Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 206

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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 206
I stared at Whale’s crown as he drew closer, his hand still holding mine.
I didn’t avert my gaze.
His glossy eyes were gentle, yet they transparently revealed emotions that rippled like the deep sea.
As if to say it didn’t matter if I saw them.
I knew the name of this emotion well.
‘It’s a gaze that reminds me of that Orca.’
Eyes yearning for attachment.
Of course, it wasn’t identical. Just as what that Orca desired from me differed from what Whale desired from me.
Precisely that difference pooled within this gaze.
I lifted my hand and gently stroked Whale’s head.
“You’re my benefactor.”
“….”
“I don’t understand why you insist on walking such a difficult path.”
Even across four lifetimes, love remains something I don’t understand.
I simply feel a bit sorry for you, asking me for it.
I know that the way I regard Whale hasn’t changed much from when we first met.
Whale smiled softly.
His small laugh already carried the tone of an adult.
“Because it’s the path I desire?”
* * *
“I hear rumors that you’re engaged.”
That evening, I finally got to see Father’s face.
He’d apparently returned from external duties elsewhere due to some matter within the territory. It was rather surprising.
‘No matter how I look at it, Father doesn’t have the face of someone who works diligently.’
Nearly ten years had passed, yet Father hadn’t changed much from how I first saw him.
As befits an Orca with superior combat abilities, his aging was slow.
In fact, the former Matriarch also appeared considerably young for her age.
Likely I and my brothers would also age slowly.
‘I wonder about Mother…’
I briefly touched upon the existence of my mother that suddenly came to mind, then turned my gaze away.
I smiled wryly.
“Yeah, that’s right. When I came back, rumors were spreading everywhere, so I figured that must be it?”
Various rumors always circulated about me moving about outside, and I always occupied the most talked-about topic in this Noble House.
Recently, I understood that rumors about my engagement had become the subject of discussion.
“Didn’t Father approve of it?”
I’d assumed as much, but the fact that he didn’t explicitly deny it made me think that Father had heard about it yet chose to remain silent.
“I approved of your engagement?”
Seeing Father’s expression was unusual.
‘…Which bold fellow has been wagging his tongue so eagerly?’
Even I felt like I might break into a cold sweat at the intensity of his presence.
‘No, this Father seems to grow stronger with each passing moment.’
It was clear that his illness had been holding him back all this time.
“Is that so? Well, suit yourself.”
“What exactly made you think your betrothal would proceed?”
The look on his face seemed to say, ‘Tell me what you’ve heard, and I’ll crush every basis for it.’
“Well, there is the other party. I was wondering if something had progressed without my knowledge.”
“If you’re talking about the Beluga, didn’t you say you found a way to break the companion bond once you return her lifespan?”
“Father would know too, but that was only if I awakened the power of water.”
Father’s expression darkened. Though he was still handsome, regardless.
Hmm. Now that I think about it, the young Orca women have been eagerly displaying their power whenever they see Father these days?
The number of Orca women dreaming of becoming the Matriarch by becoming Father’s remarriage partner had surged.
‘How dare they presume.’
It’s hopeless. Father’s partner is someone I’ve been carefully confirming… I let out a small laugh at that thought.
I never thought the day would come when I’d have such thoughts.
As I shook my head and lay back down, Father’s voice reached me.
“I’ve been looking into what you mentioned all along.”
Since opening my eyes, I’d tried everything to awaken the power of water, but to no avail.
What remained was the treasure I’d begun searching for the moment I opened my eyes—Lineius.
Actually, besides this treasure, I wanted to find one more thing related to the power of water. This one isn’t an object, but a person.
“Since you’re likely manipulating those two treasures, I looked into the person instead.”
“Yeah, how did it go? Do you have any news this time?”
Father shook his head slightly. His brow was still furrowed.
“Nothing. I traced every branch family and even the Beastkin who were cast out, but there’s no Orca by that name.”
What I was looking for was my Teacher from the third cycle—the one who had taught me the power of water.
‘I never thought I’d search for that person again.’
I recalled the past carefully.
Not long after obtaining Lineius, I was in a state of panic.
Well, it was only in the third of my three previous lives that I finally awakened the power of water.
Since I was a wanderer, there was no way I could have known how to wield the power of water.
“Her name was Sizer, right?”
“Yeah. That’s right.”
Sizer. The female Orca Beastkin who suddenly appeared before me one day introduced herself that way.
That she was also a wanderer like me, abandoned by her Noble House.
“Now that I think about it, it might have been an alias. Considering nothing came up even after searching for years.”
I carefully recalled my previous memories.
“When she trained me, she definitely used scissors—massive scissors made from the power of water.”
“Something like this?”
Father tilted his head slowly, then flicked his fingertips.
Soon, scissors made of water formed above Father’s hand. Multiple forms of scissors.
I pointed to a large garden shears among them.
“Yeah. Something like that one.”
“How peculiar.”
“Right?”
I pondered for a moment.
“Come to think of it, maybe an alias was fitting, and the approach was just different.”
It would be natural for someone cast out by a Noble House not to use the name the House had given them.
Or perhaps they simply hadn’t revealed their name to me alone.
I didn’t feel regret.
Because they were someone who flowed like passing waves, like the wind itself.
“We’re just a fleeting connection. Even if you do well later, don’t come looking for me. That’s how you repay kindness.”
“Teacher, you’re quite a strange person, aren’t you?”
“If you understand, then get rolling. Fifty left? Where are you slacking off?”
….
…Now that I think about it, the way they made me roll was similar to Father’s method?
Anyway.
‘In this life, they probably didn’t change how they use the power of water.’
The power of water was almost like a fingerprint to Orcas. Each individual had clearly defined unique weapons and methods they used.
Just as I preferred to use a hammer.
“Collateral branches that can use the power of water are rare, right? Could you focus on these people and look into them?”
Father nodded.
“And while we’re at it… bring in those spreading rumors about engagements too.”
“…Why those ones.”
“Someone who just spreads false rumors isn’t needed in this Noble House.”
I rolled my eyes around and let out a small laugh. I’d been holding it in, but it burst out anyway.
“Why, Father. Daughters usually say they’ll marry their fathers when they’re little.”
“And?”
“I wish you’d told me that when I was young too.”
I lay sprawled on the sofa, resting my chin in both hands, giggling.
“That would be a shame.”
“Would it.”
Father smiled slightly.
“Marriage is one thing, but spending a lifetime together isn’t so bad either.”
“You’re only getting married once, with Mother?”
I recalled the collateral branches that had been severely punished after I’d playfully thrust a marriage proposal at Father.
Father’s expression hardened for a moment.
Then it softened slightly.
…Yes.
I saw a faint trace of regret flicker across Father’s face.
“Once is enough.”
“….”
“There’s no one quite like her.”
The words flowed out with genuine sincerity, rippling softly through the air.
‘Now he’s speaking honestly.’
When I lifted my gaze, Father had already returned to the cold expression he always wore.
“Father, I mentioned this before, but Mother….”
“You mean she’s alive? No, she’s dead.”
“….”
I pressed my lips shut once more.
Nine years ago, I heard from Bellus that Mother was still alive.
After that, I told Father about it once, but he always gave me the same answer.
“She is dead. I’m certain.”
It was absolute conviction.
As if he had witnessed her death with his own eyes. I couldn’t ask further, but that’s what it seemed like.
‘But why does Bellus’s account contradict his?’
Perhaps it was time to unravel this conversation I’d been putting off.
With that thought, I rose to my feet.
“When are you planning to leave again?”
“Not much left now. Maybe two strongholds? This time I’m planning to stay quite a while before I go. Besides, tomorrow is my birthday, isn’t it?”
At my words, Father’s expression eased.
I smiled slightly and left the room. Soon, the smile faded from my face.
* * *
The next day, I had planned to meet Bellus, who was supposedly away on a brief inspection, but my plans fell through.
A visitor had arrived before I could.
The person who came in the morning was none other than Third Brother.
‘It seems he had quite a fierce duel yesterday…?’
A bandage was conspicuously plastered across his pale cheek.
Judging by his even colder expression, it appeared he had lost to Second Brother again.
‘In truth, the power he uses is almost entirely geared toward assassination, so he’s at a disadvantage in duels.’
With that thought, I sat across from him.
“Yesterday I had something really important to tell you, but I ended up getting distracted.”
“It’s fine. Since we can afford to wait a bit anyway, you were just putting it off too, right?”
“….”
I was thinking of offering some hollow consolation….
But then something surprising came from Third Brother’s mouth.
“I found a clue about the treasure ‘Lineius.'”
“…What?”

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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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