Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 261

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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 261
And as if to say that what was bound to come had finally arrived, Father subtly posed a question.
I laughed awkwardly at the sight of his gaze, which had grown sharp in the meantime.
I knew all too well how much Father had been wary of the men around me, so I could easily predict what reaction would come now.
‘Ekion, is he about to get blasted with a water cannon?’
I joked to myself, but truthfully, if it ended with just a water cannon, that would be a blessing.
“Well, Father.”
“I’m listening.”
“So, haha, it happened like this.”
Father rested his chin on his hand, then tilted his head loosely.
“That doesn’t seem to be an answer to the question of when you two became that kind of couple.”
Right, excuses wouldn’t work here, so I should just come clean on my own.
I surrendered cleanly and raised both hands.
“It hasn’t been long.”
“How long exactly?”
In the end, I laid bare everything that had happened between Ekion and me to Father, piece by piece.
Father didn’t say a single word as he listened, but I could feel that he was paying closer attention than ever before.
“…Anyway, that’s how it came to be.”
Father nodded lightly.
I scratched my cheek and cautiously tested the waters.
“Father, I have a request… please don’t hit Ekion.”
“Are you saying I should proceed through a formal duel challenge?”
“Why would we duel? Besides, doesn’t that end only when one of us dies?”
“There are people in this world with whom I cannot coexist.”
“Is Ekion one of them?”
“No.”
Father removed his hand from his chin and declared confidently.
“Your husband.”
“…You have a unique way of saying ‘don’t get married.’ Our father does.”
I laughed.
“You’ll end up burying someone.”
Of course, even with that expression, my rational and cold-blooded Father wouldn’t actually dispose of someone so casually.
“As long as you don’t mind where the burial takes place.”
…Is he being rational after all?
When I gave Father a suspicious look and specifically said ‘don’t put Ekion in the sea,’ he chuckled.
“Just that Dragon Duke?”
“Huh?”
“Come to think of it, there are quite a few who deserve to go to the deep sea.”
From Father’s mouth came the names of the Dolphin, the Whale, and eventually even Hauser.
“The Aquasiadel family cemetery grounds are quite spacious, so multiple burials wouldn’t even be noticeable.”
“Don’t say things like that with such a serious expression. It sounds too real.”
“….”
“And don’t go silent on me either.”
Instead of holding Father’s gaze, I found myself laughing with him at some point, as if it were all a lie.
Father’s face was so gentle that I wondered when he’d ever worn such a rigid expression.
“Truth be told, if I hadn’t met your mother again, I might have done something behind your back without you knowing.”
Along with his gruff voice, a tender hand rose above my head.
I suddenly became curious about the ‘something’ Father had mentioned, but I let it pass as I looked at his face.
“Sizer—I mean, what did Mother say to Father?”
“Nothing much.”
A lie. But instead of pressing him, I waited for Father to continue.
“I simply came to understand that just by knowing such a person is alive, one’s approach to life changes.”
From Father’s voice, slightly higher and filled with emotion than usual, I could sense something of what it felt like to learn that someone you thought was dead was actually alive.
“If you’ve found such a person, then there’s nothing more your father can do about it.”
“…But then why did you bring up something like the deep sea if that’s how you feel?”
“Because reason and emotion are different things.”
I don’t think I’ll be able to feel at ease even after leaving this room.
If Ekion, or Levai, or Hauser, or Whale suddenly disappeared one day, shouldn’t I suspect Father?
“Your mother said something to me.”
“….”
“She thanked me for staying alive.”
Father’s hand, which had been stroking my head, paused for a moment. Then he quickly waved his hand through the air.
For the first time in a long while, I heard Father’s voice waver, and I nestled snugly into his embrace.
“That’s something I could only hear because you exist.”
“….”
“The fact that our family can all gather together is thanks to you.”
A warm and cozy embrace. A place I will never lose again.
With Father here before me, I don’t need to worry that he’ll forget me when he has a biological daughter, or fret that someday he’ll have a child who isn’t me.
An old worry flashed through my mind and disappeared.
It was the warmest and most peaceful embrace, standing before a great battle that might be our last.
“…It’s a bit embarrassing to do this at my age.”
“What does it matter? No one’s watching.”
Father whispered quietly while holding me.
“And to me, you’ll always be my small, young daughter.”
For some reason, I thought I heard someone’s voice from far away.
“Our Sieun, you must always be happy.”
The tender and gentle voice of Father from another world. It was surely just my imagination.
Since I hadn’t thought of it in so long, it naturally felt like I was hearing it. Now I can let this voice go peacefully.
I let out a soft giggle and slowly closed my eyes.
“Yes, then let’s stay like this for a little while, Father.”
* * *
“I have someone I’d like to introduce you to.”
Father said this to me.
Not long after hearing these words, I found myself in a large conference room face to face with the guests Father had mentioned.
They were a massive woman and man. One had light gray hair, the other distinctly dark charcoal hair.
Describing them this way might give the impression of siblings, but their actual appearances were quite different.
The man, whose lips were noticeably thicker and fuller than most, spoke first.
“Are you the Orca Family Patriarch?”
His voice was unrefined.
Though it carried a crude and rough quality, strangely it suited his physique so well that I felt no displeasure.
“I am Amphila Hipponese of the Hippopotamus Clan. I have come under the Matriarch’s orders to cooperate with you all.”
The man with the large mouth but unusually small ears introduced himself as the second-in-command of the Hippopotamus Clan.
He wasn’t an unfamiliar face.
It was simply strange to encounter someone I’d faced as an enemy in the previous cycle, someone who had been a nuisance.
I extended my hand.
“Good to see you. As you said, I’m in charge here.”
At my light-hearted response, Amphila raised his eyebrows slightly before breaking into a grin and grasping my hand.
Then his face suddenly went pale.
‘So hippopotamuses all love to swagger, I see.’
At the same time, the hierarchy became crystal clear.
Show them that another is superior, and they bow their heads immediately.
Soon after, Amphila cleared his throat and straightened his posture.
It was far more humble now.
Like animals in nature that not only drive out or kill defeated males in competition but even slaughter the offspring of the vanquished—so thorough in their retribution—this beastkin was extremely sensitive to hierarchy.
“Is it my turn now?”
The woman who had been standing calmly beside him spoke up.
Her face was composed and gentle.
At first glance she appeared docile, but I had already discerned who this woman was.
“I was impressed by how you subdued this arrogant hippopotamus with a single hand.”
Unlike the hippopotamus beastkin, she bowed respectfully.
It was neither excessive nor casual—a perfectly measured greeting.
“I am Dana Riphant, leader of the elephant beastkin.”
Like Amphila, she was an elephant beastkin I had faced as an enemy in the third cycle.
Shaking hands with the main players from one of the most difficult battles—the plains campaign.
It was indeed a surreal feeling.
“Calypso Aquasiadel. As I said, I’m the leader of the orca beastkin.”
“And also the leader of the aquatic creatures. I’m well aware.”
After all, they had extended their hands first seeking cooperation.
I looked at the elephant leader with a somewhat bewildered expression.
“I didn’t expect the leader to come in person.”
“Could you possibly refuse?”
Dana covered her mouth and smiled softly. The elephants all bore gentle and affectionate expressions.
“You helped us first. I’ve come to repay that debt.”
Once they entered battle, they were the type to rampage like madmen.
Moreover, their durability rivaled Camula’s, making them formidable opponents even for orcas skilled in close combat.
“Thank you for safely returning our kinfolk who were captured by Madrum.”
Dana bowed with far more formality than she had at first.
Amphila, startled by this, hastily bowed alongside her.
“Ahem, on behalf of the hippopotamus beastkin, I express my sincere gratitude.”
The suddenly formal tone threatened to make me laugh, but I held it back.
“I’ve received your thanks through letters. Have you come to pledge direct participation?”
“Our clan pursues vengeance against those who harm our kin to the ends of the earth itself.”
Dana nodded and spoke calmly, saying they would join us on the path to the Imperial Palace.
Amphila offered the same words.
The hippopotamus and elephant beastkin were among those who had been completely unaware of what transpired in Madrum.
Along with the herbivore beastkin, they numbered among those who suffered considerable losses.
They had sent multiple letters of protest to the Imperial Palace, but received no satisfactory response—only the horrific evidence of experiments we had sent in return.
They had resolved to seek vengeance themselves.
Blood for blood.
“Among the fallen was my younger brother. He was a curious diplomat, but also the head of a household.”
“….”
When I expressed my condolences, Dana shook her head and smiled slightly. Determination shone in her expression.
“By the way, Calypso, have you heard?”
“Heard what?”
“Ah, perhaps word hasn’t reached you yet? Your father knows, though.”
I naturally turned my gaze to Father, who stood beside me. What was this about?
“The Imperial Palace has issued a massive summons to us.”
Dana twisted her lips into a smile.
“They ordered us to come in person and hear the full account.”

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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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