Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 168

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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 168
The house was crumbling, yet it retained a considerable size.
It was also the current residence of the Land Turtle Beastkin, who were said to be the most loyal servants of the Dragon across generations.
‘They say a wealthy family can live for three years even after going bankrupt, but what about them?’
Moreover, it had already been eight years since they were driven out.
‘This cursed Imperial family and the land beasts have been scheming to seize the Dragon Duke since Ekion’s birth.’
As I gazed up at the house, a memory quietly surfaced.
It was something that had happened about an hour ago, just before Atlantean and I left the castle.
“Investigate all you want.”
The land beasts seemed to have lost all sense of restraint, coming to search our room once more.
This time, not only the Black Panther’s knights were present, but also knights from other land beast families.
Despite their sudden intrusion, we pretended to surrender the room without resistance.
However, the moment they entered, Father, Atlantean, and I released our killing intent without mercy.
Standing at the forefront, I asked coldly.
“I thought you would understand by now what it means to be the Dragon’s Bride in this city… or are you too foolish to comprehend?”
“…It is an order.”
“Order or not. There is no reason for us to follow your master’s commands.”
I ground my teeth savagely.
I clenched and unclenched my fists, as if ready to accept a fight at any moment.
“You already searched our room when we were absent. The first time, we let it slide out of basic decency, but not this time.”
“…”
“Know this—your single step could be the beginning of war between the land and aquatic beastkin.”
As I spoke with such ferocity, none of them dared to take another step forward.
I felt a surge of satisfaction.
It wasn’t simply that they feared war.
They had witnessed our power in Peseum, so they didn’t dare enter recklessly.
With this, our reputation would surely spread far and wide from now on.
‘I wonder if the old woman has already heard about it?’
At that moment, I caught a glimpse of an Orca knight standing in the corridor before turning my gaze away.
Soon after, as the land beast knights retreated without entering, I couldn’t help but mock them.
“Living this long, I never thought I’d witness such a sight. Land beasts actually backing down.”
“Heh, is that so? I’ve seen it before.”
“Oh? Have you confronted land beastkin before, Atlantean?”
“…Well, let’s say I have.”
This satisfaction wasn’t mine alone—everyone expressed their exhilaration as they left.
Even Father.
“Father, what are you doing? Why are you suddenly opening the window?”
“Ventilation.”
“…”
“It’s nice not having to smell that stench.”
And eventually, the Black Panthers couldn’t hold back and began detection using the power of the earth.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you going in?”
“Of course I’m going in.”
I massaged my shoulders gently and swung my arms in circles. Second Brother spoke with a slightly tired expression.
“What’s that? That’s the kind of movement you make when you’re ready to fight right this instant, isn’t it?”
“Huh? Oh. Well… I’m not exactly trying to fight, but if needed, I should be prepared, right?”
“Huh?”
“What?”
“No, from the way you were talking with that Dolphin Retainer… weren’t you coming here to persuade those guys?”
“That’s right, though?”
I tilted my head with a confused expression.
What’s this? Second Brother has really gotten used to the peaceful fourth cycle life.
Well, it was fairly peaceful, I suppose.
I chuckled softly, momentarily forgetting the urgent Tus rescue operation.
“Second Brother, why are you acting like you don’t know? The best method of persuasion has always been the ‘fist.'”
“…Yeah.”
Atlant laughed similarly to me, then lowered his head.
“That’s what our Matriarch is truly like.”
When he lifted his face again, it bore the fierce and action-oriented expression I knew well.
Knock, knock, knock.
When Atlant knocked, we had to prepare ourselves for action faster than expected.
‘Footsteps, or rather… a charge?’
An ominous sound. The moment the door burst open, Atlant and I stepped back as if we’d planned it.
Whoosh!
A massive weapon swung through the space where we’d been standing.
‘A club? No, that’s…’
A broom? I blinked.
And the one wielding the broom was a fierce-looking middle-aged woman.
Her eyes were angled upward so sharply.
‘Wow, aside from our Orca and that Snake, I’ve never seen a Beastkin with such a nasty temperament.’
I was so caught off guard I forgot the situation entirely.
She had reddish-brown hair cut short in a bob.
“What is it now, how much more are you going to torment us! That’s enough, you damned bastards! Did you think we’d just take it lying down?!”
Her anger not yet satisfied by the first attack, the woman tried to strike again, but froze when she saw our faces.
“What. A brat?”
“Well, your mouth is a bit rough.”
“Then what else would you call a brat but a brat?”
This person, somehow…
She had a similar manner of speech to a mentor I’d met in my previous cycle.
The mentor who taught me how to use the power of water in my last cycle also had such a coarse way of speaking.
I wondered if that person was living well in this cycle.
Notably, he was a branch member of the Orca clan who had left because he disliked the Orcas.
When I returned, I might search for him and try to recruit him.
I pulled my wandering mind back to focus. I looked at the woman again in my field of vision.
“It seems you haven’t been to Peseum for a few days.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Should I introduce myself first?”
“Wait… that jet-black hair of yours has an unusual streak.”
“It’s not a gray streak?”
“Anyway! Are you perhaps Orcas?”
“Correct!”
The woman’s soul seemed to leave her body.
“And I am the Dragon’s Bride of this generation.”
“…”
I waved my hand gently.
“I’d like to speak with your leader. May I come in?”
The woman stared at me intently, then quickly set down her broom.
“I don’t know what brings you to this crumbling house, but come in.”
Though the old house was falling apart, it had everything one might expect.
I followed the woman while quietly recalling what Levai had told me.
“The Land Turtle Beastkin have a rather unique family structure.”
From what I understood, “Land Turtle Beastkin” didn’t refer to just one type of turtle.
Just as there are many types of whales, they too were divided into several types.
However, unlike the whales, all these different types gathered together to form a family called the “Land Turtles.”
‘The action-oriented ones who primarily use force are the Saltwater Crocodile Turtle Beastkin.’
This woman with the unpleasant temperament was likely a Saltwater Crocodile Turtle Beastkin.
I had seen it once in a documentary on Earth. A turtle with a nasty temperament that enjoyed eating meat.
‘From what I saw, it was a turtle that could even chew up snakes…’
For me, who only knew the gentle turtle from Aesop’s fable “The Tortoise and the Hare,” it was shocking.
And.
“I love strong things!”
It had even become my second favorite animal after whales.
In any case, they were ones who had endured for a full eight years, tolerating the imperial court’s chaos and the antics of the land beasts.
Even if they lived in such a shabby place, it would surely not be easy.
I briefly recalled Ekion, whom I had left safely with Father, before erasing the thought.
We stopped in front of a door.
“I am but a humble servant and cannot fathom why such an esteemed person has come to this lowly place.”
It was unexpected.
Was it because I had revealed myself as the Bride?
Inside the house, she was being obedient and courteous to me.
“Inside, you’ll find the leader of our Land Turtle Beastkin.”
“Got it, thanks for showing me the way.”
“About the courtesy….”
“I’ll show it. More than those land dwellers who treated me like rotten fish instead of the Dragon’s Bride, you’re far better for showing respect the moment you learned my identity, aren’t you?”
“….”
I grasped the door handle and smiled.
“Those who show courtesy deserve courtesy in return. That’s common sense among Beastkin, isn’t it?”
While the woman couldn’t say anything, I stepped inside.
“A distinguished guest has arrived.”
A voice carrying the weight of years echoed from deeper within the room.
“If you don’t mind, my humble chamber is rather cramped—would only one of you be willing to enter?”
At those words, I glanced at Atlant.
Second Brother expressed his displeasure but obediently withdrew outside the door.
Click.
As the door closed, I ventured further inside.
“It’s an honor to meet you, esteemed one. Or should I say, a privilege?”
The voice drew closer.
“Please forgive me for my age preventing me from moving about freely.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ve already heard stories about you.”
I stopped walking. Before me stood a rocking chair.
But unlike an ordinary rocking chair, it was at least three times larger.
“You lost your legs in that great battle with the Black Panthers, didn’t you?”
And seated in this chair was an enormous elder—so massive one might rightfully call him a giant.
His hair, once brown, was now streaked with white.
With his full, long beard, he carried the bearing of a mountain spirit.
“So there’s no need to stand.”
“…You came knowing about us.”
The elder laughed without alarm.
The elder was an Elephant Turtle Beastkin, the leader of the Land Turtle Beastkin.

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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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