Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 119

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 119
“H-huh, no, no…. Don’t say it like that. Atlant…!”
A genius of the Orca Family?
What was interesting was that Levin was startled but didn’t correct Atlant’s words.
“…I have no idea what you’re talking about, so why don’t you explain it properly?”
“Ah. The Orca Family was loyal to me. So if I join, your subordinates double.”
“…Yeah, that’s some impressive math.”
“Right?”
Yes. My Second Brother, I can see your head is still a flower garden when it comes to anything but combat!
‘So he’s called a genius.’
Atlant’s explanation went like this.
The Orca Family was originally a house where the eldest always inherited.
A genius with talent that devoured everyone else was born into this family where the eldest—whether firstborn son or daughter—inherited, and
the family members unanimously marked Levin as the next successor.
However, the condition for inheritance was….
Graduating from the Intermediate Institution one year earlier than their age.
‘So there was a reason he was staking his life on advancement.’
It seemed he had his own ambitions as well.
‘So that’s why he mentioned family recognition when we met last time. I thought he was being ostracized within the family.’
In Orca society, it was common enough that I naturally assumed it was violence-related.
“He apparently had something he invented as a child recognized as the best. With this level of intellect, isn’t he useful?”
“Yeah, yeah. It’s sudden to appear and say this, but what exactly did he invent?”
“An improved ballista.”
“Hmm, a weapon of war. In these peaceful times….”
“Hey, what was that thing called again? Umba?”
“T-Tuumba!”
I was startled by the absurd name.
Wait, what?
That weapon—the one I used to laugh about because it shared a name with the pasta I liked on Earth.
It was the very same weapon that played a crucial role in our victory against the land animals in the last cycle.
It wasn’t just a simple ballista.
“My memory’s fuzzy, but yours isn’t, right?”
As if he knew I’d react this way, Atlant grinned, showing his fangs.
I was genuinely shocked at how confident Atlant was.
“He really made that?”
“Why would I lie? You’d find out anyway.”
I first encountered that weapon when I had just declared war.
Come to think of it, Redas, the subordinate who brought the weapon, had said this once.
“This is… a weapon someone in our family made long ago. Back then, we never imagined we’d actually have a war.”
“It performed brilliantly.”
“Yes, which is why I find it regrettable and lamentable. If that genius who created this had lived just a little longer… we would have seen many more weapons that I myself could never craft.”
“…Really? How did he end up dying?”
“He was murdered. By a successor of the Orca Branch Family—a house that no longer exists.”
His face twisted bitterly as he muttered.
…Ah, so he was thinking of his dead brother.
Redas certainly possessed remarkable talents, yet he was always humble to an almost excessive degree.
Insisting he was no genius.
‘So that’s why he was so modest—because he had a true genius as his brother.’
I blinked.
If this was true, then that Orca before me—the one rolling his eyes about so frantically—was a talent I absolutely had to recruit.
Moreover, he was an ‘S-rank talent’ I had to ensure survived at all costs.
‘Huh.’
“…Understood. For now, go back.”
“What? That’s all your reaction?”
“I’ll accept you. In truth, I was already planning to accept you that day.”
“Huh?”
“I told you—I needed time.”
“….”
Color flooded back into Atlant’s face. In that same moment, he glanced at me cautiously, as if only now realizing his slip-up.
“…Are you angry?”
“No, I’m not. So stop hunching your shoulders like that. It’s obvious.”
“…I’ve never done that.”
I turned my gaze from Atlant to Levin.
“Levin, you’ve thought this through sufficiently and agreed to what Atlant said, correct?”
“Well… there’s nothing to agree or disagree with, really. Since our house decided to follow Atlant as he said, um, I don’t really have a choice….”
“Then what if I gave you a choice?”
“….”
“If you were dragged here against your will by Atlant, if you’re being forced to ride along with your house’s decision—tell me.”
I fixed my expression into seriousness.
I didn’t know just how much of a genius Levin was, but if worst came to worst, I could always recruit Redas, who had been his subordinate.
Redas was certainly a tremendous talent in his own right.
“I apologize for forcing such an abrupt decision, but I have no need for people who follow me by compulsion. I will become Matriarch without fail, and I wish only for those with conviction in their own lives to walk that path with me.”
Levin’s expression became complicated.
I told Levin I would give him until our next meeting to decide, and asked him to give me his answer then.
Hasty decisions only breed regret, so I urged him to think carefully.
After Atlant and Levin left, I exhaled softly.
As I sat on the sofa and leaned my head back, I felt something moving beside me. Looking over, it was Ekion.
Ekion was busily kneading my hand.
“What are you doing?”
“I saw. The book.”
“Huh?”
“A massage.”
I let out a soft chuckle.
“You’ve learned that too? Impressive.”
“Don’t be fooled.”
“Huh? Fooled about what, Father?”
“Do you know the title of that book about massage that he read?”
“What is it?”
“Fifty Charms of a Beloved Husband.”
“….”
My expression became peculiar.
“…Why on earth is a book like that in Father’s study?”
“…Someone forced it upon me.”
Every book Ekion currently reads comes from Father’s study.
So why hadn’t Father thrown it away? Given his nature, he would mercilessly toss anything unnecessary into the trash.
Father seemed to sense my question and fell silent for a moment before exhaling as if sighing.
“Your mother gave it to me.”
“Eh…?”
Caught off guard by this unexpected revelation, I chose to remain quietly silent after seeing Father’s expression.
‘This seems like something I shouldn’t touch.’
Instead, I stroked Ekion’s head. So he applied what he learned from that book to help me?
This adorable little dragon.
‘I need to learn more about Ekion’s abilities.’
Setting aside such thoughts for now, I shifted my gaze toward the door.
‘It feels like a storm just passed through.’
In any case, Atlant’s problem was that he acted first and thought later.
Still the same as always.
I stared intently at the door through which Atlant had vanished, when a quiet voice reached me from beside.
In my field of vision, Father’s face came into view—the turmoil from moments ago had vanished, replaced by a serene expression.
“Why do you have that look?”
Now that I thought about it, everything had happened so quickly that I’d forgotten.
‘Atlant didn’t say a single word to Father, did he?’
He didn’t even greet him.
It was as if Father were invisible—someone completely irrelevant to him.
Though Father did have memories from previous cycles, he seemed entirely unbothered.
I had been the same way in previous cycles too.
What was amusing was that Father also showed no sign of minding it, and looking at it from this angle….
‘Father and I are like two fish cakes from the same mold.’
I blinked my eyes.
“What’s wrong with my expression?”
“If you’re unsure, then look in a mirror.”
Father gestured with his hand, and water formed a rounded shape before becoming perfectly smooth and transparent in front of me, reflecting my image like a mirror.
“Ah….”
Meeting my own expression in the mirror Father had created, I touched my cheek.
‘So this is what my face looked like.’
I laughed awkwardly.
Feeling weight on one side, I turned my head to find Ekion, who had been gently pressing my hand, now had his arms firmly crossed as he stared at me.
I tapped Ekion gently with my free hand and slowly opened my mouth.
“I have a terrible memory.”
Truth be told, I wasn’t sure I could overcome it, so I was planning to just leave it crumpled in a corner of my mind.
Even organizing it felt too burdensome.
Atlant, who had suddenly burst through the drawing room door moments ago, resembled the soldier who had taken the vanguard in that final battle.
“I’ll buy us time. You need to escape.”
“Don’t say such insane things!”
“No, Matriarch. You must survive. I’ll hold them off as long as I can.”
I should never have nodded.
Buying time meant meeting death in the most agonizing way possible.
I pressed my eye sockets hard.
“Then, what can I do to ensure that memory never becomes reality again?”
I opened my eyes and lifted my head.
“Would it ease your heart if I helped?”
My guardian, who possessed great power and seemed capable of anything, spoke these words.
For the first time, I felt like a helpless child, and I laughed bitterly.
But it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.
Though tears didn’t fall, moisture clung to my lips as hoarse words spilled out.
“…I wish there had been someone to say that to me back then.”
But memories that have already passed are merely memories. I am living today.
What proves this to me every day is Father, alive and breathing before my eyes.
And Ekion, who shares his warmth with me now.
“I’m fine.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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