Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 186

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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 186
I crossed over into the empty room, and Whale came with me.
Levai had worn an anxious expression as I sent Whale away, but given how urgent the situation was, I didn’t hold him back.
I glanced around the barren room before speaking quickly.
“This place works, right? Come on, tell me now.”
“….”
I spoke bluntly.
“What’s this story you don’t want anyone else to know about? Is it something that will help us?”
Just the two of us talking.
Given the circumstances, he must have hoped no one else would hear it—enough to request privacy like this.
“Yeah. That’s right.”
I listened to Whale’s words with half seriousness and half concern.
“Before you say anything, I’m going to ask just in case. You’re not about to tell me there’s a way if you just sacrifice yourself… right?”
Across all content, healers—those known as ‘Healers’—share a common trait.
For some reason, only these Healers can sacrifice something of their own to wield greater power or perform healing beyond their normal capacity.
It seemed our Orca friend hadn’t escaped this law either.
“Yeah.”
I listened to the answer that came with a heavy heart.
‘This world really is broken.’
How could such words of sacrifice flow so easily from children’s mouths?
A heartwarming tale of dreams and hope? It was cursed.
Whale spoke with his usual stoic expression, oblivious to my feelings.
“Levai really hates it when the word ‘sacrifice’ comes out of my mouth….”
“….”
Whether he interpreted my silence as a question about why we had to be alone for this conversation, I wasn’t sure.
Whale’s personal history spilled out.
“My mother died helping others….”
Whale’s mother had been Levai’s teacher.
This wasn’t what I’d wanted to hear.
“Calypso, time is short, so let me get straight to the point too.”
“Yeah, I’m really pressed for time right now, but that doesn’t mean I’m taking lightly what you’ve just told me.”
“Huh?”
“First of all, it must not have been easy to share that, so thank you for telling me.”
“….”
“So, what did you want to tell me?”
Whale hesitated for a moment.
He said he’d never actually explained this to anyone before and didn’t have confidence in explaining it now.
He asked for my understanding first.
Then, piecing together the story that came out, it was like this.
“So you’re saying the healing power you use always demands a price, but you alone are the sole exception to this rule?”
“Yes.”
Whale nodded.
“And if it’s not a crucial material, I can pay the price myself and begin treatment immediately. What do you think?”
I didn’t fully understand Whale’s explanation, so let me lay out what I did grasp.
When there exists some force or entity that grants Whale’s requests and provides treatment,
this force spares Whale alone—when Whale exerts strength for his own purposes, it reduces the price he must pay.
Such as treating himself or his family, and so forth.
After saying this much, Whale glanced around nervously before speaking carefully.
“Actually, since returning from the City of Dragons, I’ve secretly ‘diagnosed’ Pierre again without your knowledge.”
“What?”
I was startled to hear that Father had agreed and shared this secret with him.
“The crucial materials for Pierre’s treatment are indeed what Levai and you brought this time. However… Calypso, the required materials have increased.”
“….”
“Pierre’s condition has deteriorated further. If we miss this opportunity, we might truly reach a point where the materials needed become impossible to obtain.”
That’s the feeling a doctor has when witnessing a patient they cannot save—the way Whale, possessing healing abilities, could sense an unavoidable death.
“This might be the last chance to treat him.”
“…And yet Father acted so calmly toward me.”
“Huh?”
“No. Continue.”
Whale spoke steadily while gauging my reaction.
I understood perfectly.
“So you’re saying you’ll pay the price for the missing materials and begin treatment right now?”
“Exactly.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s not just Levai. I hate the word ‘sacrifice’ too.”
“Calypso?”
“I want you to stay safe. Do you know how precious you are to me?”
The mere fact that he could cure Father’s incurable illness made him my benefactor for life.
Whale’s face flushed slightly for some reason.
“I appreciate your concern, Calypso. The price isn’t something that threatens my life. Well, it’s more like enduring some inconvenience? That’s all.”
“What kind of inconvenience?”
“For instance, my lifespan being shortened.”
“I reject it. Pretend you never said that.”
I turned away coldly.
But I hadn’t taken more than a few steps before I had to turn back.
Whale was desperately gripping my hand.
His hand was quite warm.
“I-I can choose something else instead of lifespan! This would just be a slight permanent decline in vision. Or, um, maybe losing the use of one finger!”
“Is that what you call an alternative? If you want to lie down, tell me now. I’ll make sure you stay flat on this ground unable to get up for about ten years.”
I growled and roughly pulled my hand away from Whale’s.
Or rather, I tried to.
“But you want to save your father, don’t you?”
“….”
Deep gray eyes, as if holding ash, turned toward me.
“I know what it feels like to lose your parents.”
“….”
“Calypso, and among whales, we have the longest lifespans.”
I was about to protest, but the moment I saw a clock over Whale’s shoulder, I found myself unable to say anything.
“Ten years or so is fine. Even if it’s reduced, I’ll live longer than you, Calypso.”
“….”
I stared intently at the composed yet somehow desperate expression that appeared on his stoic face and asked.
“What do you want in return for paying that price?”
“Well, about that. First, you absolutely have to grant my request.”
“What?”
“Like I said before, to minimize the price I have to pay, this treatment needs to become ‘my work.'”
If by some chance Whale paid the price instead, it would only be right to repay that debt for a lifetime.
Granting a wish was naturally something I could do.
“Didn’t I tell you? The power I use has an exception for me alone.”
“And?”
“And this exceptional rule only allows an exception for the power to treat my family.”
“But?”
It was a story where the core was hard to grasp. A strange expression came to mind from Whale’s face.
“Among us Orca Beastkin, while we’ve formed marital bonds with other Orca Beastkin, do you know which other beastkin we’ve formed the most bonds with?”
“Huh?”
“Patients.”
I blinked.
“I’m sorry. For putting it this way. But this is the only way for us to become family.”
Whale grasped my hand gently. Warmth spread from my fingertips across my entire hand.
From the end of Whale’s neck, from the tips of his ears, from his jaw—bright red bloomed as if someone had accidentally dropped tomato sauce.
The warmth flowing from the hand I was holding was more than warm; it was scorching.
Whale’s hand was trembling slightly.
Soon the boy, who was a full head and a half taller than me, hung his head low.
“Be my bride.”
…To be frank, this was the most innocent and bewildering proposal throughout my entire life.
* * *
“Please marry me.”
Having lived through three cycles, I hadn’t gone without hearing proposals.
Of course, if I exclude that engagement with Assel, that wretched beggar, then the only one I’d heard in the third cycle was this.
“What nonsense is this.”
And that emotionally deprived orca had mostly been responsible for spouting such drivel.
“Apparently, at the bakery in the village ahead, couples receive a discount.”
“Is your proposal worth nothing more than bread?”
“Yes.”
“My, getting married over bread? Congratulations, Matriarch!”
“Huh? Oh my, congratulations! What’s this about? You’re getting married?”
“Oh, you just arrived? The Matriarch is finally getting married! And the bouquet is bread!”
“No! You lunatics. Get out of here! And you, stop spouting nonsense and leave. Before I bury you in flour.”
Needless to say, I had never taken any of them seriously, nor had I ever accepted their proposals.
Come to think of it, I had never genuinely exchanged romantic feelings with anyone. I had no interest in such things.
“But Matriarch, you would hate it if someone spoke to you with heavy sincerity, wouldn’t you?”
The orca’s dark, weighty voice brushed past my head like a tap.
“Matriarch, someday an unavoidable moment will come.”
“Be quiet.”
When I lifted my head again, the memories of the third cycle had vanished, and a bruised young boy stood before my eyes.
Whale remained expressionless and composed despite his bruised appearance.
“Whale, I think my ears must be broken from all this urgency.”
“Not broken.”
….
I could hear his breathing clearly, trembling slightly.
His voice, tinged with a slight tremor, repeated the same words once more.
“Become my bride.”

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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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