Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 181

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 181
‘Ah. Now I understand when this is.’
The moment I saw the state of the Manor, I quickly grasped which point in time this was.
This massive Castle of Aquasiadel—an absolute domain for aquatic Beastkin.
The sight of this Castle in ruins was enough to shock anyone, unforgettable.
I was no exception.
This was right after I had just returned to Aquasiadel.
I spoke lightly as I observed the Manor with smoke rising from it.
“Looks like what the family would become after you died?”
The Orca Family Matriarch quickly turned her head to stare at me.
As expected.
Someone muttered as if explaining the situation.
“Geez. What is all this?”
A woman’s figure sauntering in from the entrance of the destroyed Manor.
It was the ‘me’ from the third loop.
“Wow, so the Matriarch died, huh? What a mess. Serves you right.”
Not long after I entered, I could see someone fighting in the distance. It was the adult-form Lirivel and Atlant.
Countless dead Orca Beastkin lay scattered around them.
They had destroyed themselves fighting amongst themselves.
‘The family was truly a disaster back then.’
It was the expected outcome.
The Matriarch never designated a successor even as she died.
After that came the beginning of endless succession struggles.
Until I returned.
‘If I’d been just a little late, they would’ve all died together.’
In reality, Bellus, Atlant, and Agenor, despite being brothers, didn’t unite but tore each other apart fighting.
And Lirivel’s faction was evenly matched.
In the end, they would have all self-destructed together.
“Grandma, dying before I could return, huh?”
The ‘me’ from the third loop clicked her tongue with regret. She genuinely felt disappointed. She had really wanted to fight her once.
Even as she said this, the ‘me’ from the third loop observed the scenery with keen interest.
I turned my eyes away and spoke to the Matriarch.
“Why do you look so shocked?”
The Matriarch’s eyes wavered.
“What are you talking about?”
The answer came quickly. She looked at me as if I were strange.
It was merely a facade of bravado.
I shrugged indifferently.
“If we don’t return from here, this is what’ll happen to us.”
“Huh?”
It was amusing how she stared as if she knew nothing.
“This is the result you created. Or rather, this is what would happen if you died.”
“If you’re going to spout nonsense, then that mouth of yours——.”
I didn’t give her a chance to respond, but continued slowly.
“You were the one who preached survival of the fittest.”
“….”
“The strongest one is dead, so the remaining ones will fight to find the new strongest. The ones who are ambiguously strong here will bully those weaker than me.”
I glanced curiously at the ruined Manor.
“It’s the leader’s blunder for not acknowledging that the weak have their own roles to play.”
It was truly the conclusion I had reached.
I smiled brightly.
“Ah, look at that.”
With a tremendous rumble, I watched the Manor, unable to withstand the fighting, collapse.
And in the next moment, as if it were a lie, the entire scene vanished.
Darkness descended.
As if hinting that everything had truly perished this way.
Aquasiadel, which had been falling into ruin and desolation, was no more.
Was Ekion watching over this?
The timing was so exquisite that I couldn’t help but think so.
Seeing the Orca Family Matriarch’s ashen expression was neither pleasant nor satisfying as I had imagined.
I simply sneered.
It was merely amusing that she hadn’t foreseen this outcome.
“After that, your family will truly perish. Because of you. Right?”
My laughter rang clearly through the dark space.
In truth, it didn’t matter whether that Matriarch believed my words or not.
If believing them could bring her despair, that wouldn’t be so bad.
I know.
The only thing that selfish, violent human clung to like her greatest treasure.
‘Aquasiadel’ itself.
The mere imagination of becoming the last Matriarch must have been horrifying to her.
Sure enough, white light glimmered in the darkness, and the Matriarch’s face reflected in that light was pale.
Like someone who had aged years in mere seconds.
“…That can’t be.”
Her voice was firm and cold.
But I knew.
This was merely bravado to hide her wavering eyes.
“If, as you say, there was a ‘time’ when this could have happened.”
I smiled broadly.
“Why should I concern myself with it?”
“That’s right.”
I covered my lips slightly with my hand as if amused, my fingertip pointing to one side.
“But why does your face look like that?”
“….”
His flinching shoulders were amusing.
I had thought that image of him—once towering like Mount Tai, abandoning me, calling me garbage—would remain in my memory forever unchanged.
“If it’s nothing, then you should make a face like nothing happened.”
My laughter echoing through the darkness was delightful.
In that moment, a butterfly made of azure light fluttered from one place before scattering into wisps.
‘A door?’
It was the door we saw when we entered This Place.
I hurried toward the door.
“Does nothing trouble you?”
No, I would have, if not for the voice that reached my ears.
“After witnessing your death twice, no—three times.”
It seemed he had accepted the scene where I vanished in the third cycle as the fall of Aquasiadel.
He believed I must have died then as well.
“What does it matter? I didn’t actually die three times, did I?”
“….”
I tried to turn away, but I met his gaze again—the way he stared at me as if scrutinizing. What was he trying to say?
“Then if that incident had truly occurred.”
I paused.
“Would you have come to hate Aquasiadel?”
His tone resembled Father’s somehow.
Was it natural, being parent and child?
I felt a light displeasure and simply stared at him. I was willing to listen to the question, but I had no obligation to answer.
“Why would I hate Aquasiadel? Looking at that time, the perpetrator was already determined.”
“….”
Silence descended between us. The Matriarch asked with an unreadable expression.
“Then would you forgive the perpetrator?”
The selfish question rang out flatly.
I widened my eyes, then suppressed a laugh at the irrepressible delight welling up inside me.
“What nonsense is that? I’d rather have died by a lion’s claws.”
Was he referring to himself as the perpetrator?
Or the Black Panther and the land-dwellers who mocked and trampled me?
No, it must be you—that’s why you’re making such an ambiguous face.
You wouldn’t want to lose a successor like me.
My wish had been granted.
The Matriarch had grown attached to her successor. Now, to the point of not wanting to let me go.
“Why? Are you suddenly regretting how you abandoned me when I was young, Grandmother?”
I asked brightly, as I had when pretending to be a granddaughter.
A look of affirmation crossed the Orca Family Matriarch’s face. It felt like watching the most entertaining comedy show in the world.
“Then may I ask you something? If that incident truly happened.”
“….”
“Would you regret it?”
The smile faded slightly from my face.
Her expression mirrored the same affirmation.
“I have my answer.”
“….”
“You’re truly foolish. Your question was wrong.”
I turned away without hesitation.
“It’s not about forgiveness. You should be apologizing. As the perpetrator.”
Though I had no intention of accepting one anyway.
“The word ‘apology’ doesn’t exist in that head of yours, does it?”
I muttered under my breath.
“You wouldn’t have paid me any attention if I hadn’t distinguished myself, yet you have the audacity to ask so shamelessly?”
Though I called it muttering, every word was clearly audible.
“I punished the maid who abused me out of concern for appearances. Aquasiadel under your leadership will never overcome land-dwelling beasts.”
Whoosh—the power of water grazed my cheek. I felt the sharp sting and wiped my face.
“A weapon forged by the weak can topple even the mightiest of the strong. Your ignorance of this means your end is here.”
Living that way is no excuse. Everyone has the choice between selfish and altruistic actions.
That person simply chose to live selfishly until the very end.
While trampling over others.
“…That sanctimonious drivel disgusts me.”
I strode forward and grasped the door handle.
Clank, clank.
‘What? It won’t open?’
I frowned deeply. Why would they even create a door that doesn’t open?
I considered smashing it with my fist instead, but in that moment, the space around us changed again.
The paused time of the third loop began to resume.
‘What, is this like a movie bathroom break? How ridiculous.’
As I watched irritably, the frown vanished from my face.
“Really, couldn’t you stop getting hurt so much?”
A familiar face had appeared. A young man in his twenties.
Fresh and youthful, yet carrying a hint of weariness—a beautiful youth.
Beneath large glasses, gentle eyes with subtly upturned corners came into view.
That Dolphin, despite his species, possessed a rather decadent impression. It was Levai.
Adult Levai.
From the timing, it seemed to be after a massive battle.
“Right. I keep getting hurt because I like that you worry about me?”
“Stop! Stop! Please don’t say things like that, seriously!”
I, wrapped in bandages, grinned widely.
“This is exactly why other people keep misunderstanding, and why Bellus and Atlant try to beat me up whenever they see me!”
“What’s all this fuss? Your Eldest and Second Brothers are the ones who talk trash.”
“If you keep pulling stunts like that, I might just quit altogether, so please restrain yourself!”
“That would be troublesome. Should I just propose to you instead?”
“…What?”
I saw Levai’s expression of extreme disgust for the first time in a while.
“Are you serious?”
“…Huh?”
“I could just accept it. Please don’t do that.”
The third iteration of me didn’t panic at Levai’s provocation—I simply laughed.
“Ah.”
Since his reactions were always fresh whenever I teased him, I couldn’t help but repeat it every time.
Yes, I remember joking around as naturally as breathing, giggling away. But….
“Anyway, even if I beat all you land-dwellers, I’ll live alone my whole life. Want to live together?”
Yet on the other hand, I felt bewildered.
“…Did I really say something like that?”
Why did it feel like I’d done something I shouldn’t have?
…I could only hope that Levai wouldn’t remember the third iteration.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————