Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 122

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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 122
“Didn’t you say you liked someone who cooks well?”
I remember tilting my head at Father’s question.
“Huh? Yeah, that’s right. Having practical life skills isn’t bad, is it?”
“Where?”
“In survival.”
“…That’s a good attitude.”
Father looked satisfied after hearing my answer.
I’m not sure where he found inspiration in the phrase “good for survival,” but
he even said something as if he were showing goodwill toward Ekion.
“Just remember that he’s on his thirtieth cookbook. Ignore everything else.”
Four days had passed since I discussed the power of water with Ekion.
In that time, not only Agenor but even Atlant came by once, suddenly appearing at Father’s Residence.
‘And those Lugaru bastards are trying to copy it too.’
These days, I just bundle up everyone who comes looking for me and hand them over to Father.
It felt incredibly relieving, like I’d taken a digestive.
‘This is why children need exercise.’
After entrusting the children to Father, that capable kindergarten(?), I came today to meet Illia.
“The children must have been delighted. It’s unfortunate that Roba happened to be away.”
“…I see them every day at the Educational Institution until I’m sick of it.”
Illia, who maintained a stern expression despite her Beluga’s characteristic cute appearance, smiled politely at me.
“I heard the news that you’ve recruited Atlant.”
“Word travels fast, doesn’t it?”
“Especially when it’s news about Calypso. In many ways, you’re someone standing over a hot pot.”
“Fish die when they stand over a pot.”
“…Sometimes you enjoy jokes that people older than you would like, Calypso.”
Wasn’t it funny? It was a joke I was proud of.
This is all because of that guy who said it was funny and meant it seriously.
“Why? It’s funny. When an almond dies, it becomes a diamond.”
“Matriarch, I’ll kill this bastard and return to the sea!”
“He’s been like that for thirty minutes!”
“Why? It’s funny.”
“…”
That Dolphin Retainer who was my strategist.
I erased the noisy memory and looked at Illia.
“Thanks for the hint about the Herring Clan.”
Illia gave a wry smile.
“Can you really call it a hint when it ended up being unhelpful?”
“Well…”
“I never imagined you’d already joined hands with the Herring Clan.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“The early fish gets the fresh plankton.”
Then I took a sip of the tea with a satisfied sound.
Apparently, I’d given the young boy sweet tea thinking he’d like it, but if he knew I enjoyed it too….
“Pour me another cup.”
“Yes.”
An excellent choice.
I received the refilled cup and exhaled softly.
“Anything unusual at Beluga?”
“We remain as we always are, quite peaceful.”
Illia rested her chin on her hand, seeming to ponder before speaking lightly.
“To be honest, since Baian is no longer with us, there’s no one particularly tormenting us anymore.”
“Baian was tormenting you?”
It wasn’t an unfamiliar story.
“Ah yes. It’s quite an old tale from when Baian was young, but there was once a clownfish child he tried to take away, and we protected them.”
It was a reckless act.
In the past, that bastard Baian would have strutted about freely.
And everyone would have condoned his violence.
“Did a conflict break out at that time?”
“Yes. At the time, my mate Roba clashed with the branch orca warriors who served under Baian. Many were injured, but… we survived.”
Illia’s expression turned cold for a moment before returning to the face I knew.
“That’s the situation. There was some harassment afterward, but nothing worth troubling you over.”
“… I feel sorry about that. If I’d known, I would have dealt with that bastard much sooner.”
“No, it’s fine. Though I was a bit disappointed that you left us orphans alone for five years.”
I chuckled.
“I wondered who Lugaru inherited their silver tongue from, but it was you, Illia.”
“Our children do have rather cute tongues.”
The way she expressed her displeasure without offending the other party was exactly like the Matriarch.
“Right, so back to what I was saying… Those eight families the Matriarch gathered. How many of them aren’t orcas?”
Illia fell silent immediately.
Instead, she tapped the table—tap, tap tap—a specific number of times.
I nodded.
… That’s strange. Why would that Matriarch give voting rights to such weak families like herring?
And on such an important matter as deciding the next Matriarch.
‘If it’s the Matriarch I know, she would never do such a thing.’
She only looked at strength, completely disregarding things like character.
So when I returned to the family in the previous round, the family was in complete chaos.
The image of the family, no different from an animal kingdom, was vivid.
‘But six out of eight families aren’t orcas?’
I pondered the hint Illia had subtly conveyed through her fingers.
“Is something troubling you?”
Illia seemed to interpret my concern as a situation lacking hints, and she opened her mouth.
“I can provide more hints if needed.”
“Yeah, I appreciate it. But that’s not really it….”
I interlaced my fingers.
“I came here today to ask one thing. You mentioned it before, didn’t you?”
“Yes. Please give your orders.”
“That you’d arrange for me to meet the Dolphin Retainer.”
“Our family is close with the Dolphin Family, so we were planning to arrange a gathering with them. Would that be acceptable?”
This time, my target is the Dolphin Retainer.
And this one is.
‘Connected to Father’s treatment as well.’
Yes, one by one, my blueprint is coming together.
I’ll see you again.
It was time to visit my right arm from the third loop.
…or so I thought, briefly.
“Hmm, Calypso. I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”
My plan hit a wall right from the start.
“All those Dolphins packed their things and returned home. All except one person.”
* * *
“Is something on your mind?”
I stopped my groaning and lifted my head.
Father stood there in comfortable attire.
“Oh, it’s already evening.”
When did the time slip away like this?
I remember worrying constantly ever since I returned from seeing Illia….
At some point, I must have lain down, and to my left, Ekion was sleeping soundly with his head resting on my legs.
I smiled softly and stroked Ekion’s head.
“It’s better not to get too attached.”
“Hm?”
“Aren’t you planning to send him back home?”
That’s right.
“But that doesn’t mean we’ll never see him again, does it?”
Father sat down in the empty space on my right. In his hand was a small toy.
It was something I had given to Ekion, but it seemed he had picked it up from the floor.
I occasionally saw Father tidying things himself, and each time, I was struck anew by the stories I once heard from Suha about the “fastidious Pierre.”
“So what’s troubling you?”
Hmm, why am I just brushing past this?
I answered while squinting my eyes slightly.
“Father. Suppose there’s someone who suddenly leaves the place where they’ve built their foundation in life and returns to their homeland.”
“Yes.”
“Then why do people usually leave so suddenly?”
“Are you talking about moving? In normal cases… either they’ve grown tired of where they live, or circumstances force them to leave. It’s one or the other, isn’t it?”
“Right, that makes sense.”
The dolphins had all apparently departed for their homeland.
‘The problem is, I desperately need one of them.’
After cleanly abandoning the excellent method of awakening the power of water through Ekion, I devised an alternative approach.
It was to use the method I’d employed in my third cycle to awaken my power.
Specifically, by utilizing the treasure ‘Lineus’.
However, there was a problem.
‘It’s far too distant.’
Even back then, after escaping home, I’d wandered for years before finally arriving there.
I could travel there by carriage now, but it’s still far. And besides.
‘To reach there easily, I need assistance.’
That place is probably the dolphins’ territory, isn’t it?
“I understand the remaining dolphins will depart soon as well, but they were actively packing their belongings.”
“That won’t do!”
Cold sweat broke out at Illia’s words, which somehow conveyed the feeling that if I didn’t act now, I’d miss my chance.
After deliberating, I suddenly lifted my head.
“I think it’s best to ask directly.”
“Ask whom?”
“An old flame.”
The toy Father had been casually playing with dropped from his hand.
“…Didn’t you meet me and the Three-Year-Old at the same time?”
“That’s right.”
“But you had a lover back then? You must be joking.”
“Ah, of course I’m joking.”
I stuck my tongue out slightly and shrugged. Then I suddenly worried Ekion might wake up.
“…A friend you were close enough to that it looked like a romantic relationship?”
Well, you could say we were close.
Since that person was my right arm during my third cycle, we were practically inseparable, day and night.
Of course, it was work-related.
“Please let me clock out.”
“No. Unless you want to see me work myself to death by tomorrow morning.”
“…Damn it. In my next life, I won’t get entangled with the Matriarch.”
“I won’t let you go.”
“Could you perhaps direct that obsession toward an actual lover instead of me?”
“Oh, sorry, but I really like your cooking. Want to live at our place?”
“This is exactly why the other subordinates keep getting the wrong idea!”
The other retainers had plenty of reason to suspect, seeing how inseparably we stuck together.
Of course, I had been teasing him because I found it amusing watching him bounce around frantically.
“…For a three-year-old, he certainly has quite the wide social circle.”
“Who do you think you’re talking about?”
“Whoever it is, anyone would be surprised to hear that a three-year-old has a friend like a lover.”
Father’s expression turned cold.
“I’m quite curious who that boy is.”
Father whispered softly.
“His face too.”

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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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