An Omelet from My Own Egg
There it was—an omelet on the plate, no matter how much it was dressed up, still looking somehow unnatural. A cute little thing, as if claiming it was made small because there weren't enough eggs. The traces of effort to surround it with other foods to hide the awkwardness were visible... but it stood out far too much.
Grip tightening on her utensils, Asha murmured lowly.
"Claudia..."
Claudia smiled brightly in response.
"What's up, Sha'a?"
Claudia prodded the omelet with her fork—tap, tap. It yielded softly, fluffily welcoming the intrusion like it was showing off.
Glancing aside, Cecil was already poised to pop it into her mouth. The omelet's cross-section, split by the fork, was impressive.
"C-Cecil, wait a sec."
Cecil paused the fork at her lips, tilting her head with a voice full of curiosity.
"Sha'a-nim? What's wrong?"
A bit of clear drool glistened at the corner of her tiny mouth, insisting she wanted to eat it now. Asha reached out to wipe it away, and a smile bloomed on Cecil's puzzled face. Asha gave an awkward smile back before turning to Claudia.
"Claudia... this omelet isn't... you know, that, right?"
"Something wrong? Want me to call the waiter?"
"...D-don't change the subject."
Unable to outright ask if it was the egg she'd laid, Asha hesitated. In that moment, Claudia's fork sliced into the omelet. The yellow half vanished into her mouth in an instant.
"...!"
Asha stared blankly before turning away. Seeing Claudia eat it without issue, Cecil followed suit, munching with her fork still in her mouth. The halved omelet looked forlorn on the plate, weeping for its lost half.
Heat rushed to Asha's face.
"N-no, what if that's bad for you!? What if it has some weird effect...!"
"It'll be fine. It came from that potion you made—how could it be a problem?"
Claudia's shoulders shrugged slightly at that... but Asha shook her head.
"I-I appreciate the trust, really, but we need to run tests first. Eating it all like this is not okay."
"Don't worry—the biggest one's saved."
Claudia pulled the egg from her bag and showed it. The first one that had caused Asha such agony. The memory made her lower belly clench.
Cecil's innocent voice chimed in.
"Was this food made from an egg Sha'a-nim laid?"
"...Probably. If you feel weird or your stomach acts up, tell me right—"
Cecil shook her head vigorously.
"Not at all. It's delicious!"
"...R-really?"
Claudia, who'd been watching quietly, added,
"Just like the assistant said. Haven't had egg cooking this tasty in ages."
Should she be happy...? It was a complicated feeling.
Asha sighed and gave up. She couldn't ask them to spit it out now.
Meanwhile, Cecil had polished off her plate and tilted her head at Asha.
"Sha'a-nim isn't eating?"
"...!"
Unable to reply, Asha stared at her plate. Now certain it was from her egg, her heart felt heavy. Recalling the sensation of it forcing its way out through her flesh made her body tremble faintly.
...Did harpies feel like this?
"Sha'a-nim! If you're not eating it, may Cecil have it?"
"G-go ahead... eat it."
"Really?"
"Yeah..."
She'd answered on reflex. Cecil hummed happily, anticipating the next dish, while Claudia watched Asha, her face saying she wanted a review.
...What was the big deal? It was just... a human-laid egg. Humans didn't lay eggs, of course... but that just proved how amazing her skills were, right? That thought eased her mind.
Asha sliced into the omelet with her fork. It parted smoothly without resistance. She speared a yellow piece—it looked like any ordinary egg dish. The smell was fine too.
But as she brought it to her mouth, tension gripped her. She swallowed once, opened wide, and... slid in the fork.
Teeth sinking in, she pulled out the fork. Saliva clung, trailing a long silver thread.
The omelet on her tongue... was delicious. Regrettably so, considering she'd never eat it again.
"How's it taste? Your face says it all anyway."
"...!"
Unable to respond, Asha devoured the rest.
...The egg she'd laid was that good.
After that, they finished the normal food and left the restaurant. When the head chef approached Claudia asking where she'd gotten the egg... Asha wanted to die from embarrassment. But hearing he'd buy more at a high price lifted her spirits a bit.
Anyway. Claudia had a packed schedule, but since it was all couple-friendly spots... they headed back to the workshop early. Asha took the egg from the reluctant Claudia, who saw them home, and waved goodbye.
With time left before her schedule, Asha went to the workshop, chatting with Cecil about the meal.
In the cool workshop, she examined the egg. Held in both hands up close, its surface gleamed smooth. Heavier than expected.
Idly pressing it to her lower belly... how did this even come out?
...Humans gave birth to bigger babies, so of course. She shook her head to dismiss the thought and kept inspecting. Nothing unusual—just an egg.
She considered cracking it open but put it off till tomorrow.
...Not because she planned it for lunch.
Sending the sleepy Cecil up first, Asha sat at her desk to write a letter. To her dear mentor, naturally.
Dear Mentor,
Your disciple has finally suffered the humiliation of laying an egg.
I'm not rushing you, but with no word... I'm worried enough to write.
Writing it brought back the day's events. Her unfamiliar organ tingled and clenched. It pissed her off. Trembling at how this wasn't her body, she kept writing her grievances.
She pulled out the paper full of complaints and sealed a blank one instead. Sending that pitiful rant... didn't sit right.
She'd acted nonchalant, but apparently not.
Tucking the sealed letter in a drawer, she headed for a shower. The warm water cascading down improved her mood a little. Stroking her belly... that organ that hadn't existed before asserted itself.
Memories of Claudia's gentle pressure surfaced. She felt uneasy at these unwanted imprints carving into her body. What if she couldn't change back?
No, she definitely could. These weak thoughts were just the changed body's fault.
After showering, she led her heated body back to the bedroom. Cecil was asleep, curled up like a shrimp—adorable. Not being alone comforted her a bit.
...Technically, this happened while making Cecil... but it wasn't Cecil's fault.
Carefully climbing into bed, she instinctively hugged Cecil. Cecil mumbled softly and snuggled closer. The warmth felt good.
She wasn't the type to seek others' body heat before... but it wasn't bad.
Stroking Cecil's fluffy hair, she recalled a potion stashed somewhere for preservation. Wouldn't it make it even fluffier?
With that thought, she drifted off.
"...Made a ton of money, and you live here?"
The red-haired woman grumbled as she walked. Soon, a house that seemed out of place with its surroundings came into view. She understood why now.
But her mouth said otherwise.
"...What a waste of cash."
Still, something drew her on unchanged. At the gate, as she reached for the call button—
Commotion erupted from inside.
-Ah, Asha-nim! Please calm down!
The red-haired woman knew she'd come to the right place from that voice. The name scarred into her since academy days rang out.
It sounded chaotic. But what bugged her more was the voice calling that name.
"...A girl?"
She muttered unconsciously and pressed the button. Unaware why her fist clenched.
Moments later, a silver-haired girl with a troubled face appeared. Doubts flooded the red-haired woman's mind.