Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 193

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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 193
Even as I threw out this provocative challenge, I kept one corner of my mind ice-cold and rational.
Of course, I hadn’t suddenly become a hot-headed fool and made this provocation without thinking.
If I were still trapped in this eight-year-old body alone, I would never have dared throw down such a gauntlet.
‘This gambit became possible thanks to Ekion.’
That one truly was a blessing in disguise.
Of course, I didn’t actually expect the Matriarch to accept this willingly….
“Very well.”
Huh? She didn’t refuse?
At this unexpected response, I lifted my head. The Matriarch’s expression was as clear as if she’d never been drinking at all.
Though I had assumed that since orcas were generally heavy drinkers, she wouldn’t be intoxicated by that amount.
I blinked my eyes.
‘Is she serious?’
Or is this another trap? I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
Originally, I had expected this provocation to be rejected outright.
‘If she refused, I planned to offer something less ambitious while making sure to seal a deal here regardless….’
But the Matriarch’s reaction—which should have been angry mockery, asking where I got the nerve to spout such nonsense—
was something else entirely.
It wasn’t normal.
‘What is this? Did something happen to her mind after visiting the Time Rift?’
As I fell silent, lost in thought, the Matriarch’s gaze remained fixed on me like a hook, sharp and piercing.
I couldn’t understand why she looked at me like an enemy she wanted to devour.
Or rather, it seemed like she was glaring, but something else….
Well, what would I know.
“Do you desire this position so badly?”
“You keep saying tedious things. Have you lost your mind?”
Even as I answered, my thoughts raced.
Rather than growing angry at my words, the Matriarch simply stared at me, then suddenly began to laugh.
“Ha, haha. Ha. How amusing. So in the end, you’re the one who resembles me most.”
What a horrifying thing to say.
“Yes, my clever granddaughter. Let me ask you something.”
Her voice continued, sharp as if she hadn’t slept.
“If I accept this provocation I can see right through you, and if I win this wager, will you obey my every command?”
“What I proposed was a fight, not a wager.”
“What difference is there when two desires clash in combat?”
Well, the terminology hardly mattered anyway.
“Why are you suddenly pretending to accept so readily?”
I asked, displeased.
“Then, if I hadn’t accepted, what were you planning to do? Were you going to leave Aquasiadel?”
How did this old woman know that? Though it was true.
I had no intention of playing on a board created by my opponent.
There was no need to build power within Aquasiadel, and besides, there would be limits to such growth.
“Whether I leave or stay, what does it matter now? My path to becoming the successor is already ruined anyway.”
So I simply decided to skip the process entirely and become the Matriarch directly.
“I have no intention of remaining beneath you any longer.”
“….”
“But if you insist on a wager, then so be it.”
I would create the board.
“Let’s make it a wager where the loser must grant the winner one absolute command that cannot be refused.”
A mocking laugh came in response.
“So if you win, I’m supposed to hand over the Matriarch’s seat and grant you one command on top of that?”
“Your comprehension seems intact.”
Her expression was one of disbelief. I shrugged.
“If you’re scared, you can back out. I won’t lose sleep over it.”
The Matriarch actually accepted the wager without hesitation. Why am I accepting this strangeness?
If this board wasn’t favorable to me, it would be better to break it entirely.
After staring at me darkly for a while, the Matriarch finally spoke.
“I accept.”
…What is this person scheming?
I didn’t like it.
But the more I thought about it rationally, the more favorable this wager was for me.
“Make it two commands instead of one. Then I’ll accept your terms.”
“Very well.”
I needed to make this even more advantageous for myself.
Watching the Matriarch nod obediently to the end, I couldn’t shake a lingering unease.
But I concluded the conversation while holding the upper hand.
* * *
Naturally, when our people learned of the wager I had proposed, chaos erupted.
“A wager? Why would you propose such a thing?”
The most displeased among them was undoubtedly Father.
Now that his illness was cured and he could use all his power freely, he questioned what possible need there was for such a wager.
“If you truly needed something like that….”
The way Father said “something like that” sounded more like “something so foolish,” and I was certain it wasn’t my imagination.
“Father, you’re strong. I admire strong people. I don’t dislike it. But… wouldn’t it be more meaningful if I claimed that seat myself?”
Especially since it’s the Matriarch’s seat.
Father didn’t respond, as if acknowledging my words were right, yet his expression remained displeased.
Knowing this displeasure was Father’s way of worrying, I simply answered with a smile.
We agreed to hold the wager three days later.
Once the wager matter was settled and I could finally breathe.
It was time to handle the task I had been putting off.
A conversation I’d postponed for later—the task Ekion had imprinted upon me. That’s what I needed to tell them.
‘No, I can’t keep it secret forever, can I?’
I scratched my cheek. I’d anticipated Father’s reaction wouldn’t be ordinary.
‘I’ve never seen Father grab the back of his neck like that before….’
He actually clutched at his neck and face like he was in a drama and nearly collapsed.
…I never expected that.
It felt like I’d become a thoughtless daughter who’d caused trouble.
Except, this wasn’t trouble I’d caused….’
In any case, Father nearly blew the Manor to pieces.
But unlike with Whale, he suddenly grew remarkably composed and asked me calmly.
“…So, I’m supposed to have two damned sons-in-law?”
Well, let me correct myself.
He didn’t seem composed or calm at all…!
The problem was that Father wasn’t the only one hearing this news.
It was just family in this room.
Second Brother and Third Brother were here, and so was Eldest Brother, who’d helped me and decided to come completely under my command.
As expected of Father’s sons.
‘I thought Third Brother was the only one who resembled Father much….’
But that cold, murderous expression was an exact copy.
“So you’re seriously telling me I’ve gained two brothers-in-law? That’s insane.”
“Why is that insane?”
“Because you, in your last—ack! Aaaaack!”
Atlant collapsed to the floor mid-sentence. He writhed in pain, pounding the ground.
“That’s right, Second Brother. You should’ve known which words to speak and which to keep silent.”
I calmly twisted Atlant’s arm and pressed down with my weight as I spoke.
He’d probably been about to say something like, ‘In your last life you didn’t meet anyone, so why are you entangling yourself with two people now? Have you lost your mind!’
“Brother, it’s troublesome when you love your sister this much. We can never be together.”
“Who—you sea witch, ack! Aaaaack!”
“That’s right. Second Brother’s tongue was always honest, wasn’t it?”
I paused my punishment of Atlant and lifted my head.
I smiled brightly.
“Third Brother, you seem to have plenty to say too?”
“…Haha, Sister. How could I possibly presume to speak?”
Third Brother laughed smoothly. But I knew.
His eyes glinted with something sinister beneath that smile.
“Your expression looks like you’re thinking, ‘What if I just slit your throat from behind?'”
“….”
As if I don’t know you, Third Brother.
In my last life, whenever something displeased me even slightly, it was Agenor here who’d assassinate them without anyone knowing.
He’d killed people without being asked, which caused me trouble more than once.
“If you touch it, you’ll get to experience whether Rabbit can clean every speck of sand in the training grounds with a single leap.”
“….”
Third Brother averted his gaze somewhat, though it was a look that hadn’t quite given up.
Moreover, Eldest Brother, who had just joined us this time, was.
“…A kid I’ve never seen before, why?”
“What?”
“It’s nothing.”
Nothing, perhaps. I mulled over Bellus’s words carefully.
Though he’d spoken quietly, it hadn’t escaped my five senses.
Wait a moment. …A kid I’ve never seen before?
And then, several of Bellus’s actions that I’d been unable to understand until now flashed through my mind.
Finally, Atlant groaning beneath me.
He’d said he’d call someone who could help, and then asked Bellus for assistance, hadn’t he?
Why? It’s not the third cycle now, so why did he ask for help with such certainty?
I reached a conclusion.
“Hey, Second Brother.”
I made eye contact with Atlant, who was pinned beneath me.
I suspected as much, but I spoke with only my lips.
‘Does that bastard remember too?’
Atlant’s eyes rolled about before he gave a slight nod.
…Insane. That bastard too? What the hell is in this life that everyone’s happily remembering their past lives?
‘What’s so good about it?’
I furrowed my brow but didn’t let it show. Agenor and Father were here, after all.
‘There’s no helping it.’
From the context, it seemed Atlant had figured it out beforehand. But you’re only sharing this crucial fact now?
“We’ll talk later.”
“….”
I released Atlant and stood up, brushing off my hands.
“I’ll say this upfront—Ekion and Whale are people I need. I’m not your father, and I don’t intend to ask for your three’s permission. But I’ll explain once anyway.”
Since things had come to this, emotional persuasion was pointless, so I decided to emphasize rationally how important these two people were to me.
“First, since I haven’t awakened the power of water yet, Ekion can help me use the power of water.”
It felt like I was a contestant singing in front of four judges on an audition show.
…I don’t know why I had to feel this way.
“And we don’t know how many fights lie ahead, but Whale can heal any wound. Moreover, he even healed Father’s illness. Do you think such an ability is common?”
As I glared fiercely at the three brothers, all except Bellus averted their gazes slightly.
Only Bellus pondered for a moment before nodding.
“So one is your support and the other is your cure, then.”
“…What kind of inhumane description are you making now?”
Though I said this, Bellus’s words seemed to have a rather positive effect on the remaining three family members.
“Right? They’re both necessary, then?”
“Well, if that’s the case… there’s no need to die immediately.”
I stopped staring absurdly at Second Brother and Third Brother, then gazed at Father with desperate hope.
“I cannot tolerate anyone weaker than myself.”
Father was simply rephrasing his demand that I live alone for the rest of my life.
“Candidate. We’ll proceed like this, but I’ll have you undergo training first. Do you agree?”
“…Why go to such lengths? Well, yes. But you won’t let me die or suffer permanent bodily harm, right?”
We reached an agreement (?) this way, but I remained skeptical. Could I even survive Father’s training?
…No, could Ekion even survive it?

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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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