Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 222

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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 222
‘My instinct wasn’t wrong.’
In my previous life, I certainly hadn’t paid the Dragon Duke such close attention.
Perhaps I had kept it hidden all along without revealing it.
The Imperial Family, which had never exposed their true intentions, had become obsessed with the Dragon Duke in this life.
‘And obsessed relentlessly, viciously so.’
To the point of confining the Dragon Duke and stationing their watchers throughout the Dragon’s Castle.
‘If that was all to resolve what happened to the Crown Prince…’
It made sense.
Everything fell into place.
Because as I methodically handled the aquatic beastkin’s affairs, the Imperial Family’s eerie silence had always struck me as strange.
“How could the Dragon allow the Crown Prince to go free?”
“I don’t know the exact details, but… he mentioned ‘time’ and ‘destruction.'”
My mouth turned bitter.
Because I recalled the destruction of my third cycle.
‘No, I won’t allow this life to meet such an ending.’
I resolved to make this life my last. Truly, even if time repeated one more time…
I would end this bitter resentment.
This life, I would aim to die of old age.
“So the Imperial Family wanted the Dragon Duke.”
But when I went to the Dragon’s Castle, Ekion was merely imprisoned.
There were signs of abuse, but no traces of his power being forcibly exploited.
‘What if they were also waiting for something while keeping Ekion confined?’
Whatever was afflicting the Crown Prince, if it remained the same until now, he couldn’t be easily freed.
Some preparation must have been necessary.
If they had to wait for ‘something.’
And that something was…
‘They were waiting for Ekion to mature.’
Right. Both Tus and Ekion said that once they grew, their power would stabilize, and they could use it completely.
I twisted my lips into a bitter smile.
‘You didn’t want to experience another rampage either, did you?’
Tus was stable because I was there, but young Ekion always carried a high risk of rampage.
But the opponents were lion cubs.
‘I can’t rule out the possibility that if things go wrong, they’d trigger a rampage to bring about destruction together.’
I didn’t regret revealing the Dragon Duke’s existence to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince seemed to have already noticed the Dragon Duke was here, and discovery was only a matter of time.
When the enemy’s objective is clear, a countermeasure becomes simple without headache.
‘They’ll only target the Dragon Duke, their priority.’
Meanwhile, my mood plummeted sharply.
I knew it. And I had accepted it, but using the Dragon Duke as bait felt deeply unpleasant.
In the past, you made the innocent Dragon Duke a scapegoat, and in this life too, nothing about you has changed.
“….”
I felt his gaze fixed upon me. When I slowly turned my head, displeasure had long since vanished from my face.
Instead, another emotion filled that void.
My heart grew complicated.
‘Just who are you….’
How much suffering did you endure to gather all this information?
Even hearing it secondhand, it was no ordinary intelligence.
To unearth information of this magnitude, you must have endured countless hardships.
“It couldn’t have been easy to uncover all of this alone.”
“I would like to attribute all credit to myself, but unfortunately, I did not accomplish this entirely alone.”
“Then?”
“I received assistance from ‘Akpeus’.”
The name I heard after so long was that of an octopus beastkin who had followed me devotedly in my third life.
A beastkin with the special ability to perfectly transform not only their own appearance but that of others as well.
“What, does he remember too?”
“Unfortunately not.”
Hauser wore a contemplative expression before a somewhat sinister smile crossed his face.
“Ah. I’m rather pleased that only I remember. Thanks to that, I’ve become the sole focus of your attention.”
“….”
I pressed my brow firmly.
When I smoothed out all the wrinkles, my hand patted his shoulder twice.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“….”
And….
“Thank you for not dying.”
Hauser looked at me before suddenly speaking.
“Is this the moment I should be crying?”
“…Wouldn’t that be something you say while shedding tears?”
“That’s impossible.”
“….”
“Even for a single moment, if the Matriarch’s face were obscured by tears, I couldn’t bear it.”
“…You’re quite devoted.”
I let out a bitter laugh. Looking at him, Levai inevitably came to mind.
Truly, those who were like both my arms remained unchanged from my third life, as if it were all a lie.
At least Levai has no memories. But this one….
“You must be tired. Rest now. Thank you for going through the trouble of explaining everything.”
Rather than keep someone who had just risen from a sickbed any longer, I decided to focus on what lay ahead.
I granted him rest.
But the moment I turned to leave, Hauser came before me and dropped to both knees.
“What are you doing?”
“I wished for you to call my name.”
“What… Hauser. That’s enough, isn’t it?”
“Yes. I am the Matriarch’s subordinate. You remember, don’t you? I swore my loyalty, pledging my very life.”
“….”
Eyes darkened with an ominous depth pierced through me as though they might bore holes straight through my soul.
“Just as in my past life, I ask that you take my entire existence in this life as well.”
A rapturous smile bloomed across Hauser’s thin lips.
“My body, my heart, my very soul—they are all yours.”
“…Didn’t I tell you not to spout such insane nonsense anywhere?”
True to his reputation as the chief architect of my past surrounded by lunatics, I let out a sigh that resembled laughter as I gazed at those gleaming eyes.
“I don’t accept human sacrifices.”
I pressed firmly against his forehead, then turned and opened the door.
* * *
Hauser’s arrival and the information he brought wrought significant change within our faction.
“It seems the place we visited wasn’t their final headquarters. The location Father and Bellus went to must be the true base. The leader commanding the Shark faction should be there as well.”
“That seems plausible.”
Levai nodded in agreement. Agenor, seated in the meeting hall, suddenly raised his hand.
“Matriarch, or rather, younger sister, can’t I go with you this time too? Huh? Huh?”
I shook my head slightly at Third Brother.
Third Brother possessed the best mobility. In case of contingencies, I needed someone with good mobility to remain here.
“Remarkable. So the Crown Prince’s circumstances were the reason for the obsession with the Dragon Duke….”
Levai murmured softly and tilted his head.
That expression suggested he had some inkling of what this meant.
Yet Levai’s mouth remained closed. I decided to let it pass, trusting he would speak once his thoughts were organized.
“Right. I wanted to settle this quickly, but they’ve come knocking on my door themselves?”
The domain of aquatic creatures is the domain of Aquasiade. That filthy lion has set foot upon my land.
My mood was thoroughly foul and displeased.
“Then you intend to go directly to where Bellus went?”
“That’s right.”
Levai nodded slightly and turned toward one direction. His expression became subtly peculiar.
A face full of perplexity, yet simultaneously brimming with bewilderment.
“By the way, Matriarch. I’ve overlooked it since you said nothing of it until now….”
Levai gestured with his eyes toward one side.
“Why is that man sitting there?”
Hauser occupied the seat Levai indicated.
Save for Second Brother, who sat with a serene expression, everyone else bore faces full of questions.
Since I offered no explanation and simply moved forward, they clearly adopted the attitude of accepting it as such.
“Since the important matter has concluded, I venture to ask a personal question with caution.”
Levai spoke gently on behalf of them all, his eyes beneath his glasses honed cold and sharp.
“I hear rumors that you’ve brought a lover. Is it true?”
“Bring them to me.”
“Pardon?”
“Just bring me the one who spread that rumor most actively. I’m thinking of making an example out of them.”
“…So it’s not that, then.”
Levai lowered his head.
“You flinched. What, did you have a hand in spreading the rumor too?”
“I dislike false rumors.”
“Why, you’re quite good at killing people with a three-inch tongue. Didn’t Atlant nearly die every time?”
“When did I ever!”
I let Second Brother’s complaint go in one ear and out the other.
I introduced Hauser shortly after—as a key intelligence operative who had come under my command.
Everyone’s gazes were filled with suspicion, but they relaxed slightly at the mention of the oath of the sea being completed.
“Hauser, speak if you have something to say.”
“I didn’t know you were alive.”
“Hmm? What? No, who?”
“I thought you were so weak that you’d surely be lying dead somewhere….”
Hauser’s gaze was directed at Levai.
‘Ah.’
I recalled naturally. Those two didn’t get along well, did they?
‘Well, except for a few of my subordinates, most of them were so aggressive that fighting was a daily occurrence.’
Levai didn’t seem to recognize who Hauser was, but instinctively felt a deep displeasure directed at me, his brow narrowing slightly.
“Matriarch, what is that seaweed-haired fool babbling about?”
“….”
“With that bloated kelp hair of yours…. Setting aside rudeness, I’d prefer if you were at least clean. I hope this Meeting Hall contains only what is pristine.”
“….”
Oh, childish but certainly a provocative jab.
I rested my chin in my hand and chuckled quietly.
Well, fine. Children grow through fighting. Though these two are hardly children anymore.
I suppose that’s just their true nature.
“Then, now that it’s settled, we depart for Bellus immediately.”
* * *
At Calypso’s declaration dismissing the meeting, everyone rose from their seats one by one.
Hauser remained motionless alone, lost in thought.
”When should I give ‘that’?’
Yesterday, the day he reported everything, Hauser had been so intoxicated by his emotions that he forgot one of the most important things.
He had a treasure to deliver to Calypso.
‘When we’re alone….’
Until this morning, there had been little opportunity for them to be alone.
Calypso had been busy.
Hauser wanted to give her a moment in this intimate time when he could celebrate his efforts to their peak.
He endured the pain, anticipating the moment when only he would fill those beautiful, noble eyes.
He deserved this.
‘But then again….’
His shadowed gaze fixed quietly on one point.
Persistently.
Surprisingly, instead of seeing the Matriarch Calypso he had always dreamed of, his eyes landed on the Dolphin Beastkin at the end of his line of sight. Levai.
Hauser thought.
‘That bastard.’
His pale face tilted loosely.
‘Why is he pretending not to remember?’

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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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