Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 137
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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 137
Ten years—I furrowed my brow. Dreadfully long.
‘Father will die first before that happens.’
But instead of panicking like before, I spoke briskly.
“Cut it down.”
“Pardon? How exactly am I supposed to reduce it?”
“What if we have astronomical amounts of money and manpower? I’m asking about the household.”
Levai’s fine brows furrowed, and soon he raised both hands in surrender.
“…Five years.”
“Too long.”
“Four years. This is truly the absolute limit—the best we can manage. And that’s only if I and the beastfolk with detection abilities actively cooperate.”
“Is that so?”
I pondered for a moment, then smiled softly.
“What if we cut it down to two years?”
With our strategist working, what couldn’t we accomplish?
It was a fact I’d learned very well in my third cycle.
As expected, Levai’s face crumpled like discarded trash.
“Forgive me for saying this after not seeing you for some time, but…you don’t think of me as some tool where you press a button and materials pop out, do you?”
Well, yes, I do.
“Do you think I’m some library where you press a button and strategies just tumble out!”
Levai’s final words from the previous cycle seemed to echo and overlap.
I felt delighted and laughed freely.
“You’re not saying it’s impossible, though?”
“….”
“And when I say something like this, you don’t dislike it?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Isn’t it cheap for the price of a life?”
“…Damn it.”
Levai grumbled.
“You certainly value my life and Whale’s life quite highly.”
This was as good as acceptance.
‘If it were impossible, he would have said so.’
If he’d decided not to do it, he wouldn’t do it by any means.
Moreover, those eyes were the eyes of someone who’d made up his mind to do it.
“Good. Two years.”
I turned my head and gazed at Father.
“You heard that, Father? In two years…we can treat you?”
I’ll never let you die now. Even if you wanted to, you absolutely won’t.
Who told you to fall within an orca’s range of obsession?
As I thought this, Father stared at me with an indescribable expression.
“You’re incredibly happy, aren’t you?”
Complex emotions rippled across my Father’s handsome face like waves.
It was one of the rarest moments I’d seen him—usually so stoic and composed—visibly shaken.
Yet all that escaped outwardly was a gentle tap on my head and his calm, measured voice.
“…I see.”
The fact that the end of his words trembled ever so slightly—something only I could perceive—became a secret I decided to keep to myself.
I couldn’t begin to guess what he was truly feeling.
‘What in this world is truly impossible?’
There are people who regress through time, and there’s Yongyang who commands time itself.
So what’s so difficult about curing an illness, about procuring those supposedly impossible materials?
I chose to think of it that way.
“Don’t worry, Father. I know it sounds incomprehensible, but…. I standing before your eyes am nothing short of a living miracle.”
At least in this moment, I’d found the key that would let him live.
For the first time, I chose to see this regression as a blessing.
“I understand. And…. I’ve thought the same way for a very long time.”
My Father chuckled softly and spoke in a hushed voice.
“I never thought the day would come when I’d feel reassured by having a daughter.”
I broke into a radiant smile and turned my gaze away.
“Levai, go gather everyone.”
Now all the necessary people had assembled.
Two years—in that time, my priority was collecting materials for my Father. This was the foremost task.
And….
“…So for these two years, I’ll devote all my strength to gathering materials. But there’s something separate I need each of you to do.”
I looked at the future pillars who would support my forces, rolling my neck loosely as I explained.
It was a habit of mine whenever I attempted something.
“What is it?”
Atlant asked on behalf of the group.
Agenor with tension in his expression, Lirivel with her beautiful brows raised.
Illia and Levai with composed faces. And even Whale….
“For you to grow stronger.”
My first pointed finger encompassed three: Atlant, Agenor, and Lirivel the Orca.
My next finger pointed to Levai.
“For you to become even more clever.”
Levai frowned but offered no objection. My gaze shifted to Illia.
“To expand your forces. Whether large or small, any faction will do.”
Before I could even point, Illia understood her role and nodded.
Finally, my finger came to rest on my own chest.
Last of all.
“And I too will grow stronger.”
Agenor raised his hand eagerly.
“Listen, younger sister… How much stronger do you plan to become? You’re already quite formidable as it is, aren’t you?”
“I agree. You’re already disgustingly strong.”
“It’s not enough.”
I had no intention of waiting idly.
Like a beast of the sea cutting fiercely through the currents, I would rush toward that Matriarch at the summit.
“Do you know something?”
When I asked with a smile, Atlant answered reluctantly.
“…No, I don’t know what you’re trying to say, but isn’t it most terrifying when you make that kind of expression?”
“Certain abilities bloom even in life-or-death crises.”
“…And?”
“Especially combat-related abilities don’t grow through training alone—they develop significantly through actual battle. You two wouldn’t be unaware of this fact.”
At that, the faces of the two who had rolled beneath me, Agenor and Atlant, turned either pale or haggard.
Only Lirivel’s expression showed confusion, but she seemed to have some inkling and offered no objection.
“So what are you planning to do? Will the family wage war?”
“No? Excessive conflict at this point would be counterproductive. Instead, I’ve redirected attention outward.”
“Outward?”
“Yes. What we need to do now is catch the Matriarch’s eye.”
Though I’ve emerged as a strong candidate, ultimately the decision rests in the Matriarch’s hands.
And I know exactly what would please that grandmother most.
“Where else could there be a position that catches the Matriarch’s attention while serving as proper training?”
The most ancient conflict on this land is the confrontation between sea creatures and land creatures.
And conveniently, I have the perfect excuse for this.
“I am the Dragon’s Bride.”
“…!!”
Everyone looked bewildered or taken aback by this sudden revelation.
Before anyone could speak, I continued.
“And I plan to return to the City of Dragons soon as the Dragon’s Bride.”
So many materials came up in treating Father’s illness that I don’t remember them all, but this much I know.
The materials I listened to carefully.
‘Some materials can only be obtained from the lands of land animal demihumans.’
And the City of Dragons was actually a place where all goods from both land animal and aquatic animal territories converged and intersected.
‘It’s perfect for gathering materials.’
Though Levai would need to come with me for the materials. Somehow he’s already become an essential companion, so that’s fine.
‘Of course, even without hearing about the materials, I would have gone to the City of Dragons regardless.’
For five years, a corner of my heart carried the debt of that baby snake left behind in that hellish place for Ekion’s sake.
‘Ekion would be so pleased.’
Now it’s time to retrieve our baby snake two years earlier than promised to Tus.
* * *
Naturally, Calypso’s decision met with opposition.
Of course, Calypso Aquasiadel was hardly the type to concern herself with her subordinates’ objections.
Even as Atlant thought this, he couldn’t suppress the words that naturally spilled from his lips.
“…Are you insane?”
“Yes. What do you think? It’s a pretty good excuse, right? A perfect excuse to go to the City of Dragons!”
“Excuse my ass!”
Those gathered here knew better than anyone what the Dragon’s Bride truly was.
Wasn’t it a death sentence?
Of course, everyone knew well that Calypso wasn’t someone who would die easily.
But that was beside the point.
‘And on top of that, that damned Dragon Duke is right here—where the hell does she think she’s going?!’
While the other subordinates wore reluctant expressions, only Atlant raged furiously.
If one were to name those with the deepest resentment toward land animals, Atlant harbored hatred as profound as Calypso’s own.
‘I knew she’d throw a fit like this.’
After listening to Atlant’s outbursts for a while, Calypso spoke curtly.
“Be quiet.”
Would Calypso have spoken without thought? In truth, this was merely an excuse—she’d cause a bit of chaos and return.
Yes.
“Because I have a good plan.”
Calypso’s smirk was identical to a certain expression Atlant remembered.
‘…Wasn’t that the same face she made when declaring war?’
* * *
Days later, my face should have been beaming with joy as things unfolded smoothly, yet it remained grave.
And for good reason….
‘Young Boy can’t open his eyes.’
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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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