Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 263

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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 263
“Even if that weren’t the case, I have my own thoughts.”
I wiped the smile from my face and regarded everyone with a serious expression. Then, finally, I looked at Ekion.
Strangely, I felt my expression softening without my awareness.
“Even if all the beastkin gathered together, could there be any with deeper grudges than us?”
I recalled the overwhelming numbers of aquatic animal beastkin among the experimental subjects.
“I need to show them that fighting multiple times changes nothing.”
I spoke quietly in a firm voice, harboring only a faint anger.
“Let’s show them directly that once you’ve lost, you remain a loser no matter what you do.”
Some declarations, even when spoken without force, draw greater resonance than grand eloquence.
In the suffocating silence that settled, I read the hostility. Even without anyone answering, it felt as though I had already heard their response.
* * *
“Yawn.”
In the Aquasiadel Estate, depending on the room’s location, you could see the sea when you opened your eyes upon waking.
If you listened carefully, you could hear the sound of waves.
Of course, this only applied to those like me whose physical abilities were exceptional enough to awaken the power of water.
I loved waking to the sound of waves in the morning.
It was a shame that I hadn’t heard that sound for a while after leaving Aquasiadel lands.
In its place, I heard faint birdsong here. It was strange.
Madrum was a massive research city built upon desolate land, so it shouldn’t have been a place where birds could live.
Where could this sound be coming from?
‘Oh, that’s right.’
Only then did I remember that this wasn’t Madrum—or rather, it wasn’t the land that had been Madrum.
A few days ago, our group had set out for the Imperial Capital.
I recalled unpacking our belongings in a village that appeared along the way.
‘Wow, it’s been a long time since I slept this deeply.’
I had slept so deeply that for a brief moment, I had forgotten where I was.
Perhaps the reason I could sleep so peacefully now was because Father was with our group.
Atlant and Bellus were trustworthy, but if I ever became unable to fight, the only person I could truly rely on to watch my back with complete peace of mind was Father.
Perhaps my subconscious had proven this.
‘I really am meritocratic, aren’t I.’
I shook my head and, still lying down, rolled my body over. Since I had slept so deeply for once, I thought I’d indulge in a bit of lounging.
But then….
“….”
I opened my eyes wide while still lying down.
“You startled me.”
I was so surprised that I hastily suppressed the power of water that was trying to burst out unconsciously.
“Ekion? What are you… doing?”
I had discovered Ekion crouching in front of my bed.
It was like seeing a short-legged puppy unable to climb onto the bed, with only its front paws resting on the edge.
Ekion stood gazing at me with only his hand carefully placed on the bed.
The moment I looked at him, Ekion’s eyes darted nervously in all directions before his gaze fell dejectedly.
His wariness was plainly evident.
‘What, I didn’t sense his presence?’
I lay still, only blinking my eyes.
In that moment, Ekion continued to gauge my reaction as he carefully opened his mouth.
“I’m sorry.”
“Hm? For what?”
“I did suppress my presence… but I thought you’d wake up.”
His voice was dejected, uncertain. I soon smiled and reached out my hand while still lying down.
I gently stroked Ekion’s hair.
“No, I was just startled.”
This situation felt remarkably fresh to me.
“You suppressed your presence?”
I soon realized why I hadn’t sensed Ekion’s presence.
While Ekion was skilled at suppressing his presence, the ability to keenly detect it came from instinct in the first place.
But what if the other person was someone I trusted without a shadow of doubt to never harm me?
In other words, because I trusted Ekion so deeply, my body didn’t react.
“…How strange.”
It was something I hadn’t experienced even in my third cycle. It simply felt novel. It wasn’t bad.
Rather, it felt wonderful.
“Your bangs have grown quite a bit.”
Ekion’s hair was far too soft to belong to an adult male.
He didn’t even manage it separately, yet I couldn’t fathom how it remained so silky.
“Aquatic beastkin generally have good hair, but you’re not even aquatic, and yours seems better than ours.”
“…If Calypso wishes it, I’ll try to care for it more diligently from now on.”
I let out a small laugh.
“That wasn’t what I meant.”
The sensation of his blue hair brushing softly against my fingers felt wonderful.
If I closed my eyes, it felt as though I were touching waves.
“I love the sea so much.”
“Mm.”
“I love that your hair color is the color of the sea.”
“…Mm.”
I met Ekion’s gaze while lying down. A faint bird’s song drifted in.
The blanket carried the scent of well-dried sunshine, while Ekion emanated a refreshing fragrance.
“If I marry you, will every morning be like this?”
“…Uh, what?”
Since becoming an adult, Ekion had spoken somewhat more than in his childhood.
The moment my words ended, Ekion’s ears and cheeks flushed crimson, and he couldn’t finish his response.
Puff, puff. Her beautifully shaped lips moved silently for a long moment.
Watching Ekion like that, I lifted my upper body and leaned toward him.
Smack. I thought it was a cute sound.
As our lips parted, I saw Ekion staring at me with a dazed expression.
“You don’t have to be so cautious.”
Ever since Father joined us, the time Ekion and I spent alone together had diminished.
We couldn’t share a room like we used to. Though honestly, I’m not even sure how he got in this time.
Ekion seemed to have accepted this.
Ever since his earnest confession that he would abandon his obsession with me, he had remained consistently the same.
“I read in a book that dragons are stubborn.”
Ekion is no exception.
Whatever he insists on, he tries to maintain it no matter what.
“You’re like that too.”
As I tilted my head and smiled, my hair scattered softly across my shoulders.
Ekion bit his lip slightly before opening his arms.
“…Can I hold you?”
“Yes. You don’t need permission.”
Soon after, long, firm arms wrapped around my waist.
Since Ekion pulled me close while sitting below the bed, his head naturally positioned itself at my waist.
Thump. Ekion rested his head against me. I felt warm breath from his stomach.
“Then… am I your first husband?”
“…Are you still on about that?”
Looking down at him in bewilderment, I could even feel stubbornness radiating from the crown of his head.
This really seems like a determination to get an answer no matter what.
“…Yes, you’re the first. Though I’m not sure if there will be a second or third.”
Then the arms holding me tightened. A pleased humming resonated from my waist.
Could he be that happy?
No, even while assuming a second and third, he seemed genuinely satisfied by the word “first,” which made me a little flustered.
“There will be.”
“…”
“That’s fine too.”
Ekion spoke peacefully with his eyes closed.
“Because Calypso said I’m the first.”
From his face and his words, I felt such sincerity that I couldn’t speak for a long while.
Speaking so firmly as if he’d seen the future… unable to overcome that stubbornness, I surrendered inwardly and raised both hands.
I simply lifted my hands and gently touched Ekion’s head.
Thinking that once everything is over, I hope only this peace comes to us.
* * *
“What?! You don’t have any clothes at all?!!”
Not everyone who came with Father was a person for combat.
War, by its very nature, required personnel across diverse fields—logistics, supplies, medical care, and more.
Moreover, when conducting combat inland, one indispensable capability was the ability to locate water sources.
After all, aquatic Beastkin could exercise their talents far more effectively when water was near.
Misa participated as support personnel, possessing the specialty of locating water sources.
Among those with similar talents, she was said to be the most skilled.
I was delighted to see her after so long, yet within a minute of our reunion, the nagging had already begun.
It started with shock.
“I heard from Levai that you’re heading to the Imperial Capital? And that you’ll be attending that banquet being held there?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“But… you’re going in battle attire?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Of course it’s wrong!”
Misa’s face was flushed with excitement as she spoke of how Eiya and the other handmaidens would have been astonished.
“Formal wear is the very face of a house! Yet to appear in battle attire at a gathering of all Beastkin? Absolutely not. It’s completely unacceptable.”
“Look, Misa. There’s no reason whatsoever to make a good impression on the Imperial Palace at this event.”
This wasn’t a pleasure trip. There was no need to dress up the way I had for my Matriarch succession ceremony.
Misa shook her head in disagreement.
“…Did you say the same thing to Levai?”
“Yeah, so what?”
“…So that’s why you came looking for me.”
“Huh?”
Misa glanced around before requesting that I ensure no sound carried to the outside.

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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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