Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 196

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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 196
“Where did you go?”
Atlant’s eyes flickered away evasively.
…I hadn’t done anything wrong, yet I felt terrified.
‘What’s gotten into her now?’
She’d just defeated the current Matriarch at this age, yet instead of joy or pride, why was she brimming with fury?
Atlant knew this expression well.
‘That’s the same look she gets when I or Agenor cause trouble.’
It seemed the Dragon Duke had done something to provoke Calypso’s wrath.
‘Whatever it is, he should confess and seek redemption….’
It was the only advice Atlant could offer, having been beaten the most frequently in the past.
Unfortunately, the Dragon Duke would never receive this wisdom.
“Well, since I was with her….”
Fortunately, someone appeared to cool Calypso’s anger somewhat.
“Congratulations. It was unconventional, but you ultimately obtained what you desired.”
It was Pierre. At his words, Calypso’s expression went blank for a moment, then she wiped her face.
“Ah….”
It was the expression of someone who’d just remembered something they’d forgotten.
Her face was bewildered.
“Right, yes, that’s true? I won….”
“What’s wrong? Was there something so important you forgot that fact?”
….
Calypso blinked her eyes. Then she simply smiled.
Atlant recalled something she’d witnessed in Calypso’s duel moments before.
‘She doesn’t seem to have noticed….’
Actually, it was the moment the duel began and Calypso unleashed the power of water.
More precisely, when she manifested the hammer in her hand.
Behind Calypso, something like a water shadow rippled into existence.
It was adult-sized, and upon closer inspection, it was the silhouette of a person from behind.
Atlant recognized it instantly.
It was the silhouette of Calypso from the third cycle—the lord she had truly followed, the Matriarch herself.
She couldn’t explain why that image had appeared.
What mattered was that not only she, but everyone present had seen it.
Especially Pierre’s expression, which she’d glimpsed, was quite peculiar.
Atlant felt joy at seeing Calypso’s future form once more.
Her emotions were fresh and new.
So she would become Matriarch once again.
‘But according to the plan, this duel wasn’t supposed to happen.’
When Calypso had explained her long-term plan, she’d clearly stated she would become Matriarch only after turning fifteen.
‘That plan was so thorough and merciless.’
Yes, it was a plan to drag the current Matriarch down into utter ruin.
From the beginning, Calypso had chosen this long path despite there being an easy and quick way to become Matriarch.
It was the same in my previous life.
Calypso had always shown unwavering hatred toward Ocula Aquasiadel.
Perhaps the plan changed considerably because the Matriarch appeared in front of Pierre’s house.
But what’s the harm in that?
Judging by her expression when she returned from speaking with Pierre, Calypso seemed somewhat relieved.
“Father, then I’m counting on you.”
“…”
“Father.”
“…Yes. Go on then.”
Pierre’s expression was not merely displeased—it was positively murderous.
Meanwhile, Calypso spotted Ekion in the distance and began running toward him without hesitation.
Soon Calypso was running while holding Ekion’s hand.
The scene of her grasping his wrist as they ran together resembled a moment from a youth romance novel.
Which made Atlant’s insides twist all the more painfully.
‘That bastard, raising our Matriarch so carefully(?)…’
Had Calypso heard this, she would have raised her fist and said, ‘What nonsense is this lunatic spouting? Raising? Want to go back underground?’
Atlant frowned in displeasure and cautiously asked Pierre.
“Say, Teacher. What did Calypso say?”
“…She asked me to take her on as an apprentice.”
Pierre answered quietly.
It was unexpected.
If she’d merely asked to be taken on as an apprentice, this Teacher wouldn’t be seething in such quiet fury.
There was clearly something more to it, but remembering Pierre’s merciless training, Atlant decided to suppress his curiosity here.
As he turned to leave, his eyes met those of the small one beside him.
It was Whale.
The largest among the young ones, but still just a youngster in Atlant’s towering eyes.
And one who had audaciously proposed to Calypso at that.
“What are you looking at?”
Though Atlant asked irritably, Whale showed no fear whatsoever.
Instead, his stolid face was filled with dejection. Atlant was momentarily taken aback.
‘What’s this? Why does he look like he’s about to cry?’
He looked for Levai, but Levai was already off in the distance speaking with Pierre about something.
If a misunderstanding arose that he had made Whale cry, and it reached Calypso’s ears, that would be troublesome.
“Hey, are you crying?”
“…No, I’m not.”
His tone was as blunt as his expression. Only his voice lacked strength.
Whale lifted his head and stared at Atlant, then asked hesitantly.
“Brother.”
“…Who is your older brother?”
“But this form of address is correct….”
“Tsk, try calling me that one more time. So what, what’s your business?”
Whale hesitated for a moment before asking.
“How do I become loved?”
Atlant blinked his eyes.
And no wonder—he….
Soon Atlant answered confidently and nonchalantly.
“I don’t know. How would I?”
I’ve never tried it.
In his past life, he was married to battle—in other words, a lifelong bachelor.
“…I see. But I thought you would naturally know, being so impressive, older brother.”
“…What?”
“I said you’re impressive. Especially the way you wield the power of water. How I wish I had such power too.”
“…What is this flattery.”
Atlant let out a small cough.
“You think that’ll work on me? Well… it’s true, though.”
And though Whale hadn’t intended it, he was already unknowingly beginning to win over his older brother.
* * *
“So, you’re not at fault?”
A secluded open space.
The Aquasiadel mansion here was so dreadfully vast that finding a quiet place to talk was remarkably easy.
I brought Ekion to one such place while driving away the knights who had been patrolling.
Fortunately, Ekion was wearing his hat pulled down low, so his face was hidden.
I drove the knights away and immediately pressed Ekion for answers once silence fell.
But rather than shrinking back, Ekion stared straight at me… and broke into a wide smile.
“I don’t regret it.”
He even added words to accompany his bright smile, as if he had no reservations whatsoever.
“Calypso, I granted your wish.”
“Who asks you to fulfill a wish while sacrificing your own power? I told you before. Even without risking your life, I alone am more than capable of handling it.”
“But Calypso, it was necessary, wasn’t it?”
I opened my eyes wide.
“So?”
If Second Brother or Third Brother had seen me like this, they would have definitely trembled.
When I make this expression, they say a killing intent can be felt.
Only then did Ekion notice the situation like a child and began to squirm under my gaze.
Somehow, his squirming was identical to Tus. Well, it made sense since Tus was his subordinate and they looked the same anyway.
“…I was wrong.”
“That’s enough.”
What could I do with a child? I let out a deep sigh and opened my mouth.
“Once I’ve expended power, there’s no way to get it back, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Why are you answering so cheerfully about this….”
I grabbed my face with one hand while patting the shoulder of this Young Boy with the other—the one who’d caused me such frustration today.
Well, the accident has already happened. There’s nothing for it but to clean up the mess.
“So how do I obtain the power to grow? If power can be lost, then it can be regained too, right?”
“That’s right. Power….”
Ekion hesitated.
“…I have to go through the temporal rift again.”
The moment those golden eyes—which rarely left me—finally turned away as he gauged my reaction, I felt something peculiar stir within me.
Why did a strange emptiness bloom the instant his gaze departed?
I shook my head. This wasn’t the time for such thoughts.
“Is that so? Then you just need to go and come back, right?”
“I don’t want to.”
“Hm? What’s this…you’re refusing so firmly?”
I was bewildered by this resolute refusal—something I’d rarely heard from him before. He was a child who typically agreed to everything I said.
Ekion’s reasoning was this:
“If I go, I won’t be able to see Calypso….”
To this, I answered readily.
“…? Then we can just go together, can’t we?”
At first, I’d thought I’d only need to send Ekion alone…but when I considered that he’d be completely invisible in Father’s mansion, that strange feeling returned.
What was this?
…Separation anxiety?
“I needed to go anyway.”
And thinking it through again, we had to go through the temporal rift together regardless.
Among my subordinates, there was a child suffering from the same affliction as Father, after all.
“I need materials to treat Lirivel.”

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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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