Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 231

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 231
‘Ugh, how unsettling.’
The moment I opened my eyes this morning, I felt a wave of displeasure.
‘What kind of dream was that…’
I’d had a vivid, chaotic dream.
A dream from when I was together with Ekion in the cracks of time.
That dream had reminded me upon waking that Ekion was no longer here in this place.
It only served to sour my mood.
In dramas, even when lovers suffer from amnesia, they remain steadfastly devoted and pursue affection.
Though Ekion wasn’t my lover, the affection I held for him was genuine.
Yet I couldn’t understand why I felt such an uncanny unease about where he was now, having lost his memories.
‘And here I am, putting him to sleep under the guise of protecting him from the Crown Prince, so I suppose I’m still clinging to him.’
The real problem was that beneath this displeasure lay a persistent sense of unease.
That feeling was connected to the sensation of having forgotten something.
I had been observing what happened between Ekion and me in the cracks of time, and it seemed I’d glimpsed something else at the end of the dream.
But I couldn’t recall it at all.
Though it’s common and natural to forget dreams upon waking.
‘Ugh…’
I dragged my hand across my face and began my day.
This unease persisted until I sat down in my Study that morning.
Father still hadn’t returned.
But a letter had arrived suggesting he would be back within two days.
Since there was nothing that urgently required his presence, I told him to return at his leisure.
Whatever had happened between him and Mother.
It must have been something grave enough that I’d believed them truly lost, yet it seemed resolvable in mere days.
There were plenty of other pressing matters that demanded my attention, dream or not.
Though I’d resolved to wage war, I couldn’t simply launch it recklessly.
And since the Crown Prince had thrown down the gauntlet with his invitation, I needed to prepare a thorough response.
Of course, it would be flawless.
“A trap is best countered with another trap.”
The day passed without my noticing.
‘Phew, it’s been a while since I felt this sensation.’
I sat in my Study, lost in thought.
The Matriarch’s Study of Aquasiadel was often restructured according to the owner’s preferences.
When Father became temporary Matriarch, he’d given me free rein to decorate it to my taste.
In my case, it hadn’t changed much from how Father had arranged it.
But ultimately, it had become a space saturated with my preferences.
After decorating it enthusiastically, I’d come to realize I’d created a room identical to the third playthrough.
It was no wonder I’d been feeling increasingly confused about whether I was actually in the third playthrough these days.
Especially since the one standing beside me as both advisor and strategist was none other than Levai.
Soon the door would have opened, and if Whale hadn’t entered, I would have continued drowning in such sentiments.
For some reason, Whale had come with Hauser. The unusual pairing struck me as curious at first.
When the two first met, I had sensed Whale regarding Hauser with a certain wariness.
‘Did they grow fond of each other during treatment?’
Hauser bowed respectfully, and Whale greeted me in kind.
“Matriarch.”
I smiled slightly at Whale.
“It sounds strange hearing such formal words from your mouth.”
“Should I go back to how I was before then?”
“That wouldn’t be bad.”
Whale wore a smile similar to my own. Sitting down while looking up at him, his frame seemed all the more massive.
Whale was the sole Beastkin with a unique healing ability, and because he couldn’t bear not understanding his own gift, he had thrown himself into research, keeping himself relentlessly busy.
Moreover, my schedule had been constantly at odds with his, so seeing his face felt like it had been ages.
“When you hold this position, the number of people you can speak with freely inevitably dwindles.”
….
At that, Whale blinked slowly before offering a warm smile.
“I see. But that sounds like you’ve already served as Matriarch. Ha ha.”
“Is that so?”
For something said in jest, it was quite sharp, so I paused for a moment. Though only in my mind, of course.
It was inevitable that my gaze drifted to Levai standing right beside me.
“Well… since I’ve been dreaming of it since I was three years old, I must have done it countless times in my dreams, no?”
“I see.”
Whale continued slowly, as if what he’d said was merely a jest.
“The performance of the items the Orcas created is quite impressive.”
“Really?”
Among aquatic animal Beastkin, there are those who can manipulate space.
And there are Beastkin who can temporarily transfer another’s unique ability to themselves or a third party.
When combined with the inventive talents of the Orcas, quite a remarkable combination was created.
To put it simply, it was a pouch that could instantly produce whatever materials Whale needed for his healing.
That pouch was connected to Aquasiadel’s entire medicinal herb and material warehouse, encompassing all manner of supplies.
Whale’s healing became considerably more convenient.
“Thanks to it, when I tested it, my healing speed increased dramatically.”
“Really?”
Recalling those who died in countless numbers during the Third War because they couldn’t receive timely treatment, this was truly a wonderful development.
Whether there was war or not, in any world, it was a useful ability.
“That was only possible because of your efforts.”
“No. It’s the result of everyone working together—the Hermit Crab Beastkin, the Orcas, all of them.”
“There’s no need for modesty. My close associates can afford to act a bit more superior.”
Whale listened to my words quietly, then tilted his head slightly to the side.
“It’s true though—even with Levai, who was such a key force, suddenly absent, you really did wrap things up remarkably well, didn’t you?”
Hm? I told him to show off a bit, but… somehow the arrow ended up pointing in the wrong direction.
Are you really going to take shots at your own family like that?
Since I knew all too well that Whale and Levai, though not true brothers, shared a similar bond, I found myself confused.
Because there was real bite behind those words.
“I skipped it because I knew he’d do fine without me.”
“It’s not like I was ignoring something more important, right?”
“Come on, settle your brotherly disputes outside. Our house has plenty of good training grounds.”
“Haha, Calypso. Then my brother wouldn’t last even 10 seconds before lying flat on his back?”
“Giving the Dolphin Retainer a whole 10 seconds—you healers are quite generous, aren’t you?”
“….”
Hauser, who had been silent, added a remark.
“I wish you’d all show a bit more respect to someone who fights with his mind. Levai doesn’t need to be on the front lines, does he? Look at those thin wrists of his.”
“…It seems the Matriarch’s words are the most direct of all.”
“I’m saying this out of concern.”
Perhaps he noticed my playful expression.
Levai casually changed the subject as if he wouldn’t be feeding me any more ammunition.
“Speaking of which, I meant to tell you right away, Matriarch. A response has arrived from the Sea Lions.”
“Oh, already?”
Even as I told myself not to get drawn in, the words that came from him were ones I couldn’t possibly overlook.
Sea Lions.
Just because aquatic animal Beastkin existed didn’t mean they all congregated near the lands where Aquasiadel was located.
The Sea Lions were a prime example.
To explain their territory, I needed to first clarify something about the Empire in the world we inhabited.
Broadly speaking, the Empire had terrestrial animal Beastkin in the north and aquatic animal Beastkin in the south.
The Capital, where the Imperial Palace stood, was said to be in the far north, though not the absolute northernmost point.
Between the lands behind the Capital and the Northern Sea, there existed a small stretch of territory.
This was where the Sea Lions dwelled.
“So what’s their response?”
“At first, it was lukewarm….”
In the third cycle, I had brought nearly every aquatic animal Beastkin into the fold, but the Sea Lions had eluded me.
Partly because they lived behind the Capital, at the northernmost edge, making contact difficult in the first place.
I had only learned of their existence during the war itself, so closed off were they.
But this life was different.
“After seeing the new letter you sent, Matriarch, it seems they’ve had a change of heart…. What did you write to tempt them?”
“Something that would appeal to them?”
“Now that you mention it, the Octopus Beastkin have also sent word that they’d like to meet with you.”
“Ah, that’s something I’ve been pushing forward.”
Hauser spoke slowly, raising his hand halfway.
Octopuses—they were certainly ones with deep connections.
So this was how, among the subordinates I had worked with in the third cycle, I would come to meet those I hadn’t sought out before, one by one.
Caught in a strange reverie, Whale’s voice reached my ears.
“Well, the inspection is done, so I’ll head back. I still have things to check.”
“Ah, okay.”
“Calypso, would you visit my room next time? I have something to show you.”
“Huh? Sure. I’ll stop by this afternoon.”
Whale nodded and left the room without hesitation.
Whether they had arranged it beforehand, Hauser naturally followed him out as well.
What was that about? Hauser wasn’t the type to naturally yield his place to someone else.
“It seems Hauser has gotten quite close with Whale?”
After the door closed and I asked this, Levai answered calmly.
“Perhaps he’s acting that way because he understands the necessity. After all, she’s a healer who cannot be replaced by anyone else.”
Well, that’s true.
I stopped mid-conversation.
I set down the documents I had been about to review and slowly turned my head.
…Wait.
Just now.
He spoke as if he knew Hauser well, didn’t he?

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————