Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 147

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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 147
Black Panthers are in the City of Dragons.
I was so startled hearing Lili’s hesitant, faltering words.
Because it was precisely the time when she should have been attending to the Dragon’s Bride.
At this current point, those creatures should never have left their Manor in the capital.
‘As far as I remember, they barely went out at all.’
Whether I recalled my previous cycle or thought of the original story, it was the same. Identical.
But why was it different this cycle?
‘Could it be because of Ekion?’
In my previous cycle, I had no idea what treatment the Dragon Duke received or what happened to him.
He was someone I had no contact with whatsoever.
‘Let me make an assumption. What if… something significant related to the Dragon Duke occurred, causing the Black Panthers to be stationed in the City of Dragons?’
The Black Panthers, as allies of the Imperial Family, sometimes handled matters the court couldn’t openly address.
I’d learn all of this once I reached the City of Dragons anyway.
Now I understood why I’d found Lili here.
‘Right, those beasts would never leave her alone.’
If they were in the Dragon Duke’s territory, it made sense.
Of course, on the other hand, it still didn’t explain why she was collapsed as if she’d wandered lost for days, despite having them nearby.
‘But Lili looked so terrified I couldn’t ask further.’
I recalled what happened in the field and slowly opened my lips.
“I haven’t heard all the answers yet, but currently the Panterion family is in the City of Dragons.”
“…”
“This child appears to have been abandoned where we found her due to some incident.”
Father nodded slightly.
In truth, considering Lili’s state when we found her, it would be strange to think she hadn’t endured something harsh—she was in terrible condition.
“I understand. But… why is the condition of the one who spoke like that so strange?”
At Father’s words, I turned my head.
There stood Levai, looking somewhat awkward, cradling a bundle of cloth.
Beside him, Whale was peering over with curiosity despite his stoic expression…
Three steps away, Atlant was glaring at Levai with blazing eyes as if he were staring at some mortal enemy.
His face was completely scrunched up.
‘That fool, I told him to stop glaring like that and he’s doing it again.’
For reference, Second Brother wasn’t angry.
Just then, a small squirrel poked its face out from between the folds of cloth in Levai’s arms.
Not just Whale, but the watching Knights let out exclamations of wonder.
“Didn’t you say she returned to her human form and told you everything?”
“Yes. She did. She had… but…”
Right, Lili had returned to her human form and told me everything.
I reflected on what happened in the field.
By the time Lili finished hesitantly recounting everything while nestled in my arms…
“A-a-achoo~!”
Lili sneezed delicately in the still-cool morning breeze.
At that very moment, there came a soft pop sound.
The baby demi-human in my arms vanished, replaced by nothing but a small squirrel.
I was bewildered for only a moment before Atlant snapped me back to attention.
“…She shrinks even when you hold her?”
“Shrinks? What kind of description is that?”
His absurd choice of words jolted me fully awake.
Though Lili, now a squirrel, couldn’t speak human language, she fortunately understood us and could express herself.
“Wait—does sneezing turn you into a squirrel?”
She shook her head vigorously.
“So you turn into a squirrel at certain intervals?”
She shook her head again.
“…Could it be happening without any clear condition at all?”
She nodded emphatically.
Thanks to her earnest gestures, I understood that Lili herself didn’t know the cause.
But that left me feeling just as lost.
“There was that popping sound, and then she became like this.”
I said this while watching the baby squirrel clinging snugly to Levai’s arms.
‘At least Levai seems pleased with her.’
Moreover, Levai lowered himself so Whale could see her too.
When Whale extended his hand, Lili tilted her head curiously, then approached and sniffed.
Then she bumped her little forehead against Whale’s finger with a soft tap.
Without thinking, I brought my hand to my chin.
“What are you doing?”
“…I’m thinking, Father.”
“About what?”
“…That seeing something both handsome and adorable at once isn’t so bad.”
“That doesn’t seem to answer my question.”
“Well… I was told to be careful about taking in pets.”
At that, Father glanced briefly toward Levai and Lili, then spoke in a calm tone.
“Can that really be called an animal?”
“Mmm.”
Right. I was just saying something. Just saying something.
“In any case, she seems to have been through something harsh, so I intend to protect her for the time being.”
“Do as you wish.”
Father rested his hand on his chin, just as I had done.
Suddenly, I realized that Father places his index finger on his lips whenever he’s in thought, even over small matters.
That was my habit.
‘When did he start copying my mannerisms?’
When we first met, he wasn’t like this—he’d clearly been influenced by me.
It wasn’t just that parents influenced their children; children influenced their parents too.
I scratched my cheek at this newfound realization.
“Has the Dragon Duke fallen asleep?”
“Hm? Yes. His eyes were open around the time I woke up earlier, but when I checked again, he was sleeping.”
“So he hasn’t seen it yet, then.”
“Hm? You mean Lili? That’s right?”
Now that I thought about it, Ekion had been sleeping and hadn’t seen Lili yet.
Even though last night and this morning had been quite chaotic.
“Just to be cautious, I’d suggest you let them meet while she’s in her animal form.”
“You mean in squirrel form? I don’t mind, but why?”
“The Dragon Duke you brought is obsessive.”
“….”
“Surely you’re not saying you didn’t know.”
I pondered for a moment, then nodded.
“I know he likes me in an abnormally intense way. But I think it’s just because he still sees me as his only guardian.”
“….”
“Do you think Father’s concern is more serious than that?”
After a brief silence, Father asked quietly, as if approaching something terribly dangerous.
“What if that obsession harms your person?”
“I don’t know.”
“Will you discard him?”
“Hm?”
“Father.”
I pondered for a moment before speaking.
“If the child misbehaves, I discipline him. I don’t discard him.”
“….”
“From the moment I brought him and decided to protect him, I considered him family. Even if it’s difficult to think of him that way, don’t say such things.”
“…I see.”
“Father still has much to learn.”
Father stared at me intently, then suddenly placed his hand on my head with a soft tap.
“You’re right. There’s still a long road ahead. For me too. But I wasn’t trying to urge you to discard the Dragon Duke.”
“Yes, I know. And it’s enough that you’re good to me.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
Just as Father said, it didn’t seem like he’d truly meant for me to abandon Ekion.
“But Father, I’m suddenly curious—did you deliberately have Third Brother and Second Brother call me ‘Teacher’?”
Father tilted his head in confusion.
“I’ve never instructed them to do such a thing.”
“…So they chose to call me that on their own.”
I wondered why they didn’t call me Father instead.
“That’s enough. Time will sort it out. But Father, didn’t you have more to say?”
At that, Father shook his head slightly.
“No, it seems you’re not entirely lacking in caution.”
And so our brief conversation came to an end.
We departed with the Dragon’s Bride aboard.
After a long ride, we arrived at the City of Dragons not long after.
It was my second visit.
* * *
‘Hmm, something feels off.’
I had finally entered the City of Dragons.
Last time, I came here as a member of Aquasiade.
This time, I came as the representative envoy of the aquatic beastkin.
Coming to this place as the ‘Dragon’s Bride,’ after all.
‘Even the gatekeepers welcomed me as the Dragon’s Bride, didn’t they?’
The rumor that the Dragon’s Bride must surely die was widespread.
Yet no one seemed uneasy seeing the carriage carrying a child who would soon perish.
‘Still, something’s strange.’
In the last cycle, I was too caught up to think about it, but if the Imperial Family had manipulated the Dragon Duke in that cycle too,
then the brainwashed Dragon Duke would have no reason to kill the Dragon’s Bride, would he?
‘The more I think about those Imperial bastards, the more suspicious it all becomes….’
While thinking this, we arrived at the Castle. The Dragon’s Castle, which I was visiting for the second time.
“Ekion still hasn’t woken. What should we do?”
“Let’s leave him in the carriage for now. I heard you already informed his handmaidens and Second Brother.”
“That’s right.”
If Ekion didn’t wake even after arriving at the Dragon’s Castle, Father and I would first meet with someone like a Retainer from the Castle.
Atlant and Levai would take responsibility for safely moving Ekion.
‘I need to draw attention well.’
While thinking this, the carriage came to a stop.
When I opened the carriage door and stepped out cradled in Father’s arms, I was greatly startled by the figure I met at the entrance.
“Welcome to the Dragon’s Castle.”
A lean yet massive frame, an impression cold and heavy as if stern.
Unlike the Orca beastkin, this man had a sharp, honed quality to him.
Dressed entirely in black from head to toe, with hair as dark as the night itself, this person was….
The Dragon Duke.
The patriarch of the Black Panther clan.

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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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