Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 212

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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 212
We exchanged jests without any real gravity.
“Don’t worry. The groom will be dealt with at the betrothal ceremony.”
“You think I’d let that happen?”
I spoke with indifference.
“Father, didn’t you say the same thing about Whale a few months ago? This isn’t the time for childish talk.”
“I’m more than prepared to become a childish person from now on.”
“Don’t joke with such a serious face.”
I laughed awkwardly, then exhaled a long breath.
“Levai. What you mentioned earlier—whether that man retains his memories or not isn’t unrelated to our plan.”
“I have a question. What exactly is unrelated to the plan, Matriarch?”
The question came from Lirivel.
Lirivel tilted her head with a sly expression.
“It’s surprising that the Dragon Duke lost his memories, but is this really something to be treated so seriously?”
“My family and subordinates are truly cold to one another. Is that what you say to a comrade who’s lost his memories and trembles like a fledgling?”
“…What do you mean trembles like what? A fledgling bird? Does it smell like bird droppings?”
“Goodness.”
My children really do think negatively whenever land animals come to mind.
“And who’s the coldest one here?”
“Second Brother, you shouldn’t mutter to yourself like that.”
I waved my hand lightly.
Strange—I’d only waved my hand, but the ornament I’d been holding flew right at Second Brother.
“Ow! What are you doing! And if the upper waters are clear, the lower waters will be clear too! Matriarch, how can you expect our character to be good when you act like this? Do you have any conscience!”
“Very true words. Take another hit.”
Before individual personalities could stand out further, I quickly raised my hand halfway.
Even in this situation, the man remained silent and composed.
‘He’s grown quieter.’
In this way, he resembled Father, yet was subtly different. If Father possessed a detachment born from resignation…
This man sat composed among the crowd, yet appeared lonely, as though he were alone.
Why did he seem abandoned by the world? Perhaps it was more pronounced because Tus wasn’t here.
“The Dragon’s power is unstable.”
I learned this from what happened on the terrace earlier. Ekion, who emerged from the rift in time, had never caused problems due to unstable power, at least.
But this man, grown and having lost his memories, possessed unstable power.
“Hey, I don’t understand what’s so serious about this. Could someone explain it to me?”
At Lirivel’s sharp voice, Agenor answered with a displeased expression.
“Stop asking when you already know. If the Dragon becomes unstable, the world could be destroyed.”
Only Atlant and Bellus, who had experienced that destruction, fell silent.
I waved my hand to organize my thoughts.
“That’s precisely why we need to accelerate all our plans.”
“You mean accelerate the plans rather than restore his memories?”
“How do you plan to restore what’s lost? Should we search for memories to jog his recollection?”
“….”
“That won’t work. I know better than anyone.”
I know this much: in Ekion’s short life, I was the one and only existence of true value.
Yet he doesn’t even remember my name.
So simply dwelling on memories like some Earth novel or drama won’t awaken him—that’s the reality of it.
This was intuition as much as anything.
“The fact that he wants to go to the City of Dragons suggests there might be a way to resolve this there.”
“But the City of Dragons isn’t somewhere we can visit safely right now, is it?”
“That’s true.”
The City of Dragons must look entirely different from when we visited nine years ago.
The Terrapin Chief did everything he could to stop them, but he alone couldn’t have prevented the Imperial Court’s schemes.
There were limits. The city is essentially a minefield throughout.
A city full of traps.
Why would we need to enter knowing it’s trapped?
“We simply make it safe to enter the City of Dragons.”
What’s the way to safely enter a city full of traps?
Simple.
Eliminate the ones who set the traps.
“We’re going to the capital earlier than planned.”
Everyone fell silent at my words.
Iliana, who hadn’t spoken once until now—the Herring Chief who’d been watching for an opening.
Beyond them, the families who’d sworn loyalty to me stood quietly, exchanging glances.
“Well, isn’t this tyranny? How is there not a single person objecting?”
When I turned my gaze, Atlant was grinning, tusks bared in a smile.
His words were hardly submissive, yet his eyes promised death to anyone who dared voice opposition.
Whether then or now, his excessive loyalty made me laugh.
“We’ve already held out this long anyway.”
The Imperial Court eventually found their way here. They have suspicions that the Dragon Duke is present, but they haven’t found concrete proof.
It’s only a matter of time.
We’ve held out long enough.
I lifted my head and looked over everyone.
“The capital houses the Imperial Court.”
I stated what everyone already knew, but it was a prelude to what came next.
“Those stinking bastards are cunning, meticulous, and possess boundless patience.”
“….”
“To face violent and methodical enemies, we too must become methodical.”
That was the secondary objective I’d set upon waking from my long slumber.
“To strike at the Imperial Court, we must first strengthen our foundation. So, eliminating the Sharks—our most troublesome obstacle—was the first order I gave as Matriarch.”
Levai quietly affirmed my words.
The succession had already occurred implicitly among them.
To be precise, I had simply reclaimed the position that Father had temporarily held for me.
“Right. Two strongholds remain. I’ve decided. We’ll take this place in one strike.”
“But how do you intend to address the shortcomings compared to our prepared conditions?”
“Split into two groups.”
The one who raised his hand at my words was Bellus, who had been silent until now.
“Matriarch, as you know, there’s still someone in this family harboring misguided thoughts. If we split our forces and march out, problems will arise.”
“I know. That’s why I deliberately left him behind.”
“Does that mean your resolve remains unchanged despite this?”
“That’s right.”
Bellus nodded. Soon, Eldest Brother bowed respectfully.
“Everything shall be as the Matriarch wills.”
* * *
After the meeting ended, we held what could be called a party and blew out birthday candles, but compared to last year’s celebration,
it ended quite briefly and intensely.
Most were disappointed, but they left as if resigned to the orders.
“You can hold a proper coming-of-age ceremony later.”
“That’s right, Calypso!”
While disappointed, I felt grateful to those who disappeared while looking forward to the next time, though I also felt somewhat sorry.
They seemed to have high expectations. Should I hold an even grander party next time?
Just as Father was about to leave, someone remained behind as the last to go.
It was Second Brother—the one who should have left the room disappointed under normal circumstances.
He was likely the busiest one in the family right now besides Father, yet his expression suggested he had something to say.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Yes.”
His cold expression softened slightly when he looked at me. However, his face appeared somewhat rigid, as if he were thinking about something troubling.
“What, do you suddenly have objections to my decision?”
“I don’t. And I won’t in the future either. Besides, you made a rational decision. The Imperial Palace has already sent spies deep into Aquasiadel.”
Though not formally announced, the Imperial Palace had already deployed personnel to this land they despised in pursuit of the Dragon Duke.
It wasn’t uncommon for them to assassinate our knights or key figures to infiltrate, then take their places using special abilities to disguise themselves.
One reason Father took the Matriarch’s position was
that if the Imperial Palace suddenly started a fight—a low possibility, but still—
Father would face them as Matriarch while I kept Ekion safely hidden and prepared to strike at their rear.
The reason I don’t deliberately ascend above the Matriarch’s position to command all of this
is that ‘there’s someone in my vicinity besides me who remembers the previous life.’
Could there really be no such person among those black panthers and lions?
I don’t know how the Dragon Duke was handled in the third cycle,
but the sight of young Ekion being confined kept bothering me.
If the black panthers had done this in both the first and second cycles, I couldn’t have remained completely unaware.
“So if it’s not dissatisfaction with the decision, then what is it?”
I asked without revealing my thoughts.

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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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