The Devil's Origin

9: Hatching.

After mating with Velke, I gained eight levels and became level 26. It seems that it's much easier to level up if I mate with powerful monsters. Due to the increase in level, I laid 2 Velluclesis eggs. Seeing the eggs nestled together in the fountain made up for the pain of birthing them.

Since I couldn't detect any new monsters using the「Perception」skill, I mated with the Slime and Dire Wolf again. I could now produce 25 Slime eggs or 15 Dire Wolf eggs at a time, and I levelled up twice, making me level 23. My「Devil's Command」skill went up to lvl 20.

Two new rooms appeared in the Devil's Castle, so I decided to dedicate the room I had been using to mating and make one of the new rooms my room.

Even though I'll still have to use my old room for mating, this way I can preserve a private space for myself. Upon the System's recommendation, I made the other room into a nursery.

<<Devil, wake up!>>

I was resting in Velke's arms when I heard an annoying voice. Recently, when we're not busy, I've been using Velke as a pillow.

What is it? I don't want to get up; I'm too comfortable right now.

<<Some of the Eggs are hatching!>>

My annoyance vanished and Velke quickly made preparations and we entered the room housing the Fountain of Life. In the fountain, the 3 large Velluclesis eggs were surrounded by 45 Slime eggs, 15 Orc eggs, and 25 Dire Wolf eggs. Looking closer, I could see that the Slime eggs were slowly moving. One after another, tiny lemon yellow Slimes broke through the soft shells of their eggs.

I reached into the fountain and gently scooped one up. The gooey, shivering slime happily rubbed itself against my palm. I activated the「Soundless Voice」skill.

((Mama... Mama... Love... Love you...))

Hearing this, I was filled with a warm feeling.

This was a child I'd carried and birthed.

The Dire Wolf eggs began to wobble next, cracking open and revealing adorable puppies.

"Yip! Yip!" The pups joyfully clambered out of the fountain and shook the fluid off their fur before toddling over to me. Even without using any skills, I can understand how they feel.

Cute, they're too cute!

<<Monsters born of you will be loyal to you, Devil! When these children mature and breed, their species will be saved.>>

Uh, about the 'breeding' you mentioned...

<<Do not worry, these children are capable of breeding. When the Devil gives birth, the eggs are split evenly between male and female.>>

That's good, though looking at the Slimes and Dire Wolf pups, I can't tell which ones are male or female.

But... Is it alright for my children to breed with each other?

<<Because of the Devil's unique magical filter, monsters born of the Devil are unrelated to one another.>>

In other words, it's safe for the children I birth to mate?

<<Correct! So you should continue breeding with confidence!>>

Later on, the Orc eggs began to break open. I don't have any good feelings towards Orcs, but children are children. The little Orc babies who cried in my arms were also cute.

Unfortunately, the Velluclesis eggs didn't hatch this time around. The more powerful the species, the longer it takes for them to hatch.

<< Because the newborn monsters are still immature, please raise them in the Devil's Castle.>>

That's right, I made one of the other rooms into a nursery. The monsters I raise here, will they leave the castle someday? There are countless adventurers and heroes just waiting to kill them out there. When I realized this, I felt a sharp pain in my heart. I did not birth these children to watch them die.

For now, my top priority is reviving the monster population, but I should also consider how to deal with those adventurers before they become an obstacle.

Hmm...?

Thinking about raising the children, I've remembered something.

I haven't eaten once since I was born. Nothing but cum has come in or out.

<<The Devil subsists on magical power. The magical power is drawn from excess semen not used in generating eggs after mating.>>

Oh, so it was something like that.

While taking care of the newborn monsters in the nursery, there was a loud noise from outside.

Alarmed, Velke dashed outside. I followed him and saw a big shadow flying above us.

Amazing... The sound of the thing flying was deafening.

((So this is where the last of the Velluclesis has been hiding?))

A booming voice was magically transmitted into my brain.

An enormous red dragon landed on top of the Devil's Castle (which, right now, looked like an ordinary house) and growled fiercely.

"A Red Dragon... Are you Alexius?"

((Long time no see! I thought you were dead! It's been, what, 500 years?))

This dragon is an old acquaintance of Velke.

((That's a funny-looking pet you've got there.))

"Don't be rude, Alexius."

Funny-looking? Does it mean me?

<<That monster is a Red Dragon! He is currently level 180. The Red Dragons are another endangered species.>>

With a roar, the Red Dragon shrunk and transformed into a man who looked to be in his late twenties. With red hair and red eyes full of curiosity, this guy was handsome, too.

"Is that mediocre brat the Devil?"

The Red Dragon named Alexius looked at me in disbelief.

It's no good; I don't think I can get along with this guy at all!