Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 239

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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 239
I had never welcomed a Returner’s advantage before. But now, for the first time, it felt exhilarating.
The Crown Prince had desperately tried to leverage every advantage of being a Returner despite his constraints.
The fact that I was destroying that was unbearably satisfying.
‘That’s how it is.’
When I came to my senses, everyone was looking at me with slightly surprised expressions.
When I asked why, Atlant scratched his cheek.
“I mean, you’re grinning so widely. It’s a bit….”
“I thought you’d gone mad.”
“Yeah, yeah. Gone mad? Or were you thinking about the battle? More importantly—hey. Brother, our thoughts aligned for once?”
“I’m displeased to be in sync with an idiot.”
“…What?”
I ignored my Eldest Brother and Second Brother bickering, laughing even louder.
“Coming to this place was the right call.”
While I was pondering how to effectively clash with the Imperial Palace, Palaya appeared as if by miracle.
It felt as though even the gods and fortune were on my side.
‘…This time, a true victory.’
I won’t let my guard down. But I can afford to savor this sense of victory.
“Then Whale, start treating the Crocodiles immediately. Where did that captain we brought end up?”
“We handed him over to the Serpents.”
In our first battle, I captured the captain from among the massive swarm of Crocodiles and handed him over.
“That one would be perfect for the first treatment. Having an internal collaborator would make things far easier.”
“Wait. The Matriarch’s idea is sound, but will the Crocodile actually cooperate?”
It was Lirivel who raised his hand to offer his opinion.
Perhaps because his parents belonged to the conservative faction within the Orca clan, Lirivel tended toward slightly more conservative thinking even in our camp.
“Don’t worry about that. We’ll get along just fine.”
“On what grounds?”
“Persuasion and inducement?”
“Violence and coercion, you mean.”
“Quiet, Second Brother. Do you want to know what real violence looks like?”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Well, whether it’s persuasion or coercion, if the Imperial Palace is backing them now, it’ll be hard for those guys to escape their fear.”
Remarkably, Lirivel had grasped this sharply despite having barely entangled with the Imperial Palace in this life.
Most ordinary Orcas were naturally aggressive in temperament, often treating even the Imperial Palace with contempt.
This was different from such arrogance.
But I didn’t have my confidence without reason either.
“What do you think the Serpents and Crocodiles have in common? Unlike us, where multiple Beastkin clans gather in a city of similar size to a kingdom, most inhabitants of their cities are of the same species.”
“….”
“According to what I heard from the Serpent Clan Head, the Crocodiles are even more closed off.”
“So?”
“Do you know what’s most important to a single-bloodline clan like this?”
“Strength? Ability? Or perhaps a leader?”
Lirivel’s answer seemed to resonate with Atlant, who nodded in agreement. It was a thoroughly orca-like response.
“Children. The next generation.”
At my words, all the orcas except Levaina Weil, Whale, Hauser, and the Dragon Duke wore expressions of bewilderment.
“Why children? If you just push them hard enough, don’t they grow strong?”
“Right?”
…Yes, that damned old woman had instilled this warped early education in me since childhood.
“Unlike us, most races raise their young children with great care.”
“Indeed, dolphins care for their children together as an entire clan from an early age. While there is a primary caregiver, it’s closer to communal child-rearing.”
“Humpback whales rarely have children, but it’s similar.”
The humpback whale clan was also one that stubbornly refused to send their children to that dilapidated house despite the Matriarch’s orders.
Whale nodded as if sharing similar sentiments.
The Dragon Duke appeared to have no thoughts on the matter. Well, dragons don’t raise young, after all.
“Is that so? I thought it was natural to grow up without knowing your parents’ faces.”
“It’s somewhat different, but I sympathize. I’m filled with memories of nothing but constant competition with someone I don’t even want to call my sibling.”
“Now, just because we live that way doesn’t mean everyone else does. Calm down.”
I spoke again to my now-quiet companions.
“About the parasites I mentioned—they have a very fatal side effect.”
“What is it?”
“A female beastkin infested with the parasite passes it genetically to her children.”
“…What?”
Whether it was incomprehension or sheer shock, a sharp intake of breath escaped.
I explained calmly.
“A beastkin infested with the parasite becomes a slave from that moment on, but children born from such a beastkin are born as slaves from the start.”
Truly a horrifying fact.
I remember being filled with rage when I first learned of this.
“That’s why this parasite is so vicious. The monkey bastards who developed it are vicious too.”
I was genuinely grateful the experiment had failed.
“I’m willing to bet the crocodiles know absolutely nothing about this fact.”
“….”
“More precisely, the Imperial Palace, considering their insularity, wouldn’t have revealed it.”
If it were revealed, there would be chaos. There’s no way the Imperial Palace or Crown Prince Kael Heltiade would have disclosed this much.
Besides, since the parasite hasn’t been in use for long, even if children were born, there would be no way to know.
Above all, the reason they used such parasites during the crocodiles’ breeding season was likely to mass-produce more slaves.
“In fact, this is extremely dangerous. It starts with crocodiles, but what if it progresses to other beastkin, to fierce beasts?”
We might have to face an army that would gladly die for the Imperial Palace alone.
“…I think we should move immediately.”
“I agree, Second Brother.”
* * *
As the meeting drew to a close, everyone began rising from their seats.
Some would seek out the Serpent Clan Head, others would interrogate the captured Crocodile commander.
Some would review the geography of this place once more, while others would hunt down the lurking Crocodiles.
Each person had been assigned their role.
Just as I was about to stand, someone raised their hand.
It was the Dragon Duke.
He had barely spoken during the meeting except to answer Whale’s question, but now he seemed to have something to say.
“What is it, Dragon Duke?”
He wore a pained expression for a moment at my question, then sighed.
What was this about?
For just an instant, even Whale’s expression became enigmatic.
But it was brief—when the Dragon Duke lifted his head again, his face had returned to its usual composure.
“I have something to report.”
“A report?”
I tilted my head at the unexpected word. Given the Dragon Duke’s unique circumstances, it felt somewhat strange to have him act like a subordinate.
“In that jungle where the Serpents dwell, I sense the power of a Dragon.”
For a moment, I felt as though I were hearing the same language but couldn’t comprehend it.
“Wait, wait. I don’t understand. Aren’t you the only Dragon in this world?”
“That’s correct.”
“So the possibility of another Dragon existing is zero?”
“That is also correct.”
“Then what are you saying?”
“There was a misunderstanding. It is not a living Dragon.”
The Dragon Duke pondered for a moment, then tapped his temple twice with his long index finger.
“It is a tomb.”
He nodded as if he had found the right word.
“A Dragon’s tomb lies in that jungle.”
Upon hearing this, it only deepened my confusion.
So Dragons weren’t supposed to exist only in the Dragon City? Why would that tomb be in a Serpent nest?
And so suddenly at that?
“…I just heard something that defies common sense, and it’s making me feel strange. Weren’t Dragons supposed to exist only in the Dragon City?”
“It’s likely a predecessor Dragon who came here when it was time to die, or perhaps a predecessor Dragon who abandoned their duties as Dragon Duke from the start.”
“Is that so?”
I tilted my head, but decided to accept it. Then, suddenly, I stopped.
‘Why did the Imperial Palace suddenly attack the Serpent Clan?’
This didn’t happen in the third cycle. Of course, since they also have a Returner over there, the situation was bound to change.
‘Lili said they didn’t discover her presence here.’
Even so, it was abrupt and sudden. Moreover, recalling how obsessed they were with Ekion and the Dragon Duke—
“Levai, I suspect the Imperial Palace’s target isn’t the Serpents but rather this, don’t you think?”
“Yes, I share a similar thought.”
I tapped the table rhythmically, a habit of mine. Everyone had already settled back into their seats, their attention refocused.
“Dragon Duke, do you happen to know where that tomb is located?”
“I can find it.”
“Is there any way for others to know besides you?”
The Dragon Duke pondered for a moment before shaking his head expressionlessly.
“Only another dragon could possibly know.”
“I see…”
“However.”
“Hmm?”
“…Unless they’ve already desecrated another dragon’s tomb.”
* * *
The Serpent Clan Head listened to the truth about the creatures from me, her expression twisting with revulsion.
In her face, suppressing her rage, I could sense the weight of her years as Matriarch.
Despite hearing they weren’t combat personnel, her presence was remarkably formidable.
Natasha, the Serpent Clan Head, learned the full circumstances and sympathized with the crocodiles, offering her active assistance in restoring them to their original state.
Words were one thing, but given the serpents had already suffered losses, it was no easy decision.
“If we only count losses, we will lose far more. Sometimes a Matriarch’s duty is to make choices that see further ahead.”
Under Natasha’s cooperation, Whale met with the crocodile commander and healed them perfectly before the serpents and us.
And we divided our forces—one group to handle the crocodile matter.
The other heading to the dragon’s tomb said to be deep in the jungle.
Which is why I’m standing in the middle of this jungle right now.
“Matriarch, isn’t it terribly hot?”
“…This way.”
The Dragon Duke and Hauser.
Accompanied by only these two.

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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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