Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 163

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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 163
The moment I shouted the answer, I swept my hand through the air, and the Dragon Duke’s form transformed into water before evaporating entirely.
As the audience erupted into an even greater frenzy, I spoke with perfect composure.
“But isn’t it strange?”
The power of water drifted weightlessly around me. An exhilarating sense of possibility wrapped around my body—as though I could accomplish anything.
“How could I, someone who spent my entire life in Aquasiadel, know the Dragon Duke’s appearance so precisely?”
They had no answer to that.
Portraits of the Dragon Duke were strictly forbidden from being removed from the castle.
Yet I had recreated his appearance with remarkable accuracy.
“The answer is simple—the Dragon Duke is somewhere in Peseum right now.”
“…What?”
I swept my hand again, and this time a young Ekion materialized before them.
As if to prove my words were no lie.
“The Duke is watching all of this unfold.”
“…”
“What a predicament. The Duke came here of his own volition, after all.”
To the author, this would sound as though the Dragon Duke had “fled.”
Sure enough, though only I could perceive it, a hairline fracture appeared in Panterion’s expression.
“…Where is the Dragon Duke?”
“Find him. He’s somewhere in this arena. Whether the Duke chooses to reveal himself to you—well, that’s entirely his decision.”
Panterion glared at us, then turned to leave. Or rather, he tried to.
If not for the wall of water that suddenly surged up before him.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Coming down was your choice, but leaving isn’t, I’m afraid.
“What are you doing?”
“I should be asking you that. You haven’t forgotten the rules of duels in this arena, have you?”
I extended my hand, maintaining the wall of water as I smiled wickedly.
I’d been wanting to say this all along.
“Anyone who steps into the arena is considered a competitor. We accept no responsibility for whatever happens.”
“…Excuse me?”
“What are you waiting for? Come at me.”
When it comes to buying time, a good fight is the best option. Wouldn’t you agree?
You’d better be working hard, my subordinates.
…I’m stalling like this, so if you can’t bring him back, you’re all dead.
“Ah, if you want to see the Dragon Duke’s face, you’d better hurry and step forward, no?”
“…”
“The Duke said he’d watch for a bit and then leave.”
A faint anxiety flickered across his rigidly set face.
That’s right—you’re worried about missing the Dragon Duke, aren’t you?
‘Search for the Dragon Duke all you want. He isn’t even here.’
“You persist in deceiving everyone with that vile tongue of yours until the very end.”
“Whether I deceived them or not.”
I pointed toward the castle with my finger.
“Why don’t you go check? To see if the Dragon Duke is there.”
Because the Dragon Duke was more hesitant than I expected, I had managed to buy sufficient time without even fighting.
By now, Levai was likely already searching for a route to escape with Tus.
The Dragon Duke’s eyebrows twitched.
“How wasteful, attempting conversation with such lowly creatures.”
But I had already seen several knights near the Dragon Duke’s position move at the sound of our voices.
‘Good, will more forces be depleted?’
The more people gathered in Peseum, the emptier the castle would become.
The stern-faced Dragon Duke became even more serious, subtly turning his back to the audience.
“I’ve wasted enough time on this nonsense.”
He turned his back to me immediately, but a wall of water blocked the Dragon Duke’s path once more.
Oh my, where do you think you’re going?
“Well now, rules are rules.”
You’ve already stepped into this arena.
The rules of the match are.
“The ones you Black Panthers established, aren’t they?”
“…Those rules don’t apply to me. And do you truly think I cannot escape from such trivial games?”
“No, you’re right. If you don’t follow the rules you set, then others won’t have to follow them either, no matter what anyone says.”
The ground before me split open with a crack, and stone spikes shot toward me like arrows.
Crash!
The rocks shattered to pieces in an instant. In my hands materialized a hammer made of water.
‘Ah, this is the feeling.’
It felt refreshing to hold a weapon like an old friend after so long.
‘Let’s see, about two minutes left?’
I estimated the remaining time I could wield the power of water.
“A beast that cannot be reasoned with.”
“That’s funny. As if you’re not a beast?”
When the one who established the rules refuses to follow them, the rules lose their authority.
The Dragon Duke seemed to have changed his mind, opting to finish this quickly instead.
But I had no intention of allowing that.
‘Unfortunately, I’m not yet strong enough to take on the Dragon Duke directly.’
But buying time is simple enough.
The moment I thought this, my feet lifted lightly into the air.
A hand came to rest on my shoulder.
“Why are you stepping forward?”
The voice that was usually indifferent or calm now carried a slight edge to it.
“I’ll handle anyone who dares treat my daughter so carelessly.”
The moment I spoke, a barrier of water materialized around me.
Then Father’s voice reached my ears.
“So I just need to buy time and keep him from going anywhere?”
“Yes.”
I blinked rapidly while answering quickly. It seemed that Father’s voice, heard from within this barrier, was audible only to me.
What was this? Was it Father’s unique applied ability?
It was fascinating.
It resembled the way Tus communicated with me.
Soon after, I floated upward and landed outside the arena.
Something heavy dropped beside me—Assel, bound tightly.
Above the arena, the Dragon Duke and Father were locked in confrontation.
A tense clash of auras.
The moment someone moved, a full-fledged battle would commence.
‘This is truly a battle for the ages.’
In my previous life, Father had never fought anyone despite remaining secluded, yet his reputation was legendary.
Even among the land-dwelling Beastkin.
‘Unfortunately, this isn’t a time for mere spectating.’
I pretended to retreat while hoisting Assel onto one shoulder.
“Heave.”
Then I hummed a tune as I walked.
Assel thrashed about, but my grip was far stronger.
“Stay quiet. If you struggle any more, I’ll drop you and drag you across the ground. If you want the spectators to see that pathetic sight, keep moving.”
Assel’s movements ceased. As they should have.
When I stopped before the entrance leading deeper into Peseum.
I dropped Assel unceremoniously.
The voice amplification Father had granted me had long since faded once I was pushed outside the arena.
‘It’s time to bring down the curtain.’
Festivals and funerals alike must end. And the conclusion of my plan was drawing near.
I subtly used my ability to release the water binding Assel’s mouth.
“You dare remove the Dragon Duke from this place? Do you think you’ll escape unscathed for this? Everything you’ve done will come back to haunt your fellow aquatic Beastkin!”
“So?”
“What?”
“What are you going to do about it?”
I crossed my arms, laughing as though it were no laughing matter.
“Threats only work when the stronger one makes them. Ah, they don’t work on those with nothing left to lose.”
“Tch….”
Assel, grinding his teeth, glared at me with murderous intent.
“Where is the Dragon Duke?”
This bastard. Now that people can’t hear him, he’s carelessly dropping the Dragon Duke’s name?
“Is the Dragon Duke your friend?”
“You’d better speak up now.”
“Don’t you get it? The Dragon Duke and I finished our contract the moment we brought her here.”
Rather than mock this creature for having nothing but his mouth while bound, I answered straightforwardly.
“In exchange, he agreed not to kill me if I help him.”
The Dragon’s Bride becoming a sacrifice and dying—it was such a mundane fact by now that it was tiresome to even mention.
“….”
“Why are you looking at me like that? Nobody wants to die, do they?”
Now his gaze was filled with contempt.
“Have you abandoned your honor to the ground?”
It wasn’t even funny. If I disobey your orders, does that make me someone who’s abandoned honor?
“Does that put food on the table? You fool.”
“….”
“Look at your own situation properly. You can’t even move—do you know whose grace allows you to even use your tongue?”
“….”
That’s exactly why you’ll fail.
You’ll lose this time too. Just like the day I won in the third round.
I took a step backward.
“Oh, so you’re still cherished after all?”
The doorway I was heading toward had no actual door—just an opening that led directly into the corridor.
“Seeing how you came rushing to save just one person.”
And I could see Knights rushing from the end of the corridor.
Judging by their fierce momentum, they’d come to rescue this creature.
“Let me loosen up a bit then.”
If I left these Knights alone, they’d be used to search Peseum.
The fewer people searching through this vast Peseum, the better.
Countless streams of water surged around me.
“This might serve as a palate cleanser.”
My last reserve of water’s power was meant for this moment.
I aimed my fist at those rushing toward me and clenched it tight.
Soon after, a colossal fist mirroring my own came crashing down on them.
‘Krash, strike!’
The suppression was clean. The water’s power, like wings the Dragon had given me, carried me as I flew through the air.
“Ah, this feels good.”
When I came to my senses, dozens of Knights lay sprawled around me.
And because we’d fought in one corner of the arena.
“Just now, that little one….”
“An Orca, right? What, what kind of power is that?!”
“…The Dragon’s Bride!”
All the Dragon’s subjects were watching.
Two birds with one stone, as they say.
I rescued Tus while also keeping my promise to the Orca Family Matriarch.
‘I felt it during the victory in the third war.’
Whether in war, political struggles within a nation, or even in alley fights in a village.
When the leader is strong, subordinates cannot be underestimated.
From now on, no one would dare disrespect aquatic beastkin.
I would engrave that truth into everyone’s minds here today.
I rolled my neck loosely and smiled with satisfaction.
‘Well, Matriarch. Are you satisfied with this?’
I kept my promise, old woman.
I’m curious what I’ll gain from you now.

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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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