Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 246

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

Chapter 246
“I hear the Imperial Envoy is also heading to ‘Madrum’ as we speak.”
The news travels fast. Ultimately, striking at us would expose the Imperial family’s shame.
‘Monkeys… they’ve been irritating creatures since my past life.’
They assisted the Dragon’s rampage until the very end, burning through their entire existence in the process, only to perish.
Until the end, they resembled nothing so much as mad scientists.
“That said, though.”
Natasha bit down on the map.
Wondering what important matter she was about to raise, I lifted my head.
“There’s really one thing I’m curious about.”
“…? Please, speak.”
“A beautiful man was crying in my corridor. I simply couldn’t let it pass without comment.”
The Serpent Clan Head’s eyes widened.
“A lover’s quarrel, perhaps?”
At her words, delivered with a wild grin, I momentarily failed to comprehend and furrowed my brow.
“…Don’t misunderstand. I learned of it by chance due to this castle’s special function.”
“It wasn’t surveillance?”
“I’m innocent. Shall I swear by the earth itself?”
I said nothing in response, merely staring at her intently.
Natasha’s face, which had initially worn a relaxed smile, gradually began to stiffen.
Unable to withstand the killing intent and competitive spirit flowing from me, she surrendered.
“…The special function is a very important secret of this castle.”
“…”
“Fine, fine. You can view any location for about three seconds.”
“That’s all?”
At my question, Natasha broke into a cold sweat once more, and only after swearing by the earth did she finally sigh.
“Honestly, I thought that being young, you’d lack experience and be slow with words and responses, but you don’t let anything slide.”
“One should let pass what deserves to pass.”
“Hmm.”
This woman is amusing. Is she saying she thought I was nothing but a brainless brute with muscles? Now?
“It’s funny that you thought I’d let it slide the moment you brought it up.”
“…”
“So why did you raise such a pointless matter?”
“I was simply curious.”
Natasha rested her chin in her hand, as if wondering when she’d been overwhelmed into swearing by the earth.
Forget embarrassment—she pursues her objective.
Indeed, the composure that flows from one who has endured long is evident.
“The man weeps while you remain resolute. Could it be… there’s some internal discord? Wouldn’t you be curious?”
“You mentioned a lover’s quarrel?”
“That thought occurred to me as well.”
“Then let’s call it a lover’s quarrel.”
I had no intention of being swayed by such nonsense.
As I firmly brushed past her comment, Natasha’s eyes widened slightly.
Soon after, she laughed again as if intrigued.
“I heard you carry a Dragon in your arms, so I naturally assumed that one was your lover. But it seems there’s more than one?”
“Why would your thoughts go in that direction?”
“Well, wouldn’t they?”
“One being rejected or… no, never mind. I don’t understand why I’m having this conversation with you.”
“My, I thought you were a Matriarch who lived without pretense, but you certainly have clear boundaries.”
“I do with others.”
You’re not on my side anyway. This is merely a temporary alliance. With that look in my eyes, Natasha’s eyes narrowed with amusement.
“Don’t you cherish Lili?”
“….”
“I treasure that little one dearly as well. So we can be on the same side, can’t we?”
Even as she spoke of keeping Lili in the safest place in this serpent territory, Natasha’s smile never faded.
“That child makes such a fuss wanting to see you.”
“You did well.”
“Pardon?”
“Keeping her hidden so the imperial family cannot see her. That’s why I cannot see her either.”
“….”
For Lili, it was truly fortunate.
If she had been living under the watchful eye of the serpent territory, I would have taken her away immediately.
“Well, I like this. Calypso, you’re becoming more interesting to me. I think we could share a friendship that transcends age.”
“Friendship requires consent from both parties.”
“If you answer just one question, I think I could open my heart further, Orca Family Matriarch.”
“What answer are you looking for?”
The Serpent Clan Head had shared necessary information without reservation, and though we had helped, she treated us with utmost generosity.
Moreover, no one here looked at us with discriminatory eyes.
I was pleased. Even though Palaya still harbored some prejudice.
This territory and its Matriarch were quite satisfactory.
“So who is your lover? Multiple partners as well?”
“…Let’s end this conversation here.”
…But the very next moment, the atmosphere turned cold.
“My, men bond over obscene talk, so what’s so difficult for us?”
“Since when did romance become obscene talk? Is that how it is in the serpent world?”
“Goodness, such prejudice. But perhaps it’s not so different. For us, it’s quite common for females to be suited to multiple males.”
“….”
As I furrowed my brow, Natasha laughed broadly.
“Have you never seen serpents mate?”
“Why would I have seen that?”
I was taken aback. Then Natasha corrected herself, saying, “Not Beastkin, but animals.”
“Animals where one female has multiple males vying for her—that’s us. How would humans be any different?”
“Unfortunately, Orcas aren’t like that.”
“That’s strange. The Orca Family Matriarch I saw fifty years ago had three husbands.”
“…How old are you exactly?”
“Hehe.”
Natasha feigned modesty, claiming she was younger than the patriarch of the land turtle clan. Though it didn’t seem like an act.
“Well, I suppose having lived long makes one meddle in others’ love affairs.”
Natasha’s snow-white hands fluttered through the air.
“I was simply curious. Among the subordinates you brought, excluding your brother and your cousin, every single one gazes at you so ardently. How could I not find it interesting?”
That’s what you call meddling, Elder.
I clicked my tongue inwardly and tried to rise from my seat.
“There are people in this world who cannot choose just one. Whether by their own will or by circumstance.”
“….”
“Young Matriarch, you are certainly stronger than I am, and for some reason possess remarkable experience, and perhaps even greater wisdom than mine.”
“….”
“Yet in the corridor, you appeared so immature, like a young child. I was simply curious about that.”
I regarded Natasha quietly.
Her slender frame. Though her eyes were distinctly different, watching her reminded me of Sizer—my first teacher and birth mother.
“So you’re offering to give me relationship advice?”
“If you wish, it’s not difficult.”
I simply laughed.
“That’s honestly the funniest thing I’ve heard since arriving here.”
* * *
By the time those who had gone to Madrum began their pursuit in earnest.
We decided without hesitation to depart immediately.
The crocodile problem had been resolved, and when Atlant, Bellus, and Lirivel had patrolled.
They could no longer find any imperial connections.
“I’ve sent word that our main forces coming from Aquasiadel will pass through the Serpent Clan’s territory.”
“I see.”
“I didn’t expect the Serpent Clan Head to cooperate this much.”
Allowing a few people entry and permitting an entire military force into the city are entirely different matters. Night and day.
From merely showing the city’s layout to accepting aquatic animal forces, she could be branded as having rebelled against the imperial family.
The current Crown Prince could easily issue a treason charge without hesitation.
‘I’m not sure what will happen once we confirm what’s in Madrum and sweep it clean.’
I don’t know what the Serpent Clan Head is thinking.
“She said she could do this much for her one and only friend.”
“Huh?”
Even Atlant, who had been listening silently, and Bellus, who had been reporting, tilted their heads in confusion.
“When did you two become friends? She’s old, isn’t she? Isn’t she a grandmother?”
“A friendship that transcends age—that’s what we decided to forge.”
“…In just a few days?”
A few days? It had been only one day.
“If you’re close enough to give relationship advice, that makes you best friends, apparently. According to Natasha.”
“Huh, when did you two get close enough to use her name?”
Atlant and Bellus exchanged glances as if something was off, but they let it pass without comment.
Lirivel wore an expression that seemed to say, ‘Our Matriarch has done something crazy again.’
The rest simply stared at me.
“Anyway, let’s depart.”
To Madrum.
I needed to see with my own eyes what was happening there.
To secure evidence, and if necessary, to erase it.

* * *
“I apologize, Director…!”
The bespectacled man gazed down silently at those kneeling before him.
His build was so massive that one might have mistaken him for a warrior.
Yet the large spectacles perched on his face served to reveal not mere intellect, but something approaching madness.
In truth, he was no warrior but a scholar. Rather, a researcher.
The director-in-chief of ‘Madrum’—a facility better described as a city-sized research complex than a mere city.
A gorilla beastkin named Roland.
“Your identity was exposed and you failed to secure the ‘sample.’ That is indeed a grave offense.”
The man kneeling before him had been dispatched under the guise of an Imperial Envoy to the crocodile beastkin.
He was the sole survivor among five. He trembled violently.
“Let me ask again. The opponent knew about the ‘worms’?”
“Yes, yes…!”
“And the brainwashing and worms in the crocodiles’ minds vanished without a trace?”
“Yes! That’s correct. For some reason, they disappeared without leaving any evidence!”
“….”
The man answered desperately even as he shook.
Roland rested his chin on his fur-covered hand.
“…A healing specialist. Was one present?”
“Yes, yes?”
“No matter. You’ve provided valuable information after all.”
“Ah…!”
Color returned to the man’s face.
And in the next instant.
The man’s body, now missing what should have been there, slowly tilted toward the floor.
The floor was drenched in crimson blood.
“Now that I finally know the whereabouts of the healing specialist.”
Roland turned his head, murmuring calmly.
“Bring him to me.”
For the sake of the Empire.

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