Black Killer Whale Baby - Chapter 316

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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 41
Ruga showed me many places.
Some I already knew, others I knew of but had never visited.
And of course, there were places I was seeing for the first time.
“My goodness….”
This was genuinely surprising.
‘They held a festival like this in the Aquasiadel territory?’
A small village within the territory was currently in the midst of a festival.
Apparently it was a free-spirited festival that sometimes happened and sometimes didn’t?
‘When it was in full swing, I must have been busy or staying in the Dragon Duke’s territory.’
After everything was resolved, the Aquasiadel territory would have grown into a kingdom, so it made sense I wouldn’t know about this.
“…It’s a place where many students from the educational institution come.”
“I see.”
A popular dating spot for campus couples, in other words.
All I could recall doing at the educational institution was becoming first, giving Second Brother a proper lesson for causing trouble, and becoming close to him….
Thinking only of such things made me sigh.
‘How bleak, truly bleak.’
I quietly gazed at the paper flowers falling from the sky. It was a sight reminiscent of cherry blossom rain.
“I brought her here too?”
How did I even know about this place? No, if it was me driven by obsession, I would have tried to do everything perfectly.
‘Perhaps I even thought I had to seduce her perfectly on dates, again and again.’
I put such effort into revenge with that thoroughness, so if love became my main priority, I must have lived this kind of life. It was rather fascinating.
“How did I find out about this place?”
“You said you heard about it.”
Me? From whom? Was there anyone I could have asked for romance or dating advice?
“Ah, Eldest Brother told you about it!”
“Cough!”
What, Eldest Brother? That guy?
‘In the main timeline, he still hasn’t even dated or married anyone?’
I couldn’t easily imagine it. I’d heard he was the most popular during his time at the educational institution.
“Heh, what good is being incredibly popular at an educational institution? Now he’s like dried fish with nothing else to show for it?”
“Quiet.”
“Ow! Did you hit me, Brother? Did you?”
Eldest Brother’s advice didn’t end there. As we wandered through the festival.
Food, sights. As Ruga explained, he said Eldest Brother had told me about all of this too.
Then I spotted Second Brother in the distance with some woman beside him, and I was startled.
‘Is this a world where even Atlant is dating?!’
And the person next to him was Camula?
These were the two who fought constantly in the third playthrough—the Retainer and the action commander.
I clicked my tongue inwardly in astonishment.
“….”
Only when I turned my head did I realize Ruga had been staring at me intently.
How careless—I had been lost in thought.
“…Next is over there!”
I hadn’t forgotten the subtle expression that flickered across Ruga’s face. As expected, he was paying close attention to my every reaction.
In truth, I had begun to notice him as well.
After all, this boy’s confession couldn’t be so different from the main timeline’s Ruga’s feelings.
I couldn’t help but be aware of it.
‘Come to think of it, this timeline really is nothing but pink romance, isn’t it?’
I had witnessed many unexpected sights at the festival. Like Atlant and Camula from earlier.
For some reason, Bellus leading around a group of young girls.
What an odd pairing—Lirivel and Agenor, who had been bickering.
Surprisingly, I had even seen Sorte.
Interestingly, this version of him was with a silver-haired woman from a branch family and some small girl….
He was laughing quite cheerfully.
“Most people don’t know this, but my mother was from a branch family, yet she was second to none in her delicate handling of water’s power.”
It was something Sorte had said on the way back after overcoming the orca’s trial.
When I expressed light admiration for his command of water’s power, that was his response.
“I had a younger sister, but she died young.”
“What kind of sudden confession is that?”
“She seemed to have more talent than me, so Father killed her. Mother fell into depression after that day~”
“….”
“And then she passed away.”
Sorte looked at me and smiled with an indecipherable expression.
“Why does everyone assume all descendants want to become the Matriarch? It’s quite strange~ don’t you think?”
The Matriarch who couldn’t bear a daughter. Her unsatisfied Eldest and Second Sons. And the Third Son, sickly and terminally ill.
The grandchildren caught in their struggle. No matter how much an orca’s life resembles a life of conflict.
Among them, there would surely be those who didn’t desire that struggle. I understood that sentiment.
‘At least he’s happy here.’
I passed by without lingering. Hoping that even where his soul resided, he would achieve his purpose and find peaceful rest.
‘Now that I think about it, I was so busy during this period that I never once considered how everyone was living or what they were thinking.’
Wandering between two timelines, I had gained unexpected insight.
Including the feelings of this timeline’s Ruga.
“Lord Atlant? I heard he started dating not long ago.”
“Is that so?”
When I return to the main timeline, I’ll have to interrogate Atlant about this. I hummed a little tune to myself with an inward smirk.
But then a rather large hand covered mine.
“…Ruga?”
A careful pull.
Since I assumed Ruga naturally had his reasons, I simply waited quietly.
I was startled by the pale face drawing near. His lips brushed against a dangerous spot. He stopped before they could touch.
‘…That counts as safe, right?’
We locked eyes at a distance where I could feel his breath. I was reflected in Ruga’s pupils.
“Noble Lady.”
His innocent eyes wavered. The feeling became strange.
Ruga moved with determination and pressed his lips to my cheek.
When I opened my eyes, I saw a face flushed crimson, unable to meet my gaze.
“I, I mean, since our lips touched here…. You might remember it.”
Ruga turned his head toward me. His face was red all the way to his neck.
I nodded while looking at those bright eyes.
I wondered why I felt like blushing too. Had I synchronized with this adolescent body?
As we walked hand in hand like that, not long after, I encountered an unexpected person.
“…What are you doing?”
It was Father. Wait, I thought he was the man who loved his home more than anything in the world? Why was he here?
He was absolutely not the type to voluntarily attend a festival.
“I want to ask you the same thing. Father, why are you here?”
“…Let go.”
When Father’s eyes turned fierce, I quickly created a barrier of water around Ruga and myself.
“Tsk.”
What was interesting was that Father readily suppressed his anger.
“If I step in here, you’ll say I ran away again or something.”
“Huh?”
“I don’t want to hear anymore that I’m a heartless father who can’t understand his daughter’s adolescence.”
…So I had already caused quite a commotion before, hadn’t I?
Thinking back to how Father used to be wary and vigilant toward my husbands as I grew up, this wasn’t strange at all.
“Have you perhaps seen Sehera Zade—or rather, a long-haired Orca Beastkin? She’s strong, so you should recognize her quickly.”
“Mother?”
Father’s eyes widened.
“How do you know her name…? Did I ever tell you?”
Ah, so I hadn’t been told in this place? I shrugged innocently.
“I’m not sure. If you run into Second Brother on the way, tell him to just guess any direction. He has good instincts, so maybe he’ll find her if he’s lucky?”
“…We’ll see at home. Late returns are absolutely not allowed.”
“Huh, Father?”
“Absolutely.”
Father emphasized and vanished in an instant. I blinked.
‘Even here, the two of them are playing hide-and-seek with each other?’
When I return, I’ll definitely have to give them a piece of my mind. I shook my head in disbelief.
“….”
Unaware that Ruga was staring at me intently once more.

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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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