Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 27

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

Chapter 27
I quickly tossed the parchment to the ground and dodged, genuinely caught off guard by what happened next.
The sound of the sword whistling through the air was surprisingly loud.
‘Well, even rotten fish is still fish, I suppose.’
The difference in reach was certainly making things slightly more difficult.
More precisely, I lamented that this body’s limbs were too short.
“Ha, haha! Y-you’re just running away, so you must be clumsy? Scared!!”
If that blind sword so much as touched me, I could counter it, but the thing kept swinging wildly before I could even get close.
‘If he’d ambushed me on the stairs, I would’ve just pushed him down.’
Even as I thought this, I made a decision.
After all, he was just flailing his sword in panic.
He’d destroy himself eventually, but I didn’t have time to spare.
‘I have too much to do today.’
I ultimately decided to bear a little inconvenience.
‘As if I’ve only fought once or twice.’
Just recalling the brutal fights from my previous life to become the head of the family, there were hundreds of them.
Not to mention when I include the wars.
What I chose was to take on a bit of risk.
‘He doesn’t have what it takes.’
The moment I, who had been dodging so smoothly, thrust my sword toward his face, Caron hesitated—just for an instant.
‘That’s right. Now you’re thinking, aren’t you?’
I could sense his thoughts—first, the fear of what would happen if I actually hurt a direct descendant, and even the pure hesitation of a child who hadn’t yet committed his first murder.
He hadn’t become a madman or reckless like my older brothers.
I easily dodged through the gap as his sword stalled, though the blade grazed my cheek slightly as it passed.
At the same time, I drove my foot upward into Caron’s solar plexus. It was a satisfying strike.
With that much force behind it, it had to hurt like hell.
Clang!!
“Cough! Cough cough! Cough!”
“This is what happens when you wield a weapon beyond your station.”
I spoke calmly and turned to pick up the parchment. Or rather, I tried to.
At that same moment, I felt a tingling sensation on my back, and as I sighed and moved quickly—
“My, what is the meaning of this?”
At the familiar voice, I turned my head to see a sword suspended in midair, wrapped in a stream of water.
It was the power of water.
‘In this Elementary Institution, the only skilled user of water magic is…’
As I guessed the identity, I turned my gaze to find Rayla standing there as expected.
Teacher Duet was visible behind her, though mostly obscured by Rayla’s figure.
She regarded both me and Caron with a sharp, flawless expression before walking over.
“The sword displayed in the cabinet is not meant to be used to threaten fellow students, Caron.”
Her tone was, in a sense, detached and businesslike.
Yet for some reason, I caught a glimpse of her gaze sharpening brilliantly for just a moment.
“The fact that a bloodbath nearly occurred in this Building under my leadership is deeply displeasing.”
“R-Rayla, I, I was….”
“Power demands responsibility. This is a fundamental principle taught in every Intermediate Institution class. I find it difficult to believe Caron would be unaware of this.”
“I was just, just…!!”
“That’s enough. We’ll hear the rest in the disciplinary office.”
With those firm words, Rayla nodded, and the teachers standing behind her escorted Caron away with businesslike expressions.
It seemed she glanced at me for a brief moment, but it was fleeting.
Soon only Rayla and I remained in the Corridor.
I straightened my posture, having been frozen in the act of reaching down to pick up the parchment again.
“Thank you.”
At my gratitude, Rayla merely raised her eyebrows slightly.
With a sharp, businesslike expression.
“There’s no need for thanks. I was simply fulfilling my duty as the head of this Educational Institution.”
“But you never act unless there’s a formal disciplinary hearing, do you?”
The Rayla I knew was like that.
Though it was from a previous cycle, I didn’t think she would have changed as a person.
“I know it must have been difficult to step in when you didn’t understand the circumstances that led to this. Still, I’m grateful you helped me.”
Rayla’s expression, which had been fixed on my face, clouded over for a moment.
“You’re someone who must maintain neutrality at all times and hear both sides.”
I recalled a distant past. A fair person.
Someone who, whether willingly or not, took my side through that fairness.
“Thank you.”
“…I’m beginning to wonder if I’m conversing with an honor student from the Intermediate Institution.”
Rayla sighed softly.
“Let me be clear beforehand—even if it had been a different young boy in the Noble Lady’s position, I would have blocked that blade. That’s my role.”
Well, if it hadn’t been me, Caron wouldn’t have had reason to draw his sword in the first place, would he?
“Who knows what kind of grudge I’ve earned from Caron. Regardless, I’ll choose to believe you blocked it because you were on my side. Thank you.”
At these words, Rayla’s expression became subtle.
She reached toward her tightly bound hair, then hesitated and exhaled.
“You’re quite an unusual person.”
With Rayla’s exhale, a stream of water knocked the blade away, and then she approached me and picked up the parchment.
I accepted the parchment awkwardly.
“You don’t need to explain the circumstances. I heard everything.”
“You heard it?”
“The Lower Institution 1st Floor Corridor isn’t soundproofed.”
An orca capable of wielding water magic possesses keen senses.
It seemed she had come here after hearing the commotion.
At least I was spared the need to explain. Though I was somewhat puzzled.
If she’d only heard the conversation, she might have understood even less of the full context.
“Hmm, now that you mention it, something feels off. Do I need to go to the disciplinary office too?”
“That won’t be necessary.”
I had openly provoked Caron in the middle of everything, after all.
‘Unless we both went to the disciplinary office together and explained the full context.’
At least, it didn’t seem like a situation where she’d take my side without reservation.
“The Noble Lady need not visit the disciplinary office. That is because he does not wish it.”
“He?”
“Yes.”
Rayla’s stream of water caught me, then lifted me carefully.
Thanks to that, I floated gently as I faced Rayla.
“Master Pierre asked me to look after you well.”
“…What?”
I froze.
‘Did I mishear just now?’
There was no time to maintain composure.
My surprised expression naturally showed before I quickly hid it, but it was already too late.
“I am someone who owes a debt to Master Pierre.”
Interpreting my expression somehow, Rayla smiled slightly.
“Or more precisely, I should say I am someone who follows Master Pierre.”
What? Rayla is Father’s person? Father’s follower?
That’s quite surprising, but… that’s not the point that shocked me.
‘Father asked her to look after me? Why? When on earth did that happen?’
My lips opened and closed soundlessly.
I wanted to ask properly, but I had to be careful.
‘I’ve already told quite the lie here…!’
If I said the wrong thing, this fabrication could be exposed.
I silently swallowed hard.
Ugh, I’m curious, but how should I ask?
It was a perfect contradiction.
Rayla, as if understanding me, spoke with the faintest smile.
Of course, there was no way she actually understood my heart at all.
“Of course, this is my first time receiving such an order too. So he does give such commands.”
“Ah….”
I laughed awkwardly.
Ha ha ha?
…That couldn’t possibly be true, right?
Cold sweat dripped down my back.
* * *
What’s going on? How did this happen?
After being released by Rayla’s hands, I climbed into the carriage and simply sweated profusely.
When I appeared after such a long time, the Retainer’s expression showed he had much he wanted to say, yet for some reason, he held his tongue.
I was relieved by that.
Though the fact that I spent the entire silence drenched in sweat was hardly welcome.
‘Hmm… what should I do? Am I allowed to leave today?’
It was the same routine as always.
Once the Educational Institution ended, I would head to the Building where my Father lived.
Yet my feet felt unbearably heavy.
‘What if… a completely terrifying Father is waiting for me there?’
I imagined it.
“…So you’ve been deceiving me all this time and having quite the time of it, haven’t you?”
“Did you enjoy yourself? Not knowing that everything is in the palm of my hand.”
I pictured my Father speaking with such menacing coldness.
Part of me wanted to avoid going, but I couldn’t simply never see him again.
I was, if anything, the type to take the beating first and ask questions later.
‘Right, I need to face him first to understand what’s really going on!’
And so by the time I arrived at Pierre’s House, my clothes were already damp with perspiration.
I stared at the parchment clutched in my arms with a complicated expression.
‘Hmm, I remember feeling good when I first confirmed this…’
I let out a deep sigh.
Today, that place felt like the castle of a Demon King emanating waves of dread, but what could I do?
I had to go. Sigh, let’s go, come on.

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