Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 12

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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 12
I was given numerous instructions about folding clothes into the wardrobe and placing large tools and equipment in that massive box, but no one explained how to handle items like this handkerchief.
That said, I couldn’t just throw it away carelessly.
The moment Pierre turned his head to stare at the handkerchief, I saw my Father’s expression crease subtly for the first time.
“Discard it.”
His tone was resolute.
Yet ironically, his voice carried more complex emotions than I’d ever heard from him before.
‘With four lifetimes of experience on the line, this is exactly the kind of thing that would cause trouble if I threw it away!’
I’m an Orca Beastkin with unusually sharp instincts.
Years of reading the room and living carefully had honed this skill.
“Understood. I’ll discard it.”
But Pierre’s gaze was so resolute that it felt like trouble would arise even if I didn’t throw it away right now!
So I casually walked toward the trash disposal, made a show of discarding it… and the moment he turned away, I quickly slipped it into my pocket.
When I looked back, Pierre had already averted his gaze from me.
I continued organizing the items and asked casually.
“What was that handkerchief just now? It’s not your possession, is it?”
“…That’s correct.”
I expected him to dismiss my question as unnecessary or rebuke me, but instead received a surprisingly straightforward answer.
I paused mid-lift of an enormous hammer whose purpose in this room I couldn’t fathom.
‘Oh, that startled me. I almost dropped it on my foot.’
I blinked my eyes cutely while holding the hammer.
“Then whose is it?”
“It belongs to my wife.”
This time I truly nearly dropped the hammer…!
‘Goodness, that was a shock. I didn’t even see it coming.’
It belonged to my Mother.
This was completely unexpected.
Regardless of why he answered so readily, I felt relieved that I hadn’t thrown it away.
‘Whatever circumstances led him to tell me to discard it in that tone… I wonder.’
Though I live a repetitive existence, all I truly know about my Mother who gave birth to me is, naturally, that she is an Eel Beastkin.
And that she is a person of good character.
These were the only two facts I possessed.
‘No one ever told me anything more.’
Even when my older brothers came under my command in the previous cycle, I never learned anything further.
Perhaps I had been too lost in thought, too dazed.
“It seems the task was far too easy for you.”
“Huh? W-what?”
I would pay the price for that dearly.
I watched as water suddenly materialized in the air, gently lifting the tool box.
“Assessing a Disciple’s level is also part of a Teacher’s duties.”
And everything inside came tumbling out!
“Organize it.”
…Damn it, this cursed father!
Somewhere along the way, I forgot about my mother’s handkerchief and cursed inwardly while diligently organizing the tools.
‘Why on earth are there so many massive hammers in this room!’
Still, it wasn’t entirely unhelpful.
As I worked, I began to develop a knack for moving heavy objects.
‘It seems the saying about developing technique the more diversely you use water’s power isn’t a lie.’
Certainly, I felt my strength growing and my agility sharpening more than when I was merely running or repeatedly sitting and standing.
However, because of that cursed father who kept overturning things with various excuses afterward, I had to spend most of that day bustling about in Pierre’s room.
Because of that, I didn’t notice.
That Pierre had begun watching me instead of the window,
Or that a faint smile had settled on his lips.
* * *
‘Ugh, my whole body aches….’
The next morning.
I rode in the carriage with the Retainer to the Educational Institution, just like yesterday.
And I didn’t forget to report my situation before heading to class.
“The 8-year-old class… and you’re saying you’re entering the Alpha Class?”
“Yes.”
The Retainer accompanying me was also the Orca Family Matriarch’s closest aide.
This news would certainly reach the Matriarch’s ears.
‘Or perhaps the report has already been filed since yesterday?’
It wasn’t just a grade skip—I jumped directly to the highest-tier class.
Moreover, it was only possible because Rayla, the head of the Elementary Education Institution, approved it.
In other words, I had earned her recognition.
Those who knew how meticulous she was could never overlook such news.
The Matriarch would be no exception.
‘I told you to watch, didn’t I, Grandmother.’
But this was merely the beginning.
I smiled brightly as I addressed the Retainer.
“And I have one request….”
The Retainer, still marveling at how clearly I spoke, quickly nodded.
Upon hearing my request, the Retainer tilted his head in confusion.
“…You won’t be moving your residence, I see. I’ll note that for now and report it to the higher-ups.”
Normally, I would have planned to move to the main estate around this time, but I judged that doing so would make it difficult or impossible to visit Pierre.
I’m not fond of this shabby room, but there’s no help for it.
‘Besides, the newly arrived Misa seems quite skilled at cleaning.’
Speaking of cleaning….
‘I wonder if I should ask Misa about cleaning tips.’
Yesterday, I didn’t simply clean Pierre’s room.
After several rounds of tidying, I finally organized everything, only for her to drag me to another room and have me sweep the dust there!
“Next is laundry.”
Hearing those parting words, I nearly fainted.
‘I seriously considered not coming today.’
Thanks to that, at age three in the Orca Family, I quickly learned what labor-induced exhaustion truly meant.
‘Come to think of it, isn’t this happening because I keep doing everything she asks so well…?’
Should I have been more cunning about it?! But then she might kick me out?
I finally approached the truth before erasing my thoughts in front of the person I encountered.
“Good morning, Noble Lady.”
“Rayla.”
Rayla bowed gracefully.
With her glasses on, her expression was as meticulous as ever.
“Let us proceed. I shall guide you directly to your class, just as yesterday.”
Her manner was subtly more respectful than yesterday.
She wasn’t someone who readily knelt to power, so perhaps the mention of Pierre yesterday had left quite an impression?
Any Orca would admire my father and his tremendous strength.
“You’ve become quite famous in just a single day.”
“Huh? Me?”
As I walked after parting with the Retainer, Rayla said this.
It was a statement that made me tilt my head involuntarily.
‘All I did yesterday was put away tools and sweep dust, and sweep again…. Well, it was nothing but labor…?’
Through the haze of labor, tears clouded my vision.
I gazed at Rayla while erasing yesterday’s memories.
I could guess the reason she was saying this.
‘It was just yesterday when I spoke about my father in front of Rayla.’
I showed off my language skills yesterday, and then, not stopping there, I brought my father into the conversation and executed the Seodong Yeo strategy.
If rumors spread, someday this will become truth….
‘Anyway, since she took me as her Disciple, it’s not entirely false, is it? We did grow closer.’
From what I remember, Pierre never had anyone close to her until death.
So even though I don’t understand it either, I should consider it remarkable that I’m now in the position of her Disciple.
Besides, where I stood yesterday wasn’t only Rayla.
The Alpha Class teachers who were making a silent fuss were also there.
I thought their expressions and commotion weren’t ordinary.
The rumors must have spread quite a bit, haven’t they?
“It seems the word has spread to at least the Sixteen Orca Branch Families.”
“Cough cough…!!”
At her following words, I not only stumbled but couldn’t hide my coughing fit.
‘What, what is this?’
By nature, Orcas are not animals that form large groups.
To be precise, we’re animals that form groups centered around family, and typically the strongest Orca Matriarch leads the pack.
Moreover, even among the same species, packs weren’t particularly close to one another.
We Orca Beastkin inherited these very characteristics.
The Orca pack leader.
In other words, the family led by my Orca Family Matriarch became the representative main house and direct line.
The other Orca packs became branch families or took on roles as independent vassal houses.
Accordingly, these branch families or vassal houses also appointed their own pack leaders.
‘If I recall correctly, our families including vassals number around thirty-two or so…?’
It wasn’t without reason that I referred to our family as a gang.
Individually we’re quite strong, but banded together, we Orca Beastkin became an even more thuggish collective.
‘But wait, more than half of them already knew about me? And from just yesterday?’
At this point, I had to wonder how the Elementary Education Institution even maintained any secrets or confidentiality.
My shock was written so plainly across my face that Rayla let out a small cough.
“The teachers who were there yesterday… each of them has a rather loose tongue.”
“Just how loose are we talking about for it to spread like this?”
“One of them has an Eel Beastkin as a father, I heard.”

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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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