Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 301

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

Side Story: Episode 26
“Ah, there she is.”
A regretful voice escaped from Whale. He then trudged forward and peered behind a massive boulder.
There, he found Cali huddled in a crouch and lifted her into his arms.
“Cali, our daughter.”
The young girl’s head snapped up abruptly.
“So you were here.”
Seeing her second father with such a tender expression and voice, tears burst forth from the child’s eyes.
“Father came.”
“Father…! *Sniff*, *wail wail wail*!”
Whale cradled his daughter and patted her back with steady reassurance.
“You were scared when you suddenly moved to this strange place, weren’t you? It’s alright now.”
Ekion had warned me beforehand.
Cali could only be brought here at the moment that world perished.
In other words, once the conditions were met, Cali would be transported to that exact moment.
“We need to leave quickly.”
Fortunately, after comforting the weeping child and speaking with her, it seemed Cali—who had been crouched down the moment she arrived—had not witnessed the ruined Calypso or the dead.
Whale held the child close to shield her from seeing anything. It would have been too horrific a sight for her.
“Father…”
Yet Cali still peered over Whale’s shoulder. The massive wings and horns. This world’s Ekion, floating expressionlessly in the void.
“Father Ekion?”
Ekion, who had approached Cali’s side without notice, gently stroked her head. At his seemingly indifferent yet tender touch, Cali’s eyes grew misty once more.
No matter how spirited Cali was, being suddenly separated and alone in an unfamiliar, strange place was frightening.
After one more *wail*, she finally subsided, and with a sniffling nose, Cali asked.
“But, *sniff*, *sniff*, Father. Who is that father?”
Cali’s small finger pointed toward this world’s Ekion.
Due to Ekion’s measures, Cali could only perceive that one person in this place.
“Well, you see. Daughter. That father is…”
Whale glanced briefly at Ekion.
“A lonely person.”
“*Sniff*, a lonely person?”
“Yes.”
Whale patted the child’s back with a gentle expression.
“So let’s give him lots of hugs, our daughter.”
With that, he lifted her up and placed her in Ekion’s arms. Ekion was startled, but only for a moment.
Feeling the warm body heat, Ekion carefully stroked the child. His own daughter, whom he sometimes feared might break under his own strength.
“…You speak the truth.”
Ekion acquiesced readily.
“My life is divided into the time before I met Calypso and after.”
“…”
“Now you have me.”
“Papa.”
Cali nuzzled her head against Ekion’s cheek. At her affectionate gesture, Ekion stiffened rigidly.
He hesitated awkwardly.
“…Your mother taught me what to say at times like this.”
Dragons are inherently dull by nature. It was something he could not help, born as he was.
Yet Ekion wished to learn. He wanted to become gentler, like other fathers.
“I was afraid.”
Calypso told Ekion that it was alright, and that even if he felt inadequate, if he did his best, Cali would recognize his sincerity.
“I don’t know much either, but that’s how parent-child relationships work. My father from another world told me so. My mother too.”
Ekion gently caressed Cali’s cheek with careful hands.
“…You’ve endured so much.”
“Sniff, sniff…”
Cali, who had been holding back tears until her nose turned red, finally burst into sobs once more.
Whale chuckled watching Ekion’s helplessness.
“Why did you make the child cry, Ekion?”
Was it not amusing that a dragon who wielded time itself could not handle a mere three-year-old orca?
Though I’m one to talk.
‘I’m glad I came along.’
Whale beheld the unfolding scene.
“Whale, it’s fine if you come. But please don’t dwell on everything you see there. That is…already in the past.”
I understood why Calypso had said this before we departed. She must have thought it would be difficult for Whale, who was exceptionally virtuous and empathetic.
Yet Whale was glad he had come.
Calypso, I want to love even your pain.
Thus the two fathers returned with their daughter.
Cali’s brief journey had ended.
* * *
Night. The day Cali returned.
Upon her return, Cali burst into tears again at the sight of Calypso. She wept seeing her grandfather, and wept again seeing her uncles.
Since she was a child who rarely cried, it was understood as a sign of how much she had suffered. A sorrowful matter. Everyone comforted the child with one heart.
Just when I thought she had calmed down, upon seeing Ruga, she cried so hard the world seemed to shake. It was absurd.
“It seems Ruga loves you more than your fathers do.”
“Haha. That can’t be.”
In any case, all those who had eagerly awaited Cali’s return departed.
After that, Cali clung tightly to Calypso’s embrace and had no intention of letting go.
Calypso had no intention of separating from her either.
Cali fell into deep sleep as soon as the greetings ended. Whale said not to be surprised, as the child’s energy was depleted enough that she could sleep for a full two days.
It was reassuring to have the finest physician by her side.
Perhaps Lili too was living well as such a reassuring physician and healer. Calypso, suddenly recalling the adorable squirrel beastkin, brushed the thought away.
“Tell me.”
Cali had fallen into a deep sleep. Calypso was in conversation with Agenor, alone.
“…I killed her, but she vanished?”
“That’s right.”
Only candlelight flickered in the Study.
Agenor’s face, caught in the backlighting, was gravely serious.
“The corpse disappeared without a trace.”
He nodded without even his usual carefree smile.
Calypso had killed Heila Aquasiadel. Rather than let her live and create more victims, I decided to bear that sin myself.
Yes, that should have been the end of it….
But the corpse I had been watching over after killing her vanished without a trace.
I had maintained thorough vigilance, half-expecting an ally to appear.
‘She disappeared like smoke….’
“Do you have any idea what might have happened?”
At Agenor’s question, Calypso fell silent for a long time.
“Third Brother, do you know what’s troublesome about orcas?”
It was an abrupt question.
“I’m not sure…. Because they’re strong?”
“Well, if we’re just talking about strength, it’s only because they’re outnumbered—humpback whales are strong too, aren’t they?”
“….”
Calypso stared into the empty air.
“Sometimes a genius appears among the orcas, and when one of those suddenly snaps….”
“….”
“They become a mad genius. A madman.”
Agenor met Calypso’s gaze.
“Like me.”
Calypso was truly an overwhelming presence.
“Is it different from Father…?”
“Yeah, it’s different. Father’s a genius too. Strong as well. But someone like me—my mind is just filled with poison. That’s the problem.”
Calypso tapped my own head and chest once each with the hand not holding Cali.
I had sensed from the third cycle that Heila Aquasiadel was no ordinary orca.
“Another human like me has appeared.”
Just as Calypso was, when such a person harbors resentment, they go mad.
“Declare martial law in the capital.”
“Wh…?”
“This time, I’ll uproot that woman’s forces entirely.”
I don’t know why that woman’s corpse vanished. But if she was that capable….
It wouldn’t be strange if she had arranged something even after her own death.
“I’ll eradicate it all.”
Calypso glanced down briefly.
The comfortable time with my beloved daughter had come to an end.
Cleaning would have to come first for that moment.
“I won’t let this slide.”
* * *
…or so I thought.
I blinked my eyes.
No matter how many times I blinked, the sight before me did not change.
Verdant foliage, a towering building. And before my eyes…. My voice flowed out with a composure I had deliberately maintained.
“…How old am I, Ruga?”
“Yes!!”
A familiar yet strange appearance.
Ruga raised her hand high. She looked quite adorable in her yellow beret, beaming with a bright smile.
“Noble Lady, I’m nine years old!”
“….”
“I’m nine years old!”
What on earth.
…Why am I like this?

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