Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 138

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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 138
For some reason, Ekion wouldn’t wake up, remaining locked in sleep.
It had been three days since Ekion fell into this deep slumber—ever since Father received a diagnosis from Whale in the basement.
When I emerged from the basement that day, I was startled to find Ekion sprawled across the corridor, fast asleep.
According to Second Brother, Ekion had actually made it all the way to the basement entrance.
He’d collapsed mid-rage without warning.
“Still, you can’t just leave the boy lying in the corridor like that!”
“What was I supposed to do? He kept trying to use his strength on me the moment I got close—what could I do?”
Now I understood why Atlant’s clothes had been in such disarray.
He’d gotten roughed up when he approached the collapsed Ekion.
“Seriously, do you know how shocked I was? Why was the Dragon Duke coming out of there?!”
I immediately began piecing together what had happened.
Apparently, Ekion had suddenly grown angry and tried to use his power, so Atlant had managed to stop him several times.
Then, moments later, Ekion broke into a cold sweat and simply collapsed.
I was surprised, but I didn’t worry too much at first. I thought he’d open his eyes within a day.
But Ekion never did. Not for days.
‘I wondered if he was ill…’
Even the physician I’d gone to great lengths to summon said Ekion was simply sleeping.
To be safe, I brought Whale to ‘diagnose’ Ekion, and he confirmed there was neither illness nor injury.
Instead, he left a cryptic remark with his characteristically blunt and earnest expression.
“Noble Lady, this child is strange. The body structure…”
“What’s strange about it?”
“I can’t say.”
“What do you mean by that?”
It was natural that those with healing abilities couldn’t reveal secrets about the human body.
Whale seemed to have sensed that Ekion was no ordinary existence.
‘Well, he is the last dragon-human hybrid in the human world, so it makes sense.’
In any case, even Whale couldn’t explain why Ekion wouldn’t wake up.
‘What on earth is happening…?’
I’d even searched through Tus’s notebook, but couldn’t find a definitive answer.
I’d only managed to find a single hint of a sentence.
「The Dragon Duke grows on his own when necessary!」
If Tus were here, I might be able to understand this precisely.
I clenched my fists tightly.
‘This gives me even more reason to reach the City of Dragons quickly.’
Though he was merely sleeping, Ekion occasionally let out pained moans or broke into cold sweats.
Out of concern, I’d left one of the Herring Sisters, Didi, behind to watch over him.
‘Let me hurry back. I really need Tus now.’
I wondered if perhaps Ekion had endured many situations where he needed Tus, holding back all this time.
That worry alone weighed on me.
I let out a deep sigh.
“Your sighs have increased.”
Currently, I was being carried in my Father’s arms as we moved.
“Yes, I’m worried about our Yongyang.”
“I see.”
“That’s right, he’s like family to me.”
“Family, you say….”
My Father’s tone was somehow enigmatic, but it was quickly forgotten by the gentle hand stroking my head.
“So you moved up the schedule.”
“Yes. I was planning to return to the City of Dragons anyway.”
“To keep your promise with the retainers you left behind?”
“Yes, that’s right. And to go to the City of Dragons, I need the Matriarch’s permission first.”
Just as we were approaching the Orca Family Matriarch’s Study, someone came rushing toward us in a panic.
“N-Noble Lady, and Pierre!”
“Hmm?”
Turning around, I saw a maid in uniform. But I recognized her immediately by her hair color, which was similar to Didi’s.
A Herring Sister.
“Didi sent word.”
Since Herring Sisters could send telepathy to each other, I had told them to contact me if anything happened….
“The precious one has opened his eyes…!”
Ekion had woken up!
* * *
“Ekion!”
I kicked the door open. A creaking sound came from the door as if it were about to break, but what did that matter!
Right now, the Matriarch’s audience and all that was not the issue.
‘Our Yongyang has awakened!’
As a result, I abandoned the audience I had scheduled in advance, leaving before even seeing the Matriarch’s face.
‘Grandmother, just this once, forgive me.’
I rushed forward hurriedly.
My Father, seeing that I was running on my own feet, had used the power of water to carry me faster than I could run myself—that was how we had come.
Ekion, who had been sitting blankly, turned his head.
Before any expression could cross the Young Boy’s face, I reached him first and wrapped my arms around his neck.
‘Huh….’
I was startled as I embraced Ekion.
What is this, he’s a bit….
‘Has he grown?’
It wasn’t an illusion. When I held him like this before, his shoulders definitely only reached up to here.
He was slightly taller.
“Calypso.”
At the hoarse voice that followed, I flinched in surprise.
This is no time to worry about such things!
“Ekion, are you alright? I was so startled when you suddenly collapsed….”
“Was I in pain?”
“I’m not sure. Neither the physician nor Whale said you were sick…. But why are you asking me?”
The moment I said this, I regretted it.
This child was dull not only to emotions but to pain as well.
I held him close and patted his back.
“Is there anywhere that hurts right now? I mean, nowhere feels uncomfortable or heavy…?”
“No…. There isn’t.”
“Good, that’s a relief. Why on earth did you suddenly collapse?”
“….”
Ekion usually tried hard to answer all my questions.
When Ekion couldn’t answer, it was either because he didn’t know himself, or because he harbored terrible memories like those of the basement.
It was one or the other.
“…It’s fine if it’s nothing serious.”
I could hear the story slowly later.
I placed my hand on Ekion’s forehead to check for fever.
“Hmm, you don’t seem to have a fever. I’ll bring the physician back later.”
“Calypso.”
“Yes?”
Ekion’s hand gently rose above my hand resting on his forehead.
…It was a noticeably larger hand, as if what I had felt was no illusion.
Before, it had been the same size as mine when we measured them together.
“I missed you.”
At his blunt words, I was slightly taken aback. Well, having opened his eyes after several days, everything must feel somewhat unfamiliar.
“Yes, I missed you too. Don’t hurt yourself anymore.”
Ekion gently closed his eyes while holding my hand.
“Yes….”
His face bore an expression of profound relief.
* * *
Dragons are, in truth, lonely beings.
From the moment Ekion opened his eyes, he instinctively engraved this fact into his essence.
It remained as a legacy carved into the dragon’s very bloodline.
“It cannot be helped. We were made to be lonely.”
“For all our lives, until death, utterly alone without a single kindred soul.”
Perhaps the one who inscribed this legacy was the first dragon.
“So create something that is certainly ‘yours.'”
A soft, whispering voice.
That voice had always occupied a corner of Ekion’s mind.
Yet Ekion, who had spent his days alone in the Dragon’s Castle, did not understand the concept of ‘mine.’
“Nothing must be placed beside that one. Absolutely nothing.”
“If he can’t see anything, he won’t covet it either.”
“Be careful so the Dragon doesn’t gain a companion…!”
And I gaze at Calypso before me.
Is Calypso… mine?
Unfortunately, the voice in my head didn’t explain what “mine” meant or how to make it so.
So Ekion had to judge for himself.
And as I pondered and pondered, I came to a realization.
I should take what I desire.
Then wouldn’t that make it mine?
For that, I had to become far greater myself.
At least so Calypso would no longer see me as merely someone to protect.
I couldn’t keep restraining my growth to match Calypso’s level anymore.
It was a truth I realized standing before the basement, feeling my own inability to finally enter it.
“…Then would it be possible for me to bring forth the power I had at my strongest?”
I can’t fulfill Calypso’s wish. So I have to become even stronger.
Calypso can’t abandon me.
If she abandons me….
If she abandons me?
“Let’s just forget everything you said today. I’ll awaken the power of water on my own. In the worst case… even if I can’t, it’ll be fine. I hate the thought of you dying.”
I hate being abandoned.
So if I become strong enough to survive and grant her wish, that’s all that matters.
But still.
If she abandons me….
Eyes brilliant as jewels burned darkly, then faded like the setting sun behind my eyelids.
* * *
I walked with light steps, humming and laughing.
‘Huh, Ekion must have awakened—my steps are definitely light, so light.’
For some reason, Father’s expression seemed more rigid than usual as we walked together, but whenever our eyes met, his face returned to normal.
I tilted my head in confusion but decided to ask once we returned.
And soon enough, when we arrived at Grandmother’s Study again.
“Hmph, you finally show up?”
I was met with the Orca Family Matriarch, displeased and seething with anger at having been made to wait.
No, her face looked ready to explode at any moment, as if she’d been holding it in.
“How dare you….”
This was today’s main course.
“You impudent wretch, making me wait.”

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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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