It had used up all its origin power just to break out of its shell, so it was very weak now. Not only that, but it was also just a baby.
Although it would become incredibly strong later on, its power was minuscule right now. That was why it couldn't break free from Javier Sinclair's grasp, looking utterly pathetic as it struggled.
Celeste Grant glanced at the Vermilion Bird and offered a reminder. "It looks like it's about to croak... It's a Divine Beast, after all. You're not actually going to strangle it, are you?"
Javier Sinclair sneered. "This little chick looks like it can't be tamed. Perfect. I'll strangle it and make soup."
Hearing this, the Vermilion Bird in his hand trembled and shook its head frantically, starting to "CHEEP CHEEP" for mercy.
'I was just born.'
'I don't want to die yet.'
'So many people would fight tooth and nail to have me, yet he wants to strangle me.'
'I'll be good! I'll definitely be good!'
Seeing the little chick's pitiful state, Celeste Grant reached out and grabbed Javier Sinclair's hand. "It seems quite intelligent. I'm sure it will learn to behave. Maybe don't strangle it just yet."
Perhaps because it saw Celeste Grant speaking up for it, the chick-like Vermilion Bird nodded repeatedly.
"CHEEP CHEEP... CHIRP CHIRP..."
'I'll be good, I'll be so good!'
'Kind lady, help me! Save me!'
"Fine."
Javier Sinclair handed the little chick to Celeste Grant.
"If you like it, you can keep it as a pet."
"For me?"
She pointed to herself.
She was a little surprised. This was the Divine Beast, the Vermilion Bird, and he was just giving it to her.
Javier Sinclair said flatly, "If you don't raise it, I'll strangle it and make soup." 'She looks so scrawny,' he thought, 'this would be a good supplement for her.'
The corner of Celeste Grant's mouth twitched.
She had no doubt this man wasn't joking. He was being completely serious.
"CHEEP... CHEEP..."
'I'm going to die.'
'I'm going to die.'
Celeste Grant held out her hand.
"In that case, I won't be polite. Hand it over."
'It's a Divine Beast; it would be a waste to strangle it for soup. Even though it looks like a chick now, it has potential if I raise it. The huge spectacle from before must have been what it looks like when it's grown. That was pretty impressive.'
'Most importantly, it can cause trouble for the heroine in the future.'
'Ha! Oh, dear heroine, your destined opportunity is mine now. And in the future, it will be used against you.'
Javier Sinclair released his grip.
'I'm saved!'
'I don't have to die after all.'
The moment he let go, the little Vermilion Bird zipped into Celeste Grant's clothes to hide. She could still hear its cheeping and chirping.
Feeling a bump against her chest, Celeste Grant reached into her robes and felt something fluffy.
She grabbed it and held it up in front of her.
The little chick clung to her finger with its wings, cheeping nonstop, and even pointed a wing in Javier Sinclair's direction as if to tattle on him.
'Hit him! He's a bad man! He wanted to strangle me!'
Even without understanding its cheeps and chirps, she could guess what it was trying to say.
Celeste Grant blinked.
In the flickering firelight, her face shifted between light and shadow, looking somewhat sinister.
She leaned in close and whispered, "Little chick, I'm not exactly a good person either."
A sinister smile spread across Celeste Grant's face as she added, "To be honest, I've never tasted Vermilion Bird soup before. I wonder how different it is from chicken soup... Should I add some slices of ginger?"
The wings clutching her finger went limp, and its eyes filled with tears. 'I thought she was a kind and gentle lady. I was so wrong about her.'
"CHEEP... CHEEP..."
'No, no, no... Don't eat me.'
'I'm just a few mouthfuls, WAHHH.'
Celeste Grant poked its head.
"However, I'm definitely good to my own Spirit Companions. All the rice and meat you can eat."
'Rice... and meat...'
The little chick's eyes went wide.
'I want to eat.'
'I want meat!'
Celeste Grant poked it with her finger.
"The condition is, once you're with me, you can't be a traitor. Don't go running to a certain someone later with those puppy-dog eyes."
The little Vermilion Bird shook its head.
'CHEEP.'
'I won't.'
'I have principles, too.'
"Alright, it seems you can actually understand me. How about this: my son will be born soon, so why don't you become his Spirit Companion? You'll be in charge of protecting him. How does that sound?"
'I'm willing!'
The little Vermilion Bird nodded eagerly.
'As long as it's not soup, anything is fine!'
At a time like this, you have to bow to the inevitable. Even a Divine Beast has to swallow its pride when its life is on the line.
A circle of ancient runes lit up around the chick-like Vermilion Bird, then faded into Celeste Grant's belly. It had proactively formed a contract with the child in her womb.
"It can do that?"
She hadn't known that was possible. Remembering that this was originally the heroine's opportunity, Celeste Grant looked at Javier Sinclair. "Is this okay?"
Javier Sinclair spoke. "It initiated a Spirit Companion contract with the child in your womb, acknowledging him as its master. There's no problem with this contract."
That set Celeste Grant's mind at ease.
Celeste Grant opened her palm, and the little chick stood on it. She stroked its head. "Don't worry. As long as I have food to eat, you won't go hungry."
'Food! I want meat!'
"Since you're my family's Spirit Companion now, you'll stay with me. Should I give you a name? Seeing that red tuft of feathers on your head, let's call you Tufty."
The little Vermilion Bird protested.
"CHEEP..."
'That sounds awful! I don't want that name.'
"Then how about Red Tuft?"
"CHEEP CHEEP CHEEP... CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP..."
It liked this one even less.
"Still picky, are we? Fine, then. We'll call you Ruby."
"CHEEP... CHEEP."
This time, the little chick was satisfied. It wiggled its body, nodded, and cheeped twice.
Next, Celeste Grant was about to gather up the Vermilion Bird's eggshell. But Ruby cheeped and pointed at its shell with a small wing.
Celeste Grant glanced at it.
"You want this?"
Ruby nodded.
'Eating this can increase my cultivation. I was too weak when I hatched and didn't have time to absorb my own shell before I was caught.'
"Take it."
Celeste Grant handed the eggshell to it.
"CHEEP CHEEP CHEEP CHIRP CHIRP..."
Ruby chirped twice and then ate the eggshell with a series of CRUNCHES. It was so fast that the shell was gone in the blink of an eye. After eating its fill, it let out a burp and then hopped onto Celeste Grant's shoulder to nestle down.
Javier Sinclair's cool gaze fell on Celeste Grant's shoulder. He reached out, grabbed Ruby, and tossed it away. "You're a mature Spirit Companion now. You can fly on your own."
Ruby flapped wildly in the air before steadying itself. It flew beside Celeste Grant, glaring at Javier Sinclair, daring to be angry but not to speak, and could only cheep twice in protest.
She had come to Breezewind Town for this very reason, and now she had seized the opportunity. The next step was to give birth to her child.
Thinking of this, she spoke up. "This place has been burned down, so I can't live here anymore. I'll have to trouble The Exalted One to find me another place to stay. Something simple will do."
Javier Sinclair glanced at her, his gaze shifting from her face to her large belly. After a moment of silence, he asked in a cold voice, "Will you return with me to The Demon Palace, or will you continue to live in this territory?"
'His home?'
Images of various skulls and pale white skeletons immediately popped into Celeste Grant's mind... She raised a hand in refusal.
'That place...'
'...is too stressful.'
"No, thank you."