Chapter 9: Goo, kill me!

The red bird closed its eyes, resigned, as if the world no longer mattered.

“Hey, Sister! What about me? I don’t wanna die!” The blue bird chirped frantically, its tiny body thrashing.

“Lady, if you’re gonna eat someone, eat my sister first! Once you’re full, you won’t eat me, right…” The red bird made a final stand.

“How selfish are you!”

The blue bird was done. It went through all that to save its sister, got owned, got tied up, and now this? If it knew, it wouldn’t have come to throw itself into danger!

Aphrosia watched their squabble, barely containing her laughter. Just moments ago, they were a touching sisterly duo, and now they were “betraying” each other without hesitation.

Were there plastic sisterhoods among magical beasts too? Too hilarious.

With a thought, Aphrosia stood, relit the stove, and approached the bickering birds with a gentle smile.

“Shouldn’t have come to save you!”

“Who knew you were so weak!”

“You got taken down instantly too! We’re even!”

“Sister raised you all these years. Now’s your chance to repay me!”

“Sisters let their younger siblings go first. You should let me!”

“Fine, you go suffer first then!”

“You jerk!”

“Sister… she’s heating the pot! Wahhh, she’s coming!” The red bird shut its eyes in fear.

“What? No! I’m too young! Don’t come closer, big bad wolf! I don’t wanna die!”

The girl grabbed both birds, one in each hand.

But their chirping wouldn’t stop.

“Damn it, no! I’m a Rainbow Cloud Bird, a high-tier magical beast! You’ll pay for this!”

“Let me tell you, touch us, and you’re in for it! Know who we are?”

They flailed wildly in the air, but no matter how hard they tried, it was futile.

Those devilish claws held their fate as firmly as destiny itself.

Wait, something weird slipped in there? Whatever.

But the expected heat never came. The birds were baffled. Kill or gut them already! Toying with their minds was cruel!

What, were they looking forward to it now?

“Sister, I’m hot! It’s burning!”

“Ugh, I’m burning too!”

“I haven’t even put you in the pot… Maybe I’ll light a low-temp candle for you instead.” Such drama queens…

Aphrosia was speechless.

“Here’s the deal. I’ll give you a chance to make up for it.”

The birds perked up, chirping in unison, “What chance? No dying?”

“How about working for me?”

Rainbow Cloud Birds were extremely rare. Aphrosia never planned to cook them—their value far exceeded food. Selling them to a trading company would fetch a fortune.

Their scouting and intelligence-gathering skills were top-notch, and their combat potential was immense once grown.

“No way!” Both birds spat out the words without hesitation.

“Fool who? Work’s what makes you humans wish for death! Work for you? I’d rather die!”

“Yeah, yeah!” The blue bird nodded, then paused. “Wait, not die, right?”

“Hmph, knew you’d say that. Follow me, and I’ll give you plenty of free time, food, lodging, weekly, monthly, and yearly breaks, plus bonuses for good work. I’ll ensure your safety on the job.”

“Oh, and you know Astreya? I’m Aphrosia Astreya. Goddess of Radiance, my ancestor. Former saintess, my mom.” Aphrosia added.

That string of titles carried weight.

At least to those unaware of the full story…

“Speaking of which, as birds, as magical beasts, you need ambition. You can’t just scrape by. My sister and I accept your job offer,” the red bird flipped instantly. No shame!

The blue bird whispered, “Sister… the Astreya family’s fallen. The former saintess is missing, her wife too. The goddess hasn’t shown herself in ages, and there’s a new saintess candidate at the main church. This one can’t even afford rice!”

“Chirp!” Aphrosia tightened her grip on the blue bird, making it squeak.

“Damn, just a big talker! The conditions sound nice, but following you’s a dead end!”

Weren’t Rainbow Cloud Birds supposed to have great intel? Using it like this?

Aphrosia dropped the act. “Didn’t ask for your opinion.”

She set the birds down together, pulling a strange book from her ring: Saintess’s Training Manual—Miracle Magic Edition, Edith Version.

“Let’s see, contract magic… contract magic… found it.”

“Damn, learning on the spot!” The red bird lost it.

The blue bird looked defiant. “Give up! We’re fearless!”

“…” Aphrosia.

The girl, half-understanding, summoned her staff, waved it to emit sparkling light, and tapped the birds.

Boom! The birds’ feathers puffed up from an explosion.

“Ah, oops, used Flame Burst. Good thing I held back.”

The birds: “…”

They nearly met Hades, Osiris, Yama, Hela, Satan…

It wasn’t over. Before they could rage, they were frozen.

“Sorry, that was Freeze. Hold on.”

Even a genius couldn’t master high-tier magic quickly, especially a novice like Aphrosia—a beginner apprentice mage. Normal contract magic required an advanced mid-tier mage. This book’s contract, unique to the Astreya family, Holy Envoy Naming, turned creatures into envoys under her command. Its conditions were strict.

The birds foresaw their fate: they’d be toyed to death before any contract!

“Coo, just kill me!”