Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 132
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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 132
“One?”
Father said nothing more. For some reason, I wondered if that person might be Mother, but.
Just as I had when I discovered Mother’s handkerchief before, his expression wasn’t one I could ask about, so I pretended not to notice.
“Anyway, that was a distinctly Orca-like thing to say.”
“Well, of course? I’m an Orca.”
When it comes to selfishness, greed, and doing whatever I please, I rank first among all beastkin.
In fact, the fact that I didn’t fall in love in the previous timeline might have actually been fortunate for the other person.
Once I like something, the first thing that comes to mind is wanting to possess it—that’s how we Orcas are.
When this becomes entangled with love, things never end well.
‘Perhaps the hopeful cases are Uncle Rodesen and Aunt Heila.’
The fact that Uncle was so obsessed with Aunt that he became an uxorious fool was already well-known gossip in Orca society.
“Calypso.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
I turned my head.
A moment ago, I was worried about what the child would see and learn.
But really, there’s nothing I can do about it.
Ekion will likely continue to inherit my values as he grows.
I’m aware that my values and beliefs, having regressed three times, aren’t exactly normal.
So if there’s one thing I hope for.
It’s that you don’t inherit the unhealthy obsessions we Orcas are prone to.
“I’m grateful for your heart.”
I smiled and stroked Ekion’s head, then fell back into thought.
My worries shifted back to Whale.
How could I naturally get Whale to live at Father’s residence?
‘This won’t work. The direct approach is impossible now.’
With so much attention focused on me, bringing in another child would be far too risky in exposing Whale’s identity.
In truth, Father’s mansion itself boasted ironclad security.
The fact that Ekion could move around without any problems proved that much.
However, since he couldn’t stay inside forever without going out, I had tried to bring him officially somehow.
‘After all, it seems humans can’t hold everything in their hands.’
I made my decision.
“I’ll just have to bring him in secretly.”
It wasn’t as though I hadn’t brought him because there was no way to do it covertly.
I turned my head to look at Second Brother and Third Brother, still huffing and puffing as they sparred with water magic.
They had fought in Father’s reception room before, and that time they fought quite fiercely.
‘I knocked both of them down in one blow, didn’t I?’
Actually, I had done it because I was afraid Father would punish me otherwise.
Back then, I had warned them that if I fought them directly with my fists here again, they’d never be allowed to enter this place again.
After that, they’ve been fighting using water magic instead.
To others, it would look like…
‘Just friendly water play.’
I chuckled softly and gazed up at the sky.
‘The group has grown.’
Beyond relocating Levai and Whale’s quarters, I felt the need to organize the somewhat cluttered surroundings.
“Anyway… it was about time for a mid-point reorganization.”
* * *
A few days later, Atlant and Agenor gathered in the basement beneath Father’s quarters.
I had summoned one more person, but they hadn’t arrived yet.
“Nngh, nnngh.”
I tilted my head, watching Agenor tap his waist with his hands.
“Why have you been groaning like that for the past few days?”
Now that I thought about it, hadn’t he made those pained sounds even when he was bickering with Atlant in the reception room the other day?
“I received special training filled with love and affection from my Teacher.”
“…Good heavens, why did you willingly walk into hell on your own four legs?”
Father had pushed him hard, and he’d volunteered for it. Truth be told, when Father decided to go all out, even I often couldn’t tell if I was living or suffering through hell.
If that was my experience, what must it have been like for Agenor?
It must have been even worse.
Yet somehow, Agenor’s face bore a satisfied smile.
“It’s fine. My Teacher said many good things.”
“…And your ribs are well?”
“My ribs?”
“Surely with fact-based harsh words, they would have broken a dozen times over.”
“…Speaking truthfully, sister, I might already be a squid-human hybrid.”
“Oh dear, your bones have disappeared.”
Agenor leaned against me with exaggerated dramatics, pretending to wipe away secret tears. I naturally grabbed his hand and twisted it.
Agenor screamed that he was dying, yet the satisfied smile never left his face.
As someone entered the basement, I released Agenor.
“Is everyone here?”
“Yeah, they’re all here.”
The last to arrive had a slender frame and wore a robe pulled low over their head.
When the person removed the robe, Atlant, who had been sitting quietly in one spot, suddenly shot to his feet.
“What? Why is that girl here?”
The newcomer was Lirivel.
Lirivel also confirmed Atlant’s presence and immediately frowned.
“I was wondering who used such crude language, and here’s the Orca with his brain stuffed full of muscle?”
“What?”
I wasn’t surprised.
‘As expected.’
Even in the third cycle, Atlant and Lirivel’s relationship was terrible.
For one thing, we were similar in age, and though I didn’t know it at the time, we apparently crossed paths frequently while attending the Educational Institution together as children.
“That guy was unlucky even at the Educational Institution! He told me I was so muscle-brained that I shouldn’t even bother living!”
“…Is that not true?”
“What?”
Moreover, in the previous round, he had been Lirivel’s sworn rival.
Atlant would throw a fit whenever he got bored, saying he’d kill Lirivel with his own hands.
In the end, I settled it with my own hands.
‘Besides, even if they hadn’t met as enemies, the two of them were fundamentally incompatible in temperament.’
While Lirivel was a combat type whose intellect led despite his strength, Atlant was someone who fought purely on instinct.
Their dispositions were polar opposites.
So when I recruited Lirivel, I wondered if it would be alright.
But if things had come to this, I needed to settle it once and for all. For the sake of the future.
“Ha. You’ve held your breath all this time, and now you’re showing your true cunning colors and trying to rush at me? Fine, come at me. I’ll make sure you’re lying flat on the ground and can’t get up.”
“I’ve thought about it before, but… is it impossible for you to have a normal conversation without speaking so crudely?”
“What? You and me, come on.”
“When I was holding my breath as you said, perhaps.”
Lirivel stripped off his robe and tossed it down with a thud.
Even the motion of throwing was graceful beyond measure, but transparent water soon rippled menacingly around Lirivel.
“You’re the one who needs to learn proper hierarchy.”
I watched these two squabbling and making a ruckus with a haha, laughing expression.
“Quite the mess of a kindergarten, isn’t it, Father?”
“I’d like to ask you the same. Is this acceptable?”
When I asked Father, he answered with an indifferent face. I shrugged my shoulders.
“Well, yes. But they’re going to be the pillars supporting the Orca Family in the future.”
“…”
“That’s what I’ve decided.”
I lightly lifted the chair beside me and threw it with a whoosh.
Atlant and Lirivel each stepped back or took a fighting stance according to their own dispositions, turning toward me.
I laughed and clapped my hands together.
“Well then, everyone’s exchanged greetings, haven’t you?”
“Who said anything about greetings?”
“Exchange greetings with that guy? Is that even possible for you? Are you insane? Why would you—”
“Second Brother.”
“…”
I said it with my eyes. It would have been conveyed even without speaking.
That the time you and I lived through and now are clearly different.
Atlant bit his lip and turned his head away.
“Um, younger sister. I didn’t exchange greetings either.”
“Then do it now.”
“Come to think of it, they’re not really people I want to exchange greetings with.”
Agenor let out a single laugh, his eyes remaining cold as he clearly watched the others with caution.
‘Like mixing oil and water.’
Well, it’s fine. I’d expected this anyway.
‘The friction now is acceptable.’
But if it continues like this going forward, that’s a problem.
I had no intention of tolerating internal discord when I had to face the Orca Family Matriarch.
So let’s establish order right now.
“Do you know what the best way for people to become close is?”
At my warm and gentle voice, the three Orcas stared at me with tension.
Atlant even took a step back.
Ah, he knew, didn’t he? My habit.
How I become composed when planning something.
“Rolling around, tumbling and rolling.”
“…What?”
“And conveniently, we have a wonderful teacher right here to help us, ta-da?”
“Um, younger sister? I’m the wronged one here? I didn’t do anything wrong, and I didn’t even start any trouble!”
“Oh, so fighting with Second Brother doesn’t count as fighting?”
“Ha, what are you talking about…”
“I know you two fought several more times behind my back.”
How did I know? Our Yongyang told me. You fought secretly in the garden, didn’t you?
“It’s called collective responsibility, understand, Third Brother?”
“…”
“You’re a community of shared fate from now on.”
“…”
“If you have excess strength and fight because of it.”
I smiled brightly.
“Then you’ll train. Until you don’t even have the strength to speak.”
Of course, I hadn’t called these three together just for this one reason.
Besides, the fact that I called Lirivel, someone difficult to summon since I need to use him discreetly, means there’s another reason.
“I have no intention of keeping weak people beneath me. So at least grow strong enough to attack me and only half-die in the process.”
“That’s…”
“Father, I’m counting on you.”
While Second Brother and Third Brother’s faces grew pale, only Lirivel, who hadn’t experienced Father’s training, tilted his head in confusion.
“Lirivel, you too—fighting spirit! Approach this training with full commitment.”
“…Is that an order?”
“Yes.”
It didn’t take long before Lirivel fell into deep contemplation.
“I’m, I’m going insane, this isn’t rational training…”
“Hey, Lee! Didn’t you hear me?!”
“Ugh, I think I’m going to hate the words ‘collective responsibility’ the most from now on…”
I gazed contentedly at three Orcas rolling across the sprawling training grounds when someone descended into the basement.
The moment the newcomer entered, they froze upon seeing those already present in the basement.
Yes, I could understand their confusion.
After all, they were witnessing some of the most formidable direct descendants of the Orca Family earnestly rolling under the hands of my even more formidable Father.
“…Oh my, I’m the last to arrive. My apologies.”
“No, the others just came early. You’re right on time, so don’t worry.”
The final arrival was none other than Illia.
Beside Illia stood two young boys whose faces I’d never seen before.
Upon seeing the boy dressed as a Retainer, I smiled knowingly.
“You succeeded?”
“Yes, the beastkin with the mimicry specialty are all so fearful… It was quite troublesome, but I managed.”
Mimicry—a specialty that allowed one to conceal their own appearance or alter another’s form.
On the land animal side, Chameleon possessed a similar specialty.
The aquatic creature Illia had found possessed the ability to even transform others’ appearances.
As soon as Illia made the adjustment, the two young boys in Retainer’s clothing—Levai and Whale—reclaimed their true forms. I waved at them both with satisfaction.
“Hello, we finally meet again.”
“…Yes, it’s an honor to see you again, Noble Lady.”
Even Levai’s gruff greeting felt welcoming. Whale merely stared at me from beside Levai.
Had it been a month already?
“Now it’s time for you to fulfill what I asked of you.”
The moment had finally arrived for Whale and my Father to meet face-to-face.
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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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