

With the same thoughtful expression, Nia turned toward her with an innocent smile before uttering the words Lily had feared most.

“That's right. I was so excited that I forgot to put up the soundproofing barrier.”

Lily felt her face growing so hot it was as if she'd swallowed the sun.

Turning toward the two women, both Selene and Thelira looked away, avoiding Lily's gaze.

“Y-Y-You heard!?”

And then, in unison, making Lily tremble even more, both girls murmured:

“The entire city heard.”