Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 313

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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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Side Story: Episode 38
“You must be happy.”
At those words that felt like a farewell, Father simply gazed at me before nodding.
Come to think of it, he was truly a good father in moments like these. Always trusting without asking.
Understanding even when I never explained my reasons.
‘I suppose I was too focused on other things to notice this before.’
Perhaps I could see it now because I had matured, because I had come here after everything ended.
I smiled broadly and waved my hand.
When I closed my eyes and opened them again, I found myself in a pitch-black void.
I wasn’t surprised.
‘A rift in time?’
I had spent time in places like this before for Ekion’s growth.
“Tus, you’ve worked hard.”
Tus squirmed in my arms before poking his head out.
– Calypso!
My noisy movements and deliberate search for Heila’s other hideouts had partly been to buy Tus time.
There was a risk that if Heila encountered Tus, she would discover the truth.
And Tus could have been put in danger.
– It was really dangerous!
Tus shared what he had discovered. He had seen many dragon remains and artifacts while moving about.
It was as I had expected.
Heila had joined hands with the land animals, the Imperial Court, and the Crown Prince.
‘It’s impossible that all of this happened in such a short time. There must have been someone helping her.’
In the main timeline, the Crown Prince’s associate was still alive.
‘Could it be the Monkey’s remnants?’
If I hadn’t moved quickly and had instead been leisurely about making Sorte the Matriarch,
I might have found myself trapped in that timeline with no chance to act.
‘Now that I think about it, I didn’t even say goodbye to Sorte.’
I floated gently and lowered my head.
– Wait, hold on! Tus is looking for the main timeline. I just need to find the Dragon Duke’s presence!
“Okay, take your time. But I’m curious about something. What happens to Sorte?”
Tus said that since Sorte was a dead person, it didn’t matter if he remained in that timeline.
As time passed, he would die again.
Then he would go to the cycle of reincarnation.
‘If there’s no problem with that.’
Then he would live well in that timeline, doing the Matriarch work he had wanted.
I was relieved there was no lingering discomfort.
The ‘me’ in that timeline might not interfere much once she realizes Sorte is a capable fellow.
She would think she only needed to deal with the Orca Family Matriarch and the Crown Prince.
“That’s good.”
I waited quietly for Tus to concentrate.
‘Come to think of it, Ruga helped me in every way in that timeline.’
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was Ruga. That child in their early teens.
‘When I think about it, with all the talk of going to the City of Dragons or slipping through the cracks in time, I never properly witnessed their growth.’
For some reason, I had the feeling that Lugaru must have passed through their teenage years incredibly quietly.
Illia, their twin mother, seemed to think differently.
“Quiet? My goodness. Your Majesty doesn’t know?”
“Hmm?”
“Those two are quite unusual, especially Ruga with all that false modesty… Hehe, never mind. If I had to tell you one thing, Ruba jumped out of a window during adolescence.”
“What?”
“He thought it would be fine since his head was so empty. My second son is quite the character.”
“…He certainly was eccentric.”
The adolescent years of my childhood friends had passed by so quickly… I was curious about them.
– Found Calypso!
But I probably would never see them again.
I suppose I should leave it as a lingering regret.
* * *
‘No, I wanted to leave it as a lingering regret.’
I had thought that this time I would finally see my husbands, Cali, and my family.
– Calypso, I’m sorry…
‘No, it’s okay. It’s not your fault.’
I crossed my arms and thought carefully.
What exactly was the problem?
I was wearing a sky-blue outfit that came as a matching set. It was definitely the uniform of an educational institution.
It’s not something you usually wear unless it’s for a ceremony, right?
Before my eyes stood a young boy wearing the same uniform as me.
Seventeen? No, nineteen?
Remarkably tall. Yet with a youthful face.
With drooping eyes and a smile that could make girls his age cry, he was quite the beautiful youth.
Watching the part in his hair swept elegantly to one side, I let out a small admiration.
‘So this is what Ruga looked like at this age.’
His snow-white hair gleamed brilliantly. His eyes were as clear as I remembered them.
Though for some reason, his pale white skin was flushed with color.
“Um, Noble Lady.”
“…”
“I’ve been thinking…”
Ruga clasped his hands together and fidgeted. What was he trying to say?
Now I couldn’t very well say, ‘I’m sorry, Ruga. I’m not the ‘Calypso’ you know anymore.’
There was no way.
‘It’s a shame our memories aren’t shared.’
Then I would have known the situation beforehand and handled it accordingly.
In any case, it seemed like Ruga was trying to confess something difficult.
What could possibly trouble Ruga at this point in time?
Ah, there is one thing.
The Matriarch position.
‘Was it around this time that he formally inherited the succession? Receiving education as the next Matriarch and all.’
He must be struggling greatly right now.
Then as a senior, I should offer him some comfort. I uncrossed my arms and nodded solemnly.
“I’m ready to listen, Ruga.”
“Y-yes?!”
“Come here.”
I’m not sure why I haven’t returned to the main timeline. I’ll figure that out gradually.
For now, I decided to willingly hear out Ruga’s troubles.
“That… that means…”
Ruga’s face turned even redder.
It was as if flowers were blooming profusely. He’s truly beautiful even now.
Even as an adult, Ruga became a handsome man with a pretty, kind appearance.
“Yes…! I will! Thank you so much!”
Ruga squeezed his eyes shut. Then suddenly he opened them, his expression turning serious.
‘What is there to thank me for?’
Still, it was adorable.
“Noble Lady, I… I like you…!”
“Yes, it’s been hard, hasn’t it?”
“…Pardon?”
“Huh?”
We stared at each other, blinking. I gazed blankly at Ruga’s long eyelashes.
“That’s right… it has been hard. It wasn’t easy to hide, so… that’s how you noticed, isn’t it?”
“Uh, um…?”
No, I thought you were struggling with Matriarch education… What on earth is happening here?
‘I feel like I’m suffocating from all this innocence.’
I felt Tus tense up with a gasp from my arms.
“…You said you liked me, Noble Lady. I’ve thought about it a lot.”
“Wh-what?”
Wait, what did you say?!
“I won’t hide it anymore…! I may be lacking in many ways, but… I really, truly like you!”
With his face flushed all the way to his neck, pouring out his sincerity with all his might—
Even I, who had been thinking of nothing, felt my heart stir.
But that’s beside the point.
‘What is this? What kind of situation is this?’
Who do I like? Ruga? My childhood friend?
What kind of timeline is this?
– Gasp, Calypso… did you marry Ruga in this one?
‘Why did marriage suddenly come up?’
Thanks to that, I regained my senses.
I decided it was best to shelve this situation for now. Regardless of what ‘I’ had been thinking, I had no right to ruin it.
That’s what I intended to do, but…
“I… I haven’t forgotten what you said, Noble Lady.”
“…”
“You said if we’re dating, we should think about m-marriage too, right?”
…I really went all in, didn’t I.
“And you said to think about children too.”
What on earth did you tell this boy? Are you insane? A Returner no less!
“A-and you said to get a seal stamped too…”
“A seal?”
What seal? Don’t tell me you asked the boy to bring a family seal? To write a marriage certificate?
I was about to frown in disbelief.
Tap!
My hand moved before I could think.
Ruga’s mouth covered, his innocent eyes blinked wide.
Wait, the seal.
‘…It was this seal!’
You crazy Calypso!
Setting aside what happened in this timeline.
This won’t do. It won’t do.
I can’t do this.
‘Right, stay calm. You said there are countless possibilities in each timeline, didn’t you?’
I tried to smile as calmly as possible.
“Um, Ruga?”
“Huh?”
“Wait, don’t say anything. My palm’s getting ticklish.”
Ruga tilted his head in confusion, then grasped my hand covering his mouth with both hands and pulled it away.
“It’s alright, Noble Lady.”
“What?”
“Actually… I was embarrassed too.”
Ruga smiled bashfully, his ears tinted pink.
“But since you were my first, Noble Lady, I’m so happy.”
“…”
Ruga took my hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. It was a formal yet affectionate touch.
His face, eyes gently closed and smiling brightly.
“From the moment you saved me, I knew I would cherish you for a very, very long time.”
Among all the faces of Ruga I had ever seen….
that one looked the most blissful.
“I fell for her at first sight.”

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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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