Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 143

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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 143
While I found myself at a loss for words, the Knights erupted into heated debate amongst themselves.
“You idiot, that’s not a tiger’s tail!”
“Oh, is that so?”
“I know. I saw it in a picture book—tigers have longer, more elongated tails than that!”
“Yeah, he’s right.”
While I struggled to find my voice, the theory that the Young Boy was a tiger-human seemed to fade among the Knights.
As no one offered an alternative opinion, one Knight suddenly raised his hand.
When our eyes met, he flinched, but realizing I posed no threat, he cautiously opened his mouth.
“I know what it is.”
I held my breath.
“That’s a squirrel-human.”
Yes, a squirrel-human. Finally you figured it out, you fools! I wanted to cry out.
But I remained in a state of utter bewilderment. Moreover…
“A squirrel? Weren’t those creatures extinct long ago?”
“Right?”
Once, alongside the Rabbit, this ordinary and Small Squirrel had embodied cuteness and charm among herbivores.
Yet in this world, no human-form of this creature remained.
Just like the Whale in that carriage.
‘Only one of this kind of human exists in the entire world.’
In other words, a unique, adorable, and precious child even if you searched this entire Continent.
This Young Boy was none other than the protagonist of this world—the original story’s heroine.
I finally opened my mouth in stunned silence.
‘…Why are you here?’
If I could speak, that’s certainly what I would have said.
Meanwhile, the Knights exchanged glances while gradually drawing closer.
It seemed they had become intensely curious about the Young Boy their comrade was holding.
After all, seeing a human-form of a creature thought to have vanished from this world was remarkable, setting aside any hostility.
Perhaps because of this, the deep-rooted contempt they normally showed toward land animals had completely disappeared for now.
I find it fascinating too, truly fascinating.
Though the fascination I feel must be different from what they experience.
“The fur looks so soft?”
“Wow, are land creatures’ tails this fluffy?”
If there was a common trait among aquatic-form humans, it was generally exceptionally lustrous hair.
Moreover, they had significant reflective qualities.
This came from characteristics inherited from scales. In contrast, land-form humans typically had softer-feeling hair.
Like that Young Boy’s hair.
I stared intently while lost in thought.
“Calypso.”
My Father, who had come to my side at some point, called out to me.
“Do you know this child?”
“Huh?”
I was startled inwardly.
What? How did he figure it out?
Did I really show it that obviously? Or rather, wouldn’t he usually ask if I know any child, regardless of what I revealed?
“You’re asking someone who’s lived her entire life in Aquasiadel if she knows a land animal child? You know that’s a really strange thing to say, Father?”
“It was a joke.”
“Ah.”
I had overreacted.
Father continued with a calm expression.
“Your face certainly looked like you’d just found a younger sister after thirty years.”
“…What, that oddly specific description.”
“So laugh, I’m telling you.”
Father stroked my head. This old man really does make strange jokes.
I laughed despite myself at the absurdity.
“So there was a reason you stared so intently?”
“No…”
I rolled my eyes slightly. How could I not stare?
I spoke seriously.
“She’s incredibly cute, isn’t she?”
“Cute?”
“Huh? Isn’t she cute? She’s absolutely adorable. Like a doll.”
“You don’t seem to look in mirrors much.”
“…”
I cleared my throat awkwardly.
The Knights who had been focused on the child now stared at us with vacant expressions.
Yes, it’s surprising, isn’t it? I find it surprising too.
…Making such a face over her.
‘Considering her age, if she’s the heroine…’
No matter how I looked at it, she was the right age from the beginning of the novel.
‘Why is the small squirrel who should be adopted into the Black Panther Family and overprotected here?’
I had changed many things, and the future certainly had numerous altered parts.
Yet there were things that remained unchanged.
Specifically, everything concerning the original heroine.
No matter what changed, the heroine was loved, grew up surrounded by affection, and became a pure and innocent child.
“Sister!”
Sometimes she was a person who showed warmth even to a certain pitiful Orca who everyone cursed and despised for his fishy stench.
I let out a small laugh.
“Among the young children I know, she’s the prettiest and cutest.”
“That’s unusual. You rarely talk about appearances.”
“I have eyes to see with too.”
I simply chose not to voice it.
For some reason, the heroine couldn’t wake despite all the commotion around her.
“Levai, bring Whale from the carriage.”
“Yes.”
After deliberating, I had Whale brought to me.
‘Hmm, his clothes seem a bit disheveled?’
Whale’s appearance seemed subtly different from when I’d stepped out of the carriage.
“Whale, did something happen?”
“No?”
Since he denied it, I let it pass for now.
“Noble Lady, this child is showing signs of dehydration and exhaustion. If my assessment is correct, I should be able to treat her with the materials I have.”
“Is that so?”
Levai’s observation proved accurate, and soon Whale used his power to treat the child.
Yet she still didn’t open her eyes.
“Why won’t she open her eyes?”
“She’s fallen asleep this time.”
Whale gazed at the heroine with a look of pity.
“It seems she ran without sleeping for a long time, this little one.”
Only after rolling up her sleeves and removing her shoes could I see her feet in terrible condition, requiring another round of treatment.
‘What could this small child have possibly endured alone like this…’
Looking at the unconscious child, there was only one decision I could make.
“Let’s depart again for now.”
“Um, Noble Lady. What should we do with this child?”
“Take her with us.”
“Pardon?”
“Or should we leave her here?”
At my cold stare, the Knight lowered his gaze awkwardly.
I turned my head and gestured to the Knight holding the heroine.
“Hand her to Second Brother.”
“Yes? Oh, no!”
“What? Hey! Why me…?”
“Our carriage is at capacity. But your carriage has room.”
“Then entrust her to my handmaidens.”
“What if she wakes and causes a disturbance? Who will subdue her?”
“…”
Our heroine bites better than expected. How do I know? Because there’s a scene where she bites the original male lead—hard enough to draw blood on his ankle!
‘That was quite satisfying, I must admit.’
In any case, I couldn’t entrust her to the Herring Maids and Misa for this reason.
In any case, I can’t entrust this to the herring maids and Misa for these reasons.
No matter how young the child is, when they have ears and a tail like that, they’re usually stronger than ordinary people.
“Then what about that Dolphin Retainer over there!”
“Second Brother, open your eyes and look. Is that one a thinker or a brute?”
“…A thinker, right?”
“…If I may be so bold, should I be upset about this?”
“Come now, no complaining. Hurry up and take care of her.”
Atlant seemed to accept my reasoning, and eventually took the heroine into his care, but….
He reached out like a mother cat picking up a kitten, grabbing her by the nape of the neck, only to be scolded harshly by me.
“…Goodness, just holding her is enough. Why does everything have to be so rough?”
“Didn’t you see her gasping for breath? Look at her eyes. Would you like me to pick you up by the scruff of your neck too?”
“…Ah, I’ll do it properly, I will!”
The heroine coughed briefly as if her breath had been cut off, but soon settled comfortably in Atlant’s arms and fell asleep soundly.
Atlant looked incredibly awkward, like someone holding a baby animal for the first time.
I tried to suppress my laughter. Or rather, I tried to hold it back…but it burst out freely.
“Don’t laugh!”
“Come now, Second Brother, this is something you should learn early. That’s how you’ll be loved later.”
“Very funny. What are you going to do about that laugh of yours?”
Just as the situation calmed down a bit and everyone was returning to their places.
Levai approached me carefully.
“Noble Lady.”
“Yes?”
“This is a delicate matter, and you may already know, but…that child.”
“She’s a squirrel?”
“No. Well, that too, but.”
The Knights seemed merely curious and moved on, but Levai clearly recognized something.
That this child was supposedly extinct like Whale among the aquatic beastfolk, but was actually the sole surviving individual.
That such individuals typically possess extraordinary special abilities.
“About those ears and tail….”
“I know. That’s the mark of an imperfect beastfolk.”
An imperfect beastfolk.
As I explained before, it refers to beastfolk born between different species who either have no special ability at all or possess an extraordinarily exceptional one.
And truthfully, there’s another meaning hidden in this term….
“When a special ability is too overwhelming, they can undergo beastification.”
“Do you believe that’s the case here?”
“Yes. And there’s one more possibility, isn’t there? Undergoing beastification because they’re completely pureblooded.”
Among beastfolk who have maintained their bloodline well since ancient times, some are born with ears and tails like this.
The heroine fell into this category.
“Well, it’s rare among land dwellers, but there are those with tails and ears. Let’s think of it as something like that.”
“That is true.”
“We’re aquatic beasts, so we don’t have such cases. But I’ve heard it happens among land dwellers.”
“Y-yes…”
Levai nodded slowly, his eyes complicated.
“Besides, only those from the Imperial Palace can become completely animal anyway.”
Right. Only the original male leads—the Lion and Black Panther beastmen—could achieve complete animalization.
It was a mechanism to protect the heroine, and there was also a setting that only the heroine could turn them back into humans.
“Yes, that is true, but… Are you not considering other dangers?”
“Dangers?”
“Yes. Surely any unknown entity comes with risk.”
“…”
“That child has far too many strange points.”
He probably wanted to ask about it.
If this beastman were truly valuable, there might certainly be factions coveting or pursuing him.
Perhaps he had fled and arrived here.
“Anyway, we won’t know any of this until he opens his eyes.”
Levai bowed his head neatly.
* * *
That evening, we were forced to make camp.
The moment we arrived at a suitable location, Atlant came rushing over like a madman.
‘Goodness, I almost thought he was attacking.’
I nearly struck him down.
“Hey! Hey! Hey!!”
“What’s wrong?”
Not content with just running over, Atlant thrust something at me with a pale face.
“It shrunk!”
“What on earth shrunk?”
“It shrunk, I’m telling you!”
“Speak properly.”
Atlant grew frustrated and thrust his hand out more roughly.
“…What do I do about this? Hey, I’m telling you in advance—I didn’t do it!”
What Atlant held out was a bundle of cloth, and when I unfolded it…
‘Huh?’
It was probably no bigger than the palm of my hand.
A small squirrel lay sleeping, breathing in quick, shallow gasps.
…What in the world?

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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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