Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 175

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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 175
A week later.
“I’m glad Lili is following Misa well.”
“Though I must say, that squirrel child would likely obey anyone who became her caretaker.”
“That’s true enough.”
I nodded without looking up from the documents before me.
Over the past week, I had met with the Orca Family Matriarch once more and successfully obtained the materials I needed.
She seemed to be in good spirits and readily opened the family’s storehouse for me.
“Hmph, so you’re trying to treat that fool Pierre as well? What a pointless endeavor.”
Her words were somewhat grating, but bearable enough.
I had also resumed attending the intermediate institution, and by this time, news of what had transpired in the City of Dragons had already spread among the common beastkin.
And I had become….
“Noble Lady, you’ve become a hero!”
“Congratulations on becoming a hero.”
I had become a hero.
It felt as though I were experiencing a triumphal procession like a general who had won a war.
The crimson carpet laid before me was supposedly placed by the Lugaluba Twins themselves….
All the students came rushing out to cheer and acclaim.
Even those arrogant orca branch family members had joined in the noisy welcome.
‘I suppose this is why a common enemy truly matters.’
After all, even the orcas despised the mainland animal beastkin, particularly the Mainland Beasts.
In any case, I had become something of a hero—the sort who had liberated an entire nation—and was now attending the institution.
Sometimes it was rather burdensome.
“…I don’t want to go to school.”
“All students say such things, though your reasons are admittedly different, Noble Lady.”
“Yeah. Today I saw a parasol made of gold. Apparently someone wealthy had it made.”
“Indeed, you’re hardly the type to elegantly twirl a parasol as you stroll about, Noble Lady.”
“What, did you see it yourself?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“…I suppose you’re right.”
I conceded readily. Why waste time with a parasol when I could simply walk faster?
“How are we progressing with the material inventory?”
Levai shook his head with a grim expression.
Over the past week, Levai, along with Rayla and Illia, had met with collectors to examine the materials they possessed….
But finding a way to obtain materials from extinct creatures seemed distant indeed.
‘I never expected to gather them in just a day or two anyway.’
Still, I couldn’t help but feel anxious.
My instincts felt off. It was as though someone were whispering that I needed to hurry.
Just a few days ago, I had asked Whale for another diagnosis, but circumstances made it difficult.
So I chose to summon a physician instead….
‘It’ll take some time for the physician to arrive.’
The physician who had diagnosed Father’s condition as incurable was currently in another region.
Since other physicians said they couldn’t help, I had no choice but to wait.
But instead of showing my anxiety, I set down the documents I’d been reviewing and tapped the desk with my fingers—tap, tap.
This room was the Study that Father had given me to use.
Ekion and Tus were settled on the sofa as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I stared at Ekion for a moment, then something occurred to me.
Well, it had occurred to me long ago, but it was a question I’d postponed asking until now.
“Ekion.”
The young boy, who had been reading a book with Tus, quickly jumped to his feet.
“Is it possible for you to obtain materials from animals that have gone extinct using your power?”
“Materials?”
“Yes. More precisely, I was wondering if your power would allow you to go back to when those animals were still alive.”
As I spoke, I also looked at Tus, who sat beside me with an identical appearance to Ekion.
“What do you think, Tus?”
“Hmm, I want to grant what you’re asking for. But…”
“I can do it.”
Ekion spoke with determination.
“I’ll grant what you’re asking for.”
After seeing Tus’s troubled expression, I regarded Ekion with a slightly suspicious look.
“It’s difficult, isn’t it? Tus doesn’t look happy about this.”
“It’s not.”
“No lying.”
“…”
At that, Ekion clamped his mouth shut.
“It won’t cause pain or death.”
“Then what?”
“This is something Tus can explain!”
When Ekion couldn’t provide an explanation, Tus quickly raised his hand.
“As the Dragon Duke says, the Dragon Duke can do it. But the Dragon Duke still lacks experience. It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact time and space.”
“Difficult how?”
“He could get lost.”
If luck is on his side, he’ll arrive at the time period when that animal lived on the first try, but otherwise, he could wander quite a bit.
Especially since Ekion has never seen that animal directly, it would be even more difficult.
I briefly recalled the time when Ekion had shown me my parents on Earth.
Was that just good fortune?
“And Calypso, the Dragon Duke becomes somewhat unstable as he grows.”
“Yes, I’m listening.”
“So when he uses his power, we need to be very careful about him losing control.”
“I see, understood.”
“But with Tus around, the risk of a rampage drops significantly. Don’t worry too much!”
Tus’s flustered words were so endearing that I let out a small laugh.
“Right, so it is possible—that’s a relief. Let’s explore other options first, and we can revisit this if nothing else works.”
After saying this, I looked toward Levai.
Levai, who had worn a momentarily bewildered expression, bowed his head as if nothing had happened and turned to leave.
‘Ah, so this is the first time Levai has heard what kind of ability Ekion possesses.’
I gazed distantly at where Ekion and Tus were, and suddenly the space felt empty.
‘Is it because Father isn’t here?’
Father had seemed busy lately.
He’d been meeting with Rayla frequently, and his absences had become more frequent.
When he returned, he would stroke my head and then turn to go to bed….
If it wasn’t my imagination, his complexion seemed to be growing worse.
Once might be a mistake, but seeing it twice or three times—that’s no mistake.
It was also why I was searching for materials even more earnestly.
‘It’s fine.’
I roughly knew when Father would die in the previous cycle.
At least it wasn’t now.
But why did I feel this anxious?
I told myself it wasn’t true, that I was just worried….
Unfortunately, it wasn’t merely a baseless unease—it became reality not long after.
“Calypso.”
That day too, I had been continuing a conversation with Levai about the Collector.
The door opened and Father entered. Beside him was Rayla, whom I hadn’t seen in a while.
“Father!”
Father lifted me up with the power of water, as he always did.
I noticed the water was slightly paler in color, and the stream was a bit thinner than usual.
“Father, where have you been?”
“Here and there, organizing things?”
“Organizing?”
“Yes. Anyway, is the work progressing well?”
“…Father.”
I reached out while floating in the air. Father readily opened his arms, and I grasped his cheeks.
“Don’t lie to me. You’re not feeling well, are you?”
“Not feeling well?”
“That’s right. Your complexion is off. You’re not well.”
“….”
Father tilted his head.
Then he turned his body and looked at Rayla.
“Rayla.”
“Yes, Pierre.”
“How do I look right now?”
“Pardon?”
“Tell me truthfully.”
“Ah, well… if I’m being honest, you look no different than usual.”
I was taken aback by Rayla’s words. But surely anyone could see I looked a bit paler than normal?
I quickly called for Levai.
“Levai, what do you think? Do you agree with her?”
“Pardon? Well, if you’re asking for my honest assessment… yes, I agree. If something were amiss, a physician should conduct a thorough examination, but from what I can observe with my eye trained in medicines, I see no significant change in your appearance.”
I blinked.
Was I the only one who thought Father looked a bit off?
I took Father’s cheek in my hand and turned it this way and that. My assessment remained unchanged.
“Father, this won’t do. Even if I’m the only one worried, you should go to bed…”
“Calypso.”
Father covered my hand that rested on his cheek with his own.
Why? Why did my heart feel like it was about to shatter?
Why?
Father smiled softly and brought my hand to his lips. I felt the warmth of his affection.
“If there’s one thing your mother did that I’m most proud of, it’s giving my daughter a beautiful name.”
“What are you suddenly saying? How strange…”
“Sehera once told me something like this.”
“Sehera?”
Tilting my head at the unfamiliar name, Father spoke quietly.
“It’s the name of the woman I married. She would have been your mother.”
I froze.
“Sehera Zade. That’s her full name.”
It was the first time I’d heard my mother’s name.
But that wasn’t why I froze.
Though he spoke of her as if she were a distant stranger, I sensed something subtly different in Father’s demeanor—not the way one speaks of a stranger.
“She told me then. That someday… there would be another who could see my condition the way only she could.”
“Father?”
“I never thought her words would actually come true.”
Father’s voice was as composed as always. But my heart raced with unease.
“So I must tell you now. I’m sorry for not saying this sooner.”
“…”
“Since I have almost no experience apologizing, if this apology is clumsy, I’m sorry for that too. But.”
Father’s hand stroked my head.
It was as gentle as always.
“I hope you won’t worry too much. This too shall pass.”
“…What?”
Father’s hand gradually lost its strength. At first, it simply fell away.
Then I slowly descended. The moment my feet finally touched the ground safely.
A heavy thud echoed.
I had heard sounds far more deafening than this, yet none had struck me with such devastating impact.
Father, who had always seemed as immovable as Mount Tai, lay collapsed on the ground.
“Father!!”

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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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